Rocksprings, Texas | |
|---|---|
town | |
 Historic Rocksprings Hotel | |
 Location of Rocksprings, Texas | |
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  Rocksprings Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:30°0′58″N100°12′32″W / 30.01611°N 100.20889°W /30.01611; -100.20889 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Edwards |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.22 sq mi (3.15 km2) |
| • Land | 1.22 sq mi (3.15 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,402 ft (732 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 874 |
| • Density | 719/sq mi (277/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 78880 |
| Area code | 830 |
| FIPS code | 48-62816[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1345423[3] |
Rocksprings is a town in and thecounty seat ofEdwards County, Texas, United States.[4] At the2020 census, the town population was 874,[5] down from 1,182 at the2010 census[6] and 1,285 at the2000 census. The town received its name from natural springs associated with the porouslimestone rocks in the area.
J. R. Sweeten sited Rocksprings in 1891 because of the springs nearby. Also in 1891, the town acquired apost office and was made county seat. The originalcourthouse built in the town burned in 1897. By 1914, Rocksprings had a population around 500.
During the early 1900s, hostilities between Anglos and Mexicans along the "Brown Belt" were common. On November 3, 1910 in Rocksprings, Antonio Rodriguez, a 20-year-old Mexican, wasburned at the stake by a white mob for allegedly killing a white woman, Effie Greer Henderson. This event was widely publicized and protests against the treatment of Mexicans in the U.S. erupted within the interior of Mexico, namely in Guadalajara and Mexico City.[7][8] This was part of a series of racist killings known asla Matanza.
On April 12, 1927, the town was hit byan F5 tornado that destroyed 235 of the 247 buildings in the town. The tornado killed 74 townspeople and injured 205, almost a third of the population at the time.[9]
Rocksprings is located northeast of the center of Edwards County at30°0′58″N100°12′32″W / 30.01611°N 100.20889°W /30.01611; -100.20889 (30.016161, –100.209023).[10] Rocksprings sits on top of theEdwards Plateau. According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.2 sq mi (3.1 km2), all land.[6]
U.S. Route 377 passes through the center of the town, leading northeast 46 miles (74 km) toJunction and southwest 76 miles (122 km) toDel Rio.Texas State Highway 55 joins US 377 as Main Street through Rocksprings, but leads northwest 55 miles (89 km) toSonora and south 68 miles (109 km) toUvalde.
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to theKöppen climate classification, Rocksprings has ahumid subtropical climate,Cfa on climate maps.[11]
| Climate data for Rocksprings, Texas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1894–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 99 (37) | 96 (36) | 98 (37) | 100 (38) | 104 (40) | 109 (43) | 107 (42) | 108 (42) | 106 (41) | 100 (38) | 93 (34) | 87 (31) | 109 (43) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 75.9 (24.4) | 80.0 (26.7) | 85.0 (29.4) | 91.0 (32.8) | 94.2 (34.6) | 96.9 (36.1) | 98.4 (36.9) | 98.0 (36.7) | 93.4 (34.1) | 88.9 (31.6) | 79.9 (26.6) | 74.6 (23.7) | 100.6 (38.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 58.5 (14.7) | 62.5 (16.9) | 69.5 (20.8) | 76.9 (24.9) | 82.8 (28.2) | 88.3 (31.3) | 90.8 (32.7) | 91.3 (32.9) | 84.9 (29.4) | 76.7 (24.8) | 66.0 (18.9) | 59.3 (15.2) | 75.6 (24.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 47.8 (8.8) | 51.7 (10.9) | 58.1 (14.5) | 65.3 (18.5) | 72.2 (22.3) | 77.9 (25.5) | 80.1 (26.7) | 80.5 (26.9) | 74.9 (23.8) | 66.5 (19.2) | 56.0 (13.3) | 48.9 (9.4) | 65.0 (18.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 37.2 (2.9) | 40.8 (4.9) | 46.7 (8.2) | 53.7 (12.1) | 61.5 (16.4) | 67.5 (19.7) | 69.5 (20.8) | 69.7 (20.9) | 64.8 (18.2) | 56.3 (13.5) | 46.1 (7.8) | 38.4 (3.6) | 54.4 (12.4) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 23.4 (−4.8) | 26.8 (−2.9) | 30.6 (−0.8) | 38.5 (3.6) | 49.7 (9.8) | 61.2 (16.2) | 65.7 (18.7) | 64.7 (18.2) | 53.4 (11.9) | 40.7 (4.8) | 29.7 (−1.3) | 25.1 (−3.8) | 19.8 (−6.8) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 5 (−15) | 3 (−16) | 10 (−12) | 20 (−7) | 30 (−1) | 45 (7) | 58 (14) | 53 (12) | 38 (3) | 19 (−7) | 14 (−10) | 5 (−15) | 3 (−16) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 1.03 (26) | 0.93 (24) | 1.81 (46) | 1.66 (42) | 3.35 (85) | 2.50 (64) | 1.95 (50) | 3.10 (79) | 3.38 (86) | 3.05 (77) | 1.66 (42) | 1.62 (41) | 26.04 (662) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.2 (0.51) | 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) | 0.2 (0.51) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 5.7 | 5.4 | 6.2 | 4.5 | 6.0 | 5.3 | 4.8 | 5.7 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 5.2 | 4.5 | 64.7 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 |
| Source 1: NOAA[12] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service[13] | |||||||||||||
The economy of Rocksprings is centered on thewool andmohair industry, and the town is recognized as theAngora goat capital of the world.Tourism has become a growing part of the economy, with the opening ofDevil's Sinkhole State Natural Area, located about 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Rocksprings.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 998 | — | |
| 1940 | 1,339 | 34.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,436 | 7.2% | |
| 1960 | 1,182 | −17.7% | |
| 1970 | 1,221 | 3.3% | |
| 1980 | 1,317 | 7.9% | |
| 1990 | 1,339 | 1.7% | |
| 2000 | 1,285 | −4.0% | |
| 2010 | 1,182 | −8.0% | |
| 2020 | 874 | −26.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[14] | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 214 | 24.49% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 2 | 0.23% |
| Native American orAlaska Native (NH) | 5 | 0.57% |
| Asian (NH) | 4 | 0.46% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 1 | 0.11% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 2 | 0.23% |
| Multiracial (NH) | 12 | 1.37% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 634 | 72.54% |
| Total | 874 |
As of the2020 United States census, 874 people, 559 households, and 340 families were residing in the town.
As of thecensus[2] of 2000, 1,285 people, 420 households, and 312 families resided in the town. The population density was 1,064.1 inhabitants per square mile (410.9/km2). The 535 housing units averaged 443.0 per mi2 (170.7/km2). Theracial makeup of the town was 76.26% White, 1.17% African American, 0.93% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 18.75% from other races, and 2.72% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 66.69% of the population.
Of the 420 households, 40.2% had children under 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were not families. About 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.58.
In the town, the population was distributed as 33.5% under 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.3 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $19,970, and for a family was $22,614. Males had a median income of $21,369 versus $14,408 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $8,957. About 31.7% of families and 38.2% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 51.6% of those under 18 and 16.8% of those 65 or over.
The town is served by theRocksprings Independent School District and home to theRocksprings High School Angoras. The school mascot is Rocko, the fighting Angora billy.
The town of Rocksprings was the location of the Texas State Penitentiary, Spring Valley Unit, in two episodes in season three of the television showBrooklyn Nine-Nine.
Municipalities and communities ofEdwards County, Texas,United States | ||
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