 |
History The city was originally founded as Evergreen in 1898 along the Texas and New Orleans Railroad, when John Henry Kipp and James H. Bradford subdivided their lots to establish a township. The area was also called Shell Siding after the oyster shells lining the bay, in some places twenty to thirty feet deep. Indian burial grounds were later found in these shell reefs. Kipp petitioned for a post office, but was denied as there was already an Evergreen, Texas (now incorporated into Cleveland, Texas). Residents were polled and Kemah, the Karankawa word for "wind in face", "face wind", or "facing the wind", was chosen. Kemah was granted a post office in 1907. Kemah is now primarily a tourist and recreation destination, especially since the Kemah Boardwalk, owned by Landry's Restaurants, Inc., was established in 2001. Demographics As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 2,330 people, 892 households, and 566 families residing in the city. The population density was 502.6/km˛ (1,300.8/mi˛). There were 1,075 housing units at an average density of 231.9/km˛ (600.2/mi˛). The racial makeup of the city was 75.36% White, 3.82% African American, 0.86% Native American, 3.48% Asian, 15.79% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.76% of the population. There were 892 households out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.25. In the city the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 36.9% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 115.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.2 males. The median income for a household in the city was $51,620, and the median income for a family was $64,063. Males had a median income of $50,061 versus $31,953 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,373. About 7.8% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over. Kemah Fire Department Web Site
P.O. Box 962, Kemah, TX 77565
Physical Address: 905 Hwy 146 | MAP
Phone:(281) 538-5727 Fax:(281)538-8221
Proudly serving Clear Lake Shores, Kemah, and the Lazy Bend communities for over 50 years! 1401 State Hwy. 146 - Kemah, TX 77565 Galveston County, USA Phone:(281) 334-5414 Fax:(281) 334-4873 29° 32' 4.09", -95° 0' 57.18" (Map) to Kemah City Hall | City of Kemah Kemah is on State Highway 146 and Farm Road 518 in a half-moon pocket on Galveston Bay twenty-five miles northwest of Galveston in northeastern Galveston County. The community was established on the Texas and New Orleans Railroad about 1898 and called Evergreen; it was also known as Shell Siding in the period when the railroad hauled shell from the area. It was renamed Kemah, an Indian word meaning "facing the winds," for its position on the bay in 1907, when the post office opened, because the former name was already in use by another community. By 1914 Kemah had a population of 200, four hay producers, farm homes, summer homes belonging to residents of Galveston and Houston, and several fishing camps. During the Great Depressionqv the population dropped to 100. In 1936 state highway maps showed a church, a school, several businesses, and multiple dwellings at the townsite. World War IIqv brought growth to a population of 550 by 1943. This number held steady until 1965, during which time the town had a maximum of thirty businesses serving primarily the oil and ship-building industries. By then Kemah had incorporated and become part of the Clear Creek Consolidated Independent School District. Thereafter, it reached a high of 2,000 residents and forty-three businesses in 1970, then began to decline. In 1972 the population was 1,144, and in 1988 Kemah had 1,591 residents and sixty-six businesses. Once considered a shrimping town, Kemah continues to celebrate an annual August Blessing of the Fleet. In 1990 the population was 1,094.
Geography Kemah is located at 29°32′22″N, 95°1′9″W (29.539469, -95.019032)GR1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.7 km˛ (1.8 mi˛). 4.6 km˛ (1.8 mi˛) of it is land and 0.1 km˛ (0.04 mi˛) of it (1.65%) is water. Education Pupils in Kemah attend schools in Clear Creek Independent School District. Pupils are zoned to Stewart Elementary School (formerly Kemah Elementary School, unincorporated Harris County), League City Intermediate School (League City), and Clear Creek High School (League City). KEMAH CITY SERVICES
EFFECTIVE: MONDAY MAY 8, 2006 THE CITY OF KEMAH AND THE KEMAH MUNICIPAL COURTS WILL BE OPEN FOR BUSINESS AS SHOWN BELOW:
MONDAY OPEN 7:30 AM CLOSE 5:30 PM , TUESDAY OPEN 7:30 AM CLOSE 5:30 PM , WEDNESDAY OPEN 7:30 AM CLOSE 5:30 PM , THRUSDAY OPEN 7:30 AM CLOSE 5:30 PM
FRIDAY OPEN 8:00 AM CLOSE 12 NOON , SATURDAY CLOSED CLOSE , SUNDAY CLOSED CLOSE. The Kemah Community Center is available for Community & Private Events
for Information Contact Kemah City Hall 281-334-1611 KEMAH COMMUNITY CENTER 800 Harris Ave.- Kemah, TX
77565 Galveston County, USA 1990 Census 1,094 - 2000 Census: 2,333 - 281 3341611 Fax 281-334-6583 1401 State Hwy. 146 - Kemah, TX 77565 Galveston County, USA 29° 32' 4.09", -95° 0' 57.18" (Map) to Kemah City Hall |
