Editing Victoria, Texas

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Victoria, Texas
| official_name            = City of Victoria
| settlement_type          = [[List of cities in Texas|City]] and [[county seat]]
| nickname                 = 
| image_skyline            = Goingtovic.jpg
| imagesize                = 250px
| image_caption            = Downtown Victoria in December 2007
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = Sealofvictoria.PNG
| image_map                = TX Victoria County Victoria.svg
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location in the state of [[Texas]]
| image_map1               = 
| mapsize1                 = 
| map_caption1             = 
| pushpin_map              = Texas#USA
| pushpin_relief           = 1
| pushpin_label            = Victoria
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Texas|County]]
| subdivision_name         = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Texas}}
| subdivision_name2        = [[Victoria County, Texas|Victoria]]
| government_type          = [[Council–manager government|Council–manager]]
| leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name              = Jeff Bauknight
| leader_title1            = [[City Council]]
| leader_name1             = <br /> Rafael DeLaGarza, III <br />  Josephine Soliz <br />  Duane Crocker <br />  Jan Scott  <br />  Dr. Andrew Young <br />  Mark Loffgren
| leader_title2            = [[City Manager]]
| leader_name2             = Jesús A. Garza
| 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>
| established_date         = 
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_magnitude           = 
| area_total_km2           = 97.30
| area_land_km2            = 96.78
| area_water_km2           = 0.52
| area_total_sq_mi         = 37.57
| area_land_sq_mi          = 37.37
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.20
| elevation_m              = 29
| elevation_ft             = 95
| coordinates              = {{coord|28|49|1|N|96|59|36|W|region:US-TX_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_note          = 
| population_total         = 65534
| population_urban         = 
| population_metro         = 116000
| timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset               = &minus;6
| timezone_DST             = CDT
| utc_offset_DST           = &minus;5
| latitude                 = 
| longitude                = 
| website                  = [https://www.victoriatx.gov/ City of Victoria]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 48-75428<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              = 1370631<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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212191832/http://geonames.usgs.gov/|archive-date=2012-02-12|url-status=live}}</ref>
| footnotes                = 
| postal_code_type         = ZIP code(s)
| postal_code              = 77901, 77902, 77903, 77904, 77905
| area_code                = 361
| population_density_sq_mi = 1790.73
| population_density_km2   = 691.41
}}

'''Victoria''' is a city and the [[county seat]] of [[Victoria County, Texas]], United States. The population was 65,534 as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/victoriacountytexas |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Victoria County, Texas |publisher=Census.gov |date= |accessdate=2022-07-20}}</ref> The three counties of the [[Victoria, Texas metropolitan area|Victoria Metropolitan Statistical Area]] had a population of 111,163 as of the 2000 census. Its elevation is {{Cvt|95|ft}}.

Victoria is located 30 miles inland from the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. It is a two-hour drive from [[Corpus Christi, Texas|Corpus Christi]], [[Houston]], [[San Antonio]], and [[Austin, Texas|Austin]].

The city is named for [[General]] [[Guadalupe Victoria]], who became the first president of independent [[Mexico]].<ref>Texas Transportation Commission, ''Texas State Travel Guide, 2008'', p. 72.</ref>  It is the cathedral city of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria in Texas]].

==History==
[[File:Old Victoria Courthouse.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Old Victoria Courthouse]]
{{See also|De León's Colony (Texas)}}The city of Guadalupe Victoria was founded in 1824 by Martín De León, a Mexican [[empresario]], in honor of [[Guadalupe Victoria]], the first President of the [[Mexico|Republic of Mexico]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fde08|title=DE LEON, MARTIN|last=Roell|first=Craig H.|date=2010-06-12|website=tshaonline.org|language=en|access-date=2017-03-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317123520/https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fde08|archive-date=2017-03-17|url-status=live}}</ref> Victoria was initially part of [[De León's Colony]], which had been founded that same year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ued01|title=DE LEON'S COLONY|last=Roell|first=Craig H.|date=2010-06-12|website=tshaonline.org|language=en|access-date=2017-03-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801033604/https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ued01|archive-date=2017-08-01|url-status=live}}</ref> By 1834, the town had a population of approximately 300.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hdv01|title=VICTORIA, TX|last=Shook|first=Robert W.|date=2010-06-15|website=tshaonline.org|language=en|access-date=2017-03-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320051856/https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hdv01|archive-date=2017-03-20|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the [[Texas Revolution]], Guadalupe Victoria contributed soldiers and supplies to pro-revolutionary forces. However, after [[James Fannin]] was defeated by the Mexican army at the [[Battle of Coleto]], the town was occupied by Mexican forces.<ref name=":0" /> After [[Antonio López de Santa Anna|Santa Anna]] was defeated at the [[Battle of San Jacinto]], the town's Mexican residents were driven out by Anglo settlers, who renamed it Victoria.

