Cotulla, Texas

Cotulla, Texas
City
Downtown Cotulla
Cotulla, Texas Location of Cotulla, Texas
Coordinates: 28°26′3″N 99°14′11″W
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	La Salle
Area [1]
• Total	2.01 sq mi (5.21 km^2)
• Land	2.01 sq mi (5.21 km^2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km^2)
Elevation [2]	440 ft (130 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,718
• Density	1,800/sq mi (710/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	78001, 78014
Area code	830
FIPS code	48-17216[3]
GNIS feature ID	2410247[2]

Cotulla Historic District sign downtown (erected 2013)

The Nueces River

Cotulla (/kəˈtjuːlə/ kə-TEW-lə^[4]) is a city in and the county seat of La Salle County, Texas, United States.^[5] Its population was 3,718 as of the 2020 census.^[6]

History

Immigrant Joseph Cotulla, who was reared in Silesia, then a part of Prussia, migrated to the United States in the 1850s. He joined the Union Army in Brownsville, Texas. He lived in Atascosa County, but arrived in La Salle County in 1868^[7] to establish what became a large ranching operation. After learning that the International-Great Northern Railroad intended to lay tracks in La Salle County, he worked to establish the town that bears his name.

In 1881, Cotulla donated 120 acres of his land to the railroad, and in 1882, a depot was constructed there. In 1883, the town was granted a post office. The same year, Cotulla became the county seat by special election.^[8]

Joseph Cotulla's great-grandson, William Lawrence Cotulla (born around 1936), a former storekeeper in Cotulla, is a rancher in La Salle, Dimmit, and Webb Counties. In a 2013 interview with the Laredo Morning Times, William Cotulla noted the community of his birth has changed completely in less than 80 years, having gone through several phases, beginning with emphasis on farming, then ranching, thereafter hunting leases, and now petroleum and natural gas through the Eagle Ford Shale boom.^[7] With declining gasoline prices, though, the Eagle Ford boom took a sharp downturn by the fall of 2015.^[9]

In 1973, two railroad locomotives collided in Cotulla, and three people were killed as a result.^[10] In 2008, the area around Cotulla burned in a huge grass fire.

Geography

Cotulla is located at 28°26′3″N 99°14′11″W (28.434144, –99.236343). This is 81 mi (147 km) southwest of San Antonio.^[11]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.2 km²), all land. The Nueces River flows through southern Cotulla in a southeastward direction to the Gulf of Mexico, near Corpus Christi.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Cotulla has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Climate data for Cotulla, Texas (Cotulla–La Salle County Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1901–present
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	94 (34)	100 (38)	106 (41)	106 (41)	109 (43)	116 (47)	111 (44)	111 (44)	112 (44)	104 (40)	95 (35)	92 (33)	116 (47)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	85.9 (29.9)	90.3 (32.4)	93.6 (34.2)	99.3 (37.4)	103.2 (39.6)	105.0 (40.6)	104.5 (40.3)	106.3 (41.3)	102.4 (39.1)	97.1 (36.2)	89.7 (32.1)	84.7 (29.3)	108.1 (42.3)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	67.4 (19.7)	73.6 (23.1)	79.7 (26.5)	86.0 (30.0)	92.8 (33.8)	97.9 (36.6)	99.2 (37.3)	100.3 (37.9)	93.9 (34.4)	86.6 (30.3)	75.7 (24.3)	68.7 (20.4)	85.2 (29.5)
Daily mean °F (°C)	55.7 (13.2)	60.9 (16.1)	67.2 (19.6)	73.4 (23.0)	80.7 (27.1)	85.7 (29.8)	87.0 (30.6)	87.7 (30.9)	82.4 (28.0)	74.7 (23.7)	64.0 (17.8)	56.8 (13.8)	73.0 (22.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	43.9 (6.6)	48.3 (9.1)	54.8 (12.7)	60.7 (15.9)	68.6 (20.3)	73.6 (23.1)	74.7 (23.7)	75.0 (23.9)	70.8 (21.6)	62.8 (17.1)	52.4 (11.3)	44.9 (7.2)	60.9 (16.0)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	27.9 (−2.3)	30.7 (−0.7)	35.9 (2.2)	44.0 (6.7)	54.8 (12.7)	68.0 (20.0)	70.1 (21.2)	70.5 (21.4)	60.1 (15.6)	42.9 (6.1)	33.1 (0.6)	28.6 (−1.9)	25.3 (−3.7)
Record low °F (°C)	16 (−9)	16 (−9)	23 (−5)	36 (2)	44 (7)	56 (13)	62 (17)	63 (17)	50 (10)	35 (2)	26 (−3)	20 (−7)	16 (−9)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	0.85 (22)	1.26 (32)	1.57 (40)	1.33 (34)	3.01 (76)	2.20 (56)	2.26 (57)	1.67 (42)	2.98 (76)	2.39 (61)	1.15 (29)	1.01 (26)	21.68 (551)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	6.1	5.7	5.4	4.9	6.3	4.8	5.9	3.5	7.1	4.6	4.4	6.0	64.7
Source 1: NOAA[12]
Source 2: National Weather Service[13]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	672		—
1910	1,880		—
1920	1,058		−43.7%
1930	3,175		200.1%
1940	3,633		14.4%
1950	4,418		21.6%
1960	3,960		−10.4%
1970	3,415		−13.8%
1980	3,912		14.6%
1990	3,694		−5.6%
2000	3,614		−2.2%
2010	3,603		−0.3%
2020	3,718		3.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]

