Shiner is a city in Lavaca County, Texas, United States. The town was named after Henry B. Shiner, who donated for a railroad right-of-way. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 2,127. Shiner was founded by German and Czech emigrants.
History
In 1885, a post office called Half Moon was opened at a trading post near the present site of Shiner. In 1887, Henry B. Shiner donated 250 acres for a depot and right-of-way for the San Antonio and Arkansas Pass Railway, which bypassed Half Moon and was built through Henry B. Shiner's donated land. The town grew around these transportation facilities. The town initially called itself "New Half Moon", but in 1888, the town's name was changed to Shiner and the town was incorporated in 1890.
Czech and German immigrants soon became the dominant ethnic groups, and Shiner developed a cohesive Czech community that still heavily influences the town's culture. Ranching was an important part of the town's history.
Historically notable families of the area are the Wolters and Welhausen families, after whom the Edwin Wolters Memorial Museum and the Shiner Welhausen Park are named, respectively.
Shiner is the home of the Spoetzl Brewery, the oldest independent brewery in Texas. The brewery is most well known for producing Shiner Bock, a dark German/Czech-style beer that is now distributed in 50 states.
Shiner is also the home of the historic Kaspar Companies, one of the oldest continuously operating companies in America. Kaspar Companies is a holding company that currently consists of Ranch Hand Truck Accessories, Texas Precious Metals, and several other businesses.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which 0.41% is covered by water.
Demographics
As of the 2020 census, 2,127 people resided in the city.
Racial and ethnic composition
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Shiner city, Texas – Racial composition<br><small></small>
!Race <small>(NH = Non-Hispanic)</small>
!
!% 2010
!% 2000
!
!Pop 2010
!Pop 2000
|-
|White alone (NH)
|style='background: #ffffe6; |75.8%
|81.4%
|82.2%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,612
|1,685
|1,702
|-
|Black alone (NH)
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7.3%
|9.3%
|10.8%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |156
|193
|224
|-
|American Indian alone (NH)
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.3%
|0.2%
|0%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7
|4
|1
|-
|Asian alone (NH)
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.3%
|0.4%
|0.2%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6
|8
|4
|-
|Pacific Islander alone (NH)
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0%
|0%
|0%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0
|0
|0
|-
|Other race alone (NH)
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.2%
|0%
|0%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5
|1
|1
|-
|Multiracial (NH)
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.4%
|1.1%
|0.6%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |73
|22
|12
|-
|Hispanic/Latino (any race)
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12.6%
|7.5%
|6.1%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |268
|156
|126
|}
2020 census
The median age was 42.1 years. 24.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 83.0 males age 18 and over.
There were 841 households in Shiner, of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.8% were married-couple households, 15.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
- German (27%)
- Czech (20.5%)
- Mexican (11.2%)
- English (10.8%)
- Irish (7.6%)
- African American (5.2%)
- Italian (1.9%)
- Scottish (1.7%)
- French (1.3%)
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 1,702 || 80.0%
|-
| Black or African American || 161 || 7.6%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 12 || 0.6%
|-
| Asian || 6 || 0.3%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 0 || 0.0%
|-
| Some other race || 63 || 3.0%
|-
| Two or more races || 183 || 8.6%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 268 || 12.6%
|}
2000 census
As of the census
Media
Shiner's weekly newspaper, The Shiner Gazette, was established in 1892.