Raymondville, Texas

{{short description|City in and county seat of Willacy County, Texas, United States}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Raymondville, Texas

| official_name = City of Raymondville

| settlement_type = City

| nickname =

| motto =

| image_skyline = Willacy_courthouse.jpg

| imagesize =

| image_caption = Willacy Court House

| image_flag =

| image_seal =

| image_map = TXMap-doton-Raymondville.PNG

| mapsize = 250px

| map_caption = Location of Raymondville, Texas

| image_map1 = Willacy County Raymondville.svg

| mapsize1 = 250px

| map_caption1 =

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = United States

| subdivision_type1 = State

| subdivision_name1 = Texas

| subdivision_type2 = County

| subdivision_name2 = Willacy

| government_footnotes =

| government_type =

| leader_title = Mayor - Gilbert Gonzales

| leader_name =

| leader_title1 =

| leader_name1 =

| established_title =

| established_date =

| unit_pref = Imperial

| area_footnotes = {{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}}

| area_magnitude =

| area_total_km2 = 10.68

| area_land_km2 = 10.66

| area_water_km2 = 0.03

| area_total_sq_mi = 4.13

| area_land_sq_mi = 4.12

| area_water_sq_mi = 0.01

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_footnotes =

| population_total = 10236

| population_density_km2 = auto

| timezone = Central (CST)

| utc_offset = -6

| timezone_DST = CDT

| utc_offset_DST = -5

| elevation_footnotes =

| elevation_m = 9

| elevation_ft = 30

| coordinates = {{coord|26|28|53|N|97|46|59|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}

| postal_code_type = ZIP codes

| postal_code = 78580, 78598

| area_code = 956

| blank_name = FIPS code

| blank_info = 48-60836{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}

| blank1_name = GNIS feature ID

| blank1_info = 1377181{{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}}

| website = {{URL|https://raymondvilletx.us/}}

| footnotes =

| population_density_sq_mi = auto

}}

Raymondville is a city in and the county seat of Willacy County, Texas, United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=2011-06-07|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}} The population was 10,236 at the 2020 census. It may be included as part of the Brownsville–Harlingen–Raymondville and the Matamoros–Brownsville metropolitan areas.

Raymondville was formed in 1904 by Edward Burleson Raymond, a foreman of the El Sauz Ranch portion of the King Ranch and owner of the Las Majadas Ranch.[http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5489001394 Edward Burleson Raymond] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707072233/http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5489001394 |date=2011-07-07 }}, Texas Historical Marker

Geography

Raymondville is located at {{Coord|26|28|53|N|97|46|59|W|type:city}} (26.481464, –97.783013){{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}} and is known as the "Gateway to the Rio Grande Valley." According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²), all land.

Soils are mostly clay or sandy clay loams which are well drained or moderately well drained. Some fine sandy loams underlie the eastern part of town. These have near neutral pH. Other parts of town have moderately alkaline, somewhat saline soils. Around the southern edge of town is an area of strong salinity, which imposes limitations on farmers and gardeners.

=Climate=

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, Raymondville has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=854714&cityname=Raymondville%2C+Texas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Raymondville, Texas]

{{Weather box

| width = auto

| collapsed = yes

| single line = yes

| location = Raymondville, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1913–present)

