Galveston, Texas

Galveston is a resort city and port on the Gulf Coast of Texas. It covers 211.31 square miles on Galveston Island and Pelican Island. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 53,695, making it the second-largest municipality in Galveston County, where it also serves as the county seat. Located at the southern end of the Greater Houston metropolitan area, Galveston sits on the northwestern coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

Galveston was named after 18th-century Spanish military and political leader Bernardo de Gálvez. The first European settlements on Galveston Island were built around 1816 by French pirate Louis-Michel Aury to help the fledgling First Mexican Empire fight for independence from the Spanish Empire. The Port of Galveston was established in 1825 by the Congress of Mexico following its independence. The city was the main port for the fledgling Texas Navy during the Texas Revolution of 1836, and later served temporarily as the new national capital of the Republic of Texas. In 1865, General Gordon Granger arrived at Ashton Villa and announced to some of the last enslaved African Americans that slavery was no longer legal. This event is commemorated annually on June 19, the federal holiday of Juneteenth.

During the 19th century, Galveston became a major U.S. commercial center and one of the largest ports in the United States. It was devastated by the unexpected Galveston Hurricane of 1900, whose effects included massive flooding and a storm surge which nearly wiped out the town. The natural disaster on the exposed barrier island is still ranked today as the deadliest in United States history. The city subsequently reemerged during the Prohibition era of 1919–1933 as a leading tourist hub and a center of illegal gambling, nicknamed the Free State of Galveston until this era ended in the 1950s with subsequent other economic and social development.

Much of Galveston's economy is centered in the tourism, health care, shipping, and financial industries. The 84-acre University of Texas Medical Branch campus with an enrollment of more than 2,500 students is a major economic force of the city. Galveston is home to six historic districts containing one of the largest historically significant collections of 19th-century buildings in the U.S., with over 60 structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places, maintained by the National Park Service in the United States Department of the Interior.

History

Main article: History of Galveston, Texas

Exploration and 19th-century development

Plan of the City of Galveston (c. 1845)

Indigenous people called Galveston Island "Auia". In 1528, explorer Cabeza de Vaca and his crew were shipwrecked nearby, possibly on Galveston Island. Spanish explorer José de Evia charted the area in 1785, naming water features around the island. Later, Stephen F. Austin and others began calling the eastern part of the island "Galveston."

The island’s first permanent European settlers arrived around 1816. In 1817, pirate Jean Lafitte turned Galveston into a base for his operations. In 1825, Mexico established the Port of Galveston. By 1836, it became the capital of the Republic of Texas. The city grew quickly, with many new residents, including German immigrants.

Galveston saw many important firsts, like having the state’s first post office in 1836 and the first Masonic chapter in Texas in 1840. During the Civil War, Confederate forces took control of the city.

Map of City of Galveston (c. 1904)

Hurricane of 1900 and recovery

On September 8, 1900, a huge hurricane struck Galveston, causing great damage and loss of life. The city built a long seawall to protect against future storms. Despite these efforts, Galveston never returned to its former level of importance. New developments, like the Houston Ship Channel, drew business away.

In the early 1900s, Galveston worked to recover. New groups of immigrants, including Jewish families from Eastern Europe, helped rebuild the city. However, another major hurricane in 1915 brought more damage, though the new seawall helped protect the island.

The Beach Hotel catered to vacationers until a fire in 1898.

After World War II

After World War II, changes came to Galveston. Enforcing laws against certain activities reduced tourism. By the 1950s, Houston had become more important than Galveston.

In 1947, a big explosion at a nearby port caused damage in Galveston. Over time, the city focused on health care, insurance, and education. Efforts to preserve historic buildings helped bring back tourism in a new way. In 1961, Hurricane Carla caused damage and created a tornado.

In 2008, Hurricane Ike struck Galveston, damaging buildings along the seawall. After the storm, the island was rebuilt with a focus on tourism, shipping, education, and health care. New projects like a historic pleasure pier were added, and a new type of drawbridge was built.

