history period years humans inhabited united_states history communities region influenced competing sister cities houston galveston distinct history truly single unified community histories communities common threads prior european settlement area galveston bay settled tribes lived gulf_coast region spanish french explorers traveled area years gradually establishing trade local natives early 19th century pirate created small short lived empire bay ruled base ousted united_states_navy following mexico independence spain new nation established long term settlements including bay early rebellions settlers mexican rule occurred region later site victory texas army mexican army texas revolution following texas independence mexico annexation united_states economic growth centered initially agriculture cattle commerce grew galveston houston later 19th century created additional economic opportunities railroads built connect commercial centers early 20th century region gave birth state earliest oil fields took hold manufacturing grew rapidly area particularly opening port texas city gradually established region important shipping center wealth increased southeast texas resorts tourist draws developed 1960s area home headquarters nation manned space program helped regional economy began development industry later high tech industries early history present geography gulf_coast formed ice age approximately years ago dramatic lowering sea level occurred ice later melted formed flow trinity rivers carved wide valleys soft sediments resulting creation modern system bays lakes approximately years ago humans entered region early years ago following americas asia ice age research indicated settlements galveston bay constructed bce appeared arrow points europeans entered region significant numbers native americans living southern coast galveston bay lived tribe branch people northeast inhabited han tribe people migratory hunter diet included deer bears addition fish nuts available portable shelter travel internal waterways coast advantage initially gave tactical superiority europeans area similarly hunter utilized transport known europeans hide abilities especially bear hide 18th century population area estimated earlier surveys coastline known europeans land vicinity command spanish explorer crew unclear precisely landed subsequent explorers described local tribes mention practice survivors left area soon able traveling safety mexico expedition spanish maritime expeditions charting gulf_coast performed detailed scientific exploration probably exploration expedition charting gulf_coast gave bay island spanish early 18th century french traders began trade nearby tribes traders including established trading post north bay near modern spanish authorities quickly seized post transformed fort named site established catholic mission spanish successful maintaining trade natives post abandoned years spanish settlers continued end century native populations declined dramatically disease territorial pressures europeans claimed pirate base operations support mexico rebellion spain succeeded leader famed louisiana pirate american hero war time serving transformed bay pirate kingdom called established bases smuggling ship repair near bay modern gang created hide shores late treasure era discovered response piracy united_states_navy ousted island colony abandoned settlers region remained supplied produce game area mexican dominion early 19th century following texas particularly southeastern texas increasing point contention spain united_states failed attempts groups control parts texas resulting temporary settlements near bay including perry point near modern spanish authorities began efforts texas help protect claim territory hoping spur settlement spanish government granted land pioneers united_states including moses austin soon afterward mexico declared independence spain moved establish control texas fears indigenous tribes officials found difficult find settlers mexico willing territory coastal areas continued allow settlers united_states area promise allegiance mexico austin son established colony extended east central texas galveston bay gulf_coast austin original old settlers including established commercial enterprises bay port galveston permanent settlement established island spur trade communities including founded officers gradually established bay addition anglo american mexican settlers area settlement established mexican colonization law forbade creation settlements near coast intention protecting native tribes area law enforced settlers continued tribal lands native tribes remained area years afterward gradually driven european settlers moved region driven inland merged driven southward eventually established current northeastern mexico formed new_york promote additional settlement galveston bay parts southeast texas company gradually brought colonists united_states europe conflict mexican officials colonization laws initially efforts difficult mexican authorities created customs garrison post near bay commanded post later modern city major outpost mainland shores temporarily replaced galveston port entry new washington modern morgan point modern founded settlers company conflicts settlers region land rights slavery laws customs duties led prelude larger texas rebellion result mexican authorities driven eastern texas settlers began discuss independence following coup mexican government president revoked freedoms previously enjoyed deteriorating government relations region settlers texas declared independence revolted following number battles mexican army texas army leadership general finally defeated near modern new grew rapidly shores bay initially home farms cattle wild texas free resources producing hides beef shipped north_america famed established near southeast houston addition established bay range land came encompass terrain bay south modern modern small communities began develop period modern important shipping trading post slaves inland bay towns houston founded buffalo new_york competed commercial centers significant galveston 19th century cities developed increasing influence communities particularly railroads built region multiple hurricanes struck region time 19th century catastrophic caused substantial damage caused loss life annexation united_states texas succeeded bid join united_states key causes subsequent mexican american war texas annexation brought people texas interests expanded bay growth farming lumber enterprises region construction galveston houston henderson railroad begun spurred growth region american civil war texas united_states area served limited role conflict major battles fought mainland shoreline new fortifications like near constructed ward mainland invasion union forces protect supply routes galveston recapture galveston confederate forces makeshift hospitals home established communities aftermath war economy declined period interests major economic drivers spawning economic enterprises like hide processing