Mirando City is a

census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counterparts of incorporated places, such ...

(CDP) in

Webb County Webb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 267,114. Its county seat is Laredo. The county was named after James Webb (1792–1856), who served as secretary of the treasury, secret ...

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

, United States. It is three hundred eighty-four miles southwest of

Houston Houston (; ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in Texas, the Southern United States#Major cities, most populous city in the Southern United States, the List of United States cities by population, fourth-most pop ...

. The population was 166 at the 2010 census. The town gets its name from Nicolás Mirando, a Spanish land grantee. The population of Mirando City was highest in 1929, at an estimated 1500. The

peyote The peyote (; ''Lophophora williamsii'' ) is a small, spineless cactus which contains psychoactive alkaloids, particularly mescaline. ''Peyote'' is a Spanish word derived from the Nahuatl (), meaning "caterpillar cocoon", from a root , "to gl ...

cactus thrives in and around Mirando City and nearby Oilton, and is a clandestine source of income for residents. Peyoteros have harvested peyote in Mirando City for over a hundred years. Mirando City was the center of the South Texas Oil Boom, launched in 1921 by the industrialist Oliver Winfield Killam of Laredo.

History

O. W. Killiam established the community in 1921.Progress Report Mirando City Independent School District
"

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts is an executive branch position created by the Texas Constitution. The comptroller is popularly elected every four years, and is primarily tasked with collecting all state tax revenue and estimating the am ...

. October 2003. Retrieved on October 2, 2011. Charles A. Ingersoll, known as Bob, was an early wildcatter oilman in Webb County. Ingersoll brought in the first gusher....the kanoka #1 in the Schott pool.

Geography

Mirando City is located at (27.440631, -98.999170). 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 th ...

in 2000, the CDP has a total area of 11.1 square miles (28.7 km²), all of it land. This CDP lost area in the changes in

prior to the 2010 census. Its total area was reduced to , all land. It is southeast of 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 off ...

, there were 222 people, 138 households, and 87 families residing in the CDP.

2000 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses inc ...

of 2000, there were 493 people, 145 households, and 108 families residing in the CDP. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberP ...

was 44.5 people per square mile (17.2/km²). There were 205 housing units at an average density of 18.5/sq mi (7.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 85.80%

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 o ...

, 0.20% Native American, 0.81% Asian, 10.95% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 2.23% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, 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 viceroyalties form ...

or Latino people of any race were 91.89% of the population. There were 145 households, out of which 48.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.4% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.40 and the average family size was 4.16. In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 39.6% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males. The median income for a household in the CDP was $24,375, and the median income for a family was $30,221. Males had a median income of $25,250 versus $18,250 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the CDP was $9,553. About 22.2% of families and 26.0% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 27.3% of those under age 18 and 35.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Mirando City is served by the Webb Consolidated Independent School District (Webb CISD). Mirando City residents attend: * Bruni High School (9-12) * Bruni Middle School (6-8) * Oilton Elementary School (K-5) Prior to 1994, Webb CISD served only Bruni and Oilton. Mirando City Independent School District served the community of Mirando City from 1923 to 2005. Prior to 1994, all Mirando City children attended Mirando City ISD schools. After the spring semester of 1994, Mirando High School closed. Therefore, from the fall of 1994 to July 1, 2005, WCISD served high schoolers from Mirando City, while Mirando Elementary School in the Mirando City ISD served students from

kindergarten Kindergarten is a preschool educational approach based on playing, singing, practical activities such as drawing, and social interaction as part of the transition from home to school. Such institutions were originally made in the late 18th cen ...

through 8th grade. On May 9, 2005 the

Texas Education Agency The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is the branch of the government of Texas responsible for public education in Texas in the United States.

ordered the closure of Mirando City ISD. The district closed on July 1, 2005, and all students were rezoned to Webb CISD schools. All of Mirando City's children now go to Webb CISD schools. The designated community college for Webb County is

Laredo Community College Laredo College (LC) is a public community college in Laredo, Texas. Founded as Laredo Junior College in 1947, it is part of the Laredo Independent School District. As defined by the Texas Legislature, the official service area of LC includes t ...

Parks and recreation

Webb County operates the Ernesto J. Salinas Memorial Community Center.

Lala's Cafe

Mirando City's main business is Lala's Cafe, a Texas-Mexican restaurant on Main Street which opened in 1953 and moved to its current location in 1964 across the street from the original site. It received a historical marker from the Webb County Historical Association on January 4, 2014.Philip Balli, "Historical Marker Dedication and Unveiling Ceremony: Lala's Café served Honor: Iconic eatery gets marker", ''

Laredo Morning Times The ''Laredo Morning Times'' is a daily newspaper publication based in Laredo, Texas, USA. It is owned by the Hearst Corporation Hearst Communications, Inc., often referred to simply as Hearst, is an American multinational mass media and busi ...

'', January 5, 2014 Founded by the Eduarda Rodriguez, who died in 1973, the café is now operated by her daughter, Mariana "Mimi" Rodriguez.

References

External links

Mirando City website
* {{authority control Census-designated places in Texas Census-designated places in Webb County, Texas 1921 establishments in Texas