Freeport was founded as a European-American settlement in November 1912 by the Freeport Sulphur Company.[6] The population was 300. However, by 1929, that population had grown to 3,500, and to 4,100 by 1939, influencing a steady increase of economic expansion in Freeport.[7]
By 1937, a Freeport School District had been established, consisting of several segregated schools and 27 teachers. There were two white schools, one black school, and a white high school.[7]
Freeport's most substantial economic growth began with the construction of Dow Chemical Company facilities in the city during 1939. This company is the community's largest employer.[7] Freeport has the company's largest single manufacturing site in the 21st century.[8]
In July 1957, Freeport merged with Velasco. This had been a temporary capital of the Republic of Texas during the 19th century. Soon thereafter, Freeport's population numbered 11,619.[7] In 2003, the city annexed nearby Bryan Beach.[9]
Geography
Freeport is located in southern Brazoria County at 28°57′34″N95°21′25″W / 28.95944°N 95.35694°W / 28.95944; -95.35694 (28.959527, –95.356941),[10] near the mouth of the Brazos River in the Gulf of Mexico. In 2003, the city annexed 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of beach bounded on the northeast by the village of Quintana and continuing southwest to the mouth of the Brazos River. This beach is known as Bryan Beach. It is just a few miles away from Surfside and Quintana beaches.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Freeport has a total area of 17.1 square miles (44.2 km2), of which 14.9 square miles (38.7 km2) is land and 2.1 square miles (5.5 km2), or 12.36%, is water.[5]
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Freeport has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[11]
Climate data for Freeport, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1959–present)
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 10,696 people, 4,224 households, and 2,993 families residing in the city.
According to the census[3] numbers as of 2016, there were 12,153 people, 3,788 households with an average of 3.17 persons per household. The median gross rent was $711.00 and the owner-occupied housing rate was 49.5%. The racial makeup of the city was 33.2% non-Hispanic White, 13.9% African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 20.91% from other races, and 3.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 52.0% of the population. Languages spoken in the household other than English is 49.4%.
The mean travel time to work for workers age 16+ was 15.2 minutes. In 2012, there were approximately 1,230 businesses in Freeport.
In the city, the median age for females is 29 years old and for males is 28. 34.1% of the population is 18 years of age or younger.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,044. The per capita income for the city was $17,707. About 27.5% of families were below the poverty line.[18]
Economy
Port Freeport is a seaport on the Gulf of Mexico and is currently ranked 26th in international tonnage. The associated chemical plants provide a stable economy. Freeport is the site of the Dow Chemical Company's Texas Operations facility, which is the company's largest integrated site.[8]
Schools in Freeport include Brazosport High School (Grades 9–12), Freeport Intermediate School (Grades 7–8), Lanier Middle School (Grades 5–6), Freeport Elementary, and Velasco Elementary School but this place shut down (Grades Pre-K–4). They are all maintained through Brazosport Independent School District.[21]
The $19.2 million Freeport Elementary facility opened in 2018. VLK Architects designed the building. The student capacity is 750.[22]
Velasco Elementary was a Kindergarten through grade 4 school until 2017, when it became a grade 2–4 school for all of Freeport. Grades K–1 were moved to O. A. Fleming Elementary, which was scheduled to close in 2018 and be replaced by Freeport Elementary.[22]
Previously Freeport had O.A. Fleming Elementary School (PK–1),[23] and Jane Long Elementary School (grades 2–4).[24] Jane Long was scheduled to close in 2017, with Fleming taking grades K–1 and Velasco Elementary taking over grades 2–4. Fleming was scheduled to close when the new Freeport Elementary School opened in 2018.[22]
^Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.[16][17]
