Editing Galveston County, Texas

{{Short description|County in Texas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Galveston County
 | state                = Texas
 | seal                 = Galveston County tx seal.gif
 | founded date         = 
 | founded year         = 1838
 | seat wl              = Galveston
 | largest city wl      = League City
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 874
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 378
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 495
 | area percentage      = 57
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 350682
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2021
 | population_est       = 355062 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | ex image             = Galveston_County_Justice_Center.jpg
 | ex image size        = 250
 | ex image cap         = Galveston County Courts Building
 | web                  = https://www.galvestoncountytx.gov
 | time zone            = Central
 | district             = 14th
 | named for            = City of Galveston
}}

'''Galveston County''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|æ|l|v|ᵻ|s|t|ən}} {{respell|GAL|vis|tən}}) is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Texas]], located along the [[Gulf Coast of the United States|Gulf Coast]] adjacent to [[Galveston Bay]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 350,682.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/galvestoncountytexas/PST045221|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 5, 2022}}</ref> The county was founded in 1838. The [[county seat]] is the [[Galveston, Texas|City of Galveston]], founded the following year, and located on [[Galveston Island]]. The most-populous municipality in the county is [[League City, Texas|League City]], a suburb of [[Houston]] at the northern end of the county, which surpassed Galveston in population during the early 2000s.<ref>{{cite news|author=Schladen, Marty |url=http://news.galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=cecba57d52dda271 |title=Forces drive people off island |newspaper=[[Galveston County Daily News]] |date=July 23, 2006 |access-date=January 14, 2014 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071231160951/http://news.galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=cecba57d52dda271 |archive-date=December 31, 2007}}</ref>

Galveston County is part of the nine-county [[Greater Houston|Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land]] (Greater Houston) [[metropolitan statistical area]].

==History==
Sixteenth-century Spanish explorers knew Galveston Island as the Isla de Malhado, the "Isle of Misfortune", or Isla de Culebras, the "Isle of Snakes".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcg02|title=Galveston County|work=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=March 16, 2018|author=Diana J. Kleiner}}</ref> In 1519, an expedition led by [[Alonso Álvarez de Pineda]] actually sailed past Galveston Island while charting the route from the [[Florida]] peninsula to the [[Pánuco River]]. The information gathered from the expedition enabled the Spanish government to establish control over the entire [[Gulf Coast]], including Galveston Island. In 1783, José Antonio de Evia, a Spanish navigator, surveyed the area and named the bay "Galveston" to honor [[Bernardo de Gálvez]], who supported the United States in the Revolutionary War.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.co.galveston.tx.us/Museum/galveston_city_history.asp |title=Galveston|work=Galveston County Historical Museum|access-date=March 17, 2018}}</ref>

Galveston County was formally established under the [[Republic of Texas]] on May 15, 1838.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.co.galveston.tx.us/auditor/auditorsoffice/CAFR%202007%20Final.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.co.galveston.tx.us/auditor/auditorsoffice/CAFR%202007%20Final.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Galveston County 2007 Comprehensive Financial Report|work=Galveston County, Texas|access-date=November 12, 2010|author=Office of the Auditor of Galveston County, Texas}}</ref>  The county was formed from territory taken from Harrisburg, Liberty, and Brazoria Counties, with governmental organization taking place in 1839.<ref>{{Handbook of Texas| title=Galveston County | id=hcg02}}</ref> The island and city of Galveston by far formed the most important population center. The city of Galveston was the republic's largest city and its center of commerce and culture. The [[Galveston County Bar Association]], first formed in 1846, is the oldest in Texas.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Association |first=Texas State Historical |title=State Bar of Texas |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/state-bar-of-texas |access-date=September 26, 2023 |website=Texas State Historical Association |language=en}}</ref> Port Bolivar on the Bolivar Peninsula was a port of secondary importance. Other development in the area was initially mostly ranching interests and small farming communities. Texas soon joined the United States, and Galveston's importance continued to grow as it came to dominate the worldwide [[cotton]] trade. As railroads between Galveston, [[Harrisburg, Houston|Harrisburg]], Houston, and other towns were built during the 19th century, small communities grew up along the rail lines. Nevertheless, Galveston continued to remain a prominent destination for the shipping and trade industries. A bridge was completed in 1859, when the Galveston, Houston, and Henderson Railroad built a wooden trestle that was used by all other railway lines to the island until 1875, when the [[Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway]] built its own bridge. At the end of the 19th century, a group of investors established Texas City directly across the West Bay from Galveston, with the hope of making it a competing port city. The port began operations just before the start of the 20th century.
[[File:Map of Galveston County.jpg|thumb|Map of Galveston County in 1879]]
[[File:Queen of Angels Church -- Dickinson, Texas.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Queen of Angels Church in Dickinson, Texas]]

