City of Orange Grove
Location in the state of Texas
Coordinates: 27°57′22″N 97°56′21″W / 27.95611, -97.93917
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Jim Wells
Government
- Mayor
Area
- Total	1.1 sq mi (2.8 km²)
- Land	1.1 sq mi (2.8 km²)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation	194 ft (59 m)
Population (2000 U.S. Census)
- Total	1,356
- Density	1,192.6/sq mi (460.5/km²)
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	78372
Area code(s)	361
FIPS code	48-54168[1]
GNIS feature ID	1343303[2]

Orange Grove is a city in Jim Wells County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,288 at the 2000 census. The estimated population, in 2003, was 1,356.

Geography

Orange Grove is located at 27°57′22″N, 97°56′21″W (27.956224, -97.939077).^[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), all of it land.

History

In March 1889, the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway reached the area, and the Reynolds family gave fifty-one acres of land to the railroad company as an inducement to build a stop on the ranch.

In 1908 Fennell Dibrell and Max Starcke were hired by George Reynolds, Jr., and Ernest Miller to subdivide and sell 2,500 acres cut from the Ventana Ranch and from Miller's ranch. Dibrell and Starcke platted streets, which they named for their friends. They then sold a large portion of the land to German settlers from other German Texas towns. The developers chose the name Orange Grove for the new town, hoping to lure more settlers to the area by evoking the booming and profitable citrus industry in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

In 1925 the town had a population of 300, and by 1931, some 1,000. During the 1940s the Orange Grove Rifle Club Hall became the social center for the community, with the Annual May Feast and the Annual Harvest Feast held there. The predominant language in Orange Grove continued to be German. In 1939 the population was estimated at 750, and by the early 1940s had increased to 906. By the early 1960s it had risen to about 1,100, then dropped to 1,000 by the mid-1970s. By the early 1990s Orange Grove had an estimated population of 1,175.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 1,288 people, 473 households, and 339 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,192.6 people per square mile (460.5/km²). There were 515 housing units at an average density of 476.9/sq mi (184.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.37% White, 0.31% African American, 0.47% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 8.07% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 50.31% of the population.

There were 473 households out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.33.

In the city the population was spread out with 30.8% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 83.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,981, and the median income for a family was $42,500. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $22,105 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,082. About 13.6% of families and 16.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.0% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.

N.A.L.F

The BRAC decision to close Chase Field led to an increase in Pilot Training Rate (PTR) and the physical number of aircraft stationed aboard NAS Kingsville. Currently 70 T-45 trainer aircraft have arrived. In recognition of the increased congestion at Kingsville, the Navy made a significant investment in improving the facilities and capabilities of the Auxiliary Landing Field (ALF) at Orange Grove. The terminal airspace at Kingsville was expanded to include Orange Grove and the ALF serves as an overflow relief from the primary airfield.

Hunting and fishing aboard the station, NALF Orange Grove and Escondido Ranch is authorized in accordance with station directives and state and federal laws. Naval Air Station (NAS) Kingsville's gesture is a great example of how the United States Navy gives a hoot. Located in Kingsville, TX, NAS Kingsville has decided to play seasonal host to the burrowing owl. The South Texas Naval air station, in a partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey's Texas Gulf Coast Field Research Station, the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend Ambassadors, will offer an open field with artificial burrows for the burrowing owls, which are anticipated to stay there over the winter, beginning in October. The Naval Auxiliary Landing Field (NALF) in Orange Grove, TX, also will have artificial burrows. NAS Kingsville has 18 artificial burrows, as does NALF Orange Grove. The burrows are done in three groups of six sets, with each group being about 100 yards apart.

Education

The City of Orange Grove is served by the Orange Grove Independent School District.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
3. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

External links

• Orange Grove, Texas is at coordinates 27°57′22″N 97°56′21″W / 27.956224, -97.939077 (Orange Grove, Texas)Coordinates: 27°57′22″N 97°56′21″W / 27.956224, -97.939077 (Orange Grove, Texas)

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Municipalities and communities of Jim Wells County, Texas County seat: Alice Cities Alice | Orange Grove | Premont | San Diego‡ Village Pernitas Point‡ CDPs Alfred-South La Paloma | Alice Acres | Coyote Acres | K-Bar Ranch | Loma Linda East | Owl Ranch-Amargosa | Rancho Alegre | Sandia | Westdale Communities Alfred | Ben Bolt | Bentonville | Casa Blanca | La Gloria | Palito Blanco | Rancho de la Parita | Springfield Footnotes ‡This city also has portions in adjacent county or counties