Galveston County, Texas
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Galveston County | |
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UTC−5 (CDT) | |
Congressional district | 14th |
Website | www |
Galveston County (/ˈɡælvɪstən/ GAL-vis-tən) is a county in the U.S. state of Texas, located along the Gulf Coast adjacent to Galveston Bay. As of the 2020 census, its population was 350,682.[1] The county was founded in 1838. The county seat is the City of Galveston, founded the following year, and located on Galveston Island. The most-populous municipality in the county is League City, a suburb of Houston at the northern end of the county, which surpassed Galveston in population during the early 2000s.[2]
Galveston County is part of the nine-county Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land (Greater Houston) metropolitan statistical area.
History
Sixteenth-century Spanish explorers knew Galveston Island as the Isla de Malhado, the "Isle of Misfortune", or Isla de Culebras, the "Isle of Snakes".
Galveston County was formally established under the Republic of Texas on May 15, 1838.[5] The county was formed from territory taken from Harrisburg, Liberty, and Brazoria Counties, with governmental organization taking place in 1839.[6] The island and city of Galveston by far formed the most important population center. The city of Galveston was the republic's largest city and its center of commerce and culture. The Galveston County Bar Association, first formed in 1846, is the oldest in Texas.[7] Port Bolivar on the Bolivar Peninsula was a port of secondary importance. Other development in the area was initially mostly ranching interests and small farming communities. Texas soon joined the United States, and Galveston's importance continued to grow as it came to dominate the worldwide cotton trade. As railroads between Galveston, Harrisburg, Houston, and other towns were built during the 19th century, small communities grew up along the rail lines. Nevertheless, Galveston continued to remain a prominent destination for the shipping and trade industries. A bridge was completed in 1859, when the Galveston, Houston, and Henderson Railroad built a wooden trestle that was used by all other railway lines to the island until 1875, when the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway built its own bridge. At the end of the 19th century, a group of investors established Texas City directly across the West Bay from Galveston, with the hope of making it a competing port city. The port began operations just before the start of the 20th century.
The
Investors had worried that the Texas coast was a dangerous place to establish major commercial operations because of the threat of hurricanes, and the 1900 disaster seemed to prove that. Though Galveston rebuilt its port and other major operations quickly, major investment moved inland, largely to Houston. Soon, Houston and Texas City had outpaced Galveston as major ports.
The oil boom in Texas began in 1901, and pipelines and refineries soon were built in Texas City. Industrial growth blossomed, especially during World War II. Galveston's manufacturing sector, however, was more stagnant during the 20th century.
Galveston, traditionally an attractive
The gambling empire was destroyed in the 1950s, as state law enforcement dismantled its establishments. Galveston's economy crashed, as did the economies of some other county municipalities that were dependent on tourism. Texas City's economy weathered the storm because of its strong industry.
The establishment on
Tourism has gradually resurged, both on the island and on the mainland, and today has become a major industry in the county. Aerospace and related service industries continue to be important in the Clear Lake area of the county. Texas City has become an important petrochemical center.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 874 square miles (2,260 km2), of which 495 square miles (1,280 km2) (57%) is covered by water.[9]
Galveston County is located on the plains of the Texas Gulf Coast in the southeastern part of the state. The county is bounded on the northeast by Galveston Bay and on the northwest by Clear Creek and Clear Lake. Much of the county covers Galveston Bay, and is bounded to the south by the Galveston Seawall and beaches on the Gulf of Mexico.