The [[1900 Galveston Hurricane]] devastated the county, killing an estimated 6000 people on the island alone and numerous others in the rest of the county. The Port of Galveston was closed for a time during reconstruction, but recovery was swift and profound. By 1910, the county's citizens had developed the commission form of government, constructed the seawall, and raised the merit of the whole city.

Investors had worried that the Texas coast was a dangerous place to establish major commercial operations because of the threat of hurricanes, and the 1900 disaster seemed to prove that. Though Galveston rebuilt its port and other major operations quickly, major investment moved inland, largely to Houston. Soon, Houston and Texas City had outpaced Galveston as major ports.

[[Spindletop|The oil boom in Texas]] began in 1901, and pipelines and refineries soon were built in Texas City. Industrial growth blossomed, especially during [[World War II]]. Galveston's manufacturing sector, however, was more stagnant during the 20th century.

Galveston, traditionally an attractive [[tourism|tourist]] destination even before the storm, transformed itself into a major, nationally known destination. Around this time, [[entrepreneur]], [[Power broker (politics)|power broker]], and [[racketeer]] [[Sam Maceo]] rose to power and transformed the island in what was known as the [[Free State of Galveston]].<ref name=":0" /> During this time, the city was home to many [[casino]]s, [[whorehouses]], and [[speakeasies]], in addition to becoming a center of [[culture]], [[economy]], and nightlife, all due to the free availability of gambling and alcohol.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Sam Maceo is the kindly king of the Texas gambling realm|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19470424&id=hBARAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1ooDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1629,2223011}}</ref> The city's entertainment business spread throughout the county with major casino districts in [[Kemah, Texas|Kemah]] and [[Dickinson, Texas|Dickinson]] enabled by a lax attitude among law enforcement in the county (Houstonians often humorously referred to the Galveston County line as the "Maceo-Dickinson line"). The county prospered as oil fueled Texas City's industrial growth, and wealthy tourists flocked to Galveston and the other entertainment districts.<ref name=":0" />

The gambling empire was destroyed in the 1950s, as state law enforcement dismantled its establishments. Galveston's economy crashed, as did the economies of some other county municipalities that were dependent on tourism. Texas City's economy weathered the storm because of its strong industry.

The establishment on [[NASA]]'s [[Johnson Space Center]] in 1963 soon created new growth opportunities for the county municipalities near [[Clear Lake City, Houston|Clear Lake]] and [[Harris County, Texas|Harris County]]. The Clear Lake area communities in Harris and Galveston Counties soon became more tied together, while the island of Galveston languished for many years as businesses increasingly left for the mainland.

Tourism has gradually resurged, both on the island and on the mainland, and today has become a major industry in the county. [[Aerospace]] and related service industries continue to be important in the Clear Lake area of the county. Texas City has become an important petrochemical center.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|874|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|495|sqmi}} (57%) is covered by water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 27, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

Galveston County is located on the plains of the Texas Gulf Coast in the southeastern part of the state. The county is bounded on the northeast by Galveston Bay and on the northwest by Clear Creek and [[Clear Lake (region)|Clear Lake]]. Much of the county covers Galveston Bay, and is bounded to the south by the Galveston Seawall and beaches on the [[Gulf of Mexico]].

