Lake Jackson, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lake Jackson, Texas
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Alden B. Dow Office and Lake Jackson City Hall
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Location in Brazoria County in the state of Texas
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| County | Brazoria |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 21.22 sq mi (54.95 km2) |
| • Land | 19.74 sq mi (51.13 km2) |
| • Water | 1.48 sq mi (3.82 km2) |
| Elevation | 13 ft (4 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 28,177 |
| • Density | 1,378.93/sq mi (532.40/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC–6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC–5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
77566
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| Area code(s) | 979 |
| FIPS code | 48-40588 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1360850 |
Lake Jackson is a city in Brazoria County, Texas, in the United States. It is part of the larger Greater Houston area. In 2020, about 28,177 people lived there.
The city began in 1942 as a "company town." This means it was built by a company, the Dow Chemical Company, for its workers. It was built on 5,000 acres that used to be a large farm called the Abner Jackson Plantation. There's also a lake nearby, shaped like a U, which was named after the same farmer. You can still see small parts of the old plantation in a park today.
Contents
History of Lake Jackson
Lake Jackson was carefully planned and built in the early 1940s. A famous architect named Alden B. Dow designed the city. He worked for the Dow Chemical Company, which his father owned. The city was created to house workers for a new chemical plant.
Lake Jackson officially became a city on March 14, 1944. Ten years later, in 1954, its citizens voted for "home rule." This means they gained more power to make their own local laws and decisions.
Geography and Location
Lake Jackson is in the southern part of Brazoria County. To its east are the cities of Clute and Richwood. The Brazos River is to its southwest.
A main road, Texas State Highway 288, also known as the Nolan Ryan Expressway, goes through the city. This highway connects Lake Jackson to other places:
- About 10 miles (16 km) north to Angleton, the county seat.
- About 52 miles (84 km) north to downtown Houston.
- About 9 miles (14 km) southeast to Freeport on the Gulf of Mexico.
The United States Census Bureau says Lake Jackson covers about 21.22 square miles (54.95 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a smaller part being water.
Population and People
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In 2020, Lake Jackson had 28,177 people living there. There were 10,074 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. About 7,028 of these households were families.
Many different groups of people live in Lake Jackson. In 2020, about 58% of the people were White (not Hispanic). About 28% were Hispanic or Latino. Other groups included Black or African American, Asian, Native American, and people of mixed races.
In 2010, the average household had about 2.74 people. The average family had about 3.18 people. About 26% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age was 35 years. This means half the people were younger than 35 and half were older.
The average yearly income for a household in Lake Jackson was about $60,901. For families, it was about $69,053.
Economy and Jobs
Lake Jackson is home to the main office of Buc-ee's, a popular chain of gas stations and convenience stores. The very first Buc-ee's store opened here.
The Dow Chemical Company and the Brazosport Independent School District are two of the biggest employers in the city. Dow Chemical helped create Lake Jackson in 1941 to provide homes for its workers at the Freeport plant. Today, Lake Jackson also has other chemical and manufacturing businesses, along with many other types of companies.
The unemployment rate in Lake Jackson is about 8.40%. Experts predict that the number of jobs will grow by about 36.40% over the next ten years. The average income per person is around $30,625. The average household income is about $68,391.
Arts and Culture
The Lake Jackson Library is part of the Brazoria County Library System. It offers books, resources, and programs for the community.
Sea Center Texas is a popular place to visit in Lake Jackson. It was built in 1996. It has an aquarium with different kinds of fish, an education center where you can learn about marine life, and the world's largest hatchery for redfish. A hatchery is a place where young fish are raised.
Education
Most public schools in Lake Jackson are managed by the Brazosport Independent School District. Some small parts of the city are in the Angleton Independent School District and the Columbia-Brazoria Independent School District.
Public Schools
Elementary schools for students in kindergarten through 5th grade include:
- O.M. Roberts Elementary School
- A.P. Beutel Elementary School (which won a National Blue Ribbon School award in 2007)
- Bess Brannen Elementary School
- Elisabet Ney Elementary School
- T.W. Ogg Elementary
Students in Lake Jackson usually attend these schools:
- Grady B. Rasco Middle School (for grades 5–6)
- Lake Jackson Intermediate School (for grades 7–8)
- Brazoswood High School (for grades 9–12, located in Clute)
Private Schools
Private schools in Lake Jackson include:
- Brazosport Christian School
- Our Lady Queen of Peace (a Catholic school)
- Foundation Preparatory Academy
Colleges
Brazosport College is a public community college located in Lake Jackson. Most of the city is within the college's district. The college now offers some four-year degrees in certain technical subjects. It also has a well-known music hall called The Clarion.
City Services and Transportation
Water Safety
In September 2020, there was a concern about the drinking water supply in Lake Jackson. Tests found a type of amoeba in some water samples. Because of this, the Brazosport Water Authority told people not to use tap water for a short time to ensure everyone's safety. The city worked to make sure the water was safe for everyone.
Airports
The Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport serves the Lake Jackson area.
Public Transportation
Southern Brazoria County Transit provides bus services in Lake Jackson and nearby cities like Clute, Freeport, and Angleton.
Highways
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State Highway 288. If you go north on SH 288, you can reach Houston. If you go south, you can reach Freeport. |
Texas State Highway 332 runs from SH 36 in Brazoria on its west side to Surfside Beach on its east side.
Street Design
The unique layout of Lake Jackson's streets and the designs for its homes were created by architect Alden B. Dow.
- Many streets that lead out from the downtown area have names that end with the word "Way," like Center Way, Winding Way, and Circle Way. There's even a funny intersection where two streets are named This Way and That Way!
- Most other streets are named after plants and flowers. As the city grew, developers used creative names like Jalapeño, Tangerine, Mango, and Habañero.
- Dow designed the streets to curve and bend, not to be straight. He did this to save as many trees as possible. This idea is still used today when new neighborhoods are built. He also believed that curving streets made the views more interesting. Lake Jackson is recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation because of its commitment to trees.
Notable People from Lake Jackson
Many interesting people have connections to Lake Jackson:
- Robert Ellis: A country, bluegrass, and folk singer who grew up here.
- King Hill: An amazing football quarterback who played for Rice University and later in the NFL.
- Brad Lincoln: A former professional baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays.
- Rand Paul: A U.S. senator from Kentucky who spent most of his childhood in Lake Jackson.
- Ron Paul: A former U.S. representative from Texas and a presidential candidate.
- Selena Quintanilla Pérez (1971–1995): A famous Tejano pop singer, known as the "Queen of Tejano Music."
- Ryan Tepera: A relief pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays in Major League Baseball.
- Cole Deggs & The Lonesome (Cole Degges- Vocalist): A multi-platinum songwriter who grew up on Pine Street in Lake Jackson.
See also
In Spanish: Lake Jackson (Texas) para niños
