Bacliff, Texas

Bacliff is a census-designated place (CDP) in north-central Galveston County, Texas, United States, Template:Convert northwest of Galveston.<ref name="Handbook">Template:Handbook of Texas</ref> The population was 9,677 at the 2020 census, up from 8,619 at the 2010 census.<ref name="Census 2010">Template:Cite web</ref> Bacliff, originally called Clifton-by-the-Sea, began as a seaside resort town. Located on the western shore of Galveston Bay, Bacliff, along with San Leon and Bayview, are the largest unincorporated communities on the Galveston County mainland.

The Bacliff CDP is home to the Kenneth E. Little Elementary school and Bayshore Park, created from land donated by Texas Genco.<ref>"Utility to Donate Land for County Park." The Galveston County Daily News, 14 Dec. 2005. Web. 05 May 2013.</ref>

History

Bacliff was established in 1910 by local landowners G.C. Perkins and W.Y. Fuqua as Clifton-by-the Sea.<ref name=GalvCounty>Template:Cite web></ref> The area was developed as a seaside weekend resort,<ref name=GalvCounty/><ref name="Lomax2">Lomax, John Nova. "Gangsters in Bacliff." Houston Press. September 11, 2008. 2 Template:Webarchive.</ref> and included parks, hotels, summer homes, and a bathhouse and open air pavilion built on a pier over the water. Telephone service came to Clifton-by-the-Sea in 1913, and Grand Avenue (FM 646) became the main street.<ref name=GalvCounty/> Hurricanes, Galveston's recovery after the Hurricane of 1900, and rapid transportation diminished Clifton-by-the-Sea's popularity.<ref name="Handbook"/><ref name="Lomax2"/>

The hurricane of 1915 destroyed many of the improvements to the area, but by 1924 the bathhouse and pavilion had been restored and summer residents returned to the community. A fire destroyed the pavilion in 1929 and it was rebuilt and hosted numerous summer concerts by both the Galveston and Houston orchestras. The hurricane of 1943 caused major damage to the area and the bathhouse and pavilion were not rebuilt.Template:Citation needed

In 1933, Clifton-by-the-Sea was home to 50 residents and two businesses, and from 1940 to 1949 it was home to 100 residents and four businesses.<ref name="Handbook"/> After World War II the area expanded as it became home for workers of the nearby petrochemical plants. The expansion of the area required the establishment of a post office in 1948. The U.S. Postal Service refused to allow the name Clifton-by-the-Sea to be used due to its length, and the name Clifton was already in use by another Texas town, so the residents chose the same name as the subdivision at the center of business, Bay Cliff, as a replacement. However, the name was misspelled on the postal paperwork as Bacliff.<ref name="GalvCounty"/> The new name had only seven letters, so it was admissible.<ref>Bradfield, p. 12.</ref>

"Gator" Miller, former publisher of the Seabreeze, said that in the 1950s the Galveston Daily News bought a large parcel of land and awarded free lots to subscribers; people who canceled subscriptions lost their homesites, which were given to other subscribers.<ref name="Lomax2"/> Miller said that this resulted in confused titles and a lack of large business; Miller said that a retailer would not wish to buy land in Bacliff and then discover that an individual claimed title to the land.<ref name="Lomax2"/>

In 1964, Houston Lighting and Power began construction on two 450 MW electric generating units in Bacliff as part of the company's Project Enterprise expansion. The units were of supercritical boiler design, which was then a new technology. The power plant, originally known as the Bacliff Plant, was renamed the P. H. Robinson plant, in honor of company president Perk H. Robinson.<ref>Beck, Bill. At Your Service: An Illustrated History of Houston Lighting & Power Company. Houston, TX: Gulf Print., 1990. Print.</ref>Template:Page needed

In the 1970s and 1980s, there was a dispute over the valuation of the power plant between HL&P and the Dickinson Independent School District (DISD). In 1979 HL&P said the plant was worth $238 million but DISD's board of equalization said it was worth over $242 million. A legal dispute ensued between the two agencies.<ref>Loe, Victoria. "Power Play." Texas Monthly. Emmis Communications. August 1981. Volume 9, Issue 8. p. 98.</ref>

