Dickinson, Texas
Encyclopedia
Dickinson is a city in Galveston County, Texas
within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown
metropolitan area. The population was 17,093 at the 2000 census.
to successfully retake Galveston.
The Dickinson Land and Improvement Association was organised in the 1890s by Fred M. Nichols and eight other businessmen. It marketed to potential farmers with claims of the soil's suitability for food crops, and socialites with the creation of the Dickinson Picnic Grounds and other attractions. By 1911, the Galveston and Houston Electric Railway had three stops in Dickinson, and the Oleander Country Club was a popular destination for prominent Galvestonians.
In 1905, Italian ambassador
Baron Mayor des Planches convinced about a hundred fifty Italians from crowded eastern cities to move to Dickinson. They joined the dozens relocated there after flooding in Bryan
forced them to seek new homes.
Dickinson continued to grow due to its proximity to Texas City, with its shipyards and wartime industries, and later its proximity to the Johnson Space Center.
During the 1920s, Dickinson became a significant tourist destination resulting from investment by the Maceo crime syndicate which ran Galveston
during this time. The syndicate created gambling venues in the city such as the Silver Moon casino.
Recently, the City of Dickinson constructed a new multi-million dollar City Hall and Library complex which was dedicated June 30, 2009. The complex is located between Highway 3 and F.M. 517 near the intersection.
Dickinson is located at 29.460467°N 95.053856°W (29.460467, -95.053856). This is about 28 miles (45.1 km) southeast of Houston
and 19 miles (30.6 km) northwest of Galveston
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 9.8 square miles (25.4 km²), of which, 9.6 square miles (24.9 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (1.53%) is water.
of 2000, there were 17,093 people, 6,162 households, and 4,522 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,770.7 people per square mile (683.9/km2). There were 6,556 housing units at an average density of 679.1 per square mile (262.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 75.35% White, 10.52% African American, 0.64% Native American, 1.21% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 12.82% from other races
, and 2.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.90% of the population.
There were 6,162 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples
living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $41,984, and the median income for a family was $46,585. Males had a median income of $36,391 versus $26,943 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,785. About 9.5% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
Dickinson Post Office is located at 2515 Termini Street.
The Dickinson Police Department is located at 4000 Liggio Street.
The City Hall and Library are located at 3304 Highway 3.
There are Fire Stations at 4500 FM 517 East and 221 FM 517 West.
. Some of it is a part of the Santa Fe Independent School District
.
The following schools serve the Dickinson ISD portion:
-Before the 2004–2005 school year, all DISD elementary schools provided education for Pre-K through 5th grades. But Barber Elementary School was turned into a Middle School center for 5th grade from 2004-2005 school year to 2007-2008 school year. For the 2008–2009 school year and beyond, a newly built Barber Middle School built off of FM 517 and Dunbar Middle School (which recently only held the 6th grade) will now both hold 5th-6th grades. Students will be separated into schools based on where they reside. A new R.D. McAdams Junior High School has been built on Hughes Road.
Bay Area Charter Middle School is a state charter school in Dickinson.
, a Roman Catholic pre-K - 8 school operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
, is in Dickinson. True Cross School was the first Roman Catholic school on the Galveston County mainland. There is also a Christian school named Pine Drive Christian School, located at 705 FM 517 E. Famous people who have attended this school include Theresa Curry
Dickinson Bayou
is a bayou that flows in and out of the city of Dickinson. Residents and guests enjoy the activities the bayou offers.
Parks are numerous around the city. Paul Hopkins on 517 is host to the Festival of Lights each December. Elva Lobit Park and Zempter Park are parks that host the city's youth Baseball Leagues. A state-maintained boat dock is present at both the Highway 3 and 146 bridges.
Galveston County, Texas
Galveston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population was 291,309. Its county seat is Galveston. League City is the largest city in Galveston County in terms of population; between...
within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown
Greater Houston
Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown is a 10-county metropolitan area defined by the Office of Management and Budget. It is located along the Gulf Coast region in the U.S. state of Texas...
metropolitan area. The population was 17,093 at the 2000 census.
