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Bridge City, Texas

Coordinates: 30°02′03″N 93°50′34″W / 30.034211°N 93.842836°W / 30.034211; -93.842836
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Bridge City, Texas
City
Location of Bridge City, Texas
Location of Bridge City, Texas
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyOrange
Area
 • Total5.4 sq mi (14.0 km2)
 • Land5.1 sq mi (13.3 km2)
 • Water0.3 sq mi (0.7 km2)
Elevation
10 ft (3 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total8,651
 • Density1,682.0/sq mi (649.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
77611
Area code409
FIPS code48-10252[1]
GNIS feature ID1331256[2]

Bridge City is a city in Orange County, Texas, United States. It is ninety-nine miles northeast of Houston. The population was 7,840 at the 2010 census. The town borders the Neches River and Cow Bayou. It is part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The city was originally named Prairie View, as it was located on the coastal grasslands of the upper Texas coastline. But in 1938, the Port Arthur-Orange Bridge (now known as the Rainbow Bridge) was built, and the unincorporated area took on the name "Bridge City". Despite several previous attempts, the city did not incorporate until 1970.

Bridge City got its name from the fact that one has to cross a bridge to enter the city. Out of the three major roads that enter Bridge City, Chemical Road, SH 87, and F.M. 1442 - all of them cross a body of water. SH 87 crosses the Neches River and Cow Bayou - Cow Bayou on the Orange side and the Neches River on the Port Arthur side. Chemical Road crosses a branch off of the Sabine River and Cow Bayou. F.M. 1442 crosses a small creek off Cow Bayou between F.M. 105 and the Bridge City City limits. F.M. 1442 also crosses Cow Bayou just north of Orangefield and south of Interstate 10.

In 1990, Bridge City became the first city in Texas to install "leaning" streetlights because of the tall electrical lines near the roadway [1].

In 2008, the storm surge generated by Hurricane Ike caused nearly complete flooding of Bridge City. Mayor Kirk Roccaforte estimated that only 14 homes in the city were unaffected by the surge. The piles of debris and waterlogged furniture placed outside homes by residents beginning to clean up led the mayor to say "The whole city looks like a flea market."[3]

Bridge City is also known for terrible water conditions to the public. As of last year there was a group on Facebook, Brigde City Water Problems, geared towards the terrible water conditions and the city's uncaring attitude towards it's citizens plight. The group has since been removed due to unspecified reasons after numerous media outlets began reporting in the issue. The common brown tinged water is still very prevalent today as it has been since hurricane Ike, but still no relief for the people in this rural town even after terrible conditions all over the country have been brought to light.

Geography

Bridge City is located at 30°2′3″N 93°50′34″W / 30.03417°N 93.84278°W / 30.03417; -93.84278 (30.034211, -93.842836).[4] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.4 square miles (14 km2), of which, 5.1 square miles (13 km2) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) of it (4.63%) is water.

Climate

Hurricane Ike

Bridge City, Texas was heavily damaged by Hurricane Ike on September 13, 2008.[5] Damage was widespread and severe across Orange County. With over 95 percent of buildings and houses in Bridge City totally gutted, the city was nearly completely destroyed. The 22-foot (6.7 m) storm surge completely flooded the city and obliterated everything in its way. Storm surge breached the levee at the City of Orange, and traveled up the Neches River to flood Rose City.[citation needed] It took three days to drain the water from the city. The city government gutted the city hall due to the Ike damages. The first city council meeting after Ike was held there sometime recent before January 19, 2009. Of the 3,400 houses in Bridge City, 16 were still habitable immediately after Ike.[6]

In the City of Orange, right next to Bridge City, nearly the entire city of 19,000 people was flooded, anywhere from 6 inches (15 cm) to 15 feet (4.5 m).[7] The mayor of the city said about 375 people, of those who stayed behind during the storm, began to emerge, some needing food, water and medical care.[7] Many dead fish littered streets and properties.[8] Bridge City Mayor Kirk Roccaforte estimated that only 14 homes in the city were unaffected by the surge. Five of which were in the Oakview addition on Louise Street. The piles of debris and waterlogged furniture placed outside homes by residents beginning to clean up led the mayor to say "The whole city looks like a flea market."[3] During the post-storm cleanup, Bridge City residents found swimming pools had been occupied by jellyfish brought inland with the water.[9] Three people were found dead in Orange County on September 29.[10]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19807,667—
19908,0344.8%
20008,6517.7%
20107,840−9.4%
2014 (est.)7,924[11]1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 8,651 people, 3,195 households, and 2,476 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,682.0 people per square mile (649.8/km²). There were 3,432 housing units at an average density of 667.3 per square mile (257.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.43% White, 0.20% Black or African American, 0.75% Native American, 1.40% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.27% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 3.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,195 households out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.0% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,045, and the median income for a family was $49,750. Males had a median income of $42,398 versus $22,674 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,290. About 7.9% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.1% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.

Bridge City was the only city in Orange County to have a growth in population according to the 1990 census [2].

Education

Bridge City is served by the Bridge City Independent School District.

Notable people

References

  1. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ a b http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/local/bridge_city_residents_try_to_dry_out__clean_up_09-19-2008.html
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. ^ Dorell, Oren, Donna Leinwand, Marisol Bello and Kevin Johnson. "'You cannot live here now'." USA Today. September 15, 2008. 1A. Retrieved on May 5, 2013.
  6. ^ Horswell, Cindy. "Holes left in wake of storms: Ike hit before some Texas communities recovered from Rita." McClatchy - Tribune Business News. January 19, 2009. Available at ProQuest, document ID 456273366
  7. ^ a b Oren Dorell, USA TODAY (2008-09-15). "Almost 2,000 Ike survivors rescued". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  8. ^ "Ike: A fish story." CNN.
  9. ^ "New Nuisance for Bridge City Families." (Archive) KFDM-TV. September 22, 2008. Retrieved on May 5, 2013.
  10. ^ Associated Press (2008-09-30). "More Victims Raise Ike's Death Toll To 67". WCVB. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
  11. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  12. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

30°02′03″N 93°50′34″W / 30.034211°N 93.842836°W / 30.034211; -93.842836

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