Dickinson, Texas

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

File:Queen of Angels Church -- Dickinson, Texas.jpg

Dickinson is located on a tract of land granted to John Dickinson in 1824, and named after him. A settlement had been established in this area on Dickinson Bayou before 1850. The Galveston, Houston, and Henderson Railroad was built directly through Dickinson. This line was used in the American Civil War to successfully retake Galveston.

The Dickinson Land and Improvement Association was organized in the 1890s by Fred M. Nichols and eight other businessmen. It marketed to potential farmers with claims of the soil's suitability for food crops, and to socialites with the creation of the Dickinson Picnic Grounds and other attractions. By 1911, the Galveston–Houston Electric Railway had three stops in Dickinson, and the Oleander Country Club was a popular destination for prominent Galvestonians.

In 1905, Italian ambassador Baron Mayor des Planches convinced about 150 Italians from crowded eastern cities to move to Dickinson. They joined the dozens relocated there after flooding in Bryan forced them to seek new homes.

During the 1920s, Dickinson became a significant tourist destination resulting from investment by the Maceo crime syndicate, which ran Galveston during this time. The syndicate created gambling venues in the city such as the Silver Moon casino.{{cite journal|title=Grande Dame of the Gulf |journal=Texas Monthly |date=December 1983 |page=168 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LywEAAAAMBAJ}}

The City of Dickinson constructed a new multimillion-dollar city hall and library complex that was dedicated June 30, 2009. The complex is located at 4403 Highway 3.

In May 2009, the city began hosting a crawfish festival, called the Red, White and Bayou Crawfish Festival. The city decided in 2018 not to continue with the festival. In August 2022, the city resumed the festival.{{Cite web|date=August 29, 2022 |title=Red, White & Bayou Texas Music Festival |url=https://www.click2houston.com/houston-life/2022/08/29/red-white-bayou-texas-music-festival/ |access-date=October 12, 2022 |website=KPRC |language=en}}

In August 2017, Dickinson was devastated by Hurricane Harvey. About 90% of the city was flooded during the storm and 50% was destroyed by flooding.{{cite web|title=Jonathan Alexander and Hurricanes in Dickinson |url=http://www.catchingfoxes.fm/106?t=2950 |website=Catching Foxes |access-date=September 7, 2017}} The city received international attention after they tried to force citizens to sign loyalty pledges to Israel to receive relief aid. Local officials said it was required, due to Texas' strict anti-BDS laws.{{Cite web |last=Gajanan |first=Mahita |date=2017-10-20 |title=Texas City Will Give You Hurricane Aid if You Promise Not to Boycott Israel |url=https://time.com/4992101/hurricane-harvey-texas-dickinson-israel/ |access-date=2024-09-29 |website=TIME |language=en}}

In January 2021, Dickinson made national news by the mayoral election run-off ending in a tie (1,010 votes each), Mayor Sean Skipworth was selected by drawing a name out of a hat.{{Cite web |title=Mayor of Houston suburb chosen by pulling a name from hat |url=https://apnews.com/article/dickinson-mayor-chosen-via-name-from-hat-db87901ec568ee0949c8495931f7d573 |access-date=October 12, 2022 |website=AP NEWS |date=January 8, 2021 |language=en}}

In August 2021, Dickinson made national news again when Council Member Position 1, H. Scott Apley died of the COVID-19 virus after making many antimask and antivaccine social-media posts.{{Cite news |title=A Texas GOP leader railed against vaccines and masks. Then he died of covid. |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/08/05/texas-gop-leader-antimask-antivax-dies-covid/ |access-date=October 12, 2022 |issn=0190-8286}} Johnnie Simpson Jr., a United Methodist pastor, won the seat after earning 49% of the vote in a four-way special election, and 60.3% of the vote in a runoff.{{Cite news|last=DeLapp |first=John |date=December 8, 2021 |title=Pastor wins Dickinson City Council seat |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/bayarea/article/Pastor-wins-Dickinson-City-Council-seat-16685509.php |access-date=October 12, 2022 |website=Houston Chronicle |language=en-US}}

File:DickinsonTXMap.png

Dickinson is located at {{coord|29.4607876|-95.0513173|type:city_region:US|format=dms|display=inline}} (29.4607876, -95.0513173). This is about {{convert|28|mi|km}} southeast of Houston and {{convert|19|mi|km}} northwest of Galveston. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|10.397|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|0.432|sqmi|sqkm|2|abbr=on}}, or 4.32%, is covered by water.

