Anahuac, Texas

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Anahuac, Texas

| settlement_type = City

| image_skyline = AnahuacTXSign.JPG

| imagesize = 280px

| image_caption = Entrance sign

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| mapsize = 280px

| map_caption =

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = United States

| subdivision_type1 = State

| subdivision_name1 = Texas

| subdivision_type2 = County

| subdivision_name2 = Chambers

| government_footnotes =

| government_type =

| established_title =

| established_date =

| unit_pref = Imperial

| area_footnotes = {{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}

| area_total_km2 = 5.51

| area_land_km2 = 5.51

| area_water_km2 = 0.00

| area_total_sq_mi = 2.13

| area_land_sq_mi = 2.13

| area_water_sq_mi = 0.00

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_footnotes =

| population_total = 1980

| population_density_sq_mi = 1100.19

| population_density_km2 = 424.72

| timezone = Central (CST)

| utc_offset = −6

| timezone_DST = CDT

| utc_offset_DST = −5

| elevation_footnotes =

| elevation_ft = 20

| coordinates = {{coord|29|45|25|N|94|40|53|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}

| postal_code_type = ZIP Code

| postal_code = 77514

| area_code = 409

| blank_name = FIPS code

| blank_info = 48-03144{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}

| blank1_name = GNIS feature ID

| blank1_info = 2409705{{GNIS|2409705}}

| website = {{URL|www.anahuac.us}}

| footnotes =

}}

File:ChambersCountyLibraryAnahuac.JPG

Anahuac ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|æ|n|ə|w|æ|k}} {{respell|AN|ə|wak}}){{cite web|url=http://www.texastripper.com/pronounce/locations-a.html|title=How to Pronounce: A Cities|date=21 September 2014|website=texastripper.com|access-date=9 April 2018|archive-date=18 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140818114058/http://www.texastripper.com/pronounce/locations-a.html|url-status=dead}} is a city in the U.S. state of Texas on the coast of Trinity Bay. The population of the city was 1,980 at the 2020 census.{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4803144| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Anahuac city, Texas| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=July 24, 2015| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213051103/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4803144| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}} Anahuac is the county seat of Chambers County{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=2011-05-31 }} and is situated in Southeast Texas. The Texas Legislature designated the city as the "Alligator Capital of Texas" in 1989. Anahuac hosts an annual alligator festival.Horswell, Cindy. "[http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Anahuac-drowning-in-budget-and-water-woes-3725449.php Anahuac drowning in budget and water woes]." Houston Chronicle. Monday July 23, 2012. Retrieved on July 25, 2012.

History

{{Further|History of the Galveston Bay Area}}

File:General Thomas Jefferson Chambers House, Anahuac, Texas.jpg|House of General Thomas Jefferson Chambers

The Mexican term Anahuac comes from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs. The name means "place beside the waters." Anáhuac is the pre-Columbian name of the Valley of Mexico and its former lake basins around Mexico City, often including the Lerma and Pánuco river systems. Despite the name, neither the city of Anahuac, Texas, nor the immediate region were ever part of the Aztec Empire.

The first dwellers in this area were the Atakapan people as well as the Caddo. The first colonist settlers arrived in 1715, The Burkhalter and Morehead families. They established a small settlement near what is now Lake Anahuac. In 1721, Frenchman Jean Baptiste de La Harpe reached this area. In the 19th century the area became known as "Perry's Point", after Colonel Harry Perry, who erected a military post here in 1816.

Two major events in 1832 and 1835, known as the Anahuac Disturbances (caused mainly by rogue bandits termed "Texians" from the Brazos Valley area), helped to precipitate the Texas Revolution that led to the separation of Texas from Mexico. One of these events was the jailing by Mexican authorities of William Travis for illegal slave importation,Tucker (2010), p. 30. and the other was unfair taxation and duties on river traffic to the settlers by the Mexican authorities.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}

In October 1830, Mexican Colonel Juan Davis Bradburn established a customs post atop the same {{convert|30|ft|adj=on}} bluff where Perry had camped. Bradburn's orders specified that the new post be named Fort Anahuac.Henson (1982), p. 51. The soldiers erected two large kilns to produce bricks to build a more permanent fort. Fort Anahuac would still be intact today had it not been for the locals using the bricks for their own home construction soon after the Texas Revolution; virtually all bricks were taken and none remain to this day. By March 1831, Anahuac comprised 20 houses and seven stores.Edmondson (2000), p. 147. The town grew quickly. Soldiers were given 25 cents per day to use for food and other supplies, and they spent the money locally. By June 1, the town comprised over 300 civilians and 170 military personnel.Epperson (1998), p. 438.

