Nueces

Nueces County

Updated on: January 10, 2022
Coordinates
27° 44' 24" N, 97° 31' 12" W (27.74, -97.52)
State
Texas
Region
South
County Seat:
Corpus Christi
Year Organized:
1846
Total Square Miles:
1165.598
838 square miles (2,170 km2) is land
327 square miles (850 km2) water
Population:
361221 (2017)
Population: 340,223 (2010)
Persons/Square Mile:
310
Nueces County Website
http://www.co.nueces.tx.us/

Contiguous Counties

San Patricio (N)
Kleberg (S)
Jim Wells (W)

Nueces County Offices

County structure

Government Type:
County
Authority:
Dillon's Rule
Legislative Body:
Commisioners Court
Size of Legislative Body:
5

Demographics

2018 Population:
361221
25 to 64 Years of Age:
51.05%
65 Years of Age and Older:
14.41%

Economy, 2018

Gross Domestic Product (GDP):
$19.1 B
Labor Force:
168,149
Unemployment Rate:
4.70%

County Contact

901 Leopard St
County Courthouse
Corpus Christi, TX, 78401-3606

http://www.co.nueces.tx.us

Nueces County comfortably sits on the Southeastern side of San Antonio, on Mexico’s gulf. Nueces River bounds it on its upper side, while Corpus Christi Bay, Laguna Madre, and Redfish Bay are on its eastern side. San Patricio county borders it on the North while Jim Wells neighbors the Western side and Kleberg is on the South.

The county’s geographic center is located at latitude  27°44′ N and longitude  97°33′ W. I-37 and U.S. Highway 77 are the county’s two primary road arteries that serve the county. The Missouri Pacific and the Texas-Mexican Railroads also both pass through the county.

The Coastal Prairies: Nueces County is located in the vicinity. An 847-square-mile area covers the whole region. There is a 180-foot elevation difference above sea level.

Administrative Headquarters

The county seat, Corpus Christi, is 145 miles from San Antonio and is located at the mouth of the Nueces River. It is a port on Corpus Christi Bay. The Gulf of Mexico cannot reach it since Mustang and Padre islands are nearby.

Topography

The soils in Nueces county range from light to dark because of loamy surface and clayey subsoil soils. Although the land varies greatly in texture and color, most of it is sandy. Cordgrasses and marsh millet may be found on the beach and grasses, oaks, and native trees in the center and western regions of the county.

A good proportion of the land in the county is suitable for agricultural use. The Nueces River, Oso Creek, San Fernando, and Petronila streams flow across the county as you travel from north to south. These streams also flow through the southern section of the city.

Climate

Humid-subtropical describes the climate’s combination of moisture and warmth. In July, the temperature can reach 93 degrees Fahrenheit (48 degrees Celsius). You might expect as low as 47 degrees Fahrenheit in January. About 30 inches of rainfall every year. Freezing is witnessed as early as December and runs to February.

It usually takes about 309 days for plants to grow. The farm can cultivate a wide variety of crops, with cotton and sorghum being two of the most common crops.

Other crops include hay and corn, wheat, watermelons, peaches, and pecans. They farm cows for milk and hogs for meat.

Places to Visit in Nueces County

Kickapoo Cavern State Park

From Rackettville, where US 90 and FM 674 intersect, go for close to 22.5 miles on FM 674. You’ll see the entrance on your left.

In this area, there are 6,400 acres of habitat that are important for animals. A land bridge connects three different types of land: the Edwards Plateau, Tamaulipan brush, and the Chihuahuan Desert. People and birds of all kinds live in the steep limestone canyons. There are juniper and live oak trees all over the park, but there are also Texas persimmon, shin oak, agarita, and even-green sumac trees in the canyons.

In the park, foxes, squirrels, porcupines, and many other small animals are more common. Moreover, there are a lot of unusual reptiles and amphibians, like the Barking Frog and the Mottled Rock Rattlesnake, which are both very rare. Kickapoo cave is about 0.25 miles long, and there are a lot of interesting formations in it. Requests can be made to go on a tour.

