Editing Surfside Beach, Texas

{{short description|City in Brazoria County, Texas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}

{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Surfside Beach, Texas
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = "Island Life, Texas Style"

<!-- Images -->| image_skyline      = SurfsideBeachTexas.JPG
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = The entrance sign to Surfside Beach
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = Brazoria County SurfsideBeach.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Surfside Beach, Texas

<!-- Location -->| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Texas]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Texas|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Brazoria County, Texas|Brazoria]]

<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = <!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 4.83
| area_land_km2      = 4.12
| area_water_km2     = 0.72
| area_total_sq_mi   = 1.87
| area_land_sq_mi    = 1.59
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.28

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 640
| population_density_km2 = 140.70
| population_density_sq_mi = 364.38

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset         = -6
| timezone_DST       = CDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 2
| elevation_ft       = 7
| coordinates        = {{coord|28|57|8|N|95|17|4|W|region:US-TX|display=inline}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 77541
| area_code          = [[Area code 979|979]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 48-71384<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 1369430<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|www.surfsidetx.org}}
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
}}

'''Surfside Beach''', also known locally as '''Surfside''', is a city in [[Brazoria County, Texas]], United States, that is situated on [[Follet's Island]] by the [[Gulf of Mexico]] near the city of [[Freeport, Texas|Freeport]]. The population was 640 at the 2020 census.<ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US4871384| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212201456/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US4871384| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Surfside Beach city, Texas| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| accessdate=April 16, 2014}}</ref> The city has claimed the "Cradle of Texas Liberty" title due to the fact that the [[Treaties of Velasco|Treaty of Velasco]] which ended hostilities between Texas and Mexico was signed at [[Fort Velasco]], which was located near the city's current City Hall.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.surfsidetx.org/page/city.todo_historical_sites|title=Historical Sites|publisher=City of Surfside Beach, Texas|accessdate=December 3, 2021}}</ref>

Former [[Congressman]] [[Ron Paul]] maintained a home near Surfside Beach before selling it on [[Facebook]] in 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Ron Paul decides to sell his house on Facebook |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/ron-paul-decides-to-sell-his-house-on-facebook/ |last=Protalinski |first=Emil |date=2011-04-18 |access-date=2024-06-19 |work=[[ZDNET]]}}</ref>

Surfside Beach has been criticized for having some of the worst coastal waters in the [[United States]], having levels of [[Enterococcus]] bacteria greater than 104cfu/100ml, providing very little, if not no access to the main beach it'self.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=List of the Dirtiest Beaches of Texas {{!}} BeachCatcher |url=https://beachcatcher.com/blog/dirtiest-texas-beaches |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=beachcatcher.com}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:SurfsideBeachHouseSign.jpg|thumb|left|A Surfside Beach [[beach house]] and a street sign]]

Surfside Beach is located in southern Brazoria County on the southwestern tip of [[Follet's Island]] at {{Coord|28.952136|-95.284415|type:city_region:US|display=inline,title|format=dms}}.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> It is bordered to the southeast by the Gulf of Mexico and to the southwest by the entrance to Freeport Harbor, across which is the village of [[Quintana, Texas|Quintana]]. The [[Intracoastal Waterway]] runs through the northwestern part of the city, forming the northwestern boundary in some places. The Bluewater Highway runs the length of Surfside Beach and continues northeast on Follet's Island {{convert|13|mi}} to [[San Luis Pass (Galveston Island)|San Luis Pass]] and the bridge onto [[Galveston Island]]. [[Texas State Highway 332]] begins in Surfside Beach and leads northwest past [[Freeport, Texas|Freeport]] {{convert|12|mi}} to [[Lake Jackson, Texas|Lake Jackson]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Surfside Beach has a total area of {{convert|5.8|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|4.3|km2|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|1.5|km2|disp=flip}}, or 25.23%, is water.<ref name="Census 2020" />  census 2011

==Demographics==
{{stack|{{US Census population
|1980= 577
|1990= 611
|2000= 763
|2010= 482
|2020= 640
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2019CenPopScriptOnlyDirtyFixDoNotUse">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|date=May 24, 2020|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=May 27, 2020}}</ref>
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Surfside Beach racial composition as of 2020'''<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4871384&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2022-05-20 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><br /> (''NH = Non-Hispanic''){{efn|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 can be of any race.<ref>https://www.census.gov/ {{nonspecific|date=August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>}}
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|519
|81.1%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|11
|1.7%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|3
|0.5%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|9
|1.4%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|0
|0.00%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|7
|1.1%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|34
|5.3%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|57
|8.9%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''640'''
|
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 640 people, 327 households,and 156 families residing in the city.<ref name=":3"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=S1101%3A%20HOUSEHOLDS%20AND%20FAMILIES&g=1600000US4871384&y=2020&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|title=Households and Families|website=census.gov|access-date=August 16, 2022}}</ref>
 
As of the [[census]] of 2010, 482 people, 259 households, and 113 families resided in the city. The population density was {{convert|427.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 879 housing units at an average density of {{convert|287|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The [[Race (U.S. Census)|racial makeup]] of the city was 93.8% White, 1.7% African American, 1.0% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.8% some other race, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 6.6% of the population.