{{Historical populations

|type = US

|1930 |760

|1950 |2704

|1960 |4715

|1970 |10776

|1980 |7505

|1990 |11692

|2000 |17093

|2010 |18680

|2020 |20847

|2024 |21834

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}
1850-2000{{cite web|url=http://www.texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/CityPopHist%20web.pdf|title=Texas Almanac: City Population History from 1850–2000|author=Texas Almanac|access-date=June 16, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf|title=Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010|author=Texas Almanac|access-date=June 16, 2014}}
2020 Census
2024 Estimate{{cite web|url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/states/cities/texas |date=February 21, 2024 |title=Texas Cities by Population (2024) |publisher=World Population Review |accessdate=February 21, 2024}}

}}

As of the 2020 census, 20,847 people, 7,290 households, and 5,379 families were residing in the city. The population density was 2,135.32 per square mile (824.46/km2). The 8,249 housing units had an average density of 793.4 per square mile. The racial makeup was 55.1% (11,494) White, 10.9% (2,276) African American, 16.2% (3,381) two or more races, 14.0% (2,915) other races, 2.5% (531) Asian, 1.1% (230) Native American, and 0.1% (20) Pacific Islander. About 37.2% (7,754) were Hispanics or Latinos, of any race.

Of the 7,290 households, 38.8% had children under 18, 50.2% were married couples living together, and 25.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 35.0% of households consisted of individuals, and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.6 and the average family size was 3.2.

As of the 2000 census, 17,093 people, 6,162 households, and 4,522 families resided in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,770.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 6,556 housing units had an average density of {{convert|679.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 75.35% White, 10.52% African American, 0.64% Native American, 1.21% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 12.82% from other races, and 2.43% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 24.90% of the population.

Of the 6,162 households, 36.6% had children under 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were not families. About 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the city, the age distribution was 28.5% under 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,984, and for a family was $46,585. Males had a median income of $36,391 versus $26,943 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,785. About 9.5% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under 18 and 7.2% of those 65 or over.

The Dickinson City Hall is located at 4403 Highway 3 and the Dickinson Public Library is located at 4411 Highway 3. The Dickinson Police Department is located at 4000 Liggio Street. Fire stations are located at 4500 FM 517 East, which also houses EMS, and 221 FM 517 West. The fire department is run by volunteers. The Dickinson Post Office is located at 2515 Termini Street."[https://archive.today/20120721112134/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/34860?p=2&s=TX&service_name=post_office&z=Dickinson Post Office Location - DICKINSON]." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.

The National Weather Service Houston/Galveston Office and the Galveston Office of Emergency Management share a facility in League City; the facility has a Dickinson postal address.{{cite web|last=Craft|first=Chita|url=https://www.khou.com/article/weather/national-weather-service-houston-texas/285-1fbedf1d-0352-4cdc-ac2c-9e8eb6cbe9f3|title=Behind-the-scenes look at how the National Weather Service works to keep you safe|publisher=KHOU|date=September 22, 2023|access-date=October 28, 2023}} - [https://www.weather.gov/hgx/ The postal address states] "1353 FM 646 Suite 202 Dickinson, TX 77539" but the facility is actually in [https://www.leaguecitytx.gov/DocumentCenter/View/61 the League City city limits]. [https://web.archive.org/web/19961031170034/http://www.ci.houston.tx.us/annexation/annexation_FAQ.html Note that the city of Houston stated in 1996 that]: "The U.S. Postal Service establishes ZIP codes and mailing addresses to maximize the efficiency of their system, not to recognize jurisdictional boundaries."

{{clear}}

File:DickinsonHighSchool-Texas-Entrance.jpg]]

File:Dickinson,Texas water tower.JPG

Most of Dickinson is a part of the Dickinson Independent School District. Some of it is a part of the Santa Fe Independent School District.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48167_galveston/DC20SD_C48167.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Galveston County, TX|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 29, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48167_galveston/DC20SD_C48167_SD2MS.txt Text list]

These schools serve the Dickinson ISD portion:

