Nueces County, Texas

County in Texas, United States

County in Texas

Nueces County

County

The Nueces County Courthouse in Corpus Christi

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Texas

Texas's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 27°44′N 97°31′W﻿ / ﻿27.74°N 97.52°W﻿ / 27.74; -97.52
Country|  United States
State|  Texas
Founded| 1847
Named after| Nueces River
Seat| Corpus Christi
Largest city| Corpus Christi
Area

• Total

| 1,166 sq mi (3,020 km2)
• Land| 838 sq mi (2,170 km2)
• Water| 327 sq mi (850 km2)  28%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 353,178
• Density| 300/sq mi (120/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 27th
Website| www.co.nueces.tx.us

Nueces County (/njuˈeɪsɪs/ new-AY-siss) is located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 353,178,[1] making it the 16th-most populous county in the state. The county seat is Corpus Christi.[2] The county was formed in 1846 from portions of San Patricio County and organized the following year.[3] It is named for the Nueces River, which marks the county's northwestern boundary with San Patricio County before emptying into its mouth at Nueces Bay north of the port of Corpus Christi. Nueces County is part of the Corpus Christi metropolitan statistical area.

## Native Americans

[edit]

The Indian tribes that lived in and raided the county were the Lipan Apache, Karankawa, Coahuiltecan, Kickapoo, and the Seminole. The final recorded Indian raid in the county happened in April 1878, when Lipan Apache, Kickapoo, Seminole, Mexicans, and a white man briefly entered the county and onto ranches, before returning west to Laredo.[4]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 1,166 square miles (3,020 km2), of which 838 square miles (2,170 km2) are land and 327 square miles (850 km2) (28%) are covered by water.[5] It borders the Gulf of Mexico.

### Major highways

[edit]

* I-37

Future I-69E / US 77
* US 181
* SH 35
* SH 44
* SH 286
* SH 357

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* San Patricio County (north)
* Kleberg County (south)
* Jim Wells County (west)
* Aransas County (northeast)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1850| 698| | —
1860| 2,906| | 316.3%
1870| 3,975| | 36.8%
1880| 7,673| | 93.0%
1890| 8,093| | 5.5%
1900| 10,439| | 29.0%
1910| 21,955| | 110.3%
1920| 22,807| | 3.9%
1930| 51,779| | 127.0%
1940| 92,661| | 79.0%
1950| 165,471| | 78.6%
1960| 221,573| | 33.9%
1970| 237,544| | 7.2%
1980| 268,215| | 12.9%
1990| 291,145| | 8.5%
2000| 313,645| | 7.7%
2010| 340,223| | 8.5%
2020| 353,178| | 3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1850–2010[7] 2010[8] 2020[9]
Nueces County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[10] | Pop 2010[8] | Pop 2020[9] | % 2000  | % 2010  | % 2020

|
|
|
|
|
|

White alone (NH)  | 118,178  | 111,870  | 106,165  | 37.68%  | 32.88%  | 30.06%
Black or African American alone (NH)  | 12,718  | 12,178  | 12,651  | 4.05%  | 3.58%  | 3.58%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)  | 933  | 882  | 907  | 0.30%  | 0.26%  | 0.26%
Asian alone (NH)  | 3,458  | 5,495  | 7,712  | 1.10%  | 1.62%  | 2.18%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)  | 136  | 209  | 281  | 0.04%  | 0.06%  | 0.08%
Other Race alone (NH)  | 308  | 399  | 1,264  | 0.10%  | 0.12%  | 0.36%
Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH)  | 2,963  | 2,897  | 7,146  | 0.94%  | 0.85%  | 2.02%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)  | 174,951  | 206,293  | 217,052  | 55.78%  | 60.63%  | 61.46%
Total | 313,645 | 340,223 | 353,178 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00%

As of the census[11] of 2000, 313,645 people, 110,365 households, and 79,683 families resided in the county. The population density was 375 people per square mile (145 people/km2). The 123,041 housing units averaged 147 units per square mile (57/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 72.03% White, 4.24% African American, 0.64% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 18.74% from other races, and 3.13% from two or more races. About 55.78% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 110,365 households, 36.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.80% were married couples living together, 15.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.80% were not families. About 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.30.

