The Galveston Bay Area, also known as Bay Area Houston or simply the Bay Area,Chang (2006), p. 186.Blackburn (2004), p. 64. Antrobus (2005), p. 57. is a region that surrounds the Galveston Bay estuary of Southeast Texas in the United States, within the metropolitan area. Normally the term refers to the mainland communities around the bay and excludes Galveston as well as most of Houston.
Originally part of the pirate kingdom of Jean Lafitte, this area played a role in the early history of Texas having been the site of some early rebellions against Mexican rule and the site of the victory of the Texas army over the Mexican army during the Texas Revolution. Ranching interests became early economic drivers around the bay. As the nearby cities of Galveston and Houston developed as commercial centers, the Bay Area communities became part of a principal commercial corridor between the cities.
The Bay Area is also the location of NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center which houses the Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center. The City of Houston's official nickname as "Space City" is derived from this. In addition, a large tourist attraction for area visitors is Space Center Houston.
The landscape around the bay features a mix of swamps, beaches, industrial facilities, tourist attractions, and historic sites. The area's developing population is ethnically diverse with a growing international community. The communities host cultural events ranging from ballet and musical theater to fairs and rodeos. The bay itself supports a commercial fishing industry and features one of the highest concentrations of marinas in the nation. On land the area holds numerous historic sites such as the San Jacinto Monument, and many parks and nature preserves such as the Armand Bayou Nature Center.
Boundaries The shores of Galveston Bay are home to many different municipalities and communities. The region is part of the larger Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown Metropolitan Area. Though the term Bay Area in its broadest sense refers to all communities near the shoreline, some sources, such as the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership (BAHEP), use more limited definitions, often referring more specifically to the clusters of communities nearest to Houston.Galveston Bay Estuary Program (2002), Ch. 3Chang (2006), p. 185.
Municipalities
The following communities lie on the shores of Galveston Bay proper and Trinity Bay, the two main components of the Galveston Bay complex (excluding those along the Gulf of Mexico): Anahuac, Bacliff, Baytown, Beach City, Kemah, La Porte, Morgan's Point, Seabrook, Shoreacres, Texas City
The BAHEP and the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce (CLACC) include the following additional communities in their membership:
Clear Lake superneighborhood of Houston (which includes Clear Lake City and JSC), Clear Lake Shores, Deer Park, Dickinson, El Lago, Friendswood, League City, Nassau Bay, Taylor Lake Village, Webster.
Some additional communities such as La Marque, adjacent to Texas City, are treated as bayside communities by some sources.
Subdivisions
The Bay Area can be sub-divided based on the histories and economic connections of the different communities.
The La Porte - Baytown area, including Deer Park and La Porte, straddles the Houston Ship Channel and has since the world wars been defined by the heavy industry along its shores.Barrington (2008), pp. 219–224. The two towns have distinct histories with Baytown having become tied to the oil industry earlier. Texas State Historical Association. But in modern times their fortunes have been closely tied by their cores of heavy industry.Melosi (2007), p. 117. The Clear Lake Area includes numerous communities and municipalities surrounding Clear Lake between Houston and the bay.Blackburn (2004), p. 59.Barrington (2008), p. 225–235.Abbott (2003), p. 23 This area largely owes its recent growth and prosperity directly and indirectly to the Johnson Space Center, and has been traditionally characterized by a large white collar workforce and its prolific middle- and upper-middle-class neighborhoods.Kearney (2008), p. 223. The area is sometimes seen as the heart of the Bay Area in spite of the relative youth of its history. The Texas City area includes Texas City and La Marque and surrounding communities.Chang 2006, p.192. Until recently this area and Galveston together were treated by the federal government as a metro area distinct from Houston. The area's prosperity revolves around a great degree around the Port of Texas City and the heavy industry around it. Texas State History Association. The bayside region of Chambers County encompasses the shoreline of Trinity Bay (and East Bay), on the northeast side of the bay complex. This area includes Anahuac as its largest community. Some of the area remains semi-rural and oriented to agriculture and commercial fishing but petroleum and chemical processing are significant industries as well.Barrington (2008), p. 210–212. Urban development is more limited giving the area a more small-town and rural atmosphere. This area's history is somewhat distinct from the other areas around the bay as it is not part of the once crucial commercial corridor between Galveston and Houston.McComb (2000), p. 12.
History
Spain, Mexico, and the Republic of Texas
Prior to European settlement the area around Galveston Bay was settled by the Karankawa and Atakapan tribes, who lived throughout the Gulf coast region. Spanish explorers such as the Rivas-Iriarte expedition and José Antonio de Evia charted the bay and gave it its name. Texas State Historical Association. Texas State Historical Association. In 1816 the pirate Louis-Michel Aury established a settlement on Galveston Island but was soon succeeded by the pirate Jean Lafitte. Lafitte transformed Galveston and the bay into a pirate kingdom establishing bases and hide-outs at locations such as Trinity Bay, Clear Lake, and Eagle Point.Chang (2006), p. 187.Kearney (2008), p. 177. In 1821, however, the United States Navy ousted Lafitte and the colony was largely abandoned. Texas State Historical Association.
