Gonzales, Texas | |
|---|---|
 Gonzales' Municipal Building on St. Joseph St. was built in 1959 from plans by Emil Niggli and Barton Riley. | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Motto: "Where the fight for Texas liberty began"[2] | |
 Location of Gonzales, Texas | |
| Coordinates:29°30′12″N97°26′52″W / 29.50333°N 97.44778°W /29.50333; -97.44778 | |
| Subregion | Eagle Ford Shale[1] |
| Region | Austin Chalk[1] |
| County | Gonzales |
| State | Texas |
| Country | United States |
| Founded by | Green DeWitt |
| Named after | Rafael Gonzáles |
| Area | |
• Total | 6.08 sq mi (15.75 km2) |
| • Land | 6.08 sq mi (15.75 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 325 ft (99 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 7,165 |
| • Density | 1,238.9/sq mi (478.34/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 78629 |
| Area code | 830 |
| FIPS code | 48-30116[5] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410618[4] |
| Website | www |
Gonzales is a city in theU.S. state ofTexas, with a population of 7,165 at the2020 census.[6] It is the county seat ofGonzales County.[7]
Gonzales was the site of several integral events in theTexas Revolution, including theBattle of Gonzales, the "Come and Take It" incident, the ride of theImmortal 32 to theBattle of the Alamo, and the subsequentRunaway Scrape.
The city's cattle and poultry economy is enhanced by oilfield services and light manufacturing enterprises, a short rail connection to a major Union-Pacific rail line, and lodging oil field workers from the nearbyEagle Ford Shale.[8]
Gonzales is one of the earliest Anglo-American settlements in Texas, the first west of theColorado River. It was established byGreen DeWitt as the capital of his colony in August 1825. DeWitt named the community forRafael Gonzáles, governor ofCoahuila y Tejas.[9] Informally, the community was known as theDeWitt Colony.
The original settlement (located where Highway 90-A crosses Kerr Creek) was abandoned in 1826 after twoIndian attacks. It was rebuilt nearby in 1827. The town remains today as it was originally surveyed.
Gonzales is referred to as the "Lexington of Texas" because it was the site of the first skirmish of theTexas Revolution. In 1831, theMexican government had granted Green DeWitt's request for a small cannon for protection against Indian attacks. At the outbreak of disputes between the Anglo settlers and the Mexican authorities in 1835, a contingent of more than 100 Mexican soldiers was sent fromSan Antonio to retrieve the cannon.
When the soldiers arrived, only 18 men were in Gonzales, but they refused to return the cannon, and men from the surrounding area soon joined them.Texians under the command ofJohn Henry Moore confrontedthem. Sarah DeWitt and her daughter sewed a flag bearing the likeness of the cannon and the words "Come and Take It", which was flown when the first shots of Texian independence were fired on October 2, 1835. The Texians successfully resisted the Mexican troops in what became known as theBattle of Gonzales.[10][11]
Gonzales later contributed 32 men from theGonzales Ranging Company to the defense of theAlamo.[12] It was the only city to send aid to the Alamo, and all 32 men lost their lives defending the site.Susanna Dickinson, widow ofone of the Alamo defenders, and Joe, the slave ofWilliam B. Travis, fled to Gonzales with news of the Alamo massacre. GeneralSam Houston was there organizing the Texas forces. He anticipated the town would be the next target of GeneralAntonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican army. Gathering the Texians at Peach Creek east of town, under theSam Houston Oak, Houston ordered Gonzales burned, to deny it to the enemy. He began a retreat toward the U.S. border. The widows and orphans of Gonzales and their neighbors were forced to flee, thus precipitating theRunaway Scrape.
The town was derelict immediately after the Texas Revolution, but was eventually rebuilt on the original site in the early 1840s. By 1850, the town had a population of 300. The population rose to 1,703 by time of the 1860 census, 2,900 by the mid-1880s, and 4,297 in 1900. Part of the growth of the late 19th century can be attributed to the arrival of various immigrants, among them Jews, many of whom becamepeddlers and merchants.[13]
Gonzales is located in central Gonzales County, on the northeastern side of theGuadalupe River, just east of the mouth of theSan Marcos River.U.S. Route 183 passes through the western side of the city, andU.S. Route 90 Alternate passes through the north of the city.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, Gonzales has a total area of 6.1 square miles (15.7 km2), all land.[6]
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Gonzales has ahumid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[14]
| Climate data for Gonzales, Texas (2 miles south) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1965–2023) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 89 (32) | 96 (36) | 100 (38) | 98 (37) | 102 (39) | 109 (43) | 106 (41) | 111 (44) | 111 (44) | 98 (37) | 93 (34) | 87 (31) | 111 (44) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 62.1 (16.7) | 65.9 (18.8) | 72.5 (22.5) | 79.3 (26.3) | 85.6 (29.8) | 91.8 (33.2) | 94.3 (34.6) | 95.7 (35.4) | 89.9 (32.2) | 82.1 (27.8) | 71.9 (22.2) | 64.0 (17.8) | 79.6 (26.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 51.1 (10.6) | 54.8 (12.7) | 61.7 (16.5) | 68.3 (20.2) | 75.8 (24.3) | 81.9 (27.7) | 84.2 (29.0) | 84.7 (29.3) | 79.4 (26.3) | 70.6 (21.4) | 60.4 (15.8) | 52.8 (11.6) | 68.8 (20.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 40.1 (4.5) | 43.7 (6.5) | 51.0 (10.6) | 57.3 (14.1) | 66.0 (18.9) | 72.1 (22.3) | 74.0 (23.3) | 73.7 (23.2) | 68.8 (20.4) | 59.0 (15.0) | 49.0 (9.4) | 41.6 (5.3) | 58.0 (14.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 12 (−11) | 8 (−13) | 18 (−8) | 31 (−1) | 43 (6) | 50 (10) | 59 (15) | 58 (14) | 47 (8) | 28 (−2) | 21 (−6) | 4 (−16) | 4 (−16) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 2.37 (60) | 2.07 (53) | 2.80 (71) | 2.82 (72) | 4.68 (119) | 3.41 (87) | 1.95 (50) | 2.92 (74) | 3.58 (91) | 3.94 (100) | 2.73 (69) | 2.66 (68) | 35.93 (913) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 7.3 | 7.1 | 6.5 | 4.9 | 5.6 | 6.2 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 6.7 | 4.8 | 5.8 | 6.4 | 70.8 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Source:NOAA[15][16] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 307 | — | |
