West Bay (Texas)
Encyclopedia
West Bay, also referred to as West Galveston Bay, is a long inlet of Galveston Bay
in Galveston
and Brazoria
counties that nearly runs the entire length west of Galveston Island
.
, which formed a delta at what is now San Luis Pass. Three thousand years later, the river diverted south to its present location at Surfside Beach
. The bay's current formation was complete by about 1,200 years ago.
The main settlements on the bay include Tiki Island
located at the mainland base of the Galveston Causeway, and Jamaica Beach
on Galveston Island, just south of Galveston Island State Park
. Jamaica Beach, a resort with a population of about 1,075 was found in 1957 on the site of a former Karankawa
Indian burial ground. Across the bay from Jamaica Beach is Tiki Island, an affluent village of 1,016 people, that was established in the 1960s and incorporated in 1982.
to the north, where it meets with Galveston Bay. West Bay's main extension is Christmas Bay, which extends south into Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge
. Other extensions include, Chocolate Bay to the west, Jones Bay to the north, and Bastrop Bay to the south. Overall, the bay covers roughly 39 square miles (101 km²).
Galveston Bay
Galveston Bay is a large estuary located along the upper coast of Texas in the United States. It is connected to the Gulf of Mexico and is surrounded by sub-tropic marshes and prairies on the mainland. The water in the Bay is a complex mixture of sea water and fresh water which supports a wide...
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...
and Brazoria
Brazoria County, Texas
Brazoria County[p] is a county in the U.S. state of Texas, located on the Gulf Coast within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. Regionally, parts of the county are within the extreme southern-most fringe of the regions locally known as Southeast Texas. Brazoria County is among a...
counties that nearly runs the entire length west of Galveston Island
Galveston Island
Galveston Island is a barrier island on the Texas Gulf coast in the United States, about 50 miles southeast of Houston. The entire island, with the exception of Jamaica Beach, is within the city limits of the City of Galveston....
.
History
West Bay, as it is known today, began its formation about 5,500 years ago when Galveston Island was shaped following the rise in the sea level. At the time, West Bay was situated just north of the mouth of the Brazos RiverBrazos River
The Brazos River, called the Rio de los Brazos de Dios by early Spanish explorers , is the longest river in Texas and the 11th longest river in the United States at from its source at the head of Blackwater Draw, Curry County, New Mexico to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico with a drainage...
, which formed a delta at what is now San Luis Pass. Three thousand years later, the river diverted south to its present location at Surfside Beach
Surfside Beach, Texas
Surfside Beach is a city in Brazoria County, Texas, United States that is situated on the Gulf of Mexico just west of Galveston Island. The city is part of the Greater Houston area. The population was 763 at the 2000 census...
. The bay's current formation was complete by about 1,200 years ago.
The main settlements on the bay include Tiki Island
Tiki Island, Texas
Tiki Island is a village in Galveston County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,016 at the 2000 census.-History and government:Tiki Island was incorporated as a village on August 30, 1982. It has a full time police department and volunteer fire department...
located at the mainland base of the Galveston Causeway, and Jamaica Beach
Jamaica Beach, Texas
Jamaica Beach is a city in Galveston County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,075.-History:Prior to its development, Jamaica Beach was a Karankawa burial ground. Johnny Goyen and Earl Galceran of the Jamaica Corporation developed Jamaica Beach as a 2,000-lot...
on Galveston Island, just south of Galveston Island State Park
Galveston Island State Park
Galveston Island State Park, in Galveston County, is in the City of Galveston, Texas on the west end of Galveston Island. It is a site that was acquired in 1969 from private owners under the State Parks Bond Program and was opened in 1975. On September 14, 2008, the park was closed due to damage...
. Jamaica Beach, a resort with a population of about 1,075 was found in 1957 on the site of a former Karankawa
Karankawa
Karankawa were a group of Native American peoples, now extinct as a tribal group, who played a pivotal part in early Texas history....
Indian burial ground. Across the bay from Jamaica Beach is Tiki Island, an affluent village of 1,016 people, that was established in the 1960s and incorporated in 1982.
Features
West Bay is bounded by San Luis Pass to its south, and Galveston CausewayGalveston Causeway
The Galveston Causeway is a set of causeways in Galveston, Texas, United States. Two of the routes carry the southbound and northbound traffic of Interstate 45, while the original causeway is restricted to rail traffic. It is the only free roadway access point to Galveston Island. The causeway...
to the north, where it meets with Galveston Bay. West Bay's main extension is Christmas Bay, which extends south into Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge
Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge
The Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife conservation area along the coast of Texas , east of the towns of Angleton and Lake Jackson, Texas...
. Other extensions include, Chocolate Bay to the west, Jones Bay to the north, and Bastrop Bay to the south. Overall, the bay covers roughly 39 square miles (101 km²).