Medina County, Texas

Not to be confused with Medina.

Medina County is a county located in the South central part U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 50,748.^[1] Its county seat is Hondo.^[2] The county is named for the Medina River. The extreme northern part of the county lies within the Edwards Plateau, which elevates into the Texas Hill Country. The Medina Dam, the fourth-largest in the nation when completed in 1913, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[3] The irrigation project, creating Medina Lake, was built by 1500 skilled workers who worked in shifts operating 24 hours a day to complete the dam in two years. Medina County is part of the San Antonio, TX metropolitan statistical area.

Medina County
County
The Medina County Courthouse in Hondo
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 29°21′N 99°07′W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1848
Named after	Medina River
Seat	Hondo
Largest city	Hondo
Area
• Total	1,335 sq mi (3,460 km2)
• Land	1,325 sq mi (3,430 km2)
• Water	9.2 sq mi (24 km2)  0.7%
Population  (2020)
• Total	50,748
• Density	38/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	23rd
Website	www.medinacountytexas.org

History

The county is named after the Medina River, which was named in 1689 after Spanish cartographer Pedro de Medina by Spanish explorer Alonso de Leon, the first European to encounter the river.^[4] Because Pedro de Medina derived his surname from the Andalusian city of Medina-Sidonia, the name Medina comes from the Arabic for city.

The Texas Legislature formed Medina County on February 12, 1848, and enlarged it on February 1, 1850, using land taken from Bexar County. Castroville was the county seat, and the county erected the first permanent courthouse there in 1854. The county seat moved to Hondo in 1892, and a new courthouse was completed there in 1893.^[5]

Texas-Indian Wars

The county was home to tribes such as the Lipan Apache, Coahuiltecan, and Tonkawa.

The county was subject to frequent Comanche and Kiowa raids during the early-late 1800s. Battles like the Battle of Seco Creek in 1838 highlight the conflicts with Native Americans in the county. In 1862, Comanches kidnapped 3 children 10 miles south of Bandera.^[6] Also, in 1866, Lipan Apaches killed and kidnapped 2 young settlers on Hondo Creek. On June 11, 1873, Comanches attacked four settlers on Verde Creek near modern day Hondo.^[7] By 1875, the Comanches were done raiding the county. Although the Comanche were gone, other tribes, like the Lipan Apaches and Kickapoos still were raiding the county. The last Indian raid in the county happened on April 22, 1877, when 19-year-old Joe Wilton was killed by Kickapoo Indians at Black Creek near Devine, marking the end of the American Indian Wars In Medina County.^[8][9]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,335 square miles (3,460 km²), of which 9.2 square miles (24 km²) (0.7%) are covered by water.^[10]

Major highways

• Interstate 35
• U.S. Highway 90
• State Highway 16
• State Highway 132
• State Highway 173

Adjacent counties

• Bandera County (north)
• Bexar County (east)
• Atascosa County (southeast)
• Frio County (south)
• Uvalde County (west)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	909		—
1860	1,838		102.2%
1870	2,078		13.1%
1880	4,492		116.2%
1890	5,730		27.6%
1900	7,783		35.8%
1910	13,415		72.4%
1920	11,679		−12.9%
1930	13,989		19.8%
1940	16,106		15.1%
1950	17,013		5.6%
1960	18,904		11.1%
1970	20,249		7.1%
1980	23,164		14.4%
1990	27,312		17.9%
2000	39,304		43.9%
2010	46,006		17.1%
2020	50,748		10.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1850–2010[12] 2010[13] 2020[14]

Medina County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
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 2000[15]	Pop 2010[13]	Pop 2020[14]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	19,919	21,408	22,324	50.68%	46.53%	43.99%
Black or African American alone (NH)	801	913	1,252	2.04%	1.98%	2.47%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	144	146	158	0.37%	0.32%	0.31%
Asian alone (NH)	117	272	215	0.30%	0.59%	0.42%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	17	24	38	0.04%	0.05%	0.07%
Other race alone (NH)	50	28	188	0.13%	0.06%	0.37%
Mixed race or multiracial (NH)	383	344	1,118	0.97%	0.75%	2.20%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	17,873	22,871	25,455	45.47%	49.71%	50.16%
Total	39,304	46,006	50,748	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census^[16] of 2000, 39,304 people, 12,880 households, and 10,136 families were residing in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile (12 people/km²). The 14,826 housing units had an average density of 11 units per square mile (4.2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.38% White, 2.20% Black or African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 14.48% from other races, and 2.88% from two or more races. About 45.47% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 12,880 households, 39.1% had children under 18 living with them, 63.2% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.30% were not families. About 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.30.

