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 277,454 at the 2000 census; in 2006 the US Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 285,175, making it the eighth-largest city in the state. It is the principal city of the three-county Corpus Christi Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger Corpus Christi-Kingsville Combined Statistical Area. The translation from Latin of the city's name is Body of Christ, given to the settlement by the Spanish, in honor of the Blessed Sacrament (Eucharist). The city has been nicknamed The Sparkling City by the bay, particularly in literature promoting tourism.The city is home to the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi and is served by the Corpus Christi International Airport.
History
Corpus Christi was founded in 1839 by Colonel Henry Lawrence Kinney as Kinney's Trading Post, or Kinney's Ranch, a small trading post to sell supplies to a Mexican revolutionary army camped about 25 miles (40 km) west. In July 1845, U.S. troops under General Zachary Taylor set up camp there in preparation for war with Mexico, where they remained until March 1846. Then about a year later the city was named Corpus Christi and was incorporated on September 9, 1852. The Port of Corpus Christi was opened in 1926 and the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station was commissioned in 1941.
Geography
Corpus Christi is located at 27°44′34″N 97°24′07″W / 27.742857°N 97.401927°W / 27.742857; -97.401927 (27.742857, -97.401927).According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 460.2 square miles (1,192.0 km2), of which 154.6 square miles (400.5 km2) of it is land and 305.6 square miles (791.5 km2) of it (66.40%) is water. Drinking water for the city is supplied by two reservoirs, Lake Corpus Christi and the Choke Canyon Reservoir. Through an effective regional partnership with the Nueces River Authority and the Port of Corpus Christi Authority, a 101-mile (163 km) pipeline was built which transports water from Lake Texana to the city's O.N. Steven's Water Treatment Plant. It was named the Mary Rhodes Pipeline, after the late Mayor Mary Rhodes. All reservoirs are outside the city limits, but are managed directly by public utility of the City of Corpus Christi.
Climate
The city's record high temperature is 109 °F (43 °C), on September 5, 2000.Average nighttime winter lows in January, the coldest month, are a little less than 50 °F (10 °C) and its record low is 11 °F (−12 °C). In December 2004, the city experienced snowfall on Christmas Eve, the city's largest recorded snowstorm at 4.4 inches (11 cm). The snow stayed until Christmas Day and melted the day after.
2000 Census data
As of the census of 2000, there were 277,454 people, 98,791 households, and 70,437 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,794.2 people per square mile (692.7/km2). There were 107,831 housing units at an average density of 697.3 per square mile (269.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 71.62% White, 4.67% African American, 0.64% Native American, 1.28% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 18.58% from other races, and 3.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 54.33% of the population.There were 98,791 households out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.27. Same-sex couple households comprised 0.5 % of all households.In the city the population was 28.1% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.The median income for a family was $41,672. Males had a median income of $31,863 versus $22,616 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,419. About 14.1% of families and 17.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.9% of those under age 18 and 15.5% of those age 65 or over.
Culture
Various sections of Corpus Christi maintain distinct senses of identity and community from the city proper, especially the Calallen and Flour Bluff areas, and, less prominently, Clarkwood and Annaville. These areas are sometimes mistakenly believed to be separate municipalities.The city has many demographic groups, ethnicities and sub-cultures, each giving it a distinct flavor: the defense bases and the people who work there; the large Hispanic community; the oil related professionals and workers; the cowboy culture; and the surfers.
Neighborhoods
Flour Bluff
Calallen
Clarkwood
Annaville
North Beach
Mustang Island
North Padre Island
Gardendale
Suburbs
Portland
Robstown
Attractions
The city is home to a number of popular destinations for both tourists and residents. The official visitor and tourism information organization is the Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau. Some of the most visited attractions are on North Beach, where the Texas State Aquarium and the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay are located.The USS Lexington was also part of the set for the 2000 film Pearl Harbor. Nearby is Corpus Christi's museum district. Located there are the Museum of Asian Cultures, Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, the South Texas Institute for the Arts, and the Harbor Playhouse Theatre, one of the oldest continually operating community theatres in the State. Heritage Park is also in the museum district, where a number of older restored houses can be found. The downtown area, of which the museum district is a part, is home to skyscrapers such as One Shoreline Plaza, companies, various shops, a very popular center of marinas, and Mirador de la Flor. Downtown also is home of the Texas Surf Museum, which explores the history of surfing and focuses on surf culture along Texas' 367-mile (591 km) coast, as well as K Space Contemporary, a non-profit art organization dedicated to promoting and presenting local, regional and national contemporary art.Also in the city is the Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens and Nature Center which hosts gardening programs from time to time. On Oso Bay near the Pharaoh Valley subdivision is the Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge is known for sea bird watching. The nearby Pharaohs golf course also serves as a haven for coastal and migratory birds.Directly east of Corpus Christi are Padre Island and Mustang Island, home to various municipal, state, and national parks, most notably Padre Island National Seashore. The city is also near King Ranch, one of the world's largest ranches, upon which the movie Giant was based.Yearly the city also celebrates the Buccaneer Days Carnival, which is typically held downtown.South Padre Island Drive (locally abbreviated as 'S.P.I.D.', with the letters pronounced individually), is the city's main retail corridor, with two shopping malls, La Palmera (formerly Padre Staples Mall), and Sunrise Mall. Also, a number of other large shopping centers, small strip centers, and restaurants can be found throughout the city.A replica ofNiña.
