San Ygnacio, Texas

San Ygnacio is a census-designated place (CDP) in Zapata County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the CDP population was 667. It is named for the prominent Spanish saint, Ignatius of Loyola. The portion of the community between the Rio Grande and U.S. Highway 83 is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as San Ygnacio Historic District.

San Ygnacio, Texas
CDP
Historic Our Lady of Refugio Catholic Church is located at the intersection of Laredo and Washington streets across from the Blas Maria Uribe Plaza in San Ygnacio
San Ygnacio, Texas
Location within the state of Texas
Coordinates: 27°2′38″N 99°26′23″W
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyZapata
Area
 • Total1.6 sq mi (4 km2)
 • Land1.5 sq mi (4 km2)
 • Water0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total667
 • Density420/sq mi (160/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Zip Code
78067
FIPS code48-65792[1]
San Ygnacio Historic District
LocationTown of San Ygnacio, San Ygnacio, Texas
Area294.5 acres (119.2 ha)
Built1830 (1830)
ArchitectTrevino, Jesus
NRHP reference No.73001988[2]
Added to NRHPJuly 16, 1973
The Jesus Trevino Rancho is a national landmark at the intersection of Trevino and Uribe streets in San Ygnacio, Texas. This north side of the structure was accidentally peppered with tar by a truck early in 2010 and has now been restored.
Historical marker in San Ygnacio
Plaza Blas Maria Uribe in the historic district of San Ygnacio
The Benito Juárez Head Start Center in the community's historic district
Cactus garden at the Zaragosa house
Office of the River Pierce Foundation, designed by Randy T. Rickels (1938-2004) of Austin.

History

San Ygnacio, originally a Mexican pueblo, was founded in 1830 by settlers from nearby Guerrero, Tamaulipas on the outskirts of the recently established Uribeno Ranch. Frequent Comanche attacks in the early days of San Ygnacio necessitated the use of defensive stone architecture which has endowed the present area with uncharacteristically enduring historical sites from that period.

San Ygnacio is also historically notable for its involvement in the short-lived revolution of the Rio Grande Republic, which was established at meetings which were convened in the town in 1839.

San Ygnacio played an important role in the Garza Revolution from 1891 to 1893. Multiple small battles were fought near the town in both Mexican and American territory.

San Ygnacio was attacked in June 1916 by either Mexican Carrancistas of Seditionists. On June 10, over 100 Mexicans fought a losing battle with about 150 American soldiers from the 14th Cavalry.

San Ygnacio was the site of the filming of the 1952 film Viva Zapata.

Although many of San Ygnacio's neighboring municipalities were evacuated and consolidated in the deliberate 1953 flooding of the region which created Falcon Lake and "New" Zapata, San Ygnacio's residents petitioned for the right to remain on their land, which was high enough to escape substantial damage. Having survived, its architectural heritage was acknowledged in 1972 when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, being the last standing collection of Mexican Ranch vernacular architecture, representing the 19th century settlement of the lower Rio Grande valley. Its oldest building is now a National Historic Landmark, the Treviño-Uribe Rancho, built 1830.

The private River Pierce Foundation works to continue the restoration of the San Ygnacio Historic District.

Geography

San Ygnacio is located at 27°2′38″N 99°26′23″W (27.043938, -99.439726).[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2), of which, 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) is water.[4]

Wildlife

The community is also one of the few locations within the United States to view the Morelet’s seedeater, a small sparrow-like bird that inhabits second growth stands of Phragmites along the Rio Grande.

Demographics

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 853 people, 253 households, and 198 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 556.7 people per square mile (215.3/km2). There were 355 housing units at an average density of 231.7/sq mi (89.6/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 79.13% White, 1.17% African American, 0.35% Native American, 17.35% from other races, and 1.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 92.97% of the population.

There were 253 households, out of which 44.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.7% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.37 and the average family size was 3.97.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 33.6% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.4 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $16,563, and the median income for a family was $19,375. Males had a median income of $17,344 versus $12,188 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $6,968. About 48.2% of families and 54.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 61.1% of those under age 18 and 25.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

All of Zapata County is a part of the Zapata County Independent School District.

Trivia

San Ygnacio was the site of the filming of the 1952 film Viva Zapata.

See also

Bibliography

Lott, Virgil N., and Martinez, Sr., Mercurio J. (1953) (father of Webb County County Judge Mercurio Martinez, Jr.). The Kingdom of Zapata. Austin, Texas, Eakin Press.

References
  1. "US Gazetteer Files 2016-Places-Texas". US Census. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  3. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  4. "US Gazetteer Files 2016-Places-Texas". US Census. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  5. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
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