Zapata County, Texas
Zapata County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2000, the population is 12,182. Its county seat is Zapata6. Zapata is named for Antonio Zapata, a rancher in the area and rebel against Mexico.
History
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,740 km² (1,058 mi²). 2,582 km² (997 mi²) of it is land and 159 km² (61 mi²) of it (5.80%) is water.
More Hang Gliding World Records have been set from Zapata, Texas than any other location in the world. The World Record Encampment has been taking place at the Zapata County Airport since 2000, and the first hang glider flights to break the 308 mile barrier took place there the first year. The current distance record is 438 miles set by Mike Barber in 2002. Three new world records were set in 2005. The complete story of the world records at Zapata can be found at http://ozreport.com/. FAI hang gliding world records can be found at http://records.fai.org/hang_gliding/
Adjacent counties
- Webb County (north)
- Jim Hogg County (east)
- Starr County (southeast)
The Mexican state of Tamaulipas lies to the southwest and west.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 12,182 people, 3,921 households, and 3,164 families residing in the county. Zapata County is estimated to be the eleventh fastest growing county (+15.8%) in the state of Texas since the year 2000 (based on % of population change). The population density was 5/km² (12/mi²). There were 6,167 housing units at an average density of 2/km² (6/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.07% White, 0.41% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 12.64% from other races, and 2.33% from two or more races. 84.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 3,921 households out of which 43.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.20% were married couples living together, 13.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.30% were non-families. 17.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.10 and the average family size was 3.52.
In the county, the population was spread out with 33.00% under the age of 18, 10.00% from 18 to 24, 24.10% from 25 to 44, 18.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $24,635, and the median income for a family was $26,722. Males had a median income of $26,294 versus $14,579 for females. The per capita income for the county was $10,486. About 29.30% of families and 35.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.10% of those under age 18 and 21.30% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
Education
All of Zapata County is a part of the Zapata County Independent School District.
Religious establishments
Zapata County is a very religious community, with a large majority of the population being a member of the many churches that are centered in the county seat of Zapata. The following is a list of churches in Zapata County as of 2005.
- Abiding Savior Lutheran Church
- Church of Christ
- Church of Christ Christian Union
- Mission on the Hill Fellowship
- Church of Christ in Christian Union
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
- Iglesia Pentecostes Rosa de Saron
- Iglesia Christiana "Vida Abundante"
- Interdenominational Services (Lakefront Lodge West)
- King's Way Church
- Lakeshore Tabernacle
- Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
- Iglesia Bautista Nuevo Vida
- Iglesia Cristo Misionera
- United Methodist Church
- Nueva Esperanza Iglesia Bautista
- First Baptist Church
- Surmise Baptist Church
- Iglesia Pentecostes Emmanuel
- Iglesia Adventista Del Septimo Dia
