
For more information on Corpus Christi, visit Britannica.com.
Tradition holds that the bay was named by the Spanish explorer Alonzo Alvarez de Pineda, who found it on Corpus Christi Day in 1519, but there is evidence that it was named instead by the first settlers, who arrived from the lower Rio Grande valley in the 1760s. In 1839, Col. H. L. Kinney founded a trading post, and traders and adventurers collected in a raffish colony on land claimed by both Texas and Mexico. The small port and terminus for overland wagon-train traffic boomed during the Mexican War. It was briefly captured by the U.S. navy in the Civil War. Corpus Christi developed industrially after the discovery of oil in the area and the completion (1926) of a deepwater channel past Mustang Island.
The city has many historical sites and is the seat of Texas A&M Univ.-Corpus Christi. A naval air station is on the southern shore of the bay. The city has suffered from occasional hurricanes; it is partially protected from flooding by a sea wall 12,300 ft (3,749 m) long, built between 1939 and 1941.
The country code is: 236
The city code is: 512
| City of Corpus Christi | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| — City — | |||
|
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| Nickname(s): Sparkling City by the Sea, The Real Windy City, | |||
| Location in the state of Texas | |||
| Coordinates: 27°44′34″N 97°24′7″W / 27.74278°N 97.40194°WCoordinates: 27°44′34″N 97°24′7″W / 27.74278°N 97.40194°W | |||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | Texas | ||
| Counties | Nueces Kleberg San Patricio Aransas[1] |
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| Government | |||
| • Type | Council-Manager | ||
| • City Council | Mayor Joe Adame David Loeb Nelda Martinez Mark Scott Kevin Kieschnick John Marez Priscilla Leal Chris Adler Larry Elizondo, Sr. |
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| • City Manager | Ronald L. Olson | ||
| Area | |||
| • City | 460.2 sq mi (1,192.0 km2) | ||
| • Land | 154.6 sq mi (400.5 km2) | ||
| • Water | 305.6 sq mi (791.5 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) | ||
| Population (2010) | |||
| • City | 305,215(60th) | ||
| • Density | 1,794.2/sq mi (692.7/km2) | ||
| • Metro | 428,185 | ||
| Time zone | CST (UTC–6) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC–5) | ||
| ZIP codes | 78401, 78402, 78404, 78405, 78406, 78407, 78408, 78409, 78410, 78411, 78412, 78413, 78414, 78415, 78416, 78417, 78418 | ||
| Area code(s) | 361 | ||
| FIPS code | 48-17000[2] | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1333380[3] | ||
| Website | Corpus Christi Official Website | ||
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County[4] also extends into the Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The metropolitan area population in 2008 was 416,376.[1] The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the eighth-largest city in the state. It is the principal city of the tri-county Corpus Christi Metropolitan Statistical Area, as well as the larger Corpus Christi-Kingsville Combined Statistical Area. The translation from Latin of the city's name is Body of Christ, given to the settlement by the Spanish, in honor of the Blessed Sacrament (Eucharist). The city has been nicknamed the "Sparkling City by the Sea", particularly in literature promoting tourism.
The city is home to the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Port of Corpus Christi, the 5th largest port in the nation and is served by the Corpus Christi International Airport.
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Corpus Christi was founded in 1839 by Colonel Henry Lawrence Kinney as Kinney's Trading Post, or Kinney's Ranch. It is a small trading post to sell supplies to a Mexican revolutionary army camped about 25 miles (40 km) west.[5] In July 1845, U.S. troops commanded by General Zachary Taylor set up camp there in preparation for war with Mexico, where they remained until March 1846. About a year later, the city was named Corpus Christi and was incorporated on September 9, 1852.[6] The Port of Corpus Christi was opened in 1926 and the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station was commissioned in 1941.[5]
According to the United States Census Bureau, Corpus Christi has a total area of 460.2 square miles (1,192.0 km2), of which 154.6 square miles (400.5 km2, 33.60%) of it is land and 305.6 square miles (791.5 km2, 66.40%) is water. Drinking water for the city is supplied by two reservoirs, Lake Corpus Christi and the Choke Canyon Reservoir. Through an effective regional partnership with the Nueces River Authority and the Port of Corpus Christi Authority, a 101-mile (163 km) pipeline was built which transports water from Lake Texana to the city's O.N. Steven's Water Treatment Plant. It was named the Mary Rhodes Pipeline, after the late Mayor Mary Rhodes. All reservoirs are outside the city limits, but are managed directly by the public utility of the City of Corpus Christi.
