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Corpus Christi History

   Corpus Christi is more than just a beautiful skyline and magnificent scenery; it is also a financially and socially booming area located on the Nueces River in Corpus Christi Bay, just north of the Gulf of Mexico.
   In prehistoric times, the area around Corpus Christi was inhabited by various tribes of the Karankawa group, who historians believe migrated up and down the Coastal Bend region. The Spanish ignored the area until the 1680s, when Frenchmen under René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle established a colony in South Texas.
   The Corpus Christi area remained uninhabited until September 1839, when Henry Lawrence Kinney and William P. Aubrey established a trading post on the west shore of Corpus Christi Bay. Kinney and Aubrey soon developed an illegal trade business with Mexico. By the mid-1840s, the settlement -- now known as Corpus Christi, which is Spanish for "the Body of Christ" -- was a small village.
   The village grew by leaps and bounds, and it continues to grow to this day. The Corpus Christi area attracts visitors from many cultures, near and far. Corpus Christi has a vast array of attractions and amenities, not only for tourists and “Winter Texans” but also for those looking to establish careers and settle in the area. Corpus Christi offers year-round activities for those who appreciate the beach and coastal living lifestyle, with glorious palm trees and awesome sunrises, but without the high cost of living and heavy traffic of other popular coastal cities.

More About Corpus Christi

   Corpus Christi is the eighth largest city in Texas, with an estimated population of 277,454.
   Corpus Christi covers 452.2 square miles, of which 124.3 square miles are land and 327.9 square miles are water.
   The average high temperature in July and August is 93 degrees. The average high temperature in January is 65 degrees.
   Corpus Christi’s biggest recorded snowfall was 5 inches on Jan. 29, 1897.
   Approximately 5 million people visit the Corpus Christi area every year. About 74 percent of area visitors are from Texas.
   The area’s major industries are petrochemical, military and tourism. Tourism generates an annual economic impact of $1 billion for the Corpus Christi region. More than one of every 10 non-agricultural jobs in the Corpus Christi MSA is related to the travel and tourism industry.
   In 2003 and 2004, Corpus Christi was declared the “Birdiest City” in the nation, with more individual species counted than any other city.
   The Corpus Christi area has more than 113 miles of Gulf Coast beaches. Visitors also have access to nearly 70 miles of beachfront on Padre and Mustang islands. Padre Island, the largest barrier island in the nation, is only 25 minutes from downtown Corpus Christi.
   According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Port of Corpus Christi is the fifth largest port in the United States by tonnage shipped.
   While encamped during the fight for Texas’ independence, General Zachary Taylor’s soldiers dug an artesian sulphur well at the site of what is now Artesian Park.
   During the Civil War, the Centennial House on North Broadway became a Confederate hospital.
   At the turn of the century, Water Street (one block west of Shoreline Boulevard) was at the water’s edge; hence the name.
   The eight Miradores Del Mar (Spanish for “overlooks by the sea”) bayfront gazebos are copied from similar structures in Morocco, Mexico and Spain. The gazebos are freestanding and add no weight to the seawall.
   President George H.W. Bush received his naval aviator’s wings at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. Sen. John McCain also went through flight training at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.
   The King Ranch is one of the largest and oldest working cattle and horse ranches in the world. The ranch is 825,000 acres -- larger than Rhode Island -- and has more than 2,000 miles of fencing. It offers ranch history, wildlife and agriculture tours.
   Corpus Christi hosts the U.S. Open Windsurfing and Kiteboarding Regatta. It is also home to the Corpus Christi IceRays of the Western Professional Hockey League.
   Corpus Christi is home to the official state aquarium of Texas.
   A portion of the movie “Pearl Harbor,” starring Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett, was filmed on the USS Lexington.
   Sailing champion and 2004 Olympic gold medalist Paul Foerster is from Corpus Christi.
   NASCAR champions Terry and Bobby Labonte are from Corpus Christi.
   Actress Farrah Fawcett was born in Corpus Christi and graduated from W.B. Ray High School.
   Actor Lou Diamond Phillips graduated from Flour Bluff High School in Corpus Christi.
   Actors Dabney Coleman and Pepe Serna are from Corpus Christi.
   Country music star Barbara Mandrell lived in Corpus Christi during part of her childhood.
   Corpus Christi is home to late Tejano singing star and legend Selena.
   Grammy Award-winning singer Freddy Fender calls Corpus Christi home.
   Before writing the novel “Old Yeller,” Fred Gibson was a journalist for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times.

