With a population of around 117,259 people as of 2020, Crystal City is a Texas city. The racial composition of the city is 63.6% White, 32.63% Hispanic, 1.32% black, 1.13% Asian, 0.36% indigenous, and 0.04% Pacific Islander.
Crystal City holds the annual "Roma Blvd. Festival" every May to celebrate its multicultural heritage. The festival features a colorful parade, traditional dances, food and crafts from different countries. There are plans for a car show, children's park, inner soul yoga festival, folkloric ballet, city dance, magical acts, gourmet food, artisans, and health and beauty vendors.
Animal Encounters, an educational and entertaining reptile exhibit, is a favorite tourist destination. They claim that Animal Encounters is the most popular live animal show in South Texas. Tours of the Crystal City municipal building, which houses the Crystal City Hall and the city'z police station, are also popular.
The Crystal City Independent School District runs the city's public schools. The district has 3,935 students, 255 teachers, and 17 campuses (as of 2017 - 2018). Crystal City Elementary School, Crystal City Intermediate School, and Crystal City High School are the three public schools in the district that are all located in Crystal City. Crystal City High School serves the districts of Carrizo Springs, Carrizo Hill, and Crystal City. Students from the surrounding communities of Asherton, Hondo, and other rural areas can also attend Crystal City High School.
Crystal City is located in the southwestern part of Texas. Zavala County shares a boundary with it. Crystal City was given its name because of all the crystal quartz rocks that can be found in the surrounding areas. It was situated in a vast agricultural area, and cotton was the main crop grown there. Cotton was hauled to Crystal City via rail and sold there.
The Crystal City area has long been home to humans. Numerous artefacts have been found that confirm the presence of humans as early as 10,000 B.C. The area had a mix of Native American groups and was later used as a base by the Spanish in the 1700s.
In 1885, Crystal City itself was officially established. On October 17, 1914, Crystal City's first post office was established, and by the 1920s, more than 3000 people lived in the area. By the early 1900s, Crystal City was called the "Spinach Capital of the World" because of its prolific spinach fields.
The first Spinach Festival was held in 1936, and five thousand people from all around Texas attended. The festival soon became an annual event, and it is still held every November to honor Crystal City'z agricultural past.
The Crystal City Spinach Festival has grown to have more events and rides over the years, and the associated Spinach (Food) Cook-Off allows local chefs the opportunity to showcase their creative spinach-based dishes. The U.S. Spinach Corporation, the festival's main sponsor, has been a part of Crystal City for close to twenty years and is committed to maintaining the area's rich history as the Spinach Capital of the World.
Crystal City's water tower, known as "The World's Largest Water Tower," has become a well-known and popular tourist destination.
On weekends, visitors may ascend the 155-foot-high structure and enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding area.
In 1923, Crystal City became an incorporated city. By the early 1950s, the town had 57 businesses and 188 residents.
Since the 1950s, Crystal City has continued to thrive, growing to the thriving community it is today.
The city now has a range of businesses, including restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues. The Crystal City Spinach Festival remains a major draw for tourists and is a prominent tourist destination. Tourists can enjoy a variety of activities, including a carnival, food booths, parades, and a spinach-cooking contest in addition to the festival.
And they have a lot of fun there!
Crystal City is a small Hispanic community located in rural Texas. In honor of the thriving spinach crop that supported the town's economy for many years, its major annual festival glorifies spinach.
Crystal City has the smallest population of any city to host a UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) race. The city will host the 2015 UCI Juniors' Road World Championships and the 2016 UCI Road World Championships.
Thursday evenings from April 4 to October 25, 2018, Crystal City hosted weekly car shows in the downtown area. The car shows feature several vehicles from numerous eras and have previously served as a platform for the vintage car collection of Michael Scott. Classic trucks, hot rods, classic cars, and muscle cars converge to create an enjoyable family-friendly atmosphere in the downtown sector of Crystal City. Some businesses in Crystal City host car shows and give away commemorative T-shirts with their shop's name and a drawing or cartoon of a vintage car on them. In Crystal City, events like "Movie in the Park" are also offered.
A shaded playground, basketball court, exercise course, walking path, and covered exercising area are all located in the city's central park, which is over 21 acres in size. The park also has an Eco Centre with indoor and outdoor displays that reflect Crystal City's history as the "Spinach Capital of the World."
Crystal City has everything from charming antique shops and historic locations to delightful eateries and outdoor recreation. Several notable residents have ties to Crystal City, including baseball legend Santos "Tot" Pressentin, Lt. Governor of Texas Mike Collier, and state legislator O. P. O'Hakter.
Crystal City is a well-known ethnic melting pot and is home to people from various cultures and backgrounds. The warmth and kindness of Texans are proverbial. Moreover, Crystal City makes it easy for tourists to feel at home by offering accommodation choices for all preferences and ensuring that there is a comfortable stay, and a thriving community.