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Harris County, Texas|Harris County]] (north)
* [[Chambers County, Texas|Chambers County]] (northeast)
* [[Gulf of Mexico]] (southeast)
* [[Brazoria County, Texas|Brazoria County]] (west)

==Communities==
Galveston County has several unincorporated areas; most of them are on the [[Bolivar Peninsula]]. Others are outside of Hitchcock and Santa Fe along [[Texas State Highway 6]], and the three communities in the "Bayshore" area: [[Bacliff, Texas|Bacliff]], [[San Leon, Texas|San Leon]], and [[Bayview, Galveston County, Texas|Bayview]].<ref name="Evansfigures">Evans, Thayer. "Crime numbers go down - Figures drop 26.4 percent in unincorporated Galveston County." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Thursday February 3, 2005. ThisWeek p. 1. "Other unincorporated areas are along Texas 6 outside Hitchcock and Santa Fe and in the Bayshore area, which includes Bacliff, Bayview and San Leon." Available at [[NewsBank]] Record Number: 3841079.</ref>

=== Cities ===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Bayou Vista, Texas|Bayou Vista]]
* [[Clear Lake Shores, Texas|Clear Lake Shores]]
* [[Dickinson, Texas|Dickinson]]
* [[Friendswood, Texas|Friendswood]] (small part in [[Harris County, Texas|Harris County]])
* [[Galveston, Texas|Galveston]] (county seat)
* [[Hitchcock, Texas|Hitchcock]]
* [[Jamaica Beach, Texas|Jamaica Beach]]
* [[Kemah, Texas|Kemah]]
* [[La Marque, Texas|La Marque]]
* [[League City, Texas|League City]] (small part in [[Harris County, Texas|Harris County]])
* [[Santa Fe, Texas|Santa Fe]]
* [[Texas City, Texas|Texas City]]
{{div col end}}

===Villages===
* [[Tiki Island, Texas|Tiki Island]]

===Census-designated places===
* [[Bacliff, Texas|Bacliff]]
* [[Bolivar Peninsula, Texas|Bolivar Peninsula]]
* [[San Leon, Texas|San Leon]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[Algoa, Texas|Algoa]]
* [[Bayview, Galveston County, Texas|Bayview]]
* [[Caplen, Texas|Caplen]]
* [[Crystal Beach, Texas|Crystal Beach]]
* [[Gilchrist, Texas|Gilchrist]]
* [[High Island, Texas|High Island]]
* [[Port Bolivar, Texas|Port Bolivar]]
{{div col end}}

[[Alta Loma, Texas|Alta Loma]], previously unincorporated,<ref>"[http://www2.co.galveston.tx.us/Public_Information/CommunityPlan.pdf Community Plan 2010-2011] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111226013054/http://www.co.galveston.tx.us/Public_Information/Communityplan.pdf |date=December 26, 2011 }}." Galveston County. p. 3 (PDF 3/41). Retrieved on January 5, 2015.</ref> became a part of Santa Fe in 1978.<ref>"[http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hja05 ALTA LOMA, TX]." ''[[Handbook of Texas]]''. Retrieved on January 5, 2015.</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 4529
|1860= 8229
|1870= 15290
|1880= 24121
|1890= 31476
|1900= 44116
|1910= 44479
|1920= 53150
|1930= 64401
|1940= 81173
|1950= 113066
|1960= 140364
|1970= 169812
|1980= 195940
|1990= 217399
|2000= 250158
|2010= 291309
|2020= 350682
|estyear=2023
|estimate=361744
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2021">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021|access-date=July 5, 2022}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br />1850–2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010|publisher=Texas Almanac|access-date=April 27, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Galveston County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Galveston County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=0500000US48167&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Galveston County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48167&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Galveston County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48167&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|157,851
|172,652
|style='background: #ffffe6; |191,358
|63.10%
|59.27%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |54.57%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|38,179
|39,229
|style='background: #ffffe6; |43,120
|15.26%
|13.47%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12.30%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|893
|1,052
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,036
|0.36%
|0.36%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.30%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|5,152
|8,515
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12,202
|2.06%
|2.92%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.48%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|88
|128
|style='background: #ffffe6; |223
|0.04%
|0.04%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.06%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|268
|426
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,455
|0.11%
|0.15%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.41%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|2,788
|4,037
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12,652
|1.11%
|1.39%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.61%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|44,939
|65,270
|style='background: #ffffe6; |88,636
|17.96%
|22.41%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |25.28%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''250,128'''
|'''291,309'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''350,682'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

