|
SEABROOK, TEXAS
Harris,
Chambers &
Galveston Counties,
Texas Gulf Coast
29° 34' 7" N, 95° 1' 21" W (29.568611, -95.0225)
On the north side of Galveston Bay
Highway 146
1 mile N of Kemah
27 miles N of Galveston
26 miles SE of Houston
Population: 13,656 Est. (2016)
11,952 (2010) 9,443 (2000) 6,685 (1990)
|
History
in a Pecan Shell
The town was platted in 1900 by John Sydnor and E. S. Nicholson of
the Clear Creek Development Company. Although the name seems to be
cobbled together like that of a subdivision - the truth is it was
named after Synor's son - who's given name was actually Seabrook.
Founded on the site of what had been the Elmwood Plantation, the community
first hosted people escaping the heat of Houston
who came down on the Suburban - a twice daily interurban connecting
Houston and Galveston.
Seabrook had its own post office as early as 1895. At the time of
the great Galveston
Storm, Seabrook's school had an enrollment of 100 pupils taught
by three teachers. It was dashed to kindling by the killer storm but
was rebuilt within a few years. The schools were merged with those
of the Clear Creek ISD in 1947, later becoming part of the Clear Creek
ISD.
In 1910 the Seabrook School for Boys was founded and underwent several
changes of name before becoming the Harris County Boys School in 1955.
From a growing population of 560 people before the Great Depression
Seabrook fell to 200 by 1936. Growth increased to 400 throughout the
1940s. Seabrook was incorporated in late 1961.
A bridge connecting Seabrook and Kemah
was built in 1961 - despite damage from Hurricane Carla, the storm
that launched Dan Rather's career. In 1968 there were 6,000 people
living in Seabrook. Seabrook's population was over 8,000 in 1974,
falling slightly to 6,685 in 1990. |
|
1907 Galveston
County postal map showing Seabrook
on Galveston Bay
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy Texas General Land Office
|
Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
|
|