In 1840, a [[Comanche]] raid on nearby [[Linnville, Calhoun County, Texas|Linnville]] killed many residents of the town.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/btl01|title=LINNVILLE RAID OF 1840|last=Roell|first=Craig H.|date=2010-06-15|website=tshaonline.org|language=en|access-date=2017-03-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319200011/https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/btl01|archive-date=2017-03-19|url-status=live}}</ref> A [[cholera]] outbreak occurred in 1846.<ref name=":0" />

During the mid-19th century, the city developed a large population of European immigrants, particularly Germans.<ref name=":0" />  By the turn of the 20th century, Victoria was experiencing rapid population growth thanks to its position as a regional trade center. The city's advantageous proximity to Gulf Coast ports, the larger cities of [[Austin, Texas|Austin]], [[Corpus Christi, Texas|Corpus Christi]], [[Houston]], and [[San Antonio]], and prosperous industries in agriculture and [[petrochemical]]s solidified its prominence.<ref name=":0" />

The [[University of Houston–Victoria]] was founded in 1971 and remains there today.

In 2017, the Victoria Islamic Center mosque was destroyed by an arson attack.<ref name=IChist>{{cite web |url=http://www.victoriaislamiccenter.com/our-history/ |title=Our History |publisher= Victoria Islamic Center}}</ref><ref name="victoriaadvocatedestroyed">{{cite news|last1=Wilcox|first1=Jon|title=Fire destroys mosque; cause undetermined (w/video) |url=https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2017/jan/28/breaking-fire-consumes-victoria-islamic-center/ |access-date=January 31, 2017 |work=Victoria Advocate |date=January 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130194533/https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2017/jan/28/breaking-fire-consumes-victoria-islamic-center/ |archive-date=January 30, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> A 25-year-old Victoria man was convicted of the crime and sentenced to prison.<ref name=NYTStack>{{cite news|last1=Stack |first1=Liam |title=Hate Crime Charge for Man Accused in Texas Mosque Fire |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/22/us/hate-crime-charge-for-man-accused-in-texas-mosque-fire.html?module=WatchingPortal&region=c-column-middle-span-region&pgType=Homepage&action=click&mediaId=thumb_square&state=standard&contentPlacement=21&version=internal&contentCollection=www.nytimes.com&contentId=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2017%2F06%2F22%2Fus%2Fhate-crime-charge-for-man-accused-in-texas-mosque-fire.html&eventName=Watching-article-click |access-date=June 24, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 22, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Update: Arsonist Marq Vincent Perez gets 24-year federal prison sentence |publisher= Victoria Advocate |date=Oct 17, 2018 |url=https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/crime/update-arsonist-marq-vincent-perez-gets-24-year-federal-prison-sentence/article_39cfeb16-d21f-11e8-89c1-3f12fe348ad9.html }}</ref> A documentary film, ''A Town Called Victoria'', was produced about the incident.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.documentary.org/screening/docuclub-la-town-called-victoria |title=DocuClub LA: A Town Called Victoria |date=February 24, 2020 |publisher=Documentary.org}}</ref><ref name=TOWN>{{cite web |url=https://www.atowncalledvictoria.com/ |title=A TOWN CALLED VICTORIA |publisher= ATCV LLC, Reel South, ITVS, in association with the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) and PBS}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-11-13/a-town-called-victoria-pbs-mosque-arson |work=Los Angeles Times |title='A Town Called Victoria' shows how 2017 mosque arson rocked tight-knit Texas community |first=Maira |last=Garcia |date=Nov 13, 2023 }}</ref>

==Geography==
Victoria is located on the coastal plains of Texas about {{Cvt|50|mi}} from the Gulf of Mexico and {{Cvt|20|mi}} from the nearest bay waters.  It lies along and just to the east of the Guadalupe River.  The topography is mostly flat to slightly rolling with an average elevation of {{Cvt|95|ft}}. Most of the city is underlain by [[smectite]]-rich clay which is locally capped by silt or fine sand; the high shrink-swell potential associated with smectite creates major challenges to urban infrastructure.<ref>http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/HomePage.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405195859/http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/HomePage.htm |date=2011-04-05 }} Web Soil Survey</ref> Vegetation in better-drained areas consists primarily of short grasses with post oaks and other small timber and brush. Moist sites can grow tall forests dominated by elm and pecan.<ref>The Vegetation Types of Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife, 1984.</ref>