Communities

   The Corpus Christi metropolitan area is made up of several different communities.
   Kingsville is located to the south of Corpus Christi and grew around the famous King Ranch.
   North Padre Island boasts a world-class 18-hole golf course and country club, and luxurious homes featuring rich Mediterranean architecture with brightly colored stucco exteriors and ceramic tile roofs. Some of the homes and condos on the island feature boat slips just out their back doors that wind through a series of canals leading out to the gulf.  Every Christmas, children line up on their docks to watch the parade of lights as boats and sailboats traverse the canals in a Christmas parade. Boaters throw candy to the children while wishing residents a “Merry Christmas.”
   Flour Bluff is a quaint community located between Corpus Christi and North Padre Island.
   The Rockport-Fulton area is said to be the “charm of the Texas coast.”  It is home to a countless number of artists who are inspired by the tranquil and rich surroundings along the majestic coastline.
   Port Aransas is located on Mustang Island, a short drive from downtown Corpus Christi. Port Aransas is a close community featuring many seaside shops and restaurants.

Attractions

   Besides the stunning beaches and majestic palm trees, Corpus Christi has many other attractions.
   The Ships of Christopher Columbus: These reproductions were built by Spain to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ voyages to the New World. After a successful tour of 18 U.S. ports, the ships arrived at their permanent homeport in Corpus Christi in 1993. The Pinta and Santa Maria are located at the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History.
   Texas State Aquarium and Dolphin Bay: Texas State Aquarium is an aquatic journey, offering dive shows, feeding demonstrations and "hands-on" experiences with sharks, stingrays, hermit crabs and more.
   Dolphin Connection: Meet dolphins up close and enjoy an experience of a lifetime. The Dolphin Connection takes you on an hour-long tour on Corpus Christi Bay, where you will visit with the dolphins and experience the area's beautiful, gulf coast sea life first-hand.
   USS Lexington: Take a tour in air-conditioned comfort and learn about the history of "The Blue Ghost," the most famous aircraft carrier in U.S. naval history. Go on amazing virtual journeys of sight and sound at the three-stories-tall, giant-screen MEGA Theater.
   Corpus Christi Greyhound Racetrack: Spend an evening enjoying the thrills of live greyhound racing. Corpus Christi Greyhound Racetrack presents 13 races at every performance. Extra matinees are added on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day weekends.
   Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History: The Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History collects and preserves natural and cultural objects with an emphasis on South Texas and its place in the world. The museum presents educational exhibits and programs to encourage learning related to its collections, and it’s the state's marine archaeology repository.
   Selena Museum: To please fans who were showing up at the door of his family business, Abraham Quintanilla built a museum honoring his daughter’s memory. The museum displays outfits and dresses worn by Selena at concerts and award shows, each her own design; her red Porsche; and other personal memorabilia.

Culture

Dining

   In downtown Corpus Christi, you can chose from more than 30 restaurants ranging in choices from freshly caught seafood to authentic Mexican food and the spicy taste of rich Cajun foods. There's something for every tastebud. Don’t forget to stop by Andy’s, located just minutes from downtown, which features great home-style cooking and was featured on the Food Network's “$40 a Day.”

Education

   Corpus Christi offers several different avenues for education. The area is home to some of the finest private schools in the state, along with fantastic charter schools. Texas public schools are among the nation’s highest-ranking schools, having benefited from former Gov. George W. Bush’s promotion of education in his state.

Leisure Activities

Winter Texans

Maps of Corpus Christi

Written by Jody Ortiz exclusively for CoastParadise.com.
Photos courtesy of the City of Corpus Christi.

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