History
Dickinson is located on a tract of land granted to John Dickinson in 1824, and named after him. A settlement had been established in this area on Dickinson Bayou before 1850. The Galveston, Houston, and Henderson Railroad was built directly through Dickinson. This line was used in the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
to successfully retake Galveston.
The Dickinson Land and Improvement Association was organised in the 1890s by Fred M. Nichols and eight other businessmen. It marketed to potential farmers with claims of the soil's suitability for food crops, and socialites with the creation of the Dickinson Picnic Grounds and other attractions. By 1911, the Galveston and Houston Electric Railway had three stops in Dickinson, and the Oleander Country Club was a popular destination for prominent Galvestonians.
In 1905, Italian ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
Baron Mayor des Planches convinced about a hundred fifty Italians from crowded eastern cities to move to Dickinson. They joined the dozens relocated there after flooding in Bryan
Bryan, Texas
Bryan is a city in Brazos County, Texas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 76,201. It is the county seat of Brazos County and is located in the heart of the Brazos Valley . It shares its border with the city of College Station, which lies to its south...
forced them to seek new homes.
Dickinson continued to grow due to its proximity to Texas City, with its shipyards and wartime industries, and later its proximity to the Johnson Space Center.
During the 1920s, Dickinson became a significant tourist destination resulting from investment by the Maceo crime syndicate which ran Galveston
Free State of Galveston
The Free State of Galveston was a whimsical name given to the island city of Galveston in the U.S. state of Texas during the early-to-mid-20th century. Today, the term is sometimes used to describe the culture and history of that era...
during this time. The syndicate created gambling venues in the city such as the Silver Moon casino.
Recently, the City of Dickinson constructed a new multi-million dollar City Hall and Library complex which was dedicated June 30, 2009. The complex is located between Highway 3 and F.M. 517 near the intersection.
Geography
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
and 19 miles (30.6 km) northwest of Galveston
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 9.8 square miles (25.4 km²), of which, 9.6 square miles (24.9 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (1.53%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 17,093 people, 6,162 households, and 4,522 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,770.7 people per square mile (683.9/km2). There were 6,556 housing units at an average density of 679.1 per square mile (262.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 75.35% White, 10.52% African American, 0.64% Native American, 1.21% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 12.82% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.90% of the population.
There were 6,162 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $41,984, and the median income for a family was $46,585. Males had a median income of $36,391 versus $26,943 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $19,785. About 9.5% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
The United States Postal ServiceUnited States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
Dickinson Post Office is located at 2515 Termini Street.
The Dickinson Police Department is located at 4000 Liggio Street.
The City Hall and Library are located at 3304 Highway 3.
There are Fire Stations at 4500 FM 517 East and 221 FM 517 West.
Public schools
Most of Dickinson is a part of the Dickinson Independent School DistrictDickinson Independent School District
Dickinson Independent School District is a school district based in Dickinson, Texas, United States.DISD serves most of the city of Dickinson as well as portions of the cities of La Marque, League City, and Texas City and some houses in unincorporated Galveston County .All of the DISD catchment...
. Some of it is a part of the Santa Fe Independent School District
Santa Fe Independent School District
Santa Fe Independent School District is a public school district based in Santa Fe, Texas . In addition to Santa Fe, the district serves parts of League City, La Marque, Hitchcock, and Dickinson....
.
The following schools serve the Dickinson ISD portion:
- Elementary schools
- Calder Road Elementary School (PreKindergarten- 4th Grade)
- Bay Colony Elementary School (PreKindergarten- 4th Grade)
- Hughes Road Elementary School (PreKindergarten - 4th Grade)
- Jake Sibernagel Elementary School (PreKindergarten - 4th Grade)
- K. E. Little Elementary School (PreKindergarten - 4th Grade) [serves Bacliff portion of DISD]
- San Leon Elementary School(PreKindergarten - 4th Grade) [serves San Leon portion of DISD]
- Middle schools
- John and Shamarion Barber Middle School (5th-6th Grade)
- Dunbar Middle School (5th-6th Grade)
- Jr. High Schools
- R.D. McAdams Junior High School (7th-8th Grade)
- High Schools
- Dickinson High SchoolDickinson High School (Texas)Dickinson High School is located in Dickinson, Texas, in the Dickinson Independent School District. The school serves Dickinson and the cities of San Leon and Bacliff.The school colors are blue and white...