During the 1980s, three measures to incorporate the Bacliff area failed by wide margins.<ref name="Baycliffkills">"Baycliff kills incorporation, Jersey Village votes home rule Template:Webarchive."Template:Sic Houston Chronicle. Monday, August 11, 1986. Section 1, Page 9. Available at NewsBank, Record Number HSC0811258957.</ref><ref name="Twoarea">"2 area communities to vote on incorporation Template:Webarchive." Houston Chronicle. Tuesday, August 5, 1986. Section 3, Page 10. Available at NewsBank Record Number HSC0805257483.</ref> In April 1985, residents of Bacliff, Bayview, and San Leon considered an incorporation proposal to become the City of Bayshore. Judge Ray Holbrook signed an order for the election to take place on April 6, 1985, freeing the area, which had a population of 11,000, from the extraterritorial jurisdiction of League City and Texas City.<ref>"Residents of 3 Galveston County areas will vote on incorporation Template:Webarchive." Houston Chronicle. Tuesday March 19, 1985. Section 1, Page 13.</ref> Residents rejected the incorporation proposal.<ref name="Elecforincor">"Election for incorporation called in Bacliff, Bayview Template:Webarchive." Houston Chronicle. Sunday July 6, 1986. Section 3, Page 5.</ref><ref name="SETexElec">"Results of municipal elections in Southeast Texas Template:Webarchive." Houston Chronicle. Monday April 8, 1985. Section 1, Page 10.</ref> The vote was tallied with 1,268 against and 399 in favor. Proponents wanted a local police force and the ability to pass ordinances. Opponents said that the tax base was too small to support municipal services including police and road and drainage improvements.<ref name="SETexElec"/>

By 1986, the community became a bedroom community for workers commuting to jobs in the area; during that year, the Bacliff community had 4,851 residents and 19 businesses.<ref name="Handbook"/>

In 1986, residents in Bacliff and Bayview considered incorporating into a general law city. Supporters said that incorporation would establish more local control over affairs, an area police department, and the ability to pass ordinances. Opponents said that the area's tax base could not sufficiently support municipal service, including police protection and road and drainage improvements. At the time the area of Template:Convert considering incorporation had 7,000 people.<ref name="Baycliffkills"/><ref name="Twoarea"/> Galveston County Judge Ray Holbrook signed an order setting the date of the election as Saturday, August 9, 1986, and releasing the area from the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Kemah, League City, and Texas City. In 1986, the Bacliff and Bayview area received water and sewer services from two municipal utility districts; if the incorporation measure had passed the districts would have likely remained. Donna Maples, vice president of the Bacliff-Bayview Community Association, supported the incorporation measure.<ref name="Elecforincor"/> The officials overseeing the election described turnout as "heavy." Officials announced that the incorporation proposal failed on a 770 to 163 count.<ref name="Baycliffkills"/><ref name="Twoarea"/>

In 2000, in Bacliff there were 6,692 people organized into 2,523 households.<ref name=FergusonBacliffSanLeoninc>Template:Cite web</ref> That year Bacliff and San Leon formed a nine member board to prepare the communities for incorporation. At that time Bacliff and San Leon had a combined population of 10,000.<ref>Christian, Carol. "Towns elect board, eye incorporation - San Leon, Bacliff may become one." Houston Chronicle. Sunday, May 21, 2000. Section A p. 37. Available at NewsBank Record Number 3216149.</ref> The board was to have three members from the Bacliff area, three members from the San Leon area, and three at large members. It was prompted after the City of Texas City suddenly annexed several commercial parcels along Texas State Highway 146 between Kemah and Dickinson Bayou in the year 2000. The board hoped to convince Texas City to reverse the annexation.<ref>Moran, Kevin. "Bay-area residents seek new village status." Houston Chronicle. Tuesday May 16, 2000. Section A A p. 17 MetFront. Available on WorldBank Record Number: 3214981.</ref>

