Santa Fe, Texas
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| Santa Fe, Texas | |
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| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Galveston |
| Area | |
| - Total | 14.0 sq mi (36.2 km²) |
| - Land | 14.0 sq mi (36.2 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) |
| Elevation | 30 ft (9 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 9,548 |
| - Density | 682.5/sq mi (263.5/km²) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP codes | 77510, 77517 |
| Area code(s) | 409 |
| FIPS code | 48-65726[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1351043[2] |
Santa Fe (Spanish: santa—holy, fe—faith) is a city in Galveston County, Texas, United States. The population was 9,548 at the 2000 census. The town is named for the Santa Fe Railroad (now part of BNSF Railway) which runs through the town alongside State Highway 6.
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[edit] Historical development
The community grew after the Santa Fe Railway was built outside the area in 1877. Just over a century later in 1978, the residents there voted to become incorporated, and by the 1980s, Santa Fe annexed the towns of Arcadia and Alta Loma.
The City of Santa Fe came to be because the neighboring City of Hitchcock tried to annex a large portion of Alta Loma. After a six year struggle the residents of Alta Loma were given the chance to become their own incorporated city. To be in accordance with the laws of Texas they needed a certain number of residents within the area and a large part of the next town of Arcadia was included. The new city which included the towns of Alta Loma and Arcadia needed one name. The name of Santa Fe was chosen after the Santa Fe Independent School District which surrounds the area. It was the Santa Fe School District that got its name from the railroad in the early 19th century.
[edit] Geography
Santa Fe is located at (29.380651, -95.104163)[3]. The area was initially coastal prairie. Early improvements were converting the lands to grazing and rice production. Some "truck farms" became popular forms of income. Of late, the town serves as a bedroom community for Houston metro/downtown and medical center as well as local refinery and plant employees. Housing development in the area is slowly consuming lands formerly used for agriculture. Most home sites are generally over 1 acre ranch properties. Close to Galveston, Santa Fe offers beach, boating and downtown all within an easy short drive.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.0 square miles (36.2 km²), all of it land.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 9,548 people, 3,492 households, and 2,727 families residing in the city. The population density was 682.5 people per square mile (263.5/km²). There were 3,723 housing units at an average density of 266.1/sq mi (102.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.92% White, 0.25% African American, 0.58% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.94% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.78% of the population. Historically, Santa Fe was known as a sundown town.
There were 3,492 households out of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.5% were married couples, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.9% were non-families. 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.1% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $47,550, and the median income for a family was $54,253. Males had a median income of $40,445 versus $27,188 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,396. About 4.8% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Education
[edit] Primary and secondary schools
[edit] Public schools
The city is served by the Santa Fe Independent School District.
The schools in the city include:
- R.J. Wollam Elementary School (Pre-K through 1)
- Dan J. Kubacak Elementary (2 through 3; formerly Santa Fe Elementary North)
- Elizabeth Cowan Elementary (4; formerly Santa Fe Elementary South)
- Fritz Barnett Intermediate School (5-6; formerly Santa Fe Intermediate School)
- Santa Fe Junior High School (7-8)
- Santa Fe High School (9-12)
All of Santa Fe is served by the College of the Mainland.
[edit] Public libraries
Santa Fe owns the Mae S. Bruce Library [1].
[edit] Postal services
The United States Postal Service operates the Santa Fe Post Office at 13002 Highway 6, 77510-9998.
[edit] Controversies
In 2000, the Supreme Court ruled that the Santa Fe school district's policy of permitting "student-led, student-initiated" prayer at football games and other school events violated the Contitution's prohibitions against the establishment of state religion.[4] That controversy prompted discussions and news articles about the city's largely white population and its past and present connections to the KKK.[5]
In 1981, white supremacists traveled to the city to join local shrimpers in protesting the growing presence of Vietnamese shrimpers in the Gulf.[6] That controversy, as well as similar conflicts in nearby port towns like Rockport, served as the basis for the 1985 Ed Harris film 'Alamo Bay'.
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ USATODAY.com
- ^ Claudia Kolker, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 September 2000, URL: http://www.sfgate.com:80/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/09/11/MN95611.DTL
- ^ Claudia Kolker, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 September 2000, URL: http://www.sfgate.com:80/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/09/11/MN95611.DTL
[edit] External links
- Santa Fe, Texas is at coordinates Coordinates:
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Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown METROPOLITAN AREA |
|---|---|
| Counties | Austin | Brazoria | Chambers | Fort Bend | Galveston | Harris | Liberty | Montgomery | San Jacinto | Waller |
| "Principal" cities |
Houston | Sugar Land | Baytown | Galveston |
| Cities and towns |
Alvin | Angleton | Bellaire | Cleveland | Clute | Conroe | Dayton | Deer Park | Dickinson | Freeport | Friendswood | Galena Park | Hitchcock | Hempstead | Humble | Jacinto City | Jersey Village | Katy | Lake Jackson | La Marque | La Porte | League City | Liberty | Meadows Place | Missouri City | Pasadena | Pearland | Richmond | Rosenberg | Santa Fe | Seabrook | Sealy | South Houston | Stafford | Texas City | Tomball | Webster | West University Place |
| Unincorporated areas | Atascocita | Channelview | Cloverleaf | Cypress | Klein | Spring | The Woodlands |
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