Del Rio

 

(rē'ō) , city (1990 pop. 30,705), seat of Val Verde co., W Tex., on the Rio Grande opposite Ciudad Acuña, Mexico; founded 1868, inc. 1911. It is the marketing and distribution center for a region known for its sheep, wool, and mohair. Irrigated farms also yield truck crops and fruits (especially grapes). Its bridge to Mexico has made Del Rio important in tourist traffic and in importing from Mexican factories (see maquiladoras). Laughlin Air Force Base is to the east. The spectacular S-shaped International Amistad (Friendship) Dam and its lake on the Rio Grande are 12 mi (19 km) northeast. Del Rio suffered disastrous floods in Aug., 1998.

Del Rio, Texas
Location of Del Rio, Texas
Coordinates: 29°22′15″N 100°53′45″W / 29.37083, -100.89583
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Val Verde
Area
- City	sq mi (km²)
- Land	sq mi ( km²)
- Water	sq mi ( km²)
Elevation	ft ( m)
Population (2000)
- City
- Density	/sq mi (/km²)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Area code(s)	830
FIPS code	48-197922
GNIS feature ID	13342333

Del Rio is the county seat of Val Verde County⁶,United States. The population was 33,867 at the 2000 census.

Del Rio is known as the American address of legendary Mexican radio stations XERA in the 1930s and XERF transmitter powered each of these stations just over the U.S.-Mexico border in Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila and could be heard as far away as Canada.

Del Rio is also home to Laughlin Air Force Base, the busiest pilot training base in the United States Air Force.

History

The Spanish established a small settlement south of the Rio Grande in present day Mexico and, some Spaniards settled on what became the United States side of the Rio Grande as early as the 18th century, but true development of the U.S. side of the Rio Grande did not begin until after the American Civil War.

The San Felipe Springs, about 7 miles east of the Rio Grande on the U.S. side of the border, produces 90 millions of gallons of water a day. Developers acquired several thousand acres of land adjacent to the springs, and the San Felipe Creek formed by the springs, from the State of Texas in exchange for building a canal system to irrigate the area. The developers sold tracts of land surrounding the canals to recover their investment and show a profit. These investors formed the San Felipe Agricultural, Manufacturing, and Irrigation Company in 1868. The organization completed construction of a network of irrigation canals in 1871. Residents referred to the slowly developing town as San Felipe Del Rio because local lore said the name came from early Spanish explorers who offered a Mass at the site on St. Philip's Day, 1635.

In 1883 local residents requested a post office be established. The United States Postal Department shortened "San Felipe del Rio" to "Del Rio" to avoid confusion with San Felipe de Austin. In 1885 Val Verde County was organized and Del Rio became the county seat. The City of Del Rio was incorporated November 15, 1911.

In 1942, the Army Air Corps opened Laughlin Field nine miles east of Del Rio as a training base for the Martin B-26, but it was deactivated in 1945. As the Cold War pressures built, Laughlin Field was rebuilt and renamed Laughlin Air Force Base (AFB). It was again used as a home for flying training. In the mid-1950s, the Strategic Air Command (SAC) noted Laughlin's remoteness that allowed for secret operations, and opened its strategic reconnaissance program there with the RB-57, a bomber modified for high altitude reconnaissance. SAC soon transitioned to the high altitude U-2 Dragonlady and based all of them in Laughlin AFB. In 1962, it was Laughlin-based U-2s that took the first photographs of land-based nuclear missile (Medium Range Ballistic Missiles, or MRBMs) sites being constructed in Cuba. This was the photo intelligence that started the Cuban Missile Crisis. The U-2s were relocated to Davis-Monthan AFB near Tucson, AZ in July 1963 and Laughlin's mission transitioned to the Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) mission in the T-37, and T-38 aircraft. Laughlin AFB also provides training in the T-1A Jayhawk and the T-6A Texan II. Laughlin plays a large part in the Del Rio community as the area's largest employer. The City of Del Rio also has About 3 Border Patrol Stations. There is one by the mall, another by the border, and one going to San Antonio. The Border Patrol Stations are probably the towns second largest employer.

Geography and Climate

Del Rio is located at 29°22′15″N, 100°53′45″W (29.370716, -100.895839)¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 40.0 km² (15.4 mi²). 40.0 km² (15.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.06% is water.

Del Rio lies at the southwestern corner of the Edwards Plateau, the western fringe of the Texas Hill Country. The Plateau is dotted with numerous small springs; one of these is the San Felipe Springs, which provide a constant flow of water to San Felipe Creek. The creek supplied fresh water for drinking and irrigation to early settlers of Del Rio and is still the town's water supply.

Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rec High °F	90	99	101	106	109	112	108	109	110	106	96	90
Norm High °F	62.8	68	76	82.7	88.7	93.7	96.2	96	90.6	81.7	70.9	63.5
Norm Low °F	39.7	44.1	51.6	58.5	66.7	72.1	74.3	74.1	69.4	60.5	49.2	41.2
Rec Low °F	15	14	21	33	45	55	64	64	48	28	22	10
Precip (in)	0.57	0.96	0.96	1.71	2.31	2.34	2.02	2.16	2.06	2	0.96	0.75
Source: USTravelWeather.com [1]

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 33,867 people, 10,778 households, and 8,514 families residing in the city. The population density was 846.9/km² (2,194.0/mi²). There were 11,895 housing units at an average density of 297.5/km² (770.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 7.78% White, 1.21% African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 17.79% from other races, and 2.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 81.04% of the population.

There were 10,778 households out of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.0% were non-families. 18.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.56.

In the city the population was spread out with 31.7% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.

Economy

The median income for a household in the city was $27,387, and the median income for a family was $30,788. Males had a median income of $27,255 versus $17,460 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,199. About 22.9% of families and 27.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.8% of those under age 18 and 26.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The city is served by the San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District. A majority of Del Rio highschoolers go to the public school.

Only 26 students attend Amistad Christian High School (ACHS). ACHS housed students from both Del Rio and neighboring Ciudad Acuña. On January 6, 2007, the students attending the small school were notified that the school had shut down. Shortly thereafter another local school, Radiance Academy of Learning, purchased ACHS and the students now attend school there.

Radiance Academy is located in the Grace Community Church building in Del Rio. At first, it only taught students from 6th Grade to 8th Grade. But as of January 2007, it houses high schoolers. Starting in the 2007-08 school year, the old ACHS building will house 8th and 9th grades while the Grace building will house 10th grade and above.

Another school is the Eagle Academy, a charter school.

See also

• John R. Brinkley

External links

• Del Rio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Del Rio Chamber of Commerce
• City of Del Rio
• Southwest Texas Live!
• Del Rio Area Parks

Coordinates: 29.370716° N 100.895839° W

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