The city has a humid subtropical climate. The climate is a stark contrast to nearby Laredo, which has an arid climate. Corpus Christi has long hot summers and very short mild winters. The city's record high temperature is 109 °F (43 °C), on September 5, 2000.
Average nighttime winter lows in January, the coldest month, are a little less than 50 °F (10 °C) and its record low is 11 °F (−12 °C). In December 2004, the city experienced snowfall on Christmas Eve, the city's largest recorded snowstorm at 4.4 inches (11 cm). The snow stayed until Christmas Day and melted the day after.
Corpus Christi is annually very windy, with wind gust often reaching more than 40 miles (64 km) per hour.
In December, it is not unusual to see temperatures between 70 °F (21 °C) and 80 °F (27 °C), and even the occasional temperature greater than 85 °F (29 °C).
| Climate data for Corpus Christi, Texas (Corpus Christi Int'l), 1981-2010 normals | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 94 (34) |
97 (36) |
102 (39) |
102 (39) |
103 (39) |
106 (41) |
105 (41) |
104 (40) |
109 (43) |
98 (37) |
98 (37) |
91 (33) |
109 (43) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 66.9 (19.4) |
70.4 (21.3) |
75.9 (24.4) |
81.7 (27.6) |
86.6 (30.3) |
91.0 (32.8) |
93.1 (33.9) |
94.4 (34.7) |
90.1 (32.3) |
84.3 (29.1) |
76.0 (24.4) |
68.4 (20.2) |
81.57 (27.54) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 47.2 (8.4) |
50.5 (10.3) |
56.3 (13.5) |
63.0 (17.2) |
70.0 (21.1) |
73.9 (23.3) |
74.8 (23.8) |
75.0 (23.9) |
72.0 (22.2) |
64.8 (18.2) |
56.2 (13.4) |
48.6 (9.2) |
62.69 (17.05) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 14 (−10) |
11 (−12) |
24 (−4) |
33 (1) |
44 (7) |
56 (13) |
64 (18) |
64 (18) |
52 (11) |
28 (−2) |
28 (−2) |
13 (−11) |
11 (−12) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 1.54 (39.1) |
1.92 (48.8) |
1.89 (48) |
1.84 (46.7) |
3.07 (78) |
3.36 (85.3) |
2.79 (70.9) |
2.92 (74.2) |
4.97 (126.2) |
3.64 (92.5) |
1.97 (50) |
1.82 (46.2) |
31.73 (805.9) |
| Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.1 | 6.5 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 6.0 | 6.8 | 5.7 | 6.5 | 8.8 | 6.3 | 6.0 | 6.4 | 76.6 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 139.5 | 158.2 | 198.4 | 207.0 | 235.6 | 291.0 | 328.6 | 300.7 | 243.0 | 232.5 | 171.0 | 136.4 | 2,641.9 |
| Source no. 1: NOAA [7] | |||||||||||||
| Source no. 2: HKO (sun, 1961−1990) [8] | |||||||||||||
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 175 |
|
|
| 1870 | 2,140 | 1,122.9% | |
| 1880 | 3,257 | 52.2% | |
| 1890 | 4,387 | 34.7% | |
| 1900 | 4,703 | 7.2% | |
| 1910 | 8,222 | 74.8% | |
| 1920 | 10,522 | 28.0% | |
| 1930 | 27,741 | 163.6% | |
| 1940 | 57,301 | 106.6% | |
| 1950 | 108,287 | 89.0% | |
| 1960 | 167,690 | 54.9% | |
| 1970 | 204,525 | 22.0% | |
| 1980 | 231,999 | 13.4% | |
| 1990 | 257,453 | 11.0% | |
| 2000 | 277,454 | 7.8% | |
| 2010 | 305,215 | 10.0% | |
As of the 2010 Census, there were 305,215 people residing in Corpus Christi, a 10.0% increase since 2000.[9]
According to the 2010 Census, 33.3% of the population was non-Hispanic White, down from 56% in 1970,[10] 3.9% non-Hispanic African American, 0.3% non-Hispanic Native American and Alaska Native, 1.8% non-Hispanic Asian, 0.1% non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 0.1% from some other race (non-Hispanic) and 0.9% of two or more races (non-Hispanic). 59.7% of Corpus Christi's population was of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin (they may be of any race).[9]
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 277,454 people, 98,791 households, and 70,437 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,794.2 people per square mile (692.7/km2). There were 107,831 housing units at an average density of 697.3 per square mile (269.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 71.62% White, 4.67% African American, 0.64% Native American, 1.28% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 18.58% from other races, and 3.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 54.33% of the population.