In 1862, a small Confederate outpost was established nearby.{{Cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hja08|title=ANAHUAC, TX|last=Ladd|first=Kevin|date=2018|access-date=April 13, 2020}}

The 1935 discovery of the Anahuac Oil Field{{cite book |last1=Olien |first1=Diana |last2=Olien |first2=Roger |title=Oil in Texas, The Gusher Age, 1895-1945 |date=2002 |publisher=University of Texas Press |location=Austin |isbn=0292760566 |pages=214}}{{cite book |last1=Bader |first1=Glenn |editor1-last=Nettleton |editor1-first=L.L. |title=Geophysical History of the anahuac Oil Field, Chambers County, Texas, in Geophysical Case Histories, Volume 1=1948 |date=1949 |publisher=Society of Exploration Geophysicists |pages=66–73}} and the Monroe City area oil field brought a period of economic development. The Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, later renamed the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge in 2025, was established {{convert|16|mi}} southeast of the city in 1963 by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. In 1989, the local chamber of commerce organized the first Gatorfest, which attracted 14,000 people into the Fort Anahuac Park, and it has been held annually since then.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} The festival has expanded every year since, and in 2010 hosted the largest festival, with more than 30,000 people attending.

In 2019, Atlas Air Flight 3591, a cargo flight operating for Amazon Air, crashed in the Trinity Bay, near Anahuac, while flying from Miami to Houston.{{cite web|url=https://abc13.com/witnesses-recall-moments-before-cargo-plane-crash/5153812/abc13.com/5153229/|title=Human remains found after Atlas Air cargo plane crashes in Chambers Co. |publisher=KTRK-TV|date=2019-02-23|access-date=2019-02-28}}

Geography

Anahuac is located near the center of Chambers County at the northeastern end of Trinity Bay and the southern end of Lake Anahuac. The mouth of the Trinity River into Trinity Bay is just west of the city. Lake Anahuac is approximately 33,348 acre-feet it was constructed by the Burkhalter family in 1953.

Texas State Highway 61 follows Washington Avenue and Miller Street in Anahuac and leads east and north {{convert|12|mi}} to Interstate 10 at a point {{convert|43|mi}} east of Houston and {{convert|40|mi}} southwest of Beaumont.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Anahuac has a total area of {{convert|5.5|km2|order=flip}}, all land.

With the City of Houston's annexation of the I-10 corridor through Bayton and Mt Belvieu to the Trinity River in Chambers County and possible further expansion to Wallisville Texas, The City of Anahuac is considering annexing and expanding its City Limits on Highway 563 to Wallisville which would possibly bring the Houston Annex to Anahuac as well.

Anahuac is also initiating a $50M School Expansion Bond due to influx of many homes and families around the area and expectation of 1000 additional school aged individuals over the next five years alone.{{Cite web |last=matt.hollis@baytownsun.com |first=Matt Hollis |date=2022-03-19 |title=Anahuac ISD places $47M bond on ballot |url=https://baytownsun.com/news/anahuac-isd-places-47m-bond-on-ballot/article_27630940-a714-11ec-b013-03ba18491dc7.html |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=BaytownSun.com |language=en}}

=Climate=

{{Weather box

| width = auto

| collapsed = yes

| single line = yes

| location = Anahuac, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1931–2019)