(9th-12th Grade)
- Dickinson High School
-Before the 2004–2005 school year, all DISD elementary schools provided education for Pre-K through 5th grades. But Barber Elementary School was turned into a Middle School center for 5th grade from 2004-2005 school year to 2007-2008 school year. For the 2008–2009 school year and beyond, a newly built Barber Middle School built off of FM 517 and Dunbar Middle School (which recently only held the 6th grade) will now both hold 5th-6th grades. Students will be separated into schools based on where they reside. A new R.D. McAdams Junior High School has been built on Hughes Road.
Bay Area Charter Middle School is a state charter school in Dickinson.
Private schools
True Cross SchoolTrue Cross Catholic School (Dickinson, Texas, USA)
True Cross Catholic School is a Roman Catholic parochial school affiliated with the Shrine of the True Cross Catholic Church and located in Dickinson, Texas, USA. The school teaches students ranging in age from pre-K through eighth grade....
, a Roman Catholic pre-K - 8 school operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston encompasses of ten counties in the southeastern area of Texas: Galveston; Harris; Austin; Brazoria; Fort Bend; Grimes; Montgomery; San Jacinto; Walker; and Waller.The chancery of the diocese is located in Downtown Houston. The Archdiocese's...
, is in Dickinson. True Cross School was the first Roman Catholic school on the Galveston County mainland. There is also a Christian school named Pine Drive Christian School, located at 705 FM 517 E. Famous people who have attended this school include Theresa Curry
Parks and recreation
The Galveston County Department of Parks and Senior Services operates the Dickinson Community Center at 2714 Highway 3.Dickinson Bayou
Dickinson Bayou
Dickinson Bayou is a river in Texas.Dickinson Bayou is located in southeast Texas in theSan Jacinto-Brazos Coastal Basin. Dickinson Bayou rises two miles northeast of Alvin in northwestern Galveston County and flows east for over twenty miles to its mouth on Dickinson Bay and Galveston Bay, just...
is a bayou that flows in and out of the city of Dickinson. Residents and guests enjoy the activities the bayou offers.
Parks are numerous around the city. Paul Hopkins on 517 is host to the Festival of Lights each December. Elva Lobit Park and Zempter Park are parks that host the city's youth Baseball Leagues. A state-maintained boat dock is present at both the Highway 3 and 146 bridges.
Well known residents and former residents
- Enid Graham - Tony Award Nominated Actress and can be seen on several episodes of Law and Order and in several motion pictures
- Tracy ScogginsTracy ScogginsTracy Dawn Scoggins is an American actress known for her roles as Cat Grant in the television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and Monica Colby in the 1980s prime time soap opera Dynasty, and its spin-off series The Colbys...
- Hollywood actress - Andre WareAndre WareAndre Ware is a sports analyst and commentator and a former American football player. He was the 1989 Heisman Trophy winner as a quarterback for the University of Houston, becoming the first African-American quarterback to win the award. In the 1990 NFL Draft, Ware was the first round selection ...
- 1989 Heisman TrophyHeisman TrophyThe Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner (University of HoustonUniversity of HoustonThe University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
, QuarterbackQuarterbackQuarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
) and former professional football player - Melissa Dettwiller- A female bodybuilder, soft core adult film actress, and fitness model who now resides in Las Vegas, NV.
- Bill GurleyBill GurleyBill Gurley is a general partner at Benchmark Capital, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm in Menlo Park, California. His current investments include: Avvo, Glassdoor, LiveOps, Move Networks, Nanosolar, OpenTable, Red 5 Studios, Second Life, Tropos Networks, Vudu, Inc. and Zillow.com...
- A businessman from Dickinson - Gene KranzGene KranzKranz's book, titled Failure Is Not an Option, published five years after the movie, stated, "...a creed that we all lived by: "Failure is not an option."" . The book has three index references for the phrase, but none of those give any indication of the phrase being apocryphal...
- Former NASA Flight Director during the Gemini and Apollo programs