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SOUTH PADRE
ISLAND, TEXAS
Cameron
County, Texas
Gulf Coast
26° 6' 43" N, 97° 10' 11" W 26.111944, -97.169722
US 77 South to Hwy 100
Hwy 100 East 26 miles to causeway
Access via free causeway
18 miles S of Harlingen
18 miles NE of Brownsville,
the county seat
ZIP code 78597
Area code 956
Population: 2,778 Est. (2019)
2,816 (2010) 2,422 (2000)
Book Hotel Here › South
Padre Island Hotels |
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Queen
Isabella Causeway
Photo courtesy Reba Warbington 2001 |
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An
abandoned boat in the dunes by the Gulf
Photo courtesy Reba Warbington 2002 |
South Padre
Island, Texas
"South Padre
Island is a resort community on Park Road 100 at the southernmost
tip of Padre Island in Cameron
County. It is flanked on three sides by the Gulf of Mexico, Brazos
Santiago Pass, and the Laguna Madre. Brownsville
is eighteen miles southwest. The history of the southern part of Padre
Island dates from Spanish exploration in the sixteenth century. From
the late nineteenth century into the 1950s the only way to reach the
area was by ferry. The island had become a resort during the mid-nineteenth
century but was not developed until the 1950s after the completion
of the Queen
Isabella Causeway, now the Queen Isabella State Fishing Pier.
A $2.2 million swing bridge connecting Port Isabel to South Padre
Island was completed in February 1954. The small prosperity the area
gained was partly stifled in 1967 by Hurricane Beulah, which destroyed
much of Port Isabel, the gateway
to the island, as well as the town of South Padre Island. In 1978
South Padre Island had a population estimated at 314. Ten years later
it had an estimated 1,012 residents and 111 businesses. Its main industry
is tourism; peak seasons are late winter, spring, and summer. The
community, in which many of the businesses and private homes are owned
by foreigners, caters to an international clientele and, during Spring
Break, to college students from the entire United States. Most of
the businesses are related to the tourist trade-hotels, restaurants,
condominiums, and souvenir shops. In 1990 South Padre Island had a
population of 1,677 and 109 businesses. The population was 2,422 with
243 businesses in 2000."
Alicia
A. Garza, “South Padre Island, TX,”
Handbook of Texas Online, accessed April 01, 2023, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/south-padre-island-tx.
Published by the Texas State Historical Association. |
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Padre
Island Casino Hotel
Vintage photo courtesy Steve
Cruse |
South Padre
Island Stories
The
Lost Treasure of Padre Island
by Murray Montgomery
"Treasure hunting is one of those things which tends to stir
the imagination of most folks – and the thought of looking for buried
treasure has always fascinated me, as well. ... One of my favorites
is the story about John Singer and his buried fortune on Padre Island.
... and today’s treasure hunters are still searching for his lost
gold." more |
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Another
view of the Queen Isabella Causeway
Photo courtesy Terri Taylor, March 2005 |
South Padre
Island Tourists Information:
South Padre
Island Chamber of Commerce
600 Padre Blvd. South Padre Island, TX 78597
956-761-4412
http://www.spichamber.com/
The South Padre
Island Convention and Visitors Bureau
1-800-SOPADRE (767-2373)
http://www.sopadre.com/
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Sunset
and storm
over Laguna Madre
Photo courtesy
Reba Warbington 2001 |
South Padre
Island Forum
Subject:
Padre Island
Our family lived in Weslaco,
TX. in the late 40's. One of my fondest memories was our family
arriving at Port Isabel with
our beach umbrella, folding chairs, Coca Cola "ice chest" and a
picnic lunch. We, along with others, waited at the dock for the
converted Navy boat to take us to Padre Island, where we climbed
into an Army half-track which drove down the beach delivering the
eager beach lovers. As the truck drove down the beach, we would
look for a place to spend the day. To get the truck to stop, you
rapped on the top of its cab and the driver knew to stop so you
could unload. The trucks went up and down the beach all day long
delivering and picking up people. - Peter H. Hamel, Houston, TX,
September 17, 2005
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Cameron
County 1907 postal map showing Brownsville,
Isabel, Gulf of Mexico and the
Laguna Madre
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 recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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