In 2003,<ref name=Auldsfiredied>Aulds, T. J. "Fire at Old Power Plant Finally Dies."Template:Subscription required Template:Webarchive The Galveston County Daily News. The Galveston County Daily News, 17 Apr. 2011. Web. 24 Apr. 2013.</ref> the P. H. Robinson power plant was mothballed by Texas Genco.<ref name="Gencotomothball">"Texas Genco to mothball 3,400 MW in ERCOT." Megawatt Daily. October 7, 2002. Vol. 7, No. 192; Pg. 1. ISSN 1088-4319. Available at LexisNexis.</ref> The plant was mothballed due to the proliferation of newer gas-fired merchant plants in Texas.<ref>"CENTERPOINT PLANS TO MOTHBALL 3,396 MW OF UNITS AT FIVE OLDER PLANTS IN TEXAS." Global Power Report. October 10, 2012. Market Conditions, p. 14. Available at LexisNexis.</ref> Robinson Units 1-4 had 2,213 MW.<ref name=Gencotomothball/> The plant was decommissioned in 2009 and demolished in 2012.<ref name=Auldsfiredied/> In 2013, NRG began construction on a 6 unit electrical generation "peaking plant". This plant was placed in service on June 1, 2017<ref>"Application to EPA for Bacliff Peaking Plant. Template:Webarchive</ref>

After Hurricane Ike hit Texas in September 2008, Galveston County officials offered a debris removal program to residents in unincorporated areas, including Bacliff.<ref>Aulds, T. J. "Plan offers help with residential Ike debris Template:Webarchive." Galveston County Daily News. November 20, 2008.</ref><ref>Aulds, T. J. "State begins to pick up debris Template:Webarchive." Galveston County Daily News. December 8, 2008.</ref> Flooding from hurricane Ike was minimized due in part to Bacliff's relatively high elevation of 16 feet.Template:Citation needed

In 2017, in Bacliff there were 10,925 people organized into 3,004 households.<ref name=FergusonBacliffSanLeoninc/>

Geography and climate

File:MapofBacliff.gif

Map of the Bacliff CDP

Bacliff is a Census class code U5, populated area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert, or 5.85%, is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Bacliff is east of League City,<ref name=Anders>Anders, Helen. "Bacliff's Noah's Ark calls." Austin American-Statesman. Sunday September 9, 2012. Travel D10. Available on LexisNexis. Also available on ProQuest (publisher labeled as "McClatchy - Tribune Business News") ProQuest document ID 1038454263.</ref> Template:Convert south of Kemah,<ref>Anonymous. "Texas Outlaw Challenge High-Performance Boat Competition Set." Entertainment Close - Up. Close-Up Media, Inc. April 9, 2009. Available at ProQuest, Document ID 818708343.</ref> Template:Convert northeast of Galveston,<ref name=Anders/> and Template:Convert southeast of Downtown Houston.<ref>Forsyth, John and Meg Tynan. "Try the shrimp creole at Lindy's, but don't expect to get the recipe." Houston Chronicle. Sunday July 10, 1988. Texas Magazine p. 2. Available at NewsBank, Record Number: 07*10*555820. "Bacliff is 36 miles southeast of Houston on Texas 146."</ref> Most of the area is along the Galveston Bay, east of Texas State Highway 146.<ref name=Tooheyconsider>Toohey, Mark. "Bacliff, Bayview voters consider incorporation." Houston Chronicle. Available at NewsBank, Record Number HSC0706250286. "Most of the 3.6 square mile area is east of Texas 146 along Galveston Bay. It has a population of 7,000. "</ref>

The Bacliff, San Leon, and Bayview communities form the "Bayshore" area.<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>

Demographics

2020 census

Bacliff racial composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
(NH = Non-Hispanic)Template:Efn

Race	Number	Percentage
White (NH)	4,606	47.6%
Black or African American (NH)	486	5.02%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	40	0.41%
Asian (NH)	223	2.3%
Some Other Race (NH)	16	0.17%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	344	3.55%
Hispanic or Latino	3,962	40.94%
Total	9,677

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 9,677 people, 3,672 households, and 2,684 families residing in the CDP.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010,<ref>"American FactFinder." United States Census Bureau. United States Census Bureau, n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2013</ref> there were 8,619 people, 3,022 households, and 2,095 families residing in the CDP. This represented a growth of approximately 23.8% since the 2000 census. The population density was 3,405.4 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the CDP was 74.3% White, 3.5% African American, 0.7% Native American, 2.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 15.9% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 37.1% of the population.

