Texas Beach and Bay Access Guide. - Texas General Land Office

Houston-Galveston
Saltwater Bays: 824,000 surface acres
Bays: East, Galveston, Matagorda, Trinity, and West Bays
BRAZORIA COUNTY
Population: 241,767
Area: 1,597 square miles
Recreation: Gulf beaches, water sports, fishing, hunting,
wildlife viewing, historic sites, state and county
parks.
Brazoria County was created in 1836 and derived its name
from the Brazos River. It was part of Stephen F. Austin’s "Old
Three Hundred" colony of families arriving in the early 1820s.
Brazoria County’s physical features include flat coastal plains
and coastal soils. The county’s economy is based on the
petrochemical and petroleum industries, manufacturing,
tourism, fishing, and agribusiness.
CHAMBERS COUNTY
Population: 26,031
Area: 868 square miles
Recreation: Gulf beaches, fishing, hunting, water sports,
camping, county parks, wildlife refuge, historic
sites.
Chambers County was established in 1858 and named after
General T.J. Chambers, a surveyor. This area contains
coastal plains, coastal soils, and some forests. Its economy is
based on petroleum, chemicals, steel plants, agribusiness,
manufacturing, fish processing, and tourism.
GALVESTON COUNTY
Population: 250,158
Area: 876 square miles
Recreation: Gulf beaches, fishing, surfing, boating, sailing,
wildlife viewing, state park, museums, historic
sites.
French, Spanish, and American settlement began in 1815 and
the Carancahua and other tribes lived in this area until 1850.
Galveston County was established in 1838 and named after
the Spanish governor of Louisiana, Count Bernardo de
Galvez. This area is partly barrier island and partly coastal
plains and is broken up by bays. Galveston’s economy is
based on port activities, insurance and finance, petrochemical
plants, manufacturing, tourism, medical education, shipbuilding,
and commercial fishing.
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