bay texas gulf coast approximately miles northeast miles south san_antonio separated gulf_of_mexico referred direct outlet gulf_of_mexico bay cities located southern end found central western shore bay oriented northeast southwest extended southwest west north northeast rich history settlements bay including ancient native american dating 19th century european immigrant towns present day cities resources shrimp fish oil found near bay contribute local economies history humans inhabited area surrounding approximately years ago derives group indigenous people called year old found near bay nomadic left area circa according people migrated area severe losses reduced 1800s new infectious diseases contracted european explorers spain believed european sail bay circa century later spanish little interest area french established colony texas late 17th century time ordered found settlement area permanent colony bay established years mexican control bay limits settlement authorities granted allowed irish mexican immigration settlement bay founded development nearby port deserted soon met similar fate burnt ground american civil war city founded time destroyed fighting war bay strategically significant transfer freight protection gulf seas barrier islands result destruction war new ports developed later 1860s intended deep water port series selected deepening approved feet wide feet deep channel operational hurricanes port chose preferred port lower gulf_coast later twentieth century development based area natural beauty 1960s affluent resort located founded people lived surrounding including cities unincorporated outer located shore residents features average system meters deep covers approximately square kilometers system bay extensions main extensions include east peninsula west live oak bay northeast southwest considered extension corpus bay second approximately meters water flows bay exchange gulf_of_mexico occurs cedar pass result exchange bay parts thousand compared average brought volume fresh water bay extensions forming mission estuary fresh water flows arrive impact combined fresh water influence percent system volume judged minimal runs parallel shore route houston highway includes mile long causeway connects live oak confluence bays causeway constructed replaced johnson causeway causeway transformed fishing pier later years nearly vehicles passed bridge daily basis ecosystem wide variety wildlife found according following fish caught bay black drum red drum southern jack silver perch sea trout shark bull shark common shrimp crabs reside waters sea grass found numerous locations provide habitat ideal place fish spawn grasses act filter clearing bay environmental birds migrate area notably year round residents include brown white faced black duck duck white tailed hawk golden fronted great green jay long billed olive seaside endangered crane spotted near bay despite fact found wild today crane birds survival depends availability blue crab thousands crab traps removed preserve population industry given location bay shipping major industry following civil war industry major source income ports bay especially numerous constructed early years cattle slaughtered strictly hide way meat result left cow parts pig feed disposed bay changed ice machine installed packing plant time industry near reached prime prior decline industry area beef texas processed fishing farming notably major industries bay early 20th century developed reached prime following world war world war united_states_navy took shipyards oil discovered bay wells operation barrels produced million barrels produced today tourism prosperous industry numerous hotels set bay individuals wanting fish bird sight large concentration hotels located bay beach located
Aransas Bay