In 1941 Frank Sharp established a subdivision which filled with shipyard workers and workers at nearby steel mills and war plants. Jacinto City incorporated in 1947 with nearly 3,800 residents; its first mayor was Inch Handler.[5] Because of the 1947 incorporation, Houston did not incorporate Jacinto City's territory into its city limits, while Houston annexed surrounding areas that were unincorporated.[6] The town still serves as a bedroom community for local industry. In the 1950s the city opened a city hall and recreational facilities. By 1960 the city had 9,500 people and by 1964 the city had 11,500 people. In 1966 the city had seventeen churches, two schools, one hospital, one bank, and one library. A waste-water facility funded by the Environmental Protection Agency opened in 1972; the Handbook of Texas stated that this may be due to complaints from residents about chemical vapors in 1969. In 1990 the city had 9,343 people.[5]
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 9,613 people, 3,213 households, and 2,361 families residing in the city.
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 10,302 people, 2,947 households, and 2,392 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,540.8 inhabitants per square mile (2,139.3/km2). There were 3,124 housing units at an average density of 1,680.2 per square mile (648.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 18.18% White, 38.23% African American, 0.89% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 25.66% from other races, and 3.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 75.39% of the population.
There were 2,947 households, out of which 48.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.3% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.8% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.45 and the average family size was 3.88.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 33.3% under the age of 18, 11.9% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,672, and the median income for a family was $36,755. Males had a median income of $30,323 versus $22,224 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,292. About 16.1% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.
Infrastructure and government
Jacinto City City Hall
Jacinto City practices a city manager form of government with an elected Mayor who presides over the Jacinto City City Council.
Mayor: Anna Diaz
City Manager: Lon Squyres
City Attorney: Jim DeFoyd
City Secretary: Joyce Raines
Council Position #1: Jimmy Rivas
Council Position #2: Gregg Robinson
Council Position #3: Allen Lee
Council Position #4: Carmella Garcia
Council Position #5: Mario Gonzales
Jacinto City City Hall Annex, the former Jacinto City City Hall, serves as a meeting place for City Council.
The City Council meets at the City Council Annex.[15]
The Jacinto City Fire Department and EMS and the Jacinto City Police Department serve the city.
A city hall facility had been built in the 1950s.[5]
Jacinto City is located within Harris County Precinct 2; as of 2018 Adrian Garcia heads Precinct 2.[16]
Jacinto City is located in District 143 of the Texas House of Representatives. As of 2008 Ana E. Hernandez represents the district.[17] Jacinto City is within District 6 of the Texas Senate; as of 2018 Carol Alvarado is the representative.[18]
Jacinto City is served by two school districts and a municipal preschool, Jacinto City Preschool.[23] Areas south of Market Street are zoned to Galena Park Independent School District while areas north of Market Street are zoned to Houston Independent School District.[24] This HISD section is within Trustee District VIII, represented by Diana Dávila as of 2008.[25]
Whittier, named after the poet John Greenleaf Whittier, opened in 1948, Furr opened in 1961, and Holland opened in 1979.[32]
Preschool
Jacinto City Preschool
Jacinto City operates a municipal preschool as part of its Parks and Recreation Department. Children of the ages of 3 and 4 are eligible to attend.[33] As of 2011, three-year-olds attend on Tuesday and Thursday and four-year-olds attend on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.[34] Usually about 50 or 60 students enroll in the preschool. In the northern hemisphere fall of 2011, 80 students were enrolled.[35]
In addition, Jacinto City residents within the Houston Independent School District may apply to HISD early childhood programs. Only economically disadvantaged students, homeless students, students who are not proficient in English, or children of active-duty members of the U.S. military or whose parent has been killed, injured, or missing in action while on active duty may be enrolled in tuition-free HISD preschools. Students who are eligible for HISD's preschools may attend any Early Childhood Center in Houston ISD for free. Students not eligible may enroll in tuition-based HISD preschool programs.[36] The Galena Park Independent School District operates the William F. "Bill" Becker Early Childhood Development Center, a preschool program for low income families, in Galena Park.[37]
The Harris County Public Library (HCPL) system operates the A. J. "Bert" Holder Memorial Library at 921 Akron Street across from Akron Park in Jacinto City. The first Jacinto City Public Library opened in 1958 on Mercury Drive; the building at one time functioned as Jacinto City's city hall. The current Jacinto City branch, named A. J. "Bert" Holder, opened in 1992. The branch is a partnership between HCPL and the city; the city built and maintains the 3,883-square-foot (360.7 m2) building, while the county supplies materials and staff. The city and county held this agreement since 1957.[39] The branch was named after Albert J. "Bert" Holder, who served as the mayor of Jacinto City.[40]
Gallery of schools
Former Jacinto City Preschool building
Parks and recreation
Jacinto City Town Center is a municipal complex containing recreation facilities and a preschool
The Jacinto City Department of Parks and Recreation maintains four parks, a swimming pool, a recreation center, and four ball fields.[41] One of its facilities is the Milton Lusk Youth Activity Center.[42]
The Jacinto City Town Center has several facilities, including a community center that may be rented by Jacinto City residents. Jacinto City operates the Heritage Hall, a recreational center for senior citizens of age 60 or older located in the same complex. It provides meals and activities. The center provides transportation to and from Jacinto City, Galena Park, and the Songwood community in Houston.[33] Heritage Hall first opened in 1979.[43]
A group of recreational facilities opened in the 1950s.[5]
^Lee, Renée C. "Annexed Kingwood split on effects." Houston Chronicle. Sunday October 8, 2006. A21. Retrieved on July 6, 2011. "Some of the area communities that incorporated as cities and escaped annexation by Houston:" Print version exclusively has the information cited; the information is not included in the online edition.
^"Sue Basso traps mentally handicapped man so she can use him as slave and kill him for insurance." Crime Library. 3Archived 2014-02-22 at the Wayback Machine.
^"Sue Basso traps mentally handicapped man so she can use him as slave and kill him for insurance." Crime Library. 2Archived 2014-02-25 at the Wayback Machine.
^"Mayor Rachel Nunez." City of Jacinto City. Retrieved on November 11, 2011. "The City Council meets at the City Hall Annex located at 10301 Market Street."
^"City of Houston Annexation FAQ". City of Houston. October 31, 1996. Archived from the original on October 31, 1996. Retrieved April 24, 2018. Conversely, many residents of other incorporated places (including Nassau Bay, West University Place, Jacinto City, Missouri City and Jersey Village) have Houston addresses.
^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.[13][14]