Mirador de la FlorSelenamemorial.
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christicampus.
Municipal government
In 1852, the City of Corpus Christi was incorporated. Texas’ 31st Legislature chartered the city as a political and corporate municipal entity in 1909. By ordinance, the city possesses power to “fix, alter and extend its boundaries.” Corpus Christi, Texas is under a Council-Manager municipal government. The elected City Council is the primary authority in municipal matters such as enacting local legislation, determining policies, and appointing the City Manager. Together, the City Council and City Manager execute laws and administer the municipal government. Organized by governmental sectors of City Council, City Management, City Secretary, and several City Departments, Corpus Christi is seated in Nueces County. The City Council currently consists of the following elected members:MayorJoe Adame
Brent Chesney At Large
Mark Scott At Large
Kevin Kieschnick District
John Marez District 2
Priscilla Leal District 3
Chris Adler District 4
Larry Elizondo District 5
The Mayor and Council's vision statement declares the city’s goals 'to make Corpus Christi one of the most livable communities in America. To create a vibrant, progressive, clean city that rejoices in its diversity. To keep our citizens safe and secure, and provide an abundance of economic development opportunities while paying special attention to our unique environment.'The Corpus Christi Interim City Manager 'Angel R. Escobar was appointed in 2008, and works alongside Assistant City Managers Cindy O'Brien (Administrative Services), Margie C. Rose (Community Services), and Oscar Martinez (Public Works & Utilities). The City's Intergovernmental Relations department is under the direction of Rudy D. Garza. Appointed by the City Council, Armando Chapa serves as the City Secretary.The Corpus Christi City Charter was adopted by public referendum in 1987, with amendments to the entire charter conducted January 19, 1991, April 3, 1993, and further revisions on November 2, 2004 and November 7, 2006. The Charter consists of ten Articles, or forty-one Sections regarding stipulations of Home Rule Government, City Council and City Manager procedures, Administration, Planning, Boards and Commissions, etc. The Code of Ordinances of Corpus Christi was codified through Ordinance No. 028493, and adopted Feb. 23, 2010.City Departments include: Aviation, City Attorney, Community Development, Development Services, Economic Development, Engineering, Financial Services, Fire, Gas, Health, Human Relations, Human Resources, Intergovernmental Relations, Libraries, Management & Budget, Marina, Municipal Information Systems, Municipal Court, Museum, Neighborhood Services, Parks & Recreation, Police, Public Information, Solid Waste Services, Storm Water, Street Operations, Wastewater, and Water.Corpus Christi’s fiscal year begins August 1 and ends July 31.Municipal Mission Statement 'The City of Corpus Christi is dedicated to delivering responsive services that address our diverse community's needs and enhance the quality of life in our All-America City. We will accomplish this through fiscal discipline, continuous improvement, straight-forward communication, wise stewardship of resources, and excellent customer service.'
State and federal representation
The Texas Thirteenth Court of Appeals is located in the Nueces County Courthouse in Corpus Christi.The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the Corpus Christi Parole Office in Corpus Christi.The United States Postal Service operates the Corpus Christi Post Office, the city's main post office, and several station post offices.
Economy
The majority of the population employed in the Services, Wholesale and Retail Trade, and Government sectors, however Corpus Christi does enjoy a low unemployment rate of 4.0% (May 2007).The Port of Corpus Christi, which is the sixth largest U.S. port and deepest inshore port on the Gulf of Mexico, handles mostly oil and agricultural products. Much of the local economy is driven by tourism and the oil & petrochemicals industry. In 2005 it was ranked as the 47th largest in the world by cargo tonnage.Corpus Christi is home to two installations of the United States military, the Corpus Christi Army Depot and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. Combined, these installations provide 6,200 civilian jobs to the local economy, making them the single largest employer in the city. Corpus Christi Army Depot, located on NAS Corpus Christi, is the largest helicopter repair facility in the world.Corpus Christi used to be the headquarters of Whataburger, a fast food restaurant operator and franchisor with 650 stores in ten states and Mexico which has since moved to San Antonio. Other large employers include the Corpus Christi Independent School District with 5,355 local employees, Spohn Health System at 4,500, Stripes Convenience Stores at 2,500, and the H.E.B. Grocery Company at 2,200.Corpus Christi became the first major city to offer city wide free Wi-Fi, in order to allow remote meter reading after a meter reader was attacked by a dog. In 2007 the network was purchased by Earthlink for $5.5 million, and stopped being a free service on May 31, 2007.
