San Leon, Texas
Encyclopedia
San Leon is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Galveston County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 4,365 at the 2000 census.
who ruled Galveston Island established a stronghold at Eagle Point in modern San Leon. Eagle Point went on to become an important shipping and trading post for slaves. A community was established known as Edward's Point and later North Galveston. When the North Galveston, Houston and Kansas City Railroad was built through the area in 1893 the town began to develop as a commercial center. However, following the hurricanes in 1900 and 1915 the town was devastated and never able to fully recover. Attempts were made in the early 20th century to establish a resort community in the area but these efforts met with only modest success. Growth and development since this time have been relatively stagnant.
In April 1985 residents of San Leon, Bacliff
, and Bayview
considered an incorporation proposal to become the City of Bayshore. Judge Ray Holbrook signed an order for the election to take place on April 6, 1985, freeing the area, which had a population of 11,000, from the extraterritorial jurisdiction
of League City
and Texas City
. Residents rejected the incorporation proposal. The vote was tallied with 1,268 against and 399 in favor. Proponents wanted a local police force and the ability to pass ordinances. Opponents said that the tax base was too small to support municipal services including police and road and drainage improvements.
On April 23, 1991 the community, and other areas of Galveston County, received an enhanced 9-1-1
system which routes calls to proper dispatchers and allows dispatchers to automatically view the address of the caller. On September 13, 2008, San Leon, TX received extensive damage from Hurricane Ike.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 5.2 square miles (13.5 km²), of which, 4.9 square miles (12.7 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (5.61%) is water.
of 2000, there were 4,365 people, 1,815 households, and 1,121 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 894.1 people per square mile (345.4/km2). There were 2,293 housing units at an average density of 469.7 per square mile (181.4/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 80.41% White, 0.80% African American, 0.82% Native American, 7.61% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 8.27% from other races
, and 1.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.36% of the population.
There were 1,815 households out of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples
living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.2% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 110.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $31,687, and the median income for a family was $40,656. Males had a median income of $32,574 versus $25,526 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $19,422. About 14.8% of families and 19.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.5% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.
The San Leon Municipal Utility District provides water services.
The United States Postal Service
San Leon Post Office was located at 902 East Bayshore Drive in the CDP in unincorporated Galveston County. There is currently no United States Post Office in San Leon following Hurricane Ike.
.
San Leon Elementary School opened in the beginning of the 2007–2008 school year, serves residents from Kindergarten through 4th Grade.
Barber Middle School in Dickinson
serves the fifth and sixth grades. McAdams Junior High School in Dickinson serves grades 7 and 8. Students are zoned to Dickinson High School for grades 9 through 12.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Galveston County
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...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 4,365 at the 2000 census.
History
During the early 19th century the pirate Jean LafitteJean Lafitte
Jean Lafitte was a pirate and privateer in the Gulf of Mexico in the early 19th century. He and his elder brother, Pierre, spelled their last name Laffite, but English-language documents of the time used "Lafitte", and this is the commonly seen spelling in the United States, including for places...
who ruled Galveston Island established a stronghold at Eagle Point in modern San Leon. Eagle Point went on to become an important shipping and trading post for slaves. A community was established known as Edward's Point and later North Galveston. When the North Galveston, Houston and Kansas City Railroad was built through the area in 1893 the town began to develop as a commercial center. However, following the hurricanes in 1900 and 1915 the town was devastated and never able to fully recover. Attempts were made in the early 20th century to establish a resort community in the area but these efforts met with only modest success. Growth and development since this time have been relatively stagnant.
In April 1985 residents of San Leon, Bacliff
Bacliff, Texas
Bacliff is a census-designated place in north central Galveston County, Texas, United States, northwest of Galveston. The population was 6,962 at the 2000 census. Bacliff, originally called Clifton-by-the-Sea, began as a seaside resort town...
, and Bayview
Bayview, Galveston County, Texas
Bayview is an area within unincorporated Galveston County, Texas, United States that was formerly a more distinct community.The San Leon-Bacliff-Bayview Chamber of Commerce serves the area.-History:...
considered an incorporation proposal to become the City of Bayshore. Judge Ray Holbrook signed an order for the election to take place on April 6, 1985, freeing the area, which had a population of 11,000, from the extraterritorial jurisdiction
Extraterritorial jurisdiction
Extraterritorial jurisdiction is the legal ability of a government to exercise authority beyond its normal boundaries.Any authority can, of course, claim ETJ over any external territory they wish...
of League City
League City, Texas
League City is a city in Galveston County and Harris County in the U.S. state of Texas, within the metropolitan area. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city population was 45,444; in the 2006 census estimate, the population was listed as 67,200. The 2010 Census places the population of League City...
and Texas City
Texas City, Texas
Texas City is a city in Chambers and Galveston counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 41,521 at the 2000 census. It is a part of the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. Residents rejected the incorporation proposal. The vote was tallied with 1,268 against and 399 in favor. Proponents wanted a local police force and the ability to pass ordinances. Opponents said that the tax base was too small to support municipal services including police and road and drainage improvements.
On April 23, 1991 the community, and other areas of Galveston County, received an enhanced 9-1-1
9-1-1
9-1-1 is the emergency telephone number for the North American Numbering Plan .It is one of eight N11 codes.The use of this number is for emergency circumstances only, and to use it for any other purpose can be a crime.-History:In the earliest days of telephone technology, prior to the...
system which routes calls to proper dispatchers and allows dispatchers to automatically view the address of the caller. On September 13, 2008, San Leon, TX received extensive damage from Hurricane Ike.
Geography
San Leon is located at 29.488379°N 94.929426°W (29.488379, -94.929426).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 CDP has a total area of 5.2 square miles (13.5 km²), of which, 4.9 square miles (12.7 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (5.61%) 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 4,365 people, 1,815 households, and 1,121 families residing in the CDP. 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 894.1 people per square mile (345.4/km2). There were 2,293 housing units at an average density of 469.7 per square mile (181.4/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 80.41% White, 0.80% African American, 0.82% Native American, 7.61% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 8.27% 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 1.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.36% of the population.
There were 1,815 households out of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% 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, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.2% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 110.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $31,687, and the median income for a family was $40,656. Males had a median income of $32,574 versus $25,526 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 CDP was $19,422. About 14.8% of families and 19.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.5% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
The Mayor of San Leon is Keith Heinz. Heinz was elected on April 25, 2009, defeating incumbent Scott Lyons.The San Leon Municipal Utility District provides water services.
The United States Postal Service
United 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...
San Leon Post Office was located at 902 East Bayshore Drive in the CDP in unincorporated Galveston County. There is currently no United States Post Office in San Leon following Hurricane Ike.
Economy
The most significant sector of the community's economy is oyster and shrimp fishing. Many homes in the community are second homes used as summer residences.Education
San Leon students are zoned to schools in 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...
.
San Leon Elementary School opened in the beginning of the 2007–2008 school year, serves residents from Kindergarten through 4th Grade.
Barber Middle School in Dickinson
Dickinson, Texas
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.-History:...
serves the fifth and sixth grades. McAdams Junior High School in Dickinson serves grades 7 and 8. Students are zoned to Dickinson High School for grades 9 through 12.