Geography

Further information: Galveston Island and Galveston Bay

Galveston is a city on Galveston Island, which sits off the coast of Texas. The island is made mostly of sand, with some mud and gravel, and changes shape because of water and weather.

Galveston lies about 45 miles southeast of downtown Houston. The island stretches from northeast to southwest, with the Gulf of Mexico to the east and south, West Bay to the west, and Galveston Bay to the north. The main way to get to the island from the mainland is through Interstate Highway 45, which crosses West Bay.

A deep water channel links Galveston's harbor to the Gulf and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The city covers 211.31 square miles, of which 41.04 square miles are land and 170.27 square miles are water. The island is 50 miles southeast of Houston.

The western part of Galveston is called the "West End." Some areas in the eastern part of the island include Havre Lafitte and Fort Crockett. In the past, many people in the West End used golf carts to get around.

Galveston has several historic districts with many important old buildings. The Silk Stocking District has homes from the Civil War through World War II. The Strand District, known for its Victorian buildings, is a popular spot for tourists and hosts festivals. It includes the Grand 1894 Opera House and Bishop's Palace, both famous landmarks.

Since the early 1900s, Galveston has been called the "Oleander City" because of its many oleander shrubs. These plants bloom beautifully between April and October, adding color to the city. Oleanders are tough plants, surviving heat, salt spray, and sandy soil, which helps the city recover after hurricanes. Galveston is home to many different types of oleanders and even has an Oleander festival each spring.

Galveston's climate is humid subtropical, with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Summer temperatures often go above 90 °F, while winter highs are usually above 60 °F. Snow is rare, but the area does get plenty of rain each year. Hurricanes can be a threat in the summer and fall.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, Galveston had a population of 53,695.

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

The median age in Galveston was 42.7 years. About 17.5% of residents were under the age of 18, and 19.7% were 65 years or older. For every 100 females, there were 99.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.6 males age 18 and over.

There were 23,375 households in Galveston, with 12,505 families. About 21.5% of households had children under 18 living in them. Around 33.2% were married couples living together, 25.3% had a male householder without a spouse present, and 34.9% had a female householder without a spouse present. About 39.0% of households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older.

There were 34,259 housing units, with 31.8% being vacant. Most residents, 98.0%, lived in urban areas, while 2.0% lived in rural areas.

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	4,177	—
1860	7,307	74.9%
1870	13,818	89.1%
1880	22,248	61.0%
1890	29,084	30.7%
1900	37,789	29.9%
1910	36,981	−2.1%
1920	44,255	19.7%
1930	52,938	19.6%
1940	60,862	15.0%
1950	66,568	9.4%
1960	67,175	0.9%
1970	61,809	−8.0%
1980	61,902	0.2%
1990	59,070	−4.6%
2000	57,247	−3.1%
2010	47,743	−16.6%
2020	53,695	12.5%
2024 (est.)	53,538	−0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census

**Galveston city, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition**
*Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.*
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	21,500	25,386	45.03%	47.28%
Black or African American alone (NH)	8,895	8,785	18.63%	16.36%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	205	187	0.43%	0.35%
Asian alone (NH)	1,479	1,669	3.10%	3.11%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	23	39	0.05%	0.07%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	44	199	0.09%	0.37%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	672	1,651	1.41%	3.07%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	14,925	15,779	31.26%	29.39%
Total	47,743	53,695	100.00%	100.00%

Racial composition as of the 2020 census
Race	Number	Percent
White	29,341	54.6%
Black or African American	9,030	16.8%
American Indian and Alaska Native	528	1.0%
Asian	1,705	3.2%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	52	0.1%
Some other race	5,880	11.0%
Two or more races	7,159	13.3%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	15,779	29.4%

Economy

Port of Galveston

The Port of Galveston, also known as Galveston Wharves, started as a trading post in 1825. Today, it covers 850 acres of facilities. The port is on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and has many types of cargo services.