In the county, the age distribution was 28.40% under the age of 18, 10.50% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 21.10% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,959, and for a family was $41,066. Males had a median income of $31,571 versus $22,324 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,036. About 14.70% of families and 18.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.00% of those under age 18 and 15.80% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities (multiple counties)

[edit]

* Aransas Pass (partly in San Patricio and Aransas Counties)
* Corpus Christi (county seat) (San Patricio and Aransas Counties)
* Ingleside (mostly in San Patricio County)
* Portland (mostly in San Patricio County)

In the 2000 U.S. Census, a portion of San Patricio was indicated as being in Nueces County.[12] As of the 1990 U.S. Census, the 2010 U.S. Census, and the 2020 U.S. Census, that particular area is indicated as being in San Patricio County.[13][14][15]

### Cities

[edit]

* Agua Dulce
* Bishop
* Driscoll
* Petronila
* Port Aransas
* Robstown

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Banquete
* La Paloma-Lost Creek
* North San Pedro
* Rancho Banquete
* Sandy Hollow-Escondidas
* Spring Gardens
* Tierra Grande
* Tierra Verde

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Chapman Ranch
* Rabb
* Violet

## Education

[edit]

School districts:[16]

* Agua Dulce Independent School District
* Aransas Pass Independent School District
* Banquete Independent School District
* Bishop Consolidated Independent School District
* Calallen Independent School District
* Corpus Christi Independent School District
* Driscoll Independent School District
* Flour Bluff Independent School District
* London Independent School District
* Port Aransas Independent School District
* Robstown Independent School District
* Tuloso-Midway Independent School District
* West Oso Independent School District

Del Mar College is the designated community college for all of Nueces County.[17]

## Politics

[edit]

Past gubernatorial election results[18] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties

|
|
|

2022 | 53.27% 47,567 | 45.32% 40,474 | 1.41% 1,260
2018 | 56.33% 52,918 | 42.28% 39,720 | 1.40% 1,312
2014 | 54.13% 30,854 | 43.41% 24,746 | 2.46% 1,403
2010 | 52.68% 32,593 | 45.13% 27,921 | 2.16% 1,341
2006 | 37.07% 25,066 | 30.95% 20,931 | 31.97% 21,624
2002 | 48.16% 33,152 | 49.39% 34,001 | 2.37% 1,627
1998 | 60.80% 38,165 | 38.70% 24,290 | 0.50% 316
1994 | 44.52% 31,116 | 54.94% 38,399 | 0.54% 376

Historically, Nueces County leaned Democratic in presidential elections, though in recent years has narrowly voted Republican. Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 became the first Republican candidate to carry the county. Prior to that year, the only times Nueces County did not vote for the national Democratic candidate was in its first presidential election in 1848 for Whig Zachary Taylor, and in 1860, supporting Southern Democratic John C. Breckinridge. Since Eisenhower's election, the only other Republicans to carry the county in the 20th century were Richard Nixon in 1972 and Ronald Reagan in 1984. So far, Bill Clinton remains the last Democratic candidate to win Nueces County, having done so in 1996.

Since 2000, Nueces County has voted for every Republican presidential candidate, with only George W. Bush in 2004 having carried it by a double digit margin, and his 56.8% of the vote is also the highest for any Republican in the county's history. In 2016, Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in the county with a plurality of 48.6% to 47.1%, or 1,568 votes, the closest race since 1956. In 2020, Trump won the county again, this time with a slight majority and 2.9% margin, or 3,692 votes, over Joe Biden.

Democratic strength is concentrated within the inland portion of the county, with particular strengths in center portion of Corpus Christi whereas neighborhoods that are predominately Hispanic and the city of Robstown. Republicans performed well in areas particularly in the suburbs of the city, North Padre Island and Port Aransas.[19]

United States presidential election results for Nueces County, Texas[20] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 67,201  | 55.23% | 53,248  | 43.76%  | 1,229  | 1.01%
2020 | 64,617  | 50.75% | 60,925  | 47.85%  | 1,780  | 1.40%
2016 | 50,766  | 48.62% | 49,198  | 47.12%  | 4,441  | 4.25%
2012 | 48,966  | 50.95% | 45,772  | 47.63%  | 1,366  | 1.42%
2008 | 52,391  | 51.75% | 47,912  | 47.33%  | 927  | 0.92%
2004 | 59,359  | 56.77% | 44,439  | 42.50%  | 762  | 0.73%
2000 | 49,906  | 51.28% | 45,349  | 46.59%  | 2,071  | 2.13%
1996 | 37,470  | 40.22%  | 50,009  | 53.68% | 5,689  | 6.11%
1992 | 36,781  | 36.49%  | 46,317  | 45.95% | 17,693  | 17.55%
1988 | 46,337  | 48.30%  | 49,209  | 51.30% | 386  | 0.40%
1984 | 54,333  | 53.68% | 46,721  | 46.16%  | 159  | 0.16%
1980 | 40,586  | 46.84%  | 43,424  | 50.12% | 2,634  | 3.04%
1976 | 32,797  | 37.99%  | 52,755  | 61.11% | 773  | 0.90%
1972 | 41,682  | 55.39% | 33,277  | 44.22%  | 291  | 0.39%
1968 | 21,307  | 31.57%  | 39,025  | 57.82% | 7,159  | 10.61%
1964 | 14,048  | 25.75%  | 40,426  | 74.10% | 84  | 0.15%
1960 | 18,907  | 39.09%  | 29,361  | 60.70% | 100  | 0.21%
1956 | 19,985  | 49.89% | 19,912  | 49.71%  | 162  | 0.40%
1952 | 19,124  | 48.59%  | 20,156  | 51.21% | 79  | 0.20%
1948 | 5,577  | 25.60%  | 15,240  | 69.96% | 966  | 4.43%
1944 | 3,819  | 24.21%  | 11,091  | 70.32% | 863  | 5.47%
1940 | 3,065  | 23.87%  | 9,740  | 75.84% | 37  | 0.29%
1936 | 1,234  | 15.54%  | 6,597  | 83.09% | 109  | 1.37%
1932 | 967  | 12.62%  | 6,659  | 86.91% | 36  | 0.47%
1928 | 2,481  | 45.36%  | 2,985  | 54.58% | 3  | 0.05%
1920 | 383  | 21.55%  | 1,246  | 70.12% | 148  | 8.33%
1916 | 404  | 16.85%  | 1,830  | 76.35% | 163  | 6.80%
1912 | 85  | 6.50%  | 910  | 69.63% | 312  | 23.87%
United States Senate election results for Nueces County, Texas1[21] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 62,062  | 51.52% | 55,433  | 46.02%  | 2,964  | 2.46%

