Palacios, Texas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Palacios, Texas
settlement_type = City
nickname = City by the Sea
motto =

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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Palacios, Texas

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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Texas
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Matagorda

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
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established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 13.7
area_land_km2 = 13.1
area_water_km2 = 0.6
area_total_sq_mi = 5.3
area_land_sq_mi = 5.0
area_water_sq_mi = 0.2

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 5153
population_density_km2 = 394.4
population_density_sq_mi = 1021.4

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 4
elevation_ft = 13
latd = 28 |latm = 42 |lats = 33 |latNS = N
longd = 96 |longm = 13 |longs = 3 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 77465
area_code = 361
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 48-54684GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1364710GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Palacios (pronounced puh-LASH-uhs) is a city in Matagorda County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,153 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Palacios is located on the Gulf Coast at coor dms|28|42|33|N|96|13|3|W|city (28.709153, -96.217588),GR|1 about halfway between Houston and Corpus Christi. It is connected to both cities by State Highway 35.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.3 square miles (16.6 km²), of which, 5.0 square miles (13.1 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (4.36%) is water. It is located on the shores of Tres Palacios Bay, an arm of Matagorda Bay.

The Palacios area is known among birders for its wide diversity of bird life. Since 1997, as part of the 15-mile-diameter Matagorda County-Mad Island Marsh count circle of the National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count, it has consistently reported more bird species than anywhere else in the United States. On December 19, 2005, a record 250 species were observed. [http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/texas/press/press2757.html Nature Conservancy in Texas]

Demographics

of any race were 51.19% of the population.

Palacios has an unusually high percentage of Asian-Americans as it is home to a large community of Vietnamese immigrants and their families.

There were 1,661 households out of which 44.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.08 and the average family size was 3.64.

In the city the population was spread out with 35.4% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 100.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,623, and the median income for a family was $35,518. Males had a median income of $27,483 versus $21,875 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,107. About 19.8% of families and 24.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.9% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

port on the Texas Gulf Coast and claims to be the "Shrimp Capital of Texas." [http://www.palacioschamber.com/tourist.htm Palacios Chamber of Commerce]

Education

Palacios and neighboring areas are served by the Palacios Independent School District.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.palaciostexas.com// City of Palacios]
* [http://www.palacioschamber.com// Palacios Chamber of Commerce]