.

USA

Corpus Christi (/ˈkɔrpəs ˈkrɪsti/) is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County,[4] it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio Counties. The city's political boundaries encompass Nueces Bay and Corpus Christi Bay. Its zoned boundaries include small land parcels or water inlets of three neighboring counties. The metropolitan area US Census estimated population in 2013 was 442,600.[1] The population was 316,381 at the 2013 US Census estimate, making it the eighth-most populous city in Texas. It is the principal city of the three-county Corpus Christi metropolitan area, as well as the larger six-county Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice Combined Statistical Area, with a 2013 Census estimate at 516,793. The translation from Latin of the city's name (Corpus Christi) means Body of Christ. The name was given to the settlement and surrounding bay by Spanish explorer Alonso Álvarez de Pineda in 1519, when he discovered the lush semitropical bay on the feast day celebrating the Body of Christ. The city has the nicknames "Texas Riviera" and "Sparkling City by the Sea", particularly in literature promoting tourism.

The city is home to the Port of Corpus Christi, the fifth-largest in the United States, and is served by the Corpus Christi International Airport.

History
Map of Corpus Christi in 1887
Main article: History of Corpus Christi, Texas

Corpus Christi was founded in 1839 by Colonel Henry Lawrence Kinney as Kinney's Trading Post, or Kinney's Ranch. It was a small trading post that sold supplies to a Mexican revolutionary army camped about 25 mi (40 km) west.[5] In July 1845, U.S. troops commanded by General Zachary Taylor set up camp there in preparation for war with Mexico, where they remained until March 1846. About a year later, the settlement was named Corpus Christi and was incorporated on 9 September 1852.[6]

The Battle of Corpus Christi was fought between August 12 and August 18 1862, during the American Civil War. United States Navy forces blockading Texas fought a small land and sea engagement with Confederate forces in and around Corpus Christi Bay and bombarded the city. Union forces defeated Confederate States Navy ships operating in the area, but were repulsed when they landed on the coast.
Damaged restaurant after Hurricane Allen

The Port of Corpus Christi was opened in 1926, and the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station was commissioned in 1941.[5]

The city suffered damage from Hurricane Celia in 1970 and Hurricane Allen in 1980, but little damage from Hurricane Ike in 2008.
Civil rights

In November 1873, seven Mexican shepards were lynched by a mob near the city. The crime was never solved. [7]

In February 1929, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) was founded in Corpus Christi. This organization was created to battle racial discrimination against Hispanic people in the United States. Since its founding, LULAC has grown and now has a national headquarters in Washington, D.C.
In March 1949, the American GI Forum (AGIF) was founded in Corpus Christi. Currently, AGIF focuses on veteran's issues, education, and civil rights issues. This organization was founded after concerns over the segregation of Mexican-American veterans from other veterans groups and the denial of medical services based on race by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

Geology

Corpus Christi is situated on fluvial deposits that are of Holocene - Pleistocene age. No solidified rocks occur naturally in the Corpus Christi area.[8] Corpus Christi, however, sits on the Deweyville Formation that consists of sand, silt, clay, and gravel, locally indurated with calcium carbonate (caliche) deposits.
Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Corpus Christi has a total area of 460.2 square miles (1,192.0 km2), of which 154.6 mi2 (400.5 km2, 33.60%) is land and 305.6 mi2 (791.5 km2, 66.40%) is covered by water. Drinking water for the city is supplied by two reservoirs, Lake Corpus Christi and the Choke Canyon Reservoir. Through an effective regional partnership with the Nueces River Authority and the Port of Corpus Christi Authority, a 101 mi (163 km) pipeline was built which transports water from Lake Texana to the city's O.N. Stevens Water Treatment Plant. It was named the Mary Rhodes Pipeline, after the late mayor. All reservoirs are outside the city limits, but are managed directly by the public utility of the City of Corpus Christi.
Annexation

