According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Aransas Pass has a total area of 135.6 km2 (52.4 sq mi), of which 32.6 km2 (12.6 sq mi) are land and 103.1 km2 (39.8 sq mi) (75.99%) are covered by water.[5]
As of the census[2] of 2000, 8,138 people, 3,075 households, and 3,012 families resided in the city. The population density was 758.1 inhabitants per square mile (292.7/km2). The 3,493 housing units averaged 325.4 per mi2 (125.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 80.58% White, 3.44% African American, 0.76% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 11.28% from other races, and 3.47% from two or more races. Hispanics of any race were 37.70% of the population.
Of the 2,961 households, 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were not families. About 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the city, the population was distributed as 28.4% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,376, and for a family was $33,227. Males had a median income of $29,383 versus $17,969 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,964. About 18.3% of families and 19.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.5% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.
The primary industries are shrimping and tourism, along with farming and oil and gas interests. The shrimp boat fleet sails from Conn Brown Harbor, a large, protected harbor chiefly dedicated to the shrimping industry. The area is popular for saltwater sports fishing and beach-going.
Education
Bay-View Hotel in Aransas Pass (postcard, c. 1893–1924)
Most of Aransas Pass is within the Aransas Pass Independent School District. Schools of that district include H. T. Faulk Early Childhood School (Pre-K–1), Kieberger Elementary School (2–3), Charlie Marshall Elementary School (4–5), A. C. Blunt Middle School (6–8), and Aransas Pass High School (9–12).
^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.[8]
