Dickinson, Texas

Dickinson is a city in Galveston County, Texas, within Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area. The population was 20,847 at the 2020 census.[2]

City of Dickinson
City
Dickinson City Hall
Dickinson City Hall
Location in the state of Texas
Location in the state of Texas
Coordinates: 29°27′38″N 95°03′14″W
CountryUnited StatesUnited States
StateTexasTexas
CountyGalveston
Incorporated1977
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager
 • City CouncilMayor Sean Skipworth
Mayor Pro Tem Johnnie Simpson Jr.
Jenna Simsen
Mark Townsend
Jessie Brantley
Bill Schick
Fred Linton
 • City ManagerTheo Meloncon
Area
[1]
 • Total10.33 sq mi (26.75 km2)
 • Land9.89 sq mi (25.63 km2)
 • Water0.42 sq mi (1.12 km2)
Elevation
10 ft (3 m)
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total20,847
 • Estimate 
(2021)[3]
21,697
 • Density2,135.32/sq mi (824.46/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
77539
Area code281
FIPS code48-20344[4]
GNIS feature ID1334345[5]
Websiteci.dickinson.tx.us

History
Further information: History of the Galveston Bay Area
Queen of Angels Church in Dickinson, Texas

Dickinson is located on a tract of land granted to John Dickinson in 1824, and named after him. A settlement had been established in this area on Dickinson Bayou before 1850. The Galveston, Houston, and Henderson Railroad was built directly through Dickinson. This line was used in the American Civil War to successfully retake Galveston.

The Dickinson Land and Improvement Association was organized in the 1890s by Fred M. Nichols and eight other businessmen. It marketed to potential farmers with claims of the soil's suitability for food crops, and to socialites with the creation of the Dickinson Picnic Grounds and other attractions. By 1911, the Galveston–Houston Electric Railway had three stops in Dickinson, and the Oleander Country Club was a popular destination for prominent Galvestonians.

In 1905, Italian ambassador Baron Mayor des Planches convinced about 150 Italians from crowded eastern cities to move to Dickinson. They joined the dozens relocated there after flooding in Bryan forced them to seek new homes.

During the 1920s, Dickinson became a significant tourist destination resulting from investment by the Maceo crime syndicate which ran Galveston during this time. The syndicate created gambling venues in the city such as the Silver Moon casino.[6]

The City of Dickinson constructed a new multimillion-dollar city hall and library complex which was dedicated June 30, 2009. The complex is located at 4403 Highway 3.

In May 2009 the city began hosting a crawfish festival, called the Red, White and Bayou crawfish festival. The city decided in 2018 not to continue with the festival. In August 2022 the city resumed the festival.[7]

In August 2017, Dickinson was devastated by Hurricane Harvey. Ninety percent of the city was flooded during the storm and 50% was destroyed by flooding.[8]

In January 2021, Dickinson made national news by the Mayoral election run-off ending in a tie (1,010 votes to 1010 votes), Mayor Sean Skipworth was selected by drawing a name out of a hat.[9]

In August 2021, Dickinson made national news again when Council Member Position 1, H. Scott Apley died of the COVID-19 virus after making many anti-mask and anti-vaccine social media posts.[10] Johnnie Simpson Jr., a United Methodist Pastor, won the seat after earning 49% of the vote in a four-way special election, and 60.3% of the vote in a runoff.[11]

Geography
Map of Dickinson

Dickinson is located at 29°27′38″N 95°03′14″W (29.460467, –95.053856).[12] This is about 28 miles (45 km) southeast of Houston and 19 miles (31 km) northwest of Galveston.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.3 square miles (26.6 km2), of which 9.9 square miles (25.6 km2) is land and 0.42 square miles (1.1 km2), or 3.95%, is water.[13]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1930760—
19502,704—
19604,71574.4%
197010,776128.5%
19807,505−30.4%
199011,69255.8%
200017,09346.2%
201018,6809.3%
202020,84711.6%
2021 (est.)21,697[3]4.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
Texas Almanac: 1850-2000[15][16]
2020 Census[2]

2020 census
Dickinson racial composition[17]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[lower-alpha 1]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 9,507 45.6%
Black or African American (NH) 2,202 10.56%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 61 0.29%
Asian (NH) 514 2.47%
Pacific Islander (NH) 14 0.07%
Some Other Race (NH) 82 0.39%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 713 3.42%
Hispanic or Latino 7,754 37.19%
Total 20,847

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 20,847 people, 7,892 households, and 5,545 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 17,093 people, 6,162 households, and 4,522 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,770.7 inhabitants per square mile (683.7/km2). There were 6,556 housing units at an average density of 679.1 per square mile (262.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 75.35% White, 10.52% African American, 0.64% Native American, 1.21% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 12.82% from other races, and 2.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.90% of the population.

There were 6,162 households, out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,984, and the median income for a family was $46,585. Males had a median income of $36,391 versus $26,943 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,785. About 9.5% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

The Dickinson City Hall is located at 4403 Highway 3 and the Dickinson Public Library is located at 4411 Highway 3. The Dickinson Police Department is located at 4000 Liggio Street. There are fire stations at 4500 FM 517 East, which also houses EMS, and 221 FM 517 West. The fire department is run by Volunteers. The Dickinson Post Office is located at 2515 Termini Street.[20]

Education

Public schools
Dickinson High School
Dickinson, Texas water tower.

