Freeport, Texas | |
|---|---|
City | |
| Motto: "Where Fun Happens"[1] | |
 Location in the state ofTexas | |
 | |
  Freeport  Freeport | |
| Coordinates:28°57′34″N95°21′25″W / 28.95944°N 95.35694°W /28.95944; -95.35694 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Brazoria |
| Incorporated | February 10, 1917 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| • City Council | Mayor Brooks Bass Jeff Peña Jerry Cain George Matamoros Winston Rossow |
| • City Manager | Lance Petty |
| Area | |
• Total | 17.70 sq mi (45.84 km2) |
| • Land | 15.40 sq mi (39.88 km2) |
| • Water | 2.30 sq mi (5.96 km2) |
| Elevation | 5 ft (1.5 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 10,696 |
| • Density | 788.2/sq mi (304.31/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes | 77541-77542 |
| Area code | 979 |
| FIPS code | 48-27420[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1357720[4] |
| Website | www |
Freeport is a city inBrazoria County, Texas, United States, located on theGulf of Mexico, founded in 1912. According to the2020 census, the city population was 10,696,[5] down from 12,049 in 2010, whereHispanic orLatino were 52% of the population.
Freeport's economic growth began in 1939 with the construction ofDow Chemical Company facilities, which remain its largest employer and are the largest integrated chemical manufacturing facility in the United States.
In 2002,Freeport LNG was founded; an LNG export terminal was developed in the early 2010s after the USshale gas revolution and came online in 2019. In June 2022 a pipeline rupture and explosion closed the terminal until February 2023.
Freeport was founded as a European-American settlement in November 1912 by theFreeport 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 severalsegregated 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 ofDow Chemical Company facilities in the city during 1939. As of 2007, this company is the community's largest employer.[7] As of 2011, Freeport had Dow's largest single manufacturing site in the 21st century.[8]
In July 1957, Freeport merged withVelasco. This had been a temporary capital of theRepublic of Texas during the 19th century. Soon thereafter, Freeport's population numbered 11,619.[7] In 2003, the city annexed nearby Bryan Beach.[9]
Freeport is located in southernBrazoria County at28°57′34″N95°21′25″W / 28.95944°N 95.35694°W /28.95944; -95.35694 (28.959527, –95.356941),[10] near the mouth of theBrazos River in theGulf of Mexico. In 2003, the city annexed 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of beach bounded on the northeast by the village ofQuintana and continuing southwest to the mouth of the Brazos River. This beach is known as Bryan Beach. It is just a few miles away fromSurfside and Quintana beaches.
Texas State Highway 288, the Nolan Ryan Expressway, leads north from Freeport 17 miles (27 km) toAngleton, the county seat, and 61 miles (98 km) to downtownHouston.Texas State Highway 36 leads northwest 15 miles (24 km) toBrazoria.
According to theUnited 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]
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Freeport has ahumid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[11]
| Climate data for Freeport, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1959–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 83 (28) | 83 (28) | 88 (31) | 95 (35) | 98 (37) | 103 (39) | 100 (38) | 104 (40) | 105 (41) | 96 (36) | 90 (32) | 84 (29) | 105 (41) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 76.9 (24.9) | 78.5 (25.8) | 81.3 (27.4) | 85.6 (29.8) | 90.0 (32.2) | 93.5 (34.2) | 95.0 (35.0) | 96.6 (35.9) | 94.4 (34.7) | 89.7 (32.1) | 84.1 (28.9) | 79.2 (26.2) | 97.3 (36.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 64.1 (17.8) | 67.2 (19.6) | 72.7 (22.6) | 78.1 (25.6) | 84.2 (29.0) | 89.7 (32.1) | 91.5 (33.1) | 92.0 (33.3) | 89.0 (31.7) | 82.5 (28.1) | 73.6 (23.1) | 66.9 (19.4) | 79.3 (26.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 55.2 (12.9) | 58.7 (14.8) | 64.5 (18.1) | 70.5 (21.4) | 77.4 (25.2) | 83.1 (28.4) | 84.9 (29.4) | 85.1 (29.5) | 81.2 (27.3) | 73.9 (23.3) | 64.3 (17.9) | 57.8 (14.3) | 71.4 (21.