Victoria, Texas | |
|---|---|
City andcounty seat | |
 Downtown Victoria in December 2007 | |
 Seal | |
 Location in the state ofTexas | |
  Victoria  Victoria | |
| Coordinates:28°49′1″N96°59′36″W / 28.81694°N 96.99333°W /28.81694; -96.99333 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| County | Victoria |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| • Mayor | Duane Crocker |
| • City Council | Rafael DeLaGarza, III Steven Kidder April L. Butler Jan Scott Dr. Andrew Young Mark Loffgren |
| • City Manager | Jesús A. Garza |
| Area | |
• City andcounty seat | 37.57 sq mi (97.30 km2) |
| • Land | 37.37 sq mi (96.78 km2) |
| • Water | 0.20 sq mi (0.52 km2) |
| Elevation | 95 ft (29 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• City andcounty seat | 65,534 |
| • Density | 1,790.7/sq mi (691.41/km2) |
| • Metro | 116,000 |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code(s) | 77901, 77902, 77903, 77904, 77905 |
| Area code | 361 |
| FIPS code | 48-75428[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1370631[3] |
| Website | City of Victoria |
Victoria is a city in and thecounty seat ofVictoria County, Texas, United States. The population was 65,534 as of the2020 census.[4] The three counties of theVictoria Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 111,163 as of the 2000 census. Its elevation is 95 ft (29 m).
Victoria is located 30 miles inland from theGulf of Mexico. It is a two-hour drive fromCorpus Christi,Houston,San Antonio, andAustin.
The city is named forGeneralGuadalupe Victoria, who became the first president of independentMexico.[5] It is the cathedral city of the Roman CatholicDiocese of Victoria in Texas.
The city of Guadalupe Victoria was founded in 1824 by Martín De León, a Mexicanempresario, in honor ofGuadalupe Victoria, the first President of theRepublic of Mexico.[6] Victoria was initially part ofDe León's Colony, which had been founded that same year.[7] By 1834, the town had a population of approximately 300.[8]
During theTexas Revolution, Guadalupe Victoria contributed soldiers and supplies to pro-revolutionary forces. However, afterJames Fannin was defeated by the Mexican army at theBattle of Coleto, the town was occupied by Mexican forces.[8] AfterSanta Anna was defeated at theBattle of San Jacinto, the town's Mexican residents were driven out by Anglo settlers, who renamed it Victoria.
In 1840, aComanche raid on nearbyLinnville killed many residents of the town.[9] Acholera outbreak occurred in 1846.[8]
During the mid-19th century, the city developed a large population of European immigrants, particularly Germans.[8] 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 ofAustin,Corpus Christi,Houston, andSan Antonio, and prosperous industries in agriculture andpetrochemicals solidified its prominence.[8]
Texas A&M University–Victoria was founded in 1971 as the University of Houston–Victoria Center and remains there today.
In 2017, the Victoria Islamic Center mosque was destroyed by an arson attack.[10][11] A 25-year-old Victoria man was convicted of the crime and sentenced to prison.[12][13] A documentary film,A Town Called Victoria, was produced about the incident.[14][15][16]
Victoria is located on the coastal plains of Texas about 50 mi (80 km) from the Gulf of Mexico and 20 mi (32 km) 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 95 ft (29 m). Most of the city is underlain bysmectite-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.[17] 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.[18]
Victoria is classified as having ahumid subtropical climate. June through August are very hot and humid, with high temperatures regularly exceeding 100 °F (38 °C). The record high temperature of 111 °F (43.9 °C) 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 9 °F (−12.8 °C). Snow is very infrequent, occurring on average once every 11 years. On December 24–25, 2004, Victoria recorded itsfirst White Christmas ever when 12.5 in (32 cm) of snow fell.[19]
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, includinghurricanes, 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 in July 2003 was the last hurricane to score a direct hit on the city. During this event, winds gusted to 83 mph (134 km/h) at the Victoria Regional Airport and 90% of the city lost power.[20] The most intense hurricane to affect Victoria remainsHurricane 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.[21]
