Kemah, Texas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Kemah, Texas
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Kemah, Texas

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mapsize1 = 250px
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 =
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established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 4.7
area_land_km2 = 4.6
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_total_sq_mi = 1.8
area_land_sq_mi = 1.8
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 2330
population_density_km2 = 502.2
population_density_sq_mi = 1300.8

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 2
elevation_ft = 7
latd = 29 |latm = 32 |lats = 22 |latNS = N
longd = 95 |longm = 1 |longs = 9 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 77565
area_code = 281
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 48-38776GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1339021GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Kemah is a city in Galveston County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,330 at the 2000 census. Kemah's main industry comes from shipping. Originally a small fishing town, Kemah has become a popular tourist destination. Many locals from the Houston Metropolitan Area travel to the city to visit the many restaurants and attractions, which are contained within the Kemah Entertainment District.

Kemah took a beating during 2008's Hurricane Ike.

Geography

Kemah is located at coor dms|29|32|22|N|95|1|9|W|city (29.539469, -95.019032)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²), of which, 1.8 square miles (4.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (1.65%) is water.

History

The city was originally founded as Evergreen in 1898 along the Texas and New Orleans Railroad, when John Henry Kipp and James H. Bradford subdivided their lots to establish a township. The area was also called Shell Siding after the oyster shells lining the bay, in some places twenty to thirty feet deep. Indian burial grounds were later found in these shell reefs. Kipp petitioned for a post office, but was denied as there was already an Evergreen, Texas (now incorporated into Cleveland, Texas). Residents were polled and Kemah, the Karankawa word for "wind in face", "face wind", or "facing the wind", was chosen. Kemah was granted a post office in 1907. Kemah is now primarily a tourist and recreation destination, especially since the Kemah Boardwalk, owned by Landry's Restaurants, Inc., was established in 2001.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 2,330 people, 892 households, and 566 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,300.8 people per square mile (502.6/km²). There were 1,075 housing units at an average density of 600.2/sq mi (231.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.36% White, 3.82% African American, 0.86% Native American, 3.48% Asian, 15.79% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.76% of the population.

There were 892 households out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 36.9% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 115.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $51,620, and the median income for a family was $64,063. Males had a median income of $50,061 versus $31,953 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,373. About 7.8% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.

Crime

In a 2008 "Houston Press" article, "Gator" Miller, publisher of small newspapers such as the monthly magazine "Seabreeze" and the entertainment magazine "Night Moves" said that many White American gangs from Bacliff commit crimes in Kemah. [Lomax, John Nova. " [http://www.houstonpress.com/2008-09-11/news/gangsters-in-bacliff/ Gangsters in Bacliff] ." "Houston Press". September 11, 2008.]

Education

Pupils in Kemah attend schools in Clear Creek Independent School District.

Pupils are zoned to Stewart Elementary School (formerly Kemah Elementary School, unincorporated Galveston County), League City Intermediate School (League City), and Clear Creek High School (League City).

Postal services

The United States Postal Service operates the Kemah Post Office at 1129 Highway 146, 77565-9998.

References

External links

* [http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/KK/hjk1.html Handbook of Texas Online: Kemah, Texas]
* [http://www.kemah-tx.gov Official City of Kemah Website]