The port is also a place where cruise ships start their trips in the Caribbean. It has been home to many large ships over the years.

Finance

American National Insurance Company, a big life insurance company, is based in Galveston. Moody National Bank is one of the largest privately owned banks in Texas and has its headquarters in downtown Galveston.

Tourism

In the late 1800s, Galveston was called the "Playground of the South". Today, it remains a popular place for visitors. The city has many places to stay and many things to see, including a historic pier, a waterpark, a botanical garden, museums, and beautiful beaches. Galveston hosts special events like a Mardi Gras festival and a Christmas festival called Dickens on the Strand. The city is also a top spot for cruise ships on the Gulf Coast.

Arts and culture

Galveston Arts Center

Galveston Arts Center started in 1986. It shows modern art, often from artists in Texas, and offers learning programs for the public. One big event they organize is called Galveston ArtWalk, and entry to the center is free.

The center is in an old building from 1878 on the Strand. This building survived a big storm in 1900 but was damaged in 2008. After raising money, the building was fixed up, and the center moved back in 2015.

Galveston ArtWalk

ArtWalk happens about every six weeks on Saturday evenings. The Galveston Arts Center makes a guide with a map and information about the art shows. Venues include the center, artist studios, and galleries. Art is also shown in places like coffee shops or outdoors at a market on Market Street. Musicians perform both outside and in places like the Proletariat Gallery & Public House or Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe. Most events happen downtown, but some are elsewhere on the island.

Sculpture

Some well-known statues and sculptures in Galveston are:

1900 Storm Memorial, by David W. Moore
Birth, by Arthur Williams
Dignified Resignation by Louis Amateis at the Galveston County Courthouse. It shows a sailor with his back to the US flag and carrying a Confederate flag.
Dolphins by David W. Moore
High Tide, by Charles Parks
Jack Johnson, by Adrienne Isom
Pink Dolphin Monument, by Joe Joe Orangias
Texas Heroes Monument, by Louis Amateis
Hope, by Doug McLean

Music and performing arts

Galveston has the Galveston Symphony Orchestra, made up of both amateur and professional musicians, started in 1979.

The Galveston Ballet is a regional ballet group and school. They perform a full-length ballet in the spring and a mixed program in the fall at the Grand 1894 Opera House.

Artist residency

Galveston Artist Residency gives studio and living space to three artists each year. They work in different ways and show their art in the residency’s gallery and courtyards. The residency is in old industrial buildings on the west side of downtown. They also host performances and events.

The National Hotel Artist Lofts is a special place for artists to live and work. It was made from an old building that was empty for twenty years. Originally built in 1870 as the Tremont Opera House, it was renovated to serve many purposes, including offices and stores. Under Becky Major, the front space became a place for art and music, reopening in May 2015 as the Proletariat Gallery & Public House. This bar and gallery is used for art shows, events, and live music.

Government

City government

After a big storm in 1900, Galveston created a new way for the city to be run called the Galveston Plan. Today, the city uses a council-manager system. The city council makes the rules, the city manager runs the day-to-day work, and there is a court system to handle legal matters.

The city council has six members who are elected from different parts of the city, and the mayor is also elected. They choose the city manager and other important workers. The city manager helps with planning, budgeting, and carrying out the council’s decisions. Craig Brown is the current mayor of Galveston.

County, state, and federal government

Galveston is the most important city in Galveston County and is where the county’s main offices are located. The county’s court and jail are on 59th street, and the office for civil matters is near the downtown area.

Galveston is part of District 23 of the Texas House of Representatives, represented by Mayes Middleton. Most of the city is in District 17 of the Texas Senate, represented by Joan Huffman, while a small part is in District 11, represented by Larry Taylor. At the federal level, Galveston is in Texas’s 14th congressional district, represented by Randy Weber.

