Encinal ( ) is a city in La Salle County, Texas, United States. The population was 540 at the 2020 census.

Interstate 35 Interstate 35 (I-35) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route. It stretches from Laredo, Texas, near the Mexican bo ...

Business runs through the community. There are few businesses in Encinal; most have closed along the main street. Railroad officials named the town for the Spanish word for ''oak grove''. The population peaked in 1937 at eight hundred residents.

History

Encinal may be named for the Spanish word for a holm or holly oak grove. The town was supposed to be the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

for

Encinal County Encinal County was a former Texas county. Its area is now completely contained in the present Webb County. History Encinal County was established on February 1, 1856 and was to consist of the eastern portion of present-day Webb County. The law ...

, which was established on February 1, 1856, and was to consist of the eastern portion of

Webb County Webb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 267,114. Its county seat is Laredo. The county was named after James Webb (1792–1856), who served as secretary of the treasury, secret ...

. The county was never organized and was finally dissolved on March 12, 1899. The Encinal territory was absorbed into Webb County, and Encinal became part of La Salle County.

Geography

Encinal is located at . According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the city has a total area of , all land.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the

Köppen Climate Classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

system, Encinal has a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...

, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Transportation

Highways

Interstate Highway 35 Interstate 35 (I-35) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route. It stretches from Laredo, Texas, near the Mexican bord ...

, exit 38, Runs directly through town to the east. *

Texas State Highway 44 State Highway 44 (SH 44) is a Texas state highway that runs from west of Encinal to Corpus Christi, Texas. This highway is also known as the Cesar Chavez Memorial Highway outside the city limits of Robstown, Banquete, Agua Dulce ...

. Runs through town, Ends at US 83 far west of town. * US 83. Bypasses town to the Far West.

Air travel

Laredo International Airport Laredo International Airport is three miles northeast of downtown Laredo, in Webb County, Texas, United States. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021 categorized it as a non-hub ''primary commercial service'' airpor ...

(in Laredo)

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 540 people, 380 households, and 331 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 629 people, 215 households, and 159 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 276 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 74.56%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 0.16%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 0.32% Native American, 23.05% from other races, and 1.91% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race were 91.26% of the population. There were 215 households, out of which 40.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.50. In the city, the population was spread out, with 31.8% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.4 males. The median income for a household in the city was $14,853, and the median income for a family was $18,125. Males had a median income of $18,250 versus $13,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $6,928. About 37.2% of families and 38.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.9% of those under age 18 and 30.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

* Encinal is within the

Cotulla Independent School District Cotulla Independent School District is a public school district based in Cotulla, Texas, USA. In addition to Cotulla, the district serves most of La Salle County, including the city of Encinal and the community of Fowlerton. In 2009, the sc ...

Notable people

Rodney Lewis Rodney Ray Lewis, known as Rod Lewis (born 1954), is founder, president, and chief executive officer of Lewis Energy, an oil and natural gas drilling company based in Texas, US. Biography Lewis was born and raised on a ranch in Laredo, Texas, Lar ...

, CEO of

Lewis Energy Lewis may refer to: Names * Lewis (given name), including a list of people with the given name * Lewis (surname), including a list of people with the surname Music * Lewis (musician), Canadian singer * " Lewis (Mistreated)", a song by Radiohead ...

, has a ranch in Encinal *

George Strait George Harvey Strait Sr. (born May 18, 1952) is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor, and music producer. Strait has sold over 120 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He holds ...