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

Golden Crescent
Saltwater Bays: 399,000 surface acres
Bays: Espiritu Santo, Lavaca, and San Antonio Bays
CALHOUN COUNTY
Population: 20,647
Area: 1,032 square miles
Recreation: Beaches, wildlife viewing, fishing, water sports,
duck and goose hunting, historic sites, county
park.
Calhoun County, formed in 1846, was named after John C.
Calhoun, a U.S. statesman. It is sandy, broken by bays, and
contains part of Matagorda Island. The local economy is
based on plastics and aluminum manufacturing, marine
construction, agribusiness, petroleum, tourism, and fish
processing.
JACKSON COUNTY
Population: 14,391
Area: 857 square miles
Recreation: Hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, historic sites,
state park.
Jackson County was established in 1836 and named for U.S.
President Andrew Jackson. The county’s economy is based
on petroleum production, metal fabrication, plastics manufacturing,
agribusiness, and lake recreation.
VICTORIA COUNTY
Population: 84,088
Area: 888 square miles
Recreation: Fishing, hunting, historic sites.
Victoria County was originally inhabited by the Carancahua
and other tribes. In 1824, Martin De Leon was granted permission
from the government of Mexico to establish a settlement
between the Guadalupe River and the Lavaca River. The
settlement was initially called Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
de Jesus y Victoria. After Texas’ independence, the city’s
name was shortened to Victoria. Victoria County’s economy is
based on petrochemical plants, government services, oil, manufacturing,
agribusiness, and tourism.
There are no bay access sites in Victoria County.
County information obtained from Texas Almanac, 2000-2001 and U.S. Census 2000.
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