Gilchrist, Texas facts for kids
Gilchrist, Texas is a small community located on the Bolivar Peninsula in Galveston County, Texas. It's a popular place for homes and beach visits, found along State Highway 87.
In the 1990s and 2000s, about 750 people lived in Gilchrist. This number grew with seasonal visitors. Before Hurricane Ike hit in 2008, around 1,000 people lived there permanently. They were told to leave before the storm. Several local businesses provided what residents and tourists needed.
Contents
History of Gilchrist
This community in Galveston County is named after Gibb Gilchrist (1887–1972). He helped rebuild a train line after a big hurricane in 1915. Before this, the area was known as Rollover. In 1950, Gilchrist got its own post office.
What Was Rollover Pass?
A famous part of Gilchrist was Rollover Pass (also called Rollover Fish Pass). This channel cut through Bolivar Peninsula and Gilchrist. It connected East Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. Many people thought it was one of the best fishing spots in Texas. You could catch some of the biggest fish there!
Rollover Pass was a natural channel that was made wider in 1955. The Texas Game and Fish Commission did this to help protect and improve fish and wildlife. However, in late 2019, workers hired by the Texas General Land Office closed off the Pass. They used steel barriers and then filled it with dirt.
Past Storms and Changes
Hurricane Carla also caused damage to Gilchrist in the past. On April 23, 1991, Gilchrist and other parts of Galveston County got a new 9-1-1 emergency system. This system helps calls go to the right dispatchers and shows them where the caller is.
Hurricane Ike's Impact
On September 13, 2008, Hurricane Ike hit Gilchrist very hard. The storm destroyed almost all homes, leaving only a few standing. About 1,000 people lived there permanently before the hurricane. The coastline near Gilchrist, which used to be straight, became rough and empty. The storm's strong tide changed it forever.
Pictures taken from the air by NOAA showed that Gilchrist was completely destroyed. The Rollover Pass bridge on Highway 87 was reduced to only one lane. Out of 1,000 buildings in Gilchrist, 99.5% were knocked off their foundations. The storm destroyed most of them. Others were washed into East Bay and the swampy areas behind Gilchrist.
In one part of Gilchrist, only one house remained standing. A few houses in another section also survived. Pam Adams, who owned the "Last House Standing," said that many homes in Gilchrist were built before newer, stronger building rules were in place. John Lee, a spokesperson for Galveston County's emergency management, said that the hurricane had "wiped clean" Gilchrist.
After Hurricane Ike, the United States Postal Service temporarily moved Gilchrist's post office box services to Stowell. John Lee wondered how many people would return, saying it was a "very sobering experience." By January 2009, Gilchrist had the fewest people return compared to other communities on the Bolivar Peninsula.
By 2011, Galveston County bought 434 houses in Gilchrist. These houses were too close to the shore after the hurricane. The land where they stood will have limited uses. As of 2014, new homes and businesses have been rebuilt in the area. New residents are moving in, and visitors can travel through that part of Highway 87 again. The Rollover Pass bridge now has two lanes open instead of the original three.
Education for Students
Students living in Gilchrist attend schools in the High Island Independent School District. High Island ISD is connected to Galveston College in Galveston for higher education.
Gilchrist Community Association (GCA)
The Gilchrist Community Association (GCA) helps the community in many ways. Its goal is to improve life for residents and visitors on the Bolivar Peninsula. They work on civic and community projects, especially around Rollover Pass.
The GCA is a non-profit organization. Its members come from all over the United States. They all share a common goal: to protect their community and keep Rollover Pass open for everyone to enjoy.
