Mustang Island

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A map of Mustang Island.

Mustang Island is a barrier island on the Gulf Coast of Texas in the United States. The island is 18 miles (29 km) long, stretching from Corpus Christi to Port Aransas. The island is oriented generally northeast-southwest, with the Gulf of Mexico on the east and south, and Corpus Christi Bay on the north and west. The island's southern end connects by roadway to Padre Island. At the northern end of the island is Aransas Pass, beyond which is San José Island (also known as Saint Joseph Island). Aransas Pass is protected by jetties extending into the Gulf from both Mustang Island and San José Island.

The original name of the island was "Wild Horse Island." The island was named after the wild horses that populated the island after their introduction to the area by the Spanish in the early 1800s.

The town of Port Aransas, Texas is located at the northern end of the island. Mustang Island State Park encompasses the entire southern third of the island, including 3954 acres (16 km²) and 5 miles (8 km) of beach. The city of Corpus Christi includes the northernmost portion of Padre Island, and is thus directly adjacent to Mustang Island.