Table 3.1. Distribution of Population Along Texas Coast and Percent Accounted for by the 
Galveston Bay Complex for the Years I960,1970,1980,1990 and 2000. 
I960* 
1970 b 
1980 c 
1990 d 
2000 d 
Jefferson 
245,659 
244,937 
250,938 
266,664 
272,346 
Chambers 
10,379 
12,187 
18,538 
21,310 
22,955 
Harris 
1,243,158 
1,741,908 
2,409,547 
3,078,356 
3,584,883 
Galveston 
140,364 
169,812 
195,940 
228,833 
246,490 
Brazoria 
72,204 
108,312 
169,587 
206,657 
235,848 
Matagorda 
25,744 
27,913 
37,828 
37,869 
34,057 
Jackson 
14,040 
12,975 
13,352 
14,392 
14,330 
Calhoun 
16,592 
17,831 
19,574 
24,694 
28,580 
Refugio 
10,975 
9,494 
9,289 
9,087 
8,309 
Aransas 
7,006 
8,902 
14,260 
20,012 
24,608 
San Patricio 
45,021 
47,288 
58,013 
66,780 
70,685 
Nueces 
221,573 
237,542 
268,215 
324,410 
380,285 
Kleburg 
30,052 
33,173 
33,358 
37,268 
39,501 
Kenedy 
884 
699 
534 
534 
586 
Willacy 
20,084 
15,570 
17,495 
19,845 
20,668 
Cameron 
151.098 
140.368 
209.727 
270,524 
318.384 
Total 
2,254,833 
2,828,911 
3,726,195 
4,627,235 
5,302,515 
Percent of coastal 
strata contained in 
four-county area 
65.0% 
71.8% 
75.0% 
76.4% 
77.1% 
Percent of state 
population contained 
in four-county area 15.3% 
18.2% 
19.6% 
20.0% 
20.1% 
Source: 
a«- 
percent) in the four-county area. Commercial fertilizer was used on 283,792 acres in the four counties 
at a cost of $8,711,000. The market value of agricultural products sold from the four counties in 1982 
was $113,747,000, with the vast majority from Harris (grains, nursery products and livestock) and 
Brazoria counties (grains) (4). 
Fisheries 
Commercial Fishing 
An estimated 425,000 pounds of finfish, with an estimated ex-vessel value of $206,000, were 
reported as harvested commercially from Galveston Bay in 1986 (Table 3.3). This represents 28 
percent of the Texas bay finfish production by weight and 21 percent by value. Galveston Bay also 
plays a major role in the Texas shellfish industry. More than 30 percent of the shrimp and blue crab 
harvested commercially from Texas bays are from Galveston Bay. Oysters from Galveston Bay, 
however, have the largest total ex-vessel value of any shellfish, nearly $7 million (67 percent of the 
state bay total). 
The annual inshore and offshore commercial fish landings (finfish and shellfish) along the Texas 
coast for 1986 was about 116 million pounds with an ex-vessel value of $246 million (5). Fesenmaier 
and Jones (6) report an average annual ex-vessel value of $205 million for inshore-offshore commer¬ 
cial fishing for the 1984-1986 period. Of this $205 million, the Galveston Bay complex accounted for 
54 
