- Crystal Beach, Texas
-
For other uses, see Crystal Beach (disambiguation).
Crystal Beach after Hurricane Ike
Crystal BeachCrystal Beach (center right) on Bolivar Peninsula, southeast of Houston.Crystal Beach is an unincorporated area in the Bolivar Peninsula census-designated place, in Galveston County, Texas, United States. Also known as Patton, Crystal Beach stretches 7 miles (10 km) along Texas State Highway 87 in the middle of Bolivar Peninsula.[1]
It is located along 27 miles of beach on the Bolivar Peninsula. It is a popular destination thanks to its permitting of camping and fires, as well as its fishing opportunities. Some fish in the surf, while others take advantage of Rollover Fish Pass or the rocks of the North Jetty. The pass is named for the practice of ship captains from the days of Spanish rule through prohibition, who, to avoid the Galveston customs station, rolled barrels of import or export merchandise over that part of the peninsula.[2]
Crystal Beach is served by the Bolivar Chamber of Commerce, which is the official source for business, tourism and government information for the Bolivar Peninsula.
Crystal Beach and the entire Bolivar Peninsula suffered catastrophic damage from Hurricane Ike on September 12–13, 2008.[3] The majority of the area was damaged by a storm surge of over 20 feet,[4] added to the morning high tide, plus higher waves on top.
Contents
History
The sole initial recorded activity was in the Patton community. The Patton Beach post office operated from 1898 to 1900. The Crystal Beach site was settled in the early 20th century. Patton served as a railroad station. When the railroad ended in the early 1940s, the name of the community became "Crystal Beach." The community incorporated in 1971. Four subsequent attempts to disincorporate the municipality occurred in the mid-1980s. The municipality ended in 1987. Afterward, supporters of incorporation and supporters of disincorporation lost and gained control. During 1990 the community, which remained unincorporated, had a full time population recorded as 787. Other estimates stated that the community had as many as 1,600 full time residents. Around that time Crystal Beach was the largest Bolivar Peninsula community. Officials estimated that 80% of the property owners of Crystal Beach residents were people who vacationed during holidays, summers, and weekends. In 1990 Crystal Beach had one bank, one hotel, one supermarket, and the headquarters of most of the Bolivar Peninsula real estate agencies.[1] 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.[5]
The community sustained severe damage after Hurricane Ike struck in September 2008; the hurricane obliterated many vacation houses.[6]
Hurricane Ike
Crystal Beach and the entire Bolivar Peninsula suffered catastrophic damage from Hurricane Ike on the night of September 12–13, 2008.[3] The majority of the area was damaged by a storm surge of over 12 feet (4 m), during the high tide of 4:14 a.m., adding 1.5-2.3 ft more height to the storm tide, plus higher waves on top.
Most of the houses were vacation homes, and it had appeared that most of them sustained significant damage.[3] Nearly every house south of Ridgeway was completely destroyed.[3] Carl Griffith, an owner of an exotic game ranch and a former Jefferson County sheriff and judge, said that he saw many newly-manufactured cars in the debris. Griffith believed that this indicated that many people were killed in the storm; Griffith explained that people would not likely leave newer cars alone and flee without them.[7]
For several days after the hurricane, a rumor swirled stating that a tiger roamed the streets after Ike hit, as the storm opened an exotic animal compound. Police found the tiger inside the compound.[7]
After Hurricane Ike the United States Postal Service temporarily relocated Crystal Beach post office box services to Winnie, Texas.[8]
Government and infrastructure
Crystal Beach Station Post OfficeThe United States Postal Service operates the Crystal Beach Station Post Office at 2000 Texas State Highway 87.[9]
Education
Crenshaw SchoolCrystal Beach residents are zoned to Galveston Independent School District schools.
Residents attend Crenshaw Elementary and Middle School for grades Kindergarten through 8. The current Crenshaw campus opened in 2005.[10] The current Crenshaw school was built off of the ground and as a hurricane shelter.[11] Residents attend Ball High School in Galveston.
Crystal Beach is within the Galveston College service area.[12]
Parks and recreation
The Galveston County Department of Parks and Senior Services operates the Joe Faggert Community Center at 1760 State Highway 87. The county also has Gregory Park along State Highway 87 and Noble Carl Park at 1760 State Highway 87.[13]
See also
- Gilchrist, Texas – nearby settlement on the peninsula.
Notes
- ^ a b "Handbook of Texas Online". Texas State Historical Association. 2008-01-17. pp. page for CRYSTAL BEACH, TX. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/CC/hvcba.html. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
- ^ Crystal Beach, Texas-Resort community on the Gulf of Mexico
- ^ a b c d Tim Heller, KTRK Chief Meteorologist (2008-09-15). "Ike's Aftermath from the Sky". KTRK TV abc13.com. pp. section about Crystal Beach. http://weatherblog.abc13.com/2008/09/ikes-aftermath.html. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
- ^ Tresaugue, Matthew. "Building may not be an option." Houston Chronicle. September 15, 2008.
- ^ "News briefs." Houston Chronicle. Tuesday April 23, 1991. A14.
- ^ Bello, Marison. "'Not much of anything left in Crystal Beach'." USA Today. September 16, 2008.
- ^ a b Shannon, James. "A fantastic tale untold." The Examiner Online. Accessed September 22, 2008.
- ^ "Postal Service Relocates Services, Deploys Portable Buildings." United States Postal Service. September 18, 2008. Retrieved on April 7, 2009.
- ^ Aulds, T.J. "Many leave money on the table at tax time." Galveston County Daily News. Retrieved on November 28, 2008.
- ^ "Crenshaw School Profile." Galveston Independent School District. Retrieved on November 30, 2008.
- ^ "Crenshaw K-8 School." Bay Architects. Retrieved on March 8, 2010.
- ^ Texas Education Code, Section 130.179, "Galveston College District Service Area".
- ^ Facilities Overview." Galveston County Department of Parks and Senior Services. Retrieved on November 30, 2008.
References
- "Handbook of Texas Online". Texas State Historical Association. 2008-01-17. pp. page for CRYSTAL BEACH, TX. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/CC/hvcba.html. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
External links
- http://www.crystalbeach.com
- Crystal Beach, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online
- U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Crystal Beach, Texas
Municipalities and communities of Galveston County, Texas County seat: Galveston Cities Bayou Vista | Clear Lake Shores | Dickinson | Friendswood‡ | Galveston | Hitchcock | Jamaica Beach | Kemah | La Marque | League City‡ | Santa Fe | Seabrook‡ | Texas City‡
Village CDPs Unincorporated
communitiesAlgoa | Bayview | Caplen | Crystal Beach | Gilchrist | High Island | Port Bolivar
Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Coordinates: 29°27′26″N 94°38′23″W / 29.45722°N 94.63972°W
Categories:- Beaches of Texas
- Populated places in Galveston County, Texas
- Greater Houston
- Unincorporated communities in Texas
- Former cities in Texas
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