About Corpus Christi
In 1519, on the Roman Catholic Feast Day of Corpus Christi, Spanish explorer Alonzo Alverez de Pineda discovered a lush semi-tropical bay on the southern coast of Texas. The bay, and the city that later developed, took the name of the feast day celebrating the “Body of Christ”.
Corpus Christi began as a frontier trading post, founded in 1838-39 by Colonel Henry Lawrence Kinney. It remained an obscure settlement until July 1845, when U.S. troops under General Zachary Taylor set up camp at the settlement in preparation for war with Mexico.
The city is now the largest city on the Texas coast and is the sixth largest port in the nation.
Population
Corpus Christi Corpus Christi MSA Nueces County
2000 277,451 403,208 319,645
2010 305,215 393,177 340,223
2013 316,381 442,600 352,107
Regional Age Distribution – 2013
Age Group
19 or under 28.3%
20 – 29 14.3%
30 – 39 12.3%
40 – 49 12.4%
50 – 64 18.9%
65 + 13.7%
Corpus Christi Race & Ethnicity – 2010 census
White (alone) 33.0%
Black 4.3%
American Indian 0.6%
Asian/Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander 1.9%
Multi-Race (2 or more) 2.5%
Hispanic or Latino 59.7%
Regional Household Information – 2011
Area Median Household Per Capita
Income Income
Corpus Christi $45,267 $23,870
Nueces Region $44,815 $23,525
Coastal Bend Region $40,858 $19,891
Corpus Christi Metropolitan Statistical Area consists of Nueces, Aransas and San Patricio Counties.
Coastal Bend Region consists of Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, Kennedy, Kleberg, Live Oak, McMullen, Nueces, Refugio, and San Patricio Counties.
Port of Corpus Christi
Port Corpus Christi is the fifth largest port in the United States in total tonnage. The Port provides a straight, 45’ deep channel (approved and authorized for 52 ft.) and quick access to the Gulf of Mexico and the entire United States inland waterway system. The Port delivers outstanding access to overland transportation, with on-site and direct connections to three Class I railroads, BNSF, KCS, and UP, and direct, vessel-to-rail discharge capabilities. The Nueces River Rail Yard, when complete in Q1 2017, will provide eight tracks for storage of unit trains up to 8,500 feet long.
- 5th Largest Port in the U.S. in tonnage
- 150 miles from U.S./Mexico border
- 45’ channel depth
- 24,019-acre Foreign Trade Zone, the largest in the U.S.
- 125+ acres of open storage and fabrication sites
- Heavy lift capabilities
- Dockside rail from multiple carriers
- Excellent highway access
- 295,500+ sq. ft. of covered dockside storage
POCC Ship and Barge Activity- 2016
Dry Cargo: 416
Tankers: 1,268
Barges: 4,683
Total: 6,357
Tonnage Figures- 2016
(in short tons)
Break Bulk: 345,811
Grain: 4,169,145
Chemical: 2,200,842
Dry Bulk: 6,905,901
Liquid Bulk: 432,750
Petroleum: 80,237,886
Total: 94,292,335
(Click to view image.)
American Bank Center. South Texas Museum of Art. Texas State Aquarium. Corpus Christi Performing Arts Center. Harbor Playhouse. Richardson Performance Hall. Asian Cultures Museum and Education Center. Selena Auditorium. Ortiz International Center. Corpus Christi Arts Center. Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History. Concrete Street Amphitheater. Richard Borchard Regional Complex.
Texas A&M University Corpus Christi ‘The Island University’
The University enrolls more than 11,500 students and is part of The Texas A&M University System. The five academic colleges offer bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from highly accomplished faculty, 90 percent of whom hold the highest degree in their fields. Numerous bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees are offered in five colleges: Business, Education, Liberal Arts, Nursing and Health Sciences, and Science and Engineering.
Del Mar College
Del Mar College has been helping Coastal Bend students achieve their dreams for over 75 years. As the largest institution of higher education in South Texas, the college offers a unique blend of academic programs to meet a broad range of career goals and educational aspirations.
Del Mar College offers degrees in Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees in over 50 university transfer majors; Associate in Applied Science degrees, Enhanced Skills Certificates, Certificates of Achievement and Marketable Skills Achievement (MSA) awards in more than 140 occupational fields (multiple awards are offered in some fields).
The Padre Island National Seashore is just outside the city and offers a pristine seashore environment. The Gulf of Mexico and the bays provide exceptional fishing, sailing, boating, and windsurfing opportunities. In fact, Corpus Christi is one of the top three windsurfing venues in the world. If you like hunting, the surrounding ranches are rich areas for bird and deer hunting. Corpus Christi is also home to pro sports. The Corpus Christi Hooks, the 2006 Texas League Champions, are a AA farm team of the Houston Astros. The Ice Rays hockey club is from the Central Hockey League, the Hammerheads are a team from the Intense Football League, and the Sharks are from the af2 Arena Football League.
Corpus Christi has a warm subtropical climate similar to those of Northern Florida cities, except that the city is located in a semi-arid region with less rainfall. The average highs in the summer months are in the 90’s with lows in the mid 70’s. Average highs and lows in January are 66 and 46 respectively.
