Port Isabel is a city in Cameron County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Brownsville–Harlingen–Raymondville and the Matamoros–Brownsville metropolitan areas. The population was 5,028 at the 2020 census.
The city's name is given to the Port Isabel Detention Center, to the northwest next to Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport.
History
Established as a town after the Mexican War of Independence, Port Isabel became an important cotton-exporting port before the American Civil War. The harbor, town and lighthouse all were fought over and exchanged hands during the Civil War.
In September 1967, Hurricane Beulah caused extensive damage to much of the city. On July 23, 2008 Hurricane Dolly, a category 2 storm, also caused extensive damage to the city.
Geography
Port Isabel is located in eastern Cameron County at 26°4'25" North, 97°12'48" West (26.073675, –97.213234), on the western side of the south end of Laguna Madre, an estuary of the Gulf of Mexico. The Queen Isabella Causeway crosses Laguna Madre to South Padre Island on the Gulf shore. To the southwest it is to Brownsville, the Cameron County seat.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Port Isabel has a total area of , of which is land and , or 50.94%, is water.
99.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.5% lived in rural areas.
There were 1,798 households in Port Isabel, of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.0% were married-couple households, 19.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 2,338 || 46.5%
|-
| Black or African American || 18 || 0.4%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 84 || 1.7%
|-
| Asian || 22 || 0.4%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 5 || 0.1%
|-
| Some other race || 864 || 17.2%
|-
| Two or more races || 1,697 || 33.8%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 4,028 || 80.1%
|}
2000 census
As of the census
The United States Postal Service operates the Port Isabel Post Office.
Port Isabel connects with South Padre Island via the Queen Isabella Causeway.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operates the Port Isabel Service Processing Center, which is located in an unincorporated area adjacent to Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport, to the northwest of the center of Port Isabel.
Education
Children living in Port Isabel are zoned to schools in Point Isabel Independent School District. Children go to Garriga Elementary School (grades K–2), Derry Elementary School (3–5), Port Isabel Junior High School (6–8), and Port Isabel High School (9–12). All of the schools are located in Port Isabel. The mascot of both the junior high and high school is the Tarpon.
In addition, children may apply to schools in South Texas Independent School District.
The designated community college for Point Isabel ISD and all of Cameron County is Texas Southmost College.
The Port Isabel Public Library serves Port Isabel.
Climate
References
External links
- Port Isabel Official Tourism & Information Website
- Museums of Port Isabel
- Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce