Editing Taft, Texas

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = 
| name               = Taft, Texas
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = "The Friendliest Cotton Pickin' Town in Texas"
| motto = 
<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = Taft, Texas.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Sign at the entrance to Taft
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = TXMap-doton-Taft.PNG
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Taft, Texas
| image_map1         = SanPatricio County Taft.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  = [[San Patricio County, Texas|San Patricio]]

<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = <!-- 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|accessdate=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 4.32
| area_land_km2      = 4.32
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi   = 1.67
| area_land_sq_mi    = 1.67
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 2801
| population_density_km2 = auto

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset         = -6
| timezone_DST       = CDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 15
| elevation_ft       = 49
| coordinates        = {{coord|27|58|43|N|97|23|40|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 78390
| area_code          = [[Area code 361|361]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 48-71684<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 1348200<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|https://www.cityoftaft.us/}}
| footnotes          = 
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
}}
'''Taft''' is a city in [[San Patricio County, Texas|San Patricio County]], [[Texas]], United States. The population was 2,801 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name=":0" />

==History==
Taft, often called the "Friendliest Cotton-Pickin' Town in Texas", is not only rich in cotton, but also gas and oil resources. Taft was once the center of the million acre Taft Ranch. The ranch was built and owned by [[Charles Phelps Taft]], the half-brother of President [[William Howard Taft]]. The nearby city of [[Sinton, Texas]] is named for his father-in-law [[David Sinton]]. The Blackland Museum houses everything from antique farm equipment to personal and household items used by the town's earliest inhabitants. Every year at Christmas time Santa leads a parade from his perch high atop a city fire truck, delighting residents and visitors of all ages.{{Citation needed|date=October 2018}}

On the evening of 25 August 2017, [[Hurricane Harvey]], a Category 4 Hurricane,  made landfall near [[Rockport, Texas]] approximately
thirty miles north of Taft, at 10 PM CST. Taft was brushed by the outer-bands of the eye wall with winds recorded at 90&nbsp;mph.{{Citation needed|date=October 2018}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 3, 2017 |title=Historic Hurricane Harvey's Recap |url=https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/tropical-storm-harvey-forecast-texas-louisiana-arkansas |access-date=May 8, 2024 |website=The Weather Channel}}</ref>

Hurricane Harvey was the first Category 4 Hurricane in over twenty years to hit the city.{{Citation needed|date=October 2018}}

==Education==

The City of Taft is served by the [[Taft Independent School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48409_san_patricio/DC20SD_C48409.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: San Patricio County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2024-09-27}}</ref>

Schools that serve the city include Woodrow Petty Elementary (Pre-K–5), Taft Junior High School (6–8), and [[Taft High School (Texas)|Taft High School]] (9–12).

[[Del Mar College]] is the designated community college for all of San Patricio County.<ref>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code Sec. 130.177. DEL MAR COLLEGE-CORPUS CHRISTI JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.]</ref>

==Geography==

Taft is located at {{coord|27|58|43|N|97|23|40|W|type:city}} (27.978584, –97.394320).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 1.5&nbsp;square miles (3.9&nbsp;km{{sup|2}}), all land.

===Climate===

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Taft has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=955914&cityname=Taft%2C+Texas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Taft, Texas]</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1930 = 1792
| 1940 = 2686
| 1950 = 2978
| 1960 = 3463
| 1970 = 3274
| 1980 = 3686
| 1990 = 3222
| 2000 = 3396
| 2010 = 3048
| 2020 = 2801
| 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|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Taft racial composition'''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4871684&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-21 |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>https://www.census.gov/ {{nonspecific|date=August 2022}}</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)
|550
|19.64%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|41
|1.46%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|2
|0.07%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|1
|0.04%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|4
|0.14%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|42
|1.5%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|2,161
|77.15%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''2,801'''
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 2,801 people, 1,033 households, and 824 families residing in the city.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 3,396 people, 1,084 households, and 835 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,266.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,214 housing units at an average density of {{convert|810.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 71.02% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 3.33% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.21% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.06% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 22.94% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.41% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 67.02% of the population.

There were 1,084 households, out of which 40.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 3.52.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 33.5% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,622, and the median income for a family was $32,065. Males had a median income of $28,571 versus $20,219 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $11,573. About 20.7% of families and 25.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 35.6% of those under age 18 and 22.9% of those age 65 or over.

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{notelist}}

{{San Patricio County, Texas}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in San Patricio County, Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in the Corpus Christi metropolitan area]]