Palacios, Texas
Location of Palacios, Texas
Coordinates: 28°42′33″N 96°13′3″W / 28.70917, -96.2175
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Matagorda
Area
- Total	5.3 sq mi (13.7 km²)
- Land	5.0 sq mi (13.1 km²)
- Water	0.2 sq mi (0.6 km²)
Elevation	13 ft (4 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	5,153
- Density	1,021.4/sq mi (394.4/km²)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	77465
Area code(s)	361
FIPS code	48-54684[1]
GNIS feature ID	1364710[2]

Palacios is a city in Matagorda County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,153 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Palacios is located at 28°42′33″N, 96°13′3″W (28.709153, -96.217588),^[3] about halfway between Houston and Corpus Christi.

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.^[4]

Demographics

One of many small churches in Palacios

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 5,153 people, 1,661 households, and 1,244 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,021.4 people per square mile (394.8/km²). There were 1,976 housing units at an average density of 391.7/sq mi (151.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 57.07% White, 4.74% African American, 0.68% Native American, 12.13% Asian, 22.36% from other races, and 3.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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

Shrimping boats in the harbor at Palacios.

Home to approximately 400 vessels, Palacios is the third largest shrimping port on the Texas Gulf Coast and claims to be the "Shrimp Capital of Texas." ^[5]

Notes

External links

• City of Palacios
• Palacios Chamber of Commerce

• Palacios, Texas is at coordinates 28°42′33″N 96°13′03″W / 28.709153, -96.217588 (Palacios, Texas)Coordinates: 28°42′33″N 96°13′03″W / 28.709153, -96.217588 (Palacios, Texas)

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Municipalities and communities of Matagorda County, Texas
County seat: Bay City
Cities	Bay City | Palacios
CDPs	Blessing | Markham | Van Vleck
Unincorporated communities	Collegeport | Elmaton | Matagorda | Sargent