There were 3,022 households, out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.41.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 18.7% under the age of 18 years, 7.5% from 18 to 24 years, 31.3% from 25 to 44 years, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.3 males.

As of 2012 most residents of Bacliff are commuters.<ref name=Anders/> As of 2012 Bacliff, Bayview, and San Leon together make up the largest unincorporated community in the mainland portion of Galveston County by population.<ref name=Auldsfishing>Aulds, T. J. "Fishing a Big Part of San Leon Bacliff Bayshore." The Galveston County Daily News. The Galveston County Daily News, 22 Apr. 2012. Web. 05 May 2013.</ref>

In 2008 Phale Cassady Le, an outreach coordinator of Boat People SOS Houston, said that in Bacliff and San Leon there were between 150 and 200 Vietnamese families with origins in crab, oyster, and shrimp fishing operations.<ref name=Cenegy>Cenegy, Nick. "Ike ripped Vietnamese fishing community." The Galveston County Daily News. Sunday November 22, 2009. Retrieved on May 5, 2013. "In San Leon and Bacliff, there are between 150 and 200 Vietnamese families in a tightly woven community with all lines leading back to oyster, crab and shrimp fishing, said Phale Cassady Le, an outreach coordinator with Boat People SOS Houston." and "Phale said as much as 90 percent of the 1,600 clients they have served since the group began its work earlier this year have been Vietnamese." and "Part of what makes that particular community's situation so tough is its tradition of self-reliance and wariness of outsiders. Fishing boats often are built by hand over many years as fishermen scrape up enough money, Van Horn Nguyen, a San Leon-area boat owner and fisherman, said." and "Most of the Vietnamese don't have home or boat insurance of any kind, and many aren't versed in English well enough to interpret the documents if they did, Phale said."</ref> According to Le, most of the Vietnamese have no house or boat insurance, and even if they did have this insurance, their English is not well developed enough to read the terms of the policies.<ref name=Cenegy/> Many families had hand-made boats that were constructed over several years as the owner made more and more money. Nick Cenegy of The Galveston County Daily News said that the Vietnamese community in Bacliff and San Leon had a "tradition of self-reliance and wariness of outsiders."<ref name=Cenegy/>

The Vietnamese first moved into the Galveston Bay Area in the 1970s and established shrimping businesses with borrowed money. By the early 1980s, many native residents in the area became angered and a conflict started between the groups. Because media groups portrayed White residents as, in the words of Bob Burtman of the Houston Press, "bigoted rednecks," many residents had a suspicion of the media; Burtman said that the media had exaggerated the importance of Ku Klux Klan involvement in that conflict.<ref name=Burtman4>Burtman, Bob. "Besieged by the Bay." Houston Press. Thursday June 26, 1997. p. 4 Template:Webarchive. Retrieved on May 12, 2013.</ref> Due to the conflict, local residents had also gained anti-government feelings that were present in 1997.<ref name=Burtman4/> That year, Burtman said "For the most part, the Vietnamese and Texan shrimpers have ironed out their differences, though mistrust remains."<ref name=Burtman4/>

Crime

As of 2008 (Originally started in 1995), Bacliff had the 4th Street Bloods (4SB), a street gang consisting of mostly White Americans.<ref name="Lomax1">Lomax, John Nova. "Gangsters in Bacliff." Houston Press. September 11, 2008. 1 Template:Webarchive.</ref> The name of the gang originates from its headquarters in Bacliff. Documents filed in federal court stated that the gang was formed by six people in the mid-1990s. Cindy George of the Houston Chronicle said "The gang purportedly makes money by selling powdered and crack cocaine as well as methamphetamine."<ref name=Georgefacing>George, Cindy. "Reputed Bacliff gang members facing drug charges Template:Webarchive." Houston Chronicle. May 21, 2008. Retrieved on May 6, 2013.</ref> To identify themselves, members wore red and had tattoos that read "4th Street Playa" and "Kliff Side".<ref name=Georgefacing/>

