Editing Roma, Texas

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Roma, Texas
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = 08a - ROMA , TX (3) (16632080606).jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = TXMap-doton-Roma.PNG
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Roma, Texas
| image_map1         = Starr County Roma.svg
| mapsize1           = 250px
| map_caption1       = <!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Texas]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Texas|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Starr County, Texas|Starr]]

<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = [[Council-manager government|Council-Manager]]
| leader_title       = [[City Council]]
| leader_name        = [[Mayor]] Jaime Escobar Jr.<br />Gabriela Rodriguez <br />Joel Hinojosa<br />Mary Lou G. Cruz<br />Carlos M. Gonzalez Jr.<br />Gilberto Ramirez Jr.
| leader_title1      = [[City Manager]]
| leader_name1       = Crisanto Salinas
| established_title  = Incorporated
| established_date   = 1936

<!-- Area -->| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 15.55
| area_land_km2      = 15.19
| area_water_km2     = 0.36
| area_total_sq_mi   = 6.00
| area_land_sq_mi    = 5.87
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.14

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 11561
| population_density_km2 = 756.44

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset         = -6
| timezone_DST       = CDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 65
| elevation_ft       = 213
| coordinates        = {{coord|26|24|22|N|99|0|20|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 78584
| area_code          = [[Area code 956|956]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 48-63020<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 1388200<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|https://www.cityofroma.net/}}
| footnotes          = 
| population_density_sq_mi = 1959.08
}}
'''Roma''' is a city in [[Starr County, Texas]], United States. Its population was 11,561 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]]. The city is located along the [[Rio Grande]], across from [[Ciudad Miguel Alemán, Tamaulipas|Ciudad Miguel Alemán]] in [[Tamaulipas]], [[Mexico]]. The city is also popularly known as Roma-Los Saenz, since the incorporated city also took the area known as Los Saenz. It serves as a port of entry from Mexico into the U.S. via the [[Roma–Ciudad Miguel Alemán International Bridge]].

==Sights==
The town center has a number of picturesque historic buildings, now collected in the [[Roma Historic District]].

Roma is a popular [[birdwatching|birding]] site in the [[Lower Rio Grande Valley|Rio Grande Valley]], and a section of the [[World Birding Center]] is on Portsheller Street across from the city hall.

The channel of the Rio Grande is less than 200 feet wide at Roma. The bluff adjacent to the town square overlooks the river, and parts of the Ciudad Miguel Aleman crossing are readily visible. Because of the arresting views, this location is frequently used by television journalists, public officials, and others who visit the region as a [[photo op]] to visualize the border region.

==History==

Roma was established in 1821 in what had been the Spanish province of [[Nuevo Santander]].

Prior to Texas's independence from Mexico in 1836, the town was listed as under the jurisdiction of the town of [[Ciudad Mier|Mier]], Tamaulipas, and prior to [[Mexican independence]] existed under [[Spain|Spanish]] rule.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cityofroma.net/History.htm |title=Untitled Document |access-date=2007-11-04 |archive-date=2007-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071103232023/http://www.cityofroma.net/History.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The site offered a convenient crossing on the Rio Grande, which became known as ''El Paso de la Mula'' (Pass of the Mule). The area was notable for a salt trade from the Roma area to Monterrey. The Roma area became the Mexican state of Tamaulipas with the Mexican Constitution of 1824. Texas claimed Roma with the establishment of the [[Republic of Texas]] in 1835, but Mexico continued to control this area. A Texan force sought to take Roma in the [[Mier Expedition]] of 1842, which resulted in the death, capture, or execution of many volunteers.

