Seadrift, Texas
Encyclopedia
Seadrift is a city in Calhoun County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 1,352 at the 2000 census. It is a part of the Victoria, Texas
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
, 60 miles (96.6 km) northeast of Corpus Christi
and 128 miles (206 km) southeast of San Antonio
. According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), of which, 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it is land and 0.79% is water.
of 2000, there were 1,352 people, 488 households, and 347 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,083.1 people per square mile (417.6/km²). There were 652 housing units at an average density of 522.3/sq mi (201.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.74% White, 0.89% African American, 0.22% Native American, 10.21% Asian, 7.91% from other races
, and 3.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 27.07% of the population.
There were 488 households out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples
living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.34.
In the city the population was 32.8% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males. The median income for a household in the city was $26,339, and the median income for a family was $31,010. Males had a median income of $29,531 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $11,481. About 20.6% of families and 25.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.1% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
. Seadrift School serves residents from Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade. Residents attend Calhoun High School in Port Lavaca
for high school.
immigrants. As the central area relied heavily on the shrimping industry for income, many native white shrimpers felt threatened by the increasing number of Vietnamese shrimpers. On the night of August 3, 1979, several Vietnamese boats were burned and a vacant Vietnamese house was firebombed. A fistfight broke out between white and Vietnamese fishermen, which ended with the fatal shooting of 35 year-old crabber Billy Joe Aplin. Vietnamese crabber Sau Van Nguyen and his brother Chinh Nguyen were tried for murder and acquitted on the grounds of self-defense. The incident inspired the creation of both the 1981 documentary Fire on the Water and the 1985 film Alamo Bay
.
Calhoun County, Texas
Calhoun County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, the population was 20,647. Its county seat is Port Lavaca. It is a part of the Victoria Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, 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 1,352 at the 2000 census. It is a part of the Victoria, Texas
Victoria, Texas
Victoria is a city in and the seat of Victoria County, Texas, United States. The population was 60,603 at the 2000 census. The three counties of the Victoria Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 111,163 at the 2000 census,...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Victoria metropolitan area
The Victoria Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of three counties in the Coastal Bend region of Texas, anchored by the city of Victoria. The area is sometimes referred to as the Golden Crescent Region, though this term is sometimes...
.
Geography
Seadrift is located at 28°24′46"N 96°42′44"W (28.412896, -96.712244). This is on the northeast shore of San Antonio BaySan Antonio Bay
San Antonio Bay is a bay on the Texas Gulf coast situated between Matagorda and Aransas Bay. It consists mainly of the combined waters of the San Antonio and Guadalupe rivers, and is located at the mouth of the Guadalupe River, about 55 miles northeast of Corpus Christi and 130 miles southeast...
, 60 miles (96.6 km) northeast of Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
and 128 miles (206 km) southeast of San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. 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 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), of which, 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it is land and 0.79% is water.
2000 Census data
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 1,352 people, 488 households, and 347 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 1,083.1 people per square mile (417.6/km²). There were 652 housing units at an average density of 522.3/sq mi (201.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.74% White, 0.89% African American, 0.22% Native American, 10.21% Asian, 7.91% 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 3.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 27.07% of the population.
There were 488 households out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% 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, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.34.
In the city the population was 32.8% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males. The median income for a household in the city was $26,339, and the median income for a family was $31,010. Males had a median income of $29,531 versus $21,250 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 $11,481. About 20.6% of families and 25.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.1% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Seadrift residents are served by the Calhoun County Independent School DistrictCalhoun County Independent School District
Calhoun County Independent School District is a public school district based in Port Lavaca, Texas . The district's boundaries parallel that of Calhoun County.In 2009, the school district was rated "recognized" by the Texas Education Agency.- Schools :...
. Seadrift School serves residents from Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade. Residents attend Calhoun High School in Port Lavaca
Port Lavaca, Texas
Port Lavaca is a city in Calhoun County, Texas, United States. The population was 12,248 at the 2010 census. The County had a 3.6% growth which brought the county population to 21,381. The city itself is bringing in more business into the area. It is the county seat of Calhoun County...
for high school.
1979 Incident
Seadrift is remembered for a killing that took place on August 3, 1979. Prior to this date there had been several negative racial incidents between local white citizens and VietnameseVietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
immigrants. As the central area relied heavily on the shrimping industry for income, many native white shrimpers felt threatened by the increasing number of Vietnamese shrimpers. On the night of August 3, 1979, several Vietnamese boats were burned and a vacant Vietnamese house was firebombed. A fistfight broke out between white and Vietnamese fishermen, which ended with the fatal shooting of 35 year-old crabber Billy Joe Aplin. Vietnamese crabber Sau Van Nguyen and his brother Chinh Nguyen were tried for murder and acquitted on the grounds of self-defense. The incident inspired the creation of both the 1981 documentary Fire on the Water and the 1985 film Alamo Bay
Alamo Bay
Alamo Bay is a 1985 drama film about a Vietnam veteran who clashes with Vietnamese immigrants who move to his fictitious Texas bay hometown. The film was directed by Louis Malle, and stars Amy Madigan and Ed Harris. Future Texas A&M and Dallas Cowboys linebacker Dat Nguyen, who was 9 at the time...
.