Goliad County, Texas

{{Short description|County in Texas, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = Goliad County | state = Texas | founded year = 1837 | seat wl = Goliad | largest city wl = Goliad | area_total_sq_mi = 859 | area_land_sq_mi = 852 | area_water_sq_mi = 7.4 | area percentage = 0.9 | census yr = 2020 | pop = 7012 | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | population_est = 7208 {{increase}} <ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref> | density_sq_mi = auto | time zone = Central | website = {{Official URL}} | named for = Miguel Hidalgo | ex image = Goliad courthouse.jpg | ex image size = 250 | ex image cap = The Goliad County Courthouse in Goliad: The courthouse and the surrounding square were added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 29, 1976. | district = 27th }}

'''Goliad County''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|g|oʊ|l|i|æ|d}} {{respell|GOH|lee-ad}}) is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 7,012.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Goliad County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48175|website=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}</ref> Its county seat is Goliad.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The county is named for Father Miguel Hidalgo; "Goliad" is an anagram,<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n138 139]}}</ref> minus the silent H. The county was created in 1836 and organized the next year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasalmanac.com/topics/government/goliad-county|title=Goliad County|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|website=Texas Almanac|access-date=June 20, 2015|date=May 22, 2015}}</ref> Goliad County is a part of the Victoria metropolitan area.

==History== Pajalat and Siquipil, both Coahuiltecan peoples, were indigenous peoples who lived in what became Goliad County.<ref name=mission>{{cite web |last1=Campbell |first1=Thomas N. |title=Indian Groups at Mission Concepcion |url=https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/saan/campbell/sec2.htm |website=San Antonio Missions |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=June 18, 2023 |date=April 26, 2007}}</ref> A 1727 Spanish map records them living in the area.<ref name=mission/>

The first declaration of independence for the Republic of Texas was signed in Goliad on December 20, 1835, although the formal declaration was made by the Convention of 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos. Goliad County was the site of two battles in the Texas Revolution. The Battle of Goliad was a minor skirmish early in the war, and the subsequent battle of Coleto was an important battle that culminated on March 27, 1836. Col. James Fannin and his Texan soldiers were executed by the Mexican army, under orders from Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna, in what became known as the Goliad Massacre. This event led to the Texas Revolutionary battle cry "Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!" Although many remember the Alamo today, fewer remember Goliad. The site of the massacre is located near Presidio la Bahia, just south of the town of Goliad.

In 1874, Juan Moya, a prominent Tejano landowner and Mexican army captain who fought in the Texas Revolution, was lynched, along with his two sons, by a mob who suspected them of murdering a neighboring family in Goliad County.<ref name="TEOJM">{{cite news|author=Marsh, Gloria Candelaria |date=August 6, 2003|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fmo82|title=Handbook of Texas Online:Juan Moya|access-date=November 9, 2016}}</ref>

Goliad County is also the birthplace of General Ignacio Zaragoza, who led the Mexican army against the invading forces of Napoleon III in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862 ("Cinco de Mayo").

==Geography== According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|859|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|7.4|sqmi|abbr=on}} (0.9%) are covered by water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 27, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Major highways=== * 20px U.S. Highway 59 ** 25px Interstate 69W is currently under construction and will follow the current route of U.S. 59 in most places. * 25px U.S. Highway 77 Alternate/U.S. Highway 183 * 20px State Highway 119 * 20px State Highway 239 * 20px Farm to Market Road 81 * 20px Farm to Market Road 622 * 20px Farm to Market Road 883

===Adjacent counties=== * DeWitt County (north) * Victoria County (northeast) * Refugio County (southeast) * Bee County (southwest) * Karnes County (northwest)

