Freer is a city in Duval County, Texas, United States. Its population was 2,461 at the 2020 census.

Geography Freer is located in northwestern Duval County at (27.879156, –98.616237). U.S. Route 59 passes east–west through the city as Riley Street. Once outside the city limits, US 59 leads northeast to Beeville and southwest to Laredo. Texas State Highway 16 (Norton Avenue) crosses US 59 in the center of town and leads north to San Antonio and southwest 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 to San Diego, the Duval County seat, and to Alice, and west to Interstate 35 at Encinal.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Freer has a total area of , of which , or 0.30%, is covered by water.

Climate 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.Climate Summary for Freer, Texas

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Freer had 2,461 people, 905 households, and 663 families residing in the city. The median age was 35.9 years; 27.8% of residents were under 18, and 16.8% were 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 97.2 males, and for every 100 females 18 and over, there were 91.8 males 18 and over.

None of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

Of the 905 households in Freer, 37.7% had children under 18 living in them, 41.8% were married-couple households, 21.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older.

The city had 1,119 housing units, of which 19.1% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 19.0%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 1,325 53.8% Black or African American 10 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native 17 0.7% Asian 24 1.0% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander 0 0.0% Some other race 259 10.5% Two or more races 826 33.6% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 2,018 82.0%

2000 census As of the census of 2000, 3,241 people, 1,111 households, and 845 families resided in the city. The population density was . The 1,334 housing units had an average density of . 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 in the city for a household 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 18 and 25.4% of those 65 or over.

Education The city is served by the Freer Independent School District.

Notable people 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 John Prentice, cartoonist and comic-book artist Paul Sadler (b. 1955), an attorney and Texas politician Buddy Temple (D) (1942–2015), a businessman and politician.

Media KBRA-FM radio at 95.9 MHz.

References

External links

City of Freer official website Vintage Life Magazine photos "The Last of the Tough Frontier Oil Towns" - Life Magazine