Since its founding, the city has annexed nearby lands and waters for growth and development purposes. The original area encompassed several city blocks in current-day downtown Corpus Christi with the majority of city expansion occurring in the twentieth century.[9]
Neighborhoods
Aerial view of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

Bayside
Flour Bluff
South Side
Calallen
Clarkwood
Annaville
North Beach
Mustang Island
North Padre Island
Gardendale

Suburbs

Portland
Robstown

Climate

The city has a humid subtropical climate, which has long, hot summers and very short, mild winters. In the months from November through February the weather is the coolest. There is a noticeable warming trend in which March through April is fairly warm. The warmest part of the year in Corpus Christi is June through September with August being the peak of Summer. October in the city if very pleasant while still warm but not as hot as the summer months. Corpus Christi is annually very windy, with wind speeds often reaching to 25 miles per hour (40 km/h) with gusts reaching more than 35 miles per hour (56 km/h). The city's record high temperature is 109°F (43°C), on September 5, 2000. Average night-time winter lows in January, the coldest month, are a little less than 50°F (10°C) and its record low is 11°F (−12°C). In December 2004, the city experienced snowfall on Christmas Eve, the city's largest recorded snowstorm at 4.4 inches (11 cm). The snow stayed until Christmas Day and melted the day after.

Climate data for Corpus Christi, Texas (Corpus Christi Int'l), 1981–2010 normals
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	91 (33)	97 (36)	102 (39)	102 (39)	103 (39)	107 (42)	105 (41)	107 (42)	109 (43)	101 (38)	98 (37)	91 (33)	109 (43)
Average high °F (°C)	66.9 (19.4)	70.4 (21.3)	75.9 (24.4)	81.7 (27.6)	86.6 (30.3)	90.9 (32.7)	93.1 (33.9)	94.4 (34.7)	90.1 (32.3)	84.4 (29.1)	76.0 (24.4)	68.4 (20.2)	81.6 (27.6)
Daily mean °F (°C)	57.1 (13.9)	60.5 (15.8)	66.1 (18.9)	72.4 (22.4)	78.3 (25.7)	82.4 (28)	83.9 (28.8)	84.7 (29.3)	81.1 (27.3)	74.5 (23.6)	66.1 (18.9)	58.5 (14.7)	72.1 (22.3)
Average low °F (°C)	47.2 (8.4)	50.5 (10.3)	56.3 (13.5)	63.0 (17.2)	70.0 (21.1)	73.9 (23.3)	74.8 (23.8)	75.0 (23.9)	72.0 (22.2)	64.8 (18.2)	56.2 (13.4)	48.6 (9.2)	62.7 (17.1)
Record low °F (°C)	14 (−10)	11 (−12)	24 (−4)	33 (1)	45 (7)	56 (13)	64 (18)	64 (18)	52 (11)	28 (−2)	27 (−3)	13 (−11)	11 (−12)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	1.54 (39.1)	1.92 (48.8)	1.89 (48)	1.84 (46.7)	3.07 (78)	3.36 (85.3)	2.79 (70.9)	2.92 (74.2)	4.97 (126.2)	3.64 (92.5)	1.97 (50)	1.82 (46.2)	31.73 (805.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	7.1	6.5	5.3	5.3	6.0	6.8	5.7	6.5	8.8	6.3	6.0	6.4	76.6
Average relative humidity (%)	60.5	78.0	76.0	76.0	77.5	80.0	78.5	75.0	74.5	75.5	73.5	74.0	78.0
Source #1: NOAA (extremes 1887–present)^[10]
Source #2: HKO (sun, 1961−1990)^[11]

Demographics
Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1860 175 —
1870 2,140 1,122.9%
1880 3,257 52.2%
1890 4,387 34.7%
1900 4,703 7.2%
1910 8,222 74.8%
1920 10,522 28.0%
1930 27,741 163.6%
1940 57,301 106.6%
1950 108,287 89.0%
1960 167,690 54.9%
1970 204,525 22.0%
1980 231,999 13.4%
1990 257,453 11.0%
2000 277,454 7.8%
2010 305,215 10.0%
Est. 2014 320,434 [12] 5.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
2010 Census data

