Portland, Texas
Portland, Texas | |
---|---|
City | |
Nickname(s): Gem City By the Gulf | |
Location of Portland, Texas | |
Coordinates: 27°52′59″N 97°19′14″W / 27.88306°N 97.32056°WCoordinates: 27°52′59″N 97°19′14″W / 27.88306°N 97.32056°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Texas |
Counties | San Patricio, Nueces |
Government | |
• Type | Council-Manager |
• Mayor | David Krebs |
• City Manager | Randy Wright |
Area | |
• Total | 9.6 sq mi (24.9 km2) |
• Land | 7.0 sq mi (18.1 km2) |
• Water | 2.6 sq mi (6.8 km2) |
Elevation | 43 ft (13 m) |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 15,099 |
• Density | 2,125.5/sq mi (820.7/km2) |
Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
• Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
ZIP code | 78374 |
Area code(s) | 361 |
FIPS code | 48-58904[1] |
GNIS feature ID | 1344378[2] |
Website | http://www.portlandtx.com |
Portland is a city in Nueces and San Patricio counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 15,099 at the 2010 census. The current local population estimate is 19,453.
Geography
Portland is located at 27°52′59″N 97°19′14″W / 27.88306°N 97.32056°W (27.883117, -97.320466).[3] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.6 square miles (24.9 km²), of which 7.0 square miles (18.1 km²) is land and 2.6 square miles (6.8 km²) (27.44%) is water. The city is roughly equidistant from Portland, Maine and Portland, Oregon.[4]
Area attractions
- Baker Park. Moore at Lawrence St.
- Bayside Park. Sabine at Chiltipin St.
- Briar Bluff Park. Marriott at West Waterview St.
- Chispa Park. Sabine at Seco St.
- Community Center Park and Aquatic Center Soccer Complex. Billy G. Weeb Dr.
- East Cliff Park. Pecos at Georgia St.
- Indian Point Park. A lighted fishing pier located right off of Hwy 181.
- Municipal Park. Memorial at Lang St.
- Oak Ridge Park. Oak Ridge at Memorial Parkway.
- Portland Sports Complex. County Road 72.
- Simpson Park. East Broadway Ave.
- Sunset Lake Hike & Bike Trail and Wetlands. Located just down the road from Indian Point Pier right off Hwy 181.
- Twin Fountains Park. Matagorda at Amistad St.
- Violet Andrews Park. Wildcat at 1st Ave.
- Willacy Park. Daniel Morre at Center St.
Demographics
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1950 | 1,202 | — | |
1960 | 2,538 | 111.1% | |
1970 | 7,302 | 187.7% | |
1980 | 12,023 | 64.7% | |
1990 | 12,224 | 1.7% | |
2000 | 14,827 | 21.3% | |
2010 | 15,099 | 1.8% | |
Est. 2015 | 16,116 | [5] | 6.7% |
U.S. Decennial Census |
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 14,827 people, 5,021 households, and 4,051 families residing in the city . The population density was 2,125.5 people per square mile (820.2/km²). There were 5,351 housing units at an average density of 767.1 per square mile (296.0/km²).
There were 5,021 households out of which 47.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.6% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.3% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the city the population was 32.6% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males. The median income for a household in the city was $48,574, and the median income for a family was $52,220. Males had a median income of $37,316 versus $25,722 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,871. About 5.8% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
History
The original, 640-acre townsite of Portland was purchased by John G. Willacy in 1890. In 1891, Willacy sold the land to the Portland (Maine) Harbor & Improvement Co. A map was filed at the County Courthouse and Portland was official as the "Gem City of the Gulf." Portland is situated on the second highest bluff on the Gulf Coast and overlooks both Nueces and Corpus Christi bays.
Education
Portland's compulsory education is a result of the existence of Gregory-Portland Independent School District made up of W. C. Andrews Elementary School (K-5), T. M. Clark Elementary School (K-5), East Cliff Elementary School (K-5), Stephen F. Austin Elementary School (in Gregory) (K-5), Gregory-Portland Intermediate School (6), Gregory-Portland Jr. High School (7-8), and Gregory-Portland High School(9-12).
Crime
In 2010, Portland had a crime index lower than the U.S. average and half that of Texas.[6][6][7][7]
Notable people
- Mitch Morris,[8] an American Actor and attorney; regular in Queer as Folk (US TV series) and star in the sex comedy, Another Gay Movie.
- Vince Vieluf,[9] an American Actor; star in An American Werewolf in Paris, Rat Race, Love, Inc., National Lampoon's Barely Legal, and cult favorite Grind.
- Don Williams, country singer and songwriter. Williams moved as a child from the Texas Panhandle town of Floydada and is a 1958 graduate of Gregory-Portland High School. Williams has had 17 songs to reach number one on the Country and Western charts
References
- 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ↑ Bradfield, Bill; Bradfield, Clare (1998). Muleshoe and More. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 156. ISBN 9780884158653.
- ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- 1 2 "Portland, TX Crime and Crime Rate". USA.com. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
- 1 2 "Press Statements - Olgin/Chapa Murder Investigation". Portland, Tx. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
- ↑ Internet Movie Database: John Mitchell "Mitch" Morris Bio
- ↑ Internet Movie Database: Vince Vieluf Bio
Further reading
- Jacoway, Larry W. (2007). Pictorial history of Portland, Texas. LCCN 2008276759. OCLC 282974001.
- Webb, Walter Prescott; Branda, Eldon Stephen (1952). "Portland, Texas". The Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historical Association. p. 397.