Freer, Texas

 

Freer is located in northwestern Duval County at 27°52′45″N 98°36′58″W / 27.87917°N 98.61611°W / 27.87917; -98.61611 (27.879156, –98.616237).^[5] U.S. Route 59 passes east–west through the city as Riley Street. Once outside the city limits, US 59 leads northeast 68 miles (109 km) to Beeville and southwest 59 miles (95 km) to Laredo. Texas State Highway 16 (Norton Avenue) crosses US 59 in the center of town and leads north 111 miles (179 km) to San Antonio and southwest 92 miles (148 km) to Zapata on the Rio Grande. Texas State Highway 44 passes through the center of Freer on Riley Street with US 59, but leads east 25 miles (40 km) to San Diego, the Duval County seat, and 35 miles (56 km) to Alice, and west 47 miles (76 km) to Interstate 35 at Encinal.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Freer has a total area of 4.1 square miles (10.5 km²), of which 0.012 square miles (0.03 km²), or 0.30%, is covered by water.^[6]

As of the 2020 United States census, 2,461 people, 809 households, and 663 families were residing in the city.

As of the census^[3] of 2000, 3,241 people, 1,111 households, and 845 families resided in the city. The population density was 804.3 inhabitants per square mile (310.5/km²). The 1,334 housing units had an average density of 331.1 per square mile (127.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.59% White, 0.46% African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 14.87% from other races, and 3.15% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 77.38% of the population.

Of the 1,111 households, 42.0% had children under 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.9% were not families. About 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.92, and the average family size was 3.40.

In the city, the age distribution was 33.1% under 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,078, and for a family was $26,475. Males had a median income of $26,789 versus $17,159 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,457. About 18.4% of families and 21.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.5% of those under age 18 and 25.4% of those age 65 or over.

The city is served by the Freer Independent School District.

• Jim Acker, (b. 1958), a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1983 to 1992, mostly with the Toronto Blue Jays.
• Toni Adams, (1964–2010), a professional wrestling manager and valet who appeared in several American regional promotions during the 1980s.
• Steve McMichael, (b. 1957), a former American football defensive tackle for Chicago Bears and former professional wrestler for WCW.
• Paul Sadler, (b. 1955), an attorney and Texas politician.
• Buddy Temple (D), a (1942–2015), a businessman and politician.

KBRA-FM radio at 95.9 MHz.

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, Freer has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.^[10]

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Freer, Texas.

• City of Freer official website
• Vintage Life Magazine photos