Galena Park is a city in Harris County, Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The population was 10,592 at the 2000 census.
History
The area of Galena Park began as the settlement of Clinton in 1835. The settlement originally served as a farming and ranching community but in the 1880s transformed into a railroad center along the new Port of Houston. With the coming of the petrochemical industry in the early 1900s, Clinton again transformed into a refinery center.[4]
Clinton attempted to establish a post office in 1935, but the request was denied as another Clinton, Texas had established the name. The settlement's name was changed to Galena Park after the Galena Signal Oil Company of Texas, who built the first refinery there. Galena Park's original name survives today as the name of a major street in the city, Clinton Drive. By the late 1930s Houston was growing as a port, so Galena Park expanded. Since the 1940s area residents considered the city to be a part of Greater Houston.[4]
The economy of Galena Park began to suffer in the early 1980s, when cranes used to haul ship cargo were reduced; prior to the early 1980s a team of workers who took up to one week to load cargo off of a ship stayed in the port city and contributed to its local economy, but the new technology lead to ships unloading all cargo in less than one day. The 80's also hit Galena Park's economy with all the layoffs from the steel mills. The economy further decreased after the September 11, 2001 attacks, when sea port administrators tightened security rules that governed whether sailors could leave ships docked at port.[5]
Geography
Galena Park is located at 29°44′20″N 95°14′14″W / 29.73889°N 95.23722°W / 29.73889; -95.23722 (29.738928, -95.237211).[6]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.0 square miles (12.9 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 10,592 people, 3,054 households, and 2,461 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,124.1 people per square mile (819.6/km²). There were 3,207 housing units at an average density of 643.1/sq mi (248.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 63.35% White, 7.65% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 24.35% from other races, and 3.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 69.33% of the population.
There were 3,054 households out of which 46.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.4% were non-families. 17.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.47 and the average family size was 3.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 33.8% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 16.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,660, and the median income for a family was $34,702. Males had a median income of $29,814 versus $21,172 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,207. About 21.5% of families and 25.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.2% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
Local government
As of 2008 R. P. "Bobby" Barrett is the mayor of Galena Park.[7] As of the same year the city council has four positions, with each having a responsibility for a particular municipal department or group of departments. Commissioner Danny Simms, position one, heads the water and sewer services. Joseph Thibodeaux, position two, heads police and fire services. Robert Clowers, position three, heads parks and recreation. Maxie Campbell, position four, heads street and bridge services. In addition Jim L. DeFoyd serves as the city attorney, Margaret Stevens serves as the city secretary and the tax collector and assesser, and City Administrator John Cooper directs public works.[8]
The Galena Park Fire Department and the Galena Park Police Department serve the city. As of 2008 Robert C. Pruett serves as the Chief of Police and Rick D. Bates serves as the Assistant Chief.[9]
County, federal, and state representation
Galena Park is located within Harris County Precinct 2; as of 2008 Sylvia Garcia heads Precinct 2.[10]
Galena Park is located in District 143 of the Texas House of Representatives. As of 2008 Ana E. Hernandez represents the district.[11] Galena Park is within District 6 of the Texas Senate; as of 2008 Mario Gallegos is the representative.[12]
Galena Park is within Texas's 29th congressional district; as of 2008 Gene Green represents the district.[13] The United States Postal Service operates the Galena Park Post Office at 1805 Clinton Drive.[14]
Education
Primary and secondary schools
Public schools
Students in Galena Park attend schools in Galena Park Independent School District.
Three separate elementary schools, Galena Park Elementary School in Galena Park, MacArthur Elementary School in Galena Park, and Pyburn Elementary School in Houston, serve students from the city of Galena Park[15] Almost all Galena Park students are zoned to Galena Park Middle School (6-8) in Galena Park. A few in northeast Galena Park are zoned to Woodland Acres Middle School in Houston.[16] All Galena Park residents are zoned to Galena Park High School (9-12) in Galena Park.[17]
Private schools
Our Lady of Fatima School, a K-6 Roman Catholic school, is in Galena Park [1].
Colleges and universities
Galena Park is zoned to the San Jacinto College system.
Public libraries
The Harris County Public Library (HCPL) system operates the Galena Park Branch at 1500 Keene Street in Galena Park. The 5,800 square foot branch, a partnership between HCPL and Galena Park, was built in March 1996 opened in December of that year.[18]
Gallery of schools
Galena Park Middle School
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Galena Park Elementary School
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MacArthur Elementary School
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Becker Early Childhood Center
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Gallery
Galena Park Fire Station #1
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Galena Park Police Department
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See also
References
- ^ "US Census Bureau Population Finder: Galena Park city, TX". factfinder.census.gov. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=galena+park&_cityTown=galena+park&_state=04000US48&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&show_2003_tab=&redirect=Y. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ a b "Galena Park, Texas." Handbook of Texas. Retrieved on November 4, 2009.
- ^ Harkinson, Josh. "All Aboard." Houston Press. March 18, 2004. 1.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Galena Park Mayor." City of Galena Park. Accessed October 11, 2008.
- ^ "City Council." City of Galena Park. Accessed October 11, 2008.
- ^ "Police Department Administration." City of Galena Park. Accessed October 11, 2008.
- ^ Precinct 2 Map." Harris County. Accessed October 13, 2008.
- ^ "House District 143." Texas House of Representatives. Accessed October 11, 2008.
- ^ "Senate District 6" Map. Senate of Texas. Accessed September 28, 2008.
- ^ "Congressional District 29." National Atlas of the United States. Retrieved on December 13, 2008.
- ^ "Post Office Location - GALENA PARK." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 13, 2008.
- ^ "Elementary Schools - South," Galena Park Independent School District. Retrieved on November 29, 2008.
- ^ "Woodland Acres Middle School." Galena Park Independent School District. Retrieved on November 29, 2008.
- ^ "Galena Park High School." Galena Park Independent School District. Retrieved on November 29, 2008.
- ^ "Galena Park Branch Library." Harris County Public Library. Retrieved on November 29, 2008.
External links