According to the [[census]] of 2000, 250,158 people, 94,782 households, and 66,157 families resided in the county.<ref name="GR8">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|628|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. The 111,733 housing units averaged {{convert|280|/mi2|/km2}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the county was 72.69% White, 15.44% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 2.10% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 7.18% from other races, and 2.08% from two or more races. About 18% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. By the publication of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population grew to 350,682, with a racial and ethnic makeup at 54.57% non-Hispanic white, 12.30% non-Hispanic Black or African American, 0.30% non-Hispanic Native American, 3.48% non-Hispanic Asian, 0.06% non-Hispanic Pacific Islander, 0.41% non-Hispanic some other race, 3.61% non-Hispanic multiracial, and 25.28% Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref name="2020CensusP2" />

Of the 94,782 households at the 2000 census, 33.80% had children under 18 living with them, 52.40% were married couples living together, 13.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were not families. Around 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.60, and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county, theage distribution was 26.7% under 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 93.10 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $42,419, and for a family was $51,435. Males had a median income of $41,406 versus $28,703 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $21,568. About 10.10% of families and 13.20% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.60% of those under age 18 and 10.20% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics==
Galveston County was a longtime [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] stronghold in the 20th century, having only voted for Republicans in national landslide election years (1956, 1972, and 1984), and in maintained this Democratic lean even after the state of Texas as a whole began shifting toward the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] party.  In 2000, it supported Republican Texas governor [[George W. Bush]] as president and has stayed in the Republican column ever since.  [[Mitt Romney]] in 2012 and [[Donald Trump]] in 2024 each brought out record-setting performance for the Republican party in the county.<ref>https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/</ref>

The head of a Texas county, as set up in the [[Texas Constitution]], is the [[county judge]], who sits as the chair of the county's commissioners' court.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.co.galveston.tx.us/County_Judge/default.htm |title=Galveston County |access-date=November 5, 2007 |archive-date=November 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105142716/http://www.co.galveston.tx.us/County_Judge/default.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>  The county is split into four geographical divisions called precincts. Each precinct elects a [[commissioner]] to sit as a representative of their precinct on the commissioners court and also for the oversight of county functions in their area.<ref name="VRA 1">{{cite news |last1=Pilkington |first1=Ed |title=Historic Texas island is frontline for preserving rights of Black voters |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/23/voting-rights-galveston-island-texas-race |work=The Guardian |date=September 23, 2023}}</ref>