| Climate data forVictoria Regional Airport, Texas (1991–2020 normals,[22] extremes 1902–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 88 (31) | 96 (36) | 99 (37) | 100 (38) | 102 (39) | 109 (43) | 110 (43) | 109 (43) | 111 (44) | 109 (43) | 93 (34) | 88 (31) | 111 (44) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 79.4 (26.3) | 82.9 (28.3) | 86.5 (30.3) | 89.5 (31.9) | 93.9 (34.4) | 96.9 (36.1) | 98.5 (36.9) | 100.5 (38.1) | 97.5 (36.4) | 92.8 (33.8) | 86.2 (30.1) | 81.1 (27.3) | 101.3 (38.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 65.2 (18.4) | 69.1 (20.6) | 75.0 (23.9) | 80.8 (27.1) | 86.8 (30.4) | 92.3 (33.5) | 94.6 (34.8) | 95.5 (35.3) | 90.7 (32.6) | 84.1 (28.9) | 74.1 (23.4) | 67.3 (19.6) | 81.3 (27.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 54.4 (12.4) | 58.4 (14.7) | 64.4 (18.0) | 70.4 (21.3) | 77.3 (25.2) | 82.7 (28.2) | 84.5 (29.2) | 84.8 (29.3) | 80.4 (26.9) | 72.6 (22.6) | 62.8 (17.1) | 56.2 (13.4) | 70.7 (21.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 43.6 (6.4) | 47.7 (8.7) | 53.9 (12.2) | 60.0 (15.6) | 67.7 (19.8) | 73.1 (22.8) | 74.5 (23.6) | 74.1 (23.4) | 70.0 (21.1) | 61.0 (16.1) | 51.4 (10.8) | 45.2 (7.3) | 60.2 (15.7) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 27.6 (−2.4) | 30.1 (−1.1) | 34.5 (1.4) | 43.5 (6.4) | 55.3 (12.9) | 65.8 (18.8) | 70.3 (21.3) | 69.8 (21.0) | 56.4 (13.6) | 44.4 (6.9) | 35.4 (1.9) | 27.3 (−2.6) | 23.5 (−4.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 9 (−13) | 13 (−11) | 21 (−6) | 33 (1) | 45 (7) | 54 (12) | 61 (16) | 61 (16) | 45 (7) | 31 (−1) | 18 (−8) | 9 (−13) | 9 (−13) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 2.52 (64) | 2.08 (53) | 2.77 (70) | 2.82 (72) | 5.19 (132) | 4.46 (113) | 4.18 (106) | 2.85 (72) | 4.16 (106) | 4.64 (118) | 3.24 (82) | 2.31 (59) | 41.22 (1,047) |
| 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) | 0.6 (1.5) | 0.6 (1.5) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 8.4 | 8.1 | 7.1 | 6.1 | 7.1 | 8.9 | 7.9 | 8.1 | 9.5 | 7.6 | 7.3 | 8.1 | 94.2 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 inch) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Source: NOAA[23][24] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 806 | — | |
| 1860 | 1,986 | 146.4% | |
| 1870 | 2,534 | 27.6% | |
| 1890 | 3,046 | — | |
| 1900 | 4,010 | 31.6% | |
| 1910 | 3,673 | −8.4% | |
| 1920 | 5,957 | 62.2% | |
| 1930 | 7,421 | 24.6% | |
| 1940 | 11,566 | 55.9% | |
| 1950 | 16,126 | 39.4% | |
| 1960 | 33,047 | 104.9% | |
| 1970 | 41,349 | 25.1% | |
| 1980 | 50,695 | 22.6% | |
| 1990 | 55,076 | 8.6% | |
| 2000 | 60,603 | 10.0% | |
| 2010 | 62,592 | 3.3% | |
| 2020 | 65,534 | 4.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 23,953 | 36.55% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 4,655 | 7.1% |
| Native American orAlaska Native (NH) | 158 | 0.24% |
| Asian (NH) | 1,337 | 2.04% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 27 | 0.04% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 163 | 0.25% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 1,303 | 1.99% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 33,938 | 51.79% |
| Total | 65,534 |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 65,534 people, 23,724 households, and 15,560 families residing in the city. As ofcensus[2] of 2000, 60,603 people, 22,129 households, and 15,755 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,838.3 inhabitants per square mile (709.8/km2). There were 24,192 housing units at an average density of 733.8 per square mile (283.3/km2). Theracial 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% weremarried 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. Theper capita income for the city was $19,009. About 12.2% of families and 14.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 20.4% of those under the age of 18 and 12.2% ages 65 or older.
Victoria's economy is a mix of education, health, retail, agriculture, and industry. Its access to major highways, theVictoria Regional Airport, railway terminals, the shallow draftPort of Victoria, and the deep waterPort of Port Lavaca-Point Comfort help to sustain a healthy environment for business. Major industrial employers in the region includeFormosa Plastics Corp, Inteplast Group,Dow,Invista,Caterpillar andAlcoa.
Theatre Victoria offers six productions in a season, including the Victoria Symphony Orchestra and Victoria Ballet.
The Victoria Bach Festival occurs each June.[28]
Museums 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-oldestRoman Catholic Church in Texas and first to be canonically established in theRepublic of Texas, St. Mary's Church.[29]
Victoria's 562-acre (2.27-km2) Riverside Park is home to theTexas Zoo, which houses more than 200 species of animals and plants indigenous to Texas, exhibiting them in their natural habitats.[30] The park is also home to more than 15baseball fields which are occupied during the spring and summer by teams from the Victoria Metro region. Also in Riverside Park on theGuadalupe 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, offshore and wade fishing.
