Mirando City is a census-designated place in Webb County, Texas, United States. It is three hundred eighty-four miles southwest of Houston. The population was 166 at the 2010 census. The town gets its name from Nicolás Mirando, a Spanish land grantee. The population of Mirando City was highest in 1929, at an estimated 1500. The peyote cactus thrives in and around Mirando City and nearby Oilton, and is a clandestine source of income for residents. Peyoteros have harvested peyote in Mirando City for over a hundred years. Mirando City was the center of the South Texas Oil Boom, launched in 1921 by the industrialist Oliver Winfield Killam of Laredo.
History
O. W. Killiam established the community in 1921. Charles A. Ingersoll, known as Bob, was an early wildcatter oilman in Webb County.
Geography
Mirando City is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau in 2000, the CDP has a total area of 11.1 square miles, all of it land. This CDP lost area in the changes in Webb County prior to the 2010 census. Its total area was reduced to, all land. It is southeast of Laredo.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 493 people, 145 households, and 108 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 44.5 people per square mile. There were 205 housing units at an average density of 18.5/sq mi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 85.80% White, 0.20% Native American, 0.81% Asian, 10.95% from other races, and 2.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 91.89% of the population. There were 145 households, out of which 48.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.4% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.40 and the average family size was 4.16. In the CDP, the population was spread out with 39.6% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males. The median income for a household in the CDP was $24,375, and the median income for a family was $30,221. Males had a median income of $25,250 versus $18,250 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $9,553. About 22.2% of families and 26.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.3% of those under age 18 and 35.6% of those age 65 or over.
Prior to 1994, Webb CISD served only Bruni and Oilton. Mirando City Independent School District served the community of Mirando City from 1923 to 2005. Prior to 1994, all Mirando City children attended Mirando City ISD schools. After the spring semester of 1994, Mirando High School closed. Therefore, from the fall of 1994 to July 1, 2005, WCISD served high schoolers from Mirando City, while Mirando Elementary School in the Mirando City ISD served students from kindergarten through 8th grade. On May 9, 2005 the Texas Education Agency ordered the closure of Mirando City ISD. The district closed on July 1, 2005, and all students were rezoned to Webb CISD schools. All of Mirando City's children now go to Webb CISD schools.
Lala's Cafe
Mirando City's main business is Lala's Cafe, a Texas-Mexican restaurant on Main Street which opened in 1953 and moved to its current location in 1964 across the street from the original site. Despite its modest simplicity, Lala's is popular throughout the region and has been the subject of numerous newspaper and magazine articles. It received a historical marker from the Webb County Historical Association on January 4, 2014. Founded by the late Eduarda Rodriguez, who died in 1973, the café is now operated by her daughter, Mariana Rodriguez. Michael Black, who did the research for the historical association which led to the marker, said it was rare to know the subject of his work, but he had known Rodriguez for twenty-three years. Frank Staggs, recalls having eaten at Lala's since he was a young boy. Staggs told the Laredo Morning Times, "Lala was a wonderful lady, and she meant a lot to this town. I know people in Houston and East Texas who ask me if Lala's is still in Mirando City, and I tell them, 'Yes, it is.'"
