| County: | San Patricio County |
| State: | Texas |
| Founded: | 1836 |
| Seat Wl: | Sinton |
| Largest City Wl: | Corpus Christi |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 708 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 693 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 14 |
| Area Percentage: | 2.0% |
| Census Yr: | 2020 |
| Pop: | 68755 |
| Density Sq Mi: | auto |
| Ex Image: | San patricio courthouse.jpg |
| Ex Image Size: | 250 |
| Ex Image Cap: | Built in 1927 (Henry T. Phelps), this is the eighth structure to serve as the San Patricio County Courthouse in Sinton. |
| Web: | http://www.co.san-patricio.tx.us/ |
| Time Zone: | Central |
| District: | 27th |
| Named For: | Saint Patrick |
San Patricio County is located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 68,755.[1] Its county seat is Sinton.[2] San Patricio County is part of the Corpus Christi metropolitan statistical area.
In 1828, 200 Irish Catholic families, recruited from Ireland and the Irish population of New York City, contracted with the Mexican government to settle on 80 leagues of land in this area. By 1836, about 500 people lived in the colony on 84 Mexican land grants. During the Texas Revolution, most fled from the colony because of fighting in the area. By 1841, a small number of permanent residents had returned. When Texas was annexed by the United States in 1845, the area was stabilized by the presence of U.S. troops under General Zachary Taylor. In 1845, the county was formed (San Patricio is Spanish for Saint Patrick, the primary patron saint of the colonists' home country of Ireland), and Corpus Christi was designated as the county seat. The following year, the county south of the Nueces River was reorganized as Nueces County, and the town of San Patricio became the county seat of San Patricio County. In 1848, additional counties were formed out of San Patricio, which further reduced its size.
The 1850 U.S. Census listed only 200 people in the county, including three slaves. The local economy was based on cattle raising. In the mid-1860s, more settlers moved, drawn by the cheap land. By 1870, 602 people lived in the county, and the agricultural census reported 51 farms and ranches, totaling 52000acres, in the area, with about 2400acres described as "improved". Development of the county intensified during the early 20th century, as hundreds of farmers moved in from North Texas and other states. The population reached 7,307 by 1910, and was 11,386 by 1920; 470 farms were counted in 1910, and 757 farms in 1920. Cattle ranching remained important, but vegetables and cotton also became important. The acres planted in the cotton increased from about 15000acres in 1910 to 155000acres by 1930.[3] [4]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 708sqmi, of which 693sqmi are land and 14sqmi (2.0%) are covered by water.[5]
The Gulf of Mexico forms the eastern border of the county.
| White (NH) | 27,330 | 26,613 | 42.17% | 38.71% | |
| Black or African American (NH) | 902 | 994 | 1.39% | 1.45% | |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 169 | 198 | 0.26% | 0.29% | |
| Asian (NH) | 506 | 845 | 0.78% | 1.23% | |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 46 | 66 | 0.07% | 0.1% | |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 53 | 227 | 0.08% | 0.33% | |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 550 | 1,592 | 0.85% | 2.32% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 35,248 | 38,220 | 54.39% | 55.59% | |
| Total | 64,804 | 68,755 |
As of the census[8] of 2000, 67,138 people, 22,093 households, and 17,232 families resided in the county. The population density was 97/mi2. The 24,864 housing units averaged 36/mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 76.76% White, 2.81% African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 15.94% from other races, and 3.05% from two or more races. About 49.42% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 22,093 households, 41.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.0% were not families. About 18.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.97, and the average family size was 3.40.
In the county, the age distribution was 31.1% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,836, and for a family was $40,002. Males had a median income of $31,132 versus $20,730 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,425. About 14.60% of families and 18.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.50% of those under age 18 and 16.80% of those age 65 or over.
School districts include:
Del Mar College is the designated community college for all of San Patricio County.[10]
San Patricio County, like all counties in Texas, is governed by a commissioners' court. This court consists of the county judge (the chairperson of the court), who is elected county-wide, and four commissioners who are elected by the voters in each of four precincts.
The Commissioners' Court is the policy-making body for the county; in addition, the county judge is the senior executive and administrative position in the county. The Commissioners' Court sets the county tax rate, adopts the budget, appoints boards and commissions, approves grants and personnel actions, and oversees the administration of county government. Each commissioner also supervises a Road and Bridge District.[11]
| Office[12] | Name | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bgcolor=dark red | County Judge | David Krebs | Republican | |
| bgcolor=blue | Commissioner, Precinct 1 | Sonia Lopez | Democratic | |
| bgcolor=dark red | Commissioner, Precinct 2 | Tom Yardley | Republican | |
| bgcolor=dark red | Commissioner, Precinct 3 | Lilly Wilkinson | Republican | |
| bgcolor=dark red | Commissioner, Precinct 4 | Howard Gillespie | Republican | |
| Office | Name | Party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bgcolor=dark red | County Attorney | Tamera Cochran-May | Republican | ||
| County Clerk | Gracie Alaniz-Gonzales | Democratic | |||
| bgcolor=Dark Red | District Attorney | Sam Smith | Republican | ||
| bgcolor=dark red | District Clerk | Heather Marks | Republican | ||
| bgcolor=dark red | Sheriff | Oscar Riveria | Republican | ||
| bgcolor=dark red | Tax Assessor-Collector | Marcela Thormaehlen | Republican | ||
| bgcolor=dark red | Treasurer | April Garcia | Republican | ||
| Office | Name | Party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constable, Precinct 1 | Joe Gaitan | Democratic | |||
| Constable, Precinct 2 | Franciso Cantu | Democratic | |||
| bgcolor=dark red | Constable, Precinct 4 | Parnel Haynes | Republican | ||
| bgcolor= | Constable, Precinct 5 | Sean Orsak | |||
| bgcolor=dark red | Constable, Precinct 6 | Kody Fahrenthold | Republican | ||
| bgcolor=blue | Constable, Precinct 8 | Terry Gonzales | Democratic | ||
| Office | Name | Party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bgcolor=dark red | Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1 | Leslie DeAses | Republican | ||
| Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2 | Danny Garza | Democratic | |||
| bgcolor=Dark red | Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4 | Karen Diaz | Republican | ||
| Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5 | Nere Villarreal | Democratic | |||
| bgcolor=dark red | Justice of the Peace, Precinct 6 | Susan Price | Republican | ||
| bgcolor=dark red | Justice of the Peace, Precinct 8 | Leslie Pullin | Republican | ||
| Office | Name | Party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bgcolor=dark red | County Court at Law No. 1 | Elizabeth Welborn | Republican | ||
| bgcolor= | County Court at Law No. 2 | Vicki Hesseltine Martino | |||
| Office | Name | Party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bgcolor=dark red | 36th District Court | Starr Bauer | Republican | ||
| bgcolor=dark red | 156th District Court | Patrick L. Flanigan | Republican | ||
| bgcolor=Dark red | 343rd District Court | Jana Whatley | Republican | ||
Despite being majority-minority San Patricio county leans overwhelmingly Republican. The GOP does better than average among Latino residents in Texas, particularly south Texas. In 2022, Republicans won 40% of the Latino vote.[13] This has been as high as 48% in 2014.[14] These margins help Republicans win majority-minority districts, while Republicans in other parts of the country struggle - only garnering between 21% and 30% of the vote. Republicans appear to be increasing their Latino support from picking off specific segments: Men, rural Latinos, Rio Grande Valley, devout Catholics, Tejano and pro-life voters.