Webb County is a

county A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposes Chambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...

located in the U.S. state of

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 ...

. 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 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 ...

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 ( es, República de Tejas) was a sovereign state in North America that existed from March 2, 1836, to February 19, 1846, that bordered Mexico, the Republic of the Rio Grande in 1840 (another breakaway republic from Me ...

, and later judge of the

United States District Court The United States district courts are the trial courts of the U.S. federal judiciary. There is one district court for each federal judicial district, which each cover one U.S. state or, in some cases, a portion of a state. Each district co ...

following the admission of Texas to statehood. By area, Webb County is the largest county in

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 ...

and the sixth-largest in the state. Webb County comprises the

Laredo metropolitan area The metropolitan area is the 178th-largest United States metropolitan area and covers all of Webb county, with a population of 250,304. It is also a part of the Laredo-Nuevo Laredo Metropolitan Area with an estimate population of 636,516. Commu ...

. Webb County is the only county in the United States to border three foreign states or provinces, sharing borders with

Coahuila Coahuila (), formally Coahuila de Zaragoza (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Coahuila de Zaragoza ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza), is one of the 32 states of Mexico. Coahuila borders the Mexican states of N ...

, Nuevo Leon, and

Tamaulipas Tamaulipas (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tamaulipas ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas), is a state in the northeast region of Mexico; one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Federal Entiti ...

. 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 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 ofte ...

in the 19th century and continuing thereafter. The Webb County Heritage Foundation is a

nonprofit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

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 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 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 and southeast) * Maverick County (northwest) *

McMullen County, Texas McMullen County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 600, making it the fourth-least populous county in Texas. Its county seat is Tilden. The county was established from parts of Bexar Co ...

(northeast) * Guerrero, Coahuila, Mexico (west) *

Hidalgo, Coahuila Hidalgo or Villa Hidalgo is a community located in the Mexican state of Coahuila Coahuila (), formally Coahuila de Zaragoza (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Coahuila de Zaragoza ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zarago ...

Mexico Mexico (Spanish language, Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a List of sovereign states, country in the southern portion of North America. It is borders of Mexico, bordered to the north by the United States; to the so ...

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

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

Demographics

''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.'' 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 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 ...

s 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 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, 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 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 RosenberPopu ...

was 58 people/sq mi (22/km²). The 55,206 housing units averaged 16/sq mi (6/km²). The

racial makeup A race is a categorization of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into groups generally viewed as distinct within a given society. The term came into common usage during the 1500s, when it was used to refer to groups of variou ...

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 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 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

Given the overwhelming Democratic allegiance in Webb County, Republicans rarely proffer candidates for county office. In the March 4, 2014, primary, 1,151 (4.6 percent) voted in the Republican primary in Webb County, compared to 23,958 (95.4 percent) in the Democratic contests. Webb County elections administrator Carlos Villarreal reported a 24% turnout in the November 4, 2014, general election in Webb County. County officials have requested that Villarreal develop a plan to increase turnout for 2016. County Democratic Chairman Alberto Torres, Jr., suggested improvements in the election division website with clear maps of voter boundaries. Torres said that such better services might motivate persons to vote regularly.

Education

Three school districts serve Webb County: * Laredo Independent School District *

United Independent School District United Independent School District is a school district headquartered in Laredo, Texas. History The district was created in 1961 via the consolidation of the former Cactus, Johnson, and Nye school districts. The "Big Three" involved in the est ...

Webb Consolidated Independent School District Webb Consolidated Independent School District (WCISD) is a school district based in Bruni, Texas, Bruni, a community in unincorporated area, unincorporated Webb County, Texas, Webb County, Texas, United States. WCISD serves the unincorporated c ...

Prior to 1994, Webb CISD served only Bruni and Oilton.

Mirando City Independent School District Mirando City Independent School District (MCISD) was a school district located in unincorporated Webb County, Texas, United States. At the end of the district's life, it consisted of one school named Mirando Elementary School, a K-8 school locate ...

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 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. The private Holding Institute is a former

United Methodist The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a worldwide mainline Protestant denomination based in the United States, and a major part of Methodism. In the 19th century, its main predecessor, the Methodist Episcopal Church, was a leader in evangelica ...

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. As they have existed for many centuries, and now exte ...

operating as a downtown Laredo community center. All residents are zoned to Laredo Community 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 Las Pilas (or El Hoyo) is a complex volcano located in the western part of Nicaragua. Part of a 30-km-long volcanic massif, Las Pilas has a series of well-preserved flank vents surrounding a central cone. Las Pilas last erupted in the 1950s and be ...

* 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

Other unincorporated communities

Cactus A cactus (, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1750 known species of the order Caryophyllales. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Gree ...

* 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 Webb most often refers to James Webb Space Telescope which is named after James E. Webb, second Administrator of NASA. It may also refer to: Places Antarctica * Webb Glacier (South Georgia) * Webb Glacier (Victoria Land) * Webb Névé, Victor ...

Ghost towns

* Darwin * Islitas * Los Ojuelos * Pescadito *

Santo Tomas Santo Tomás is Spanish for Saint Thomas. Santo Tomas may also refer to: Places Argentina * Santo Tomás, Buenos Aires, Carlos Casares Partido, Buenos Aires Province * Santo Tomás, Neuquén Colombia * Santo Tomás, Atlantico Cuba ...

Gallery

Image:Webb-Encinal Counties 1895.JPG, Map of

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, is land which is the property of some person and all structures (also called improvements or fixtures) integrated with or aff ...

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 ''Opuntia'', commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae. Prickly pears are also known as ''tuna'' (fruit), ''sabra'', '' nopal'' (paddle, plural ''nopales'') from the Nahuatl word ...

'' 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's first

vice president A 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 vice president is on ...

John Nance Garner John Nance Garner III (November 22, 1868 – November 7, 1967), known among his contemporaries as "Cactus Jack", was an American Democratic politician and lawyer from Texas who served as the 32nd vice president of the United States under Fran ...

of Uvalde. Imported

saguaro The saguaro (, ) (''Carnegiea gigantea'') is a tree-like cactus species in the monotypic genus ''Carnegiea'' that can grow to be over tall. It is native to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, the Mexican state of Sonora, and the Whipple Mountai ...

cacti A cactus (, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1750 known species of the order Caryophyllales. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Gree ...

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 The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public research university in Austin, Texas. It was founded in 1883 and is the oldest institution in the University of Texas System. With 40,916 undergraduate students, 11,075 ...

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