Other elected positions in Galveston County include a [[county clerk]], a [[district attorney]], a [[district clerk]], a [[county clerk]], a [[sheriff]], nine [[constable]]s, a tax assessor-collector, a [[treasurer|county treasurer]], and every [[judge]] in the county except [[municipal judge]]s, who are appointed by the officials of their respective cities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.co.galveston.tx.us/|title=Pages - Galveston County|website=co.galveston.tx.us|access-date=October 3, 2004|archive-date=July 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720082507/http://www2.co.galveston.tx.us/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In September 2023, Galveston County was sued in what was the first [[Voting Rights Act]] case since Section 2 of the Act was upheld in ''[[Allen v Milligan]]'' in June. Under the map adopted by the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] county commissioners in 2021, all four precincts of Galveston County are majority White, despite Black and Latino people making up 45% of the county's population; under previous maps dating back to the 1980s, Precinct 3 was [[majority minority]].<ref name="VRA 1"/> On October 13, Judge [[Jeff Brown (judge)|Jeff Brown]] of the [[Southern District of Texas]] ordered the county commissioners to redraw the electoral map within one week to include at least one majority-minority district, finding the 2021 map to be "stark and jarring" in its [[gerrymandering]] of Galveston County.<ref name="VRA 2">{{cite news |last1=Pilkington |first1=Ed |title=Texas voting map discriminates against Black and Latino residents, judge rules |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/oct/13/texas-galveston-county-discrimination-electoral-map-ruling |work=The Guardian |date=October 13, 2023}}</ref>

===United States Congress===
{| class=wikitable
|-
! colspan=2 align=center valign=bottom | '''U.S. Senators'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''Name'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''Party'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''First Elected'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''Level'''
|-
|bgcolor="red"|
| Senate Class 2
| [[John Cornyn]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2002
| Senior Senator
|-
|bgcolor="red"|
| Senate Class 1
| [[Ted Cruz]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2012
| Junior Senator
|-
! colspan=2 align=center valign=bottom | '''U.S. Representatives'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''Name'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''Party'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''First Elected'''
! align=center valign=bottom |
|-
|bgcolor="red"|
| District 14
| [[Randy Weber]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2012
|
|-
|}

{{PresHead|place=Galveston County, Texas|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=July 23, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|100,295|56,732|2,397|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|93,911|58,842|2,593|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|73,757|43,658|5,488|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|69,059|39,511|1,508|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|62,258|41,805|941|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|61,290|43,919|772|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|50,397|40,020|2,566|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|35,251|38,458|6,380|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|31,303|38,623|20,316|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|34,913|38,633|496|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|40,262|36,092|482|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|29,527|30,778|2,992|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|25,251|37,873|611|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|30,936|22,565|310|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|16,229|26,041|10,322|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|12,365|30,672|136|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|16,373|23,940|515|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|17,567|15,603|336|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|15,715|19,058|147|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|4,857|12,491|1,444|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,542|11,748|1,784|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,443|11,161|28|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,666|9,370|70|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,011|10,491|80|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|4,401|5,951|20|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|1,912|5,068|639|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|1,625|2,933|811|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,263|3,543|119|Texas}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|336|2,513|508|Texas}}
{{U.S. SenHead|place=Galveston County, Texas|Seat=1|source=<ref>{{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns) |website=Commonwealth of Texas by county |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/texas-senate-results}}</ref>}}
<!-- U.S. SenRow should be {{U.S. SenRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{U.S. SenRow|2024|Republican|95,114|59,316|3,962|Texas}}
{{U.S. SenFoot}}

===Texas Legislature===

====Texas Senate====
{| class=wikitable
|-
! colspan=2 align=center valign=bottom | '''District'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''Name'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''Party'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''First Elected'''
! align=center valign=bottom |
|-
|bgcolor="red"|
| 11
| [[Mayes Middleton]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2022
|}

====Texas House of Representatives====
{| class=wikitable
|-
! colspan=2 align=center valign=bottom | '''District'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''Name'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''Party'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''First Elected'''
! align=center valign=bottom | '''Area(s) of Galveston County Represented'''
|-
|bgcolor="red"|
| 23
|[[Teresa Leo Wilson]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2022
| Galveston, Jamaica Beach, Texas City, Port Bolivar, Crystal Beach, Gilchrist & High Island
|-
|bgcolor="red"|
| 24
| [[Greg Bonnen]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2012
| Hitchcock, La Marque, Santa Fe, Dickinson, League City, Friendswood (Galveston County part), Algoa, Kemah, Clear Lake Shores
|}
[[File:Galveston Civil Courthouse.jpg|256px|thumb|Galveston County Administrative Courthouse]]
[[File:Joe Max Taylor Law Enforcement Center Galveston Texas.jpg|thumb|The Joe Max Taylor Galveston Law Enforcement Facility includes the main station of the [[Galveston County Sheriff's Office]]]]

