Galena Park, Texas
Encyclopedia
Galena Park is a city in Harris County, Texas
within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown
metropolitan area. The population was 10,887 at the 2010 census.
. With the coming of the petrochemical industry in the early 1900s, Clinton again transformed into a refinery
center.
Clinton attempted to establish a post office in 1935, but the request was denied as another Clinton, Texas had established the name. The settlement's name was changed to Galena Park after the Galena Signal Oil Company of Texas
, which built the first refinery there. Galena Park's original name survives today as the name of a major street in the city, Clinton Drive. Because of the 1935 incorporation, Houston did not incorporate Galena Park's territory into its city limits, while Houston annexed surrounding areas that were unincorporated
. By the late 1930s Houston was growing as a port, so Galena Park expanded. Since the 1940s area residents considered the city to be a part of Greater Houston
.
The economy of Galena Park began to suffer in the early 1980s, when cranes used to haul ship cargo were reduced; prior to the early 1980s a team of workers who took up to one week to load cargo off of a ship stayed in the port city and contributed to its local economy, but the new technology lead to ships unloading all cargo in less than one day. The 80's also hit Galena Park's economy with all the layoffs from the steel mills. The economy further decreased after the September 11, 2001 attacks
, when sea port administrators tightened security rules that governed whether sailors could leave ships docked at port.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 5 square miles (12.9 km²), all of it land.
The border between Galena Park, which was an all-White city, and Clinton Park, an African-American area in Houston, is barricaded. Rafael Longoria and Susan Rogers of the Rice Design Alliance said that the barricade "provides a stark example of how the prevailing segregationist sentiments of the era is still in evidence."
of 2010, there were 10,887 people and 3,021 households residing in the city. The population density
was 2,183.3 people per square mile (843.0/km²). There were 3,273 housing units at an average density of 654.6/sq mi (253.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 11.4% White, Not Hispanic, 6.6% African American, Not Hispanic, 0.13% Native American or Native Alaskan, Not Hispanic, 0.09% Asian or Pacific Islander, Not Hispanic, 0.16% from other races, not Hispanic
, and 0.25% from two or more races. People of Hispanic
, Latino
or Spanish Origin
of any race were 81.4% of the population, a 21% increase in Hispanic, Latino or Spanish Origin population over the 2000 census.
Remaining demographics were not yet available from the 2010 census (expected release Summer-Fall of 2011). As of the 2000 census there were 3,054 households out of which 46.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples
living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.4% were non-families. 17.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.47 and the average family size was 3.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 33.8% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 16.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,660, and the median income for a family was $34,702. Males had a median income of $29,814 versus $21,172 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,207. About 21.5% of families and 25.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.2% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.
The Galena Park Fire Department and the Galena Park Police Department serve the city. As of 2008 Robert C. Pruett serves as the Chief of Police and Rick D. Bates serves as the Assistant Chief.
Galena Park is located in District 143 of the Texas House of Representatives
As of 2011 Ana Hernandez Luna, formerly Ana E. Hernandez, represented the district. Galena Park is within District 6 of the Texas Senate
; as of 2011 Mario Gallegos, Jr.
was the representative.
Galena Park was within Texas's 29th congressional district
; as of 2011 Gene Green
represented the district. The United States Postal Service
operates the Galena Park Post Office at 1805 Clinton Drive.
Students in Galena Park attend schools in Galena Park Independent School District
.
Three separate elementary schools, Galena Park Elementary School in Galena Park, MacArthur Elementary School in Galena Park, and Pyburn Elementary School in Houston, serve students from the city of Galena Park Almost all Galena Park students are zoned to Galena Park Middle School (6-8) in Galena Park. A few in northeast Galena Park are zoned to Woodland Acres Middle School in Houston. All Galena Park residents are zoned to Galena Park High School
(9-12) in Galena Park.
In addition GPISD operates the William F. "Bill" Becker Early Childhood Development Center, a preschool program for low income families, in Galena Park.
(HCPL) system operates the Galena Park Branch at 1500 Keene Street in Galena Park. The 5800 square feet (538.8 m²) branch, a partnership between HCPL and Galena Park, was built in March 1996 opened in December of that year.
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
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 10,887 at the 2010 census.
History
The area of Galena Park began as the settlement of Clinton in 1835. The settlement originally served as a farming and ranching community but in the 1880s transformed into a railroad center along the new Port of HoustonPort of Houston
The Port of Houston is a port in Houston—the fourth-largest city in the United States. The Port is a 25-mile-long complex of diversified public and private facilities located a few hours' sailing time from the Gulf of Mexico...
. With the coming of the petrochemical industry in the early 1900s, Clinton again transformed into a refinery
Refinery
A refinery is a production facility composed of a group of chemical engineering unit processes and unit operations refining certain materials or converting raw material into products of value.-Types of refineries:Different types of refineries are as follows:...
center.
Clinton attempted to establish a post office in 1935, but the request was denied as another Clinton, Texas had established the name. The settlement's name was changed to Galena Park after the Galena Signal Oil Company of Texas
Texaco
Texaco is the name of an American oil retail brand. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owns the Havoline motor oil brand....
, which built the first refinery there. Galena Park's original name survives today as the name of a major street in the city, Clinton Drive. Because of the 1935 incorporation, Houston did not incorporate Galena Park's territory into its city limits, while Houston annexed surrounding areas that were unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
. By the late 1930s Houston was growing as a port, so Galena Park expanded. Since the 1940s area residents considered the city to be a part of Greater Houston
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...