Education

Main article: Education in Galveston, Texas

Galveston has many places for learning. The University of Texas Medical Branch started in 1891 with just one building and fewer than 50 students. Today, it has more than 70 buildings and over 2,500 students. The campus includes schools of medicine, nursing, allied health professions, and a graduate school of biomedical sciences. It also has hospitals, clinics, and research facilities.

The city is also home to Galveston College, which opened in 1967, and Texas A&M University at Galveston, a special campus focused on the ocean.

Galveston's public schools are run by the Galveston Independent School District. This includes six elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school called Ball High School. There is also a special middle school called Austin Middle School and several charter schools, like Ambassadors Preparatory Academy and Odyssey Academy.

Private schools in Galveston include Holy Family Catholic School and O’Connell College Preparatory School, along with other schools like Satori Elementary and Trinity Episcopal School.

Media

The Daily News is the main newspaper in Galveston and the oldest one still printed in Texas, starting in 1842. It is the official newspaper for the city. Another newspaper, the Texas City Post, is the official one for the county. Radio station KGBC broadcast from 1947 to 2010. Television station KHOU began broadcasting on March 23, 1953, originally named KGUL-TV. Actor James Stewart was one of its early investors. In 1959, KGUL changed its name to KHOU and moved its main office to Houston. Locals sometimes call Galveston "G-town".

Infrastructure

Healthcare

Galveston has several big hospitals that teach new doctors, located at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Before a big storm called Hurricane Ike, over 12,000 people worked there. The storm hurt one of the main hospitals, but plans were made to fix it and build new ones. By 2009, many hospital rooms had opened again. There is also a special hospital just for helping children with serious burns.

Fire department

The Galveston Fire Department keeps the city safe from fires with six stations and many vehicles. The Galveston Police Department has been protecting the city for over 165 years with many officers.

Library

The city has a big public library called the Rosenberg Library, which is the oldest in Texas. It also helps run libraries in the whole county.

Transportation

Sea

Galveston has old ships you can visit, like the tall ship Elissa and two famous warships. It is a popular place for cruises.

Air

Scholes International Airport at Galveston is used mainly for small planes and some special flights. Bigger airplanes fly from Houston.

Railroad

There is a small railroad that helps move cargo in Galveston. The city used to have trains that went to far places, but now people take buses to Houston for train trips.

Roads

The streets in Galveston were laid out in a grid, with letters for east-west roads and numbers for north-south roads. A big highway, Interstate 45, starts in Galveston and leads to Houston. There are also smaller roads and a ferry that connect Galveston to nearby areas.

Transit

The city has buses and a trolley to help people get around.

Sports

Galveston had many baseball teams over the years, playing in different leagues and at many ballparks.

Notable people

Galveston has been home to many important figures in Texas and U.S. history. During the island's earliest history, it became the home of Jean Lafitte, a famous pirate and hero of the War of 1812. Richard Bache, Jr., who settled in Galveston in 1842, was another notable person. He was the grandson of Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.

In more recent times, Barry White, a Grammy-award-winning singer-songwriter, was born on the island. George P. Mitchell, a pioneer of modern oil technology, was also born and raised in Galveston. Many other well-known people, including actors, athletes, and business leaders, have ties to this city.

In media and literature

Galveston has been featured in many songs, movies, and books. The song "Galveston" was written by Jimmy Webb and sung by Glen Campbell. Movies such as 4 for Texas and Night Game are set in Galveston. A character from the TV show The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon Cooper, was born there. Books like Galveston by Sean Stewart and The Drowning House by Elizabeth Black explore the city's history and stories. The HBO miniseries The Jinx mentions Galveston in relation to real events. The film The Shallows uses Galveston as the main character’s hometown, though it wasn’t filmed there. The Magnolia Network has a show called Restoring Galveston that highlights home restoration projects in the area. In the 2024 Netflix film Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie, characters travel to Galveston to save their underwater town.