Editing Kleberg County, Texas

{{Short description|County in Texas, United States}}
{{distinguish|Kleberg, Dallas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Kleberg County
 | state                = Texas
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = 1913
 | seat wl              = Kingsville
 | largest city wl      = Kingsville
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1090
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 881
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 209
 | area percentage      = 19
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 31040
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | ex image             = Kleberg courthouse.jpg
 | ex image size        = 250
 | ex image cap         = The Kleberg County Courthouse in Kingsville. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 10, 2010.
 | web                  = www.co.kleberg.tx.us
 | time zone            = Central
 | named for            = [[Robert J. Kleberg]]
 | district             = 34th
}}

'''Kleberg County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Texas]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 31,040.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kleberg County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48273|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=February 23, 2021}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Kingsville, Texas|Kingsville]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The county was organized in 1913<ref>''Columbia-Lippincott Gazetteer'', p. 959</ref> and is named for [[Robert J. Kleberg]], an early settler.

Kleberg County is part of the Kingsville, TX [[Kingsville micropolitan area|Micropolitan Statistical Area]], which is also part of the [[Corpus Christi, Texas|Corpus Christi]]-[[Kingsville, Texas|Kingsville]]-[[Alice, Texas|Alice]], TX [[Corpus Christi metropolitan area|Combined Statistical Area]]. Most of the county's land lies in the famed [[King Ranch]], which also extends into neighboring counties.

==History==
The county was organized in 1913<ref>''Columbia-Lippincott Gazetteer'', p. 959.</ref> and was named for [[Robert J. Kleberg]], an early settler (see below).

In 1997, the county commissioners designated "HeavenO" as the county's official greeting because of a [[taboo]] stemming from "Hello"'s perceived connotations of [[Hell]].<ref>Kelley Shannon, "[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-01-19-me-20119-story.html Say Goodbye to ‘Hello’ and Hello to ‘Heaven-o’]", ''The Los Angeles Times'', January 19, 1997.</ref><ref>"[https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-01-21-9701210272-story.html Heaven-o]", ''The Chicago Tribune'', January 21, 1997.</ref>

===Robert Justus Kleberg===
Robert Justus Kleberg Sr. (1803–1888), a Prussian settler, was born on September 10, 1803, in Herstelle, Westphalia.  His father was a merchant.

Kleberg was educated in the classics and attended the University of Göttingen, where he received a J.D. degree. After graduating he was appointed a justice of assizes. He married Rosalie von Roeder near Paderborn, Prussia, in 1834.  They emigrated to Texas that year and settled in Cat Spring in 1836.

In the [[Republic of Texas]], Kleberg was associate commissioner and president of the Board of Land Commissioners (1837–38), justice of the peace (1841), and chief justice of Austin County (1846). In 1847 the Kleberg's moved to Meyersville, where Kleberg was elected county commissioner in 1848 and chief justice in 1853.

Kleberg fought in the [[battle of San Jacinto]] in Capt. [[Moseley Baker]]'s company and subsequently served as one of the Texas guards for Gen. Santa Anna. After the revolution, he volunteered for six months' duty in the Texas army in a campaign against the Indians on Escondido Creek.

Kleberg supported the cause of the Confederacy. When the Civil War broke out he raised a company of militia but because of his advanced age was not received into active service. Robert and Rosa raised their own seven children in addition to several young Roeder relatives. Their youngest son, Robert Justus Kleberg Jr. married Alice Gertrudis King.

Kleberg died on October 23, 1888, near Cuero and was buried there. His grave is marked by a monument in the form of a soldier's tent with the words "Remember the Alamo" carved at the base. Kleberg County was named in his honor in 1913; a marker at his home site near Cuero was erected in 1936.

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1090|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|881|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|209|sqmi}} (19%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 2, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> It borders the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. [[Baffin Bay (Texas)|Baffin Bay]] makes up a large part of the border with Kenedy County.