Adjacent counties
- Harris County (north)
- Chambers County (northeast)
- Gulf of Mexico (southeast)
- Brazoria County (west)
Communities
Galveston County has several unincorporated areas; most of them are on the
Cities
- Bayou Vista
- Clear Lake Shores
- Dickinson
- Friendswood (small part in Harris County)
- Galveston (county seat)
- Hitchcock
- Jamaica Beach
- Kemah
- La Marque
- League City (small part in Harris County)
- Santa Fe
- Texas City
Villages
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
Alta Loma, previously unincorporated,[11] became a part of Santa Fe in 1978.[12]
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1850 | 4,529 | — | |
1860 | 8,229 | 81.7% | |
1870 | 15,290 | 85.8% | |
1880 | 24,121 | 57.8% | |
1890 | 31,476 | 30.5% | |
1900 | 44,116 | 40.2% | |
1910 | 44,479 | 0.8% | |
1920 | 53,150 | 19.5% | |
1930 | 64,401 | 21.2% | |
1940 | 81,173 | 26.0% | |
1950 | 113,066 | 39.3% | |
1960 | 140,364 | 24.1% | |
1970 | 169,812 | 21.0% | |
1980 | 195,940 | 15.4% | |
1990 | 217,399 | 11.0% | |
2000 | 250,158 | 15.1% | |
2010 | 291,309 | 16.5% | |
2020 | 350,682 | 20.4% | |
2023 (est.) | 361,744 | [13] | 3.2% |
U.S. Decennial Census[14] 1850–2010[15] 2010[16] 2020[17] |
Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010[16] | Pop 2020[17] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|
White alone (NH)
|
172,652 | 191,358 | 59.27% | 54.57% |
Black or African American alone (NH)
|
39,229 | 43,120 | 13.47% | 12.30% |
Alaska Native alone (NH)
|
1,052 | 1,036 | 0.36% | 0.30% |
Asian alone (NH) | 8,515 | 12,202 | 2.92% | 3.48% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 128 | 223 | 0.04% | 0.06% |
Some other race alone (NH) | 426 | 1,455 | 0.15% | 0.41% |
Mixed/multiracial (NH) | 4,037 | 12,652 | 1.39% | 3.61% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 65,270 | 88,636 | 22.41% | 25.28% |
Total | 291,309 | 350,682 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Note: the U.S. Census Bureau treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
According to the
Of the 94,782 households at the 2000 census, 33.80% had children under 18 living with them, 52.40% were married couples living together, 13.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were not families. Around 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.60, and the average family size was 3.12.
In the county, theage distribution was 26.7% under 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 93.10 males.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $42,419, and for a family was $51,435. Males had a median income of $41,406 versus $28,703 for females. The
Politics
The head of a Texas county, as set up in the
Other elected positions in Galveston County include a
In September 2023, Galveston County was sued in what was the first
United States Congress
U.S. Senators | Name | Party | First Elected | Level | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senate Class 2 | John Cornyn | Republican | 2002 | Senior Senator | |
Senate Class 1 | Ted Cruz | Republican | 2012 | Junior Senator | |
U.S. Representatives | Name | Party | First Elected | ||
District 14 | Randy Weber | Republican | 2012 |
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 93,911 | 60.56% | 58,842 | 37.95% | 2,307 | 1.49% |
2016 | 73,757 | 60.01% | 43,658 | 35.52% | 5,488 | 4.47% |
2012 | 69,059 | 62.74% | 39,511 | 35.89% | 1,508 | 1.37% |
2008 | 62,258 | 59.29% | 41,805 | 39.81% | 941 | 0.90% |
2004 | 61,290 | 57.83% | 43,919 | 41.44% | 772 | 0.73% |
2000 | 50,397 | 54.20% | 40,020 | 43.04% | 2,566 | 2.76% |
1996 | 35,251 | 44.01% | 38,458 | 48.02% | 6,380 | 7.97% |
1992 | 31,303 | 34.69% | 38,623 | 42.80% | 20,316 | 22.51% |
1988 | 34,913 | 47.15% | 38,633 | 52.18% | 496 | 0.67% |
1984 | 40,262 | 52.40% | 36,092 | 46.97% | 482 | 0.63% |
1980 | 29,527 | 46.65% | 30,778 | 48.62% | 2,992 | 4.73% |
1976 | 25,251 | 39.62% | 37,873 | 59.42% | 611 | 0.96% |
1972 | 30,936 | 57.49% | 22,565 | 41.93% | 310 | 0.58% |
1968 | 16,229 | 30.86% | 26,041 | 49.52% | 10,322 | 19.63% |
1964 | 12,365 | 28.64% | 30,672 | 71.04% | 136 | 0.32% |
1960 | 16,373 | 40.10% | 23,940 | 58.64% | 515 | 1.26% |
1956 | 17,567 | 52.43% | 15,603 | 46.57% | 336 | 1.00% |
1952 | 15,715 | 45.00% | 19,058 | 54.58% | 147 | 0.42% |
1948 | 4,857 | 25.85% | 12,491 | 66.47% | 1,444 | 7.68% |
1944 | 1,542 | 10.23% | 11,748 | 77.94% | 1,784 | 11.83% |
1940 | 2,443 | 17.92% | 11,161 | 81.87% | 28 | 0.21% |
1936 | 1,666 | 15.00% | 9,370 | 84.37% | 70 | 0.63% |
1932 | 2,011 | 15.98% | 10,491 | 83.38% | 80 | 0.64% |
