Jamaica Beach, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
City of Jamaica Beach
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Jamaica Beach City Hall
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| Motto(s):
"A Great Place to Visit, but an even Better Place to Live"
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Location of Jamaica Beach, Texas
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Texas | |
| County | Galveston | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | General law | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 0.72 sq mi (1.86 km2) | |
| • Land | 0.58 sq mi (1.50 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.14 sq mi (0.35 km2) | |
| Elevation | 3 ft (1 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,078 | |
| • Density | 1,497/sq mi (579.6/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP codes |
77550, 77554
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| Area code(s) | 409 | |
| FIPS code | 48-37252 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1388565 | |
| Website | http://www.ci.jamaicabeach.tx.us/ | |
Jamaica Beach is a city in Galveston County, Texas, United States. It is located on Galveston Island. In 2020, about 1,078 people lived there. The city is surrounded by Galveston to the east and west. The east bay is to the north, and the Gulf of Mexico is to the south.
Contents
History of Jamaica Beach
Before Jamaica Beach was built, it was a burial ground for the Karankawa people. These were Native Americans who lived in the area.
In the 1950s, Johnny Goyen and Earl Galceran started a company called Jamaica Corporation. They planned to build Jamaica Beach as a resort area with 2,000 lots. It was also going to be near a marina, which is a place for boats.
Other people involved in this project were Jack and Welcome Wilson, Bill Sherrill, and Jack Valenti. They bought a large piece of land, about 320 acres, from the Moody family. An oil businessman named R.E. "Bob" Smith helped them. He bought the land first and then sold it to the developers. He even helped them get a bank loan.
The first lots were on the beachfront and were 90 feet wide. They sold for $3,500 each. Houses built just behind the beachfront also sold very quickly. As more rows of houses became available, sales slowed down. Wealthy people could buy second homes easily. However, middle-class families found it hard to get loans. They often needed to pay for building their homes with cash.
In the 1960s, a skull was found. It was linked to a Karankawa Native American burial ground. This discovery brought a lot of attention to Jamaica Beach. Many visitors came to see the area. However, Welcome Wilson said this publicity did not lead to more sales.
By the 1970s, most of the lots in Jamaica Beach were sold. This was because more people wanted second homes. But then, the United States economy slowed down. Because of this, the company that developed Jamaica Beach closed.
The city of Jamaica Beach officially became a city on May 12, 1975. By 1978, 141 people lived there. By 1988, the city had grown to 446 residents. There were no businesses in the city at that time. By 1990, the population reached 624 people.
Jamaica Beach has been affected by strong storms. Hurricane Alicia hit the city in August 1983. In September 2008, Hurricane Ike also caused damage.
On August 9, 2008, Jamaica Beach celebrated its 50th anniversary. Welcome Wilson gave many old news articles and brochures to the city. These items helped start a museum at the city hall. Welcome Wilson's five children also gave $10,000 to the new museum.
Geography of Jamaica Beach
Jamaica Beach is located at 29.192080 degrees North and 94.980488 degrees West.
The city has a total area of about 0.72 square miles (1.86 square kilometers). About 24.57% of this area is water.
Many streets in Jamaica Beach have names related to pirates. Some examples are "Blackbeard", "Buccaneer", and "Captain Hook". Other pirate names include "Captain Kidd", "Francis Drake", and "Jean Lafitte". You can also find streets named after "Henry Morgan" and "John Silver".
Parks
People Living in Jamaica Beach
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1980 | 365 | — | |
| 1990 | 624 | 71.0% | |
| 2000 | 1,075 | 72.3% | |
| 2010 | 983 | −8.6% | |
| 2020 | 1,078 | 9.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, the city of Jamaica Beach had 1,078 people. There were 704 households and 339 families living in the city.
Population Details (2020)
The table below shows the different groups of people living in Jamaica Beach in 2020.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White | 940 | 87.2% |
| Black or African American | 4 | 0.37% |
| Native American | 4 | 0.37% |
| Asian | 14 | 1.3% |
| Some Other Race | 2 | 0.19% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial | 31 | 2.88% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 83 | 7.7% |
| Total | 1,078 |
Education
Students in Jamaica Beach attend schools in the Galveston Independent School District. As of 2020, parents can choose which school their children attend within the district. There are no strict attendance zones.
Ball High School in Galveston is the main high school for the district. It serves students from 9th to 12th grade.
Before 2020, students usually went to Oppe Elementary School for grades K-4. They then attended Weis Middle School for grades 6-8.
Students from Jamaica Beach can also attend Galveston College. This college is located nearby in Galveston.
Texas A&M University at Galveston is another higher education option. It is also located in Galveston.
See also
In Spanish: Jamaica Beach (Texas) para niños
