Baytown is a city in theU.S. state ofTexas, withinHarris andChambers counties. Located in theHouston–The Woodlands–Sugar Landmetropolitan statistical area, it lies on the northern side of theGalveston Bay complex near the outlets of theSan Jacinto River andBuffalo Bayou. It is the sixth-largest city within this metropolitan area and seventh largest community (includingThe WoodlandsCDP). Major highways serving the city includeState Highway 99,State Highway 146 andInterstate 10. At the2020 U.S. census, Baytown had a population of 83,701, and it had an estimated population of 84,324 in 2022.^[3]

Baytown, Texas
City
Fred Hartman Bridge
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Coordinates:29°44′38″N94°57′57″W / 29.74389°N 94.96583°W /29.74389; -94.96583
Country	United States
State	Texas
Counties	Harris,Chambers
Congressional District	36th
Incorporated	January 24, 1948
Government
• Type	Council–manager
Area [1]
• Total	37.99 sq mi (98.39 km2)
• Land	36.91 sq mi (95.59 km2)
• Water	1.08 sq mi (2.80 km2)
Elevation [2]	23 ft (7 m)
Population  (2020)[3]
• Total	83,701
• Density	2,091.58/sq mi (807.57/km2)
• Metro	7,206,841 (6th)
Demonym	Baytonian
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	77520-77523
Area code(s)	281, 713, 832, 346, 621
FIPS code	48-06128[4]
GNIS feature ID	2409801[2]
Website	www.baytown.org

White American settlers first arrived in the now-Baytown area in 1822.^[5] One of its earliest settlers was Nathaniel Lynch, who set up a ferry crossing at the junction of the San Jacinto River and Buffalo Bayou. The still-operating ferry service is known as theLynchburg Ferry. Other early settlers of Baytown included William Scott, one ofStephen F. Austin'sOld Three Hundred, andAshbel Smith, who owned aplantation in the area.

The city now known as Baytown was originally three separate towns. The first of these was Goose Creek, named for the bayou of the same name whereCanada geese wintered and whose name is still reflected in the area'sGoose Creek school district, whose establishment dates back to before 1850. With the discovery of theGoose Creek Oil Field, the rival communities of Pelly in the late 1910s, and East Baytown in the early 1920s, developed as earlyboomtowns.^[5] The "East" in East Baytown was later dropped because it was west of Goose Creek.^[6]

Serious talk of merging the three cities began shortly afterWorld War I, but the community of Baytown was opposed to this idea. However, in 1947, the three cities finally agreed to consolidate. The citizens settled on the name Baytown for the new combined city. Baytown as it is known today was officially founded January 24, 1948.^[5]

In 1916, theHumble Oil and Refining Company, founded by one-time Texas governorRoss S. Sterling and his associates, in developing the Goose Creek Oil Field, built the firstoffshore drilling operation in Texas and the second in the United States. The company later built theBaytown Refinery, which would become one of the largest Exxon refineries in the world. Since then, many other refineries have been built in the area.Exxon-Mobil is still one of the major employers in the city and now runs over 10 plants in the area including a newly announced 2 billion dollar expansion to its chemical facilities in 2019.^[7]

Following the discovery of oil nearby, the population of Baytown and the tri-cities boomed. Many immigrants arrived in Baytown, among them a number of Jewish families who founded a synagogue, K’nesseth Israel, in 1930.^[8]

Steel manufacturing in Baytown began in 1970 whenUnited States Steel opened the Texas Works near the city. The plant was officially closed in July 1986, due to a poor economic climate and the decline of American steel in the 1980s. The mill was later purchased by Jindal Steel and now operates asJSW Steel USA, Inc.^[5]

The city of Baytown is located at the mouth of theSan Jacinto River onGalveston Bay, 26 miles (42 km) by road east ofHouston. According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 36.5 square miles (94.6 km²), of which 35.4 square miles (91.8 km²) is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), 2.92%, is covered by water.^[9]

Baytown is located on theGulf coastal plain, and its vegetation is classified as temperate grassland andmarshes. The municipalities have been built on reclaimed marshes,swamps, andprairies, which are all still visible in undeveloped parts of the Galveston Bay area.^[10] Baytown is bordered by water on three sides. Along the south and west is Galveston Bay. On the east isCedar Bayou. The city is roughly bordered along the north byInterstate 10. Portions of the city to the east of Cedar Bayou lie inChambers County.

