South Padre Island, Texas

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South Padre Island, Texas
Location of South Padre Island, Texas
Location of South Padre Island, Texas
Coordinates: 26°6′43″N 97°10′11″W / 26.11194, -97.16972
Country United States
State Texas
County Cameron
Area
 - Total 1.9 sq mi (4.9 km²)
 - Land 1.8 sq mi (4.7 km²)
 - Water 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km²)
Elevation 7 ft (2 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 2,422
 - Density 1,335.9/sq mi (515.8/km²)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 78597
Area code(s) 956
FIPS code 48-69140[1]
GNIS feature ID 1376223[2]

South Padre Island is a resort community in Cameron County, Texas, United States.[3] It is part of the Brownsville–Harlingen Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the town had an official population of 2,422 people, although this significantly underestimates its size since many people split their time between vacation properties on South Padre and permanent residences elsewhere in the Rio Grande Valley or in Nuevo Leon. The town is located on South Padre Island, a barrier island along the Texas Gulf coast. South Padre Island is named after José Nicolás Ballí (Padre Ballí), a Catholic priest and settler. [4]

In 1967, Hurricane Beulah caused extensive damage to much of the town of South Padre Island. [5][6]

Subsequent to rebuilding, the island became a popular spring break destination for college students and other tourists. Many multistory resort hotels and condominiums have been erected along the coastline to the Gulf of Mexico. The second Schlitterbahn water park (Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark) opened in South Padre Island in 2001. [7]

South Padre International Music Festival is an annual event that occurs the first weekend of November. 2007 marked the inaugural year of the South Padre International Music Festival and was attended by almost 10,000 festival-goers throughout the weekend. Sixty-four bands across fourteen venues filled the island and rocked to an array of both national and international acts, ranging from country, reggae, rock, and indie jams to Latin rock, ska and jazz. [8]


Contents

[edit] Geography

South Padre Island is located at 26°6′43″N, 97°10′11″W (26.111935, -97.169587)[9].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), of which, 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (4.23%) is water.

[edit] Climate

South Padre Island experiences a humid subtropical climate, similar to that of the Tampa Bay Area of Florida but with less precipitation and slightly higher summer maximum temperatures. The average high in January is 67 °F and the average low is 52 °F. The average high in July is 89 °F, and the average low is 77 °F. The warm season is long, as average high temperatures are in the upper 80s to lower 90s, and average low temperatures in the upper 70s, typically around 77 °F. The region experiences relatively high dew point values, around 75 °F in the summer time, resulting in higher relative humidity values from June through September.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 2,422 people, 1,211 households, and 662 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,335.9 people per square mile (516.7/km²). There were 4,685 housing units at an average density of 2,584.1/sq mi (999.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.59% White, 0.70% African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.77% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. 22.83% of the population is Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,211 households out of which 15.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.3% were non-families. 35.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.54.

In the town the population was spread out with 12.9% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 34.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 113.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $45,417, and the median income for a family was $53,250. Males had a median income of $39,250 versus $30,028 for females. The per capita income for the town was $31,708. About 10.2% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

Every summer and spring break, tourists flock to the island and greatly increase its population, Most are Texans, but many come from neighboring Mexico, particularly from the states of Tamaulipas and Nuevo León. South Padre Island is especially popular with residents of Monterrey Mexico.

During the winter, many "Winter Texans" from the north and midwest live on the sandy barrier island and in nearby Port Isabel. These seasonal residents most of the time reside in trailer and mobile home parks and in older wooden homes on raised platforms (to accommodate tidal surges).

[edit] Education

Children living in South Padre Island are zoned to schools in Port Isabel Independent School District. Children go to Garriga Elementary School (Grades K-2), Derry Elementary School, (3-5), Port Isabel Junior High School (6-8), and Port Isabel High School (9-12). All of the schools are in Port Isabel. [10]

In addition, South Padre Island residents may apply to schools in the South Texas Independent School District. [11]

[edit] Transportation

Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport in Brownsville and Valley International Airport in Harlingen serve the island.[12]

[edit] Radio stations

[edit] Gallery

A west-facing view from the Holiday Inn SunSpree in South Padre Island.

A street in SPI with residences and condominiums.

A person taking an early morning walk on the Gulf side of the island.

This walkway provides access to the beach from a condo.

A beach in South Padre Island.

One of the smaller venues for the South Padre International Music Festival.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ Handbook of Texas Online article for South Padre Island Accessed May 17, 2007.
  4. ^ Handbook of Texas Online biography of José Nicolás Ballí Accessed May 16, 2007.
  5. ^ Handbook of Texas Online article on hurricanes in Texas Accessed May 16, 2007.
  6. ^ Padre Island's history with tropical systems Accessed May 17, 2007.
  7. ^ Background information on Schlitterbahn developments in Texas Accessed May 16, 2007.
  8. ^ About the festival Accessed March 26, 2008.
  9. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  10. ^ Port Isabel ISD Accessed May 16, 2007.
  11. ^ South Texas Independent School District Accessed May 16, 2007.
  12. ^ "Southwest Airlines Cities," Southwest Airlines

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Municipalities and communities of
Cameron County, Texas
County seat: Brownsville
Cities
Cameron County map
Towns
Village
CDPs


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