In the county, the age distribution was 29.0% under 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.60 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 104.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,063, and for a family was $40,288. Males had a median income of $27,045 versus $21,734 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,210. About 12.00% of families and 15.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.80% of those under age 18 and 15.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Castroville
• Devine
• Hondo (county seat)
• LaCoste
• Lytle (mostly in Atascosa County and a small part in Bexar County)
• Natalia
• San Antonio (mostly in Bexar County and a small part in Comal County)

Census-designated places

• D'Hanis
• Lake Medina Shores (partly in Bandera County)
• Yancey

Unincorporated communities

• Dunlay
• Mico
• Pearson
• Rio Medina

Ghost towns

• New Fountain
• Quihi

Education

School districts include:^[17]

• D'Hanis Independent School District
• Devine Independent School District
• Hondo Independent School District
• Lytle Independent School District
• Medina Valley Independent School District
• Natalia Independent School District
• Northside Independent School District
• Utopia Independent School District

The designated community college is Southwest Texas Junior College.^[18]

Gallery

• 
  Hondo Creek is located south of Hondo.
• 
  Entrance to Hondo Creek Ranch
• 
  The Medina County Museum is located off U.S. Route 90 in Hondo.
• 
  The Medina County Jail
• 
  Medina Electric Cooperative in Hondo
• 
  Scorched cornfield in Castroville
• 
  Medina Valley United Methodist Church in Castroville

Politics

United States presidential election results for Medina County, Texas^[19]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	17,464	70.94%	6,950	28.23%	203	0.82%
2020	15,642	69.04%	6,773	29.89%	242	1.07%
2016	12,085	70.07%	4,634	26.87%	527	3.06%
2012	11,079	69.03%	4,784	29.81%	186	1.16%
2008	10,480	66.59%	5,147	32.71%	110	0.70%
2004	10,389	70.07%	4,322	29.15%	115	0.78%
2000	8,590	66.73%	4,025	31.27%	258	2.00%
1996	5,710	55.03%	3,880	37.39%	787	7.58%
1992	4,912	45.54%	3,650	33.84%	2,223	20.61%
1988	5,722	57.05%	4,227	42.15%	80	0.80%
1984	5,737	65.17%	3,053	34.68%	13	0.15%
1980	4,742	60.12%	3,034	38.46%	112	1.42%
1976	3,252	46.54%	3,681	52.68%	55	0.79%
1972	4,059	71.85%	1,507	26.68%	83	1.47%
1968	2,058	39.19%	2,471	47.06%	722	13.75%
1964	1,583	31.71%	3,408	68.27%	1	0.02%
1960	2,028	46.43%	2,325	53.23%	15	0.34%
1956	2,668	63.51%	1,516	36.09%	17	0.40%
1952	3,204	63.52%	1,840	36.48%	0	0.00%
1948	1,492	42.39%	1,875	53.27%	153	4.35%
1944	1,607	47.42%	1,469	43.35%	313	9.24%
1940	1,480	45.83%	1,749	54.17%	0	0.00%
1936	969	31.97%	2,050	67.63%	12	0.40%
1932	515	16.96%	2,516	82.87%	5	0.16%
1928	1,243	46.94%	1,400	52.87%	5	0.19%
1924	816	35.81%	986	43.26%	477	20.93%
1920	772	45.71%	519	30.73%	398	23.56%
1916	650	45.11%	758	52.60%	33	2.29%
1912	219	18.85%	648	55.77%	295	25.39%

United States Senate election results for Medina County, Texas1^[20]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	16,508	67.50%	7,416	30.32%	533	2.18%

See also

• Texas portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Medina County, Texas
• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Medina County