Flatness of the local terrain and proximity to the bay have madeflooding a recurring problem for the area.^[11] Baytown and surrounding communities once relied ongroundwater for its needs, but severe landsubsidence has forced much the city to turn to ground-level water sources.^[12]

The land beneath Baytown consists of layers of sand and clay to great depths. These layers were created by millennia of river-bornesediments which gradually incorporated plant and animal matter, creating the petroleum deposits for which theGulf Coast is now known.^[13]

The region around the city has numerousfaults, many considered active, but none have produced significant earthquakes in recorded history.^[14] These faults tend to move at a smooth rate in what is termed "fault creep", which reduces the risk of an earthquake.^[12] The one significant earthquake that has been reported in the area was the result of an underground water and petroleum extraction.^[15]

Baytown's climate is classified ashumid subtropical (Cfa inKöppen climate classification system).^[16] Springsupercell thunderstorms sometimes createtornadoes (but not to the extent found intornado alley).^[17] Prevailing winds from the south and southeast bring heat from the deserts ofMexico and moisture from theGulf of Mexico.^[18]

Summer temperatures typically have highs near 90 °F (32 °C) though higher temperatures are not uncommon.^[19] The city's proximity to the bay and the winds that it generates moderate the area's temperatures and ease the effects of the humidity, creating a more pleasant climate than inland communities like Houston.^[20] Winters in the area are temperate with typical January high of 61 °F (16 °C) and lows are near 42 °F (6 °C). Snowfall is rare. Baytown’s annual rainfall averages are around or exceed 64 inches (160 cm), making it one of the wetter cities of the lower 48.^[21]

Excessiveozone levels can occur due to industrial activities; nearby Houston is ranked among the most ozone-polluted cities in the United States.^[22] The industries located along the ship channel and the bay are a major cause of the pollution.^[23]

Hurricanes are a substantial concern during the fall season. ThoughGalveston Island and theBolivar Peninsula provide some shielding, Baytown still faces more danger than Houston and other inland communities, particularly because of storm surge, as well as severe land subsidence in some low-lying areas of town due to excess pumping of groundwater in the 1960s (seeBrownwood subdivision)^[24] by area refineries and municipalities.^[25][26][27] HurricanesCarla (1961),Alicia (1983),Ike (2008), andHarvey (2017) were the four most damaging hurricanes to affect Baytown.

The2020 United States census determined Baytown had a population of 83,701, up from 71,802 people at the2010 United States census.^[3] In 2010, its population density was 2,025.7 inhabitants per square mile (782.1/km²). There were 26,203 housing units at an average density of 802.4 per square mile (309.8/km²) in 2010, and 28,802 housing units in 2019.^[46] As of the2020 United States census, there were 83,701 people, 26,592 households, and 18,169 families residing in the city.

In 2019, theU.S. Census Bureau estimated that the racial and ethnic makeup of the city was 31.8%non-Hispanic white, 17.2%Black or African American, 0.1%American Indian or Alaska Native, 1.8%Asian, 0.1% from some other race, and 2.0% fromtwo or more races. Approximately 47.0% of the local population wereHispanic or Latin American of any race.^[47] Of the Hispanic or Latin American population, the largest group wasMexican Americans. At the 2010 U.S. census, the racial and ethnic makeup of the city was 62.9%White, 15.5% African American, 0.6% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 14.42% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 43.4% of the population.