2020 census

Cotulla racial composition^[15]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)^[a]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (NH)	424	11.4%
Black or African American (NH)	9	0.24%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	1	0.03%
Asian (NH)	4	0.11%
Some Other Race (NH)	5	0.13%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	31	0.83%
Hispanic or Latino	3,244	87.25%
Total	3,718

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,718 people, 1,485 households, and 1,110 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census^[3] of 2000, 3,614 people, 1,208 households, and 901 families were residing in the city. The population density was 1,831.8 people per mi² (708.3/km²). The 1,504 housing units averaged 762.3 per mi² (294.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.45% White, 0.64% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 12.67% from other races, and 2.35% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 83.56% of the population.

Of the 1,208 households, 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 17.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were not families. About 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95, and the average family size was 3.50.

In the city, the age distribution was 33.6% under 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,250, and for a family was $25,951. Males had a median income of $21,199 versus $17,415 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,856. About 27.9% of families and 30.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.0% of those under age 18 and 28.1% of those age 65 or over.

The Brush Country Museum in Cotulla preserves regional history.

First United Methodist Church of Cotulla

The First Baptist Church of Cotulla was established in the 1880s. The current sanctuary opened in 1948.

The Prevailing Word Church (nondenominational) in Cotulla

Law and government

The La Salle County Courthouse in downtown Cotulla has undergone extensive renovation.

Education

• Cotulla is within the Cotulla Independent School District. Cotulla High School, with grades 9–12, is located east of town. The modern structure is divided into several noncontiguous units.^{[citation needed]}

Notable people

• Josh Beckett, retired Major League Baseball pitcher, owns Herradura Ranch, a 7,000-acre (28 km²) deer-hunting enclave located about 28 miles (45 km) from Cotulla
• Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com, was the wealthiest person in the world, as of December 2017. His maternal ancestors were settlers who lived in Texas. Over the generations, the family acquired a 25,000-acre (100 km²) ranch in Cotulla^[17]
• John Lewis Gaddis, known as the "Dean of Cold War Historians", was born in Cotulla in 1941
• O. Henry, the short story writer, lived on a sheep ranch near Cotulla in the early 1880s with the successful goal of improving his health in the dry climate
• Lyndon B. Johnson, U.S. President; taught public school in Cotulla from 1928 to 1929^[18]
• Hailey Kinsel, three-time world champion barrel racer, was born and raised on her parents' cattle ranch near Cotulla^[19]
• Phil Lyne, a former rodeo cowboy and 1979 ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee, resides in Cotulla^[20]
• J.B. Mauney, an American professional rodeo cowboy who specializes in bull riding, and competes in the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) circuits, he is a two time PBR World Champion in 2013 and 2015. He resides in Cotulla.^[21]
• Kevin Patrick Yeary, judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, was born in Cotulla and raised in Laredo^[22]

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Cotulla, Texas
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. "How to Pronounce: C Cities". September 23, 2014.
5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
6. "Census - Geography Profile: Cotulla city, Texas". Retrieved December 10, 2021.
7. Ricardo R. Villarreal, "City experiences tremendous growth, activity due to oil and gas production", Laredo Morning Times, June 29, 2013, pp. 1, 12A
8. Leffler, John. "Cotulla, TX - Handbook of Texas Online". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
9. Jennifer Hiller, "Hard Times Hit Eagle Ford", San Antonio Express-News, January 3, 2016, pp. 1, A20
10. Glenewinkel, Jay. "Missouri Pacific Disaster in Cotulla, Texas 1973". trainweb.org. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
11. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
12. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Cotulla La Salle CO AP, TX". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
13. "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Corpus Christi". National Weather Service. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
14. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
15. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
16. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
17. "Jeff Bezos' roots could give Texas an edge as Amazon.com looks for new HQ site". Puget Sound Business Journal. September 7, 2017. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
18. Caro, Robert A. (1982). The Path to Power. The Years of Lyndon Johnson. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. pp. 164, 174. ISBN 0394499735.
19. "Kinsel, Hailey". Women's Professional Rodeo Association. wpra.com. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
20. Mahoney, Sylvia Gann (2004). College Rodeo: From Show to Sport. Texas A&M University Press. p. 97. ISBN 978-1-58544-331-4.
21. "Cowboy Biographies". Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. prorodeo.com. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
22. "Kevin Patrick Yeary". Project Vote Smart. Archived from the original on August 18, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2014.

1. 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 can be of any race.^[16]

External links

• Handbook of Texas Online article
• Cotulla Airport (Page Aviation)