1928 | 4,401 | 42.43% | 5,951 | 57.38% | 20 | 0.19% |
1924 | 1,912 | 25.10% | 5,068 | 66.52% | 639 | 8.39% |
1920 | 1,625 | 30.27% | 2,933 | 54.63% | 811 | 15.11% |
1916 | 1,263 | 25.64% | 3,543 | 71.94% | 119 | 2.42% |
1912 | 336 | 10.01% | 2,513 | 74.86% | 508 | 15.13% |
Texas Legislature
Texas Senate
District | Name | Party | First Elected | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
11 | Mayes Middleton | Republican | 2022 |
Texas House of Representatives
District | Name | Party | First Elected | Area(s) of Galveston County Represented | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
23 | Teresa Leo Wilson | Republican | 2022 | Galveston, Jamaica Beach, Texas City, Port Bolivar, Crystal Beach, Gilchrist & High Island | |
24 | Greg Bonnen | Republican | 2012 | Hitchcock, La Marque, Santa Fe, Dickinson, League City, Friendswood (Galveston County part), Algoa, Kemah, Clear Lake Shores |
Education
Eight independent school districts (ISDs) serve Galveston County communities:[24]
- Clear Creek ISD
- Dickinson ISD
- Friendswood ISD
- Galveston ISD
- High Island ISD
- Hitchcock ISD
- Santa Fe ISD
- Texas City ISD
A ninth school district, La Marque Independent School District, was subsumed into Texas City ISD in 2016 after the Texas Education Agency revoked its accreditation due to poor academic and financial performance.[25]
Higher education
The city of Galveston is home to Texas A&M University at Galveston, an extension of the main A&M campus in College Station, and the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
The
Public libraries
The Galveston County Library System operates libraries in most of the larger towns and cities. The Rosenberg Library in Galveston has the distinction of being the oldest public library in Texas, and serves as the headquarters for the Galveston County Library System. Its librarian also functions as the Galveston County librarian. Also, seven other libraries are in Galveston County, including the Genevieve Miller Library in Hitchcock, the La Marque Public Library, the Helen Hall Public Library in League City, the Moore Memorial Public Library in Texas City, the Dickinson Public Library, the Friendswood Public Library, and the Mae Bruce Library in Santa Fe.
Hospital services
Galveston County is served by a major medical complex in Galveston and a private for-profit hospital in Texas City.
The
The Mainland Medical Center, a 233-bed, private, for-profit hospital, operates in Texas City.[28]
Corrections
The Galveston County Jail is located at 5700 Avenue H in Galveston.[29]
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice and University of Texas Medical Branch manage health care facilities for prisoners in Galveston, Galveston County. The facilities include the co-gender Galveston Hospital for prisoners in Galveston[30] and the Young Medical Facility Complex for females in Texas City.[31] Hospital Galveston began contracting for medical treatment of prisoners in 1983.[32] Young opened in 1996 as the Texas City Regional Medical Unit.[33]
Transportation
Major highways
- Interstate 45
- State Highway 3
- State Highway 6
- State Highway 87
- State Highway 96
- State Highway 124
- State Highway 146
- State Highway 275
Airports
This section needs additional citations for verification. (December 2010) |
Scholes International Airport at Galveston (IATA: GLS, ICAO: KGLS), the county's sole publicly owned airport, is a two-runway airport located on Galveston Island in Galveston. The airport is primarily used for general aviation, offshore energy transportation, and some limited military operations.
Privately owned airports for private use include Creasy Airport and Kami-Kazi Airport, both inn unincorporated areas.
The closest airport with regularly scheduled commercial service is William P. Hobby Airport, located in Houston.[citation needed] The Houston Airport System stated that Galveston County is also within the primary service area of George Bush Intercontinental Airport, an international airport near Houston in Harris County.[34]
Private heliports for private use include:
- University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston has two heliports: one for Ewing Hall and one for its emergency room.
- Republic Helicopters Heliport is in an unincorporated area, adjacent to Hitchcock.
Rail
All rail traffic is currently industry-related. Regularly scheduled passenger rail service in Galveston County ceased on April 11, 1967.[35]
Mass transit
The City of Galveston is served by Island Transit, a public transportation agency.
