Nueces Bay is a northwestern extension of Corpus Christi Bay in the San Patricio and Nueces Counties of Texas. The bay is fed by the Nueces River , forming a natural estuary , which renders it ecologically and economically vital to the surrounding area. It serves as a habitat for the propagation of fish and shellfish, which sustain diverse species of birds and other wildlife. The bay is threatened by pollution from the heavy industry on its southern shore, which prevents oyster farming. Petrochemical production and oil are important to the surrounding economies of the major settlements of Corpus Christi and Portland , found on the eastern shore and connected by the Nueces Bay Causeway at the bay's confluence with Corpus Christi Bay.
41-562: Robstown is a city in Nueces County, Texas , United States, and a western suburb of Corpus Christi . It was founded circa 1906, and was named for Robert Driscoll. The population was 10,143 as of the 2020 census . The Texas State Legislature officially recognizes Robstown as the birthplace of Texas hold 'em poker . Robstown is located at 27°47′33″N 97°40′10″W / 27.79250°N 97.66944°W / 27.79250; -97.66944 (27.792615, –97.669386). According to
82-459: A family was $ 41,066. Males had a median income of $ 31,571 versus $ 22,324 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 17,036. About 14.70% of families and 18.20% of the population were below the poverty line , including 24.00% of those under age 18 and 15.80% of those age 65 or over. In the 2000 U.S. Census , a portion of San Patricio was indicated as being in Nueces County. As of
123-471: A plurality of 48.6% to 47.1%, or 1,568 votes, the closest race since 1956. In 2020, Trump won the county again, this time with a slight majority and 2.9% margin, or 3,692 votes, over Joe Biden . Democratic strength is concentrated within the inland portion of the county, with particular strengths in center portion of Corpus Christi whereas neighborhoods that are predominately Hispanic and the city of Robstown . Republicans performed well in areas particularly in
164-523: Is 4862600 The median income for a household in the city was $ 29,218. Per capita income was $ 14,178. The poverty rate was 41.1%. The Robstown post office contains a mural, Founding and Subsequent Development of Robstown, Texas , painted in 1941 by Alice Reynolds. Federally commissioned murals were produced from 1934 to 1943 in the United States through the Section of Painting and Sculpture , later called
205-514: Is located in the U.S. state of Texas . As of the 2020 census , the population was 353,178, making it the 16th-most populous county in the state . The county seat is Corpus Christi . The county was formed in 1846 from portions of San Patricio County and organized the following year. It is named for the Nueces River , which marks the county's northwestern boundary with San Patricio County before emptying into its mouth at Nueces Bay north of
246-590: Is unclear when the name was given to the bay; it was called San Miguel Arcángel by Spanish captain Joaquín de Orobio y Basterra in 1747, and an 1835 map of Texas identified it as Papelote or "wastepaper" Bay. It appears to have been first noted on a Spanish map in 1527 as the mouth of the Río Escondido or hidden river, which is believed to be the Nueces. French explorer René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle sailed into
287-484: The 1990 U.S. Census , the 2010 U.S. Census , and the 2020 U.S. Census , that particular area is indicated as being in San Patricio County. School districts: Del Mar College is the designated community college for all of Nueces County. Historically, Nueces County leaned Democratic in presidential elections, though in recent years has narrowly voted Republican . Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 became
328-616: The United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 12.1 square miles (31 km), all land. The climate in Robstown is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Robstown has a humid subtropical climate , Cfa on climate maps. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 10,143 people, 4,137 households, and 2,731 families residing in
369-406: The 110,365 households, 36.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.80% were married couples living together, 15.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.80% were not families. About 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size
410-537: The 16,950 square miles (43,900 km ) of the Nueces River basin. It has an average depth of 2.3 ft, and a volume of 39,700 acre-feet (49,000,000 m ). The bay is considered the southern extreme of the Texas Coastal Plain , which stretches northeast to Galveston Bay , and is part of the geographic transition from the grasslands of the coastal plain to the dry brush region of South Texas. It forms at
451-609: The Section of Fine Arts, of the Treasury Department . Robstown is divided into several distinct neighborhoods. The Ashburn, Kissling area is located just east of Bluebonnet, next to the Robstown Early College High School. The area locally known as Bluebonnet is located in the northwest area of town, right next to Robstown Early College High School. The area locally known as Casa Blanca is considered to be south of
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#1732858178822492-501: The Texas Revolution. David Sinton and later Charles Phelps Taft , whose names are immortalized by the nearby towns of Sinton and Taft , were involved with the company. They sold a plot of land on the northeast of Nueces Bay to George H. Paul , who hired Mexican immigrants to clear the land of mesquite trees and founded a ranching community later named West Portland . The plots of land in this community are still mostly held by
533-454: The backdrop of heavy industry on the shore to the southwest. The southern shore, which continues toward Rincon Point, is slender due to the industrial canal dredged to the south to the Port of Corpus Christi . The mouth of Nueces Bay on Corpus Christi Bay from Rincon Point to Indian Point, is crossed by the mile-long (1.6 km) Nueces Bay Causeway, which leads to Portland. West Portland is found on
