Aransas County, Texas
Aransas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is in South Texas and its county seat is Rockport.
As of the 2020 census, its population was 23,830. Aransas County comprises the Rockport, Texas micropolitan statistical area.
History
Spanish conquistador and cartographer Alonso Álvarez de Pineda was likely the first European to encounter this land when he sailed along the Texas coast in the summer of 1519 and charted Aransas Bay. This name is derived from an outpost established during the Viceroyalty of New Spain called "Río de Nuestra Señora de Aránzazu", which was itself named for the Sanctuary of Aránzazu, a Franciscan sanctuary in Oñate, Gipuzkoa, Spain, whose name originates from the Basque language.In 1871, the Texas Legislature established Aransas County from portions of Refugio County, and it organized the following year.
In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey inflicted tremendous damage on the county.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which are covered by water.Adjacent counties
National protected area
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 23,830. The median age was 52.5 years. 16.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 28.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.0 males age 18 and over.The racial makeup of the county was 75.5% White, 1.1% Black or African American, 1.0% Native Americans in [the United States|American Indian and Alaska Native], 2.1% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 6.5% from some other race, and 13.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 25.8% of the population.
76.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 23.6% lived in rural areas.
There were 10,236 households in the county, of which 21.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.2% were married-couple households, 19.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 15,500 housing units, of which 34.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.5% were owner-occupied and 22.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 23.8%.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, about 5.9 same-sex couples per 1,000 households lived in the county.2000 census
As of the 2000 census, 22,497 people, 9,132 households, and 6,401 families lived in the county. The population density was. The 12,848 housing units had an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 87.44% White, 1.43% Black or African American, 0.58% Native American, 2.77% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 5.33% from other races, and 2.39% from two or more races. About 20.32% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.Of the 9,132 households, 27.0% had children under 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were not families. About 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the county, the age distribution was 23.8% under 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,702, and for a family was $34,915. Males had a median income of $31,597 versus $20,289 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,560. About 15.5% of families and 19.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.0% of those under 18 and 10.2% of those 65 or over.
Education
Most county residents, including the cities of Rockport and Fulton, are served by the Rockport-Fulton [Independent School District]. Some residents are served by the Aransas Pass Independent School District. Del Mar College is the designated community college for the county.Transportation
Major highways
- 20px State Highway 35
- 20px State [Highway 188 (Texas)|State Highway 188]