Of the 2010 population, 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were not families. About 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.32. The 2019 American Community Survey estimated the average family size declined to 2.83.^[48]

In 2019, Baytown's population had a distribution of 95.3 males per 100 females aged 18 and older, and 68.2 males per 100 females aged 65 and older.^[46] In 2010 the city's population was distributed as 29.2% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $48,191, and for a family was $45,346 in 2010, and the median income in 2019 was $57,765.^[49] Residents of Baytown had a per capita income of $26,978 in 2019,^[50] and an estimated 14.0% lived at or below the poverty line.^[51] According to 2010's census, males had a median income of $38,039 versus $25,012 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,641. About 13.0% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.9% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

The median value of owner-occupied housing units was $133,900 in 2019 and the median monthly cost with a mortgage was $1,360. The median cost without a mortgage was $422. Baytown had a median gross rent of $938.^[52] In 2010 the American Community Survey determined the median owner-occupied housing unit value at $101,700.^[53]

As of 2010, the property crime rate in the community was 4.6% compared to 5.45% for Harris County as a whole. The violent crime rate was 0.5% compared to 1.03% for Harris County.^[54]

Christianity is the most prevalent religion in Baytown and the Greater Houston area. TheLatin Church'sArchdiocese of Galveston-Houston of theCatholic Church is the largest Christian body in the city, followed byBaptists of theSouthern Baptist Convention andTexas Baptists,^[55][56] theAssemblies of God USA,^[57] andUnited Methodist Church.^[58] Other prominent religions includeJudaism andIslam.^[59][60][61]

The centerpieces of Baytown's economies are three industrial districts the city has created, all outside the city limits but within itsextra-territorial jurisdiction. These districts primarily support petroleum and petrochemical processing. The anchors of the business community areExxonMobil,Covestro, andChevron Phillips. The ExxonMobil Baytown Complex, founded in 1919, is one of the world's largest industrial complexes.^[62] TheBaytown Refinery located there is the largest in the United States.^[63] The Covestro (formerBayer MaterialScience) Baytown Industrial Park is the largest of Covestro's U.S. chemical processing sites producing a variety of petrochemical products. TheCedar Bayou plant, in operation since 1963, is Chevron Phillips Chemical's largest manufacturing site in the United States.^{[clarification needed]} It is a newer and growing industrial district which is quickly acquiring new tenants such asJindal Steel and Power Limited andSamson Controls.^[62]

In addition to the heavy industry in the business community, Baytown is home to the Cedar Crossing Industrial Park. With a total expanse of 15,000 acres, Cedar Crossing Industrial Park is considered the world's fifth largestindustrial park and the largest on the Gulf Coast. Cedar Crossing has attracted many top-tier companies with significant operations, includingHome Depot's 755,000-square-foot distribution hub,Walmart's 4.2 million-square-foot import center (their largest in the U.S.), JSW Steel's plate and pipe manufacturing facilities, andBorusan Mannesmann's $148 million steel pipe manufacturing facility. Other occupants includeExel,S&B Engineers,National Oilwell,GE Water,TMK-IPSCO,Century Asphalt,Samson Controls, andLS Energy Fabrication.^[62]

As of 2006^[update], the largest taxpayers in the city were ExxonMobil Company, CenterPoint Energy,Verizon Southwest,Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.,Continental Airlines, Inc.,Valero Marketing & Supply,Car Son Bay LP,Memorial NW Pavilion Trust,Camden Property Trust, andLCY Elastomers LP.^[62]

The Downtown Arts District is home to a plethora of different arts and cultures programs such as the Baytown Little Theater, Lee College Performing Arts Center, Art Gallery of Baytown, and the Baytown Public Art Program.^[64] The Baytown Little Theater is acommunity theater in Baytown run entirely by volunteers.^[65] The theater has been in operation for more than 55 years and is one of the longest continuously running community theaters in Texas. The theater typically produces six shows each year from September to August, with each show giving seven performances. The Baytown Little Theater is known for their summer musical. Past performances include The Wizard of Oz and Disney's Little Mermaid.

The Lee College Performing Arts Center hosts a number of theater performances, symphony performances, and art exhibits year around. The Baytown Symphony Orchestra, in residence at Lee College Performing Arts Center,^[66] performs several concerts throughout the year for the enjoyment of the public.

