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Hondo, Texas

9 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1954 and the latest in 1992. It stands in the Hondo census division. It lies in ZIP code area 78861. The Survey maps it on the Hondo quadrangle. 8,289 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 892 feet above sea level.

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Hondo within Medina County

Population over time

2 figures

Hondo fell from 8,803 to 8,289 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
20108,803
20208,289-514 (-6%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

6 surveys from 9 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

15 since 2006

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 15 fires within 5 miles of Hondo between 2006 and 2020, burning about 1,742 acres in total. None started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined13
Debris and open burning2

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
25 September 2007Debris and open burning3.0 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
19 September 2014Missing data/not specified/undetermined10 acresTexas A & M Forest Service13
15 September 2009Missing data/not specified/undetermined30 acresTexas A & M Forest Service35
25 July 2019Missing data/not specified/undetermined20 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceHAY BALES AND HAY FIELD ON FIRE
21 July 2020Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreTexas A & M Forest ServiceGRASS FIRE (DISREGARDED ENROUTE)
19 July 2008Debris and open burning10 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
23 June 2013Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreTexas A & M Forest ServiceGRASS FIRE CR 654
17 June 2006Missing data/not specified/undetermined100 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Medina County

Mines and quarries near this place

1 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 1 working within 5 miles of Hondo: 1 producer. All of them still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Ralph Tschirhart PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducerGravel, Sand