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 46.2 (7.9) | 50.1 (10.1) | 56.3 (13.5) | 62.8 (17.1) | 70.6 (21.4) | 76.4 (24.7) | 78.3 (25.7) | 78.1 (25.6) | 73.4 (23.0) | 65.3 (18.5) | 55.0 (12.8) | 48.7 (9.3) | 63.4 (17.4) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 31.7 (−0.2) | 36.2 (2.3) | 39.7 (4.3) | 48.0 (8.9) | 59.4 (15.2) | 68.4 (20.2) | 72.4 (22.4) | 72.0 (22.2) | 63.4 (17.4) | 49.1 (9.5) | 39.0 (3.9) | 34.1 (1.2) | 29.3 (−1.5) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 15 (−9) | 15 (−9) | 25 (−4) | 36 (2) | 41 (5) | 57 (14) | 64 (18) | 65 (18) | 45 (7) | 34 (1) | 26 (−3) | 13 (−11) | 13 (−11) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 4.02 (102) | 2.44 (62) | 2.91 (74) | 2.87 (73) | 3.87 (98) | 4.74 (120) | 4.18 (106) | 4.98 (126) | 7.06 (179) | 4.37 (111) | 4.69 (119) | 3.80 (97) | 49.93 (1,268) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 9.7 | 8.2 | 6.9 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 7.8 | 8.2 | 7.9 | 9.6 | 6.6 | 7.4 | 9.6 | 94.1 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Source:NOAA[12][13] | |||||||||||||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 2,423 | 22.65% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 1,125 | 10.52% |
| Native American orAlaska 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 the2020 United States census, there were 10,696 people, 4,224 households, and 2,993 families residing in the city.
According to thecensus[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-HispanicWhite, 13.9%African American, 0.56%Native American, 0.35%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 20.91% fromother races, and 3.24% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino 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.
In the city, themedian 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. Theper capita income for the city was $17,707. About 27.5% of families were below thepoverty line.[18]
Port Freeport is aseaport on theGulf of Mexico and is currently ranked 26th in international tonnage. The associated chemical plants provide a stable economy. Freeport is the site of theDow Chemical Company's Texas Operations facility, which is the company's largest integrated site[8] and the largest integrated chemical manufacturing facility in the United States.[19] Chemical production includes Alkalines And Chlorine, Industrial Gases, Industrial Inorganic Chemicals, Plastics Materials And Resins, Synthetic Rubber, Cyclic Crudes And Intermediates, Industrial Organic Chemicals, Agricultural Chemicals, Adhesives And Sealants, and Petroleum Refining.[19]
In 2002,Freeport LNG was founded; LNG import came online in 2008, an LNG export terminal was developed in the early 2010s after the USshale gas revolution and came online 2019. LNG in Freeport comes from Texas shale formations cracked open throughhydraulic fracturing. In June 2022, a pipeline rupture caused methane to leak and an explosion after which the LNG terminal was closed for 8 months.[20]
Freeport is in Texas'14th congressional district,[21] and is represented by CongressmanRandy Weber.
TheBrazosport Facts inClute is a local paper. It was headquartered in Freeport until the move to Clute in 1976.[22]
TheHouston Chronicle is the metropolitan area newspaper.
Schools in Freeport includeBrazosport High School (Grades 9–12), Freeport Intermediate School (Grades 7–8), Lanier Middle School (Grades 5–6), Freeport Elementary, and Velasco Elementary School but this place shut down (Grades Pre-K–4). They are all maintained throughBrazosport Independent School District.[23]
The $19.2 million Freeport Elementary facility opened in 2018. VLK Architects designed the building. The student capacity is 750.[24]
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.[24]
Previously Freeport had O.A. Fleming Elementary School (PK–1),[25] and Jane Long Elementary School (grades 2–4).[26] 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.[24]
It is within the zone forBrazosport College.[27] TheTexas Legislature designated the Brazosport ISD as in the Brazosport College zone.[28]
The Freeport Library is a part of theBrazoria County Library System.[29]
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Municipalities and communities ofBrazoria County, Texas,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
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| Villages | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| Counties |  | |
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| "Principal" cities | ||
| Other cities |
For a complete listing, seelist of cities and towns in Greater Houston | |
| Unincorporated areas | ||
| Bodies of water | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
