Jamaica Beach, Texas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Jamaica Beach, Texas
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption = Jamaica Beach City Hall


image_

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Jamaica Beach, Texas


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Texas
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Galveston

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 2.0
area_land_km2 = 1.9
area_water_km2 = 0.2
area_total_sq_mi = 0.8
area_land_sq_mi = 0.7
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1075
population_density_km2 = 574.4
population_density_sq_mi = 1487.7

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 1
elevation_ft = 3
latd = 29 |latm = 11 |lats = 31 |latNS = N
longd = 94 |longm = 58 |longs = 50 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 77550, 77554
area_code = 409
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 48-37252GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1388565GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Jamaica Beach is a city in Galveston County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,075.

History

Prior to its development, Jamaica Beach was a Karankawa burial ground. Johnny Goyen and Earl Galceran of the Jamaica Corporation developed Jamaica Beach as a 2,000-lot resort subdivision in close proximity to a marina. The city incorporated on May 12, 1975. By 1978 141 residents lived in Jamaica Beach. By 1988 the city had 446 residents and no businesses. By 1990 the city had 624 residents. [Handbook of Texas|id=JJ/hljmq|name=Jamaica Beach, Texas]

In September 2008 Jamaica Beach was affected by Hurricane Ike. [Langford, Terri and Dale Lezon. " [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ike/galveston/6003905.html Jamaica Beach residents allowed to inspect homes] ." "Houston Chronicle". September 20, 2008.]

Geography

Jamaica Beach is located at coor dms|29|11|31|N|94|58|50|W|city (29.192080, -94.980488).GR|1

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.0 km²), of which, 0.7 square miles (1.9 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (7.59%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,075 people, 483 households, and 303 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,487.7 people per square mile (576.5/km²). There were 1,078 housing units at an average density of 1,491.8/sq mi (578.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.07% White, 0.37% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 1.95% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.56% of the population.

There were 483 households out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.74.

In the city the population was spread out with 20.3% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 99.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $52,045, and the median income for a family was $66,250. Males had a median income of $42,411 versus $31,875 for females. The per capita income for the city was $30,943. About 5.7% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.4% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

As of 2008 the City Council includes Mayor Victor Pierson, Mayor Pro Tem John Noah, and four aldermen (Steve Spicer, Bob Poindexter, Sherwood Green, and Mary Morse). [" [http://www.ci.jamaicabeach.tx.us/council.asp City Council Information] ." "City of Jamaica Beach". Accessed September 15, 2008.] The city council established the Jamaica Beach Police Department in 1978; as of 2008 the department has one chief, one sergeant, and five police officers. Jamaica Beach contracted its dispatching to the City of Hitchcock. After a large brush fire, the city created the Jamaica Beach Volunteer Fire Department and EMS in 1976. The city also has a municipal court, a water and sewer department, and a building department. [" [http://www.ci.jamaicabeach.tx.us/departments.htm Departments] ." "City of Jamaica Beach". Accessed September 15, 2008.]

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

Pupils in Jamaica beach are zoned to schools in Galveston Independent School District. Students are zoned to Oppe Elementary School (K-4), Weis Middle School (5-6), Central Middle School (7-8), and Ball High School (9-12), all of which are in Galveston.

Colleges and universities

Galveston College also serves Jamaica Beach.

References

External links

* [http://www.ci.jamaicabeach.tx.us/ City of Jamaica Beach]
*Handbook of Texas|id=JJ/hljmq|name=Jamaica Beach, Texas