Baytown, Texas is a city of about 70,000 that is a suburb of Houston. Just east of Houston, Baytown is on Galveston Bay at the mouth of the San Jacinto River. Baytown is humid with summer highs in the 90s and winter highs in the low 60s with virtually no snowfall. Anyone moving to Baytown will find a city that is peaceful and proud, with access to all the amenities that make a great hometown.
Economy:
The median household income in Baytown is higher than the state average. The cost of living in Baytown is lower than the national average. Unemployment is 12.6 percent. The city has many petrochemical industries and chemical plants. Top employers include ExxonMobile, Chevron Phillips, Bayer Chemical, Jindal Steel and IPSCO Koppel Tubular.
History:
One of the first settlers to the area was Nathaniel Lynch, who built a ferry crossing across the San Jacinto River in 1822 (this ferry is still in operation today). In 1824 William Scott also settled there, and began a store and a saw mill. He called his area Bay Town. John and Thomas Chubb built a shipyard on Goose Creek in 1850. During the time of the struggle for Texas independence from Mexico, another community sprang up in the area called Goose Creek. In 1910 yet another town began named Pelly. The area stayed undeveloped for the most part until 1916, when oil was struck in Goose Creek. In 1917, Ross Sterling built a refinery in the area. Although Baytown grew up around the refinery, it really was just a collection of tents and shacks. After World War I, with problems with unions and a lack of any permanent facilities for a town, the three towns (Baytown, Goose Creek and Pelly) decided to consolidate into one town. In 1948, the city of Baytown was incorporated. During World War II the Humble Oil Refinery played a major part in the war effort by producing aviation fuel. The city grew up around the refineries. Although it has only been a city for a short period of time, Baytown has worked hard to create a city that is proud of its heritage and is a wonderful place to live.
Tourism:
The Baytown Nature Center is a magnificent area of natural wetlands that is home to many species of birds, mammals and reptiles. It is a recreational center and wildlife sanctuary. The Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Center is an educational center located on Goose Creek. The Baytown Historical Museum houses exhibits about the area's history. The Lynchburg Ferry is the oldest operating ferry in Texas and can be used to go see the USS Texas Battleship. Historic Goose Creek is a stroll into the past. In April there is a Creole Jambalaya Festival of zydeco music and food.