< PreviousIn 1854, the Coward, Perkins and Butler families arrived from Louisiana to settle the area along Clear Creek and established a successful cattle ranching operation. The local marshlands were an excellent year-round resource to feed cattle drives on the Opelousas trail. In the early 1890s, a wealthy Galveston businessman and landowner named J.C. League divided and sold portions of his land to establish and develop the community. He designated portions for a school, a church and a park that still carries his namesake. Officially incorporated in 1962, what was once a small bedroom community known for ‘friendly folks and majestic oaks,’ is now one of the fastest growing cities in Texas and the United States. Perfectly positioned just minutes from both Houston and Galveston — and conveniently located near NASA’s Johnson Space Center — the thriving city along Clear Lake ranks high on lists of best accolades and boasts top-ranked schools. Home to America’s third-largest pleasure boat moorage and glistening views of Clear Lake, League City’s historic streets are lined with towering oaks and blooming gardens that offer a charming tropical escape that is sweetly southern and 100 percent Texas. Population: 116,834* Area: 53 square miles Website: visitleague city.com Quick Facts Our Cities: League City COURTESY/City of League City Not to miss Harvest Festival October 2022 League Park, 512 Second St., League City www.visitleaguecity.com Take your family and friends to enjoy an afternoon of food, fun and activities for all ages. Holiday in the Park December 2022 League Park, 512 Second St., League City www.leaguecityproud.com/ holiday-in-the-park From costume contests to huge floats, the festival and parade is the highlight of the holiday season. *Courtesy of the City of League City Main St 45 3 6 517 146 96 528 20 | The Daily News | Live. Work. Play. Galveston County | 2022Enjoy authentic Japanese-style cuisine including the finest Hibachi and Sushi dishes. Children’s Menu & Private Rooms Available 2104 61st St., Galveston, TX 409-744-2742 www.Yamatotx.com 2022 | Live. Work. Play. Galveston County | The Daily News | 21Located along the western shores of Galveston Bay, San Leon, Bacliff and Bayview create the county’s largest non-incorporated community on the mainland. All started out as fishing communities but have developed into some of the most sought after residential properties in the county. Fishing remains a big part of the economy in the area, but much of the economic influences shifted to the state Highway 146 corridor and the growth of retail, food service and bars. Always communities with an independent streak, the San Leon/Bacliff/Bayview communities pride themselves on not needing much from government to get by. During the past two decades, however, residents often have fought annexation attempts of Texas City and League City. There also have been attempts for the communities to incorporate, but all efforts on that level have failed. All three communities are known for great spots to eat seafood, including Gilhooley’s and TopWater Grill in San Leon. Railean Distillery in San Leon is the only heavy spirits manufacturer in the county. Galveston Bay Bacliff Bayview San Leon 517 646 Bay Shore Dr 9th St Quick Facts Our Cities: San Leon, Bacliff and Bayview STUART VILLANUEVA /The Daily News file photo San Leon Population: 5,336* Area: 5.2 square miles * 2019 population estimates, US. Census Bureau Bacliff Population: 10,856* Area: 2.5 square miles * 2019 population estimates, US. Census Bureau Bayview Population: 439* Area: 0.89 square miles * 2019 population estimates, US. Census Bureau JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News file photo 22 | The Daily News | Live. Work. Play. Galveston County | 2022408 25th Street Galveston’s best for vegan, vegetarian, and specialty diets. Mon-Sat, 11 am-4 pm Main: (409) 762-0803 eatceteratx.com Shown is a Vegan Thai Sandwich, crostinis with vegan spread and vegan Triple-Layer Chocolate Cake. 2022 | Live. Work. Play. Galveston County | The Daily News | 23The city of Santa Fe is a growing community in the heart of Galveston County that truly enjoys the best of three worlds. Santa Fe was incorporated in 1978. Located five miles west of Interstate 45, Santa Fe is a rural bedroom community free of the congestion of the big city. Just a 20-minute jaunt to the south one can enjoy the beaches, seasonal events and lifestyles of Galveston Island, but turn to the north and in just 20 minutes, you can experience the culture of the third largest city in the nation in Houston. Santa Fe abuts the cities of Hitchcock, La Marque, Texas City and Dickinson. Three major highways run through the city (state Highway 6, FM 646 and FM 1764) as well as the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. Santa Fe is a city that “Honors the Past and Imagines the Future.” 45 6 517 1764 646 Population: 13,274 Area: 15.7 square miles Website: www.ci. santa-fe.tx.us Quick Facts Our Cities: Santa Fe The Daily News file photo Not to miss STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News file photo Heritage Festival November 2022 Runge Park, 4605 Peck Ave., Santa Fe www.santafetexaschamber.com Join hundreds of smiling faces, loads of hometown hospitality and happy memories at this festival. Activities include a kid zone, cook-off, craft and food vendors, barrel racing and more. *2019 population estimates, U.S. Census Bureau 24 | The Daily News | Live. Work. Play. Galveston County | 2022ROOFING & REPAIRS Protect and beautify your home with the best in the business. Call the people you can trust. Licensed and Bonded Locally Owned for Over 30 Years 409-762-8068 office@morganroofingtexas.com morganroofingtexas.com Morgan Roofing, LLC Galveston’s #1 Roofing Company M oody M ansion 2618 Broadway • Galveston Island moodymansion.org • (409) 762-7668 Magnificent on the outside . . . You must see inside! The 1895 Moody Mansion is lovingly restored, marvelous to expore, and open daily for tours. This Beauty Is More Than Skin Deep Also home to the Galveston Children’s Museum, “Where Learning Is Child’s Play” • GalvestonCM.org 2022 | Live. Work. Play. Galveston County | The Daily News | 25Founded in 1911, the city