==Education==
Eight [[independent school district]]s (ISDs) serve Galveston County communities:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48167_galveston/DC20SD_C48167.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48167_galveston/DC20SD_C48167.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Galveston County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=June 29, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48167_galveston/DC20SD_C48167_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Clear Creek ISD]]
* [[Dickinson Independent School District|Dickinson ISD]]
* [[Friendswood Independent School District|Friendswood ISD]]
* [[Galveston ISD]]
* [[High Island Independent School District|High Island ISD]]
* [[Hitchcock Independent School District|Hitchcock ISD]]
* [[Santa Fe Independent School District|Santa Fe ISD]]
* [[Texas City Independent School District|Texas City ISD]]
A ninth school district, [[La Marque Independent School District]], was subsumed into Texas City ISD in 2016 after the [[Texas Education Agency]] revoked its accreditation due to poor academic and financial performance.<ref>Zaveri, Mihir. "[http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bayarea/schools/article/Texas-City-braces-for-absorbing-La-Marque-6836277.php Texas City ISD moves toward absorbing La Marque school district]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20160222232334/http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bayarea/schools/article/Texas-City-braces-for-absorbing-La-Marque-6836277.php Archive]). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Wednesday, February 17, 2016. Retrieved on March 22, 2018.</ref>

===Higher education===
The city of Galveston is home to [[Texas A&M University at Galveston]], an extension of the main A&M campus in [[Texas A&M University|College Station]], and the [[University of Texas Medical Branch|University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston]].

The [[Texas Legislature]] specified that the following [[community colleges]] also serve the area: [[College of the Mainland]] for Texas City (including former La Marque), Hitchcock, Santa Fe, Friendswood, and Dickinson school districts as well as the Galveston County portion of Clear Creek ISD (in other words, mainland Galveston County); and [[Galveston College]] for Galveston ISD and High Island ISD (the islands).<ref>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code Sec. 130.174. COLLEGE OF THE MAINLAND DISTRICT SERVICE AREA. Sec. 130.179. GALVESTON COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.]</ref>

===Public libraries===
The Galveston County Library System operates libraries in most of the larger towns and cities. The [[Rosenberg Library]] in Galveston has the distinction of being the oldest public library in Texas, and serves as the headquarters for the Galveston County Library System. Its librarian also functions as the Galveston County librarian. Also, seven other libraries are in Galveston County, including the Genevieve Miller Library in Hitchcock, the La Marque Public Library, the Helen Hall Public Library in League City, the Moore Memorial Public Library in Texas City, the Dickinson Public Library, the Friendswood Public Library, and the Mae Bruce Library in Santa Fe.

==Hospital services==
Galveston County is served by a major medical complex in Galveston and a private for-profit hospital in Texas City.

The [[University of Texas Medical Branch]] in Galveston is a 1,200-bed, major medical complex of seven hospitals. The main general-care hospital is [[John Sealy Hospital]], with other on-campus hospitals specializing in women, children, burn victims, geriatrics, and psychiatrics. Currently, UTMB is certified as a [[level I trauma center]] and serves as the lead trauma facility for the nine-county region in southeast Texas, including the [[Greater Houston]] area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sahs.utmb.edu/respiratory_care/current/Table_of_Contents/01-HANDBOOK-Aug-2007+gs.pdf|title=Welcome - School of Health Professions - UTMB Health|website=sahs.utmb.edu}}</ref>

