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Kleberg County, Texas

Coordinates: 27°26′N 97°40′W / 27.43°N 97.66°W / 27.43; -97.66
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Not to be confused with Kleberg, Dallas.

Kleberg County
County
The Kleberg County Courthouse in Kingsville. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 10, 2010.
The Kleberg County Courthouse in Kingsville. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 10, 2010.
Map of Texas highlighting Kleberg County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 27°26′N 97°40′W / 27.43°N 97.66°W / 27.43; -97.66
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1913
Named forRobert J. Kleberg
SeatKingsville
Largest cityKingsville
Area
 • Total
1,090 sq mi (2,800 km2)
 • Land881 sq mi (2,280 km2)
 • Water209 sq mi (540 km2)  19%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
31,040
 • Density28/sq mi (11/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district34th
Websitewww.co.kleberg.tx.us

Kleberg County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 31,040.[1] The county seat is Kingsville.[2] The county was organized in 1913[3] and is named for Robert J. Kleberg, an early settler.

Kleberg County is part of the Kingsville, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also part of the Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX Combined Statistical Area. Most of the county's land lies in the famed King Ranch, which also extends into neighboring counties.

History

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The county was organized in 1913[4] and was named for Robert J. Kleberg, an early settler (see below).

In 1997, the county commissioners designated "HeavenO" as the county's official greeting because of a taboo stemming from "Hello"'s perceived connotations of Hell.[5][6]

Robert Justus Kleberg

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Robert Justus Kleberg Sr. (1803–1888), a Prussian settler, was born on September 10, 1803, in Herstelle, Westphalia. His father was a merchant.

Kleberg was educated in the classics and attended the University of Göttingen, where he received a J.D. degree. After graduating he was appointed a justice of assizes. He married Rosalie von Roeder near Paderborn, Prussia, in 1834. They emigrated to Texas that year and settled in Cat Spring in 1836.

In the Republic of Texas, Kleberg was associate commissioner and president of the Board of Land Commissioners (1837–38), justice of the peace (1841), and chief justice of Austin County (1846). In 1847 the Kleberg's moved to Meyersville, where Kleberg was elected county commissioner in 1848 and chief justice in 1853.

Kleberg fought in the battle of San Jacinto in Capt. Moseley Baker's company and subsequently served as one of the Texas guards for Gen. Santa Anna. After the revolution, he volunteered for six months' duty in the Texas army in a campaign against the Indians on Escondido Creek.

Kleberg supported the cause of the Confederacy. When the Civil War broke out he raised a company of militia but because of his advanced age was not received into active service. Robert and Rosa raised their own seven children in addition to several young Roeder relatives. Their youngest son, Robert Justus Kleberg Jr. married Alice Gertrudis King.

Kleberg died on October 23, 1888, near Cuero and was buried there. His grave is marked by a monument in the form of a soldier's tent with the words "Remember the Alamo" carved at the base. Kleberg County was named in his honor in 1913; a marker at his home site near Cuero was erected in 1936.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,090 square miles (2,800 km2), of which 881 square miles (2,280 km2) is land and 209 square miles (540 km2) (19%) is water.[7] It borders the Gulf of Mexico. Baffin Bay makes up a large part of the border with Kenedy County.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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National protected area

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19207,837—
193012,45158.9%
194013,3447.2%
195021,99164.8%
196030,05236.7%
197033,16610.4%
198033,3580.6%
199030,274−9.2%
200031,5494.2%
201032,0611.6%
202031,040−3.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1850–2010[9] 2010[10] 2020[11]

2020 census

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Kleberg 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[12] Pop 2010[10] Pop 2020[11] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 8,997 7,479 6,728 28.52% 23.33% 21.68%
Black or African American alone (NH) 1,091 1,070 995 3.46% 3.34% 3.21%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 97 51 83 0.31% 0.16% 0.27%
Asian alone (NH) 444 715 784 1.41% 2.23% 2.53%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 26 26 1 0.08% 0.08% 0.00%
Other Race alone (NH) 21 28 97 0.07% 0.09% 0.31%
Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH) 238 197 432 0.75% 0.61% 1.39%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 20,635 22,495 21,920 65.41% 70.16% 70.62%
Total 31,549 32,061 31,040 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2000 Census

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As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 31,549 people, 10,896 households, and 7,681 families residing in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile (14 people/km2). There were 12,743 housing units at an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 71.87% White, 3.70% Black or African American, 0.61% Native American, 1.47% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 19.00% from other races, and 3.25% from two or more races. 65.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 10,896 households, out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.10% were married couples living together, 13.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 22.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.30.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.30% under the age of 18, 15.70% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 19.00% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,313, and the median income for a family was $33,055. Males had a median income of $31,179 versus $19,494 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,542. About 21.20% of families and 26.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.50% of those under age 18 and 15.60% of those age 65 or over.