Threegolf courses are located in Victoria: the Victoria Country Club, Riverside Golf Course, and Colony Creek Country Club.
The major shopping center isVictoria Mall.
TheUHV Jaguars compete in baseball, softball, soccer, and golf as a member of theRed River Athletic Conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division I.
The Victoria Generals compete in theTexas Collegiate League, a summer baseball league. The Generals won the 2010 TCL championship.
Victoria is administered by acity council of seven members. The council is composed of six council members and an electedmayor, accompanied by a hiredcity manager under themanager-council system of municipal governance. The council is elected under four single-member districts (numbered1 through4),[31] two "super districts" (numbered5 and6; Super District 5 overlays Districts 1 and 2 while Super District 6 overlays Districts 3 and 4);[32] the mayor is elected at-large.
Victoria also serves as the county seat of Victoria County.
TheVictoria 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, a two-yearcommunity college, andTexas A&M University–Victoria, a separate independent four-year campus of theTexas A&M University System, provide post-secondary educational opportunities.
The daily newspaper isThe Victoria Advocate. Additionally, Texas A&M University–Victoria publishesThe Flame.
| Frequency | Call sign | City of license[33][34] | Licensee | Format[35] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1030 AM | KCTA | Corpus Christi | Broadcasting Corporation of the Southwest | Christian talk |
| 1130 AM | KTMR | Converse | Siga Broadcasting Corporation | Business news/Talk |
| 1340 AM | KVNN | Victoria | Victoria Radioworks, LLC | News/talk |
| 1410 AM | KITE | Victoria | Victoria Radioworks, LLC | Classic hits |
| 88.5 FM | KAYK | Victoria | American Family Association | Religious talk (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 | Houston Christian Broadcasters, Inc. | Christian (KHCB-FM) |
| 92.3 FM | KQVT | Victoria | Townsquare License, LLC | Top 40 (CHR) |
| 92.7 FM | K224EH | Victoria | Educational Media Foundation | Contemporary worship (Air1) (KZAI) |
| 93.3 FM | KNAL | Port Lavaca | Victoria Radioworks, LLC | Country |
| 94.9 FM | KEON | Ganado | S Content Marketing, LLC | Country |
| 95.9 FM | KHMC | Goliad | Minerva R. Lopez | Tejano |
| 96.1 FM | KIOX-FM | Edna | Bay and Beyond Broadcasting LLC | Country |
| 97.5 FM | K248CS | Victoria | Victoria Radioworks, LLC | Classic hits (KITE) |
| 98.1 FM | K251CB | Victoria | Victoria Radioworks, LLC | 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 | Victoria | Victoria Radioworks, LLC | Top 40 (CHR) |
| 106.5 FM | KSEJ-LP | Victoria | Ralph Salazar Victory Ministries | Contemporary Christian |
| 106.9 FM | KLUB | Bloomington | Townsquare License, LLC | Tejano |
| 107.9 FM | KIXS | Victoria | Townsquare License, LLC | Country |
KMOL-LD (channel 17) is Victoria'sNBC affiliate, carryingMovies! on 17.2; it is owned and operated byMorgan Murphy Media.
KVCT (channel 19) is Victoria'sFox affiliate, simulcastingTelemundo on 19.2; carryingThe CW Plus on 19.3 andHeroes & Icons on 19.4; it is owned bySagamoreHill Broadcasting and operated by Morgan Murphy Media.
KUNU-LD (channel 21) is Victoria'sUnivision affiliate, carryingDabl on 21.2; it is owned and operated by Morgan Murphy Media.
KAVU-TV (channel 25) is Victoria'sABC affiliate, simulcasting NBC on 25.2 andCBS on 25.3; carryingAccuWeather on 25.4 andIon Television on 25.5; it is owned and operated by Morgan Murphy Media.
KQZY-LD (channel 33) is Victoria'sCozi TV; it is owned and operated by Morgan Murphy Media.
KXTS-LD (channel 41) is Victoria'sCBS affiliate, carryingAntenna TV on 41.2 andHSN on 41.3; it is owned and operated by Morgan Murphy Media.
KVTX-LD (channel 45) is Victoria'sTelemundo affiliate; it is owned and operated by Morgan Murphy Media.
PBS programming is provided byKUHT (channel 8) inHouston andKLRN (channel 9) inSan Antonio, which share the Victoria market.
Victoria is located at the intersection of three majorU.S. highways:
US 59
US 77
US 87
SH 185Victoria 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 draftPort of Victoria and the deep waterPort of Port Lavaca – Point Comfort.
In 2002, Victoria Transit began operation of a citywide transportation system. It currently offers bus service on three fixed routes, along with complementary paratransit and demand-response service.[36]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Map of Victoria City Council Districts{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Map of Victoria City Council Super Districts
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