The Art Gallery of Baytown is also in the Downtown Arts District, and houses the Art League of Baytown. The Art League was organized in 1954 and incorporated as a Texas non-profit corporation in 1963.^[67] The gallery features works of art created by local artists. There is also a variety of gifts available for purchase such as paintings, pottery, jewelry, stained glass, photos, cards and other unique art.

In the Downtown Arts District are the roots of the Baytown Public Art Program spearheaded by the City of Baytown Tourism Division. Overseeing the program is the Public Art Visioning Committee with members from the Art League of Baytown, Lee College Art Department, Sterling Municipal Library, Parks and Recreation Department, and the Baytown Tourism Division.^[68]

Baytown Nature Center, located on a 450-acre (1.8 km²) peninsula along the Houston Ship Channel and surrounded on three sides by Burnet Bay, Crystal Bay, and Scott Bay, is both a recreation area and a wildlife sanctuary that is home to hundreds of bird species, mammals, reptiles, and aquatic species.^[69]

Houston Raceway is amotorsports complex featuringNational Hot Rod Association (NHRA) races and a weekly drag racing program. Established in 1988, the venue accommodates 40,000 fans and included a high-banked dirt oval race track that hosts races each year from March through October.^[70]

TheBaytown Sun serves as the city and urban area's newspaper.^[71]Houston television, newspaper, and radio outlets also provide coverage of Baytown as part of theGreater Houston metropolitan area.

Baytown has acouncil–manager form of government. Jason Reynolds currently^[when?] serves as the Baytown City Manager. Charles Johnson is Mayor while council members are Laura Alvarado, Sarah Graham, Ken Griffith, James Franco, Jacob Powell, and Mike Lester.

The City of Baytown operates the Sterling Municipal Library, which has a collection of 300,000 items.^[72] The original Goose Creek Library opened in 1925;^[73] the first county library in Texas, it was funded by the private donations ofHumble Oil and Refining Company presidentRoss S. Sterling. The current Sterling Library was dedicated in 1963. The library's space increased to 50,500 square feet (4,690 m²) after bond programs in 1975 and 1995.^[74] In addition Baytown residents are served by theHarris County Public Library system.

The Baytown Police Department has 167 sworn officers and 52 support personnel as of 2014. The department provides all-hour patrol services and has many special units: SWAT, Dive Team, D.A.R.E., Hot Spot, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, Investigations, Police Academy, Bomb Squad, and others.^[75]

Fire, rescue, hazardous materials response, and EMS are provided by the Baytown Fire Department,^[76] an all-professional department of approximately 140 sworn members. The Fire Department is led by Kenneth Dobson and is an ISO 1 rated agency.

TheUnited States Postal Service operates the Baytown Main Post Office at 601 West Baker Road and the Baytown Post Office "Station A" at 3508 Market Street. The "Station A" designation is a leftover from Baytown's pre-consolidation days. Prior to consolidation in 1948 each of the tri-cities, (Baytown, Pelly, and Goose Creek), had their own post office. After 1948 when the tri-cities consolidated under the name Baytown, Goose Creek's post office became the main post office but they still needed a post office to service the rest of town so the Old Baytown Post Office became "Station A".^[77][78]

Harris County Precinct Two operates Baytown Park, a senior citizen sports complex, at 4500 Hemlock Drive.^[79] Baytown Park includes two unlighted baseball/softball fields and toilets.^[79][80] The precinct also operates the Baytown Soccer Complex, located north of Baytown at 9600 North Main Street in an unincorporated area.^[81] The complex has eight soccer fields; four are lighted and four are unlighted.^[80]

Harris Health System (formerly Harris County Hospital District) operates the Baytown Health Center in Baytown. The center opened on February 14, 1967.^[82] The designated public hospital isLyndon B. Johnson Hospital in northeast Houston.^[83]

Harris County operates a tax office at 701 West Baker Boulevard.^[84]

East Harris County and West Chambers County are served byLee College, a two-year community college.^[85]

Baytown is served by theGoose Creek Consolidated Independent School District. Based in Baytown, the district has 14 elementary schools (grades K–5), 6 junior highs (grades 6–8), 3 high schools (grades 9–12), a career center, and two alternative centers for education. The district serves all of Baytown, Highlands, outlying areas of East Harris County, and a small portion of western Chambers County. The three local high schools areRobert E. Lee (opened in 1928),Ross S. Sterling (opened in 1966), andGoose Creek Memorial High School (opened in 2008).