There were 98,791 households out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.27. Same-sex couple households comprised 0.5 % of all households.[11]
In the city the population was 28.1% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.
The median income for a family was $41,672. Males had a median income of $31,863 versus $22,616 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,419. About 14.1% of families and 17.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.9% of those under age 18 and 15.5% of those age 65 or over.
Various sections of Corpus Christi maintain distinct senses of identity and community from the city proper, especially the Calallen and Flour Bluff areas. Clarkwood and Annaville have a less prominent sense of identity, but the distinction remains. These areas are sometimes mistakenly believed to be separate municipalities.
The city has many demographic groups, ethnicities, and sub-cultures, each giving it a distinct flavor: the defense bases and the people who work there; the large Hispanic community; the oil related professionals and workers; the cowboy culture; and the surfers.
The city is home to a number of popular destinations for both tourists and residents. The official visitor and tourism information organization is the Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau. Some of the most visited attractions are located on North Beach, where the Texas State Aquarium and the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay are located.[12]
The USS Lexington was also part of the set for the 2000 film Pearl Harbor. Corpus Christi's museum district is located near the USS Lexington. Some attractions located in the museum district are the Museum of Asian Cultures, the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, the South Texas Institute for the Arts, and the Harbor Playhouse Theatre, one of the oldest continually operating community theatres in Texas. Heritage Park is also in the museum district, where a number of older restored houses can be found. The downtown area, of which the museum district is a part of, is home to skyscrapers such as One Shoreline Plaza, company offices, various shops, a very popular center of marinas, and Mirador de la Flor. Downtown also is home of the Texas Surf Museum, which explores the history of surfing and focuses on surf culture along Texas' 367-mile (591 km) coast, as well as K Space Contemporary, a non-profit art organization dedicated to promoting and presenting local, regional and national contemporary art.
The Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, also located in the city, hosts gardening programs from time to time. On Oso Bay near the Pharaoh Valley subdivision is the Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge is known for sea bird watching. The nearby Pharaohs golf course also serves as a haven for coastal and migratory birds.
Directly east of Corpus Christi are Padre Island and Mustang Island, home to various municipal, state, and national parks, most notably the Padre Island National Seashore. The city is also near King Ranch, one of the world's largest ranches, upon which the movie Giant was based on.
The city also celebrate the annual Buccaneer Days Carnival, which is typically held downtown.
S. Padre Island Drive (locally abbreviated as "S.P.I.D.", with the letters pronounced individually), is the city's main retail corridor, with two shopping malls, La Palmera (formerly Padre Staples Mall), and Sunrise Mall. Also, a number of other large shopping centers, small strip centers, and restaurants can be found throughout the city.
Corpus Christi also is the home of Midget Ocean Racing Fleet, also known as M.O.R.F., which promotes sailing in the coastal Bend. The Wednesday night races held by M.O.R.F. are the longest-running weekly races in the United States.
A replica of Niña at the city marina waterfront. Santa Maria and Pinta, the other two 1992 replicas of Christopher Columbus' ship fleet are on display the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History.
Mirador de la Flor Selena memorial.
In 1852, the City of Corpus Christi was incorporated. Texas’ 31st Legislature chartered the city as a political and corporate municipal entity in 1909. By ordinance, the city possesses power to “fix, alter and extend its boundaries.” [13]
Corpus Christi, Texas is under a Council-Manager municipal government. The elected City Council is the primary authority in municipal matters such as enacting local legislation, determining policies, and appointing the City Manager. Together, the City Council and City Manager execute laws and administer the municipal government.[13] Organized by governmental sectors of City Council, City Management, City Secretary, and several City Departments, Corpus Christi is seated in Nueces County. The City Council currently consists of the following elected members:
The Mayor and Council's vision statement declares the city’s goals are
to make Corpus Christi one of the most livable communities in America. To create a vibrant, progressive, clean city that rejoices in its diversity. To keep our citizens safe and secure, and provide an abundance of economic development opportunities while paying special attention to our unique environment.—Corpus Christi Mayor and City Council
The Corpus Christi Interim City Manager Angel R. Escobar was appointed in 2008, and works alongside Assistant City Managers Cindy O'Brien (Administrative Services), Margie C. Rose (Community Services), and Oscar Martinez (Public Works & Utilities). The City's Intergovernmental Relations department is under the direction of Rudy D. Garza. Appointed by the City Council, Armando Chapa serves as the City Secretary.
