Corpus Christi, TX

Located on the Gulf of Mexico and surrounded by hundreds of miles of beaches, Corpus Christi, Texas, is approximately halfway between Houston and the U.S.-Mexico border. Corpus Christi has a population of around 285,000 and in recent years has been recognized as one of the best medium-sized cities in the nation for business and employment. Due in part to the large number of residents and tourists in the area, however, Corpus Christi's crime rate is higher than the Texas average.

The city sits at the same latitude as Tampa, Florida, and enjoys a similar semitropical climate, with an average temperature of 71.2 degrees and around 255 days of sunshine per year. With their fine sand, clear water, and cool breezes, the beaches accessible from Corpus Christi and the neighboring Padre Island are top vacation destinations for windsurfing, kayaking, kite boarding, and sailing.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Originally a trading post that sold goods to Mexicans in the region, Corpus Christi became an important part of the shipping industry when the Port of Corpus Christi opened in the 1920s. Since then the city's industry has experienced steady growth in import-export port traffic, renewable and alternative energy suppliers, military activity and new health-care providers. A large portion of Corpus Christi's economy is attributed to the tourism industry. Major employers in the Corpus Christi area include:

• Gulf Marine Manufacturers
• Department of Defense
• Kiewit Offshore Services, Ltd.
• Corpus Christi city government
• Texas & University-Corpus Christi
• Driscoll Children's Hospital
• Corpus Christi Medical Centers
• Bay Ltd.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Most of the population from Corpus Christi is urban. The city accommodates about 107,800 houses out of which 98,800 are occupied. Out of these occupied houses, owners occupy about 59,000 houses and renters occupy about 40,000 houses.

Corpus Christi has many notable neighborhoods in its proximity:

• Flour Bluff is an area known for its fine Red Drum (or Redfish) and Trout fishing
• Mustang Island, another notable neighborhood of the city, is a natural habitat for sea turtles
• North Padre Island is famous for its surfing area
• Other major neighborhoods of Corpus Christi are Calallen, Clarkwood, Annaville and North Beach

EDUCATION

Higher education institutions include:

• Del Mar College
• Corpus Christi School of Aviation
• Southern Careers Institute
• Texas & University-Corpus Christi

SPORTS TEAMS

Corpus Christi hosts a number of sports teams:

• Minor League Baseball: Corpus Christi Hooks and Coastal Bend Aviators (in nearby Robstown, Texas)
• Indoor Football League: Corpus Christi Hammerheads
• Central Hockey League: Corpus Christi IceRays
• NCAA: Texas & University's Corpus Christi Islanders

EVENTS

• Stage Door Canteen: This big band musical revue and variety show takes place aboard the USS Lexington.
• Texas Sand Fest: Those in attendance at this Port Aransas festival are treated to the work of sand sculptors from around the world.
• Bay Jammin' Surfing, Concert, and Cinema Series: With the Corpus Christi Bay in the background, the Anderson Amphitheater is the setting for family-friendly music and film entertainment. The concert series presents local and Texas bands, which perform rock, salsa, soul, alternative rock, and Calypso, among other types of music. The cinema series shows a variety of movies, including science fiction, animation, drama, and comedy. The surfing series features films about windsurfing, skating, and surfing.
• Texas Jazz Festival: Jazz artists throughout the country gather for this renowned event.
• Harbor Lights Festival and Boat Parade: Corpus Christi kicks off the holiday season with an illuminated boat parade, fireworks, and, of course, a visit from Santa.
• Velocity Games: This extreme sports competition includes the U.S. Open Windsurfing and Open Kite Boarding Championships.
• Texas Great Birding Classic: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department hosts this birding tournament, which is the longest-running birding competition in the United States.
• Buccaneer Days: This three-week affair features a rodeo, a carnival, parades, fireworks, and sporting events.
• Deep Sea Roundup: Port Aransas is the scene for the Gulf of Mexico's largest fishing tournament, complete with a fish fry and a dance.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures: This facility displays objects and documents celebrating the cultures of China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and other Asian countries.
• USS Lexington Museum: Visitors on this retired U.S. aircraft carrier embark on a self-guided tour through the maze of tunnels below deck.
• Museum of Science and History: Artifacts collected from the area act as teaching tools about the history and geology of south Texas.

BEST BETS

Year-round, thousands of anglers fish in the waters of Corpus Christi. Popular fishing sites include:

• Shallow Water: Bay and shore fishermen most often net speckled trout, drum, redfish, flounder, and whiting.
• Deep Water: Offshore, red snapper and tuna are caught throughout the year, while marlin and billfish infiltrate the area from May to September.
• Freshwater: Lake Corpus Christi, located 40 miles northwest of Corpus Christi, is the site of catfish, bass, and crappie fishing.

Other notable sites include:

• Texas State Aquarium: The entire family can learn about sea life off the Texas coast while watching sharks swim and dolphins and otters play.
• Selena Memorial: A bronze monument commemorates the life of the slain Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla-Perez, a Corpus Christi resident.
• Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail: Stops along this coastal highway trail provide information kiosks and observation platforms for birding sites.
• King Ranch: Close to Corpus Christi is King Ranch, one of the world's largest and oldest working cattle ranches. Bigger than the state of Rhode Island, King Ranch offers guided tours and special events throughout the year. Guests interested in learning about the history of King Ranch can visit the King Ranch Museum and the Connor Museum at Texas & University-Kingsville.
• Downtown Seawall: Tourists flock to Corpus Christi's seawall, where joggers, walkers, skaters, and bicyclists share wide walkways with people watchers.