===Climate===
Victoria is classified as having a [[humid subtropical climate]]. June through August are very hot and humid, with high temperatures regularly exceeding {{Cvt|100|F}}. The record high temperature of {{Cvt|111|F|1}} was recorded in September 2000. Victoria also holds the Texas record high for October at 109 °F (42.8 °C) recorded in 1926. Spring and autumn are generally mild to warm with lower humidity.  Winters are mild, with occasional cold spells. The record low temperature was recorded in December 1989, when the temperature dropped to {{Cvt|9|F|1}}.  Snow is very infrequent,  occurring on average once every 11 years.  On December 24–25, 2004, Victoria recorded its [[2004 Christmas Eve United States winter storm|first White Christmas ever]] when {{Cvt|12.5|in|cm}}&nbsp;of snow fell.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.srh.noaa.gov/crp/?n=whitechristmas2004 |title= White Christmas in South Texas – 2004 |publisher= National Weather Service Forecast Office |access-date= 23 April 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120420042258/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/crp/?n=whitechristmas2004 |archive-date= 20 April 2012 |url-status= live }}</ref>

Average monthly precipitation is lowest in winter and has a secondary minimum in August, with intense heat and humidity prevailing. On average, the wettest months are May, June, September and October (the last two of these due to significant threat from tropical weather systems, including [[hurricanes]], which can produce torrential rainfalls some years).

Victoria has occasional severe weather, mostly from flooding.  Hurricanes have the potential to bring severe damage to the area.  [[Hurricane Claudette (2003)|Hurricane Claudette]] in July 2003 was the last hurricane to score a direct hit on the city. During this event, winds gusted to {{Cvt|83|mph}} at the Victoria Regional Airport and 90% of the city lost power.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Savidge |first1=Martin |title=PORT LAVACA, Texas (CNN) -- Claudette, the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, was downgraded to a tropical storm Tuesday afternoon after slamming into central Texas and weakening over land, said the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida. |url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/WEATHER/07/15/claudette/ |website=CNN Weather |publisher=CNN |access-date=8 February 2021}}</ref>  The most intense hurricane to affect Victoria remains [[Hurricane Carla]] in September 1961.

In May 2013, a rare tornado hit Victoria on a Saturday afternoon with tornado warnings everywhere from Corpus Christi to the southeast Houston/Sugarland Metro area. A short-lived tornado took a swipe at an open field northeast of Victoria, dodging all structures and causing no injuries but kicking up dirt and debris visible for miles. Tornadoes striking the area are commonly associated with hurricanes and are otherwise rare.<ref>Watts, Elena (May 26, 2013). [https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2013/may/26/ew_tornado_052613_210572/ "Rare tornado surprises Crossroads"]. ''victoriaadvocate.com''. Retrieved November 15, 2023.</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = [[Victoria Regional Airport]], Texas (1991&ndash;2020 normals,<ref>Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.</ref> extremes 1902&ndash;present)
|metric first = 
|single line = Y′
|Jan high F = 65.2
|Feb high F = 69.1
|Mar high F = 75.0
|Apr high F = 80.8
|May high F = 86.8
|Jun high F = 92.3
|Jul high F = 94.6
|Aug high F = 95.5
|Sep high F = 90.7
|Oct high F = 84.1
|Nov high F = 74.1
|Dec high F = 67.3
|year high F= 81.3
|Jan mean F = 54.4
|Feb mean F = 58.4
|Mar mean F = 64.4
|Apr mean F = 70.4
|May mean F = 77.3
|Jun mean F = 82.7
|Jul mean F = 84.5
|Aug mean F = 84.8
|Sep mean F = 80.4
|Oct mean F = 72.6
|Nov mean F = 62.8
|Dec mean F = 56.2
|year mean F = 70.7
|Jan low F = 43.6
|Feb low F = 47.7
|Mar low F = 53.9
|Apr low F = 60.0
|May low F = 67.7
|Jun low F = 73.1
|Jul low F = 74.5
|Aug low F = 74.1
|Sep low F = 70.0
|Oct low F = 61.0
|Nov low F = 51.4
|Dec low F = 45.2
|year low F= 60.2
|Jan avg record high F = 79.4
|Feb avg record high F = 82.9
|Mar avg record high F = 86.5
|Apr avg record high F = 89.5
|May avg record high F = 93.9
|Jun avg record high F = 96.9
|Jul avg record high F = 98.5
|Aug avg record high F =100.5
|Sep avg record high F = 97.5
|Oct avg record high F = 92.8
|Nov avg record high F = 86.2
|Dec avg record high F = 81.1
|year avg record high F=101.3
|Jan avg record low F = 27.6
|Feb avg record low F = 30.1
|Mar avg record low F = 34.5
|Apr avg record low F = 43.5
|May avg record low F = 55.3
|Jun avg record low F = 65.8
|Jul avg record low F = 70.3
|Aug avg record low F = 69.8
|Sep avg record low F = 56.4
|Oct avg record low F = 44.4
|Nov avg record low F = 35.4
|Dec avg record low F = 27.3
|year avg record low F= 23.5

