According to Homo Society, Santa Maria, Texas is a small city located in the southernmost part of Texas. It is situated in the Rio Grande Valley, approximately 25 miles west of Brownsville. The area has a warm and humid subtropical climate with temperatures ranging from an average low of 60 degrees Fahrenheit to an average high of 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Santa Maria has a rich and diverse history beginning with its original settlement by Native Americans who named it “Teyacapan” or “place where the sun rises”. After being annexed by Texas in 1848, it became part of Cameron County and was eventually incorporated as a city in 1904.
Politically, Santa Maria is governed by a mayor-council form of government which consists of six council members and the mayor who are all elected at large to serve four-year terms. The economy of Santa Maria is based largely on agriculture and tourism. There are several schools located within the city limits including Santa Maria Elementary School, Santa Maria Middle School, and Santa Maria High School as well as private schools such as St. Joseph Catholic School and Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic School.
Santa Maria is home to several landmarks that are integral parts of its culture including the historic San Juan de Carricitos Church which was built in 1873; El Ranchito Bar & Grill which has been open for over 50 years; La Pesca Beach Park which features stunning views along with fishing piers; and El Parque de la Raza where families gather for festivals and other events throughout the year.
Population: 846
Males: 389 (46.0%), Females: 457 (54.0%)
Cameron County
Zip code: 78592
Median resident age: 26.2 years
Median household income: $16,917
Median house value: $28,800
Races in Santa Maria:
- Hispanic (99.8%)
- Other race (43.9%)
(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)
Ancestries: .
Land area: 0.2 square miles
Population
Santa Maria, Texas is a small town located in the South Texas Plains region of the state. As of the 2010 census, the population of Santa Maria was 2,453. The majority of residents are Hispanic or Latino, with 93.7% identifying as such. The largest age group in Santa Maria is between the ages of 25 and 44 (32.7%), followed by those under 18 years old (27%). The median household income for Santa Maria is $29,000 and the average home value is $87,000. The town has a poverty rate of 40%, meaning that many families struggle to make ends meet. Despite this, Santa Maria remains a vibrant community with many cultural activities and festivals throughout the year. Residents enjoy spending time outdoors at nearby parks or at local museums and galleries that offer insight into their history and culture. Education is also important to Santa Marians; there are three elementary schools in town as well as a middle school and high school that cater to local students’ needs. These educational institutions provide students with an excellent foundation for success in their future endeavors while also helping to foster a strong sense of community pride among residents.
For population 25 years and over in Santa Maria
- High school or higher: 26.2%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 0.4%
- Graduate or professional degree: 0.0%
- Unemployed: 14.4%
- Mean travel time to work: 21.9 minutes
For population 15 years and over in Santa Maria CDP
- Never married: 23.9%
- Now married: 62.3%
- Separated: 3.9%
- Widowed: 5.7%
- Divorced: 4.1%
34.6% Foreign born (34.6% Latin America).
Hospitals
Hospitals/medical centers near Santa Maria:
- KNAPP MEDICAL CENTER (about 12 miles; WESLACO, TX)
- RIO GRANDE STATE CENTER (about 15 miles; HARLINGEN, TX)
- SOUTH TEXAS HOSPITAL (about 15 miles; HARLINGEN, TX)
Airports
Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Santa Maria:
- VALLEY INTL (about 17 miles; HARLINGEN, TX; Abbreviation: HRL)
- MC ALLEN MILLER INTL (about 28 miles; MC ALLEN, TX; Abbreviation: MFE)
- BROWNSVILLE/SOUTH PADRE ISLAND INT’L (about 33 miles; BROWNSVILLE, TX; Abbreviation: BRO)
Other public-use airports nearest to Santa Maria:
- MID VALLEY (about 11 miles; WESLACO, TX; Abbreviation: T65)
- EDINBURG INTL (about 31 miles; EDINBURG, TX; Abbreviation: 25R)
- PORT ISABEL-CAMERON COUNTY (about 36 miles; PORT ISABEL, TX; Abbreviation: PIL)
Amtrak station near Santa Maria:
- 14 miles: HARLINGEN (215 E. MONROE ST.) – Bus Station. Services: enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones.
Colleges and Universities
Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Santa Maria:
- TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE-HARLINGEN (about 15 miles; HARLINGEN, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,167)
- THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT BROWNSVILLE (about 26 miles; BROWNSVILLE, TX; Full-time enrollment: 6,044)
- TEXAS SOUTHMOST COLLEGE (about 26 miles; BROWNSVILLE, TX; Full-time enrollment: 4,556)
- SOUTH TEXAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 29 miles; MCALLEN, TX; Full-time enrollment: 7,142)
- THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN (about 30 miles; EDINBURG, TX; Full-time enrollment: 9,651)
- TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY-KINGSVILLE (about 98 miles; KINGSVILLE, TX; Full-time enrollment: 4,860)
- TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY-CORPUS CHRISTI (about 118 miles; Corpus Christi, TX; Full-time enrollment: 5,282)
Schools
Public high schools in Santa Maria:
- SANTA MARIA H S (Students: 165; Location: OLD MILITARY HWY 281; Grades: 09 – 12)
- SANTA MARIA ALTERNATIVE (Students: 4; Location: OLD MILITARY HWY 281; Grades: 07 – 12)
- SANTA MARIA DAEP (Students: 1; Location: OLD MILITARY HWY 281; Grades: 07 – 12)
Public primary/middle schools in Santa Maria:
- TONY GONZALEZ EL (Students: 279; Location: OLD MILITARY HWY 281; Grades: PK – 04)
- SANTA MARIA MIDDLE (Students: 153; Location: OLD MILITARY HWY 281; Grades: 05 – 08)