Bridge City, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bridge City, Texas
|
|
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Orange |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.14 sq mi (18.50 km2) |
| • Land | 6.44 sq mi (16.67 km2) |
| • Water | 0.71 sq mi (1.83 km2) |
| Elevation | 10 ft (3 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 9,546 |
| • Density | 1,221.38/sq mi (471.55/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
77611
|
| Area code(s) | 409 |
| FIPS code | 48-10252 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2409905 |
Bridge City is a city in Orange County, Texas, United States. It is about 100 miles (160 km) east of Houston, very close to the Gulf of Mexico. In 2020, about 9,546 people lived there. The city is next to the Neches River and Cow Bayou. It is part of the larger Beaumont–Port Arthur area. This region is mostly known for its connection to the oil industry.
Contents
History of Bridge City
Bridge City was first called Prairie View because it was located on the flat, grassy coastal lands of Texas. But in 1938, a big bridge called the Port Arthur-Orange Bridge was built. This bridge is now known as the Rainbow Bridge. After the bridge was built, the area changed its name to "Bridge City." Even though people tried many times before, Bridge City officially became a city in 1970.
The city got its name because you have to cross a bridge to enter it from many directions. All three main roads leading into Bridge City cross over water. For example, SH 87 crosses the Neches River and Cow Bayou. In 1990, Bridge City was the first city in Texas to put up "leaning" streetlights. They were designed this way to avoid hitting tall electrical lines near the road.
Geography
Bridge City covers an area of about 7.14 square miles (18.50 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 6.44 square miles (16.67 square kilometers), and a smaller part is water, about 0.71 square miles (1.83 square kilometers).
Natural Disasters: Hurricanes
Bridge City and the areas around it have often been hit by hurricanes and tropical storms.
Hurricane Humberto (2007)
In 2007, Hurricane Humberto caused a lot of flooding in the area, including in Bridge City. Many trees were knocked down, and power lines were damaged because of the strong winds and wet ground. Over 120,000 homes in Orange and Jefferson counties lost electricity. Sadly, one person in Bridge City died when a part of their house fell on them.
Hurricane Ike (2008)
Hurricane Ike hit Bridge City very hard on September 13, 2008. The storm brought a huge surge of water, about 22 feet (6.7 meters high), which flooded almost the entire city. More than 95% of the buildings and homes in Bridge City were badly damaged or destroyed. It took three days for the water to drain away. After the storm, only about 16 out of 3,400 homes in Bridge City were still safe to live in. The mayor said the whole city looked like a giant flea market because of all the damaged items piled outside homes. Interestingly, after the flood, some residents even found jellyfish in their swimming pools!
Hurricane Harvey (2017)
Hurricane Harvey in 2017 brought a massive amount of rain. On August 30, 2017, Bridge City was completely flooded. In just 24 hours, over 20 inches (50 cm) of rain fell. Because Harvey moved very slowly, it kept raining for several days, causing widespread damage from the floods.
Hurricane Laura (2020)
When Hurricane Laura hit in 2020, Bridge City mostly experienced strong winds. Many trees, light poles, and traffic lights were knocked down. A wind gust of 73 miles per hour (117 km/h) was recorded nearby in Port Arthur.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 4,677 | — | |
| 1970 | 8,164 | 74.6% | |
| 1980 | 7,667 | −6.1% | |
| 1990 | 8,034 | 4.8% | |
| 2000 | 8,651 | 7.7% | |
| 2010 | 7,840 | −9.4% | |
| 2020 | 9,546 | 21.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
| Group | Number of People | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (not Hispanic) | 7,765 | 81.34% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 93 | 0.97% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (not Hispanic) | 43 | 0.45% |
| Asian (not Hispanic) | 266 | 2.79% |
| Other Race (not Hispanic) | 23 | 0.24% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (not Hispanic) | 314 | 3.29% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,042 | 10.92% |
| Total | 9,546 |
In 2020, there were 9,546 people living in Bridge City. There were 2,798 households, with 2,200 of them being families. In 2000, about 36.7% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.69 people.
The population in 2000 was spread out by age:
- 27.0% were under 18 years old.
- 9.5% were between 18 and 24 years old.
- 28.2% were between 25 and 44 years old.
- 23.1% were between 45 and 64 years old.
- 12.3% were 65 years or older.
The average age was 36 years.
Bridge City was the only city in Orange County that grew in population according to the 1990 census.
Education
Students in Bridge City attend schools that are part of the Bridge City Independent School District.
Notable People
Here are some well-known people who are from Bridge City:
- Matt Bryant, an NFL kicker, famous for playing with the Atlanta Falcons.
- Randall "Tex" Cobb, a prizefighter and actor.
- Shane Dronett, an NFL defensive lineman who played for the Denver Broncos and Falcons.
- Jason Matthews, an NFL tackle for the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans.
- Steve Worster, a football player for the University of Texas at Austin.
See also
In Spanish: Bridge City (Texas) para niños