plants shipping companies slaves able advantage economic influence successful african american communities established including settlement success enterprises area growth galveston prime commercial centers south southwest helped promote construction gulf colorado houston course 19th century railroads built lines near southwest shore bay led creation modern edward point north galveston modern eventually including end century declined communities turned increasingly agriculture farming community established time end 19th century land south came known fruits vegetables grown area park created summer houston amenities including boating piers hotel dance pavilion quickly popular tourist destination houston area massive hurricane devastated city galveston heavily damaged communities bay according estimates death toll coast outside galveston thousand bridges galveston mainland destroyed communities shoreline declined time economic growth moved inland houston dominant economic center region received population boost galveston refugees relocated mainland following wars oil boom sparsely populated communities bay transformed 20th century following devastating hurricane donations newly created red_cross including millions plants gulf_coast farmers helped revive area communities subsequent establishment major farm area founder important fruit producer years afterward newly established community opened port railroad junctions shipping cotton grain fact port opened hurricane able handle galveston diverted shipping traffic island damaged port repaired following hurricane texas city built protect ship channel sediment movement future storms helping build confidence safety port immediate effects increase salt levels galveston southwest coastline major tracts opening new development communities commercial fishing shrimp grew significant area industry lumber industry continued grow sugar opened texas city paper mill factories early 20th century following petroleum discovery roughly miles galveston bay texas entered era economic development known petroleum exploration galveston bay began shortly afterward discovery built significant production beginning state largest field offshore oil drilling site state opened gradually oil fields discovered bay including oil field bay built followed main built largest state wealth brought boom transformed region population increased rapidly significant immigration united_states mexico overseas fleeing mexican revolution added significantly population immigrants added greatly community japanese rice farmers settled fact rice industry born major manufacturing centers developed houston acting corporate financial center boom wealthy created waterfront morgan point amusement park known time texas summer homes communities onset prohibition galveston bay important entry point smuggling illegal liquor supplied texas midwest boats arrived locations ranging galveston crime syndicate operated galveston time created casino districts areas referred county line line pun referring mason line area clear lake developed recreational properties wealthy including large ranch estate owned houston businessman great depression closed businesses area petroleum related growth helped offset effects world wars factories bay pressed service mass producing variety products including aviation fuel synthetic rubber ships tin outside europe opened world main suppliers population grew faster houston processing plants factories built expanded built southeast houston adjacent modern clear major air field flight training center wars earlier 20th century led pollution bay 1970s bay described sources body water ship channel rated sources having worse water quality drilling oil underground water large wakes increasing shipping bay led land erosion shoreline especially area today approximately acres km2 historic submerged gone prominent neighborhood abandoned explosion ship port texas city caused fires destruction city industrial complex ships creating nation worst industrial accidents tragedy caused deaths thousand injuries million damage million today dollars city growth prosperity interrupted city business leaders able rebuild modern times war effort brought significant area industrial base diversity facilitated area transition peacetime economy petroleum industry major focus gulf freeway route completed providing fast automobile link houston galveston new freeway considered engineering marvel time greatly encouraged new development western region bay texas largest storm record struck coast causing substantial flooding damage communities loss life minimal thanks evacuation efforts expansion flood control construction occurred result project completed nasa established area explosive growth neighboring houston mid-20th century especially 1970s 1980s caused remainder communities southwestern shore clear community created venture support residential growth near new nasa facility communities rapidly related industries region economy urban development spread houston communities houston formally annexed rest communities bay incorporated incorporated soon afterward independent metropolis economic boom 1970s early 1980s took place texas oil prices benefited communities significantly industrial operations expanded including opening plant shipping terminal port texas city leading port texas ninth nation terminal operated port houston seventh leading port nation development controversy building port houston power eminent domain residents nearly homes morgan point texas economy declined later 1980s economic diversity area substantial annual federal investments related helped region fare better conservation efforts mid late 20th century area industries municipalities helped dramatically improve water quality bay nature houston helped encourage nature preservation efforts including creating texas city prairie preserve tourism area grew especially clear lake led large space center resort communities early 20th century like emerged lake today holds largest concentrations world later 20th century afterward communities businesses area began cooperative efforts including create distinct economic civic identity region plan regional development communities region incorporated municipalities unincorporated communities remain extra territorial jurisdiction neighboring towns include communities despite seaside location proximity relatively prosperous development summer resort communities early 20th century suffered economic decline mid-20th century affluent parts today hurricane struck coast causing substantial damage environmentally economically ecology region recovery damage caused natural pollution sea salt man pollution chemicals washed freshwater bay showing dramatic effects marine land dwelling wildlife commercial fishing farming expected decades fully recover major industry able return normal operations tourist areas taken longer recover discussions proposal build protect particularly nationally critical begun project conceptual stage
History of the Galveston Bay Area