Webb County is a

county A county () is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesL. Brookes (ed.) '' Chambers Dictionary''. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2005. in some nations. The term is derived from the Old French denoti ...

located in the U.S. state of

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

. As of the 2020 census, its population was 267,114.2020 Population and Housing State Data , Arizona
/ref> Its

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

is Laredo. The county was named after James Webb (1792–1856), who served as secretary of the treasury, secretary of state, and attorney general of the

Republic of Texas The Republic of Texas (), or simply Texas, was a country in North America that existed for close to 10 years, from March 2, 1836, to February 19, 1846. Texas shared borders with Centralist Republic of Mexico, the Republic of the Rio Grande, an ...

, and later judge of the United States District Court following the admission of Texas to statehood. By area, Webb County is the largest county in South Texas and the sixth-largest in the state. Webb County comprises the Laredo metropolitan area. Webb County is the only county in the United States to border three foreign states or provinces, sharing borders with Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and

Tamaulipas Tamaulipas, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tamaulipas, is a state in Mexico; one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 federal entities of Mexico. It is divided into 43 municipalities. It is located in nor ...

. Webb County has a minority majority, with 95.2% of the population of the county identifying as Hispanic. This makes Webb the county with the second-highest proportion of Hispanic people in the continental United States after Starr County, and it has the highest proportion of Hispanic people among counties with a population over 100,000.

History

Webb County was split in 1856. Encinal County was established on February 1, 1856, and was to have consisted of the eastern portion of Webb County. However, Encinal County was never organized and was finally dissolved on March 12, 1899, with its territory returned as part of Webb County. Much of Webb County history is based on the prevalence of ranching in the 19th century and continuing thereafter. The Webb County Heritage Foundation is a

nonprofit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

that seeks to preserve documents and artifacts of the past to guarantee that the regional history is not lost to upcoming generations. In 2015, the foundation, headed by President James E. Moore, presented Heritage Awards to such local notables as the artist Janet Krueger, journalist Maria Eugenia Guerra, and Laredo Community College art instructor Martha F. Fenstermaker (1943-2014).

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which are land and (0.4%) are covered by water.

Major highways

The Webb County - City of Laredo Regional Mobility Authority has responsibility for a comprehensive transport system in the region. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Adjacent counties and municipalities

* Dimmit County (north) * La Salle County (north) * Duval County (east) * Jim Hogg County (southeast) * Zapata County (south) * Maverick County (northwest) * McMullen County, Texas (northeast) * Guerrero, Coahuila, Mexico (west) * Hidalgo, Coahuila,

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

(west) * Anáhuac, Nuevo León, Mexico (west) *

Nuevo Laredo Nuevo Laredo () is a city in the Municipality of Nuevo Laredo in the Mexican List of states of Mexico, state of Tamaulipas. The city lies on the banks of the Rio Grande, across from Laredo, Texas, Laredo, United States. The 2010 census popula ...

, Mexico (south) * Guerrero, Tamaulipas, Mexico (southwest)

Demographics

As of the 2015 Texas Population Estimate Program, the population of the county was 273,536. The racial makeup of the county was 99.8% White and 0.2% Black or African American. The ethnic makeup of the county was non-Hispanic whites 8,699 (3.2%), Black Americans 552 (0.2%), and other non-Hispanic 2,134 (0.8%). Hispanics and Latinos (of any race) 262,151 (95.8%). As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2000, 193,117 people, 50,740 households, and 43,433 families resided in the county. The county gained 57,000 additional residents between 2000 and 2010. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), 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 geog ...

was 58 people/sq mi (22/km²). The 55,206 housing units averaged 16/sq mi (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 82.16% White, 0.37% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 14.02% from other races, and 2.54% from two or more races. About 94% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 50,740 households, 53.20% had children under 18 living with them, 62.60% were married couples living together, 18.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.40% were not families; 12.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.75, and the average family size was 4.10. In the county, the age distribution was 36.20% under 18, 11.40% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 15.60% from 45 to 64, and 7.60% who were 65 or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.90 males. The median income for a household in the county was $28,100, and for a family was $29,394. Males had a median income of $23,618 versus $19,018 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the county was $10,759. About 26.70% of families and 31.20% 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 39.40% of those under age 18 and 26.90% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Webb County was a longtime Democratic stronghold. However, since 2016, Webb County has been trending more towards the Republican Party due to

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...

attracting more Hispanic voters. This mirrors the same trend seen in other counties in South Texas. In 2024, the county flipped Republican by a slim majority, the first time it had done so since

1912 This year is notable for Sinking of the Titanic, the sinking of the ''Titanic'', which occurred on April 15. In Albania, this leap year runs with only 353 days as the country achieved switching from the Julian to Gregorian Calendar by skippin ...

. Webb was Biden's best county in

2020 The year 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of even ...

of the counties that flipped to Trump in 2024 by margin; the county went from voting for Biden by 23% to voting for Trump by 2%. Overall, Webb County shifted to the right from

2012 2012 was designated as: *International Year of Cooperatives *International Year of Sustainable Energy for All Events January *January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins. * January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...

to 2024 by 56 percentage points, representing one of the strongest such rightward shifts for any county in the country.

