Port Mansfield, Texas

Port Mansfield is located at 26°33′20″N 97°25′52″W (26.555453, -97.431051).[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.7 square miles (14.8 km²), of which, 5.2 square miles (13.5 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (8.76%) is water. A navigational channel connects Port Mansfield to the Intracoastal Waterway, and to the Gulf of Mexico, cutting through Padre Island via the Port Mansfield Channel.

The cut through South Padre Island had shoaled considerably in the early 2000s, and by 2008 only shallow draft boats could safely enter at the Mansfield cut. The channel was dredged in the winter months of 2009-2010 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers using Federal relief money following Hurricanes Rita and Dolly.[5] The channel is now 16–20 feet deep with all the dredge tailings making a beach on the north side of the jetty.

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 415 people, 187 households, and 137 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 79.6 people per square mile (30.8/km²). There were 563 housing units at an average density of 108.0 per square mile (41.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.01% White, 0.96% Native American, 4.58% from other races, and 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.22% of the population.

There were 187 households, out of which 14.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.7% were married couples living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.50.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 13.5% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 16.9% from 25 to 44, 37.1% from 45 to 64, and 28.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 55 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $26,500, and the median income for a family was $27,500. Males had a median income of $18,333 versus $26,667 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $15,087. About 20.5% of families and 26.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 53.5% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Port Mansfield is served by the San Perlita Independent School District. In addition, South Texas Independent School District operates magnet schools that serve the community.

• Handbook of Texas Online article