## See also

[edit]

* Texas portal

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Nueces County, Texas
* Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Nueces County
* List of museums in the Texas Gulf Coast
* Nueces County Keach Family Library

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Nueces County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
4. ^ "INDIAN RAID IN DUVAL AND NUECES COUNTIES | Texas History and genealogy, written by those who lived it".
5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
6. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
7. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
8. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Nueces County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
9. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Nueces County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
10. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Nueces County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
12. ^ "CENSUS 2000 BLOCK MAP: NUECES County (Page 2)" (PDF). 2000 U.S. Census. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
13. ^ "1990 COUNTY BLOCK MAP (RECREATED): NUECES County (Page 2)" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
14. ^ "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Nueces County, TX (Page 2)" (PDF). 2010 U.S. Census. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
15. ^ "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Nueces County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
16. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Nueces County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2024. \- Text list
17. ^ Texas Education Code Sec. 130.177. DEL MAR COLLEGE-CORPUS CHRISTI JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
18. ^ "Election History Nueces County, TX". www.nuecesco.com.
19. ^ Rohla, Ryne. "2016 Presidential General Election Maps". Ryne Rohla.
20. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
21. ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nueces County, Texas.

* Nueces County government's website
* Nueces County in Handbook of Texas Online at the University of Texas
* Historic Nueces County materials, hosted by the Portal to Texas History.

Places adjacent to Nueces County, Texas

|  | San Patricio County |

|
|

|  |
Jim Wells County |

Nueces County, Texas

| Gulf of Mexico
|  |
| Kleberg County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Nueces County, Texas, United States

County seat: Corpus Christi

Cities|

* Agua Dulce
* Aransas Pass‡
* Bishop
* Corpus Christi‡
* Driscoll
* Ingleside‡
* Petronila
* Port Aransas
* Portland‡
* Robstown

Nueces County map

CDPs|

* Banquete
* La Paloma-Lost Creek
* North San Pedro
* Rancho Banquete
* Sandy Hollow-Escondidas
* Spring Gardens
* Tierra Grande
* Tierra Verde

Other
communities|

* Chapman Ranch
* Rabb
* Violet

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

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City of Corpus Christi

* Government
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Education|

| Schools|

* Corpus Christi ISD
* Mary Carroll HS
* Richard King HS
* Roy Miller HS
* Foy H. Moody HS
* W. B. Ray HS
* Veterans Memorial HS
* Calallen ISD
* Calallen HS
* Flour Bluff ISD
* flour Bluff HS
* Ingleside ISD
* London ISD
* Port Aransas ISD
* Riviera ISD
* Tuloso-Midway ISD
* Tuloso-Midway HS
* West Oso ISD
* West Oso HS

|

Colleges and
universities|

* Del Mar College
* Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi

Military|

* Naval Air Station Corpus Christi
* USS Corpus Christi (PF-44)
* USS City of Corpus Christi (SSN-705)
* USNS Corpus Christi Bay (T-ARVH-1)

Parks and
recreation|

* Corpus Christi Bay
* Nueces Bay
* Oso Bay
* Parks

Sports|

* C.C. FC
* C.C. Hooks
* C.C. IceRays
* C.C. Rugby Football Club
* C.C. Tritons

Tourism|

* American Bank Center
* Bayfest
* Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge
* La Palmera
* Mirador de la Flor
* Museums
* Mustang Island
* One Shoreline Plaza
* Padre Island
* South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center
* Sunrise Mall
* Texas State Aquarium
* USS Lexington (CV-16)

Transportation|

* Corpus Christi International Airport
* Harbor Bridge
* JFK Memorial Causeway

Government|

* Mayor
* TX 27
* Nueces County
* United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
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* United States
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Other|

* NARA
* Yale LUX

27°44′N 97°31′W﻿ / ﻿27.74°N 97.52°W﻿ / 27.74; -97.52
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