.
The economy of Galena Park began to suffer in the early 1980s, when cranes used to haul ship cargo were reduced; prior to the early 1980s a team of workers who took up to one week to load cargo off of a ship stayed in the port city and contributed to its local economy, but the new technology lead to ships unloading all cargo in less than one day. The 80's also hit Galena Park's economy with all the layoffs from the steel mills. The economy further decreased after the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, when sea port administrators tightened security rules that governed whether sailors could leave ships docked at port.
Geography
Galena Park is located at 29°44′20"N 95°14′14"W (29.738928, -95.237211).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 5 square miles (12.9 km²), all of it land.
The border between Galena Park, which was an all-White city, and Clinton Park, an African-American area in Houston, is barricaded. Rafael Longoria and Susan Rogers of the Rice Design Alliance said that the barricade "provides a stark example of how the prevailing segregationist sentiments of the era is still in evidence."
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 2010, there were 10,887 people and 3,021 households 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 2,183.3 people per square mile (843.0/km²). There were 3,273 housing units at an average density of 654.6/sq mi (253.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 11.4% White, Not Hispanic, 6.6% African American, Not Hispanic, 0.13% Native American or Native Alaskan, Not Hispanic, 0.09% Asian or Pacific Islander, Not Hispanic, 0.16% from other races, not Hispanic
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 0.25% from two or more races. People of Hispanic
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...
, Latino
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...
or Spanish Origin
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...
of any race were 81.4% of the population, a 21% increase in Hispanic, Latino or Spanish Origin population over the 2000 census.
Remaining demographics were not yet available from the 2010 census (expected release Summer-Fall of 2011). As of the 2000 census there were 3,054 households out of which 46.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% 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, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.4% were non-families. 17.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.47 and the average family size was 3.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 33.8% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 16.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,660, and the median income for a family was $34,702. Males had a median income of $29,814 versus $21,172 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 $12,207. About 21.5% of families and 25.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.2% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.
Local government
As of 2008 R. P. "Bobby" Barrett is the mayor of Galena Park. As of the same year the city council has four positions, with each having a responsibility for a particular municipal department or group of departments. Commissioner Danny Simms, position one, heads the water and sewer services. Joseph Thibodeaux, position two, heads police and fire services. Robert Clowers, position three, heads parks and recreation. Maxie Campbell, position four, heads street and bridge services. In addition Jim L. DeFoyd serves as the city attorney, Margaret Stevens serves as the city secretary and the tax collector and assesser, and City Administrator John Cooper directs public works.The Galena Park Fire Department and the Galena Park Police Department serve the city. As of 2008 Robert C. Pruett serves as the Chief of Police and Rick D. Bates serves as the Assistant Chief.
County, federal, and state representation
Galena Park is located within Harris County Precinct 2; as of 2011 Jack Morman headed Precinct 2.Galena Park is located in District 143 of the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
As of 2011 Ana Hernandez Luna, formerly Ana E. Hernandez, represented the district. Galena Park is within District 6 of the Texas Senate
Texas Senate
The Texas Senate is the upper house of the Texas Legislature. There are 31 members of the Senate, representing 31 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 672,000 per constituency. There are no term limits, and each term is four years long. The Senate meets at the...
; as of 2011 Mario Gallegos, Jr.
Mario Gallegos, Jr.
Mario Valentin Gallegos, Jr. is a Democratic politician in the U.S. state of Texas. He is the current senator from District 6 in the Texas Senate, which serves a portion of Harris County...
was the representative.
Galena Park was within Texas's 29th congressional district
Texas's 29th congressional district
-References:*...
; as of 2011 Gene Green
Gene Green
Raymond Eugene "Gene" Green is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
represented the district. 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...
operates the Galena Park Post Office at 1805 Clinton Drive.
Public schools
Galena Park Independent School District
Galena Park Independent School District is a school district based in the Channelview CDP of unincorporated Harris County, Texas, United States....
.
Three separate elementary schools, Galena Park Elementary School in Galena Park, MacArthur Elementary School in Galena Park, and Pyburn Elementary School in Houston, serve students from the city of Galena Park Almost all Galena Park students are zoned to Galena Park Middle School (6-8) in Galena Park. A few in northeast Galena Park are zoned to Woodland Acres Middle School in Houston. All Galena Park residents are zoned to Galena Park High School
Galena Park High School
Galena Park High School is a secondary school located in Galena Park, Texas, United States and is one of three secondary schools in the Galena Park Independent School District ....
(9-12) in Galena Park.
In addition GPISD operates the William F. "Bill" Becker Early Childhood Development Center, a preschool program for low income families, in Galena Park.
Private schools
Our Lady of Fatima School, a K-6 Roman Catholic school, is in Galena Park http://www.archgh.org/SchoolPages/schoolpages-new/ourladyoffatima-galenapark.htm.Public libraries
The Harris County Public LibraryHarris County Public Library
Harris County Public Library is a public library system serving Harris County, Texas, United States. The county library system is headquartered at 8080 El Rio in Houston....
(HCPL) system operates the Galena Park Branch at 1500 Keene Street in Galena Park. The 5800 square feet (538.8 m²) branch, a partnership between HCPL and Galena Park, was built in March 1996 opened in December of that year.