574-422: The base of the Nueces River, which enters at the southwesternmost point of the bay. North of the Nueces entrance is the extension of Odem Bay, named for the nearby settlement of Odem. This extension includes shallow marsh fed by an extensive system of tidal streams including Rincon Bayou , and is headed by Whites Point to the east. Due south of Whites Point at the mouth of Odem Bay, is an oil field, situated against
615-408: The bay and are known to be hiding spots for such fish as trout , black drum , flounder , and redfish . Such finfish must be protected from excessive freshwater introduction for survival. A diverse collection of birds sustained by the water life, such as the black skimmer , brown pelican , great blue heron , egret , laughing gull , roseate spoonbill , tern , and white ibis , can be found in
656-491: The bay in 1685, mistakenly believing it was the Mississippi River . Spanish colonial governor José de Escandón planned a villa on the mouth of the Nueces River named Villa de Vedoya. About 50 families were sent to the site in 1749, but they failed to establish a settlement due to a lack of sufficient supplies. Later that century, missionaries discussed the possibility of moving Nuestra Señora del Refugio Mission to
697-610: The bay since 1912, but fishing has been a mainstay since humans have inhabited the area. In the early 1970s, recreational fishing accounted for a yearly input of $ 17 million to the local economy, while commercial fishermen contributed $ 27.3 million. Commercial oyster farming was common in the bay until 1995, when the Texas Department of State Health Services suspended the practice, due to an unhealthy annual average zinc level of nearly 2500 mg/kg in oysters, which as filter feeders , are affected by high levels of zinc in
738-454: The bay's salinity , and hurting the natural oyster and shrimp habitat. In response, the City of Corpus Christi, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and two additional state agencies have worked to restore the natural freshwater inflows into the bay. The Odem Bay extension is low in salinity and serves as a nursery for shrimp, which migrate to Nueces Bay in spring. Oyster beds are common throughout
779-746: The bay, especially near the mouth of Rincon Bayou. Local efforts by the Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries program have benefited bird populations by adding crushed oyster shells to the bay's small islands for improved nesting conditions, and the restoration of marsh near the Nueces Bay Causeway to increase fish populations to satisfy the birds' dietary requirements. At the nearby Nueces Delta Preserve, countless birds have been observed, as well as bobcats , coyotes , feral hogs , mountain lions , rattlesnakes , Texas spiny lizards , western diamondbacks , and white-tailed deer . Oil has been pumped from
820-724: The city and south of the Kansas City Railroad. San Pedro is on the westside, next to San Pedro Elementary School. The City of Robstown is served by the Robstown Independent School District . The Robstown Early College High School's early college program is also assisted by Del Mar College, Coastal Bend College, and the University of Texas. Del Mar College is the designated community college for all of Nueces County. Nueces County, Texas Nueces County ( / nj u ˈ eɪ s ɪ s / new- AY -siss )
861-462: The city. As of 2019, the Census Bureau estimates the population to be 11,261 people and consisting of 3,728 households. Owner-occupied housing is 58.1%. The average household has 3.06 persons. The racial makeup of the city was 5.6% White, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Asian, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 93.8% of the population. Non-Hispanic Whites were 5.8% of
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#1732858178822902-463: The county and onto ranches, before returning west to Laredo . According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has an area of 1,166 square miles (3,020 km ), of which 838 square miles (2,170 km ) are land and 327 square miles (850 km ) (28%) are covered by water. It borders the Gulf of Mexico . As of the census of 2000, 313,645 people, 110,365 households, and 79,683 families resided in
943-433: The county. The population density was 375 people per square mile (145 people/km ). The 123,041 housing units averaged 147 units per square mile (57/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 72.03% White, 4.24% African American, 0.64% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 18.74% from other races, and 3.13% from two or more races. About 55.78% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of
984-531: The descendants of the original owners. The town of Portland —on the extreme northeast of the bay—was also established from land purchased from the Coleman-Fulton Pasture Company by future State Senator John G. Willacy with help from a New England company. The town steadily grew and reached a population of 14,827 by 2000. To the northwest of the bay, on the Whites Point peninsula, a settlement
1025-488: The first Republican candidate to carry the county. Prior to that year, the only times Nueces County did not vote for the national Democratic candidate was in its first presidential election in 1848 for Whig Zachary Taylor , and in 1860, supporting Southern Democratic John C. Breckinridge . Since Eisenhower's election, the only other Republicans to carry the county in the 20th century were Richard Nixon in 1972 and Ronald Reagan in 1984 . So far, Bill Clinton remains
1066-559: The healthy levels of 700 mg/kg. The power station has since come under the control of the Topaz Power Group. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has established the Total Maximum Daily Load Program to measure the level of pollutants throughout the Nueces watershed, in an effort to restore the bay to safe levels of contaminants. Pesticides that seep into the bay from the heavy agricultural activity on
