Gilchrist, Texas

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Gilchrist, Texas is an unincorporated residential community and beachfront resort along State Highway 87, located seventeen miles east of Bolivar Point on Bolivar Peninsula. Located in Galveston County, this community was named for Gibb Gilchrist who relocated and rebuilt the rail line from High Island to Port Bolivar following the 1915 hurricane destruction.^[1] This settlement before this event was called Rollover.

In 1950, a post office was opened at Gilchrist. A notable feature of the community is the Rollover Pass (or Rollover Fish Pass), which divides Bolivar Peninsula as well as Gilchrist and carries water between East Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. It is regarded among sportsmen as a very popular fishing location in Texas with some the largest fish in the state. Rollover Pass was a natural pass that had been closed until 1955, when it was opened by the Texas Game and Fish Commission as part of its efforts to preserve and improve fish and wildlife resources.^[1] As of 1990 Gilchrist's core population was about 750, but would see more residents due to seasonal visitors. Several businesses in the community operate to furnish necessities for permanent residents as well as tourists.

[edit] Education

Gilchrist residents are zoned to schools in the High Island Independent School District. It is known as one the most improved school districts in Texas for the year 2006. Before hand, there were lots of instances of drug use and gang warfare among students.