Religion

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68.1% of the people in Kleberg County are religious: 37.3% are Catholics, 9.8% are Baptists, 8% are Muslims, 3.3% are Methodists, 2.7% are Pentecostals, 2.0% are Mormons, 0.9% are Lutherans, 0.7% are Presbyterians, 0.6% are Episcopalians and 2.8% are from another Christian faith.[14]


Communities

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Cities and towns

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated community

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Politics

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United States presidential election results for Kleberg County, Texas[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 5,612 56.04% 4,338 43.32% 64 0.64%
2020 5,504 50.29% 5,314 48.56% 126 1.15%
2016 4,367 45.55% 4,716 49.19% 504 5.26%
2012 4,058 45.56% 4,754 53.37% 95 1.07%
2008 4,540 45.97% 5,256 53.22% 80 0.81%
2004 5,366 53.81% 4,550 45.62% 57 0.57%
2000 4,526 49.23% 4,481 48.74% 187 2.03%
1996 3,391 37.68% 5,136 57.07% 472 5.25%
1992 3,897 36.89% 5,109 48.36% 1,558 14.75%
1988 4,443 44.67% 5,367 53.96% 136 1.37%
1984 5,712 53.48% 4,924 46.10% 45 0.42%
1980 4,608 45.84% 5,125 50.98% 320 3.18%
1976 3,771 39.09% 5,803 60.15% 73 0.76%
1972 5,312 54.19% 4,481 45.71% 10 0.10%
1968 2,713 33.84% 4,633 57.80% 670 8.36%
1964 1,652 26.52% 4,568 73.32% 10 0.16%
1960 2,092 35.66% 3,773 64.32% 1 0.02%
1956 2,121 46.39% 2,436 53.28% 15 0.33%
1952 2,037 38.94% 3,193 61.04% 1 0.02%
1948 697 24.26% 2,083 72.50% 93 3.24%
1944 421 21.51% 1,473 75.27% 63 3.22%
1940 429 20.78% 1,631 79.02% 4 0.19%
1936 156 9.13% 1,488 87.12% 64 3.75%
1932 198 10.15% 1,727 88.56% 25 1.28%
1928 751 51.94% 695 48.06% 0 0.00%
1924 226 19.57% 721 62.42% 208 18.01%
1920 172 25.56% 455 67.61% 46 6.84%
1916 106 18.34% 427 73.88% 45 7.79%

Kleberg County is represented in the Texas House of Representatives by the Republican J. M. Lozano, a restaurateur in Kingsville, Portland, Callen, and in Alice, Texas. Kleberg County has leaned Democratic for most of its history but has become more competitive in the 21st century. An indicator of that trend is Lozano who was originally a Democrat but switched to the Republicans in 2012. Also, Kleberg County Attorney Kira Talip Sanchez was originally elected as a Democrat in 2014, but she announced in August 2023 that she switched parties and is now a Republican.[16] Kleberg County has voted three times for either narrowly winning or losing Republicans (George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004, and Donald Trump in 2020).

Education

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School districts include:

Coastal Bend College (formerly Bee County College) is the designated community college for the Kingsville, Ricardo, and Santa Gertrudis school district areas. The Riviera ISD portion is in the Del Mar College-Corpus Christi Junior College District.[17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Kleberg County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Columbia-Lippincott Gazetteer, p. 959
  4. ^ Columbia-Lippincott Gazetteer, p. 959.
  5. ^ Kelley Shannon, "Say Goodbye to ‘Hello’ and Hello to ‘Heaven-o’", The Los Angeles Times, January 19, 1997.
  6. ^ "Heaven-o", The Chicago Tribune, January 21, 1997.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  8. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  9. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  10. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Kleberg County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 9, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Kleberg County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 9, 2024.
  12. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Kleberg County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  14. ^ https://www.bestplaces.net/religion/county/texas/kleberg
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  16. ^ Goldsberry, Jenny; Zimmermann, David (August 20, 2023). "Texas county attorney leaves Democratic Party for GOP over border crisis". Washington Examiner. Archived from the original on August 20, 2023.
  17. ^ "Texas Education Code, Title 3. Higher Education, Subtitle G. Non-baccalaureate System, Chapter 130. Junior College Districts". Texas Constitution and Statutes. Archived from the original on November 3, 2023. Sec. 130.167. Bee County College District Service Area." "Sec. 130.177. Del Mar College-corpus Christi Junior College District Service Area. The legislation calls it "Bee County College".
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27°26′N 97°40′W / 27.43°N 97.66°W / 27.43; -97.66

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