# Frio County, Texas

Frio County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 18,385. Its county seat is Pearsall. The county was created in 1858 and later organized in 1871. Frio is named for the Frio River, whose name is Spanish for "cold".

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,134 square miles (2,940 km$^2$), of which 1,134 sq mi (2,940 km$^2$) are land and 0.8 sq mi (2.1 km$^2$) (0.07%) is covered by water.

### Major highways

* Interstate 35
* U.S. Highway 57
* State Highway 85
* State Highway 173
* FM 140
* FM 1582

### Adjacent counties

* Medina County (north)
* Atascosa County (east)
* McMullen County (southeast)
* La Salle County (south)
* Dimmit County (southwest)
* Zavala County (west)
* Uvalde County (northwest)

## Demographics
### 2020 census

Frio County, 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 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White alone (NH) | 3,344 | 2,796 | 3,053 | 20.58% | 16.24% | 16.61% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 777 | 524 | 705 | 4.78% | 3.04% | 3.83% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 14 | 38 | 49 | 0.09% | 0.22% | 0.27% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 58 | 362 | 199 | 0.36% | 2.10% | 1.08% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.05% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 25 | 29 | 81 | 0.15% | 0.17% | 0.44% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 46 | 66 | 118 | 0.28% | 0.38% | 0.64% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 11,987 | 13,401 | 14,171 | 73.76% | 77.84% | 77.08% |
| Total | 16,252 | 17,217 | 18,385 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 18,385 people, 4,673 households, and 3,306 families residing in the county.
As of the census of 2000, 16,252 people, 4,743 households, and 3,642 families resided in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km$^2$). The 5,660 housing units averaged 5 per square mile (1.9/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 71.86% White, 4.87% Black or African American, 0.58% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 19.76% from other races, and 2.50% from two or more races. About 73.76% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 4,743 households, 40.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% were married couples living together, 16.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.20% were not families. About 20.60% of all households was made up of individuals, and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.44.
In the county, the population was distributed as 28.70% under the age of 18, 11.20% from 18 to 24, 30.80% from 25 to 44, 18.70% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 121.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 130.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $24,504, and for a family was $26,578. Males had a median income of $23,810 versus $16,498 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,069. About 24.50% of families and 29.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.20% of those under age 18 and 30.40% of those age 65 or over.

## Politics

United States presidential election results for Frio County, Texas :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 3,060 | 61.96% | 1,848 | 37.42% | 31 | 0.63% |
| 2020 | 2,823 | 53.48% | 2,422 | 45.88% | 34 | 0.64% |
| 2016 | 1,856 | 42.18% | 2,444 | 55.55% | 100 | 2.27% |
| 2012 | 1,559 | 39.29% | 2,376 | 59.88% | 33 | 0.83% |
| 2008 | 1,644 | 40.47% | 2,405 | 59.21% | 13 | 0.32% |
| 2004 | 1,991 | 50.66% | 1,931 | 49.13% | 8 | 0.20% |
| 2000 | 1,774 | 42.97% | 2,317 | 56.13% | 37 | 0.90% |
| 1996 | 1,225 | 29.94% | 2,593 | 63.37% | 274 | 6.70% |
| 1992 | 1,275 | 29.52% | 2,377 | 55.04% | 667 | 15.44% |
| 1988 | 1,505 | 33.16% | 3,016 | 66.46% | 17 | 0.37% |
| 1984 | 2,003 | 42.90% | 2,656 | 56.89% | 10 | 0.21% |
| 1980 | 1,753 | 37.55% | 2,849 | 61.03% | 66 | 1.41% |
| 1976 | 1,280 | 32.75% | 2,598 | 66.48% | 30 | 0.77% |
| 1972 | 1,904 | 54.23% | 1,588 | 45.23% | 19 | 0.54% |
| 1968 | 795 | 32.69% | 1,330 | 54.69% | 307 | 12.62% |
| 1964 | 607 | 28.67% | 1,507 | 71.19% | 3 | 0.14% |
| 1960 | 713 | 39.83% | 1,068 | 59.66% | 9 | 0.50% |
| 1956 | 825 | 47.94% | 886 | 51.48% | 10 | 0.58% |
| 1952 | 1,011 | 50.52% | 983 | 49.13% | 7 | 0.35% |
| 1948 | 345 | 25.73% | 898 | 66.96% | 98 | 7.31% |
| 1944 | 293 | 21.40% | 951 | 69.47% | 125 | 9.13% |
| 1940 | 236 | 18.85% | 1,012 | 80.83% | 4 | 0.32% |
| 1936 | 193 | 15.83% | 1,019 | 83.59% | 7 | 0.57% |
| 1932 | 142 | 12.46% | 998 | 87.54% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1928 | 673 | 72.21% | 258 | 27.68% | 1 | 0.11% |
| 1924 | 158 | 19.55% | 637 | 78.84% | 13 | 1.61% |
| 1920 | 102 | 19.17% | 421 | 79.14% | 9 | 1.69% |
| 1916 | 55 | 11.68% | 410 | 87.05% | 6 | 1.27% |
| 1912 | 25 | 5.07% | 418 | 84.79% | 50 | 10.14% |
Frio County has leaned Democratic at the presidential level. It voted Republican in 2004, 2020, and 2024.

## Communities
### Cities

* Dilley
* Pearsall (county seat)

### Census-designated places

* Bigfoot
* Hilltop
* Moore
* North Pearsall

### Unincorporated area

* Derby

### Ghost town

* Frio Town

## Education

School districts include:
* Charlotte Independent School District
* Devine Independent School District
* Dilley Independent School District
* Hondo Independent School District
* Pearsall Independent School District
The designated community college is Southwest Texas Junior College.