Education

Three school districts serve Webb County: * Laredo Independent School District * United Independent School District * Webb Consolidated Independent School District 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 of 1994, Mirando City 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 pupils 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 eighth grade. On May 9, 2005, the Texas Education Agency ordered the closure of Mirando City ISD. The district closed on July 1, 2005, and all students were rezoned to Webb CISD schools. The private Holding Institute is a former United Methodist

boarding school A boarding school is a school where pupils live within premises while being given formal instruction. The word "boarding" is used in the sense of "room and board", i.e. lodging and meals. They have existed for many centuries, and now extend acr ...

operating as a downtown Laredo community center. All residents are zoned to Laredo College.Texas Education Code Sec. 130.185. LAREDO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
/ref>

Communities

Cities

* El Cenizo * Laredo (county seat) * Rio Bravo

Census-designated places

* Aguilares * Bonanza Hills * Botines * Bruni * Colorado Acres * Four Points * Hillside Acres * La Coma * La Moca Ranch * La Presa * Laredo Ranchettes * Laredo Ranchettes West * Las Haciendas * Las Pilas * Los Altos * Los Arcos * Los Centenarios * Los Corralitos * Los Fresnos * Los Huisaches * Los Minerales * Los Nopalitos * Los Veteranos I * Los Veteranos II * Mirando City * Oilton * Pueblo East * Pueblo Nuevo * Ranchitos East * Ranchitos Las Lomas * Ranchos Penitas West * San Carlos I * San Carlos II * Sunset Acres * Tanquecitos South Acres * Tanquecitos South Acres II * Valle Verde

Former census designated places

* Larga Vista

Other unincorporated communities

* Cactus * Callaghan * D-5 Acres Colonia * East Gate Acres Colonia * Las Tiendas * Minera * Old Milwaukee East * Old Milwaukee West * Palafox * Ranchitos los Mesquites Colonia * Ranchitos los Veteranos Colonia * San Pablo * San Ramon * Village East Colonia * Webb

Ghost towns

* Darwin * Islitas * Los Ojuelos * Pescadito * Santo Tomas

Gallery

Image:Webb-Encinal Counties 1895.JPG, Map of Webb and Encinal Counties in 1895 Image:Webb County Courthouse (1905).jpg, Webb County Courthouse in 1905 Image:Webb County Courthouse 2007.jpg, Webb County Courthouse today Image:Webb County, TX courthouse annex IMG 1780.JPG, Entrance to the William N. "Billy" Hall Administrative Building annex of the Webb County Courthouse in Laredo Image:Webb County, TX, Appraisal District Office IMG 2011.JPG, The Webb County Appraisal District Office in Laredo appraises taxable

real property In English common law, real property, real estate, immovable property or, solely in the US and Canada, realty, refers to parcels of land and any associated structures which are the property of a person. For a structure (also called an Land i ...

for municipal and county governments, Laredo Community College, and both public school districts. Image:J.O. Walker Ranch entrance, Webb County, TX IMG_6066.JPG, Entrance to the J. O. Walker, Jr., Piedra Parada Ranch in eastern Webb County Image:South Texas cactus; Webb County IMG_6060.JPG, '' Opuntia'' cacti abound throughout much of Webb County. Image:Cactus Jack Ranch in Webb County, TX IMG 1983.JPG, The Cactus Jack Ranch in northwestern Webb County is named for U.S. President

Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), also known as FDR, was the 32nd president of the United States, serving from 1933 until his death in 1945. He is the longest-serving U.S. president, and the only one to have served ...

's first

vice president A vice president or vice-president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vi ...

John Nance Garner John Nance Garner III (November 22, 1868 – November 7, 1967), known among his contemporaries as "Cactus Jack", was the 32nd vice president of the United States, serving from 1933 to 1941, under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. A member of the ...

of Uvalde. Imported saguaro cacti are planted at the gate. Image:Entrance to La Esperanza Ranch, Webb County, TX IMG_1255.JPG, Entrance gate to La Esperanza (Hope) Ranch in northwestern Webb County near the Dimmit County boundary Image:Abandoned building off U.S. Highway 83 in Webb County, TX IMG 1926.JPG, This abandoned building along U.S. Route 83 in northwestern Webb County reflects the isolation of the South Texas ranch country. File:Road through Tamaulipan thornscrub 2, Webb County, Texas, USA (10 June 2016).jpg, Road through Tamaulipan thornscrub, Webb County, Texas, USA (10 June 2016) File:Road through Tamaulipan thornscrub 1, Webb County, Texas, USA (10 June 2016).jpg, Road through Tamaulipan thornscrub, Webb County, Texas, USA (10 June 2016)

References

External links

Webb County government's website

Webb County in ''Handbook of Texas Online''
at the University of Texas
Webb County Heritage Foundation
{{coord, 27.77, -99.33, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990 1848 establishments in Texas Laredo–Nuevo Laredo Populated places established in 1848 Majority-minority counties in Texas Hispanic and Latino American culture in Texas Texas counties