Freeport, Texas

Freeport is a city in Brazoria County, Texas, United States, located on the Gulf of Mexico. According to the 2020 census, the city population was 10,696,[5] down from 12,049 in 2010.

Freeport, Texas
City
Motto: 
"Where Fun Happens"[1]
Location in the state of Texas
Location in the state of Texas
Freeport is located in Texas
Freeport
Freeport
Freeport is located in the United States
Freeport
Freeport
Coordinates: 28°57′34″N 95°21′25″W
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyBrazoria
IncorporatedFebruary 10, 1917
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager
 • City CouncilMayor Brooks Bass
Jeff Peña
Jerry Cain
Mario Muraira
 • City ManagerTim Kelty
Area
[2]
 • Total17.70 sq mi (45.84 km2)
 • Land15.40 sq mi (39.88 km2)
 • Water2.30 sq mi (5.96 km2)
Elevation
5 ft (2 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total10,696
 • Density788.15/sq mi (304.31/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
77541-77542
Area code979
FIPS code48-27420[3]
GNIS feature ID1357720[4]
Websitewww.freeport.tx.us

History
See also: Velasco, Texas
Freeport Sulphur No.6 entering Freeport harbor, 1923

Freeport was founded as a European-American settlement in November 1912 by the Freeport Sulphur Company.[6] The population was 300. However, by 1929, that population had grown to 3,500, and to 4,100 by 1939, influencing a steady increase of economic expansion in Freeport.[7]

By 1937, a Freeport School District had been established, consisting of several segregated schools and 27 teachers. There were two white schools, one black school, and a white high school.[7]

Freeport's most substantial economic growth began with the construction of Dow Chemical Company facilities in the city during 1939. This company is the community's largest employer.[7] Freeport has the company's largest single manufacturing site in the 21st century.[8]

In July 1957, Freeport merged with Velasco, Texas. This had been a temporary capital of the Republic of Texas during the 19th century. Soon thereafter, Freeport's population numbered 11,619.[7] In 2003, the city annexed nearby Bryan Beach.[9]

Economy

Port Freeport is a seaport on the Gulf of Mexico and is currently ranked 26th in international tonnage. The associated chemical plants provide a stable economy. Freeport is the site of the Dow Chemical Company's Texas Operations facility, which is the company's largest integrated site.[8]

Geography

Freeport is located in southern Brazoria County at 28°57′34″N 95°21′25″W (28.959527, –95.356941),[10] near the mouth of the Brazos River in the Gulf of Mexico. In 2003, the city annexed 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of beach bounded on the northeast by the village of Quintana and continuing southwest to the mouth of the Brazos River. This beach is known as Bryan Beach. It is just a few miles away from Surfside and Quintana beaches.

Texas State Highway 288, the Nolan Ryan Expressway, leads north from Freeport 17 miles (27 km) to Angleton, the county seat, and 61 miles (98 km) to downtown Houston. Texas State Highway 36 leads northwest 15 miles (24 km) to Brazoria.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Freeport has a total area of 17.1 square miles (44.2 km2), of which 14.9 square miles (38.7 km2) is land and 2.1 square miles (5.5 km2), or 12.36%, is water.[5]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19201,798—
19303,16275.9%
19402,579−18.4%
19506,012133.1%
196011,61993.3%
197011,9973.3%
198013,44412.1%
199011,389−15.3%
200012,70811.6%
201012,049−5.2%
202010,696−11.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
Freeport racial composition as of 2020[12]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[lower-alpha 1]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 2,423 22.65%
Black or African American (NH) 1,125 10.52%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 32 0.3%
Asian (NH) 53 0.5%
Some Other Race (NH) 26 0.24%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 239 2.23%
Hispanic or Latino 6,798 63.56%
Total 10,696

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 10,696 people, 4,224 households, and 2,993 families residing in the city.

According to the census[3] numbers as of 2016, there were 12,153 people, 3,788 households with an average of 3.17 persons per household. The median gross rent was $711.00 and the owner-occupied housing rate was 49.5%. The racial makeup of the city was 33.2% non-Hispanic White, 13.9% African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 20.91% from other races, and 3.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 52.0% of the population. Languages spoken in the household other than English is 49.4%.

The mean travel time to work for workers age 16+ was 15.2 minutes. In 2012, there were approximately 1,230 businesses in Freeport with women owning 552.

In the city, the median age for females is 29 years old and for males is 28. 34.1% of the population is 18 years of age or younger.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,044. The per capita income for the city was $17,707. About 27.5% of families were below the poverty line.[15]

Government

Freeport is in the 14th congressional district,[16] and is represented by Congressman Randy Weber.

Media

The Brazosport Facts in Clute is a local paper. It was headquartered in Freeport until the move to Clute in 1976.[17]

The Houston Chronicle is the metropolitan area newspaper.

Education
Brazosport High School

Public education

Schools in Freeport include Brazosport High School (Grades 9–12), Freeport Intermediate School (Grades 7–8), Lanier Middle School (Grades 5–6), Freeport Elementary, and Velasco Elementary School (Grades Pre-K–4). They are all maintained through Brazosport Independent School District.[18]

  • The $19.2 million Freeport Elementary facility opened in 2018. VLK Architects designed the building. The student capacity is 750.[19]
  • Velasco Elementary was a Kindergarten through grade 4 school until 2017, when it became a grade 2–4 school for all of Freeport. Grades K–1 were moved to O. A. Fleming Elementary, which was scheduled to close in 2018 and be replaced by Freeport Elementary.[19]

Previously Freeport had O.A. Fleming Elementary School (PK–1),[20] and Jane Long Elementary School (grades 2–4).[21] Jane Long was scheduled to close in 2017, with Fleming taking grades K–1 and Velasco Elementary taking over grades 2–4. Fleming was scheduled to close when the new Freeport Elementary School opened in 2018.[19]

Tertiary education

It is within the zone for Brazosport College.[22] The Texas Legislature designated the Brazosport ISD as in the Brazosport College zone.[23]

Libraries

The Freeport Library is a part of the Brazoria County Library System.[24]

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Freeport has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[25]

References
  1. "The City of Freeport Texas". The City of Freeport Texas. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Freeport city, Texas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  6. Haynes, Williams (1959). Brimstone, The Stone That Burns. Princeton: D. Van Norstrand Company, Inc. pp. 75–85.
  7. Freeport, TX, Handbook of Texas, Retrieved 12 August 2007.
  8. "Texas Operation – Freeport, Texas" (PDF). Dow Chemical Company. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
  9. Evans, Thayer. "Freeport annexes part of Bryan Beach area". Chron.com. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  12. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  13. https://www.census.gov/
  14. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  15. §https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/freeportcitytexas/PST045216
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 24, 2009. Retrieved May 16, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. "The History of The Facts". Brazosport Facts. Archived from the original on August 31, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  18. "Brazosport Independent School District". Brazosport Independent School District. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  19. Calahan, Erinn (April 5, 2017). "BISD breaks ground on new Freeport Elementary campus". Brazosport Facts. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  20. "Elementary Boundary Zones" (PDF). Brazosport Independent School District. Retrieved June 17, 2020. - Compare to a map of the Surfside Beach city limits.
  21. "Brazosport ISD School Feeder Patterns". Brazosport Independent School District. Archived from the original on April 2, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  22. "Brazosport College Map" (PDF). Brazoria County Appraisal District. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  23. Texas Education Code Sec. 130.170. BRAZOSPORT COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
  24. "Brazoria County Library System". Brazoria County Library System. Archived from the original on October 31, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  25. Climate Summary for Freeport, Texas
  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.[13][14]
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