In 2008 the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Texas City Safe Street Task Force, the Galveston County Sheriff's Office, and other agencies started an investigation into the gang.<ref name=Fourmore>"Texas City Safe Street's Task Force Nets Four More For Trafficking Crack." (Archive, Print, Archive) United States Department of Justice. September 9, 2011. Retrieved on May 6, 2013.</ref> That year, 10 people were arrested, accused of drug charges.<ref name=Georgefacing/> In 2011 the Federal Government of the United States arrested four men from Bacliff, accusing to be a part of the gang and charging them crimes related to crack cocaine distribution.<ref name=Fourmore/> In 2011 12 people accused of being members faced drug charges.<ref>Aulds, T.J. "Bacliff: Drug sweep nabs 12 on drug charges." (Archive) The Galveston County Daily News. September 10, 2011. Retrieved on May 6, 2013.</ref> In 2012 a federal judge in Houston sentenced four 4SB men to prison.<ref>"Crime Blog: 4th Street Bloods members get prison time for drug charges Template:Webarchive." KHOU. July 10, 2012. Retrieved on May 6, 2013.</ref> They had pleaded guilty to their crimes.<ref>"Members of 4th Street Bloods Gang Handed Federal Sentences Template:Webarchive." Federal Bureau of Investigation. July 10, 2012. Retrieved on May 6, 2013.</ref>

Infrastructure

File:BacliffFD.JPG

Bacliff Volunteer Fire Department

Utilities

Two municipal utility districts serve the Bacliff CDP. Some sections of the Bacliff CDP are served by the Bacliff Municipal Utility District (MUD), while other sections are served by the Bayview MUD.<ref>"Texas Property 2002 Appraisal District Directory: Galveston County Template:Webarchive." Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Retrieved on December 9, 2008.</ref> In November 2011 the Bacliff MUD requested and received an 8.95 million dollar bond issue for the expansion of water services which are currently provided to about 2,700 water taps. This bond issue will be funded by Bacliff residents through increased property taxes.<ref>$9 Million Bacliff MUD Bond Elections - Bacliff, TX</ref> In addition to water/sewer service, the Bacliff MUD became responsible for administering trash collection as of February 2016.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Bacliff Volunteer Fire Department provides fire protection services.<ref>"Members Template:Webarchive." Galveston County Firefighters Association. Retrieved on December 8, 2008.</ref> In 2010, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the fire department got a $356,320 loan and a $191,854 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development. The department used it to buy a newly built pumper fire truck.<ref>"BACLIFF Volunteer Fire Department gets federal loan, grant." Houston Chronicle. Sunday June 20, 2010. ThisWeek p. 9. Available at NewsBank, Record Number 4894826.</ref>

As of January 2014 Bacliff resident James Wistinghausen was the General Manager of the Bacliff MUD<ref>"Bacliff MUD Staff Template:Webarchive." Bacliff Municipal Utility District. Retrieved on May 8, 2012.</ref><ref>"TCEQ Report for Bacliff MUD." Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Retrieved on May 8, 2012.</ref> and the Fire Chief for the Bacliff Volunteer Fire Department.<ref>"Bacliff VFD Staff Template:Webarchive." Bacliff Volunteer Fire Department. Retrieved on May 8, 2012.</ref>