After the [[Mexican–American War]] established U.S. control over the northern bank of the Rio Grande in 1846, Texas governed Roma. During the [[American Civil War]], the region became wealthy on the cotton trade, which was transshipped via Mexico to Europe. While steamboats were able to access Roma through the mid-19th century, lowering water levels as a result of development upstream ended river shipment by the 1880s. Bypassed by railroads, Roma stagnated and inadvertently preserved itself from development.<ref name="nrhpinv1">{{cite web|url={{NHLS url|id=72001371}}|title=National Historic Landmark Nomination|last=Weitze|first=Karen J. |author2=Corbett, Michael R. |author3=Charleton, James H.|date=April 19, 1993|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=2009-06-18}}</ref>

The [[Roma Historic District|Roma National Historic Landmark District]] contains over 30 structures built before 1900. Some of those buildings include:
* The '''Customs House''' (Casa de Aduanas, in Spanish) is where shippers and brokers came to pay customs fees for imported goods from Europe and Mexico on steamboats.
* The '''John Vale/Noah Cox House''' was built in 1853 by Swedish immigrant John Vale; its front elevation has finely carved sandstone with classical details on the cornice.
* the '''Leocadia Garcia House''', built in the 1840s, served first as a dwelling for José Maria Garcia, husband of Leocadia, and then as a store and dance hall.
* '''Ramirez Hall''' is the two-story home of Lino Ramirez and three generations of the Ramirez family. Built by architect Heinrich Portscheller, who personally laid brick around windows and doors,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uncoveredtexas.com/texas-historical-markers-detail.php?city=Roma&county=Starr&type=&an=5427004174|title=Ramirez Hall|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=2016|website=uncoveredtexas.com|publisher=Crowdpoper Media|access-date=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124120122/http://www.uncoveredtexas.com/texas-historical-markers-detail.php?city=Roma&county=Starr&type=&an=5427004174|archive-date=January 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stxmaps.com/go/texas-historical-marker-ramirez-hall.html|title=Texas Historical Marker - Ramirez Hall|website=www.stxmaps.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth435142/|title=[Historic Marker Application: Ramirez Hall]|first=Texas Historical|last=Commission|date=10 March 1973|website=The Portal to Texas History}}</ref> it was used as fictitious "Rosita's Cantina" in the 1950s film ''[[Viva Zapata]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/travel/brownsville-to-laredo-on-u-s-83-and-mexico-highway-2-2/|title=Brownsville to Laredo on U.S. 83 and Mexico Highway 2|date=1 May 2002|website=Texas Monthly}}</ref>
* The '''Manuel Guerra Building''' is the crown jewel of restored buildings in Roma.
* The '''Néstor Saenz Store''' has direct access to the wharf area, just below Juarez Street, where steamboats anchored.
* The '''Edward Hord Office''' was  built in 1853 for Edward R. Hord, who represented Mexican heirs of original landowners in the area, and during the Civil War, functioned as a military building,
* The '''Filomeno Gongora House''', built from sandstone blocks, was erected around the 1830s, the oldest house in Roma.
* '''Our Lady of Refuge Church''' was built in 1853 by Father [[Pierre Yves Kéralum]] (1817–1872), a carpenter-turned-priest of the Oblates.
* The '''Parish Hall''' housed the convent of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word (1880s–1913) and the Sisters of Mercy (1813–1940).

<!-- already cited  ''For more information, see the article for the [[Roma Historic District]].'' -->

==Geography==
Roma is located at {{coord|26|24|22|N|99|0|20|W|type:city}} (26.406101, −99.005644).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

The city gained area prior to the 2010 census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-45.pdf|title=Population and Housing Unit Counts, 2010 Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Texas: 2010}}</ref> giving it a total area of 4.2&nbsp;square miles (11.0&nbsp;km{{sup|2}}), of which  0.1&nbsp;square mile (0.3&nbsp;km{{sup|2}}) (4.50%) is covered by water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.maptechnica.com/city-map/Roma/TX/4863020|title=Roma, Texas :: Boundary Map of Roma, Texas}}</ref>