Following its declaration of independence from Spain the new nation of Mexico moved to colonize its northern territory of Texas by offering land grants to settlers both from within Mexico and from the nearby United States. Texas State Historical Association. Small settlements such as Lynchburg and San Jacinto were gradually established around the bay and in 1830 Mexican authorities created a customs and garrison post at Anahuac commanded by Juan Davis Bradburn.Galveston Bay Estuary Program (2002), p. 27.Henson (1982), p. 49.Henson (1982), p. 51.Galveston Bay Estuary Program (2002), p. 27–28. Conflicts between Bradburn and the settlers in the region led to the Anahuac Disturbances, a prelude to the larger Texas Revolution that was to come. Following a coup in the Mexican government many freedoms previously enjoyed by the Texans were revoked causing Texas to revolt and declare its independence in 1835. After a number of battles the Texas army, under the leadership of General Sam Houston, finally defeated the Mexican Army in the Battle of San Jacinto, near modern Pasadena. Texas State Historical Association.
The new Republic of Texas grew rapidly. The shores of the bay were initially mostly home to farms and ranches such as the famed Allen Ranch. Texas State Historical Association. New communities such as Goose Creek (modern Baytown) were established. Texas State Historical Association.
U.S. annexation
Texas succeeded in its bid to join the United States in 1845 which helped launch the Mexican–American War. Texas' annexation brought more people to Texas and ranching interests around the bay began to grow. Throughout the 19th century Galveston remained Texas' dominant metropolis and the communities around the bay were strongly tied economically and culturally to the city though, as Houston began to develop, so did the Bay Area's ties to it. The construction of the Galveston, Houston and Henderson Railroad further spurred growth in the area. Texas State Historical Association.
During the American Civil War, during which Texas seceded from the United States, the area served a limited role in the conflict as new fortifications like Fort Chambers, near Anahuac, were constructed to ward off a mainland invasion by Union forces and to protect supply routes to and from Galveston. The Bay Area sat in the middle of the conflict as the most important battles in Texas occurred at Galveston with the conflict moving through the area on to Harrisburg and Houston after Galveston's fall.Johnston (1991), pp. 61–68.
In the aftermath of the war the Texas economy declined for a period. Nevertheless, ranching interests became major economic drivers in the area spawning many other economic enterprises such as hide processing plants and shipping concerns. The success of these enterprises and the growth of Galveston as one of the prime commercial centers in the South and Southwest helped promote the construction of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway; and the La Porte, Houston and Northern Railroad through the area over the course of the 19th century. These railroads running along the southwest shore of the bay would spawn new communities such as Clear Creek (League City), Webster, and later Texas City. Texas State History Association. Texas State History Association. Some of these new communities would develop initially as stop-over points for travelers on the rail lines. Toward the end of the century, as ranching's profitability declined, many communities turned increasingly to agriculture. The farming community of Pasadena was established during this time.
The Galveston Hurricane of 1900 devastated the city of Galveston and heavily damaged communities around the bay (according to some estimates the Bay Area death toll may have been as high as 2000). Bridges between Galveston and the mainland were destroyed.Munsart (1997), p. 119. Communities along the shoreline declined for some time as economic growth moved inland and Houston became the dominant economic center in the region. The region received a population boost from some Galveston refugees who relocated to the mainland following the catastrophe.
20th century
The sparsely populated Bay Area transformed during the 20th century. Following the hurricane, donations by the newly established Red Cross helped revive area farming communities. Texas State History Association. The newly established community of Texas City opened its port and railroad junctions shipping cotton and grain. Commercial fishing, particularly for oysters and shrimp, grew as a significant area industry.Galveston Bay Estuary Program (2002), p. 37.
In the early 1900s the Goose Creek Oil Field was discovered launching an oil boom at Galveston Bay. Texas State Historical Association. In 1915 Goose Creek acquired the first offshore oil drilling site in the state and soon after refineries opened in Texas City, Baytown and Pasadena. Texas State History Association. The Humble Oil refinery in Baytown became the largest in the Houston area.Hinton (2002), p. 134. The wealth brought on by the boom transformed the region and population surged. Texas State Historical Association. Texas State History Association. Manufacturing and refining expanded rapidly.Ramos (2004), p. 154. During the Roaring 20s, tourism and resort communities developed around Clear Lake and the bay shoreline in communities such as Morgan's Point, Seabrook, Kemah.Kearney (2008), pp. 177-178.Fox (2007), p. 212.
The World Wars created new manufacturing opportunities for factories around the bay and the area's population grew even faster than Houston.Stephens (1997), p. 9. Ellington Air Force Base was built becoming a major air field and flight training center during the wars. Texas State History Association.