# Sarita, Texas

Sarita is a census-designated place (CDP) in, and the county seat of Kenedy County, Texas, United States. It is the only settlement of note in the county, and as of the 2010 census had a population of 238.

## History

In 1904, the town of Sarita, Texas was founded on land that had been part of Kenedy Ranch. John G. Kenedy named the town after his daughter Sarita Kenedy East. The town served the Kenedy Pasture Company and Kenedy Ranch and its employees. The company store, ranch offices, and ranch buildings have been located in Sarita. Most of the residents were somehow involved in the Kenedy businesses, either as employees or tenant cotton farmers from Kenedy Pasture Company. The Kenedy Ranch Museum, with art and artifacts about the history of the Kenedy family in South Texas, opened in 2003 in the newly restored Kenedy Pasture Company building.
In an article in 2014, Sarita was ranked the most politically liberal town in Texas.

### "Occupation" hoax

In 2014, a fake news website called National Report published an article claiming that a militia of "over one hundred armed La Raza militants" had occupied Sarita, forcing original residents out of their homes and using the town as a base of operations. The hoax report circled on the Internet.

## Geography

Sarita is located in northern Kenedy County at 27°13′18″N, 97°47′21″W. It is along U.S. Route 77, 21 miles (34 km) south of Kingsville, 61 miles (98 km) south of Corpus Christi, and 74 miles (119 km) north of Harlingen. The United States Border Patrol Sarita checkpoint on US 77 is located some 14 miles (23 km) south of the town of Sarita.

### Cityscape

Gary Cartwright of Texas Monthly said that Sarita's only landmarks were a green sign reading "Sarita", a water tower, and a blinking yellow light. Sarita has an elementary school and a Catholic church. Sarita does not have any convenience stores, shops, or cafes. The nearest grocery store is in Kingsville, though there are convenience stores at gas stations in Riviera, 5 miles (8 km) to the north along US 77. The nearest major medical center is in Corpus Christi.

### Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Sarita has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

## Demographics

Sarita first appeared as a census designated place in the 2010 U.S. Census.
Sarita CDP, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition 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 may be of any race. :
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White alone (NH) | 40 | 31 | 16.81% | 15.12% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1 | 0 | 0.42% | 0.00% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 6 | 3 | 2.52% | 1.46% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 0.49% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 2 | 1 | 0.84% | 0.49% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 1 | 1 | 0.42% | 0.49% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 188 | 168 | 78.99% | 81.95% |
| Total | 238 | 205 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 205 people, 129 households, and 115 families residing in the CDP.

## Education

Sarita Elementary School (PreK-6) of the Kenedy County Wide Common School District serves Sarita.
Students who graduate from Sarita Elementary move on to De La Paz Middle School and Kaufer Early College High School, operated by Riviera Independent School District, which takes all secondary students from the KCWCSD area.
All of Kenedy County is in the area of Del Mar College, according to the Texas Education Code.