|Jan record high F =  88
|Feb record high F =  96
|Mar record high F =  99
|Apr record high F = 100
|May record high F = 102
|Jun record high F = 109
|Jul record high F = 110
|Aug record high F = 109
|Sep record high F = 111
|Oct record high F = 109
|Nov record high F =  93
|Dec record high F =  88

|Jan record low F =  9
|Feb record low F = 13
|Mar record low F = 21
|Apr record low F = 33
|May record low F = 45
|Jun record low F = 54
|Jul record low F = 61
|Aug record low F = 61
|Sep record low F = 45
|Oct record low F = 31
|Nov record low F = 18
|Dec record low F =  9
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 2.52
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.08
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.77
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.82
|May precipitation inch = 5.19
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.46
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.18
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.85
|Sep precipitation inch = 4.16
|Oct precipitation inch = 4.64
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.24
|Dec precipitation inch = 2.31
|year precipitation inch=41.22
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 8.4
|Feb precipitation days = 8.1
|Mar precipitation days = 7.1
|Apr precipitation days = 6.1
|May precipitation days = 7.1
|Jun precipitation days = 8.9
|Jul precipitation days = 7.9
|Aug precipitation days = 8.1
|Sep precipitation days = 9.5
|Oct precipitation days = 7.6
|Nov precipitation days = 7.3
|Dec precipitation days = 8.1
|year precipitation days=94.2

|Jan snow inch = 0.1
|Feb snow inch = 0.1
|Mar snow inch = trace
|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 = trace
|Dec snow inch = 0.3
|year snow inch = 0.4
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name="NOWData CRP">{{cite web |url=https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=crp |title=NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=2018-04-15 }}</ref><ref name = "NOAA txt KVCT">{{cite web | url = ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/1981-2010/products/station/USW00012912.normals.txt | title = Station Name: TX VICTORIA RGNL AP | publisher = National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration | access-date = 2018-03-07}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 806
|1860= 1986
|1870= 2534
|1890= 3046
|1900= 4010
|1910= 3673
|1920= 5957
|1930= 7421
|1940= 11566
|1950= 16126
|1960= 33047
|1970= 41349
|1980= 50695
|1990= 55076
|2000= 60603
|2010= 62592
|align-fn=center
|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]
|2020=65534}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Victoria racial composition as of 2020'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4875428&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>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov |title=Census.gov |publisher=Census.gov |date= |accessdate=2022-07-20}}</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)
|23,953
|36.55%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|4,655
|7.1%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|158
|0.24%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|1,337
|2.04%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|27
|0.04%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|163
|0.25%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|1,303
|1.99%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|33,938
|51.79%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''65,534'''
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 65,534 people, 23,724 households, and 15,560 families residing in the city. As of [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, 60,603 people, 22,129 households, and 15,755 families resided in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,838.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 24,192 housing units at an average density of {{convert|733.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the city was 55.2% White, Hispanic or Latino of any race were 42.4% of the population, 7.59% African American, 0.51% Native American, 1.01% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 17.31% from other races, and 2.35% from two or more races.

Of the 22,129 households, 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were not families. About 24.5% of all households were made up of an individual, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the city, the population was distributed as 28.8% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,829, and for a family was $42,866. Males had a median income of $34,184 versus $21,161 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $19,009. About 12.2% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 20.4% of those under the age of 18 and 12.2% ages 65 or older.

==Economy==
Victoria's economy is a mix of education, health, retail, agriculture, and industry. Its access to major highways, the [[Victoria Regional Airport]], railway terminals, the shallow draft [[Port of Victoria (Texas)|Port of Victoria]], and the deep water [[Port of Port Lavaca-Point Comfort]] help to sustain a healthy environment for business.  Major industrial employers in the region include [[Formosa Plastics Corp]], Inteplast Group, [[Dow Chemical Company|Dow]], [[Invista]], [[Caterpillar Inc.|Caterpillar]] and [[Alcoa]].

