Editing Three Rivers, Texas

{{About|Three Rivers, Texas||Three Rivers (disambiguation){{!}}Three Rivers}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}

{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Three Rivers, Texas
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = Three Rivers Texas City Hall 2020.jpg
| imagesize          = 250px
| image_caption      = City Hall
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = TXMap-doton-ThreeRivers.PNG
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Three Rivers, Texas
| image_map1         = LiveOak County ThreeRivers.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  = [[Live Oak County, Texas|Live Oak]]

<!-- 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|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 3.80
| area_land_km2      = 3.79
| area_water_km2     = 0.01
| area_total_sq_mi   = 1.47
| area_land_sq_mi    = 1.46
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4872872&tid=DECENNIALSF12010.P1| title=Total Population: 2010 Census DEC Summary File 1 (P1), Three Rivers city, Texas| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| website=data.census.gov| accessdate=January 25, 2021}}</ref>
| population_total   = 1474
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = 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        = 44
| elevation_ft       = 144
| coordinates        = {{coord|28|28|2|N|98|10|46|W|region:US-TX|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 78060, 78071
| area_code          = [[Area code 361|361]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 48-72872<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        = 1348525<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|www.gothreerivers.com}}
| footnotes          = 
}}
'''Three Rivers''' is a city in [[Live Oak County, Texas|Live Oak County]], [[Texas]], United States. The population was 1,474 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name=":0" />

==History==

Mrs. Annie T. Hamilton of [[Cuero, Texas|Cuero]] owned a tract of land in the Brush Country where Three Rivers now sits.  At the urging of Mrs. Hamilton, Charles R. Tips came to the Brush Country. In 1913, Mrs. Hamilton paid the San Antonio, Uvalde and Gulf Railroad to build a depot on her land. Tips organized a townsite company and sold land for the [[Township (United States)|township]]. On July 4, 1913 the town began with a grand opening and first sale of land.<ref name="tshaonline.org">{{Cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hjt05|title = TSHA &#124; Three Rivers, TX}}</ref>  From its formation, it was designed as a segregated township, with the "Mexican" section located between the river and the railroad tracks, west of the business section.  This can still be seen today in the differences of street names, even though forced segregation ended many decades past.

The city is named for its proximity to three rivers, the [[Atascosa River]], the [[Frio River]], and the [[Nueces River]] (the Atascosa joins the Frio north of the city, while the Frio joins the Nueces south of the city).<ref name="threeriverstx.org">{{Cite web |url=http://www.threeriverstx.org/history.html |title=Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce |access-date=2011-10-06 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914164830/http://www.threeriverstx.org/history.html |archive-date=2012-09-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  Originally named Hamiltonburg, the city name was changed when mail meant for the city was accidentally delivered to [[Hamilton, Texas]] instead.  Tips suggested the town be named for its location near the rivers, and Three Rivers was approved as the new name by the post office department on May 1, 1914.  Three Rivers was incorporated in 1926 and operates under the general-law aldermanic form of government. In 1925 its population was estimated at 1,000, in 1931 at 1,275, and in 1965 at 1,932, with seventy businesses.<ref name="tshaonline.org"/>
[[File:Felix Longoria Historical Marker Three Rivers.jpg|thumb|left|The Felix Longoria Texas Historical Marker]]
In 1920 natural gas was discovered near Three Rivers and was piped into town and a small refinery was built.  The first glass factory in Texas was built at Three Rivers in 1922 as the gas fuel and local sand was plentiful.<ref name="threeriverstx.org"/>  The onset of the [[Great Depression]] forced the sale of the factory to the [[Ball Corporation|Ball Glass Company]] in 1937, and the factory was permanently closed in 1938.  The small refinery, however, expanded over time to become a major [[Diamond Shamrock]] refinery by 1990 and still is a major employer in the town to this day.<ref name="tshaonline.org"/>

In 1948–1949 the city of Three Rivers gained notoriety as the location of what has become known as the "[[Felix Z. Longoria, Jr.#Felix Longoria Affair|Longoria Affair]]" when the director of the only funeral home in town refused to allow chapel services in 1948 for the body of a "Mexican-American" Soldier killed during [[World War II]] in 1945.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/vef01|title = TSHA &#124; Felix Longoria Affair}}</ref>  The installation of a Texas Historical Marker at the site of the funeral home came with controversy. The new owners of the property asked that the marker not be returned after it was repaired, so it was rededicated and installed in the town square at the entrance to city hall.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ayala |first=Elaine |date=October 25, 2015 |url=http://blog.mysanantonio.com/latinlife/2015/10/longoria-marker-to-get-new-spot-in-three-rivers/|title=Longoria marker to get new spot in Three Rivers|work=San Antonio Express-News}}</ref>

