Carrizo Springs, Texas

Carrizo Springs lies along U.S. Route 83, about 82 miles northwest of Laredo and 45 miles north of the Mexican border. Route 83 intersects U.S. Route 277 there. The name "Carrizo Springs" derives from similarly named springs in the area; the name is Spanish for a type of grass once common in the area. Founded in 1865 by settlers from Atascosa County, Carrizo Springs is the oldest community in the county.[7]

Carrizo Springs, along with San Antonio, Uvalde, Crystal City, and Corpus Christi, was a major stop on the defunct San Antonio, Uvalde and Gulf Railroad, a Class I line, which operated from 1909 until it was merged into the Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1956.[8]

More recently, Carrizo Springs has become the home of the only olive orchard and oil press in Texas.[9]

Carrizo Springs is located at 28°31′36″N 99°51′45″W (28.526699, -99.862423).[10]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8.0 km²), of which 3.1 sq mi (8.0 km²) are land and less than 0.01 mi² is covered by water.

City Hall in Carrizo Springs on U.S. Highway 277

As of the census[3] of 2000, 5,655 people, 1,816 households, and 1,450 families were residing in the city. The population density was 1,812.9 people per mi² (699.8/km²). The 2,109 housing units averaged 676.1 per mi² (261.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.28% White, 1.34% African American, 0.69% Native American, 1.10% Asian, 18.95% from other races, and 2.63% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 87.21% of the population.

Of the 1,816 households, 43.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples living together, 20.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.1% were not families. About 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.06, and the average family size was 3.47.

In the city, the age distribution was 33.3% under 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $21,306, and for a family was $22,375. Males had a median income of $24,536 versus $15,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $8,642. About 30.8% of families and 33.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.9% of those under age 18 and 29.9% of those age 65 or over.

Carrizo Springs is served by the Carrizo Springs Consolidated Independent School District and home to the Carrizo Springs High School Wildcats.

These schools serve students in the city:

• Carrizo Springs High School
• Carrizo Springs Junior High School
• Carrizo Springs Intermediate School
• Carrizo Springs Elementary School

Facilities that previously housed Stratton Oilfield Systems were chosen for a new unaccompanied minor detention site, with an estimated capacity of 1,000 to 1,600 children. Operations are contracted with BCFS Health and Human Services.[12][13] When the site was previously considered under Stratton Security management, owner and president Dan Stratton assured the area's residents that potential residents would not be refugees of the Syrian Civil War or speak Arabic. He emphasized that refugees would be securely kept within the facility and would not interact with or murder area residents.[14]

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  Like the state of Kansas, Carrizo Springs identifies itself with the sunflower, Dimmit County-style
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  Along U.S. Route 83 in Carrizo Springs
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  Along U.S. Route 277 in Carrizo Springs
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  Intersection of Highways 277 (west) and 83 (north) in Carrizo Springs
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  First Baptist Church on Main Street in Carrizo Springs
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  With its display of a large red Justin boot, the Circle V Ranch Center in Carrizo Springs reflects the western culture of the community
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  Lee's Steak House off U.S. 83 in Carrizo Springs

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Carrizo Springs, Texas.

• Handbook of Texas Online article about Carrizo Springs
• Carrizo Springs CISD Website
• Carrizo Springs, TX Detailed Profile on City-Data