Surfside Beach, Texas

{{short description|City in Brazoria County, Texas, United States}}

{{Infobox settlement

| official_name = Surfside Beach, Texas

| settlement_type = City

| nickname =

| motto = "Island Life, Texas Style"

| image_skyline = SurfsideBeachTexas.JPG

| imagesize =

| image_caption = The entrance sign to Surfside Beach

| image_flag =

| image_seal =

| image_map = Brazoria County SurfsideBeach.svg

| mapsize = 250px

| map_caption = Location of Surfside Beach, Texas

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = United States

| subdivision_type1 = State

| subdivision_name1 = Texas

| subdivision_type2 = County

| subdivision_name2 = Brazoria

| government_footnotes =

| government_type =

| leader_title =

| leader_name =

| leader_title1 =

| leader_name1 =

| 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|accessdate=August 7, 2020}}

| area_magnitude =

| area_total_km2 = 4.83

| area_land_km2 = 4.12

| area_water_km2 = 0.72

| area_total_sq_mi = 1.87

| area_land_sq_mi = 1.59

| area_water_sq_mi = 0.28

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_footnotes =

| population_total = 640

| population_density_km2 = 140.70

| population_density_sq_mi = 364.38

| timezone = Central (CST)

| utc_offset = -6

| timezone_DST = CDT

| utc_offset_DST = -5

| elevation_footnotes =

| elevation_m = 2

| elevation_ft = 7

| coordinates = {{coord|28|57|8|N|95|17|4|W|region:US-TX|display=inline}}

| postal_code_type = ZIP code

| postal_code = 77541

| area_code = 979

| blank_name = FIPS code

| blank_info = 48-71384{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}

| blank1_name = GNIS feature ID

| blank1_info = 1369430{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=United States Geological Survey|date=2007-10-25}}

| website = {{URL|www.surfsidetx.org}}

| footnotes =

| pop_est_as_of =

| pop_est_footnotes =

| population_est =

}}

Surfside Beach, also known locally as Surfside, is a city in Brazoria County, Texas, United States, that is situated on Follet's Island by the Gulf of Mexico near the city of Freeport. The population was 640 at the 2020 census.{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US4871384| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212201456/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US4871384| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Surfside Beach city, Texas| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| accessdate=April 16, 2014}} The city has claimed the "Cradle of Texas Liberty" title due to the fact that the Treaty of Velasco which ended hostilities between Texas and Mexico was signed at Fort Velasco, which was located near the city's current City Hall.{{cite web|url=http://www.surfsidetx.org/page/city.todo_historical_sites|title=Historical Sites|publisher=City of Surfside Beach, Texas|accessdate=December 3, 2021}}

Former Congressman Ron Paul maintained a home near Surfside Beach before selling it on Facebook in 2011.{{Cite news |title=Ron Paul decides to sell his house on Facebook |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/ron-paul-decides-to-sell-his-house-on-facebook/ |last=Protalinski |first=Emil |date=2011-04-18 |access-date=2024-06-19 |work=ZDNET}}

Surfside Beach has been criticized for having some of the worst coastal waters in the United States, having levels of Enterococcus bacteria greater than 104cfu/100ml, providing very little, if not no access to the main beach it'self.{{Cite web |title=List of the Dirtiest Beaches of Texas {{!}} BeachCatcher |url=https://beachcatcher.com/blog/dirtiest-texas-beaches |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=beachcatcher.com}}

Geography

File:SurfsideBeachHouseSign.jpg and a street sign]]

Surfside Beach is located in southern Brazoria County on the southwestern tip of Follet's Island at {{Coord|28.952136|-95.284415|type:city_region:US|display=inline,title|format=dms}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}} It is bordered to the southeast by the Gulf of Mexico and to the southwest by the entrance to Freeport Harbor, across which is the village of Quintana. The Intracoastal Waterway runs through the northwestern part of the city, forming the northwestern boundary in some places. The Bluewater Highway runs the length of Surfside Beach and continues northeast on Follet's Island {{convert|13|mi}} to San Luis Pass and the bridge onto Galveston Island. Texas State Highway 332 begins in Surfside Beach and leads northwest past Freeport {{convert|12|mi}} to Lake Jackson.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Surfside Beach has a total area of {{convert|5.8|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|4.3|km2|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|1.5|km2|disp=flip}}, or 25.23%, is water. census 2011

Demographics

{{stack|{{US Census population

|1980= 577

|1990= 611

|2000= 763

|2010= 482

|2020= 640

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|date=May 24, 2020|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=May 27, 2020}}