Stallworth Stadium is the home for varsity football and soccer forGCCISD. The stadium seats approximately 16,000 fans, making it one of the largest high school sports venues in the state. It recently underwent a press box renovation in 2009, as well as an innovation in 2006 when artificial turf and a huge scoreboard were installed. On a campaign stop for the 1976 presidential election, PresidentGerald Ford attended a Robert E. Lee High School fall football game.

The immediate area has four private schools. These include:Baytown Christian Academy,Chinquapin Preparatory School, Light House Baptist Academy, and theRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston’s St. Joseph Regional Catholic School.

Harris County Transit provides public transportation.^[86] The Baytown Park and Ride lot is located on the western side ofSan Jacinto Mall.^[87] Harris County Transit also offers a bus line that runs along Decker Drive, Garth Road, North Main Street, Baker Road, and Rollingbrook Drive connecting most of Baytown's major shopping areas with Lee College.

Greyhound Bus Lines operates the Baytown Station at Baytown Travel Express.^[88]

Baytown Airport is a privately ownedgeneral aviation airport in unincorporated Harris County located north of Baytown.RWJ Airpark is a privately owned airport three miles (5 km) east of Baytown inBeach City. The closest airports with commercial airline service areWilliam P. Hobby Airport andGeorge Bush Intercontinental Airport inHouston.^[89]

Baytown is served byMetropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO) express route 236 Maxey Road/Baytown during the rush hours, sending commuters toDowntown Houston.^[90]

Baytown is linked toInterstate 10 (Baytown East Freeway) byState Highway 99 (Grand Parkway),State Highway 146 (Lanier Freeway) andSpur 330 (Decker Drive). It is also linked by theFred Hartman Bridge, which crosses into the city from nearbyLa Porte; the bridge was built in 1995, replacing theBaytown Tunnel, to allow a deeper ship channel.

• Rocky Bernard, defensive tackle for the NFLNew York Giants
• Kirk Botkin, former NFL player and collegiate football coach
• William Broyles, Jr., screenwriter, co-founder ofTexas Monthly magazine
• Gary Busey, born in Goose Creek, Texas^[91]
• Chris Cagle,country music artist
• Wanda Garner Cash,open government advocate and former publisher ofThe Baytown Sun
• Quentin Coryatt, former NFL player andTexas A & M linebacker
• Macey Cruthird, actress born in Baytown
• Bobby Fuller, rock musician; born in Baytown
• John Hagee, pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas; born in Baytown
• Brian Johnson, football player
• "Mean" Gene Kelton, singer-songwriter, blues musician, and band leader
• Bob Lanier, born and raised in Baytown. Mayor of Houston 1991–1997
• Romany Malco, actor/rapper; attended Ross S. Sterling High School
• Fred Marti, Professional golfer; 1962 NCAA ChampionUniversity of Houston
• Leeland Mooring, lead singer for Christian bandLeeland
• RaeLynn, country music star and competed onThe Voice
• Ell Roberson III, formerKansas State University quarterback
• Howard Sampson, former NFL player
• Wayne Smith (born 1943), member of theTexas House of Representatives^[92]
• Sherwood Stewart, former Pro Tennis player
• Clint Stoerner, formerDallas Cowboys andUniversity of Arkansas quarterback
• Tom Stolhandske, NFL and CFL player
• Drew Tate, former University of Iowa quarterback and current CFL member
• Joe Tex, popular R&B singer during the 1960s
• Buddy Wakefield, championslam poet, was raised in Baytown
• Henrietta Bell Wells, lawyer, first African-American woman to participate in debate team in Wiley College
• Glenn Wilson, formerMajor League Baseball outfielder

• City of Baytown official website
• Baytown Chamber of Commerce