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1850= 648 |1860= 3384 |1870= 3628 |1880= 5832 |1890= 5910 |1900= 8310 |1910= 9909 |1920= 9348 |1930= 10093 |1940= 8798 |1950= 6219 |1960= 5429 |1970= 4869 |1980= 5193 |1990= 5980 |2000= 6928 |2010= 7210 |2020= 7012 |estyear= 2025 |estimate= 7208 |estref=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/goliadcountytexas/PST045224|title=QuickFacts: Goliad County, Texas|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 13, 2025}}</ref> {{increase}} |align-fn=center |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=}}</ref> 1850–2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010|publisher=Texas Almanac|access-date=April 27, 2015}}</ref> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/> | align = right }}

===Racial and ethnic composition=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''Goliad County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition''' {{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}} !Race / Ethnicity (''NH = Non-Hispanic'') !Pop 1980<ref name=1980CensusRaceStats>{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics- Texas - Table 15. Persons by Race and Table 16. Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_txAB-03.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau|page=21-46|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007094958/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_txAB-03.pdf| archive-date=October 7, 2022}}</ref> !Pop 1990<ref name=1990CensusRaceStats>{{Cite web|title= 1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics- Texas - Table 3. Race and Hispanic Origin: 1990|page=29-138 |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-45-1.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260203162919/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-45-1.pdf| archive-date=February 3, 2026}}</ref> !Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Goliad County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US48175&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Goliad County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US48175&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Goliad County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US48175&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !% 1980 !% 1990 !% 2000 !% 2010 !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020 |- |White alone (NH) |2,864 |3,420 |4,115 |4,337 |style='background: #ffffe6; |4,246 |55.15% |57.19% |59.40% |60.15% |style='background: #ffffe6; |60.55% |- |Black or African American alone (NH) |462 |387 |317 |310 |style='background: #ffffe6; |235 |8.90% |6.47% |4.58% |4.30% |style='background: #ffffe6; |3.35% |- |Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) |4 |12 |9 |29 |style='background: #ffffe6; |18 |0.08% |0.20% |0.13% |0.40% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.26% |- |Asian alone (NH) |4 |5 |14 |11 |style='background: #ffffe6; |24 |0.08% |0.08% |0.20% |0.15% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.34% |- |Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census</ref> |1 |0 |style='background: #ffffe6; |0 |x |x |0.01% |0.00% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00% |- |Other race alone (NH) |10 |11 |0 |6 |style='background: #ffffe6; |16 |0.19% |0.18% |0.00% |0.08% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.23% |- |Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) |x <ref>not an option in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>not an option in the 1990 Census</ref> |33 |55 |style='background: #ffffe6; |185 |x |x |0.48% |0.76% |style='background: #ffffe6; |2.64% |- |Hispanic or Latino (any race) |1,849 |2,145 |2,439 |2,462 |style='background: #ffffe6; |2,288 |35.61% |35.87% |35.20% |34.15% |style='background: #ffffe6; |32.63% |- |'''Total''' |'''5,193''' |'''5,980''' |'''6,928''' |'''7,210''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''7,012 ''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |}

===2020 census===

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 7,012. The median age was 46.5 years, 21.6% of residents were under 18, and 23.3% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.1 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=county%3A175&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 9, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

The racial makeup of the county was 73.1% White, 3.9% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 7.5% from some other race, and 14.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 32.6% of the population.<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=county%3A175&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 9, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=county%3A175&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=January 9, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 2,815 households in the county, of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 55.0% were married-couple households, 17.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 3,503 housing units, of which 19.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.7% were owner-occupied and 19.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.7%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

===2000 census===

As of the 2000 census,<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> 6,928 people, 2,644 households, and 1,975 families resided in the county. The population density was {{convert|8|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. The 3,426 housing units had an average density of {{convert|4|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units }}. The racial makeup of the county was 82.62% White, 4.82% Black or African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 10.06% from other races, and 1.73% from two or more races. About 35.20% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 2,644 households, 33.1% had children under 18 living with them, 62.1% were married couples living together, 8.7 had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.3% were not families. About 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the age distribution was 25.9% under 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,201, and for a family was $40,446. Males had a median income of $30,954 versus $20,028 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,126. About 11.9% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.7% of those under 18 and 11.1% of those 65 or over.

