Victoria, Texas
City in the United States in Victoria County
About Victoria
Victoria is a city in and the county seat of Victoria County, Texas, United States. The population was 65,534 as of the 2020 census. The three counties of the Victoria Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 111,163 as of the 2000 census. Its elevation is 95 ft (29 m).
Victoria is located 30 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico. It is a two-hour drive from Houston, San Antonio, and Austin and a one hour and twenty minute drive to Corpus Christi.
The city is named for General Guadalupe Victoria, who became the first president of independent Mexico. It is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria in Texas.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How Victoria is governed
Form of government not yet listed.
1 of 14 positions listed. Gray dashed boxes are placeholders waiting for a name.
Residents of Victoria
Registered voters elect the officials below.
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Mayor
Executive
- Duane Crocker per Wikidata
The city's chief elected official. Presides over the executive branch, proposes the budget and represents the city.
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City Manager / Administrator
Executive
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The professional administrator who runs day-to-day operations (in some cities appointed by the council instead of the mayor).
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Police Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the police department.
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Fire Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the fire and emergency services department.
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Public Works Director
Administration & departments
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Streets, water, sewer, and city buildings.
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Finance Director
Administration & departments
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The budget, taxes, and city accounts.
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Planning & Zoning Director
Administration & departments
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Land use, zoning, building permits.
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Parks & Recreation Director
Administration & departments
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Parks, programs, and public facilities.
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City Council
Legislative
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The elected body that passes ordinances, sets the tax rate and approves the budget.
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City Clerk
Administration & departments
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Keeps the official records, runs meeting agendas and, often, local elections.
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City Attorney
Administration & departments
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The city's lawyer; advises officials and prosecutes ordinance violations.
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Boards & Commissions
Legislative
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Citizen advisory bodies, such as planning, zoning appeals and library boards.
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Municipal Court
Judicial
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Hears traffic, ordinance and other minor cases.
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Municipal Judge
Judicial
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Presides over the municipal court.
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- Website
- cob.us
Looking for your county, state and federal representatives too? See who represents 77901 or everyone in Texas.
Population over time
From 62,592 in 2010 to 65,534 in 2020 (+4.7%).
Show the numbers
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 65,534 |
| 2010 | 62,592 |
History
The city of Guadalupe Victoria was founded in 1824 by Martín De León, a Mexican empresario, in honor of Guadalupe Victoria, the first president of the Republic of Mexico. Victoria was initially part of De León's Colony, which had been founded that same year. By 1834, the town had a population of approximately 300.
During the Texas Revolution, Guadalupe Victoria contributed soldiers and supplies to pro-revolutionary forces. However, after James Fannin was defeated by the Mexican army at the Battle of Coleto, the town was occupied by Mexican forces. After Santa Anna was defeated at the Battle of San Jacinto, the town's Mexican residents were driven out by Anglo settlers, who renamed it Victoria.
In 1840, a Comanche raid on nearby Linnville killed many residents of the town. A cholera outbreak occurred in 1846.
During the mid-19th century, the city developed a large population of European immigrants, particularly Germans. By the turn of the 20th century, Victoria was experiencing rapid population growth thanks to its position as a regional trade center. The city's advantageous proximity to Gulf Coast ports, the larger cities of Austin, Corpus Christi, Houston, and San Antonio, and prosperous industries in agriculture and petrochemicals solidified its prominence.
Texas A&M University–Victoria was founded in 1971 as the University of Houston–Victoria Center and remains there today.
In 2017, the Victoria Islamic Center mosque was destroyed by an arson attack. A 25-year-old Victoria man was convicted of the crime and sentenced to prison. A documentary film, A Town Called Victoria, was produced about the incident.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.