Los Fresnos, Texas Explained

Official Name:Los Fresnos, Texas
Settlement Type:City
Mapsize:250px
Image Map1:Cameron County LosFresnos.svg
Mapsize1:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Texas
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Cameron
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:11.11
Area Land Km2:10.62
Area Water Km2:0.48
Area Total Sq Mi:4.29
Area Land Sq Mi:4.10
Area Water Sq Mi:0.19
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:8114
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Density Sq Mi:auto
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation M:7
Elevation Ft:23
Coordinates:26.0733°N -97.4781°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:78566
Area Code:956
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:48-44116[2]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:1374724[3]
Pop Est As Of:2021
Population Est:8152

Los Fresnos is a city in Cameron County, Texas, United States. The population was 8,114 at the 2020 census, up from 5,542 at the 2010 census.[4] It is part of the Brownsville–Harlingen–Raymondville and the Matamoros–Brownsville metropolitan areas.

Located in south-central Cameron County, the city was named for the fresnos (Fraxinus berlandieriana)[5] scattered in the woods and along streams. In 1912, Lon Hill, an early landowner, formed a company to develop a canal system that would use the Rio Grande to irrigate land for farming. Railroad construction in the early 1900s began to bring settlers to the area, and by 1915, a post office was established. Because of the fertile, irrigated land, farm products increased, and with the long growing season in the Rio Grande Valley, farming flourished. Today, the city is still surrounded by fertile farm/ranch land. Major crops are cotton, sugarcane, grains, oranges, and red grapefruit.

Geography

Los Fresnos is located slightly south of the geographic center of Cameron County at 26.0733°N -97.4781°W (26.073216, –97.478164).[6] It is 12miles north of the center of Brownsville and 18miles southeast of Harlingen.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Los Fresnos has a total area of 7.9km2, of which 0.31NaN1, or 3.98%, is covered by water.[4]

Situated slightly north of the city of Brownsville, Los Fresnos experiences average temperatures, which land the community within the humid subtropical climate zone, but like the rest of the lower Rio Grande Valley, fluctuating temperatures cause the area to transition between a humid subtropical climate and a tropical savanna climate. Due to this, tropical vegetation grows widely around the surrounding area. Temperature extremes range from highs near 100 °F in the summer down to around freezing temperatures about once or twice a year, and not at all during some years. In addition, Los Fresnos is prone to impact from hurricanes. Notable hurricanes to hit the area include Beulah, Allen, and Dolly. Thunderstorm activity occurs usually during the spring and fall when cold fronts cause instability with the region's warm climate. While not a common occurrence, the city occasionally experiences hail or brief tornadoes.

Demographics

2020 census

Los Fresnos racial composition[7]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)!Race!Number!Percentage
White (NH)7008.63%
Black or African American (NH)160.2%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)120.15%
Asian (NH)230.28%
Pacific Islander (NH)20.02%
Some Other Race (NH)130.16%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)390.48%
Hispanic or Latino7,30990.08%
Total8,114
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 8,114 people, 2,196 households, and 1,798 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, 4,512 people, 1,296 households, and 1,092 families resided in the city. The population density was 1868.9sp=usNaNsp=us. The 1,480 housing units averaged 613.0 per square mile (237.1/km). The racial makeup of the city was 81.96% White, 0.42% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.02% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 14.38% from other races, and 2.99% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 84.62% of the population.

Of the 1,296 households, 53.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.7% were married couples living together, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.7% were not families. About 14.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.48, and the average family size was 3.86.

In the city, the population was distributed as 36.4% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,793, and for a family was $27,670. Males had a median income of $20,459 versus $17,904 for females. The per capita income for the city was $9,507. About 28.5% of families and 34.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.8% of those under age 18 and 22.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

The United States Postal Service operates the Los Fresnos Post Office.[8]

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operates the Port Isabel Service Processing Center, which is located in an unincorporated area adjacent to Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport, northeast of Los Fresnos.[9]

Local public transportation is provided by Valley Metro.

Sites of interest

The Los Fresnos Rodeo and the Cameron County Livestock Show is held annually on the third weekend in February. [10]

Los Fresnos Motocross Park has campsites available at the track to accommodate recreational vehicles and tents. Quads are also welcomed to race, with categories for every age and bike sizes, such as Mini 50-cc, 250-cc, quads, etc.

Little Graceland was located on West Highway 100 and contains a small collection of Elvis Presley memorabilia, including photos, posters, watches, and playing cards. It was operated by the late Simon Vega, who served with Presley in the Army in Germany from 1958 to 1960.

Education

Los Fresnos is served by the Los Fresnos Consolidated Independent School District.

The Ethel L. Whipple Memorial Library serves Los Fresnos.[5]

Media

Newspapers

Radio stations

References

  1. Web site: 2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. August 7, 2020.
  2. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2008-01-31.
  3. Web site: US Board on Geographic Names. 2008-01-31. United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25.
  4. Web site: Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Los Fresnos city, Texas. U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. July 8, 2015. https://archive.today/20200213055643/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4844116. February 13, 2020. dead.
  5. "Home." Ethel L. Whipple Memorial Library. Retrieved on May 9, 2010.
  6. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. 2011-04-23. 2011-02-12.
  7. Web site: Explore Census Data . 2022-05-21 . data.census.gov.
  8. "Post Office Location - LOS FRESNOS ." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on May 9, 2010.
  9. "Port Isabel Service Processing Center." U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Retrieved on July 21, 2010.
  10. http://www.lfrodeo.com

External links