Frio County, Texas

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Frio County, Texas
The Frio County Courthouse in Pearsall
Location in the state of Texas
Texas's location in the U.S.
Founded	1871
Named for	Frio River
Seat	Pearsall
Largest city	Pearsall
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,134 sq mi (2,937 km²) 1,134 sq mi (2,937 km²) 0.8 sq mi (2 km²), 0.07%
Population  - (2020)  - Density	18,385 15/sq mi (6/km²)
Congressional district	23rd
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website	www.co.frio.tx.us

Frio County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 18,385. The county seat is Pearsall. The county was created in 1858 and later organized in 1871. Frio is named for the Frio River, whose name is Spanish for "cold".

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,134 square miles (2,940 km²), of which 1,134 square miles (2,940 km²) is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) (0.07%) is water.

Major highways

• Interstate 35
• U.S. Highway 57
• State Highway 85
• State Highway 173

Adjacent counties

• Medina County (north)
• Atascosa County (east)
• La Salle County (south)
• Dimmit County (southwest)
• Zavala County (west)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1860	42		—
1870	309		635.7%
1880	2,130		589.3%
1890	3,112		46.1%
1900	4,200		35.0%
1910	8,895		111.8%
1920	9,286		4.4%
1930	9,411		1.3%
1940	9,207		−2.2%
1950	10,357		12.5%
1960	10,112		−2.4%
1970	11,159		10.4%
1980	13,785		23.5%
1990	13,472		−2.3%
2000	16,252		20.6%
2010	17,217		5.9%
U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010–2020

As of the census of 2000, there were 16,252 people, 4,743 households, and 3,642 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (6/km²). There were 5,660 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 71.86% White, 4.87% Black or African American, 0.58% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 19.76% from other races, and 2.50% from two or more races. 73.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,743 households out of which 40.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% were married couples living together, 16.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.20% were non-families. 20.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.44.

In the county, the population was spread out with 28.70% under the age of 18, 11.20% from 18 to 24, 30.80% from 25 to 44, 18.70% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 121.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 130.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,504, and the median income for a family was $26,578. Males had a median income of $23,810 versus $16,498 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,069. About 24.50% of families and 29.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.20% of those under age 18 and 30.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Frio County Cemetery is located just off Interstate 35 in Pearsall.

Cities

• Dilley
• Pearsall (county seat)

Census-designated places

• Bigfoot
• Hilltop
• Moore
• North Pearsall

Unincorporated areas

• Derby

Ghost towns

• Frio Town

Politics

United States presidential election results for Frio County, Texas

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	2,823	53.48%	2,422	45.88%	34	0.64%
2016	1,856	42.18%	2,444	55.55%	100	2.27%
2012	1,559	39.29%	2,376	59.88%	33	0.83%
2008	1,644	40.47%	2,405	59.21%	13	0.32%
2004	1,991	50.66%	1,931	49.13%	8	0.20%
2000	1,774	42.97%	2,317	56.13%	37	0.90%
1996	1,225	29.94%	2,593	63.37%	274	6.70%
1992	1,275	29.52%	2,377	55.04%	667	15.44%
1988	1,505	33.16%	3,016	66.46%	17	0.37%
1984	2,003	42.90%	2,656	56.89%	10	0.21%
1980	1,753	37.55%	2,849	61.03%	66	1.41%
1976	1,280	32.75%	2,598	66.48%	30	0.77%
1972	1,904	54.23%	1,588	45.23%	19	0.54%
1968	795	32.69%	1,330	54.69%	307	12.62%
1964	607	28.67%	1,507	71.19%	3	0.14%
1960	713	39.83%	1,068	59.66%	9	0.50%
1956	825	47.94%	886	51.48%	10	0.58%
1952	1,011	50.52%	983	49.13%	7	0.35%
1948	345	25.73%	898	66.96%	98	7.31%
1944	293	21.40%	951	69.47%	125	9.13%
1940	236	18.85%	1,012	80.83%	4	0.32%
1936	193	15.83%	1,019	83.59%	7	0.57%
1932	142	12.46%	998	87.54%	0	0.00%
1928	673	72.21%	258	27.68%	1	0.11%
1924	158	19.55%	637	78.84%	13	1.61%
1920	102	19.17%	421	79.14%	9	1.69%
1916	55	11.68%	410	87.05%	6	1.27%
1912	25	5.07%	418	84.79%	50	10.14%

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Frio County, Texas
• Winter Garden Region

External links

• Frio County Government
• Frio County from the Handbook of Texas Online
• Historic Frio County materials, hosted by the Portal to Texas History.
• Frio County Profile from the Texas Association of Counties