| Jan record high F = 92

| Feb record high F = 99

| Mar record high F = 105

| Apr record high F = 106

| May record high F = 107

| Jun record high F = 109

| Jul record high F = 107

| Aug record high F = 107

| Sep record high F = 107

| Oct record high F = 102

| Nov record high F = 99

| Dec record high F = 94

| year record high F =

| Jan high F = 71.3

| Feb high F = 76.0

| Mar high F = 80.9

| Apr high F = 86.7

| May high F = 90.8

| Jun high F = 95.3

| Jul high F = 96.9

| Aug high F = 98.3

| Sep high F = 93.1

| Oct high F = 88.2

| Nov high F = 79.8

| Dec high F = 72.8

| year high F = 85.8

| Jan mean F = 59.7

| Feb mean F = 64.0

| Mar mean F = 69.3

| Apr mean F = 75.1

| May mean F = 80.3

| Jun mean F = 84.6

| Jul mean F = 85.9

| Aug mean F = 86.6

| Sep mean F = 82.4

| Oct mean F = 76.3

| Nov mean F = 67.9

| Dec mean F = 61.2

| year mean F = 74.4

| Jan low F = 48.1

| Feb low F = 51.9

| Mar low F = 57.8

| Apr low F = 63.4

| May low F = 69.8

| Jun low F = 74.0

| Jul low F = 74.9

| Aug low F = 74.9

| Sep low F = 71.6

| Oct low F = 64.4

| Nov low F = 56.1

| Dec low F = 49.6

| year low F = 63.0

| Jan record low F = 14

| Feb record low F = 19

| Mar record low F = 21

| Apr record low F = 33

| May record low F = 45

| Jun record low F = 56

| Jul record low F = 61

| Aug record low F = 60

| Sep record low F = 45

| Oct record low F = 33

| Nov record low F = 28

| Dec record low F = 15

| year record low F =

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 1.01

| Feb precipitation inch = 1.02

| Mar precipitation inch = 1.40

| Apr precipitation inch = 1.35

| May precipitation inch = 3.03

| Jun precipitation inch = 2.58

| Jul precipitation inch = 2.47

| Aug precipitation inch = 2.09

| Sep precipitation inch = 5.56

| Oct precipitation inch = 2.97

| Nov precipitation inch = 0.87

| Dec precipitation inch = 1.12

| year precipitation inch = 25.47

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 4.7

| Feb precipitation days = 4.0

| Mar precipitation days = 3.6

| Apr precipitation days = 3.3

| May precipitation days = 3.8

| Jun precipitation days = 4.6

| Jul precipitation days = 5.0

| Aug precipitation days = 5.4

| Sep precipitation days = 8.2

| Oct precipitation days = 4.6

| Nov precipitation days = 3.9

| Dec precipitation days = 5.0

| year precipitation days = 56.1

| 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 = 0.2

| year snow inch = 0.2

| 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 = 0.0

| year snow days = 0.0

| source = NOAA{{cite web

|url = https://w2.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=bro

|title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = March 1, 2024}}{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00417458&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 = March 1, 2024}}

}}

Demographics

{{US Census population

|align=right

|1930= 2050

|1940= 4050

|1950= 9136

|1960= 9385

|1970= 7987

|1980= 9493

|1990= 8880

|2000= 9733

|2010= 11284

|2020= 10236

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|website=United States Census Bureau|access-date=}}
1850–1900{{Cite web|title= 1900 Census of Population - Population of Texas By Counties And Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/49-population-tx.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1910{{Cite web|title= 1910 Census of Population - Supplement for Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-tx-p1.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}
1920{{Cite web|title= 1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1920/bulletins/demographics/population-tx-number-of-inhabitants.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1930{{Cite web|title= 1930 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1930/population-volume-1/03815512v1ch10.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1940{{Cite web|title= 1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch09.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}

1950{{Cite web|title= 1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-1/vol-01-46.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1960{{Cite web|title= 1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/33255142v1p45ch02.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1970{{Cite web|title= 1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/00496492v1p45s1ch02.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}
1980{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1980/volume-1/texas/1980a_txab-01.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1990{{Cite web|title=1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cph-2/cph-2-45.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 2000{{Cite web|title=2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-45.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}
2010{{Cite web|title=2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-45.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}

}}

=2020 census=

class="wikitable"

|+Raymondville racial composition{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4860836&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=data.census.gov}}
(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.https://www.census.gov/ {{nonspecific|date=August 2022}}{{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}}}}

!Race

!Number

!Percentage

White (NH)

|817

|7.98%

Black or African American (NH)

|418

|4.08%

Native American or Alaska Native (NH)

|15

|0.15%

Asian (NH)

|148

|1.45%

Some Other Race (NH)

|21

|0.21%

Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)

|19

|0.19%

Hispanic or Latino

|8,798

|85.95%

Total

|10,236

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 10,236 people, 2,826 households, and 2,151 families residing in the city.

=2000 census=

As of the census of 2000, 9,733 people, 2,514 households, and 2,016 families were residing in the city. The population density was 2,564.4 people/sq mi (988.9/km²). The 2,842 housing units had an average density of 748.8/sq mi (288.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 69.91% White, 3.91% African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 23.29% from other races, and 2.20% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 86.63% of the population.

Of the 2,514 households, 41.0% had children under 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 18.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.8% were not families. About 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.45, and the average family size was 3.97.

In the city, the age distribution was 29.9% under 18, 13.1% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 117.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 119.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $19,729, and for a family was $23,799. Males had a median income of $20,034 versus $14,502 for females. The per capita income for the city was $8,910. About 32.7% of families and 36.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.0% of those under age 18 and 30.7% of those age 65 or over.