County, state, and federal representation

File:Bacliffpostoffice.JPG

Bacliff US Post Office

The community is within the boundaries of Galveston County Commissioners' Court Precinct 1.<ref>"Galveston County Mainland Commissioners' Precincts Template:Webarchive." Galveston County, Texas. Retrieved on March 25, 2008.</ref> As of 2017, Darrell Apffel is the Commissioner of the precinct.<ref>"Commissioner Precinct 1 Template:Webarchive." '</ref> The Galveston County Sheriff's Office is the primary provider of law enforcement for Bacliff.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In November 2012, Rick Sharp was elected constable of Precinct 1, replacing Pam Matranga.<ref>"Constable, Precinct No. 1 Template:Webarchive." Galveston County Sheriff's Office. Retrieved on December 7, 2008.</ref> The Galveston County Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace court is located in Bacliff; as of April, 2015, the Justice of the Peace was Alison Cox.<ref>"Galveston County JP Precinct 1 Template:Webarchive." '</ref> On January 26, 2016, a new Law Enforcement Center, located on Grand Avenue at 12th St, was opened. This building was a former illegal gambling hall and was confiscated by Galveston County, it now serves as a local base of operations for the Galveston County Sheriff's Department and Galveston County Precinct 1 Constable's office.<ref>"KHOU-Old gambling center renovated to house law enforcement Template:Webarchive." '</ref>

File:BayshoreCourtAn0.JPG

Bayshore Courthouse Annex Building

File:Bacliff Law Enforcement Center.jpg

Bacliff Law Enforcement Center

Bacliff is located in District 23 of the Texas House of Representatives.<ref>"Texas House District 23 Map Template:Webarchive." '</ref> As of 2016, Wayne Faircloth represents the district.<ref>"District 23 Representative Template:Webarchive." Texas House of Representatives. Retrieved on May 8, 2012.</ref> Bacliff is within District 11 of the Texas Senate; as of 2016 Larry Taylor represents that district.<ref>"Senate District 11 Template:Webarchive" Map. Senate of Texas. Retrieved on December 8, 2008.</ref> In 1992, Bacliff was within District 24 of the Texas House of Representatives; after statewide legislative redistricting District 24 became District 23 in 1993 with its boundary changing by several city blocks.<ref>Moran, Kevin. "Election '92: Suburban/Gray builds huge lead in bid for Hury's seat Template:Webarchive." Houston Chronicle. Wednesday November 4, 1992. A34.</ref>

Bacliff is in Texas's 14th Congressional district. As of 2016, Randy Weber represents the district.<ref>"Congressional District 14 Template:Webarchive." National Atlas of the United States. Retrieved on December 8, 2008.</ref> The United States Postal Service Bacliff Post Office is located at 415 Grand Avenue.<ref>"Post Office Location - BACLIFF." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.</ref>

In 1994 Republican Party strength grew in Bacliff.<ref>Moran, Kevin. "Republicans spring attack on Galveston Template:Webarchive." Houston Chronicle. Sunday February 27, 1994. C1.</ref>

Media

Bacliff has one local tabloid which has been published in Bacliff and distributed free of charge since 1986, The Eagle Point Press<ref>"[Eagle Point Press Template:Webarchive." '</ref> Also circulated in Bacliff, between 2008 and 2018, on a monthly basis is The Seabreeze News, which is published in San Leon<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Economy

Bacliff, like San Leon, and Bayview, originated as a fishing community. In 2012 T.J. Aulds of the Galveston County Daily News stated that much of the area's economic influence moved to the corridor along Texas State Highway 146, and that the economy adjusted with the growth of retail food service outlets and bars.<ref name=Auldsfishing/> Like San Leon and Bayview, many residents in Bacliff commute to work in Houston.<ref>Kearney, p. 224 Template:Webarchive. "Many Houstonians buy property in Bayview, Bacliff, and San Leon, and commute to work in Houston."</ref>

Bacliff CDP had 3,147 employed civilians as of the 2000 Census, including 1,360 females. Of the civilian workers, 2,435 (77.4%) were private for profit wage and salary workers. Of them 56 (1.8% of the total Bacliff CDP civilian workforce) were employees of their own corporations, 82 (2.6%) were private non-profit wage and salary workers, 151 (4.8%) worked for local governments, 144 (4.6%) were state government workers, 53 (1.7%) were federal workers, 268 (9.3%) were self-employed, and 14 of them (less than 1% of the total Bacliff CDP workforce) worked in agriculture, forestry, fishing, or hunting. 14 (Less than 1%) were unpaid family workers.<ref>"Class of Worker by Sex, Place of Work, and Veteran Status: 2000 - Bacliff, Texas Template:Webarchive." US Census Bureau. Retrieved on December 12, 2008.</ref>

