Galveston Topics

• pirate jean lafitte
• galveston county daily news
• pope pius ix
• spanish explorer cabeza de vaca
• galveston harbor
• barataria bay
• bolivar peninsula
• explorer cabeza de vaca
• new orleans louisiana
• union blockade
• galveston island
• galveston bay
• cabeza de vaca
• confederate ship
• railroad expansion
• sole survivor
• united states navy
• aury
• magruder
• history university

Related Images

Source

Galveston, Galveston

Looking for Galveston, Texas?

The Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca and his crew were shipwrecked on the island (or nearby) in November 1528, calling it "Isla de Malhado" ("Isle of Doom"), McComb, David G.: Galveston A History , University of Texas Press, 1986, 293 pp., ISBN 978-0-292-72053-4 and there began his famous trek to Mexico.

In 1817 Aury returned from an unsuccessful raid against Spain to find Galveston occupied by the pirate Jean Lafitte, who took up residence there after having been driven from his stronghold in Barataria Bay off the coast of New Orleans, Louisiana. Lafitte organized Galveston into a pirate "kingdom" he called "Campeachy" (or "Campeche"), anointing himself the island's "head of government." Lafitte remained in Galveston until 1821 when he and his raiders were given an ultimatum by the United States Navy: leave or be destroyed. Lafitte burned his settlement to the ground and sailed under cover of night for parts unknown. There are still rumors that Lafitte's treasure is buried somewhere between Galveston Island, Bolivar Peninsula and High Island.

Magruder attacked and expelled occupying Union troops from the city, which remained in Confederate hands for the duration of the war. In May 1865, the Lark successfully evaded the Union blockade off of Galveston Harbor and headed for Havana, becoming the final Confederate ship to slip through the blockade from any Southern port.

Its position on the natural harbor of Galveston Bay along the Gulf of Mexico made it the center of trade in Texas, and one of the largest cotton ports in the nation, in competition with New Orleans. Between 1838 and 1842, 18 newspapers were started to serve the island's rapidly growing population ( The Galveston County Daily News is the sole survivor). A causeway linking the island with the mainland was finished in 1860, which paved the way for railroad expansion.

Then, on May 4, 1847 Pope Pius IX approved the creation of the Diocese of Galveston and named St. Mary's Church the Cathedral for the entire state of Texas.

To further her recovery, and rebuild her population, Galveston actively solicited immigration. Through the efforts of Rabbi Henry Cohen and Congregation B'nai Israel, Galveston became the focus of a immigration plan called the Galveston Movement that, between 1907 and 1914, diverted roughly 10,000 Eastern European, Jewish immigrants from the crowded cities of the Northeastern United States.

The area is a major tourist attraction for the island city and also plays host to two very popular seasonal festivals. It is widely considered the island's shopping and entertainment center. Today, "the Strand" is generally used to refer to the entire five-block business district between 20th and 25th streets in downtown Galveston, very close to the city's wharf. Throughout the 19th century, the port city of Galveston grew rapidly and the Strand was considered the region's primary business center.

The city council appoints the City Manager, the City Secretary, the City Auditor, the City Attorney, and the Municipal Judge. The city's Tax Collector is, as of 2008 and as determined by the city council, outsourced to Galveston County. The city manager hires employees, promotes development, presents and administers the budget, and implements City Council policies. As of 2008 Lyda Ann Thomas is the mayor and the City Council members are Tarris L. Woods (District 1), Linda Colbert (District 2), Elizabeth Beeton (District 3), Susan Fennewald (District 4), Danny L. Weber (District 5), and Karen Mahoney (District 6). " The City Council of Galveston, Texas ." City of Galveston . Retrieved on November 7, 2008.

The City Hall Annex, attached to the west side of city hall, has various offices; including the fire department. " Municipal Facilities and Their Locations ." City of Galveston . Retrieved on February 19, 2009.

The Confederate Army occupied the building during the Civil War, In 1865, the Custom House was the site of the ceremony officially ending the war in Galveston.

Galveston College, a junior college that opened in 1967, serves an ethnically diverse population of approximately 2,400 students each semester in credit programs and nearly 8,000 individuals annually in continuing education and workforce development programs.

Six district public elementary schools, including Burnet, L. A. Morgan, Greta Oppe, Gladneio Parker, Henry Rosenberg, and Charles B. Scott, serve grades pre-Kindergarten through 4. All Galveston Island residents are assigned to Weis Middle School for grades 5 through 6, Central Middle School for grades 7 through 8, and Ball High School for grades 9 through 12. One magnet middle school, Austin Middle School, has grades 5 through 8.

Central School, the first Texas public school for African-Americans, opened in 1885 and became a high school in 1886. In 1968 the two high schools consolidated and the Central campus became a junior high school. Jones, Leigh. " Alumni recall Central Highs final year ." Galveston County Daily News . August 11, 2008.

Source: Wikipedia > Galveston, Texas