==Education== Goliad County is served by the Goliad Independent School District.

==Communities==

===City=== * Goliad (county seat)

===Unincorporated communities=== * Angel City * Berclair * Fannin * Weesatche

==Politics== {{PresHead|place=Goliad County, Texas|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=July 24, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://results.texas-election.com/contestdetails?officeID=1001&officeName=PRESIDENT%2FVICE-PRESIDENT&officeType=FEDERAL%20OFFICES&from=race|title=PRESIDENT/VICE-PRESIDENT|last=Nelson|first=Jane|author-link=Jane Nelson|date=November 5, 2024|work=Secretary of State of Texas|access-date=January 28, 2026}}</ref>}}  {{PresRow|1912|Democratic|425|500|149|Texas}} {{PresRow|1916|Democratic|548|605|64|Texas}} {{PresRow|1920|Republican|513|448|202|Texas}} {{PresRow|1924|Democratic|438|733|162|Texas}} {{PresRow|1928|Republican|554|468|2|Texas}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|170|1,542|6|Texas}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|323|1,184|4|Texas}} {{PresRow|1940|Democratic|580|868|5|Texas}} {{PresRow|1944|Democratic|609|641|98|Texas}} {{PresRow|1948|Democratic|450|454|131|Texas}} {{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,065|452|1|Texas}} {{PresRow|1956|Republican|902|338|7|Texas}} {{PresRow|1960|Republican|741|711|3|Texas}} {{PresRow|1964|Democratic|549|990|2|Texas}} {{PresRow|1968|Republican|707|690|156|Texas}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,018|464|2|Texas}} {{PresRow|1976|Democratic|846|875|10|Texas}} {{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,170|1,081|36|Texas}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,540|836|1|Texas}} {{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,427|1,358|7|Texas}} {{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,236|1,069|526|Texas}} {{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,335|1,135|165|Texas}} {{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,108|1,233|51|Texas}} {{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,267|1,219|15|Texas}} {{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,298|1,329|28|Texas}} {{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,294|1,127|37|Texas}} {{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,620|973|115|Texas}} {{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,085|877|33|Texas}} {{PresRow|2024|Republican|3,178|778|31|Texas}} {{PresFoot}} {{U.S. SenHead|place=Goliad County, Texas|Seat=1|source=<ref>{{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns) |website=Commonwealth of Texas by county |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/texas-senate-results}}</ref>}}  {{U.S. SenRow|2024|Republican|3,016|853|73|Texas}} {{U.S. SenFoot}} {{U.S. SenHead|place=Goliad County, Texas|Seat=2|source=<ref>{{cite news|title=Texas Senate Election Results 2020|website=NBCNews.com|date=November 3, 2020|access-date=April 10, 2026 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-elections/texas-senate-results}}</ref>}}  {{U.S. SenRow|2020|Republican|3,000|840|69|Texas}} {{U.S. SenFoot}} {{T.X. GovHead|place=Goliad County|Seat=|source=}}  {{T.X. GovRow|2022|Republican|2,664|663|39}} {{T.X. GovFoot}} {{Clear}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}}

* {{Official website}} * {{Handbook of Texas|id=hcg06|name=Goliad County}} * [http://www.goliadcc.org/ Goliad County Chamber of Commerce] * [http://www.txcip.org/tac/census/profile.php?FIPS=48175 "Goliad County Profile" from the Texas Association of Counties] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212171505/http://www.txcip.org/tac/census/profile.php?FIPS=48175 |date=December 12, 2013 }}

{{Geographic Location |Centre = Goliad County, Texas |North = DeWitt County |Northeast = Victoria County |East = |Southeast = Refugio County |South = |Southwest = Bee County |West = |Northwest = Karnes County }}

{{Goliad County, Texas}} {{Texas counties}} {{Texas}} {{Authority control}} {{coord|28.65|-97.43|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:Goliad County, Texas Category:Victoria metropolitan area, Texas Category:1837 establishments in the Republic of Texas Category:Populated places established in 1837