| Jan record high F = 92

| Feb record high F = 85

| Mar record high F = 93

| Apr record high F = 93

| May record high F = 97

| Jun record high F = 103

| Jul record high F = 106

| Aug record high F = 104

| Sep record high F = 105

| Oct record high F = 100

| Nov record high F = 89

| Dec record high F = 87

| year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 75.7

|Feb avg record high F = 77.2

|Mar avg record high F = 81.1

|Apr avg record high F = 85.5

|May avg record high F = 91.0

|Jun avg record high F = 95.4

|Jul avg record high F = 96.6

|Aug avg record high F = 97.7

|Sep avg record high F = 95.2

|Oct avg record high F = 90.4

|Nov avg record high F = 83.7

|Dec avg record high F = 77.2

|year avg record high F = 98.7

| Jan high F = 61.6

| Feb high F = 65.7

| Mar high F = 71.3

| Apr high F = 76.7

| May high F = 83.2

| Jun high F = 88.7

| Jul high F = 90.7

| Aug high F = 91.5

| Sep high F = 87.5

| Oct high F = 80.9

| Nov high F = 71.5

| Dec high F = 63.8

| year high F = 77.8

| Jan mean F = 52.4

| Feb mean F = 56.2

| Mar mean F = 62.1

| Apr mean F = 67.8

| May mean F = 74.9

| Jun mean F = 80.8

| Jul mean F = 82.9

| Aug mean F = 82.9

| Sep mean F = 78.7

| Oct mean F = 70.5

| Nov mean F = 61.1

| Dec mean F = 54.2

| year mean F = 68.7

| Jan low F = 43.2

| Feb low F = 46.8

| Mar low F = 52.9

| Apr low F = 58.9

| May low F = 66.6

| Jun low F = 72.8

| Jul low F = 75.1

| Aug low F = 74.4

| Sep low F = 69.8

| Oct low F = 60.1

| Nov low F = 50.8

| Dec low F = 44.5

| year low F = 59.7

|Jan avg record low F = 27.5

|Feb avg record low F = 30.3

|Mar avg record low F = 35.0

|Apr avg record low F = 43.2

|May avg record low F = 54.4

|Jun avg record low F = 64.7

|Jul avg record low F = 68.9

|Aug avg record low F = 67.7

|Sep avg record low F = 56.6

|Oct avg record low F = 44.0

|Nov avg record low F = 34.4

|Dec avg record low F = 27.6

|year avg record low F = 23.4

| Jan record low F = 11

| Feb record low F = 12

| Mar record low F = 23

| Apr record low F = 34

| May record low F = 43

| Jun record low F = 49

| Jul record low F = 60

| Aug record low F = 60

| Sep record low F = 45

| Oct record low F = 33

| Nov record low F = 23

| Dec record low F = 8

| year record low F =

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 4.59

| Feb precipitation inch = 3.07

| Mar precipitation inch = 3.63

| Apr precipitation inch = 4.41

| May precipitation inch = 5.39

| Jun precipitation inch = 5.84

| Jul precipitation inch = 5.68

| Aug precipitation inch = 7.02

| Sep precipitation inch = 7.02

| Oct precipitation inch = 4.75

| Nov precipitation inch = 3.85

| Dec precipitation inch = 4.47

| year precipitation inch = 59.72

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 8.5

| Feb precipitation days = 7.9

| Mar precipitation days = 7.8

| Apr precipitation days = 6.0

| May precipitation days = 6.2

| Jun precipitation days = 9.0

| Jul precipitation days = 8.7

| Aug precipitation days = 9.2

| Sep precipitation days = 8.6

| Oct precipitation days = 5.5

| Nov precipitation days = 6.4

| Dec precipitation days = 8.6

| year precipitation days = 92.4

| Jan snow inch = 0.0

| Feb snow inch = 0.0

| Mar snow inch = 0.0

| Apr snow inch = 0.0

| May snow inch = 0.0

| Jun snow inch = 0.0

| Jul snow inch = 0.0

| Aug snow inch = 0.0

| Sep snow inch = 0.0

| Oct snow inch = 0.0

| Nov snow inch = 0.0

| Dec snow inch = 0.2

| year snow inch = 0.2

| unit snow days = 0.1 in

| Jan snow days = 0.0

| Feb snow days = 0.0

| Mar snow days = 0.0

| Apr snow days = 0.0

| May snow days = 0.0

| Jun snow days = 0.0

| Jul snow days = 0.0

| Aug snow days = 0.0

| Sep snow days = 0.0

| Oct snow days = 0.0

| Nov snow days = 0.0

| Dec snow days = 0.0

| year snow days = 0.0

| source = NOAA (mean maxima/minima 1981–2010){{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=hgx

|title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = November 11, 2023}}{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00410235&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = November 11, 2023}}

}}

Ecology

File:AnahuacNationalWildlifeRefuge.JPG, formerly Anahuac NWR]]

Southeast of the city of Anahuac is the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge (formerly the Anahuac NWR) which is popular among birdwatchers because almost 250 species of birds (see external link) have been reported there. Jocelyn Nungaray NWR is home to several species of marsh birds called rails including yellow rail, clapper rail and black rail.