1107-403: The last Democratic candidate to win Nueces County, having done so in 1996 . Since 2000, Nueces County has voted for every Republican presidential candidate, with only George W. Bush in 2004 having carried it by a double digit margin, and his 56.8% of the vote is also the highest for any Republican in the county's history. In 2016 , Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in the county with
1148-414: The north shore can also spur adverse environmental effects. Several oil spills have occurred as a result of the heavy petroleum industry on the south shore of Nueces Bay. In 1984, about 20,000 US gal (76,000 L) of oil leaked from a broken pipeline, which blackened 5 miles (8.0 km) of the shore. Ten years later, Koch Industries , which owns a refinery on the bay, was responsible for
1189-407: The population. Median value of housing was $ 52,900. Median gross rent was $ 688 per month. In the city, the age distribution of the population was 9.2% under the age of 5, 31.0% under the age of 18, and 17.1% who were 65 or older. Females were 51.1% of the population. Foreign-born persons were 5.3% of the population. Population density was 741.0 persons/sq mi. Land area is 15.50 sq mi. The FIPS code
1230-612: The port of Corpus Christi. Nueces County is part of the Corpus Christi metropolitan statistical area . The Indian tribes that lived in and raided the county were the Lipan Apache , Karankawa , Coahuiltecan , Kickapoo , and the Seminole . The final recorded Indian raid in the county happened in April of 1878, when Lipan Apache, Kickapoo, Seminole, Mexicans , and a white man briefly entered
1271-601: The present-day Nueces Bay. The first human inhabitants were the nomadic Aransas Indians, who settled between the Copano and Baffin Bays about 8,000 years ago, until 1300 CE. In the next century, the Karankawa Indians arrived, and were present when Europeans came ashore. Nueces is Spanish for "nuts", and refers to the pecan trees that grew along the banks of the Nueces River, noted by Spanish explorer Alonso De León in 1689. It
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1312-409: The shoreline of the bay as it curves north and west, which is lined with piers and residences. The bay leads back west to Whites Point on the north shore, which is largely used for agriculture. The Nueces estuary provides an ecosystem for a wide variety of wildlife. However, since the construction of Choke Canyon Reservoir in 1985, freshwater inflows have decreased from the Nueces River, increasing
1353-672: The site, but decided against the idea due to conflict with the Lipan Apaches . Germans attempted to settle the same area, but were turned away by the French during the Pastry War in the 1830s. The next decade, a colony for freed slaves was proposed by abolitionist Benjamin Lundy , who had to cancel after the outbreak of the Texas Revolution . Corpus Christi, which was founded as a trading post on
1394-500: The southeastern shore in 1839, is believed to be the first permanent settlement on the bay. It soon grew into a major Texas port with a population of 277,454 at the time of the 2000 census . In 1852, a settlement was finally established at the confluence of the Nueces River and Nueces Bay by Henry Kinney , who also founded Corpus Christi. The community was referred to as "the Motts" by German and English settlers for nearby tree clusters, but
1435-416: The suburbs of the city, North Padre Island and Port Aransas . 27°44′N 97°31′W / 27.74°N 97.52°W / 27.74; -97.52 Nueces Bay Agriculture dominates the northern shore, where many plots of land are still owned by the descendants of early settlers. The largely abandoned historical communities of Rosita and West Portland are also located in this area. To
1476-506: The water. The excessive zinc is believed to have been dumped into the bay by the American Smelting and Refining Company 's Encycle Texas Incorporated subsidiary, which operated a zinc refinery at the site from 1942 to 1985. The Nueces Bay Power Station is also believed to have discharged zinc used for coolant until December 2002. Since that time, zinc levels in the bay have been reduced to slightly under 1000 mg/kg, which remains above
1517-480: The west, the Odem Bay extension is formed, and is fed by Rincon Bayou and a large complex of marsh formed by the Nueces River delta. Just south of the mouth are the remains of the abandoned Nuecestown settlement, which is now included in the Corpus Christi city limits. Nueces Bay formed around 9,000 years ago, as the sea level rose at the conclusion of the last ice age. The sea level stabilized 6,000 years later, shaping
1558-401: Was 3.30. In the county, the age distribution was 28.40% under the age of 18, 10.50% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 21.10% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 35,959, and for
1599-450: Was established around 1866 by cattledriver Darius Rachal , who had purchased land on the point from the cattle-driving White family. Soon after his purchase, many of the Whites died of yellow fever as an epidemic swept the area and killed 14 people. Rachal used his land to raise cattle, grow cotton, and sell real estate to new settlers. A post office was established at the site in 1892, and
1640-587: Was given the name Rosita or "little flower" after the names "White Point" and "Rachal" were rejected by United States Postal Service . After a 1915 gas explosion and two massive hurricanes, including a 1919 storm that killed 26 residents (about 50 were killed in Portland and 47 in Corpus Christi), the post office was closed in 1919, and by the next year, most residents had relocated to Odem . Nueces Bay covers an area of 28.9 square miles (75 km ) and drains
1681-402: Was officially known as Nuecestown. It was raided by Mexican bandits in 1875, but recovered and grew to a population of 200 by 1896. After the railroad passed on the town in 1905, it declined, and is today included in the city limits of Corpus Christi. To the north of the bay, the Coleman-Fulton Pasture Company controlled a large segment of San Patricio County for ranching during the aftermath of