===Major highways===
* [[Image:I-69E (TX).svg|25px]] [[Interstate 69E]] (Under Construction)
* [[Image:US 77.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 77 (Texas)|U.S. Highway 77]]
* [[Image:Texas 141.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 141|State Highway 141]]
* [[Image:Texas 285.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 285|State Highway 285]]
* [[Image:Texas FM 771.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 771]]
* [[Image:Texas Park Road 22.svg|20px]] [[Texas Park Road 22|Park Road 22]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Nueces County, Texas|Nueces County]] (north)
* [[Kenedy County, Texas|Kenedy County]] (south)
* [[Brooks County, Texas|Brooks County]] (southwest)
* [[Jim Wells County, Texas|Jim Wells County]] (west)

===National protected area===
* [[Padre Island National Seashore]] (part)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1920= 7837
|1930= 12451
|1940= 13344
|1950= 21991
|1960= 30052
|1970= 33166
|1980= 33358
|1990= 30274
|2000= 31549
|2010= 32061
|2020= 31040
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br />1850–2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010|publisher=Texas Almanac|access-date=May 2, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Kleberg County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''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 may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Kleberg County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=0500000US48273&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Kleberg County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48273&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240109045150/https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2010.P2?q=p2&g=050XX00US48273&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2 |archive-date= January 9, 2024 }}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Kleberg County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48273&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240109044524/https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P2?q=p2&g=050XX00US48273&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |archive-date= January 9, 2024 }}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|8,997
|7,479
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6,728
|28.52%
|23.33%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |21.68%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|1,091
|1,070
|style='background: #ffffe6; |995
|3.46%
|3.34%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.21%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|97
|51
|style='background: #ffffe6; |83
|0.31%
|0.16%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.27%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|444
|715
|style='background: #ffffe6; |784
|1.41%
|2.23%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.53%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|26
|26
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1
|0.08%
|0.08%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other Race]] alone (NH)
|21
|28
|style='background: #ffffe6; |97
|0.07%
|0.09%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.31%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|238
|197
|style='background: #ffffe6; |432
|0.75%
|0.61%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.39%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|20,635
|22,495
|style='background: #ffffe6; |21,920
|65.41%
|70.16%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |70.62%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''31,549'''
|'''32,061'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''31,040'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2000 Census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census }}</ref> of 2000, there were 31,549 people, 10,896 households, and 7,681 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|36|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 12,743 housing units at an average density of {{convert|15|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 71.87% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 3.70% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.61% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 1.47% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.10% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 19.00% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.25% from two or more races. 65.41% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 10,896 households, out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.10% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 22.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.30.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.30% under the age of 18, 15.70% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 19.00% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,313, and the median income for a family was $33,055. Males had a median income of $31,179 versus $19,494 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $13,542. About 21.20% of families and 26.70% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 35.50% of those under age 18 and 15.60% of those age 65 or over.

===Religion===
68.1% of the people in Kleberg County are religious: 37.3% are [[Catholic Church in the United States|Catholics]], 9.8% are [[Baptists]], 8% are [[Muslims]], 3.3% are [[Methodism|Methodists]], 2.7% are [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostals]], 2.0% are [[Mormons]], 0.9% are [[Lutheranism|Lutherans]], 0.7% are [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterians]], 0.6% are [[Episcopalians]] and 2.8% are from another [[Christianity|Christian]] faith.<ref><nowiki>https://www.bestplaces.net/religion/county/texas/kleberg</nowiki></ref>

==Communities==

===Cities and towns===
* [[Corpus Christi, Texas|Corpus Christi]] (also in [[Aransas County, Texas|Aransas]], [[Nueces County, Texas|Nueces]], and [[San Patricio County, Texas|San Patricio]] counties)
* [[Kingsville, Texas|Kingsville]] (county seat)

===Census-designated places===
* [[Ricardo, Texas|Ricardo]]
* [[Riviera, Texas|Riviera]]

===Unincorporated community===
* [[Loyola Beach, Texas|Loyola Beach]]

