TAFT SOUTHWEST, TEXAS. Taft Southwest is southwest of U.S. Highway 181, the Southern Pacific Railroad, and the city of Taft in east central San Patricio County. Taft Southwest grew up alongside Taft as a segregated Mexican-American community in the early decades of the twentieth century. The unincorporated community had a population by 1960 of 1,927 that grew to 2,026 in 1970. In 1990 Taft Southwest reported a population of 2,012 and received services from both San Patricio County and from the city of Taft. The population was 1,721 in 2000.

Mark Odintz