Atascosa, Texas Explained

Official Name:Atascosa, Texas
Settlement Type:Unincorporated community
Pushpin Map:Texas#USA
Pushpin Label:Atascosa
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Texas
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Bexar
Area Total Sq Mi:41.97
Population Density Sq Mi:208
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:650
Coordinates:29.2669°N -98.7319°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:78002
Area Code:210 & 726
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:1379369

Atascosa is an unincorporated community located in southwestern Bexar County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had a population of 300 in 2000. The community is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The community's name means "boggy" in Spanish and was first settled sometime after the American Civil War. The Atascosa post office opened in 1872. In 1885, the community had a Baptist church, a general store, a saloon, two blacksmiths, and a population of 180. A coal mine and pottery were in operation by 1900. Atascosa then had a church, a lodge, and several stores that served 300 inhabitants in the mid-1930s. Its population remained steady throughout this period and had four businesses in the early 1990s. 47 businesses were in the community in 2000 and its population remained the same.

Geography

Atascosa is located 14 miles southwest of downtown San Antonio. It is located between Von Ormy and Lytle off I-35 and on Old Pearsall Road at Jarratt Road.

Demographics

As of the 2010 U.S. Census, there were 8,735 people residing in this populated place. The racial makeup of this area is 63.66% White, 0.54% African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, and 34.63% from other races. The Hispanic population is 7,167, which is 82.05% of the total Atascosa population.

Education

Atascosa is included in the Southwest ISD. McNair Middle School and Elm Creek Elementary are located in Atascosa off Old Pearsall Road.[1] The high school serving Atascosa is San Antonio's Southwest High School. Before that time, Atascosa had schools in 1885 and the mid-1930s.

Agriculture

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service 2007 census, there are more than 70 crop operations in Atascosa with three operations that are valued at more than $250,000 each. There are more than 125 animal operations in Atascosa. Many people in the area raise cattle, horses, goats, pigs, peacocks, and other poultry.

Utilities

Electricity is provided to the area by CPS Energy. The water is supplied by the Atascosa Rural Water Supply, located off Jarratt Road and Pearsall.

Notable person

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Southwest ISD (Archived copy) . 2011-08-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110812141335/http://www.swisd.net/schools/McNair . 2011-08-12 . dead .