The City of Roma is located along the Rio Grande, which is the frontier between the United States and Mexico.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/03/19/704116416/rio-grande-valley-landowners-plan-to-fight-border-wall-expansion|title=Rio Grande Valley Landowners Plan To Fight Border Wall Expansion|last=Leanos, Jr.|first=Reynaldo|date=March 19, 2019|website=[[NPR News]]|language=en|access-date=2019-03-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-na-roma-texas-wall/|title=The border wall will divide this Texas town, displacing or blocking homes - but where?|last=Hennessy-Fiske|first=Molly|date=December 18, 2018|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|language=en|access-date=2019-04-05}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1940 = 1414
| 1950 = 1576
| 1960 = 1496
| 1970 = 2154
| 1980 = 3384
| 1990 = 8059
| 2000 = 9617
| 2010 = 9765
| 2020 = 11561
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Roma racial composition'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4863020&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><br /> (''NH = Non-Hispanic''){{efn|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/en.html|title=Census.gov|website=Census.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>}}
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|140
|1.21%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|1
|0.01%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|2
|0.02%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|3
|0.03%
|-
|Some other race (NH)
|13
|0.11%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/multiracial]] (NH)
|17
|0.15%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|11,385
|98.48%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''11,561'''
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]],  11,561 people, 3,045 households, and 2,394 families were residing in the city.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, 9,617 people, 2,678 households, and 2,351 families resided in the city. The population density was {{convert|3,490.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 3,141 housing units had an average density of 1,139.9/sq mi (439.4/km{{sup|2}}). The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the city was 90.3% White, 0.15% African American, 0.2% Native American, 7.85% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 98.54% of the population.

Of the 2,678 households, 50.3% had children under 18 living with them, 64.3% were married couples living together, 19.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.2% were not families. About 11.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.59, and the average family size was 3.91.

In the city, the age distribution was 34.9% under 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $15,563, and for a family was $16,883. Males had a median income of $16,020 versus $12,656 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $7,539. About 48.9% of families and 54.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 64.2% of those under 18 and 46.3% of those 65 or over.

==Government and infrastructure==
The city opened its first fire station, a $788,000 facility, on August 1, 2011. The [[Texas Department of Rural Affairs]] provided a $540,000 block grant to help build the station.<ref>Burkhardt, Gail. "[http://www.themonitor.com/news/stations-53578-fire-county.html Roma, Escobares open 1st fire stations] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120912064805/http://www.themonitor.com/news/stations-53578-fire-county.html |date=2012-09-12 }}." ''[[The Monitor (Texas)|The Monitor]]''. August 8, 2011. Retrieved on August 26, 2011.</ref>

The [[United States Postal Service]] operates the Roma Post Office.<ref>"[http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/roma-1724-e-grant-st-roma-tx-1379795 Post Office™ Location - ROMA]." [[United States Postal Service]]. Retrieved on August 26, 2011.</ref>

==Education==

Public education in the city of Roma is provided by the [[Roma Independent School District]]. Zoned campuses include Anna S. Canavan Elementary School<ref>{{cite web |url=http://asc.romaisd.com/|title=A. S. Canavan Elementary|last=Guillen|first=Noelia|date=2007|website=romaisd.com|publisher=[[Roma Independent School District]]|access-date=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213160810/http://asc.romaisd.com/home.aspx|archive-date=December 13, 2007}}</ref> for pre-kindergarten, in grades K–5, the western portion of the city is zoned to Florence J. Scott Elementary<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fjs.romaisd.com/|title=Home|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2009|website=romaisd.com|publisher=[[Roma Independent School District]]|access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923202111/http://fjs.romaisd.com/home.aspx|archive-date=September 23, 2009}}</ref> and the eastern portion is zoned to Roel and Celia Saenz Elementary School.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rcs.romaisd.com/|title=Roel and Cella Saenz Elementary|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2011|website=romaisd.com|publisher=[[Roma Independent School District]]|access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825172942/http://rcs.romaisd.com/home|archive-date=August 25, 2011}}</ref> A small area located near the eastern city limit line lies within the boundaries of Ynes B. Elementary School.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ybe.romaisd.com/ |title=EChalk |access-date=October 13, 2009 |archive-date=July 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729184813/http://ybe.romaisd.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Roma is served by both of the district's middle schools—Roma<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://rms.romaisd.com/ |title=EChalk |access-date=October 13, 2009 |archive-date=July 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724061735/http://rms.romaisd.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and Ramiro Barrera<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://rbms.romaisd.com/ |title=EChalk |access-date=2009-10-13 |archive-date=2010-07-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100731025244/http://rbms.romaisd.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> (grades 6–8), with a majority zoned to Roma Middle. [[Roma High School]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://rhs.romaisd.com/ |title=EChalk |access-date=October 13, 2009 |archive-date=September 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090920180944/http://rhs.romaisd.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> serves students in grades 9–12.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.romaisd.com/www/romaisd/site/hosting/Zoning/Roma_ISD_Elem_09_10.pdf |title=2009-2010 Roma ISD Elementary Boundaries |publisher=[[Roma Independent School District]] |access-date=2009-10-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715201025/http://www.romaisd.com/www/romaisd/site/hosting/Zoning/Roma_ISD_Elem_09_10.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-15 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.romaisd.com/www/romaisd/site/hosting/Zoning/Roma_Middle_school_boundaries_0910.pdf |title=2009-2010 Roma ISD Middle School Boundaries |publisher=[[Roma Independent School District]] |access-date=2009-10-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715201104/http://www.romaisd.com/www/romaisd/site/hosting/Zoning/Roma_Middle_school_boundaries_0910.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-15 }}</ref>

