Galveston Island Texas Galveston is a city in Galveston County located on Galveston Island on the Texas Gulf Coast within the Houston metropolitan area.
This island city of 65,000 residents has been described as the only part of the coast you’d want to visit on a rainy day. Visitors who head directly for the beach will miss plenty, because, in addition to the sea, recreational attractions and good shopping, Galveston offers a unique historical perspective.
Galveston is accessible by the a six lane causeway linking the Island to the mainland on the north end of the city, a toll bridge on the southwestern end of the island, and by ferry boat service on the east end of the city. 
 click here for maps of island area and to read the story of Galveston
| Galveston Facts at a Glance |
Population
Galveston Galveston County
1970 61,809 165,669
1980 61,902 195,940
1990 59,070 217,499
2000 57,247 250,158
Source: 2000 U.S. Census
Age
Galveston Galveston County
Median age 35.5 35.9
Under 18 years 23.4% 26.7%
18-24 years 11.3% 8.7%
25-44 years 29.8% 30.2%
45-64 years 21.8% 23.3%
65+ years 13.7% 11.1%
Source: 2000 U.S. Census
Ethnicity
Galveston Galveston County
Caucasian 44.2% 63.1%
African-American 25.2% 15.3%
Asian 3.2% 2.1%
Hispanic 25.8% 18.0%
Other 1.7% 1.6%
Source: 2000 U.S. Census |
Geography
A barrier reef island 32 miles long and 2 1/2 miles wide at its widest point.
Location
Located in the Gulf of Mexico, 50 miles south of Houston.
Government
City council-manager system with six council members elected from single-member districts; the mayor is elected-at-large.
Climate
Offers temperate, semi-tropical weather year-round; averaging 57° F in the winter months and 81° F in the summer months.
Religion
Galveston is home to more than 50 churches and two synagogues representing every major religious denomination. |
Health Care
The integrated health care network of the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) includes eight on-campus hospitals and a network of campus- and community-based specialty and primary care clinics. The Shriners Hospitals for Children Galveston Burns Hospital, a $40 million facility for the care of severely burned children, is affiliated with UTMB.
Education
Galveston Independent School District covers 94.82 square miles, including all of Galveston Island and a portion of the Bolivar Peninsula. The district has seven elementary schools, three middle schools, one high school, and an alternative school. There are seven private schools on Galveston Island.
Higher Education
Texas A&M University at Galveston; Galveston College; and University of Texas Medical Branch |
Quarterly Retail Sales
Accommodations/ Food Service $206,397,644
Arts/ Entertainment/ Recreation $26,462,106
Construction $117,221,040
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate $5,157531
Information $29,913,371
Manufacturing $107,572,844
Real Estate Rental/ Leasing $27,908,403
Retail $546,771,860
Services $125,665,603
Transportation, Communications $19,759,238
Wholesale Trade $235,491,091
Source: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Quarterly Sales Tax Report
Labor Analysis
Employable Employed Unemployed Unemployment
Rate
2000 31,324 28,915 2,408 7.7%
2001 31,189 28,768 2,421 7.8%
2002 31,884 28,920 2,964 9.3%
2003 32,092 29,813 2,279 7.1%
2004 31,574 29,080 2,494 7.9%
2005 27,589 26,031 1,558 5.6%
2006 27,910 26,322 1,588 5.7%
2007 27,677 26,394 1,283 4.7%
Source: Texas Workforce Commission. |
Taxes
Taxes are paid in the City of Galveston to five entities – city, county, school, community college and navigation districts. There is no state property or income tax. The total property tax rate in 2007 was set at $2.44 per $100 valuation. A sales tax of 8.25 percent is levied.
Top Employers
Employer Total Employees
University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) 12,000
American National Insurance Company (ANICO) 1476
Galveston Independent School District (GISD) 1221
Landry’s Seafood Inc. * 1245
Galveston County (on Island only) 969
Moody Gardens 840
City of Galveston 825
Fertitta Hospitality ** 698
Walmart 410
Texas A&M University at Galveston 400
U.S. Army Corp of Engineers 312
Sales Taxes
State of Texas 6.25%
Local 2.00%
Total 8.25%
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School Facts
Galveston Independent School District serves approximately 7,700 students. The tax rate is $1.175 per $100 valuation. The starting salary for a teacher with a bachelor degree begins at $41,500, and the average teacher’s salary is $51,970.
Galveston College is a two-year community college with 2,300 credit students each semester, and nearly 5,000 continuing education students annually.
Texas A&M University at Galveston is the ocean-oriented, branch campus of Texas A&M University offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs in marine and maritime related fields. The university is home to the Texas Maritime Academy. Annual enrollment is over 1,500 students, with approximately 25 percent of students attending from out-of-state.
The University of Texas Medical Branch serves 2,400 students; and 697 interns, residents and fellows are enrolled in four schools and three institutes on a 85-acre campus.
Seven private schools serve 1,400 students in the community. |
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