Education

File:KenELittleES.JPG

Kenneth E. Little Elementary School

Some of the areas within the Bacliff CDP fall under the boundary of Dickinson Independent School District (DISD), while northern areas are zoned to Clear Creek Independent School District (CCISD).<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref> The CCISD part of the community north of Bay Avenue is within the Board of Trustees District 5,<ref>District 5 Map Template:Webarchive. Clear Creek Independent School District. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.</ref> represented by Dee Scott as of 2014.<ref name="CCBoardbios">"School Board Members: Bios and Contact Information Template:Webarchive." Clear Creek Independent School District. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.</ref>

The DISD portion is zoned to Kenneth E. Little Elementary School in the Bacliff community in unincorporated Galveston County.<ref>"K. E. Little Elementary Attendance ZonesTemplate:Dead link."Template:Sic Dickinson Independent School District. Retrieved on December 8, 2008.</ref><ref>Moran, Kevin. "Volunteers search for gravesite of Sikes Template:Webarchive." Houston Chronicle. Sunday August 2, 1987. Section 2, Page 23.</ref>

The current Template:Convert facility, on a Template:Convert campus, has 33 classrooms and capacity for about 750 students. The architect of the building was Bay Architects and the construction company was Falcon Group Construction. Construction began in the year 2000 and completion was scheduled for June 2001. The cost was $7.5 million. Classrooms are arranged in pods organized by grade level. Each pod has a commons area. The school has a lighthouse motif reflecting its proximity to the Galveston Bay. The school entrance has a frosted dome, pyramidal skylight. The previous school building was located on the same site. Portions of the original building were to be demolished after students moved into the new school facility.<ref>"Texas: New school to replace old one." American School & University. December 1, 2000. Volume 73, Issue 4, Page 12. ISSN 0003-0945. Available at Academic OneFile, General OneFile, General Reference Center, and Academic ASAP, GALE Document Number GALE|A68966401. "A lighthouse design motif was chosen for the school to reflect the bay area location. The design features a pyramidal, frosted dome skylight at the school entrance that is a beacon to the outside at night."</ref>

Residents of the DISD portion are also zoned to Barber Middle School in Dickinson,<ref>Middle School Attendance ZonesTemplate:Dead link. Dickinson Independent School District. Retrieved on December 8, 2008.</ref> McAdams Junior High School in Dickinson, and Dickinson High School in Dickinson.<ref>Meyers, Rhiannon. "Changes awaiting students this year Template:Webarchive." Galveston County Daily News. August 24, 2008.</ref> CCISD pupils are zoned to Stewart Elementary School (formerly Kemah Elementary School) in unincorporated Galveston County,<ref>"Stewart Elementary School Boundary Template:Webarchive." Clear Creek Independent School District. Retrieved on December 31, 2016.</ref> Bayside Intermediate School in League City,<ref>Bayside Intermediate School Attendance Zone Template:Webarchive. Clear Creek Independent School District. Retrieved on December 31, 2016.</ref> and Clear Falls High School in League City.<ref>Clear Falls High attendance zone Template:Webarchive. Clear Creek Independent School District. Retrieved on December 31, 2016.</ref> Previously residents were zoned to League City Intermediate School,<ref>"League City Intermediate School Boundary Template:Webarchive." Clear Creek Independent School District. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.</ref> and Clear Creek High School in League City.<ref>"Clear Creek High School Boundary." Clear Creek Independent School District. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.</ref>

Residents of Dickinson ISD and the Galveston County portion of Clear Creek ISD (and therefore Bacliff) are zoned to the College of the Mainland, a community college in Texas City.<ref>Texas Education Code, Section 130.174, "College of the Mainland District Service Area" Template:Webarchive.</ref>

Parks and recreation

Along the Galveston Bay Bacliff has several boat ramps.<ref name=Colby73>Colby, p. 73.</ref>