==Arts and culture==
[[Image:Rosebud Grill in Victoria, TX IMG 1005.JPG|thumb|Rosebud Fountain and Grill has been highlighted on [[Bob Phillips]]' ''[[Texas Country Reporter]]'']]

Theatre Victoria offers six productions in a season, including the Victoria Symphony Orchestra and Victoria Ballet.

The Victoria Bach Festival occurs each June.<ref>{{cite web|title=2021 VICTORIA BACH FESTIVAL|url=https://victoriabachfestival.org/events/2021-victoria-bach-festival/|access-date=2021-10-20|website=Victoria Bach Festival|language=en-US}}</ref>

Museams include McNamara House (a social history museum), the Nave (art), the Children's Discovery Museum, and the Museum of the Coastal Bend.

The Victoria Art League is a location for local artists, and is located in a Texas Registered Historical Landmark building.

[[DeLeon Plaza and Bandstand]] was one of four public squares set aside by colony founder Martin de Leon. It contains monuments and memorials, and a bandstand built in 1890.

The Victoria County Courthouse, built in 1892, is made of Texas granite and Indiana limestone.

[[Fossati's Delicatessen]] in downtown Victoria opened in 1882.

Downtown Victoria has the second-oldest [[Roman Catholic]] Church in Texas and first to be canonically established in the [[Republic of Texas]], St. Mary's Church.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ics09 |title=Handbook of Texas Online – ST. MARY'S CHURCH |access-date=2013-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715035528/http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ics09 |archive-date=2011-07-15 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Parks and recreation==
[[File:DeLeon Plaza and Bandstand.jpg|thumb|DeLeon Plaza and Bandstand.jpg]]

Victoria's 562-acre (2.27-km<sup>2</sup>) Riverside Park is home to the [[Texas Zoo]], which houses more than 200 species of animals and plants indigenous to Texas, exhibiting them in their natural habitats.<ref name="Kisling2001">{{cite book|editor=Vernon N. Kisling, Jr. |title=Zoo and Aquarium History|year= 2001|publisher=[[CRC Press]] |location=USA |isbn=978-1-4200-3924-5 |chapter=Zoological Gardens of the United States (chronological list) |chapter-url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ulbMBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA375 }}</ref> The park is also home to more than 15 [[baseball]] fields which are occupied during the spring and summer by teams from the Victoria Metro region. Also in Riverside Park on the [[Guadalupe River (Texas)|Guadalupe River]] is the Victoria Paddling trail. This 4.2-mile stretch of the Guadalupe River is bordered by soft banks rather than the limestone bluffs of the Hill Country.

Boating and freshwater fishing are available at two area reservoirs, Lake Texana and Coleto Lake.  Many residents also take advantage of the nearby Gulf of Mexico.  Port O'Connor, 50 miles to the southeast, is renowned for bay, off-shore and wade fishing.

Three [[golf course]]s are located in Victoria: the Victoria Country Club, Riverside Golf Course, and Colony Creek Country Club.

The major shopping center is [[Victoria Mall]].

==Sports==
The [[UHV Jaguars]] compete in baseball, softball, soccer, and golf as a member of the [[Red River Athletic Conference]] in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division&nbsp;I.

The Victoria Generals compete in the [[Texas Collegiate League]], a summer baseball league.  The Generals won the 2010 TCL championship.

==Government==
Victoria is administered by a [[city council]] of seven members. The council is composed of six council members and an elected [[mayor]], accompanied by a hired [[city manager]] under the [[council-manager government|manager-council]] system of municipal governance.  The council is elected under four single-member districts (numbered '''1''' through '''4'''),<ref>{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313164119/https://www.victoriatx.gov/404.aspx?aspxerrorpath=/council/pdfs/councildistricts.pdf |date=2022-03-13 |access-date=2023-03-30}} Map of Victoria City Council Districts</ref> two "super districts" (numbered '''5''' and '''6'''; Super District 5 overlays Districts 1 and 2 while Super District 6 overlays Districts 3 and 4);<ref>{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225195900/https://www.victoriatx.gov/council/pdfs/superdistricts.pdf |date=2023-02-25 |access-date=2023-03-30}} Map of Victoria City Council Super Districts</ref> the mayor is elected at-large.

Victoria also serves as the county seat of Victoria County.

