Bay City is a city and the county seat of Matagorda County, Texas, United States. The population was 17,614 at the 2010 census

History

Bay City was incorporated in 1894 as the county seat, as it was in the center of Matagorda County. The Bay City Town Company was founded by David Swickheimer in partnership with G. M. Magill, N. M. Vogelsang, and Nicholas King.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and 0.12% is covered by water.

Bay City was formerly named "Bay Prairie", as the natural ecosystems that surround the town are prairies crisscrossed by creeks that lead into the bay.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Bay City has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, Bay City had a population of 18,061, 6,660 households, and 4,086 families residing in the city. The median age was 34.7 years, with 27.3% of residents under the age of 18 and 15.0% 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males, and among residents age 18 and over there were 90.6 males for every 100 females.

99.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.7% lived in rural areas.

There were 6,660 households in Bay City, of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.3% were married-couple households, 19.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Percent

|-

| White || 45.8%

|-

| Black or African American || 16.2%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 0.9%

|-

| Asian || 1.0%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || <0.1%

|-

| Some other race || 20.4%

|-

| Two or more races || 15.7%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 48.7%

|}

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 18,667 people, 6,912 households, and 4,769 families resided in the city. The population density was . There were 8,113 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 61.62% White, 17.26% African American, 0.74% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 16.84% from other races, and 2.59% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 34.74% of the population.

Bay City formerly housed the headquarters of Stanley Stores. The chain made several donations to the Bay City Museum.

Attractions

Bay City is home to the Matagorda County Birding Nature Center, a expanse of gardens and wildlife along the Colorado River of Texas.

Other attractions include the Matagorda County Museum, Market Days every third Saturday, and a variety of small shops and boutiques downtown. The Bay City Art League, also located here, has recently undergone major renovations and is currently working to revitalize the art scene in Matagorda County. In addition, the Bay City Community Theatre group (CAST) regularly produces shows at various local venues.

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File:Bay City TX Airport.jpg|Bay City Regional Airport

File:BayCityTexas.JPG|Businesses in Bay City

File:Matagorda County Museum in Bay City, TX IMG 1034.JPG|Matagorda County Museum

File:Downtown Bay City, TX IMG 1041.JPG|Downtown Bay City

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Education

Bay City is served by the Bay City Independent School District, consisting of elementary, intermediate, junior high, and high schools (including Bay City High School). The district previously operated seven schools until grade levels were condensed. It is now operating five schools and is led by superintendent Dr. Marshall Scott III.

The designated community college for Bay City ISD is Wharton County Junior College. It has a campus in Bay City, focusing on technical training and nuclear plant operations.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Highways

  • 30px Texas State Highway 35
  • 30px Texas State Highway 60
  • 30px Farm to Market 2668

Rail

Bay City is located on the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) main line that roughly parallels the Texas Gulf Coast from Brownsville to Algoa, near Houston. The main line is shared by the BNSF Railway under trackage rights, and the BNSF operates a branch line from Bay City to Wadsworth.

As of 2024, the rail lines serving the city are used for freight haulage only; no passenger service is offered.

Air

Bay City Regional Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located five nautical miles (9&nbsp;km) east of the central business district of Bay City.

Health care

Matagorda County is served by the Matagorda Regional Medical Center, and the mission-aligned Matagorda Medical Group. The Matagorda Episcopal Health Outreach Program (MEHOP), the county's only federally qualified health center, offers Family Medical, OB/Gyn, Pediatrics, Behavior Health, and Dentistry services. MEHOP accepts most insurances and assures that no patient will be denied or unable to access health care services due to an individual's inability to pay.

Government

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File:Bay City TX Courthouse.JPG|Courthouse from 6th Street

File:Bay City TX City Hall.JPG|The City Hall on 5th Street

File:Bay City, TX, Water tower IMG 1037.JPG|Bay City Water Tower

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Media

Radio

Hot Z100 (KHVZ) is an internet-based radio station broadcasting a Rhythmic Top 40 format, branded as "The Real Party Station". The station officially launched on December 5, 2020, and is owned by ZPR Media through Typical Media Group, in collaboration with a Black family-owned company.

Notable people

  • Charles Austin, Olympic gold medalist
  • Forrest Bess, artist
  • Robert Blackmon, professional football player
  • David Caldwell, professional football player
  • J. B. Cox, professional baseball player
  • Joe DeLoach, Olympic gold medalist during the Seoul Olympics
  • Mark Dennard, professional football player
  • Alex Dixon, professional soccer player
  • Hart Lee Dykes, professional football player
  • Simon Fletcher, professional football player
  • Ronnie Heard, professional football player
  • Quentin Jammer, professional football player
  • Chandi Jones, professional basketball player
  • Greg Laughlin, U.S. Representatives from Texas's 14th district
  • C. Wallis Ohl, Jr., retired Provisional Bishop of Fort Worth
  • Ricardo Ramírez, Roman Catholic Bishop
  • Tracy Simien, professional football player
  • LaBradford Smith, professional basketball player
  • That Mexican OT, Mexican-American Rapper
  • Mal Whitfield, Olympic gold medalist
  • Cedric Woodard, professional football player

Part of the 1965 movie Baby the Rain Must Fall was filmed in Bay City.

Churches

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File:Bay City Texas 1st Baptist Church.JPG|The First Baptist Church of Bay City dates to the 1850s. A hurricane destroyed the sanctuary in 1909. The current structure dates to 1947.

File:First United Methodist Church of Bay City, TX IMG 1040.JPG|First United Methodist Church of Bay City dates to 1870.

File:First Presbyterian Church (Bay City, Texas).JPG|First Presbyterian Church of Bay City

File:Cedarvale Cemetery, Bay City, TX IMG 1046.JPG|Entrance to Cedarvale Bay City Cemetery, which dates to 1896 with the burial of Rufus A. Mathis, an early Bay City pioneer

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References

  • Bay City in Handbook of Texas