Notable people
- John Baptista Ashe, former U.S. Representative for Tennessee[36]
- Dez Bryant, American football wide receiver and return specialist for the Dallas Cowboys, was born in Galveston County.[37]
- Red Bryant, American football defensive end for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League, was born in Galveston County.[38]
- YBN Almighty Jay, rapper in the YBN collective, was born in Galveston County.
- Larry Taylor - Republican member of the Texas Senate from District 11 (2013–present) and Texas House of Representatives from District 24 (2003–2013)
See also
- List of museums in the Texas Gulf Coast
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Galveston County, Texas
- Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Galveston County
References
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
- )
- ^ Diana J. Kleiner. "Galveston County". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- ^ "Galveston". Galveston County Historical Museum. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
- ^ Office of the Auditor of Galveston County, Texas. "Galveston County 2007 Comprehensive Financial Report" (PDF). Galveston County, Texas. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
- ^ Galveston County from the Handbook of Texas Online
- ^ Association, Texas State Historical. "State Bar of Texas". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Sam Maceo is the kindly king of the Texas gambling realm".
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
- ^ Evans, Thayer. "Crime numbers go down - Figures drop 26.4 percent in unincorporated Galveston County." Houston Chronicle. Thursday February 3, 2005. ThisWeek p. 1. "Other unincorporated areas are along Texas 6 outside Hitchcock and Santa Fe and in the Bayshore area, which includes Bacliff, Bayview and San Leon." Available at NewsBank Record Number: 3841079.
- ^ "Community Plan 2010-2011." Galveston County. p. 3 (PDF 3/41). Retrieved on January 5, 2015.
- ^ "ALTA LOMA, TX." Handbook of Texas. Retrieved on January 5, 2015.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved July 5, 2022.
- US Census Bureau.
- ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
- ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Galveston County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ a b c "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Galveston County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ "Galveston County,". Archived from the original on November 5, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2007.
- ^ a b Pilkington, Ed (September 23, 2023). "Historic Texas island is frontline for preserving rights of Black voters". The Guardian.
- ^ "Pages - Galveston County". co.galveston.tx.us. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved October 3, 2004.
- ^ Pilkington, Ed (October 13, 2023). "Texas voting map discriminates against Black and Latino residents, judge rules". The Guardian.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
- ^ Zaveri, Mihir. "Texas City ISD moves toward absorbing La Marque school district" (Archive). Houston Chronicle. Wednesday, February 17, 2016. Retrieved on March 22, 2018.
- ^ Texas Education Code Sec. 130.174. COLLEGE OF THE MAINLAND DISTRICT SERVICE AREA. Sec. 130.179. GALVESTON COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
- ^ "Welcome - School of Health Professions - UTMB Health" (PDF). sahs.utmb.edu.
- ^ Mainland Medical Center, http://www.mainlandmedical.com/CustomPage.asp?guidCustomContentID={263215B6-AC55-4276-A52B-B8F34390E0BE} Archived June 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Corrections Bureau - Jail Division Archived November 1, 2008, at the Wayback Machine." Galveston County Sheriff's Office. Accessed September 12, 2008.
- ^ "Hospital Galveston." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Accessed September 12, 2008.
- ^ "YOUNG MEDICAL FACILITY COMPLEX (GC) Archived August 21, 2008, at the Wayback Machine." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Accessed September 12, 2008.
- ISBN 978-1-56311-964-4.
- ISBN 978-1-56311-964-4.
- ^ "Master Plan Executive Summary Archived July 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine." George Bush Intercontinental Airport Master Plan. Houston Airport System. December 2006. 2-1 (23/130). Retrieved on December 14, 2010.
- ^ "Galveston County Railroad Museum". galvestonrrmuseum.com.
- ^ "ASHE, John Baptista, (1810 - 1857)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
- ^ "88 Dez Bryant, R". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
- ^ "Red Bryant". Pro-Football-Reference.Com. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
Further reading
- Petitt, Jr., B.M. and A.G. Winslow. (1957). Geology and ground-water resources of Galveston County, Texas [U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1416]. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
External links
- Galveston County government’s website
- Galveston County Economic Development
- Historic materials of Galveston County, hosted by the Portal to Texas History
- Galveston Island State Park
- Galveston County, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Galveston County District Court
- The American Cyclopædia. 1879. .