Fort Inge Historical Park

Located between Uvalde and the Leona River, Fort Inge was established in 1849. It’s an ideal habitat for a wide variety of species. See if you can find species that are native to Fort Inge, including the Long-billed Thrasher.

The Leona River’s banks are also lined with mussel shoals. It is composed of shellfish that reside in pollution-free waters. For warmth, birds utilize the dam’s upper reservoir and the surrounding woods as a safe haven. In the spring, migratory birds throng the trees. Hummingbirds of the black-chinned kind reside and rear their young in this area.

Uvalde Fish Hatchery

Take FM 481 south 1.9 miles from US 90 and US 83 in Uvalde. On the right, that’s the entrance.

Thanks to this federal fish hatchery, you can catch a glimpse of migratory birds and ducks in Uvalde, Texas. A vast marsh has two watchtowers in the hatchery as viewpoints. The wetland is a fantastic spot to watch ducks and other birds when there is water in it. Some years, these birds are visible.

The hatchery is ideal for butterflies and dragonflies because the slough is full of flora that emerges from the water. Birdwatchers can catch a glimpse of Blue Grosbeaks and Painted Buntings throughout the summer at this location.

Park Chalk Bluff

Take TX 55 south for 4.5 miles between FM 334 and TX 55. The gate is on the right.

This park on the Nueces River’s north bank is a favorite among birdwatchers. There are many birds and other creatures because of the area’s “east meets west” ecosystems. Make sure to look for the bluff that spectacularly changes color and texture at the height of 300 feet. Willow and other plants that grow near the river’s main channel below the cliff have taken over the area, making it extremely dense. The Green Kingfisher likes to fish in these ponds. Birds like the Ringed Kingfisher, Zone-Tail Hawk, and even Black-capped Vireo aren’t frequent in Chalk Bluff, but they may be seen there.

In the river, dragonflies and damselflies can thrive. These include the Comanche Skimmer, a dragonfly species. Park Chalk Bluff is a great place to camp if you choose to stay in a tent or a trailer. They may also hire a rowboat, a paddleboat, an inner tube, and bicycles from the park.

County Offices

Sheriff J. C. Hooper was elected on November 3, 2020, as the new sheriff of Nueces County, Texas. Sheriff Hooper grew up in Nueces County, Texas, as a youngster. Roles of the sheriff’s office include: Bail bond agents in counties where there is no bail bond board, works as a licensed peace officer and is in charge of implementing the criminal laws of the state, defends the courthouse, serves and warrants civil paperwork. You can contact the sheriff at (361) 887-2222.

Rebecca Rach is at the helm of the social services department. Social workers and caseworkers are employed by the Nueces County Department of Social Services and administrative employees. Many social and caseworkers in Nueces County are involved in the community, networking and campaigning for the county’s poor residents. Direct client services include financial help with rent, utilities, food, transportation, and indigent funerals or cremations. Applicants must fulfill the agency’s requirements and be financially able to do so. You can contact the director of social services at [email protected].

For the Nueces County Veterans Services Department, helping veterans and their surviving family members through the often complex world of filing for federal benefits with the Department of Veterans Affairs is a high priority. Assistance is available for those denied benefits by the Veterans Administration and needs to file an appeal. Since November 2019, J.J. De La Cerda has served as the department’s chief. Please call (361) 888-0820 or contact [email protected] for assistance from the Veterans Services Officer.

Nueces County’s county judge is Barbara Canales. Presides over the Commissioners Court, serves as the county’s budget officer, and represents the county in different administrative functions in counties with a population of less than 225,000. Minor criminal and civil cases, probate proceedings, and Justice of the Peace Court appeals are frequent responsibilities for most judges. County Judge (361) 888-0444’s phone number.