Taft, Texas Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools
Taft, Texas is located in San Patricio County and is home to about 4,000 people. It is situated on the Gulf Coast of Texas and has a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters. The city was incorporated in 1927 and named after former United States President William H. Taft.
The economy of Taft is mainly driven by agriculture, oil production, and tourism. The city has several major employers such as Valero Energy Corporation, a large oil refinery; the Port of Corpus Christi; the U.S. Navy; and the Ingleside Independent School District. Additionally, many local businesses are based in Taft including grocery stores, restaurants, banks, service stations, auto repair shops and more.
Taft is served by two public school districts: Ingleside Independent School District (IISD) and Sinton Independent School District (SISD). Both districts provide quality education to students from kindergarten through 12th grade as well as special programs for disabled students or those with special needs.
Taft also has several notable landmarks including the historic Taft Municipal Court House which was built in 1929, the John Roddam Memorial Museum which houses local artifacts from pre-historic times to present day, the Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve & Learning Center which is a nature preserve located on Oso Bay Lake near downtown Taft with boardwalks for viewing wildlife up close as well as educational programs for children and adults alike;and The Cottages at Sunrise Beach a popular beachfront development with private cottages available for rent or purchase.
In terms of politics Taft follows a nonpartisan system where every eligible voter can cast their ballot regardless of political affiliation or party membership. Every four years a mayor is elected alongside five council members who serve four-year terms on the city council while other positions such as police chief are appointed by the mayor with approval from city council members.
Overall Taft provides its citizens with lots of opportunities to explore nature while still providing all of the amenities necessary to live comfortably such as quality education systems for both young children and adults looking to further their education; job opportunities through local businesses or major employers like Valero Energy Corporation or The Port Of Corpus Christi; cultural activities like visiting museums or taking part in recreational activities like fishing or bird watching at Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve & Learning Center; plus much more!
Population: 3,396. Estimated population in July 2024: 3,429 (+1.0% change)
Males: 1,664 (49.0%), Females: 1,732 (51.0%)
San Patricio County
Zip code: 78390
Demographics
Median resident age: 30.5 years
Median household income: $24,622
Median house value: $45,500
Population by Race
Races in Taft:
- Hispanic (67.0%)
- White Non-Hispanic (29.1%)
- Other race (22.9%)
- Black (3.3%)
- Two or more races (2.4%)
(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)
Ancestries: German (7.7%), Irish (3.9%), English (3.4%), United States (2.7%), Polish (1.2%), Scotch-Irish (1.1%).
Land area: 1.5 square miles
Population by Education
Taft, Texas is a small city located in San Patricio County. The population of Taft is estimated to be around 2,500 people according to the 2019 United States Census Bureau estimates. The city has a diverse population with people from all walks of life. The majority of the population is Hispanic or Latino and there are also smaller populations of African Americans, Native Americans and Caucasians living in the area. The median household income for Taft is around $31,000 per year and the average age of the population is 33 years old. Education levels are relatively low with only 12% of adults having at least a bachelor’s degree. Most residents work in local industries such as oil and gas production, manufacturing, retail trade, construction, health care and other service industries. There are also several small businesses operating within the city limits. The city has several parks and recreation areas for residents to enjoy including an outdoor pool and basketball court as well as several walking trails throughout the town center. A new library was recently opened which provides access to books and other resources for residents of all ages. Taft offers a variety of cultural activities including festivals and events throughout the year that celebrate its rich history and heritage as well as providing entertainment for visitors who come to enjoy its unique attractions.
For population 25 years and over in Taft
- High school or higher: 62.8%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 9.1%
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.3%
- Unemployed: 6.1%
- Mean travel time to work: 23.7 minutes
For population 15 years and over in Taft city
- Never married: 21.5%
- Now married: 57.4%
- Separated: 2.9%
- Widowed: 9.0%
- Divorced: 9.2%
2.1% Foreign born (1.7% Latin America).
Population change in the 1990s: +36 (+1.1%).
Hospitals
Hospitals/medical centers near Taft:
- CHRISTUS SPOHN HOSPITAL MEMORIAL (about 14 miles; CORPUS CHRISTI, TX)
- CORPUS CHRISTI WARM SPGS REHAB HOSP (about 14 miles; CORPUS CHRISTI, TX)
- IHS HOSPITAL AT CORPUS CHRISTI (about 15 miles; CORPUS CHRISTI, TX)
Airports
Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Taft:
- CORPUS CHRISTI INTL (about 17 miles; CORPUS CHRISTI, TX; Abbreviation: CRP)
- VICTORIA REGIONAL (about 69 miles; VICTORIA, TX; Abbreviation: VCT)
- VALLEY INTL (about 123 miles; HARLINGEN, TX; Abbreviation: HRL)
Other public-use airports nearest to Taft:
- HUNT (about 8 miles; PORTLAND, TX; Abbreviation: 9R5)
- SAN PATRICIO COUNTY (about 11 miles; SINTON, TX; Abbreviation: T69)
- T P MC CAMPBELL (about 14 miles; INGLESIDE, TX; Abbreviation: T43)
Colleges and Universities
Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Taft:
- DEL MAR COLLEGE (about 15 miles; CORPUS CHRISTI, TX; Full-time enrollment: 5,454)
- TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY-CORPUS CHRISTI (about 19 miles; Corpus Christi, TX; Full-time enrollment: 5,282)
- COASTAL BEND COLLEGE (about 40 miles; BEEVILLE, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,150)
- TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY-KINGSVILLE (about 47 miles; KINGSVILLE, TX; Full-time enrollment: 4,860)
- VICTORIA COLLEGE (about 64 miles; VICTORIA, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,511)
- PALO ALTO COLLEGE (about 123 miles; SAN ANTONIO, TX; Full-time enrollment: 3,623)
- ST PHILIPS COLLEGE (about 124 miles; SAN ANTONIO, TX; Full-time enrollment: 4,778)
Schools
Public high school in Taft:
- TAFT H S (Students: 374; Location: 400 COLLEGE ST; Grades: 09 – 12)
Public primary/middle schools in Taft:
- WOODROE PETTY EL (Students: 395; Location: 400 COLLEGE ST; Grades: PK – 02)
- EAST EL (Students: 303; Location: 400 COLLEGE ST; Grades: 03 – 05)
- TAFT J H (Students: 296; Location: 400 COLLEGE ST; Grades: 06 – 08)
- ALTER ED CAMPUS SHORELINE (Students: 86; Location: 400 COLLEGE ST; Grades: PK – 12)
Libraries
Library in Taft:
- TAFT PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $50,504; Location: 503 GREEN AVE; 12,439 books; 362 audio materials; 330 video materials; 15 serial subscriptions)