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}

}}}}

class="wikitable"

|+Surfside Beach racial composition as of 2020{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4871384&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2022-05-20 |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.https://www.census.gov/ {{nonspecific|date=August 2022}}{{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)

|519

|81.1%

Black or African American (NH)

|11

|1.7%

Native American or Alaska Native (NH)

|0.5%

Asian (NH)

|1.4%

Pacific Islander (NH)

|0.00%

Some Other Race (NH)

|1.1%

Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)

|34

|5.3%

Hispanic or Latino

|57

|8.9%

Total

|640

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 640 people, 327 households,and 156 families residing in the city.{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=S1101%3A%20HOUSEHOLDS%20AND%20FAMILIES&g=1600000US4871384&y=2020&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|title=Households and Families|website=census.gov|access-date=August 16, 2022}}

As of the census of 2010, 482 people, 259 households, and 113 families resided in the city. The population density was {{convert|427.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 879 housing units at an average density of {{convert|287|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.8% White, 1.7% African American, 1.0% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.8% some other race, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 6.6% of the population.

Of the 259 households, 15.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.2% were headed by married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 56.4% were not families. About 42.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.86, and the average family size was 2.50.

In the city, the population was distributed as 10.6% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 17.6% from 25 to 44, 48.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 119.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 122.2 males.{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US4871384| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212144317/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US4871384| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Surfside Beach city, Texas| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| accessdate=April 16, 2014}}

For the period 2008–2012, the estimated median annual income for a household in the city was $42,656, and for a family was $62,917. Male full-time workers had a median income of $42,692 versus $27,132 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,328.{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_5YR/DP03/1600000US4871384| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212084402/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_5YR/DP03/1600000US4871384| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Selected Economic Characteristics: 2008-2012 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (DP03): Surfside Beach city, Texas| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| accessdate=April 16, 2014}} The population sample was too small for poverty figures to be calculated.

Education

The city is served by Brazosport Independent School District (BISD).{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st48_tx/place/p4871384_surfside_beach/DC10BLK_P4871384_001.pdf|title=2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Surfside Beach city, TX|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=2020-06-17}} - Compare this map to school boundary maps of BISD.

Freeport Elementary School (Pre-Kindergarten to grade 1){{cite web|url=https://portal.metrostudygis.com/arcgis/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=2801fde8e72d427ba8aaaee8255d8257|title=Current elementary boundary maps|publisher=Brazosport Independent School District|accessdate=2020-06-17}} - Compare to a map of the Surfside Beach city limits.
Velasco Elementary School (grades 2–4){{cite web|url=https://www.brazosportisd.net/UserFiles/Servers/Server_415374/File/District/About%20BISD/District%20Maps/Feeder-Patterns.pdf|title=Feeder Patterns|publisher=Brazosport Independent School District|accessdate=2020-06-17}} - Since Surfside Beach is zoned to Freeport Elementary, according to this document, it is also zoned to Velasco Elementary, Lanier Middle, Freeport Intermediate, and Brazosport High.
Lanier Middle School (5–6)
Freeport Intermediate School (7–8)
Brazosport High School (9–12)

It was previously zoned to O.A. Fleming Elementary School (Pre-K–1),{{cite web|url=https://www.brazosportisd.net/UserFiles/Servers/Server_415374/File/District/About%20BISD/District%20Maps/BISD%20Elementary%20Boundary%20Zones.pdf|title=Elementary Boundary Zones|publisher=Brazosport Independent School District|accessdate=2020-06-17}} - Compare to a map of the Surfside Beach city limits. and Jane Long Elementary School (grades 2–4).{{cite web|url=http://brazosportisd.net/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=527372|title=Brazosport ISD School Feeder Patterns|publisher=Brazosport Independent School District|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402173013/http://brazosportisd.net/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=527372|accessdate=2020-06-17|archive-date=2017-04-02}} - The file explains that everybody zoned to O. A. Fleming was also zoned to Long, Lanier Middle, Freeport Intermediate, and Brazosport High. 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.{{cite web|author=Calahan, Erinn|url=https://thefacts.com/free_share/article_05ba7670-1957-5371-90c9-520ad00fc3c6.html|title=BISD breaks ground on new Freeport Elementary campus |newspaper=Brazosport Facts|date=2017-04-05|accessdate=2020-06-17}}

The city is also served by Brazosport College.{{cite web|url=http://www.brazoriacad.org/uploads/1/2/9/0/12902727/brazosport_college_map.pdf|title=Brazosport College Map|publisher=Brazoria County Appraisal District|accessdate=2020-06-18|archive-date=August 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813131401/http://www.brazoriacad.org/uploads/1/2/9/0/12902727/brazosport_college_map.pdf|url-status=dead}} The Texas Legislature designated the Brazosport ISD as in the Brazosport College zone.[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code Sec. 130.170. BRAZOSPORT COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.]

The city is served by the Brazoria County Library System.