Port Mansfield is a

census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), 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 count ...

(CDP) in Willacy County,

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...

, United States. The population was 226 at the 2010 census.

Geography

Port Mansfield is located at (26.555453, -97.431051). 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 t ...

, the CDP has a total area of 5.7 square miles (14.8 km²), of which, 5.2 square miles (13.5 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (8.76%) is water. A navigational channel connects Port Mansfield to the

Intracoastal Waterway The Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) is a inland waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of the United States, running from Massachusetts southward along the Atlantic Seaboard and around the southern tip of Florida, then following t ...

, and to the

Gulf of Mexico The Gulf of Mexico ( es, Golfo de México) is an ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, largely surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United ...

, cutting through

Padre Island Padre Island is the largest of the Texas barrier islands and the world's longest barrier island. The island is located along Texas's southern coast of the Gulf of Mexico and is noted for its white sandy beaches. Meaning ''father'' in Spanish, it ...

via the Port Mansfield Channel. The cut through South Padre Island had shoaled considerably in the early 2000s, and by 2008 only shallow draft boats could safely enter at the Mansfield cut. The channel was dredged in the winter months of 2009-2010 by the

United States Army Corps of Engineers , colors = , anniversaries = 16 June (Organization Day) , battles = , battles_label = Wars , website = , commander1 = ...

using Federal relief money following Hurricanes Rita and Dolly. The channel was dredged in the Spring of 2021 and is now 16–20 feet deep with all the dredge tailings making a beach on the north side of the jetty.

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 319 people, 92 households, and 31 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 in ...

of 2000, there were 415 people, 187 households, and 137 families residing in the CDP. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: 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 geographical ...

was 79.6 people per square mile (30.8/km²). There were 563 housing units at an average density of 108.0 per square mile (41.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.01%

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 ...

, 0.96% Native American, 4.58% 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 1.45% 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 forme ...

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 14.22% of the population. There were 187 households, out of which 14.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.7% were married couples living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.50. In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 13.5% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 16.9% from 25 to 44, 37.1% from 45 to 64, and 28.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 55 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.5 males. The median income for a household in the CDP was $26,500, and the median income for a family was $27,500. Males had a median income of $18,333 versus $26,667 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 $15,087. About 20.5% of families and 26.8% 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 t ...

, including 53.5% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Climate

Education

Port Mansfield is served by the

San Perlita Independent School District San Perlita Independent School District is a public school district based in San Perlita, Texas ( USA). In addition to San Perlita, the district also serves the community of Port Mansfield. San Perlita ISD has three campuses - San Perlita High ...

. In addition, South Texas Independent School District operates magnet schools that serve the community.

References

External links

Handbook of Texas Online article
{{authority control Census-designated places in Willacy County, Texas Census-designated places in Texas Populated coastal places in Texas