The Mainland Medical Center, a 233-bed, private, for-profit hospital, operates in Texas City.<ref>[http://www.mainlandmedical.com/CustomPage.asp?guidCustomContentID={263215B6-AC55-4276-A52B-B8F34390E0BE} Mainland Medical Center, http://www.mainlandmedical.com/CustomPage.asp?guidCustomContentID={263215B6-AC55-4276-A52B-B8F34390E0BE}] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611123434/http://www.mainlandmedical.com/CustomPage.asp?guidCustomContentID=%7B263215B6-AC55-4276-A52B-B8F34390E0BE%7D |date=June 11, 2008 }}</ref>

==Corrections==
The Galveston County Jail is located at 5700 Avenue H in Galveston.<ref>"[http://www.co.galveston.tx.us/sheriff/corrections.htm Corrections Bureau - Jail Division] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101000440/http://www.co.galveston.tx.us/sheriff/corrections.htm |date=November 1, 2008 }}." Galveston County Sheriff's Office. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref>

The [[Texas Department of Criminal Justice]] and University of Texas Medical Branch manage health care facilities for prisoners in Galveston, Galveston County. The facilities include the co-gender Galveston Hospital for prisoners in Galveston<ref>"[http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/hg.htm Hospital Galveston]." ''[[Texas Department of Criminal Justice]]''. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref> and the Young Medical Facility Complex for females in [[Texas City, Texas|Texas City]].<ref>"[http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/gc.htm YOUNG MEDICAL FACILITY COMPLEX (GC)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821225905/http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/gc.htm |date=August 21, 2008 }}." ''[[Texas Department of Criminal Justice]]''. Accessed September 12, 2008.</ref><!--Note that even though the address says Dickinson, the complex itself is within the limits of Texas City--> Hospital Galveston began contracting for medical treatment of prisoners in 1983.<ref name="Prisonnames50">''Texas Department of Criminal Justice''. Turner Publishing Company, 2004. [https://books.google.com/books?id=VgTcF_VMt54C&q=Scott&pg=PA62 50]. {{ISBN|1-56311-964-1}}, {{ISBN|978-1-56311-964-4}}.</ref> Young opened in 1996 as the Texas City Regional Medical Unit.<ref name="Prisonnames51">''Texas Department of Criminal Justice''. Turner Publishing Company, 2004. [https://books.google.com/books?id=VgTcF_VMt54C&q=Scott&pg=PA62 51]. {{ISBN|1-56311-964-1}}, {{ISBN|978-1-56311-964-4}}.</ref>

==Transportation==

===Major highways===
* [[Image:I-45 (TX).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 45 (Texas)|Interstate 45]]
* [[Image:Texas 3.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 3 (Texas)|State Highway 3]]
* [[Image:Texas 6.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 6 (Texas)|State Highway 6]]
* [[Image:Texas 87.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 87 (Texas)|State Highway 87]]
* [[Image:Texas 96.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 96 (Texas)|State Highway 96]]
*[[Image:Toll Texas 99.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 99 (Texas)|State Highway 99]] - Grand Parkway (under construction)
* [[Image:Texas 124.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 124 (Texas)|State Highway 124]]
* [[Image:Texas 146.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 146 (Texas)|State Highway 146]]
* [[Image:Texas 275.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 275 (Texas)|State Highway 275]]

===Airports===
{{More citations needed section|date=December 2010}}
[[File:Scholes Field Terminal, Galveston.jpg|thumb|[[Scholes International Airport at Galveston]]]]

[[Scholes International Airport at Galveston]] {{airport codes|GLS|KGLS}}, the county's sole publicly owned airport, is a two-runway airport located on Galveston Island in Galveston. The airport is primarily used for general aviation, offshore energy transportation, and some limited military operations.

Privately owned airports for private use include [[Creasy Airport]] and Kami-Kazi Airport, both inn unincorporated areas.

