La Marque, Texas

La Marque (/lə ˈmɑːrk/ lə MARK) is a city in Galveston County, Texas, 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.

City of La Marque
City
Welcome to La Marque
Welcome to La Marque
Location of La Marque, Texas
Location of La Marque, Texas
Coordinates: 29°22′0″N 94°58′26″W
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyGalveston
Area
[1]
 • Total14.28 sq mi (36.98 km2)
 • Land13.75 sq mi (35.62 km2)
 • Water0.52 sq mi (1.36 km2)
Elevation
16 ft (5 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total18,030
 • Density1,259.20/sq mi (486.16/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
77568
Area code409
FIPS code48-41116[2]
GNIS feature ID1377749[3]
Websitehttp://www.ci.la-marque.tx.us/

History
Paul's Union Church, La Marque, Texas
The La Marque water tower

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
Map of La Marque

La Marque is located at 29°22′00″N 94°58′26″W (29.366684, –94.973922).[4]

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) of it are land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) of it (0.28%) is covered by water.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
196013,969—
197016,13115.5%
198015,372−4.7%
199014,120−8.1%
200013,682−3.1%
201014,5096.0%
202018,03024.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]

2020 census
La Marque racial composition[6]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[lower-alpha 1]
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.

2000 census

As of the census[2] of 2000, 13,682 people, 5,237 households, and 3,713 families resided in the city. The population density was 962.0 inhabitants per square mile (371.4/km2). The 5,732 housing units averaged 403.0 per square mile (155.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 55.84% White, 34.69% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 6.24% from other races, and 2.31% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 15.43% of the population.

Of the 5,237 households, 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were not families. About 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city, the age distribution was 25.7% under 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,841, and for a family was $39,081. Males had a median income of $32,099 versus $27,292 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,518. About 13.5% of families and 17.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.6% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure
La Marque City Hall
La Marque Post Office – 77658

The United States Postal Service La Marque Post Office is located at 509 Laurel Street.[9]

Education

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.[10] Previously La Marque Independent School District (LMISD) served what became the TCISD area.[11] On December 2, 2015, Texas Education Agency Commissioner Michael Williams announced that TCISD would absorb the former LMISD effective July 1, 2016.[12]

La Marque High School continues to serve the former LMISD area.[13] 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.[14]

Public libraries

The city owns the La Marque Public Library, which is located at 1101 Bayou Road.[15]

Transportation

Greyhound Bus Lines operates the Texas City La Marque Station at McKown Air Conditioning in nearby Texas City.[16]

Parks and recreation

The Galveston County Department of Parks and Senior Services operates the Wayne Johnson III Community Center at Carbide Park.[17]

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  6. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  7. https://www.census.gov/
  8. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  9. "Post Office Location - LA MARQUE." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
  10. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Galveston County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  11. "SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Galveston County, TX." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on May 21, 2018.
  12. Daughtry, Shannon. "TEA: Texas City ISD to annex La Marque ISD ." The Galveston County Daily News. Wednesday December 2, 2015. Retrieved on January 12, 2016. "Texas City ISD will annex La Marque ISD into its school district beginning in the 2016-17 school year."
  13. "TEA annexes LMISD to TCISD Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine" (Archive). Texas City Independent School District. Retrieved on January 12, 2016. "With this in mind, students will continue to attend their neighborhood schools for the 2016-2017 school year,” said Dr. Lusignolo."
  14. Texas Education Code, Section 130.174, "College of the Mainland District Service Area".
  15. "Library Archived December 26, 2008, at the Wayback Machine." City of La Marque. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
  16. "Texas City La Marque, Texas." Greyhound Lines. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
  17. Facilities Overview Archived 2005-08-31 at the Wayback Machine." Galveston County Department of Parks and Senior Services.
  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.[7][8]
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