of Texas City is a waterfront community with a rich history and plentiful recreational opportunities. Through the 1900 Storm and several other hurricanes, including the storm of 1915, hurricanes Alicia and Ike, the city of Texas City has survived nature’s toughest adversaries. Texas City continued and prospered even after the worst man-made disaster in the United States until 9/11 with the explosion of the Grandcamp in 1947. Texas City has always shown resiliency; thus, the phoenix as its symbol. Texas City has always been tied to the water and a strong industrial base. The city of Texas City hosts the state’s third largest deep-water port able to handle large vessels with a 45 feet depth channel. However, Texas City is much more than an industrial city. The city of Texas City is a rapidly growing community with abundant recreational opportunities. There are beaches along the 5-mile Texas City Dike — the world’s longest man-made fishing pier and known for great fishing and convenient boat ramps. Golfing also abounds with an 18- hole championship golf course at Bayou Golf Club. The city boasts of 40 parks totaling more than 1,000 acres of an extensive recreational system complete with soccer fields, baseball/softball fields, football fields, trails, nature conservation areas, birding of both central and transoceanic migration, facilities for tennis and racquetball, numerous gyms and a full-service fitness center. And, of course, water opportunities with splash parks, family aquatic center and a state-of-the-art Matthew T. Doyle Natatorium second to none in the area. For weddings, banquets, conventions, receptions, dances or any group event that needs a beautiful backdrop or first-class setting, there is the 40,000-square-foot Charles T. Doyle Convention Center. Visit Downtown Sixth Street for unique restaurants and shops, or stop by the Texas City Museum to learn more about the rich history. A wide variety of shopping opportunities can be found at the Tanger Outlets located on Interstate 45. Population: 48,569* Area: 63.8 square miles Website: www.texas- city-tx.org Quick Facts Our Cities: Texas City STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News file photos *2019 population estimates, U.S. Census Bureau Galveston Bay 45 146 3 6 197 517 26 | The Daily News | Live. Work. Play. Galveston County | 202220 PLUS YEARS AND OVER 8000 LESSONS Galveston’s Oldest Professional Surf School OPEN ALL YEAR L aw o ffices o f 1411 39th Street, Galveston, TX 409-744-0816 susan@edmonsonlaw.com Board Certified Family Law – TBLS Family Law Wills & Probates 2022 | Live. Work. Play. Galveston County | The Daily News | 27Tiki Island is a small village just north of Galveston. Incorporated in 1982, Tiki Island is known for its fishing and community feel. Residents enjoy boating and water activities. There is a park and pavilion for outdoor activities and a church on the island. Jones Bay 45 Galveston Bay Population: 1,051* Area: 0.75 square miles Website: www.villageof tikiisland.org Quick Facts Our Cities: Village of Tiki Island STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News file photo *2019 population estimates, U.S. Census Bureau “The peninsula,” as locals call it, is a quirky community made up of the towns of Port Bolivar, Crystal Beach, Caplen, Gilchrist and High Island. It is a barrier formation in the Gulf of Mexico and a short ferry ride from Galveston. Bolivar Peninsula boasts a long history of farming and ranching. From the late 1800s through the early 1900s, the peninsula was known as the “Breadbasket of Galveston” and the “Watermelon Capital of Texas.” By 1885, the peninsula also was well known as a successful place for livestock. Cowboys still run cattle on the saltgrass pastures. The Houston Audubon Society is currently one of the largest landowners on the Bolivar Peninsula. The peninsula has world-renown bird sanctuaries and is considered a paradise for bird-watchers around the world. (www.bolivarpeninsulatexas.com) Crystal Beach, about 10 miles from the ferry landing, is a resort community mostly catering to summer tourists. It is the largest community on the peninsula in population as well as land area, stretching 7 miles along state Highway 87. Port Bolivar is an unincorporated community and home to the historic Bolivar Lighthouse, which once guided ships entering Galveston Bay. The lighthouse was built in 1872. It served for 61 years before being retired in 1933. Caplen is a residential area near the Rollover Pass and adjoins the west end of Gilchrist. Gilchrist is an unincorporated residential community and beach-front resort located 17 miles east of Port Bolivar. It was named for Gibb Gilchrist, who moved and rebuilt the rail line from High Island to Port Bolivar. High Island is located at the extreme eastern end of Galveston County. Tourism drives the High Island economy with four bird sanctuaries as well as a nearby fishing pier. 87 Galveston Bay Trinity Bay Gulf of Mexico Crystal Beach Caplen Port Bolivar Gilchrist High Island Population: 2,549* Area: 48.1 square miles Communities: Port Bolivar, Crystal Beach, Caplen, Gilchrist and High Island Website: www.discover bolivar.com Quick Facts Our Cities: Bolivar Peninsula *2019 population estimates, U.S. Census Bureau STUART VILLANUEVA/The Daily News file photo JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News file photo 28 | The Daily News | Live. Work. Play. Galveston County | 2022Classical Music, Island Style! Join us for Sunday Symphony Concerts at The Grand 1894 Opera House, elegant Moody Mansion Music Recitals and more! Visit our website and sign up for email updates: www.GalvestonSymphony.org Photo by Robert Mihovil, Mihovil Photography Looking for a financial institution that fits your lifestyle needs? At AMOCO, you can access and manage your funds on your own schedule and apply for loans safely and securely using our video banking, online banking, and mobile app. Online, Video Banking, or at a branch near you! 3 Convenient Ways to Join: 800.231.6053 | AMOCOfcu.org AMOCO Whenever, Wherever. CONVENIENTLY THERE FOR YOU! Subject to membership eligibility. Federally insured by NCUA. SCAN ME 2022 | Live. Work. Play. Galveston County | The Daily News | 29Next >