Every working recorded in Medina County

Storms near this place

60 of 64 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Hondo in 64 storm reports between 1993 and 2022: 28 hail, 26 thunderstorm wind, 6 flash flood, 3 tornado. The reports record 40 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
October 2001Tornado (F2)Hondo25 hurt, $20,000,000The tornado was spotted as it touched down near 940 pm CST just northwest of the Hondo airport. It grew to nearly 500 yards in width and moved toward the southeast for 1.2 miles across the airport and over the National Guard Armory before dissipating near the center of town. Although much of the damage was F0 and F1 on the Fujita Scale, the tornado was rated F2 because of the level of damage from the airport to the armory. During this time it destroyed a large hangar, partially destroyed the roof and walls of the concrete Armory and moved numerous mobile homes off their pads. One mobile home clearly showed the nature of damage from a tornado. The center of the mobile home was completely destroyed, along with a tree in front of it, while much less damage was indicted on both ends of the mobile home as well as vegetation near the ends. The storm also knocked out power to much of the area, and this, along with the darkness in the late night hour, made spotting very difficult. It is possible that additional small tornadoes might have accompanied the storm, but the combination of damage from the large tornado and the downburst winds, along with the darkness of the late night hour made it impossible to tell. Almost 150 homes in Hondo and almost 50 more outside the city were damaged, with nearly 100 mobile homes damaged. At least 10 houses and 30 mobile homes were destroyed. Losses to homes and mobile homes were estimated at 1.5 million dollars. In addition, nearly two dozen aircraft, including one corporate jet and 14 crop dusters, were damaged and destroyed at the Hondo Airport. Some were in collapsed hangars while others were lifted, tossed and set down across the Airport area. Commercial losses placed at 18 million dollars. At least 25 persons were injured.
March 2002Thunderstorm WindHondo15 hurt, $200,000Across Eastern Medina County, wind damage was widespread, with road signs blown down, trees knocked over, roofs damaged and large limbs were taken out of trees. All the damage was laid out in an west-southwest to east-northeast path. Over a dozen people were injured as glass, broken from house and vehicle windows, was propelled by the gusty winds.
October 2001Thunderstorm WindHondo$2,000,000The damage at Hondo was due to the combination of a large tornado, severe downburst winds and large hail. The event was classic, as taught in the NWS Skywarn training program. Severe downburst winds (estimated in excess of 100 miles an hour), struck first, followed by heavy rain, then hail to the size of golfballs, and finally, just in front of the tornado, winds began to calm. This is the classic sequence - wind - rain - hail - calm - tornado. Wind damage began 2 miles northwest of the Hondo Airport, continued across the downtown area, and ended 5 miles southeast of the center of town. This damage was characterized by large limbs knocked from trees, trees uprooted, roofs and winds torn from homes and businesses, and power lines knocked down.
October 2001HailHondo$500,000no account filed
March 2002HailHondo$300,000Very large hail, up to softball size, was widespread across Hondo, damaging up to two-thirds of vehicle bodies and windows and breaking out building windows across the town.
May 2006Thunderstorm WindHondo$150,000Severe thunderstorm winds blew down trees, and damaged homes in Hondo.
May 2010Thunderstorm WindHondo$100,000A thunderstorm produced a measured wind gust of 67 mph on the Hondo Airport ASOS. The airport hanger was damaged and there were several trees blown down.
July 2000Thunderstorm WindHondo$100,000Severe thunderstorm winds blew down trees and power lines and damaged roofs of homes in Hondo.
September 1997Thunderstorm WindHondo$70,000no account filed
May 2002Thunderstorm WindHondo$50,000Severe thunderstorm winds overturned a trailer near Hondo.
May 2001Thunderstorm WindHondo$50,000Trees were reported to have been down down due to high winds.
October 2001Thunderstorm WindHondo$50,000Severe thunderstorms, striking again well after the previous tornadoes and downbursts, knocked out power to homes in the Hondo area and caused damage to roofs and carports around the town.
August 2000Thunderstorm WindHondo$30,000no account filed
January 1998Flash FloodHondo$30,000no account filed
May 2001Thunderstorm WindHondo$20,000Trees were blown down by severe thunderstorm winds north of Hondo. The wind was accompanied by large hail that damaged fields of crops.
June 2000Flash FloodHondo$10,000Rainfall of up to 5 inches caused widespread flash flooding of low water crossings in the city of Hondo. Water was also reported in homes due to wave action as cars drove through the flooded streets.
May 2011Thunderstorm WindHondo$5,000A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 50 knots which damaged a small portable building and a small utility pole.
May 2022HailHondo-A thunderstorm produced ping pong ball size hail in Hondo.
April 2022HailHondo-A thunderstorm produced quarter size hail in Hondo.
April 2022HailHondo-A thunderstorm produced half dollar size hail in Hondo.
April 2022HailHondo-A thunderstorm produced half dollar size hail in Hondo.
April 2022HailHondo-A thunderstorm produced penny size hail in Hondo.
April 2021HailHondo-Social media post shows a gargantuan hailstone likely 6+ inches in diameter. The hailstone was not saved and and therefore an official measurement could not be taken.
April 2021HailHondo-A NWS storm survey team and employees from the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) conducted official measurements of a gargantuan hailstone. The stone fell at a residence in Hondo Texas during a supercell thunderstorm during the evening of April 28, 2021. With 3D scanning equipment, the IBHS was able to determine the maximum hail diameter at 6.416 inches, circumference at 19.73 inches, and volume of 40.239 cubic inches. The hailstone weight was 1.26 pounds. As of this writing, these measurements are being recognized as Texas state hail records. A full report on this hail event and this particular hailstone can be found at https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/monitoring-content/extremes/scec/reports/20210624-Texas-Hailstone.pdf .
April 2021HailHondo-Pictures shared on social media show several large hailstones over 5 inches in diameter. Significant hail damage occurred in and around Hondo with property damage to roofs, cars, windows, and some buildings.
June 2019HailHondo-A thunderstorm produced 1.5 inch hail in Hondo.
June 2019HailHondo-A thunderstorm produced 1.25 inch hail in Hondo.
September 2018Flash FloodHondo-Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that led to flash flooding closing several county roads in the southern half of the county.
May 2016HailHondo-A thunderstorm produced two inch hail near Hwy 173 south of Hondo.
April 2015Thunderstorm WindHondo-A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 75 mph flipped over four to five trailers at Hwy 90 and Hwy 173, blew the doors out at a car dealership, and knocked down several trees all in Hondo.
September 2013Flash FloodHondo-Several roads were closed in Hondo due to flooding.
May 2011Thunderstorm WindHondo-A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 52 knots which caused tree damage city wide in Hondo.
July 2011Tornado (EF0)Hondo-A thunderstorm produced a brief, weak tornado west of Hondo. The tornado did not cause any damage and was rated EF0.
July 2007FloodHondo-King Waterhole near Hondo crested at 16.6 ft on 07/21 at 1045cst, where flood stage is 12 ft.
May 2007Flash FloodHondo-Scattered showers and thunderstorms produced general 2 to 3 inch rain amounts over northeast Medina County with up to 5 inches near Rio Medina. SH173 closed due to high water at Verde Creek and FM471 was closed near LaCoste.
March 2007Tornado (EF0)Hondo-A very small tornado touched down about 1 mile east of the intersection of SH173 and US90, then lifted and touched one more time. Its two touchdowns were along a very narrow path approximately 3 miles in length. The only visible evidence of damage was on the north side of US90 between CR451 and Hondo Creek, about 5 miles east of Hondo. Large limbs had been torn from a tree and thrown toward the south. Had the damage been due to thunderstorm winds, the debris would have been blown toward the east. It was estimated that this tornado formed approximately 1320 CST and was an EF-0 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. It had a path width of 30 yards.
March 2007Thunderstorm WindHondo-Severe thunderstorm winds blew down trees and damaged roofs of homes in Hondo.
March 2006Thunderstorm WindHondo-Severe thunderstorm winds knocked over trees and blew down power lines down east of Hondo.
February 2005Thunderstorm WindHondo-Severe thunderstorm sweeping southeastward from central Medina County blew down power lines across the southeast part of the county. Officials reported that power was restored after two hours.
October 1995Thunderstorm WindHondo-Trees were blown over by thunderstorm winds.
April 1993HailHondo-Nickel-size hail was reported between Hondo and Castroville by a National Weather Service employee.
May 1993HailHondo-Dime-size hail was reported between Hondo and Castroville by the Sheriff's Office.
June 2017HailHondo-no account filed
April 2016HailHondo-no account filed
May 2013HailHondo-no account filed
May 2013HailHondo-no account filed
April 2013HailHondo-no account filed
May 2009Thunderstorm WindHondo-no account filed
June 2008Thunderstorm WindHondo-no account filed
November 2006HailHondo-no account filed
March 2004HailHondo-no account filed
May 2002HailHondo-no account filed
May 2002HailHondo-no account filed
May 2001HailHondo-no account filed
February 1998HailHondo-no account filed
March 1997Thunderstorm WindHondo-no account filed
April 1997HailHondo-no account filed
March 1997Thunderstorm WindHondo-no account filed
April 1997HailHondo-no account filed
April 1997Thunderstorm WindHondo-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Medina County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
New Fountain5.1 miles9
Quihi6.6 miles9
D'Hanis7.4 miles9
Dunlay8.0 miles9
Bader10.0 miles9
Biry10.9 miles7
Noonan13.8 miles9
Castroville13.9 miles9

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on HondoAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q976567The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 1359487. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.