Transportation
Corpus Christi is served by Corpus Christi International Airport and Interstate 37. U.S. Highway 77 connects the city to Brownsville and Victoria. Texas State Highway 44 is a main thoroughfare that connects Corpus Christi to Laredo and the western part of South Texas by way of U.S. Highway 59, Interstate 35, and U.S. Highway 83. The inner city public transportation is provided by Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority with its 28 bus routes. Corpus Christi once had a streetcar system functioning from 1910 to 1931 and a railway station (passenger service ended in 1965). Despite the convenience of a large harbor, the city does not have a passenger port.The city is accessed by two major bridges, the Harbor Bridge (US 181) and the John F. Kennedy Causeway (PR 22). Both bridges are maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation.
Major highways
Interstate 37
U.S. Highway 77
U.S. Highway 181
Texas State Highway 44
Texas State Highway 286(Crosstown Expressway)
Texas State Highway 358(S.P.I.D. and/or N.P.I.D.)
Texas State Highway 35
Texas State Highway 361
Texas State Highway 357
Sports
The city is home to the Corpus Christi IceRays of the Central Hockey League, Corpus Christi Hooks of the Texas League who are a Double A affiliate of the Houston Astros. The Hooks hosted the 2007 Texas League All Star Game. The Corpus Christi metropolitan area is also home of the Coastal Bend Thunder of United League Baseball and the Corpus Christi Hammerheads of the Intense Football League. Sailing races are held weekly off downtown's T-heads every Wednesday, where spectators watch vessels competing during sunset. Corpus is also home to the Corpus Christi Rugby Football Club, which is a member of the Texas Rugby Union, an affiliate of the Western Rugby Union and of the United States Rugby Football Union.
Colleges and universities
Corpus Christi is home to several institutions of higher learning: Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Del Mar College , Our Lady of Corpus Christi, a private, Roman Catholic university, a branch of the Coastal Bend College education program, and numerous vocational schools including Southern Careers Institute , South Texas Vo-Tech, Career Centers of Texas-Corpus Christi, and Vogue Cosmetology School. Corpus Christi is also home to the South Texas School of Christian Studies located on Ward Island alongside Texas A&M Corpus Christi. The school serves as an extension campus on the undergraduate level for Howard Payne University and on the graduate level for Logsdon Seminary of Hardin-Simmons University.Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMUCC or TAMU-CC in short) is a component of the Texas A&M University System. It was formerly known by the following four names: Corpus Christi State University (CCSU), Texas A&I University at Corpus Christi, and University of Corpus Christi.Del Mar College is a local community college begun in the 1940s at a location behind Wynn Seale Jr. H. S. The main campus began with the administration building which was constructed after World War II on Del Mar. The college grew to encompass a good portion of a residential addition called Southmoreland built from the Bohemian farm lands in the late 1930s. Del Mar now includes a West campus located in area of Corpus Christi that once was Cliff Maus Airport.Southern Careers Institute offers career training at two Corpus Christi locations, primarily in medical, business, and cosmetic fields.
Schools
Five school districts provide primary and secondary education for area residents: Corpus Christi Independent School District (CCISD), Calallen ISD, Flour Bluff ISD, Tuloso-Midway ISD, and West Oso ISD. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi provides the primary and secondary education for Catholic schools. Several Open Enrollment Charter Schools in Corpus Christi. These public schools are: Accelerated Learning Center, Cesar E Chavez Academy, Corpus Christi College Preparatory HS, Corpus Christi Montessori School, Dr ML Garza-Gonzalez Charter School, GCCLR Institute of Technology, Premier HS of Corpus Christi, Richard Milburn Academy, School of Science and Technology, Seashore Learning Center, and Seashore Middle Academy.
