Jamaica Beach, Texas
Encyclopedia
Jamaica Beach is a city in Galveston County
, Texas
, United States
. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,075.
burial ground. Johnny Goyen and Earl Galceran of the Jamaica Corporation developed Jamaica Beach as a 2,000-lot resort subdivision in close proximity to a marina. The city incorporated on May 12, 1975. By 1978 141 residents lived in Jamaica Beach. By 1988 the city had 446 residents and no businesses. By 1990 the city had 624 residents.
In September 2008 Jamaica Beach was affected by Hurricane Ike
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), of which, 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (7.59%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,075 people, 483 households, and 303 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,487.7 people per square mile (576.5/km²). There were 1,078 housing units at an average density of 1,491.8 per square mile (578.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.07% White, 0.37% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 1.95% from other races
, and 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.56% of the population.
There were 483 households out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples
living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.74.
In the city the population was 20.3% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 99.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was $52,045, and the median income for a family was $66,250. Males had a median income of $42,411 versus $31,875 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $30,943. About 5.7% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.4% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
. After a large brush fire, the city created the Jamaica Beach Volunteer Fire Department and EMS in 1976. The city also has a municipal court, a water and sewer department, and a building department.
In November 2007 a United States Postal Service
Contract Postal Unit opened inside a local business in Jamaica Beach. The West Galveston Contract Unit (77554-9998) is at Bob Smith Drive near Farm to Market Road 3005
.
. Students are zoned to Oppe Elementary School (K-4), Weis Middle School (5-6), Central Middle School (7-8), and Ball High School
(9-12), all of which are in Galveston.
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...
. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,075.
History
Prior to its development, Jamaica Beach was a KarankawaKarankawa
Karankawa were a group of Native American peoples, now extinct as a tribal group, who played a pivotal part in early Texas history....
burial ground. Johnny Goyen and Earl Galceran of the Jamaica Corporation developed Jamaica Beach as a 2,000-lot resort subdivision in close proximity to a marina. The city incorporated on May 12, 1975. By 1978 141 residents lived in Jamaica Beach. By 1988 the city had 446 residents and no businesses. By 1990 the city had 624 residents.
In September 2008 Jamaica Beach was affected by Hurricane Ike
Hurricane Ike
Hurricane Ike was the second-costliest hurricane ever to make landfall in the United States, the costliest hurricane ever to impact Cuba and the second most active hurricane to reach the Canadian mainland in the Great Lakes Region after Hurricane Hazel in 1954...
.
Geography
Jamaica Beach is located at 29°11′31"N 94°58′50"W (29.192080, -94.980488).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 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), of which, 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (7.59%) 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 1,075 people, 483 households, and 303 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 1,487.7 people per square mile (576.5/km²). There were 1,078 housing units at an average density of 1,491.8 per square mile (578.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.07% White, 0.37% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 1.95% 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 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.56% of the population.
There were 483 households out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% 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, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.74.
In the city the population was 20.3% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 99.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was $52,045, and the median income for a family was $66,250. Males had a median income of $42,411 versus $31,875 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 $30,943. About 5.7% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.4% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
As of 2008 the City Council includes Mayor Victor Pierson, Mayor Pro Tem Steve Spicer, and four aldermen (Brad South, Eddie Burke, Sherwood Green, and Mary Morse). The city council established the Jamaica Beach Police Department in 1978; as of 2008 the department has one chief, one lieutenant, and five police officers. Jamaica Beach contracted its dispatching to the City of HitchcockHitchcock, Texas
Hitchcock is a city in Galveston County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,386 at the 2000 census.-History:Hitchcock was created as a station of the railroad between Galveston and Houston in 1873 and around the turn of the 20th century became a vegetable shipping center...
. After a large brush fire, the city created the Jamaica Beach Volunteer Fire Department and EMS in 1976. The city also has a municipal court, a water and sewer department, and a building department.
In November 2007 a 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...
Contract Postal Unit opened inside a local business in Jamaica Beach. The West Galveston Contract Unit (77554-9998) is at Bob Smith Drive near Farm to Market Road 3005
Farm to Market Road 3005
Farm to Market Road 3005 is a farm to market road in Galveston County, Texas.-Route description:FM 3005 has a western terminus at the approach to the toll bridge over San Luis Pass; the bridge connects to the Bluewater Highway on the Brazoria County side...
.
Public schools
Pupils in Jamaica beach are zoned to schools in Galveston Independent School DistrictGalveston Independent School District
Galveston Independent School District is a school district headquartered in Galveston, Texas, United States.In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency.- Catchment area :...
. Students are zoned to Oppe Elementary School (K-4), Weis Middle School (5-6), Central Middle School (7-8), and Ball High School
Ball High School
Ball High School is a public secondary school in Galveston, Texas, United States. Ball, which covers grades 9 through 12, is a part of Galveston Independent School District....
(9-12), all of which are in Galveston.