==Education==
The [[Victoria Independent School District]] serves the city.  Victoria has several private education options including Trinity Episcopal School, Faith Academy, Northside Baptist School, Our Lady of Victory School, Nazareth Academy, and St. Joseph High School.

[[Victoria College (Texas)|Victoria College]], a two-year [[community college]], and the [[University of Houston–Victoria]], a separate independent four-year campus of the [[University of Houston System]], provide post-secondary educational opportunities.

==Media==
===Newspapers===
The daily newspaper is ''[[The Victoria Advocate]]''. Additionally, the [[University of Houston–Victoria]] publishes ''The Flame''.

===Radio===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! data-sort-type="number" | Frequency
! Call sign 
! City of license<ref>[http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/fmq.html FM Query – FM Radio Technical Information – Audio Division (FCC) USA<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825071957/http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/fmq.html |date=2009-08-25 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/amq.html AM Query – AM Radio Technical Information – Audio Division (FCC) USA<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825063614/http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/amq.html |date=2009-08-25 }}</ref>
! Licensee
! Format<ref>[http://www.arbitron.com/radio_stations/station_information.htm Station Information Profile<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
|-
| 1030 AM || [[KCTA]] || [[Corpus Christi, Texas|Corpus Christi]] || Broadcasting Corporation of the Southwest || Christian talk
|-
| 1130 AM || [[KTMR]] || [[Converse, Texas|Converse]] || Siga Broadcasting Corporation || Business news/Talk
|-
| 1340 AM || [[KVNN]] || Victoria || Victoria Radioworks, LLC || [[Talk radio|News/talk]]
|-
| 1410 AM || [[KITE (AM)|KITE]] || Victoria || Victoria Radioworks, LLC || [[Classic hits]]
|-
| 88.5 FM || [[KAYK]] || Victoria || American Family Association || Religious talk ([[American Family Radio|AFR]])
|-
| 88.9 FM || [[K205FR]] || Victoria || The Worship Center of Kingsville || Religious ([[KTLZ]])
|-
| 89.3 FM || [[KBRZ-FM]] || Victoria || Aleluya Broadcasting Network || Spanish religious
|-
| 90.1 FM || [[K211DR]] || Victoria || St. Jude Broadcasting || Spanish religious ([[KCZO]])
|-
| 90.7 FM || [[KVRT]] || Victoria || South Texas Public Broadcasting System, Inc. || [[Public radio]]
|-
| 91.5 FM || [[KHVT]] || [[Bloomington, Texas|Bloomington]] || Houston Christian Broadcasters, Inc. || Christian ([[KHCB-FM]])
|-
| 92.3 FM || [[KQVT]] || Victoria || [[Townsquare License, LLC]] || [[Contemporary hit radio|Top 40 (CHR)]]
|-
| 92.7 FM || [[K224EH]] || Victoria || [[Educational Media Foundation]] || [[Contemporary worship music|Contemporary worship]] ([[Air1]]) ([[KZAI]])
|-
| 93.3 FM || [[KNAL (FM)|KNAL]] || [[Port Lavaca, Texas|Port Lavaca]] || Victoria Radioworks, LLC || [[Country music|Country]]
|-
| 94.9 FM || [[KEON]] || [[Ganado, Texas|Ganado]] || S Content Marketing, LLC || Country
|-
| 95.9 FM || [[KHMC]] || [[Goliad, Texas|Goliad]] || Minerva R. Lopez || Tejano
|-
| 96.1 FM || [[KIOX-FM]] || [[Edna, Texas|Edna]] || Bay and Beyond Broadcasting LLC || [[Country music|Country]]
|-
| 97.5 FM || [[K248CS]] || Victoria || Victoria Radioworks, LLC || [[Classic hits]] ([[KITE (AM)|KITE]])
|-
| 98.1 FM || [[K251CB]] || Victoria || Victoria Radioworks, LLC || [[Talk radio|News/talk]] ([[KVNN]])
|-
| 98.7 FM || [[KTXN-FM]] || Victoria || Broadcast Equities Texas Inc. || [[Adult hits]]
|-
| 99.1 FM || [[K256DJ]] || Victoria || Joe Anthony Pena and Celina Pena || [[Contemporary Christian]] ([[KXBJ]])
|-
| 99.3 FM || [[KGXG-LP]]|| Victoria || South Victoria Hispanic Education Family Fundation || Silent
|-
| 99.5 FM || [[KVLJ-LP]]|| Victoria || Victoria Texas Community Radio || Spanish religious
|-
| 100.9 FM || [[KBAR-FM]] || Victoria || Victoria Radioworks, LLC || [[Classic country]]
|-
| 102.1 FM || [[K271CL]] || Victoria || Gerald Benavides || [[Public radio]] ([[KVRT]])
|-
| 104.7 FM || [[KVIC (FM)|KVIC]] || Victoria || Victoria Radioworks, LLC || [[Contemporary hit radio|Top 40 (CHR)]]
|-
| 106.5 FM || [[KSEJ-LP]] || Victoria || Ralph Salazar Victory Ministries || [[Contemporary Christian]]
|-
| 106.9 FM || [[KLUB]] || [[Bloomington, Texas|Bloomington]] || [[Townsquare License, LLC]] || [[Tejano music|Tejano]]
|-
| 107.9 FM || [[KIXS]] || Victoria || [[Townsquare License, LLC]] || [[Country music|Country]]
|}