==Geography==

Three Rivers is located at {{coord|28.467155|-98.179451|type:city_region:US|format=dms|display=inline}} (28.467155, –98.179451).<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>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.5|sqmi|km2}}, 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, Three Rivers has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=900914&cityname=Three+Rivers%2C+Texas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Three Rivers, Texas]</ref>

{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | collapsed   = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Three Rivers, Texas (Choke Canyon Dam) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1983–present)
 | Jan record high F  = 90
 | Feb record high F  = 99
 | Mar record high F  = 100
 | Apr record high F  = 105
 | May record high F  = 106
 | Jun record high F  = 111
 | Jul record high F  = 109
 | Aug record high F  = 107
 | Sep record high F  = 112
 | Oct record high F  = 101
 | Nov record high F  = 95
 | Dec record high F  = 89
 | year record high F = 
 | Jan high F = 64.1
 | Feb high F = 68.4
 | Mar high F = 74.9
 | Apr high F = 81.4
 | May high F = 87.7
 | Jun high F = 93.1
 | Jul high F = 95.2
 | Aug high F = 96.6
 | Sep high F = 90.7
 | Oct high F = 83.7
 | Nov high F = 73.3
 | Dec high F = 65.3
 | year high F = 81.2
 | Jan mean F = 53.4
 | Feb mean F = 57.6
 | Mar mean F = 64.2
 | Apr mean F = 70.3
 | May mean F = 77.6
 | Jun mean F = 82.9
 | Jul mean F = 84.5
 | Aug mean F = 85.3
 | Sep mean F = 80.3
 | Oct mean F = 72.6
 | Nov mean F = 62.6
 | Dec mean F = 54.9
 | year mean F = 70.5
 | Jan low F = 42.8
 | Feb low F = 46.8
 | Mar low F = 53.4
 | Apr low F = 59.2
 | May low F = 67.4
 | Jun low F = 72.7
 | Jul low F = 73.9
 | Aug low F = 74.1
 | Sep low F = 70.0
 | Oct low F = 61.5
 | Nov low F = 51.9
 | Dec low F = 44.5
 | year low F = 59.9
 | Jan record low F  = 18
 | Feb record low F  = 14
 | Mar record low F  = 24
 | Apr record low F  = 36
 | May record low F  = 43
 | Jun record low F  = 58
 | Jul record low F  = 62
 | Aug record low F  = 63
 | Sep record low F  = 50
 | Oct record low F  = 29
 | Nov record low F  = 26
 | Dec record low F  = 11
 | year record low F = 
 | precipitation colour   = green
 | Jan precipitation inch = 1.51
 | Feb precipitation inch = 1.41
 | Mar precipitation inch = 2.38
 | Apr precipitation inch = 2.01
 | May precipitation inch = 2.98
 | Jun precipitation inch = 2.68
 | Jul precipitation inch = 2.76
 | Aug precipitation inch = 1.69
 | Sep precipitation inch = 3.62
 | Oct precipitation inch = 2.33
 | Nov precipitation inch = 1.49
 | Dec precipitation inch = 1.65
 | year precipitation inch = 26.51
 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
 | Jan precipitation days  = 7.3
 | Feb precipitation days  = 7.0
 | Mar precipitation days  = 6.6
 | Apr precipitation days  = 5.6
 | May precipitation days  = 6.1
 | Jun precipitation days  = 6.0
 | Jul precipitation days  = 5.3
 | Aug precipitation days  = 4.2
 | Sep precipitation days  = 7.4
 | Oct precipitation days  = 5.4
 | Nov precipitation days  = 5.7
 | Dec precipitation days  = 7.4
 | year precipitation days = 74.0
 | Jan snow inch = 0.0
 | Feb snow inch = 0.0
 | Mar snow inch = 0.0
 | Apr snow inch = 0.0
 | May snow inch = 0.0
 | Jun snow inch = 0.0
 | Jul snow inch = 0.0
 | Aug snow inch = 0.0
 | Sep snow inch = 0.0
 | Oct snow inch = 0.0
 | Nov snow inch = 0.0
 | Dec snow inch = 0.3
 | year snow inch = 0.3
 | unit snow days = 0.1 in
 | Jan snow days  = 0.0
 | Feb snow days  = 0.0
 | Mar snow days  = 0.0
 | Apr snow days  = 0.0
 | May snow days  = 0.0
 | Jun snow days  = 0.0
 | Jul snow days  = 0.0
 | Aug snow days  = 0.0
 | Sep snow days  = 0.0
 | Oct snow days  = 0.0
 | Nov snow days  = 0.0
 | Dec snow days  = 0.1
 | year snow days = 0.1
 | source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=crp
|title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = February 7, 2024}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00411720&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = February 7, 2024}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1930 = 1275
| 1940 = 1337
| 1950 = 2026
| 1960 = 1932
| 1970 = 1761
| 1980 = 2133
| 1990 = 1889
| 2000 = 1878
| 2010 = 1848
| 2020 = 1474
| 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"
|+'''Three Rivers racial composition'''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4872872&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)
|567
|38.47%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|3
|0.2%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|9
|0.61%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|2
|0.14%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|19
|1.29%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|24
|1.63%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|850
|57.67%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''1,474'''
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 1,474 people, 651 households, and 506 families residing in the city.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 1,878 people, 704 households, and 492 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,299.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 876 housing units at an average density of {{convert|606.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 82.22% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.53% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.32% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.48% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 14.00% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.45% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 50.37% of the population.

