San José Island (Texas) facts for kids
San José Island and Aransas Bay
|
|
 San José Island
Location in Texas
San José Island
Location in the United States
|
|
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Gulf of Mexico |
| Coordinates | 27°58′41″N 96°56′49″W / 27.97806°N 96.94694°W |
| Archipelago | Texas barrier islands |
| Length | 21 mi (34 km) |
| Width | 5 mi (8 km) |
| Administration | |
|
United States
|
|
| State | Texas |
| County | Aransas County |
San José Island (also known as Saint Joseph Island) is a long, narrow island off the coast of Texas in the United States. It's called a "barrier island" because it acts like a natural wall, protecting the mainland from strong ocean waves and storms.
This island is about 21 miles (34 km) long and 5 miles (8 km) wide. It stretches from the northeast to the southwest. On its east and south sides is the Gulf of Mexico. To its west are calmer waters like Aransas Bay and Mesquite Bay to the north.
At the southern end of the island is a waterway called Aransas Pass. This pass connects the Gulf of Mexico to the bays. Long structures called jetties extend into the Gulf from both San José Island and nearby Mustang Island. These jetties help keep the pass open for boats. Beyond Aransas Pass is Mustang Island, where you'll find the town of Port Aransas. The northern part of San José Island used to be separated from Matagorda Island by a channel called Cedar Bayou, but this channel no longer flows freely.
Contents
Island History
San José Island has an interesting past, from being a military outpost to a private retreat.
Early Days and the American Flag
On July 26, 1845, a special moment happened on San José Island. Lieutenant Chandler from the USS Alabama walked ashore and placed the very first American flag on Texas territory. He put it on a sand dune, marking an important event for Texas.
Soon after, a small military town named Aransas was built on the island by soldiers. People could travel to Aransas by stagecoach, and a ferry connected the island to the mainland.
During the Civil War
During the American Civil War, the Union Army visited the island. They took livestock (like cattle) from the island and attacked the town of Aransas. After the war, the town of Aransas disappeared, and today, there are no clear signs of it left. The island then became a private place for hunting and fishing.
A Private Island Retreat
Later, a wealthy Texas oilman named Sid W. Richardson bought San José Island. He made it his own private island. He spent a lot of money building a fancy hunting lodge there. Many important business people and politicians were invited to visit, including Lyndon B. Johnson, who later became a U.S. President, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was President at the time.
Recent Events
In August 2017, the southern part of San José Island was hit by Hurricane Harvey. The storm was very strong when it reached the island.
See also
In Spanish: Isla San José (Texas) para niños