| 1860 | 1,103 | 259.3% | |
| 1870 | 1,255 | 13.8% | |
| 1880 | 1,581 | 26.0% | |
| 1890 | 1,641 | 3.8% | |
| 1900 | 4,297 | 161.9% | |
| 1910 | 3,139 | −26.9% | |
| 1920 | 3,128 | −0.4% | |
| 1930 | 3,859 | 23.4% | |
| 1940 | 4,722 | 22.4% | |
| 1950 | 5,659 | 19.8% | |
| 1960 | 5,829 | 3.0% | |
| 1970 | 5,854 | 0.4% | |
| 1980 | 7,152 | 22.2% | |
| 1990 | 6,527 | −8.7% | |
| 2000 | 7,202 | 10.3% | |
| 2010 | 7,237 | 0.5% | |
| 2020 | 7,165 | −1.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[17] | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 2,134 | 29.78% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 654 | 9.13% |
| Native American orAlaska Native (NH) | 23 | 0.32% |
| Asian (NH) | 38 | 0.53% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 15 | 0.21% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 123 | 1.72% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 4,178 | 58.31% |
| Total | 7,165 |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 7,165 people, 2,711 households, and 1,834 families residing in the city.
As of thecensus[5] of 2010, there were 7,237 people and 2,243 households in the city. Thepopulation density was 1,412.8 inhabitants per square mile (545.5/km2). There were 2,869 housing units at an average density of 562.8 per square mile (217.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 71.5%White, 7.40%African American, 1.00%Native American, 0.40%Asian, 0.00%Pacific Islander, 21.15% fromother races, and 2.20% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 47.2% of the population.
There were 2,571 households, out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% weremarried couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.35.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.7% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,226, and the median income for a family was $34,663. Males had a median income of $22,804 versus $18,217 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $12,866. About 14.8% of families and 20.9% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 25.5% of those under age 18 and 23.0% of those age 65 or over.
The site of theBattle of Gonzales, in the village of Cost, off Highway 97, is marked by a handsome stone and bronze monument commissioned by the State of Texas in 1910. The Gonzales Memorial Museum, built and dedicated by the State of Texas as part of the state's 1936 Centennial celebrations, houses theCome and Take It cannon and memorializes Gonzales's Old Eighteen and the Immortal 32. The monument at Texas Heroes Square is the work of the Italian-born San Antonio artistPompeo Coppini, Texas' leading sculptor in his day.
TheGonzales County Courthouse (1896), on the National Register of Historic Places, is by the master of Texas courthouses,James Riely Gordon. Winning a country-wide competition for theBexar County Courthouse in San Antonio launched Gordon's career, as the first of 72 courthouses, 18 of them in Texas (with 12 remaining in this state).J. Riely Gordon was also a master of theRomanesque Revival style, hugely popular in the 1890s, and seen here with good effect.
Gonzales has an exceptionally high concentration of historic houses and buildings.
In 2012,This Old House named Gonzales as one of the Best Old House Neighborhoods,[21] noting its well-preserved downtown, its large stock of affordable and fixer-upper fine houses inQueen Anne,Tudor Revival,Italianate, andGreek Revival styles, as well as the town's low cost of living and convenience to the big cities of Austin, San Antonio, and Houston.
The oldest dwellings in Gonzales date to the mid-19th century, but most of the architecturally notable houses were constructed beginning in the late Victorian period, from about 1880 to about 1915. Queen Anne style houses are the most common, withColonial Revival andClassical Revival houses as well.J. Riely Gordon andAtlee B. Ayers were among the renowned architects active here. Many of the most notable homes, built for the important families of Gonzales, were erected along St. Louis St. and St. Lawrence St. Those two roads edge, to the south and north, a long stretch of public land one block wide running from the historic downtown commercial center and courthouse all the way to Kerr Creek to the east.
During the 19th century, the town was a center for higher education in Texas. Construction of Gonzales College began in 1851, and it opened in 1853, with 50 students. An 1855 addition for the men's program was torn down during the Civil War; the materials were used to build Fort Waul, just to the north of the town. By 1857, the school granted bachelor of arts degrees to females, making it one of the earliest colleges in Texas to do so. The college was purchased in 1891, and its building converted into a private residence by W.M. Atkinson.
The city of Gonzales is served by theGonzales Independent School District and is home to theGonzales High School Apaches.[22] According to theUniversity Interscholastic League of Texas, the Gonzales Apaches football team is in the 4A-1 Region IV District 15; Division: 4A-1.[23]
The city of Gonzales also is home to the Gonzales Center, a branch of theVictoria College which is located in Victoria, Texas.[24]
TheGonzales Inquirer was established in 1853. It is one of the six oldest county newspapers still operating in Texas.[25][26] Radio stationKCTI was established in Gonzales in 1947.
Municipalities and communities ofGonzales County, Texas,United States | ||
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| Unincorporated areas | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