There were 704 households, out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.1% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,188, and the median income for a family was $34,188. Males had a median income of $30,337 versus $16,607 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $12,814. About 21.6% of families and 23.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 28.0% of those under age 18 and 24.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Economic base==

[[File:Valero Three Rivers Refinery Texas 2020.jpg|thumb|250px|The Valero Three Rivers Refinery]]
The predominant economic drivers for Three Rivers, Texas, are oil and gas exploration, refining, ranching, and hunting. Tourism is on the rise due to the gateway to the [[Choke Canyon Reservoir]] through Three Rivers. [[Choke Canyon State Park]] offers boating, fishing, camping, educational services, and wildlife viewing. The bird migratory routes bring over two hundred different species to the Three Rivers area, making it a national destination for bird watching. Accommodations for visitors are plentiful with hotels and many RV (recreational vehicle) parks. Many of these were built to accommodate workers during the recent Eagle Ford oil boom.

Three Rivers is also the site of the historic first glass factory in the State of Texas. Although it is no longer in production and the building has been demolished, a state historical marker stands at its site. Some of the antique shops in town and in the neighboring county seat of [[George West, Texas|George West]] may sometimes carry a few pieces the factory produced.

Many Three Rivers residents live in or near Three Rivers because of the large number of jobs needed in the nearby [[Federal Bureau of Prisons]] located roughly 10 miles west of town, on Hwy 72. The [[Valero Energy|Valero]] Three Rivers Refinery located inside the city limits, is another major employer. With the recent '[[fracking]]' surge in the area, Three Rivers is centrally located in the middle of a large field that extends over a three county area.

==Government and infrastructure==
The [[United States Postal Service]] operates the Three Rivers Post Office.<ref>"[http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/three-rivers-110-e-alexander-three-rivers-tx-1384617 Post Office Location - THREE RIVERS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826164948/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/three-rivers-110-e-alexander-three-rivers-tx-1384617 |date=2012-08-26 }}." [[United States Postal Service]]. Retrieved on December 12, 2010.</ref>

The [[Federal Bureau of Prisons]] [[Federal Correctional Institution, Three Rivers]] is located in [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] [[Live Oak County, Texas|Live Oak County]], near Three Rivers.<ref>"[http://www.bop.gov/DataSource/execute/dsFacilityAddressLoc?start=y&facilityCode=trv FCI Three Rivers Contact Information]." [[Federal Bureau of Prisons]]. Retrieved on December 12, 2010. "US HIGHWAY 72 WEST THREE RIVERS, TX 78071"</ref><ref>"[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US4872872&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on Three Rivers city, Texas]{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}." [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on December 12, 2010.</ref>

==Schools==
There is a single school district for the entire city, [[Three Rivers Independent School District]], containing Three Rivers Elementary School, Three Rivers Junior High School and Three Rivers High School.

==Notable people==

* [[James Crumley]], novelist
* [[Roy Head]], musician
* [[Felix Z. Longoria Jr.]], Mexican-American private, died during [[World War II]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{notelist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Three Rivers, Texas}}
{{Portal|Texas}}
* {{Official website|www.gothreerivers.com}}
* {{Handbook of Texas|id=hjt05|name=Three Rivers, Texas}}
* {{Gnis|1348525|Three Rivers}}

{{Live Oak County, Texas}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Live Oak County, Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1913]]
[[Category:1913 establishments in Texas]]