Why visit Refugio
Townapedia lists 18 museums and landmarks, 1 park or trail, 7 places to eat and 2 places to stay in and around town.
Highlights include Refugio County Courthouse and Refugio County Museum.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 95°F; January lows average 45°F.
Weather in Refugio
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Refugio
Refugio is a town in Refugio County, of which it is the county seat, in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 2,712 as of the 2020 Census. Refugio is the birthplace of Baseball Hall of Fame member Nolan Ryan.
From the Wikipedia article Refugio, Texas (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks18
Refugio County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Building in Refugio, Refugio County, Texas
6 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds1
Restaurants and cafes7
Branding Iron
Restaurant · Barbecue, Diner · 0.9 mi
1002 Victoria Road, Refugio
McDonald's
Fast food · Burger
427 North Alamo Street
Mo-Th 06:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 06:00-23:00; Su 06:00-22:00
DQ Grill & Chill
Fast food · Ice Cream, Burger · 0.4 mi
523 North Alamo Street, Refugio
Where to stay2
Americas Best Value Inn Refugio
Motel and hotel · 0.9 mi
920 Victoria Road, Refugio
History
Before Spanish colonization, the site of present-day Refugio was a seasonal camp of the Karankawa people, particularly the Copane band. Spanish authorities knew the area by the mid-18th century, and José de Escandón considered it for a settlement and presidio.
Spain established Mission Nuestra Señora del Refugio on February 4, 1793 near Goff Bayou to minister to the Karankawa. After raids and supply issues, the mission moved to Mosquitos Creek in 1794 and then to its final location on the Mission River-the present townsite-on January 10, 1795. It was the last mission founded in Texas and was secularized in 1830.
During the Mexican era, the Power and Hewetson Irish colony received an empresario contract in 1828; its territory was expanded in 1829 and granted the former mission lands in 1831. The colony’s center developed around the mission, and in 1834 lots were platted for the Villa de Refugio. Many Irish families from County Wexford arrived that year, joining Mexican settlers.
The Battle of Refugio (March 12–15, 1836) occurred during José de Urrea’s coastal campaign of the Texas Revolution. Texian detachments under Amon B. King and William Ward fought Urrea’s forces near the mission, resulting in a Mexican victory. Many Texians captured at Refugio were executed later in the Goliad massacre.
From the History section of Refugio, Texas on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship8
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging5
Schools, colleges and libraries10
Healthcare1
Map of Refugio
53 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 67°F | 45°F | 2.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 70°F | 48°F | 2.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 75°F | 54°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 81°F | 61°F | 2.2 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 86°F | 68°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 91°F | 73°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 94°F | 75°F | 2.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 95°F | 74°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 91°F | 70°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 84°F | 62°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 75°F | 53°F | 2.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 68°F | 46°F | 2.2 in | 0.5 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Refugio 2 Nw (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Refugio County has had 21 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2024-07-09: Hurricane Beryl (Hurricane)
- 2021-02-19: Severe Winter Storms (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2021-02-14: Severe Winter Storm (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2020-08-24: Tropical Storms Marco And Laura (Hurricane)
- 2020-07-26: Hurricane Hanna (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-25: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Rooke Field (RFG) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 3 miles away.
- Lamar 21 mi southeast, about 34 min by car
- Rockport 23 mi southeast, about 36 min by car
- Goliad 26 mi north, about 42 min by car
- Gregory 27 mi south, about 43 min by car
- Portland 29 mi south, about 47 min by car
- Beeville 30 mi west, about 48 min by car
- Port Aransas 35 mi south, about 57 min by car
- Mathis 36 mi southwest, about 58 min by car
- Corpus Christi 39 mi south, about 1 h by car
- Victoria 40 mi northeast, about 1 h by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Refugio courthouse, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.