| Official Name: | Yoakum, Texas |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Nickname: | Leather Capital of Texas, Hub City of South Texas |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Image Map1: | Lavaca County Yoakum.svg |
| Mapsize1: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | Counties |
| Subdivision Name2: | Lavaca, DeWitt |
| Government Type: | Council-Manager |
| Leader Title: | City council |
| Leader Name: | Mayor Carl O'Neill Elorine Sitka Rodney Jahn Tim Faulkner |
| Leader Title1: | City manager |
| Leader Name1: | Kevin Coleman |
| Established Title: | Incorporated |
| Established Date: | May 13, 1889 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 11.89 |
| Area Land Km2: | 11.86 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.02 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 4.59 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 4.58 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.01 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Footnotes: | [2] |
| Population Total: | 5908 |
| Population Density Km2: | 500.70 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1296.66 |
| Population Blank1 Title: | Demonym |
| Population Blank1: | Yoakumite |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Elevation M: | 111.3 |
| Elevation Ft: | 365 |
| Coordinates: | 29.2911°N -97.1472°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 77995 |
| Area Code: | 361 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 48-80560 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 1377671 |
Yoakum is a city in Lavaca and DeWitt counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 5,908 at the 2020 census.[2]
The area was sparsely settled until a townsite was laid out with the construction of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway in 1887, and named for Benjamin F. Yoakum, a vice president of the line. The railroad built a roundhouse and maintenance shops there, employing hundreds of workers. The town was incorporated in 1889. According to the Handbook of Texas Online, "By 1896 Yoakum had a cotton mill, three cotton gins, a compress, several churches, a bank, an ice factory, specialty and general stores, two weekly newspapers and one daily, a school system with 700 pupils, and a population of 3,000. By 1914 the number of residents had reached 7,500."[3] In the early 20th century, the Tex-Tan company, later part of the Tandy Corporation, manufactured saddles, bridles, harnesses, belts, and wallets. Other industries included a dairy, a cannery, meat-packing and food-processing plants, and a metalworking shop. Beginning in 1926, tomato farming in the surrounding area became a major agricultural business, with Yoakum being known as "the tomato capital of south central Texas."[3]
Yoakum is located on the border of Lavaca and DeWitt counties at 29.2911°N -97.1472°W (29.291052, -97.147315).[4] U.S. Route 77 Alternate forms the northwestern boundary of the city and leads northeast to Hallettsville and southwest to Cuero. Texas State Highway 111 passes through the center of Yoakum, leading southeast to Edna and west 9miles to Hochheim. Texas State Highway 95 leaves US 77A at the north end of Yoakum and leads north 8miles to Shiner.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Yoakum has a total area of 11.9sqkm, of which 0.02sqkm, or 0.20%, is covered by water.[2]
| White (NH) | 2,096 | 35.48% | |
| Black or African American (NH) | 501 | 8.48% | |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 11 | 0.19% | |
| Asian (NH) | 38 | 0.64% | |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 1 | 0.02% | |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 13 | 0.22% | |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 151 | 2.56% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3,097 | 52.42% | |
| Total | 5,908 |
As of the census[6] of 2000, 5,731 people, 2,156 households, and 1,515 families resided in the city. The population density was 1256.2sp=usNaNsp=us. The 2,529 housing units averaged 554.3/mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 73.29% White, 11.88% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 12.41% from other races, and 1.81% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 33.89% of the population.
Of the 2,156 households, 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were not families. About 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the city, the population was distributed as 29.1% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,680, and for a family was $30,556. Males had a median income of $23,226 versus $15,594 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,835. About 16.0% of families and 20.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.4% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, Yoakum has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.[11]