The closest airport with regularly scheduled commercial service is [[William P. Hobby Airport]], located in Houston.{{citation needed|date=December 2010}} The [[Houston Airport System]] stated that Galveston County is also within the primary service area of [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport]], an international airport near Houston in Harris County.<ref>"[http://system.gocampaign.com/files/file.asp?f=13224 Master Plan Executive Summary] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711104249/http://system.gocampaign.com/files/file.asp?f=13224 |date=July 11, 2011 }}." ''George Bush Intercontinental Airport Master Plan''. [[Houston Airport System]]. December 2006. 2-1 (23/130). Retrieved on December 14, 2010.</ref>

Private heliports for private use include:
* [[University of Texas Medical Branch]] in Galveston has two heliports: one for Ewing Hall and one for its emergency room.
* [[Republic Helicopters Heliport]] is in an unincorporated area, adjacent to [[Hitchcock, Texas|Hitchcock]].

===Rail===
All rail traffic is currently industry-related. Regularly scheduled passenger rail service in Galveston County ceased on April 11, 1967.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.galvestonrrmuseum.com/explore.htm|title=Galveston County Railroad Museum|website=galvestonrrmuseum.com}}</ref>

===Mass transit===
The City of Galveston is served by [[Island Transit (Texas)|Island Transit]], a public transportation agency.

==Notable people==
*[[John Baptista Ashe (representative)|John Baptista Ashe]], former [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] for [[Tennessee]]<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url= http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=A000308|title=ASHE, John Baptista, (1810 - 1857)|dictionary= Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date= October 10, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Dez Bryant]],  [[American football]] [[wide receiver]] and [[return specialist]] for the [[Dallas Cowboys]], was born in Galveston County.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1272524/dez-bryant/| title= 88 Dez Bryant, R |publisher= CBSSports.com |access-date= November 21, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Red Bryant]], [[American football]] [[defensive end]] for the [[Seattle Seahawks]] of the [[National Football League]], was born in Galveston County.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BryaRe99.htm|title= Red Bryant
|publisher= Pro-Football-Reference.Com|access-date= October 3, 2012}}</ref>
* [[YBN Almighty Jay]], rapper in the [[YBN (collective)|YBN collective]], was born in Galveston County.
* [[Larry Taylor (politician)|Larry Taylor]] - [[Republican Party of Texas|Republican]] member of the [[Texas Senate]] from [[Texas Senate, District 11|District 11]] (2013–present) and [[Texas House of Representatives]] from District 24 (2003–2013)

==See also==
{{Portal|Texas}}
* [[List of museums in the Texas Gulf Coast]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Galveston County, Texas]]
* [[List of Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks (Eastland-Gray)#Galveston County|Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Galveston County]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Petitt, Jr., B.M. and A.G. Winslow. (1957). ''Geology and ground-water resources of Galveston County, Texas'' [U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1416]. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.

==External links==
{{Commons category}} <!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
* [https://www.galvestoncountytx.gov Galveston County government’s website]
* [https://developgalvestoncounty.com/ Galveston County Economic Development]
* [http://texashistory.unt.edu/search/?q=%22United+States+-+Texas+-+Galveston+County%22&t=dc.coverage Historic materials of Galveston County], hosted by the [http://texashistory.unt.edu/ Portal to Texas History]
* [http://www.galvestonislandstatepark.org/index.html Galveston Island State Park]
* {{Handbook of Texas|id=hcg02|name=Galveston County, Texas}}
* [http://www.co.galveston.tx.us/District_Clerk/ Galveston County District Court] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110005737/http://www2.co.galveston.tx.us/District_Clerk/ |date=January 10, 2011 }}
* {{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Galveston|display=Galveston. I. A S. E. county of Texas |short=x}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Galveston County, Texas
|North     = [[Harris County, Texas|Harris County]]
|Northeast = [[Chambers County, Texas|Chambers County]]
|East      =
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Gulf of Mexico]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Brazoria County, Texas|Brazoria County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Galveston County, Texas}}
{{Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown MSA}}
{{Texas counties}}
{{Texas}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|29.38|-94.86|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Galveston County, Texas| ]]
[[Category:1838 establishments in the Republic of Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1838]]
[[Category:Greater Houston]]