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1950= 1284

|1960= 1985

|1970= 1881

|1980= 1840

|1990= 1993

|2000= 2210

|2010= 2243

|2020=1980

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|website=United States Census Bureau|access-date=}}
1850–1900{{Cite web|title= 1900 Census of Population - Population of Texas By Counties And Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/49-population-tx.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1910{{Cite web|title= 1910 Census of Population - Supplement for Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-tx-p1.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}
1920{{Cite web|title= 1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1920/bulletins/demographics/population-tx-number-of-inhabitants.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1930{{Cite web|title= 1930 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1930/population-volume-1/03815512v1ch10.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1940{{Cite web|title= 1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch09.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}

1950{{Cite web|title= 1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-1/vol-01-46.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1960{{Cite web|title= 1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/33255142v1p45ch02.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1970{{Cite web|title= 1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/00496492v1p45s1ch02.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}
1980{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1980/volume-1/texas/1980a_txab-01.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1990{{Cite web|title=1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cph-2/cph-2-45.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 2000{{Cite web|title=2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-45.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}
2010{{Cite web|title=2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-45.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}

}}

class="wikitable"

|+Anahuac racial composition as of 2020{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4803144&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=data.census.gov}}
(NH = Non-Hispanic){{efn|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.{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=18 May 2022}}}}

!Race

!Number

!Percentage

White (NH)

|1,071

|54.09%

Black or African American (NH)

|329

|16.62%

Native American or Alaska Native (NH)

|9

|0.45%

Asian (NH)

|16

|0.81%

Some Other Race (NH)

|12

|0.61%

Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)

|73

|3.69%

Hispanic or Latino

|470

|23.74%

Total

|1,980

|

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,980 people, 837 households, and 539 families residing in the city.

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,210 people, 803 households, and 600 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,044.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 902 housing units at an average density of {{convert|426.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 68.28% White, 20.23% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 9.05% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 12.99% of the population.

There were 803 households, out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.2% were non-families. Of all households 22.0% were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.7% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,924, and the median income for a family was $46,750. Males had a median income of $34,904 versus $24,917 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,056. About 11.1% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Chambers County Airport, in unincorporated Chambers County east of Anahuac, serves Anahuac.

Media

The Progress is the local newspaper of Anahuac. As of 2012 it is about 100 years old. The Houston Chronicle serves Greater Houston.

File:AnahuachighSchoolTX.JPG]]

Education

The Anahuac Independent School District serves the community.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48071_chambers/DC20SD_C48071.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48071_chambers/DC20SD_C48071.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Chambers County, TX|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=2024-09-24}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48071_chambers/DC20SD_C48071_SD2MS.txt Text list] Anahuac High School is the local high school.

The Chambers County Library in Anahuac is a branch of the Chambers County Library System.[http://www.chambers.lib.tx.us Chambers County Library System] It is located at 202 Cummings Street, Anahuac, Texas 77514.

Residents of Anahuac ISD are zoned to Lee College.[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.186. LEE COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA].

See also

  • {{Portal-inline|Texas}}

Citations

{{Reflist}}

{{notelist}}

Sources

  • {{citation|last=Edmondson|first=J.R.|title=The Alamo Story-From History to Current Conflicts|publisher=Republic of Texas Press|place=Plano, TX|isbn=1-55622-678-0|year=2000}}
  • {{citation|last=Epperson|first=Jean L.|title=1834 Census - Anahuac Precinct, Atascosito District|date=January 1989|newspaper=Southwestern Historical Quarterly|volume=92|issue=3|url=http://www.tshaonline.org/shqonline/apager.php?vol=092&pag=463|access-date=February 6, 2009|archive-date=August 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809025313/https://tshaonline.org/shqonline/apager.php?vol=092&pag=463|url-status=dead}}
  • {{citation|last=Henson|first=Margaret Swett|title=Juan Davis Bradburn: A Reappraisal of the Mexican Commander of Anahuac|publisher=Texas A&M University Press|location=College Station, TX|year=1982|isbn=978-0-89096-135-3|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/juandavisbradbur00hens}}
  • {{citation|last=Tucker|first=Phillip Thomas|title=Exodus from the Alamo: The Anatomy of the Last Stand Myth|publisher=Casemate|location=Philadelphia, PA|year=2010|isbn=978-1-932033-93-9}}