Facts & Helpful Links

Common City Facts

• Galveston has the second largest historic preservation group in the nation. The Galveston Historical Foundation celebrated its 125th anniversary in 1996.
• Galveston Island has 14 museums and historic homes open to the public for tours, including the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum, Lone Star Flight Museum (Home of the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame), Railroad Museum, Texas Seaport Museum, Ashton Villa, Bishop's Palace, and Moody Mansion.
• Galveston Island has four historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places, which include the Strand National Historic Landmark District, East End Historic District, Silk Stocking District, and Central Business District.
• Galveston Island has more than 20 art galleries on the Strand, Pier 21, and in the Post Office Street Entertainment District.
• Galveston Island is a barrier reef island that averages two miles in width, offering 32 miles of Gulf Coast beaches.
• Galveston Island is home to Moody Gardens, which includes a Rainforest Pyramid, IMAX 3D Theater, Palm Beach, Discovery Museum, Ridefilm Theater, and Aquarium Pyramid.
• Galveston Island is home to the University of Texas Medical Branch, Texas A&M University at Galveston and Galveston College.
• Galveston Island is home to three National Historic Landmarks including the Tall Ship Elissa, East End, and The Strand and has approximately 1,500 historic buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Galveston Island is located on the Gulf of Mexico, 50 miles South of Houston.
• Galveston Island offers temperate weather year-round, averaging 57°F in the winter months and 81°F in summer months.
• Galveston Island was second only to Ellis Island as an immigration station.
• Galveston Island's Strand National Historic Landmark District / Downtown area offers more than 100 shops, restaurants, and art galleries conveniently located within 36 square blocks.
• Galveston was home to 57,000 full-time residents before Hurricane Ike made landfall in 2008. Based on information gathered from utility consumption, school enrollment figures, and the State Demographer's Office, city officials now estimate Galveston's population to be anywhere from 45,000 to 48,000 full-time residents. The island is still recovering from Ike and construction to repair and rebuild homes continues. The 2010 U.S. Census data, available in 2011, will give local leaders a more accurate population count.