Encinal ( ) is a town in La Salle County, Texas, United States. The population was 540 at the 2020 census.

Interstate 35 Interstate 35 (I-35) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route. It stretches from Laredo, Texas, near the Mexican border ...

Business runs through the community. There are few businesses in Encinal; most have closed along the main street. Railroad officials named the town for the Spanish word for ''oak grove''. The population peaked in 1937 at eight hundred residents.

History

Encinal may be named for the Spanish word for a holm or holly oak grove. The town was supposed to be the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...

for

Encinal County Encinal County was a former Texas county. Its area is now completely contained in the present Webb County. History Encinal County was established on February 1, 1856 and was to consist of the eastern portion of present-day Webb County. The law ...

which was established on February 1, 1856 and was to consist of the eastern portion of Webb County, Texas. The county was never organized and was finally dissolved on March 12, 1899. The Encinal territory was absorbed into Webb County, and Encinal became part of La Salle County.

Geography

Encinal is located at (28.041584, −99.356192). According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the city has a total area of , all of it land.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the

Köppen Climate Classification The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...

system, Encinal has a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...

, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Transportation

Highways

Interstate Highway 35 Interstate 35 (I-35) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route. It stretches from Laredo, Texas, near the Mexican border ...

, exit 38, Runs directly through town to the east. *

Texas State Highway 44 State Highway 44 (SH 44) is a Texas state highway that runs from west of Encinal to Corpus Christi, Texas. This highway is also known as the Cesar Chavez Memorial Highway outside the city limits of Robstown, Banquete, Agua Dulce, ...

. Runs through town, Ends at US 83 far west of town. * US 83. Bypasses town to the Far West.

Air travel

Laredo International Airport Laredo International Airport is three miles northeast of downtown Laredo, Texas, Laredo, in Webb County, Texas, Webb County, Texas. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021 FAA airport categories, categorized it as ...

(in Laredo)

Demographics

2020 census

As of the

2020 United States census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...

, there were 540 people, 380 households, and 331 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 629 people, 215 households, and 159 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,616.4 people per square mile (622.7/km²). There were 276 housing units at an average density of 709.2/sq mi (273.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 74.56%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 0.16%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.32% Native American, 23.05% from other races, and 1.91% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 91.26% of the population. There were 215 households, out of which 40.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.50. In the city, the population was spread out, with 31.8% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.4 males. The median income for a household in the city was $14,853, and the median income for a family was $18,125. Males had a median income of $18,250 versus $13,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $6,928. About 37.2% of families and 38.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.9% of those under age 18 and 30.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

* Encinal is within the

Cotulla Independent School District Cotulla Independent School District is a public school district based in Cotulla, Texas, USA. In addition to Cotulla, the district serves most of La Salle County, including the city of Encinal and the community of Fowlerton. In 2009, the scho ...

Notable people

Janet Krueger Janet may refer to: Names * Janet (given name) * Janet (French singer) (1939–2011) Surname * Charles Janet (1849–1932), French engineer, inventor and biologist, known for the Left Step periodic table * Jules Janet (1861–1945), French psych ...

, an artist of

South Texas South Texas is a region of the U.S. state of Texas that lies roughly south of—and includes—San Antonio. The southern and western boundary is the Rio Grande, and to the east it is the Gulf of Mexico. The population of this region is about 4.96 ...

ranching A ranch (from es, rancho/Mexican Spanish) is an area of land, including various structures, given primarily to ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle and sheep. It is a subtype of a farm. These terms are most often ...

life, resides in Encinal, former professor at Texas A&M International University in Laredo * Rodney Lewis, CEO of Lewis Energy, has a ranch in Encinal * Juan Light Salinas (1901–1995) lived on his ranch south of Encinal; world class tie-down calf roper, National Cowboy Hall of Fame inductee 1991; made the World Championship Rodeo at Madison Square Garden, New York City, 1936 to 1946 *

George Strait George Harvey Strait Sr. (born May 18, 1952) is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor, and music producer. Strait is considered one of the most influential and popular recording artists of all time. In the 1980s, he was credited for ...