La Marque, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
City of La Marque
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Welcome to La Marque
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Location of La Marque, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Galveston |
| Area | |
| • Total | 14.28 sq mi (36.98 km2) |
| • Land | 13.75 sq mi (35.62 km2) |
| • Water | 0.52 sq mi (1.36 km2) |
| Elevation | 16 ft (5 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 18,030 |
| • Density | 1,259.20/sq mi (486.16/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
77568
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| Area code(s) | 409 |
| FIPS code | 48-41116 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1377749 |
| Website | http://www.ci.la-marque.tx.us/ |
La Marque (/lə ˈmɑːrk/ lə-_-mark) is a city in Galveston County, Texas, United States, south of Houston. The city population in 2020 was 18,030. La Marque experienced considerable growth in the 1950s, during which the city provided a general administrative and trades and crafts workforce helping to support the petrochemical complex in adjoining Texas City. It is the hometown of U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Norman Bulaich.
Contents
History
La Marque, also once known as Highlands and Buttermilk Junction, is an incorporated residential community on Interstate Highway 45, State Highway 3, and Farm Roads 519, 1765, and 2004, some 12 miles northwest of Galveston in northwestern Galveston County. The community was originally known as Highlands, probably for its location near Highland Creek, and was renamed in the 1890s when residents learned of another mainland community of the same name. Madam St. Ambrose, a French Catholic Ursuline Sister and postmistress, chose the new name, which in French means "the mark".
The community's post office operated from 1887 until the 1930s. During the Civil War, the town was known as Buttermilk Junction after the soldiers' practice of purchasing buttermilk there on the trip between Galveston and Houston. In 1867, the town had six families and its residents raised cattle or rice. The local population rose from 100 in 1890 to 175 in 1896, when the community had a Baptist church and several fruit growers. A school with 14 students existed before 1895, when Amos Stewart gave land for a larger facility. By 1909, two teachers served an enrollment of 55 students, and in 1913, further construction began.
By 1914, the community had been reached by four railroads: the International and Great Northern; the Galveston, Houston and Henderson; the Missouri, Kansas and Texas; and the Interurban. At that time, La Marque had both a railroad station and general store located in a private home. The town's population reached 500 in 1914 and 1,500 by 1952, when it had 90 businesses. As it grew together with nearby Texas City, La Marque served as a residential community for employees at nearby industrial facilities (e.g., chemical plants and refineries) in the La Marque-Texas City area, as well as the Galveston Island Medical Center. The town had a population of 17,000 and 130 businesses in 1977. In 1988, it had 15,697 residents and 158 businesses, and in 1991, some 14,258 residents and 272 businesses.
In the 2000s, rising real estate costs in Galveston forced many families to move to other areas, including La Marque. This meant an influx of children from the Galveston Independent School District into other school districts.
Geography
La Marque is located at 29°22′00″N 94°58′26″W / 29.366684°N 94.973922°W (29.366684, –94.973922).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.3 square miles (37 km2), of which 14.2 square miles (37 km2) are land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (0.28%) is covered by water.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 13,969 | — | |
| 1970 | 16,131 | 15.5% | |
| 1980 | 15,372 | −4.7% | |
| 1990 | 14,120 | −8.1% | |
| 2000 | 13,682 | −3.1% | |
| 2010 | 14,509 | 6.0% | |
| 2020 | 18,030 | 24.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 6,367 | 35.31% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 5,552 | 30.79% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 39 | 0.22% |
| Asian (NH) | 273 | 1.51% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 30 | 0.17% |
| Some other race (NH) | 62 | 0.34% |
| Mixed/multiracial (NH) | 526 | 2.92% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 5,181 | 28.74% |
| Total | 18,030 |
As of the 2020 United States census, 18,030 people, 6,549 households, and 4,229 families resided in the city.
Education
Primary and secondary schools
Public schools
Most of the city is served by the Texas City Independent School District (TCISD). Small portions of La Marque are served by the Dickinson Independent School District, Hitchcock Independent School District, and Santa Fe Independent School District. Previously La Marque Independent School District (LMISD) served what became the TCISD area. On December 2, 2015, Texas Education Agency Commissioner Michael Williams announced that TCISD would absorb the former LMISD effective July 1, 2016.
La Marque High School continues to serve the former LMISD area. The respective schools for other parts are Dickinson High School, Hitchcock High School, and Santa Fe High School.
La Marque Independent School District was mismanaged for so long that it was finally dissolved, when it was assigned by the commissioner of education an accreditation status of "Not Accredited-Revoked". By law, a school district that is closed must be annexed into an adjoining district. Accordingly, Texas City, Hitchcock, Dickinson, and Santa Fe school districts jointly absorbed the responsibility of educating La Marque students.
Before shutting down the school district, Commissioner of Education Michael Williams gave the La Marque schools ample opportunity and time for improvement. In 2011, the school district was judged "academically unacceptable". Similarly, in 2013 and 2014, La Marque schools were given a rating of "improvement required". Finally, an October 2015 review by the TEA found La Marque ISD's rating at "substandard achievement". This ultimately led to the revocation of the accreditation status. Critics of the school district point out that administrators failed to manage the tax funds properly, failed to hire and train competent instructors, and emphasized sports to the exclusion of academics.
Colleges and universities
The former La Marque district (as well as the Texas City district), Dickinson, Santa Fe, and Hitchcock school districts (and therefore all of La Marque) is served by the College of the Mainland.
Public libraries
The city owns the La Marque Public Library, which is located at 1101 Bayou Road.
Transportation
Greyhound Bus Lines operates the Texas City La Marque Station at McKown Air Conditioning in nearby Texas City.
Parks and recreation
The Galveston County Department of Parks and Senior Services operates the Wayne Johnson III Community Center at Carbide Park.
See also
In Spanish: La Marque (Texas) para niños
