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League City is a city in Galveston County and Harris County in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city population was 45,444; in the 2006 census estimate, the population was listed as 67,200. The city has a small portion north of Clear Creek within Harris County, Texas zoned for residential and commercial uses [1]. The county seat is Galveston, however after Hurricane Ike extensively damaged the courthouse and jail in September 2008, the decision was made to move temporarily relocate the county seat and county offices to the mainland cities of Texas City and League City.[3]
League City is home to several water-side resorts used by people from nearby Houston.
League City is now the largest city in Galveston County [2]; surpassing Galveston between 2000 and 2005, as the county's largest city.
Geography
League City is located at 29°29'59?N 95°5'23?W? / ?29.49972, -95.08972 (29.499797, -95.089784)[4]. This is 23 miles (37 km) southeast of Houston, and the same distance northwest of Galveston.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 52.3 square miles (135.6 km˛), of which, 51.2 square miles (132.7 km˛) of it is land and 1.1 square miles (2.9 km˛) of it (2.12%) is water.
History
League City was settled at the former site of a Karankawa Indian village. Three families, the Butlers, Cowarts, and Perkins, are considered to be founding families of the city. The Cowart family settled on a creek now called Cowart's Creek after them (now often called "Coward's Creek"). The Perkins family built on a creek notably lined with magnolia trees, and named it Magnolia Bayou. The Butler family settled inland.
The first resident of the town proper, George W. Butler, arrived from Louisiana in 1873 and settled at the junction of Clear Creek and Chigger Bayou. The area was known as Butler's Ranch or Clear Creek until J. C. League acquired the land from a man named Muldoon on his entering the priesthood. League laid out his town site on Galveston, Houston, and Henderson Railroad, already established in the area. This began a small feud over the name, as Butler was the postmaster. The name was changed several times, alternating between Clear Creek and the new League City. In the end, League City was chosen.
In 1907, League had two railroad flatcars of live oak trees left by the railroad tracks. These were for the residents to plant on their property. Butler and his son Milby supervised the planting of these trees, now known as the Butler Oaks. Many of them line Main Street to this day.
In the 2000s, rising real estate costs in Galveston forced many families to move to other areas, including League City. This meant an influx of children out of Galveston ISD and into other school districts like Clear Creek ISD and Dickinson ISD [3].
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2007, there were 68,178 people, 16,189 households, and 12,465 families residing in the city. The population density was 886.9 people per square mile (342.4/km˛). There were 17,280 housing units at an average density of 337.2/sq mi (130.2/km˛). The racial makeup of the city was 83.99% White, 5.09% African American, 0.37% Native American, 3.17% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 5.29% from other races, and 2.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.49% of the population.
There were 16,189 households out of which 42.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.4% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.0% were non-families. 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.4% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 35.9% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 5.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.5 males.
According to a 2006 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $76,006, and the median income for a family was $83,194.[4] Males had a median income of $52,366 versus $34,301 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,170. About 3.6% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Primary and secondary schools
Public schools
Clear Creek Independent School District is based in League City, and serves pupils in the Harris County portion and most of the Galveston County portion. Most pupils in League City attend schools in Clear Creek ISD. Some in Galveston County attend school in Dickinson ISD and Santa Fe ISD.
Clear Creek High School, of Clear Creek ISD, is located in League City. In fall 2007 Clear Springs High School opened in western League City [5].
Ed White Memorial High School [6] is a state charter school in League City.
Private schools
Bay Area Christian School started in 1973 and currently has an enrollment of 674 students from grades K-12. [7]
St. Mary School, a Roman Catholic K-8 school operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, is in League City [8].
Colleges and universities
The CCISD portion of League City is served by the San Jacinto College. The DISD and SFISD portions are served by the College of the Mainland.
Public libraries
The Helen Hall Library[9], operated by the city, serves the city. The small Harris County portion is also served by the Harris County Public Library system.
Postal services
The United States Postal Service operates the League City Post Office at 240 West Galveston Street, 77573-9998.
Transportation
Houston Gulf Airport was located in eastern League City. The airport's land was sold and the land became a string of houses along Texas State Highway 96.[5]
Commercial airline service for the area is operated from George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport, which are located in Houston.
See also
References
External links
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![[5]](http://www.ccisd.net/community_05/district_committees/listing/springs.JPG){kind=link}