The Corpus Christi City Charter was adopted by public referendum in 1987, with amendments to the entire charter conducted January 19, 1991, and April 3, 1993. Further revisions to the City Charter was conducted on November 2, 2004 and November 7, 2006.[15] The Charter consists of ten Articles and forty-one Sections regarding stipulations of Home Rule Government, City Council and City Manager procedures, Administration, Planning, Boards and Commissions, etc. The Code of Ordinances of Corpus Christi was codified through Ordinance No. 028493, and adopted Feb. 23, 2010.[16]
City Departments include: Aviation, City Attorney, Community Development, Development Services, Economic Development, Engineering, Financial Services, Fire, Gas, Health, Human Relations, Human Resources, Intergovernmental Relations, Libraries, Management & Budget, Marina, Municipal Information Systems, Municipal Court, Museum, Neighborhood Services, Parks & Recreation, Police, Public Information, Solid Waste Services, Storm Water, Street Operations, Wastewater, and Water.[17]
Corpus Christi’s fiscal year begins August 1 and ends July 31.
The municipal mission statement is as follows:
The City of Corpus Christi is dedicated to delivering responsive services that address our diverse community's needs and enhance the quality of life in our All-America City. We will accomplish this through fiscal discipline, continuous improvement, straight-forward communication, wise stewardship of resources, and excellent customer service.—Corpus Christi Municipal Mission Statement
The Texas Thirteenth Court of Appeals is located in the Nueces County Courthouse in Corpus Christi.[18]
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the Corpus Christi Parole Office in Corpus Christi.[19]
The United States Postal Service operates the Corpus Christi Post Office, the city's main post office,[20] and several station post offices.
The majority of the population is employed in the Services, Wholesale and Retail Trades and Government sectors. Corpus Christi enjoys a low unemployment rate of 4.0% as of May 2007.[21]
The Port of Corpus Christi, which is the fifth largest U.S. port[22] and deepest inshore port on the Gulf of Mexico, handles mostly oil and agricultural products. Much of the local economy is driven by tourism and the oil & petrochemicals industry. In 2005, the Port was ranked as the 47th largest in the world by cargo tonnage.
Corpus Christi is home to two installations of the United States military: the Corpus Christi Army Depot, and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. Combined, these installations provide 6,200 civilian jobs to the local economy, making them the single largest employer in the city. Corpus Christi Army Depot, located on NAS Corpus Christi, is the largest helicopter repair facility in the world.[6]
Corpus Christi is the original home of the headquarters of Whataburger, a fast food restaurant operator and franchiser with 650 stores in ten states and Mexico; however, the company relocated its headquarters to San Antonio in 2009. Other large employers include CHRISTUS Spohn Health System at 5,400 local employees, the Corpus Christi Independent School District with 5,178, H-E-B at 5,000, and Bay Ltd. at 2,100.[23] Other companies based in Corpus Christi include Stripes Convenience Stores and AEP Texas.[24][25]
Corpus Christi became the first major city to offer city wide free wi-fi[when?] in order to allow remote meter reading after a meter reader was attacked by a dog. In 2007, the network was purchased by Earthlink for $5.5 million, and stopped being a free service on May 31, 2007.[26]
Corpus Christi is served by Corpus Christi International Airport and Interstate 37. U.S. Highway 77 connects the city to Brownsville and Victoria. Texas State Highway 44 is a main thoroughfare that connects Corpus Christi to Laredo and the western part of South Texas by way of U.S. Highway 59, Interstate 35, and U.S. Highway 83. The inner city public transportation is provided by Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority with its 28 bus routes. Corpus Christi once had a streetcar system functioning from 1910 to 1931 and a railway station (passenger service ended in 1965). In the early 2000s, there were plans to reintroduce a trolley system back to downtown Corpus Christi, but any plans have since gone dead. Despite the convenience of a large harbor, the city does not have a passenger port. Plans to bring a cruise service are pending.
The city is accessed by two major bridges; the Harbor Bridge (US 181) and the John F. Kennedy Causeway (PR 22). Both bridges are maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation.