Of the 259 households, 15.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.2% were headed by [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 56.4% were not families. About 42.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.86, and the average family size was 2.50.

In the city, the population was distributed as 10.6% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 17.6% from 25 to 44, 48.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 119.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 122.2 males.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US4871384| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212144317/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US4871384| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Surfside Beach city, Texas| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| accessdate=April 16, 2014}}</ref>

For the period 2008–2012, the estimated median annual income for a household in the city was $42,656, and for a family was $62,917. Male full-time workers had a median income of $42,692 versus $27,132 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $26,328.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_5YR/DP03/1600000US4871384| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212084402/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_5YR/DP03/1600000US4871384| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Selected Economic Characteristics: 2008-2012 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (DP03): Surfside Beach city, Texas| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| accessdate=April 16, 2014}}</ref> The population sample was too small for poverty figures to be calculated.
{{clear|left}}

==Education==
The city is served by [[Brazosport Independent School District]] (BISD).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st48_tx/place/p4871384_surfside_beach/DC10BLK_P4871384_001.pdf|title=2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Surfside Beach city, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2020-06-17}} - Compare this map to school boundary maps of BISD.</ref>
* Freeport Elementary School (Pre-Kindergarten to grade 1)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://portal.metrostudygis.com/arcgis/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=2801fde8e72d427ba8aaaee8255d8257|title=Current elementary boundary maps|publisher=[[Brazosport Independent School District]]|accessdate=2020-06-17}} - Compare to a map of the Surfside Beach city limits.</ref>
* Velasco Elementary School (grades 2–4)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brazosportisd.net/UserFiles/Servers/Server_415374/File/District/About%20BISD/District%20Maps/Feeder-Patterns.pdf|title=Feeder Patterns|publisher=[[Brazosport Independent School District]]|accessdate=2020-06-17}} - Since Surfside Beach is zoned to Freeport Elementary, according to this document, it is also zoned to Velasco Elementary, Lanier Middle, Freeport Intermediate, and Brazosport High.</ref>
* Lanier Middle School (5–6)
* Freeport Intermediate School (7–8)
* [[Brazosport High School]] (9–12)

It was previously zoned to O.A. Fleming Elementary School (Pre-K–1),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brazosportisd.net/UserFiles/Servers/Server_415374/File/District/About%20BISD/District%20Maps/BISD%20Elementary%20Boundary%20Zones.pdf|title=Elementary Boundary Zones|publisher=[[Brazosport Independent School District]]|accessdate=2020-06-17}} - Compare to a map of the Surfside Beach city limits.<!--Also at https://www.brazosportisd.net/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=527348 // from https://web.archive.org/web/20160813234812/https://www.brazosportisd.net/district/district_maps --></ref> and Jane Long Elementary School (grades 2–4).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://brazosportisd.net/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=527372|title=Brazosport ISD School Feeder Patterns|publisher=[[Brazosport Independent School District]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402173013/http://brazosportisd.net/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=527372|accessdate=2020-06-17|archive-date=2017-04-02}} - The file explains that everybody zoned to O. A. Fleming was also zoned to Long, Lanier Middle, Freeport Intermediate, and Brazosport High.</ref> Jane Long was scheduled to close in 2017, with Fleming taking grades K–1 and Velasco Elementary taking over grades 2–4. Fleming was scheduled to close when the new Freeport Elementary School opened in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|author=Calahan, Erinn|url=https://thefacts.com/free_share/article_05ba7670-1957-5371-90c9-520ad00fc3c6.html|title=BISD breaks ground on new Freeport Elementary campus |newspaper=[[Brazosport Facts]]|date=2017-04-05|accessdate=2020-06-17}}</ref>

The city is also served by [[Brazosport College]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brazoriacad.org/uploads/1/2/9/0/12902727/brazosport_college_map.pdf|title=Brazosport College Map|publisher=Brazoria County Appraisal District|accessdate=2020-06-18|archive-date=August 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813131401/http://www.brazoriacad.org/uploads/1/2/9/0/12902727/brazosport_college_map.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Texas Legislature]] designated the Brazosport ISD as in the Brazosport College zone.<ref>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code Sec. 130.170.  BRAZOSPORT COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.]</ref>

The city is served by the [[Brazoria County Library System]].

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:SurfsideBeachtownhall2.jpg|City hall
File:SurfsideBeachFD.jpg|Fire station
</gallery>

==See also==
{{portal|Texas}}
* [[List of municipalities in Texas]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Surfside Beach, Texas}}
* {{wikivoyage inline|Surfside (Texas)}}
* [http://www.surfsidetx.org/ Village of Surfside Beach city government official website]


{{Brazoria County, Texas}}

{{authority control}}


[[Category:Cities in Brazoria County, Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Greater Houston]]
[[Category:Ron Paul]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Texas]]