• Elementary schools (prekindergarten–grade 3)
• Calder Road Elementary School
• Bay Colony Elementary School
• Hughes Road Elementary School
• Jake Sibernagel Elementary School
• K. E. Little Elementary School serves Bacliff portion of DISD
• San Leon Elementary School serves San Leon portion of DISD
• Louis G. Lobit Elementary School
• Middle schools
• John and Shamarion Barber Middle School (grades 4-5)
• Dunbar Middle School
• Elva C. Lobit Middle School
• Junior high schools
• R.D. McAdams Junior High School (grades 6-8)
• Eugene Kranz Junior High School
• Dickinson Junior High School
• High schools
• Dickinson High School (grades 9-12)

Before the 2004–2005 school year, all DISD elementary schools provided education for prekindergarten through grade 5, but Barber Elementary School was turned into a middle school center for fifth grade from the 2004/05 school year to the 2007/08 school year. For the 2008/09 school year, a newly built Barber Middle School built off FM 517 and Dunbar Middle School (which previously only held the sixth grade) was set to both hold grades five and six. Students were to be separated into schools based on where they resided.

As of the 2023-2024 school year. two new junior high schools were built. The Eugene 'Gene' Kranz Junior High School opened in 2018 serving grades seven and eight until the start of the 23–24 school year, and Dickinson Junior High who along with Kranz Junior High now serves 6th-8th grade as of the 2023–2024 school year. All the elementaries now serve prekindergarten through third-grade students, and all middle schools servegrades four and five..

Bay Area Charter Middle School is a state charter school in Dickinson.

True Cross School, a Roman Catholic prekindergarten through grade eight school operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, is in Dickinson.[http://www.truecrossschool.org/ True Cross Catholic School] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080707060736/http://www.truecrossschool.org/ |date=July 7, 2008}} True Cross School was the first Roman Catholic school on the Galveston County mainland. The school was unusable due to Hurricane Harvey. The students attended classes at Our Lady of Fatima in Texas City, Texas. The school reopened for the 2019–2020 school year.

Queen of Angels Academy, a school of the Society of St. Pius X, is located at the original Holy Cross location, and provides a classical Catholic education. Queen of Angels parish also has the traditional Latin Mass daily. Although the church structure was built in 1947, the interior has been renovated to reflect the church's attachment to Catholic tradition. The sanctuary, containing the main altar, has been praised for its beauty by many visitors.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Dickinson is served by the College of the Mainland, a community college in Texas City.

Dickinson Public Library, operated by the city, is located at 4411 Highway 3."Dickinson Public Library [http://www.dickinsonpubliclibrary.org/]" Dickinson Public Library. Retrieved on September 7, 2010.

The Galveston County Department of Parks and Senior Services operates the Dickinson Community Center at 2714 Highway 3.[http://www.galvestonparks-seniors.org/locations/ls_overview.asp Facilities Overview] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050831193515/http://www.galvestonparks-seniors.org/locations/ls_overview.asp |date=August 31, 2005}}." Galveston County Department of Parks and Senior Services.

Dickinson Bayou is a bayou that flows in and out of the city of Dickinson.

Parks are numerous around the city. Paul Hopkins Park on 517 is host to the Festival of Lights each December. Elva Lobit Park and Zempter Park are parks that host the city's youth baseball leagues. A state-maintained boat dock is present at the Highway 3 and 146 bridges.

• Bill Gurley, venture capitalist, is originally from Dickinson.
• Gene Kranz, NASA flight director during the Gemini and Apollo programs, is from the city.
• Donnie Little is a former American football quarterback and the first Black quarterback to play for the University of Texas.{{cite web|url=http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs168/1102281432095/archive/1114816583756.html|title= Dickinson High School 2013 Homecoming Festivities|publisher=Gator Bytes Dickinson Independent School District E-Newsletter|access-date=October 8, 2013}}

• Tracy Scoggins is a Hollywood actress born in the city.

• Andre Ware, 1989 Heisman Trophy winner (University of Houston, quarterback) and former professional football player{{Cite web|title=Bowl Championship Series - Where Are They Now? Andre Ware|url=http://www.espn.com/abcsports/bcs/s/where/andreware.html|access-date=April 23, 2021|website=www.espn.com}} grew up in the area.

{{reflist}}

{{notelist}}

• [https://www.ci.dickinson.tx.us/ City of Dickinson – Official Website]
• {{Handbook of Texas|id=hfd03|name=Dickinson, Texas}}

{{Galveston Bay Area}}

{{Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown MSA}}

{{Galveston County, Texas}}

{{Texas}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Texas

Category:Cities in Galveston County, Texas

Category:Greater Houston

Category:Galveston Bay Area