The city is home to the Corpus Christi IceRays of the North American Hockey League and the Corpus Christi Hooks of the Texas League, and the Corpus Christi Hammerheads of the Intense Football League. Sailing races are held weekly off downtown's T-heads every Wednesday, where spectators watch vessels competing during sunset. Corpus Christi is also home to the Corpus Christi Rugby Football Club, which is a member of the Texas Rugby Union, an affiliate of the Western Rugby Union and of the United States Rugby Football Union.
| Club | Sport | League | Venue | Established | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corpus Christi Hooks | Baseball | Texas League | Whataburger Field | 1968(Relocated in 2005) | 1(2006) |
| Corpus Christi IceRays | Ice hockey | NAHL | American Bank Center | 2010 | 0 |
| Corpus Christi Hammerheads | Indoor Football | IFL | American Bank Center | 2003 | 0 |
| Corpus Christi Crabs | Rugby | Texas Rugby Union | Dewey's | 1973 | N/A |
Corpus Christi is home to several institutions of higher learning: Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Del Mar College, Our Lady of Corpus Christi, a private Roman Catholic university, and numerous vocational schools including Southern Careers Institute [1], South Texas Vo-Tech, Career Centers of Texas-Corpus Christi, and Vogue Cosmetology School. Corpus Christi is also home to the South Texas School of Christian Studies located on Ward Island alongside Texas A&M Corpus Christi. The school serves as an extension campus on the undergraduate level for Hardin Simmons University and on the graduate level for Logsdon Seminary of Hardin-Simmons University.
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMUCC or TAMU-CC in short) is a component of the Texas A&M University System. It was formerly known by the following four names: Corpus Christi State University (CCSU), Texas A&I University at Corpus Christi, and University of Corpus Christi.
Del Mar College is a local community college begun in the 1940s at a location behind Wynn Seale Jr. H. S. The main campus began with the administration building which was constructed after World War II on Del Mar. The college grew to encompass a good portion of a residential addition called Southmoreland built from the Bohemian farm lands in the late 1930s. Del Mar now includes a West campus located in area of Corpus Christi that once was Cliff Maus Airport.
Southern Careers Institute offers career training at two Corpus Christi locations, primarily in the medical, business, and cosmetic fields.
Five school districts provide primary and secondary education for area residents: Corpus Christi Independent School District (CCISD), Calallen ISD, Flour Bluff ISD, Tuloso-Midway ISD, and West Oso ISD. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi provides the primary and secondary education for Catholic schools. Several Open Enrollment Charter Schools in Corpus Christi. These public schools are: Accelerated Learning Center, Cesar E Chavez Academy, Corpus Christi College Preparatory HS, Corpus Christi Montessori School, Dr ML Garza-Gonzalez Charter School, GCCLR Institute of Technology, Premier HS of Corpus Christi, Richard Milburn Academy, School of Science and Technology, Seashore Learning Center, and Seashore Middle Academy.
High Schools
Middle Schools
High Schools
Middle Schools
TexShare Card holders have limited borrowing privileges at the following area libraries:[27]
With the city's location beside Corpus Christi Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, and Laguna Madre, it has turned into a booming economy for fishing guides, bait merchants, fishing supply retailers, watercraft retailers, and even research of marine biology. Because of the abundance of fish, waterfowl hunting has become popular in the region. Duck, geese, coot, and teal are just some of the many birds hunted for on the water. There is also a huge interest in white-winged dove and mourning dove in these areas, but most of the birds are hunted on private leases.
The city has one of the highest average wind speeds of coastal cities in North America [28] Combined with the Bay Front area along Ocean Drive, this makes Corpus Christi one of the premiere destinations for wind sports such as kite boarding, wind surfing, and kite flying. The city is also well known for having one of the best bays in the country for sailing.
The Corpus Christi Skatepark was the highly anticipated attraction which opened on February 17, 2007. It is located in Cole Park on the shoreline of the Corpus Christi Bay near downtown. It is free and open to the public from dawn until 10PM. The 12,000-square-foot (1,100 m²) concrete park includes a skating bowl, and a street course with stairs, railings and flat surfaces.
This list is in alphabetical order by last name.
| Year | Title | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Tilt | Filmed | stars Brooke Shields and Charles Durning |
| 1985 | The Legend of Billie Jean | Filmed | stars Christian Slater and Helen Slater |
| 1985 | Target | Filmed | stars Gene Hackman and Matt Dillon |
| 1991 | Knight Rider 2000 | Filmed | stars David Hasselhoff and Edward Mulhare |
| 1997 | Selena | Filmed | stars Jennifer Lopez |
| 2001 | Pearl Harbor | Filmed | stars Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett |
| 2009 | The Open Road | Filmed | stars Justin Timberlake and Jeff Bridges |
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Corpus Christi, Texas |
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