===Television===
[[KMOL-LD]] (channel 17) is Victoria's [[NBC]] affiliate, carrying [[Movies!]] on 17.2; it is owned and operated by [[Morgan Murphy Media]].

[[KVCT]] (channel 19) is Victoria's [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] affiliate, simulcasting [[Telemundo]] on 19.2; carrying [[The CW Plus]] on 19.3 and [[Heroes & Icons]] on 19.4; it is owned by [[SagamoreHill Broadcasting]] and operated by Morgan Murphy Media.

[[KUNU-LD]] (channel 21) is Victoria's [[Univision]] affiliate, carrying [[Dabl]] on 21.2; it is owned and operated by Morgan Murphy Media.

[[KAVU-TV]] (channel 25) is Victoria's [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate, simulcasting NBC on 25.2 and [[CBS]] on 25.3; carrying [[The Local AccuWeather Channel|AccuWeather]] on 25.4 and [[Ion Television]] on 25.5; it is owned and operated by Morgan Murphy Media.

[[List of television stations in Texas#LPTV stations|KQZY-LD]] (channel 33) is Victoria's [[Cozi TV]]; it is owned and operated by Morgan Murphy Media.

[[KXTS-LD]] (channel 41) is Victoria's [[CBS]] affiliate, carrying [[Antenna TV]] on 41.2 and [[HSN]] on 41.3; it is owned and operated by Morgan Murphy Media.

[[KVTX-LD]] (channel 45) is Victoria's [[Telemundo]] affiliate; it is owned and operated by Morgan Murphy Media.

[[PBS]] programming is provided by [[KUHT]] (channel 8) in [[Houston]] and [[KLRN]] (channel 9) in [[San Antonio]], which share the Victoria market.

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
Victoria is located at the intersection of three major [[United States Numbered Highways|U.S. highways]]:

* [[U.S. Route 59 in Texas|US Highway 59]] ([[Interstate 69 in Texas|I-69]] and [[I-69W]]) is a four-lane divided, interstate-quality highway extending southwest to Laredo and northeast to Houston, where it meets [[Interstate 10 in Texas|Interstate 10]] and [[Interstate 45]]. It is also known as the [[Lloyd M. Bentsen]] Highway. US 59 is planned to be included within the future [[Interstate 69 in Texas|Interstate 69]] from Victoria to Tenaha (once fully completed the mainline of Interstate 69 will travel from Brownsville, Texas to Port Huron, Michigan). US 59 is planned to be included within the future [[Interstate 69W]] from Victoria to Laredo.
* [[U.S. Highway 77 in Texas|US Highway 77]] ([[I-69E]]) travels north from Victoria to the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, intersecting Interstate 10, [[Interstate 35 in Texas|Interstate 35]] and [[Interstate 37]]. US 77 travels south via a four-lane divided highway to the Rio Grande Valley. US 77 is planned to be included within the future [[Interstate 69E]] from Victoria to Brownsville.
* [[U.S. Route 87 in Texas|US Highway 87]] travels northwest connecting Victoria to San Antonio, providing access to Interstate 35.  US 87 also connects with Port Lavaca to the southeast.
*{{jct|state=TX|US|59}}
**{{jct|state=TX|I-Future|69|I-Future|69W}}
*{{jct|state=TX|US|77}}
**{{jct|state=TX|I-Future|69E}}
*{{jct|state=TX|US|87}}
*{{jct|state=TX|TX|185}}

Victoria is a regional transportation hub for the surrounding counties, with local access to major large and small freight carriers, [[Victoria Regional Airport]], railway terminals, the shallow draft [[Port of Victoria (Texas)|Port of Victoria]] and the deep water [[Port of Port Lavaca – Point Comfort]].

