San Patricio, Texas

San Patricio is a city in Nueces and San Patricio counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 395 at the 2010 census.

San Patricio, Texas
City
Location of San Patricio, Texas
Coordinates: 27°57′33″N 97°46′23″W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Counties	San Patricio, Nueces
Area [1]
• Total	3.89 sq mi (10.07 km^2)
• Land	3.85 sq mi (9.97 km^2)
• Water	0.04 sq mi (0.10 km^2)
Elevation	43 ft (13 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	395
• Estimate  (2019)[2]	375
• Density	97.45/sq mi (37.63/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	78368
Area code(s)	361
FIPS code	48-65612[3]
GNIS feature ID	1346436[4]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, San Patricio, located at 27°57′33″N 97°46′23″W (27.959196, -97.773134),[5] has a total area of 3.9 square miles (10.0 km²), of which 3.8 square miles (9.9 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1 km²) (1.03%) is water.

History

The town was founded in 1829 by empresarios James McGloin and John McMullen. They had received approval from the Mexican government to settle 200 Irish Catholic families on the land[6]—the name meaning Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Empresario James Power was involved as well.

The Battle of San Patricio was fought near the town in 1836 during the Texas Revolution.

With the approval of the General Council, Texas revolutionaries James Grant, Frank W. Johnson and Robert C. Morris collaborated on plans to lead an assault on the Mexican town of Matamoros. Recruiting some 300 men, several of whom were native to San Antonio, they gathered provisions from the Alamo and Presidio La Bahia for their expedition.[7] The men needed mounts for their long journey and divided into groups as they traveled toward the coast to capture wild horses.

On February 27, 1836, Mexican General José de Urrea's advanced reconnaissance patrol discovered Frank W. Johnson and about 34 Texians camped at the abandoned Irish settlement of San Patricio. In a surprise attack at 3:30am, Mexican troops fired on the Texian Army and killed about 10 (7 of them Hispanics) and captured 18.[8] Johnson and four others who were captured managed to escape and rejoin James Fannin's command at Goliad. One man, Daniel J. Toler, escaped capture.[9] The men killed were buried in the Old Cemetery on the Hill in San Patricio.[6]

Grant and Morris's party was also surprised by Urrea's army as they camped at Agua Dulce Creek. On March 2, the Mexicans surprised them, killing both Grant and Morris and twelve others. The survivors were taken captured and imprisoned at Matamoros.

In 1846, San Patricio became the second county seat of San Patricio County after Nueces County was partitioned from San Patricio County. In 1893, the county seat was moved to Sinton.[10]

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	238		—
1890	315		32.4%
1980	210		—
1990	369		75.7%
2000	318		−13.8%
2010	395		24.2%
2019 (est.)	375	[2]	−5.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 318 people, 113 households, and 89 families residing in the city. The population density was 82.7 people per square mile (32.0/km²). There were 124 housing units at an average density of 32.3/sq mi (12.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.45% White, 0.94% African American, 0.63% Native American, 14.47% from other races, and 2.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 39.94% of the population.

There were 113 households, out of which 42.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.6% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.2% were non-families. 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.22.

The population in the city was spread out, with 33.0% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,386, and the median income for a family was $40,313. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $19,063 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,531. About 12.6% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.9% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The City of San Patricio is served by the Mathis Independent School District.

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
6. Handbook of Texas Online - San Patricio
7. Todish et al. (1998), p. 29.
8. Keith Guthrie, "SAN PATRICIO, BATTLE OF," Handbook of Texas Online (https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qfs03), accessed June 09, 2011. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
9. Thomas W. Cutrer, "TOLER, DANIEL J.," Handbook of Texas Online (https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fto11), accessed June 09, 2011. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
10. Guthrie, Keith (February 17, 2016). "San Patricio County". Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.