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History
The city was originally founded as Evergreen
in
1898 along the Texas and New Orleans Railroad, when John
Henry Kipp and James H. Bradford subdivided their lots to
establish a township. The area was also called Shell Siding
after the oyster shells lining the bay, in some places
twenty to thirty feet deep. Indian burial grounds were later
found in these shell reefs. Kipp petitioned for a post
office, but was denied as there was already an Evergreen,
Texas (now incorporated into
Cleveland, Texas). Residents were polled and Kemah, the
Karankawa word for "wind in face", "face wind", or
"facing the wind", was chosen. Kemah was granted a post
office in
1907. Kemah is now primarily a tourist and recreation
destination, especially since the
Kemah Boardwalk, owned by
Landry's Restaurants, Inc., was established in
2001.
Demographics
As of the
censusGR2
of 2000, there were 2,330 people, 892 households, and 566
families residing in the city. The
population density was 502.6/km˛ (1,300.8/mi˛). There
were 1,075 housing units at an average density of 231.9/km˛
(600.2/mi˛). The racial makeup of the city was 75.36%
White, 3.82%
African American, 0.86%
Native American, 3.48%
Asian, 15.79% from
other races, and 0.69% from two or more races.
Hispanic or
Latino of any race were 24.76% of the population.
There were 892 households out of which 35.0%
had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7%
were
married couples living together, 9.4% had a female
householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were
non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of
individuals and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65
years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61
and the average family size was 3.25.
In the city the population was spread out
with 27.4% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 36.9%
from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65
years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For
every 100 females there were 115.1 males. For every 100
females age 18 and over, there were 114.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city
was $51,620, and the median income for a family was $64,063.
Males had a median income of $50,061 versus $31,953 for
females. The
per capita income for the city was $23,373. About 7.8%
of families and 8.2% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and
10.0% of those age 65 or over.
Kemah Fire
Department Web Site
P.O. Box 962, Kemah, TX 77565
Physical Address: 905 Hwy 146 |
MAP
Phone:(281) 538-5727 Fax:(281)538-8221
Proudly
serving Clear Lake Shores, Kemah, and the Lazy Bend
communities for over 50 years!
1401
State Hwy. 146 - Kemah, TX
77565
Galveston County, USA
Phone:(281) 334-5414
Fax:(281) 334-4873
29° 32'
4.09", -95° 0' 57.18" (Map)
to Kemah City Hall
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City of Kemah
Kemah is on State Highway 146 and Farm Road
518 in a half-moon pocket on Galveston Bay twenty-five miles
northwest of Galveston in northeastern Galveston County. The
community was established on the Texas and New Orleans
Railroad about 1898 and called Evergreen; it was also known
as Shell Siding in the period when the railroad hauled shell
from the area. It was renamed Kemah, an Indian word meaning
"facing the winds," for its position on the bay in 1907,
when the post office opened, because the former name was
already in use by another community. By 1914 Kemah had a
population of 200, four hay producers, farm homes, summer
homes belonging to residents of Galveston and Houston, and
several fishing camps. During the Great Depressionqv
the population dropped to 100. In 1936 state highway maps
showed a church, a school, several businesses, and multiple
dwellings at the townsite. World War IIqv brought
growth to a population of 550 by 1943. This number held
steady until 1965, during which time the town had a maximum
of thirty businesses serving primarily the oil and
ship-building industries. By then Kemah had incorporated and
become part of the Clear Creek Consolidated Independent
School District. Thereafter, it reached a high of 2,000
residents and forty-three businesses in 1970, then began to
decline. In 1972 the population was 1,144, and in 1988 Kemah
had 1,591 residents and sixty-six businesses. Once
considered a shrimping town, Kemah continues to celebrate an
annual August Blessing of the Fleet. In 1990 the population
was 1,094.
Geography
Kemah is located at
29°32′22″N,
95°1′9″W
(29.539469, -95.019032)GR1.
According to the
United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area
of 4.7
km˛
(1.8
mi˛). 4.6 km˛ (1.8 mi˛) of it is land and 0.1 km˛ (0.04
mi˛) of it (1.65%) is water.
Education
Pupils in Kemah attend schools in
Clear Creek Independent School District.
Pupils are zoned to Stewart Elementary School
(formerly Kemah Elementary School, unincorporated Harris
County), League City Intermediate School (League
City), and
Clear Creek High School (League City).
KEMAH
CITY SERVICES
EFFECTIVE: MONDAY MAY 8, 2006
THE CITY OF KEMAH AND THE KEMAH
MUNICIPAL COURTS WILL BE OPEN FOR BUSINESS AS SHOWN BELOW:
MONDAY OPEN 7:30 AM CLOSE 5:30 PM ,
TUESDAY OPEN 7:30 AM CLOSE 5:30
PM ,
WEDNESDAY OPEN 7:30 AM CLOSE
5:30 PM ,
THRUSDAY OPEN 7:30 AM CLOSE
5:30 PM
FRIDAY OPEN 8:00 AM CLOSE 12 NOON ,
SATURDAY CLOSED CLOSE ,
SUNDAY CLOSED CLOSE.
The Kemah Community Center is available
for
Community & Private Events
for Information Contact Kemah City Hall
281-334-1611
KEMAH COMMUNITY CENTER
800 Harris Ave.-
Kemah, TX
77565 Galveston County, USA
1990 Census
1,094 - 2000 Census: 2,333 - 281 3341611 Fax
281-334-6583
1401 State
Hwy. 146 - Kemah, TX
77565
Galveston County, USA
29° 32' 4.09",
-95° 0' 57.18" (Map)
to Kemah City Hall
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