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Kleberg County, Texas|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=July 26, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|5,612|4,338|81|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|5,575|5,381|141|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|4,367|4,716|504|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|4,058|4,754|95|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|4,540|5,256|80|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|5,366|4,550|57|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,526|4,481|187|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|3,391|5,136|472|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|3,897|5,109|1,558|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|4,443|5,367|136|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|5,712|4,924|45|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|4,608|5,125|320|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|3,771|5,803|73|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,312|4,481|10|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|2,713|4,633|670|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,652|4,568|10|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|2,092|3,773|1|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|2,121|2,436|15|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|2,037|3,193|1|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|697|2,083|93|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|421|1,473|63|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|429|1,631|4|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|156|1,488|64|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|198|1,727|25|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|751|695|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|226|721|208|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|172|455|46|Texas}}
{{PresFoot|1916|Democratic|106|427|45|Texas}}
Kleberg County is represented in the [[Texas House of Representatives]] by the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[J. M. Lozano]], a [[restaurateur]] in Kingsville, Portland, Calallen, and in [[Alice, Texas|Alice]], Texas.
Kleberg County has leaned Democratic most of its history but has become more competitive in the 21st century. An indicator of that trend is Lozano, originally a Democrat but switched to the Republicans in 2012. Also, Kleberg County Attorney Kira Talip Sanchez was originally elected as a Democrat in 2014, but she announced in August 2023 that she switched parties and is now a Republican.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Goldsberry |first1=Jenny |first2=David |last2=Zimmermann |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/texas-county-attorney-leaves-democratic-party-republican |title=Texas county attorney leaves Democratic Party for GOP over border crisis |website=Washington Examiner |date=August 20, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230820230744/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/texas-county-attorney-leaves-democratic-party-republican |archive-date= August 20, 2023 }}</ref> Kleberg County has voted four times for Republicans in the 21st century ([[George W. Bush]] in [[2000 United States presidential election in Texas|2000]] and [[2004 United States presidential election in Texas|2004]], and [[Donald Trump]] in [[2020 United States presidential election in Texas|2020]] and [[2024 United States presidential election in Texas|2024]]).
{{clear}}

==Education==
School districts include:
* [[Kingsville Independent School District]]
* [[Ricardo Independent School District]]
* [[Riviera Independent School District]]
* [[Santa Gertrudis Independent School District]]

[[Coastal Bend College]] (formerly Bee County College) is the designated community college for the Kingsville, Ricardo, and Santa Gertrudis school district areas. The Riviera ISD portion is in the [[Del Mar College-Corpus Christi Junior College District]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm |title=Texas Education Code, Title 3. Higher Education, Subtitle G. Non-baccalaureate System, Chapter 130. Junior College Districts |quote="Sec. 130.167. Bee County College District Service Area." "Sec. 130.177. Del Mar College-corpus Christi Junior College District Service Area." |publisher= Texas Constitution and Statutes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103085423/https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm |archive-date= November 3, 2023 }} The legislation calls it "Bee County College".</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Texas}}
* [[List of museums in the Texas Gulf Coast]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Kleberg County, Texas]]
* [[List of Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks (Hunt-Martin)#Kleberg County|Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Kleberg County]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.co.kleberg.tx.us/ Kleberg County government's website]
* {{Handbook of Texas|id=hck10|name=Kleberg County}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110713154845/http://www.klebergcountyairport.com/ Kleberg County Airport website]
* [http://www.klebergcoso.org/index.html Kleberg County Sheriff's Office]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Kleberg County, Texas
|North     = [[Nueces County, Texas|Nueces County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Gulf of Mexico]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Kenedy County, Texas|Kenedy County]]
|Southwest = [[Brooks County, Texas|Brooks County]]
|West      = [[Jim Wells County, Texas|Jim Wells County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Kleberg County, Texas}}
{{Texas counties}}
{{Texas}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|27.43|-97.66|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Kleberg County, Texas| ]]
[[Category:Kingsville, Texas micropolitan area]]
[[Category:1913 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1913]]
[[Category:Kleberg family| ]]
[[Category:Majority-minority counties in Texas]]