In 2010, Raymondville was 77% Catholic, 10.5% Southern Baptist, and 4% United Methodist.{{cite web

|title=Raymondville, Texas (TX 78580) profile: population, maps, real estate, averages, homes, statistics, relocation, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, moving, houses, news

|work=City-data.com |publisher=Advameg, Inc.

|access-date=2013-09-10 |url=http://www.city-data.com/city/Raymondville-Texas.html}}

Infrastructure

Raymondville is the location of three private prisons, all adjacent to each other:{{cite magazine|last1=Tyx|first1=Daniel Blue|title=Goodbye to Tent City|url=https://www.texasobserver.org/south-texas-prison-riot-willacy-county-economic-future/|access-date=30 July 2016|magazine=Texas Observer|date=26 March 2015}}

The Willacy County Correctional Center ({{coord|26.469897|-97.762176}}), owned and operated by the Management and Training Corporation under contract with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is located on the east side of Interstate 69E/U.S. Route 77."[http://www.ice.gov/pi/dro/facilities/willacy.htm Willacy Detention Facility]." U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Retrieved on May 9, 2010. Constructed in 45 days, it opened in 2006 and closed in March 2015 after destructive riots; the center was a large "tent city" federal holding center for illegal immigrants.{{cite AV media

|date=February 23, 2007 |work=Democracy Now! |people=Jodi Goodwin, Amy Goodman, & Juan González

|title=Raymondville: Inside the Largest Immigration Prison Camp in the US

|access-date=2013-09-10

|url=http://www.democracynow.org/2007/2/23/raymondville_inside_the_largest_immigration_prison

|quote=The largest immigrant prison camp is in Raymondville, Texas. Some two thousand undocumented immigrants are currently being held in the prison awaiting deportation.}}

The Willacy County Regional Detention Center, or the Willacy Detention Center ({{coord|26.470818|-97.758837}}) opened in 2003. It is operated by Management and Training Corporation housing federal prisoners for the U.S. Marshal Service.
The Willacy County State Jail ({{coord|26.467076|-97.767420}}), operated by the Corrections Corporation of America under contract with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, is a medium-security facility with a capacity of 1069.{{cite web|title=Willacy County State Jail|url=http://www.cca.com/facilities/willacy-county-state-jail|website=Corrections Corporation of America|access-date=30 July 2016}} CCA has managed this facility since 2004. This facility was opened by Wackenhut, now GEO Group, in 1996. On April 26, 2001, inmate Gregorio De La Rosa, Jr., was beaten to death by other prisoners. This incident caused a $42.5 million civil settlement against Wackenhut.{{cite news|title=Appeals Court upholds $42.5 million wrongful death suit against Wackenhut|url=http://www.raymondville-chronicle.com/news/2009-04-08/front_page/004.html|access-date=30 July 2016|publisher=Raymondville Chronicle / Willacy County News|date=8 April 2009}}

The United States Postal Service operates the Raymondville Post Office."[http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/raymondville-705-e-hidalgo-ave-raymondville-tx-1378884 Post Office Location - RAYMONDVILLE]." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on May 9, 2010.

The Raymondville Independent School District serves the city.

The Reber Memorial Library is located in Raymondville."[http://www.raymondvillechamber.com/businesses/reber.htm Reber Memorial Library]." Raymondville Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved on May 9, 2010.

The Raymondville Chronicle and Willacy County News, a weekly newspaper, is published in Raymondville.

Notable people

Clinton Manges (1923–2010), businessman; lived in Raymondville, married a native belle, built and owned a bowling alley{{cite news

|newspaper = Raymondville Chronicle and Willacy County News

|title = Millionaire Texas Oil Man, Clinton Manges, began his career in Raymondville

|date = September 29, 2010

|first = Robert

|last = Wilcox

|location = Raymondville, Texas

|url = http://www.raymondvillechroniclenews.com/news/2010-09-29/Front_Page/Millionaire_Texas_Oil_Man_Clinton_Manges_began_his.html

|orig-year = 2006

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130909191457/http://www.raymondvillechroniclenews.com/news/2010-09-29/Front_Page/Millionaire_Texas_Oil_Man_Clinton_Manges_began_his.html

|archive-date = September 9, 2013

}}

Angela Via (born 1981), Singer; was born and raised in Raymondville

Films

Raymondville's history was the subject of the film, Valley of Tears. The movie visits the Mexican-American community that had worked the onion fields of rural South Texas in three different eras, observing how the seeds of change planted 20 years ago seem ready to bear fruit today. Politicians and officials interviewed in the film include Larry Spence, former District Attorney Juan Angel Guerra, Paul Whitworth, Wetegrove families, Dr. Allan Spence, and school-board and city-council members.{{cite web

|title=film review VALLEY OF TEARS documentary movie about Mexican-American farm workers in rural Texas |first=Joshua |last=Tanzer |work=Offoffoff.com

|access-date=2013-09-10 |url=http://www.offoffoff.com/film/2003/valleyoftears.php

|quote="Valley of Tears" is a look into another world. The little town of Raymondville, Texas, ...near the Rio Grande — which jokingly calls itself "The Breath of a Nation" — is a little piece of America at its most troubling.}}