Most of Dickinson is a part of the Dickinson Independent School District. Some of it is a part of the Santa Fe Independent School District.[21]

The following schools serve the Dickinson ISD portion:

  • Elementary schools
    • Calder Road Elementary School (Pre-K–3rd Grade)
    • Bay Colony Elementary School (Pre-K–3rd Grade)
    • Hughes Road Elementary School (Pre-K–3rd Grade)
    • Jake Sibernagel Elementary School (Pre-K–3rd Grade)
    • K. E. Little Elementary School (Pre-K–3rd Grade) [serves Bacliff portion of DISD]
    • San Leon Elementary School (Pre-K–3rd Grade) [serves San Leon portion of DISD]
    • Louis G. Lobit Elementary School (Pre-K–3rd Grade)
  • Middle schools
    • John and Shamarion Barber Middle School (4th–5th Grade)
    • Dunbar Middle School (4th–5th Grade)
    • Elva C. Lobit Middle School (4th–5th Grade)
  • Junior high schools
    • R.D. McAdams Junior High School (6th–8th Grade)
    • Eugene Kranz Junior High School (6th-8th Grade)
    • Dickinson Junior High School (6th-8th Grade)
  • High schools

Before the 2004–2005 school year, all DISD elementary schools provided education for Pre-K through 5th grades. But Barber Elementary School was turned into a Middle School center for 5th grade from the 2004/05 school year to the 2007/08 school year. For the 2008/09 school year, a newly built Barber Middle School built off FM 517 and Dunbar Middle School (which previously only held the 6th grade) was set to both hold 5th–6th grades. Students will be separated into schools based on where they reside. As of the 2023-2024 School year two new junior high's were built. The Eugene 'Gene' Kranz Junior High School opened in 2018 serving 7th & 8th until the start of the 23-24 school year, and Dickinson Junior High who along with Kranz Junior High now serves 6th-8th grade as of the 2023-2024 school year. All the elemtaries now serve Pre K-3rd, and all middle schools serve 4th & 5th.

Bay Area Charter Middle School is a state charter school in Dickinson.

Private schools

True Cross School, a Roman Catholic pre-K–8 school operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, is in Dickinson.[22] True Cross School was the first Roman Catholic school on the Galveston County mainland. The school was unusable due to Hurricane Harvey. The students attended classes at Our Lady of Fatima in Texas City, Texas. The school reopened for the 2019–2020 school year.

Queen of Angels Academy, a school of the Society of St. Pius X, is located at the original Holy Cross location, and provides a classical Catholic education. Queen of Angels parish also has the traditional Latin Mass daily. Although the church structure was built in 1947, the interior has been renovated to reflect their attachment to Catholic tradition. The sanctuary, containing the main altar, has been praised for its beauty by many visitors.

Colleges and universities

Dickinson is served by the College of the Mainland, a community college in Texas City.

Public libraries

Dickinson Public Library, operated by the city, is located at 4411 Highway 3.[23]

Parks and recreation

The Galveston County Department of Parks and Senior Services operates the Dickinson Community Center at 2714 Highway 3.[24]

Dickinson Bayou is a bayou that flows in and out of the city of Dickinson.

Parks are numerous around the city. Paul Hopkins Park on 517 is host to the Festival of Lights each December. Elva Lobit Park and Zempter Park are parks that host the city's youth baseball leagues. A state-maintained boat dock is present at the Highway 3 and 146 bridges.

Notable people

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. "Explore Census Data". Explore Census Data. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  3. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". United States Census Bureau. July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  6. "Grande Dame of the Gulf". Texas Monthly: 168. December 1983.
  7. "Red, White & Bayou Texas Music Festival". KPRC. August 29, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  8. "Jonathan Alexander and Hurricanes in Dickinson". Catching Foxes. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  9. "Mayor of Houston suburb chosen by pulling a name from hat". AP NEWS. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  10. "A Texas GOP leader railed against vaccines and masks. Then he died of covid". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  11. DeLapp, John (December 8, 2021). "Pastor wins Dickinson City Council seat". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  12. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  13. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Dickinson city, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
  14. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  15. Texas Almanac. "Texas Almanac: City Population History from 1850–2000" (PDF). Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  16. Texas Almanac. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  17. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  18. http://www.census.gov
  19. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  20. "Post Office Location - DICKINSON." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
  21. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Galveston County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 29, 2022. - Text list
  22. True Cross Catholic School Archived July 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  23. "Dickinson Public Library " Dickinson Public Library. Retrieved on September 7, 2010.
  24. Facilities Overview Archived August 31, 2005, at the Wayback Machine." Galveston County Department of Parks and Senior Services.
  25. "Dickinson High School 2013 Homecoming Festivities". Gator Bytes Dickinson Independent School District E-Newsletter. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  26. "Bowl Championship Series - Where Are They Now? Andre Ware". www.espn.com. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  1. Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.[18][19]
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