==Recreation and culture==
Spanish is frequently spoken in the community as of 2017. Molly Hennessy-Fiske of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' stated that its [[Fourth of July]] celebration is "massive", and uses it to showcase its patriotic pro-American ethos.<ref name=Hennessy-Fiske>{{cite news|last=Hennessy-Fiske|first=Molly|url=https://www.latimes.com:443/projects/la-na-roma-texas-immigration/|title=On the Texas-Mexico border, no one knows who's smuggling the border crossers. Everyone's a suspect|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=2018-12-17|accessdate=2022-02-16}}</ref> The community also celebrates [[Mexican Independence Day]] and a December [[caminata]]. According to Hennesy-Fiske, the "vibe is more Tejano than Mexican".<ref name=Hennessy-Fiske/>

==In popular culture==
The town is the scene identified as the burial site of artifacts from the [[Library at Alexandria]] in [[Clive Cussler]]'s novel [[Treasure (Clive Cussler novel)|''Treasure'']].

Filming for the 1952 film ''[[Viva Zapata!]]'', scripted by [[John Steinbeck]] and directed by [[Elia Kazan]], took place in Roma. The film and the city are recurring motifs in [[Larry McMurtry]]'s 1972 novel ''[[All My Friends Are Going to Be Strangers]]'', and the book's conclusion takes place in and around Roma.

==Notable people==
* [[Hector Hugo Gonzalez]], Nurse educator and the first Mexican-American registered nurse to earn a Ph.D. in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hector Hugo Gonzalez, PhD, VR-RN (Retired) |website=[[National Association of Hispanic Nurses]] |url=https://nahnnet.org/about/bios/Hector-Hugo-Gonzalez |access-date=15 November 2023}}</ref>
* [[Jovita González|Jovita González de Mireles]] (1904–1983), [[Tejano|Tejana]] folklorist, schoolteacher, and [[feminist]] writer.<ref>See Purdy 142–146.</ref>
* [[America's Got Talent (season 12)|Mariachi Nuevo Santander]], Roma High School mariachi group that has won the Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza five times in a row since 2013 and has auditioned for ''America's Got Talent'' season 12.
* [[Grupo Duelo]],a prominent Mexican Norteño (regional mexican) norteño light band that has garnered numerous awards and nominations, including Grammy Awards, Latin Grammy Awards, and Tejano Music Awards, throughout their over 15-year history. 
* [[Oscar Ivan Treviño]], Grupo Duelo lead vocalist, songwriter, musician.
* [[Dimas Lopez, Jr]], Grupo Duelo accordeon player.
* [[Edgar Barrera]], attended Roma High School songwriter, producer, musician.
* [[Ervey Alanis]], producer, musician.
* [[Ervey Alanis, Jr.]], producer, musician, videographer, bird photographer.
* [[Eduardo Alanis]], songwriter, producer, musician, former lead vocalist of Super Odisea.

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{notelist}}

==Further reading==
* Purdy, Andrea R. "Jovita González de Mireles (1908-1983)". [https://books.google.com/books?id=Qltu-Bw0hcUC ''American Women Writers, 1900-1945: A Bio-bibliographical Critical Sourcebook'']. Ed. Laurie Champion. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2000. 142–146.

==External links==
{{Portal|Texas}}
{{commons category-inline}}
* {{official website|http://www.cityofroma.net/ }}

{{Starr County, Texas}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Starr County, Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1765]]
[[Category:Micropolitan areas of Texas]]
[[Category:Texas populated places on the Rio Grande]]