In 2002, Victoria Transit began operation of a citywide transportation system.  It currently offers bus service on four fixed routes consisting of 70 stops.

==Notable people==
* [[Joe Beaver]] 8 Time Rodeo World Champion [[ProRodeo Hall of Fame]]<ref>{{cite web
 |url=https://www.prorodeohalloffame.com/inductees/all-around/joe-beaver/
|title=Joe Beaver
}}</ref>
* [[Stone Cold Steve Austin]] (born 1964), wrestler, actor
* [[Cowboy Troy]] (Troy Lee Coleman III), singer
* [[Doug Drabek]], former [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] pitcher, winner of 1990 [[Cy Young Award]]<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=drabedo01 
 |title=Doug Drabek Stats 
 |publisher=Baseball Almanac 
 |access-date=December 10, 2012 
 |url-status=dead 
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728110437/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=drabedo01 
 |archive-date=July 28, 2013 
}}</ref>
* [[Kyle Drabek]], former MLB pitcher{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}
* [[Harvey Fite]], sculptor, creator of [[Opus 40]]
* [[Ron Gant]], former MLB outfielder<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=gantro01
|title=Ron Grant Stats
|publisher=Baseball Almanac
|access-date=December 10, 2012
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104155406/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=gantro01
|archive-date=November 4, 2012
|url-status=live
}}</ref>
* [[Doug Hazlewood]], comic book creator<ref name="Victoria">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19890615&id=djlSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TzYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=6028,3179038&hl=en "Victoria Artist Due at Fair,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506084854/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19890615&id=djlSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TzYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=6028,3179038&hl=en |date=2016-05-06 }} ''[[The Victoria Advocate]]'' (June 15, 1989).</ref>
* [[Bruce Herron]], former [[National Football League|NFL]] linebacker
* [[Michale Kyser]] (born 1991), basketball player for [[Hapoel Holon]] in the [[Israeli Basketball Premier League]]
* [[Edward F. Knipling]], [[entomologist]]
* [[Kevin Kolb]], former NFL quarterback<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=KolbKev01
 |title=Kevin Kolb 
 |publisher=databaseFootball.com 
 |access-date=December 10, 2012 
 |url-status=usurped
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123172141/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=KolbKev01 
 |archive-date=January 23, 2013 
}}</ref>
* [[Leo N. Levi]] (1856–1904), lawyer
* [[Doug Mellard]], stand-up comedian
* [[Frankie Miller (country musician)|Frankie Miller]] (born 1931), country musician
* [[Royston Nave]] (1886–1931), artist
* [[Ben Price]], videographer, sound technician, and drummer
* [[Matt Prokop]] (born 1990), actor 
* [[Joseph Rojas]], lead singer of [[Seventh Day Slumber]]
* [[Jerheme Urban]], former NFL wide receiver<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=URBANJER01|title=Jerheme Urban|publisher=databaseFootball.com|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123171334/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=URBANJER01|archive-date=January 23, 2013|access-date=December 10, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Noël Wells]] (born 1986), actress
* [[Bailey Zappe]], NFL quarterback for the Cleveland Browns

==Further reading==
* Diaz, Tamara. ''Historic Tales of Victoria Texas''. Arcadia Publishing, 2024.

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links 
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}}
* {{Official website|https://www.victoriatx.gov/}}

{{Geographic location
|Northwest = [[Cuero, Texas|Cuero]], [[San Antonio]], [[Austin, Texas|Austin]]
|North     = [[Hallettsville, Texas|Hallettsville]], [[Waco, Texas|Waco]], [[Dallas]]
|Northeast = [[Edna, Texas|Edna]], [[Houston]]
|West      = [[Kenedy, Texas|Kenedy]]
|Centre    = Victoria
|East      = [[Bay City, Texas|Bay City]], [[Freeport, Texas|Freeport]]
|Southwest = [[Goliad, Texas|Goliad]], [[Laredo, Texas|Laredo]]
|South     = [[Refugio, Texas|Refugio]], [[Corpus Christi, Texas|Corpus Christi]]
|Southeast = [[Port Lavaca, Texas|Port Lavaca]], [[Port O'Connor, Texas|Port O'Connor]]
}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Articles Relating to Victoria
| list  = 
{{Portal bar|Texas}}
{{Victoria County, Texas}}
{{Texas}}
{{Texas county seats}}
}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Victoria, Texas| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:County seats in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Guadalupe River (Texas)]]
[[Category:Victoria, Texas metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Capitals of former nations]]
[[Category:Cities in Victoria County, Texas]]