FBISD
Flour Bluff High SchoolGrades 9 - 12
Flour Bluff Jr. High School Grades 7 & 8
Flour Bluff Intermediate School Grades 5 & 6
Flour Bluff Elementary School Grades 3 & 4
Flour Bluff Primary School Grades 1 & 2
Early Childhood Center Pre-Kindergarten & Kindergarten
Head StartAges 1–4
CCISD
High SchoolsMary Carroll High School
Richard King High School
Roy Miller High School
Foy H. Moody High School (offering the Health Science Academy, among many others)
W. B. Ray High School
Collegiate High School
Richard Milburn Academy Charter Highschool
Solomon Coles High School
West Oso High School
Tuloso Midway High School
Calallen High School
John Paul II High School
Incarnate Word Academy High School
Middle SchoolsSchool of Science and Technology (SST)
Baker Middle School
Calallen Middle School
Cullen Middle School
Cunningham Middle School
Driscoll Middle School
Grant Middle School
Hamlin Middle School
Haas Middle School
Kaffie Middle School
Martin Middle School
South Park Middle School
Tom Browne Middle School
Wynn Seale Middle School
Libraries
Corpus Christi Public Libraries
TexShare Card holders have limited borrowing privileges at the following area libraries:Nueces County Public LibraryinRobstown, Texas-Lending Policy
Mary and Jeff Bell LibraryatTexas A&M University-Corpus Christi-Lending Policy
Del Mar College Libraries-Lending Policy
Recreation
With the city's location beside Corpus Christi Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, and Laguna Madre, it has turned into a booming economy for fishing guides, bait merchants, fishing supply retailers, watercraft retailers, and even research of marine biology. Shark attacks are typically limited to the South Padre Island area.Because of the abundance of fish, waterfowl hunting has become popular in the region. Duck, geese, coot, and teal are just some of the many birds hunted for on the water. There is also a huge interest in white-winged dove and mourning dove in these areas, but most of the birds are hunted on private leases.
Wind sports
The city has one of the highest average wind speeds of coastal cities in North America Combined with the Bay Front area along Ocean Drive, this makes Corpus Christi one of the premiere destinations for wind sports such as kite boarding, wind surfing, and kite flying. The city is also well known for having one of the best bays in the country for sailing.The Corpus Christi Skatepark was the highly anticipated attraction which opened on February 17, 2007. It is located in Cole Park on the shoreline of the Corpus Christi Bay near downtown. It is free and open to the public from dawn until 10PM. The 12,000-square-foot (1,100 m2) concrete park includes a skating bowl, and a street course with stairs, railings and flat surfaces.
Notable people from Corpus Christi
This list is in alphabetical order by last name.Amy Acuff, Olympichigh jumper
Mike Adams,MLBplayer for theMilwaukee BrewersandSan Diego Padres
Barbara Barrie, actress
Raymond Berry,NFL Hall of Famewide receiver
Patrick Bissell, ballet dancer
Justin Brantly, NFL Punter
Johnny Canales, TV Show host
Dabney Coleman, actor
Roger Creager,country musicsinger-songwriter
Paula DeAnda, musician
Helen Donath,opera singer
Farrah Fawcett, actress
David Freese,MLBplayer for theSt. Louis Cardinals
Bette Nesmith Graham, inventor ofLiquid Paperand mother ofMichael NesmithofThe Monkees
Stephanie Griest, author
Jim Heath, musician known as The Reverend Horton Heat
Alden Hodges, Alden himself
Burt Hooton, baseball player
Ernestine Jackson, actress/singer
Brooks Kieschnick, baseball player
Bobby Labonte,NASCARSprint Cupdriver and 2000 champion
Terry Labonte,NASCARSprint Cupdriver and 1984 & 1996 champion
Colleen R. LaRose, indicted in March 2010 for trying to recruit Islamic terrorists to wagejihadand murder a Swedish artist
Brian Leetch,NHLdefenseman. Born in Corpus Christi but grew up inCheshire, Connecticut.
Danny Lohner, musician
Eva Longoria, actress
Allen Ludden,game showhost
Ramsey Luna,Mexican Americanboxer.
Terrence McNally, playwright
Nina Mercedez, adult film star
Mitch Morris, actor
Sam Neely, singer
Jacqueline Nesbitt, author
Paul Peress, drummer, composer, producer
Larry Norman, musician and songwriter
Todd Oldham,fashion designer
Revilo P. Oliver, notorious 20th century American fascist and scholar
A.B. Quintanilla, singer and songwriter currently withKumbia All Starz, Selena's older brother
Suzette Quintanilla, drummer forSelena y los Dinos, Selena's older sister.
Selena Quintanilla-Perez, Tejano star
Lou Diamond Phillips, actor
Audrey Gossett, Singer / Songwriter
Billy Powell, keyboardist
Dody Roach, professional poker player, 2-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner
Johnny Roland,NFLplayer and coach
Aaron Ross, Professional Bmx bike rider who rides for Sunday Bikes andEtniesShoes
Leslie Sanchez,political pundit
Pepe Serna, actor
Robert Simpson, meteorologist and hurricane specialist
Lori Singer, actress
Marc Singer, actor
Justin Storms, artist, musician
Don Williams, country and western singer
Johnny Flores, rock vocalist forThe Hi-Tones
Gary Delgado, bassist forThe Hi-Tones
Hal Williams, author
