La Marque, Texas

City of La Marque
City

The La Marque water tower

Location of La Marque, Texas
Coordinates: 29°22′0″N 94°58′26″W / 29.36667°N 94.97389°W / 29.36667; -94.97389Coordinates: 29°22′0″N 94°58′26″W / 29.36667°N 94.97389°W / 29.36667; -94.97389
Country United States
State Texas
County Galveston
Area
 • Total 14.3 sq mi (36.9 km2)
 • Land 14.2 sq mi (36.8 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation 16 ft (5 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 14,509
 • Density 962.0/sq mi (371.4/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 77568
Area code(s) 409
FIPS code 48-41116[1]
GNIS feature ID 1377749[2]
Website http://www.ci.la-marque.tx.us/

La Marque (/lə ˈmɑːrk/ lə MARK) is a city in Galveston County, approximately 50 miles south of Houston, Texas. The city population in 2010 was 14,509. La Marque experienced considerable growth in the 1950s. During this period of growth, La Marque provided a general administrative, trades and crafts workforce helping to support the petrochemical complex in adjoining Texas City. It is the hometown of Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Norman Bulaich.

History

La Marque, also known as Highlands and as Buttermilk Junction, is an incorporated residential community on Interstate Highway 45, State Highway 3, and Farm roads 519, 1765, and 2004, some twelve miles northwest of Galveston in northwestern Galveston County. The community was originally known as Highlands, probably for its location near Highland Creek, and was renamed in the 1890s when residents learned of another mainland community of the same name. Madam St. Ambrose, postmistress, chose the new name, which in French means "the mark."

The community's post office operated from 1887 until the 1930s. During the Civil War, the town was known as Buttermilk Junction after the soldiers' practice of purchasing buttermilk there on the trip between Galveston and Houston. In 1867 the town had six families and its residents raised cattle or rice. The local population rose from 100 in 1890 to 175 in 1896, when the community had a Baptist church and several fruit growers. A school with fourteen students existed before 1895, when Amos Stewart gave land for a larger facility. By 1909 two teachers served an enrollment of fifty-five students, and in 1913 further construction began.

By 1914 the community had been reached by four railroads: the International and Great Northern; the Galveston, Houston and Henderson; the Missouri, Kansas and Texas; and the Interurban. At that time La Marque had both a railroad station and general store located in a private home. The town's population reached 500 in 1914 and 1,500 by 1952, when it had ninety businesses. As it grew together with nearby Texas City, La Marque served as a residential community for employees at nearby industrial facilities (e.g., chemical plants and refineries) in the La Marque-Texas City area, as well as the Galveston Island Medical Center. The town had a population of 17,000 and 130 businesses in 1977. In 1988 it had 15,697 residents and 158 businesses, and in 1991, some 14,258 residents and 272 businesses.

In the 2000s, rising real estate costs in Galveston forced many families to move to other areas, including La Marque. This meant an influx of children from the Galveston Independent School District into other school districts. In spite of this fact, the number of children enrolled in the La Marque Independent School District has continued to fall.[3]

Geography

Map of La Marque

La Marque is located at 29°22′00″N 94°58′26″W / 29.366684°N 94.973922°W / 29.366684; -94.973922 (29.366684, -94.973922).[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.3 square miles (37 km2), of which, 14.2 square miles (37 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) of it (0.28%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
196013,969—
197016,13115.5%
198015,372−4.7%
199014,120−8.1%
200013,682−3.1%
201014,5096.0%
Est. 201616,457[5]13.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 13,682 people, 5,237 households, and 3,713 families residing in the city. The population density was 962.0 people per square mile (371.5/km2). There were 5,732 housing units at an average density of 403.0 per square mile (155.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 55.84% White, 34.69% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 6.21% from other races, and 2.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.43% of the population.

There were 5,237 households out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city, the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,841, and the median income for a family was $39,081. Males had a median income of $32,099 versus $27,292 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,518. About 13.5% of families and 17.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.6% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

La Marque City Hall
La Marque Post Office - 77658

The United States Postal Service La Marque Post Office is located at 509 Laurel Street.[7]

Education

La Marque Independent School District was mis-managed for so long that it was finally dissolved, when it was assigned by the commissioner of education an accreditation status of “Not Accredited-Revoked.” By law, a school district that is closed must be annexed into an adjoining district. Accordingly, Texas City, Hitchcock, Dickinson, and Santa Fe school districts jointly absorbed the responsibility of educating La Marque students.

Before shutting down the school district, Commissioner of Education Michael Williams gave the La Marque schools ample opportunity and time for improvement. In 2011, the school district was judged "academically unacceptable." Similarly, in 2013 and 2014, La Marque schools were given a rating of "improvement required." Finally, an October 2015 review by the TEA found La Marque ISD's rating at "substandard achievement." This ultimately led to the revocation of the accreditation status. Critics of the school district point out that administrators failed to manage the tax funds properly, failed to hire and train competent instructors, and emphasized sports to the exclusion of academics.

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

Most of the city is served by the Texas City Independent School District (TCISD). La Marque High School serves that portion.

Small portions of La Marque are served by the Dickinson Independent School District, Hitchcock Independent School District, and the Santa Fe Independent School District.

On December 2, 2015, Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner Michael Williams announced that TCISD would absorb the former La Marque Independent School District (LMISD) effective July 1, 2016.[8]

Colleges and universities

All of La Marque is served by the College of the Mainland.

Public libraries

The city owns the La Marque Public Library, which is located at 1101 Bayou Road.[9]

Transportation

Greyhound Bus Lines operates the Texas City La Marque Station at McKown Air Conditioning in nearby Texas City.[10]

Parks and recreation

The Galveston County Department of Parks and Senior Services operates the Wayne Johnson III Community Center at Carbide Park.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ↑ Schladen, Marty. "Forces drive people off island." Archived August 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Galveston County Daily News. July 23, 2006.
  4. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Post Office Location - LA MARQUE." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
  8. ↑ Daughtry, Shannon. "TEA: Texas City ISD to annex La Marque ISD ." The Galveston County Daily News. Wednesday December 2, 2015. Retrieved on January 12, 2016. "Texas City ISD will annex La Marque ISD into its school district beginning in the 2016-17 school year."
  9. ↑ "Library Archived December 26, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.." City of La Marque. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
  10. ↑ "Texas City La Marque, Texas." Greyhound Lines. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
  11. ↑ Facilities Overview Archived 2005-08-31 at the Wayback Machine.." Galveston County Department of Parks and Senior Services.
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