The Galveston County Department of Parks and Senior Services operates several recreational facilities in Bacliff. The Bacliff Community Center is at 4503 11th Street.<ref>Template:Usurped." Galveston County Department of Parks and Senior Services. Retrieved on December 8, 2008.</ref> The Template:Convert Bayshore Park at 5437 East Farm to Market Road 646 (FM 646) has five baseball fields, one boat ramp, one historic site, ten picnic areas, one pier, one playground, and five practice backstops.<ref>Template:Usurped." Galveston County Department of Parks and Senior Services. Retrieved on December 8, 2008.</ref> The Template:Convert park was originally owned by Texas Genco for 35 years; the county operated the park according to an agreement. In 2005 Texas Genco donated the park to the county.<ref>"Utility to donate land for county park." Galveston County Daily News. Wednesday December 14, 2005. Retrieved on May 5, 2013.</ref> Many anglers and their families use Bayshore Park as a place of recreation.<ref name=Colby73/>

In 2014 Galveston County purchased and cleared a new Template:Convert tract in Bacliff which will become a new park for the Bayshore area.<ref>Koop, Chacour. "New Galveston County Park Template:Webarchive." Galveston County Daily News. October 6, 2015.</ref> In August 2016 the Galveston County Commissioners Court approved a $1.9 million contract to build a Community Center at the park with Galveston County crews initiating construction the same month.<ref>"Work starts Bacliff Community Center Template:Webarchive." Bay Area Citizen. Aug 23, 2016. Retrieved on Aug 24, 2016.</ref> As of January 2018 the new Bacliff Community Center and Park was in full operation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Bacliff Boat Ramp is located behind Clifton's Seaside Diner,<ref>"Template:Usurped." Galveston County Department of Parks and Senior Services. Retrieved on December 8, 2008.</ref> while the Bayshore Park Boat Ramp is located on Farm to Market Road 646, aka Bayshore Drive.<ref>"Template:Usurped." Galveston County Department of Parks and Senior Services. Retrieved on December 8, 2008.</ref> The nearest full service marina is the Eagle Point fishing camp, located off East Bayshore Drive in San Leon.<ref>"Template:Usurped." Galveston County Boat Ramps and Marinas</ref>

As of 2016 one of the most popular restaurants in Bacliff was Noah's Ark.<ref>"The Scene Magazine Template:Webarchive. " Scene Magazine. Retrieved on August 14, 2016.</ref> T.J. Aulds of The Galveston County Daily News said that Bacliff, San Leon, and Bayview "are known for great spots to eat seafood."<ref name=Auldsfishing/>

As of 1991 Bacliff, along with Kemah and Seabrook, houses pleasure boats from NASA employees due to its proximity to the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.<ref>"Texas Independence Trail." (Special Advertising Supplement Sponsored by GMC, adapted and updated from the trail map published by the Texas State Department of Highways and Public Transportation) Texas Monthly. Emmis Communications. April 1991. Volume 19, No. 4. p. 96 Template:Webarchive. Retrieved from Google Books on May 9, 2013.</ref>

Notable person

• Floyd Tillman,<ref name=Tillmandeath>"Country music star Tillman dies at 88." The Washington Post. Monday, August 25, 2003. National A10. Available at NewsBank, Record Number 0FF5C53EAC902101. "Memo: THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION MAY DIFFER SLIGHTLY FROM PRINTED VERSION"</ref> country musician who contributed to the creation of Western swing

References

• Bradfield, Bill and Clare Bradfield. Muleshoe and More: The Remarkable Stories Behind the Naming of Texas. Taylor Trade Publishing, October 1, 1998. Template:ISBN, 9781461732631.
• Colby, Sorrell. Flyfishers Guide to Texas Gulf Coast. Wilderness Adventures Press. March 15, 2009. Template:ISBN, 9781932098662 .
• Kearney, Sid. A Marmac Guide to Houston and Galveston: 6th Edition. Pelican Publishing, March 1, 2009. Template:ISBN, 9781455608508.

Further reading

• Lomax, John Nova. "Bacliff Wiggers." Houston Press. Wednesday September 11, 2008.

External links

• Template:Handbook of Texas
• "Bacliff (Clifton-by-the-Sea)." Galveston County Historical Museum, County of Galveston. (Archive)
• Bacliff MUD
• Aukds, T.J. "No Hitchcock Bacliff MUD results." The Galveston County Daily News.