At the 2010 Census, 305,215 people resided in Corpus Christi, a 10.0% increase since 2000.[14]

In 2012, Corpus Christi was ranked as the 2nd least literate city in the U.S. in a study by Central Connecticut State University [15]

According to the 2010 Census, 80.9% of Corpus Christi's population was White; 14.3% was African American; 1.8% Asian; 0.1% Pacific Islander; 10.4% of some other race; and 2.5% of two or more races. About 59.7% of Corpus Christi's population was of Hispanic or Latino origin, of any race, [14] and 33.3% of the population was not Hispanic.
2000 Census data

At the census[2] of 2000, 277,454 people, 98,791 households, and 70,437 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,794.2 people per square mile (692.7/km2). The 107,831 housing units averaged 697.3 per square mile (269.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 71.62% White, 4.67 %African American, 0.64% Native American, 1.28% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 18.58% from other races, and 3.13% from two or more races. Hispanics of any race were 54.33% of the population.

Of the 98,791 households, 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were not families. About 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the city, the population was distributed as 28.1% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.

The median income for a family was $41,672. Males had a median income of $31,863 versus $22,616 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,419. About 14.1% of families and 17.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.9% of those under age 18 and 15.5% of those age 65 or over.
Economy

The majority of the population is employed in the services, wholesale and retail trades, and government sectors. Corpus Christi has an unemployment rate of 7.0% as of July 2012.[16]

The Port of Corpus Christi, which is the fifth-largest U.S. port[17] and deepest inshore port on the Gulf of Mexico, handles mostly oil and agricultural products. Much of the local economy is driven by tourism and the oil and petrochemicals industry. In 2005, the port was ranked as the 47th-largest in the world by cargo tonnage.

Corpus Christi is home to Naval Air Station Corpus Christi providing 6,200 civilian jobs to the local economy, making it the single largest employer in the city. Corpus Christi Army Depot, located on NAS Corpus Christi, is the largest helicopter repair facility in the world.[6] Additionally located on NAS Corpus Christi is the United States Coast Guard Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi.

Corpus Christi is the original home of the headquarters of Whataburger, a fast-food restaurant operator and franchiser with 650 stores in 10 states and Mexico; however, the company relocated its headquarters to San Antonio in 2009. Other large employers include CHRISTUS Spohn Health System at 5,400 local employees, the Corpus Christi Independent School District with 5,178, H-E-B at 5,000, and Bay Ltd. at 2,100.[18] Other companies based in Corpus Christi include Stripes Convenience Stores and AEP Texas.[19][20]

Corpus Christi became the first major city to offer city-wide free wi-fi in April 2005 [21] to allow remote meter reading after a meter reader was attacked by a dog. In 2007, the network was purchased by Earthlink for $5.5 million, and stopped being a free service on May 31, 2007.[22]
Culture

Various sections of Corpus Christi maintain distinct senses of identity and community from the city proper, especially the Calallen and Flour Bluff areas. Clarkwood and Annaville have a less prominent sense of identity, but the distinction remains. These areas are sometimes mistakenly believed to be separate municipalities.

The city has many demographic groups, ethnicities, and subcultures, each giving it a distinct flavor: the defense bases and the people who work there; the large Hispanic community; the oil related professionals and workers; the cowboy culture; and the surfers.
Attractions

The city is home to a number of popular destinations for both tourists and residents. The official visitor and tourism information organization is the Corpus Christi Convention and Visitors Bureau. Some of the most visited attractions are located on North Beach, where the Texas State Aquarium and the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay are located.[23]
USS Lexington floating museum

The USS Lexington was also part of the set for the 2000 film Pearl Harbor. Corpus Christi's museum district is located near the USS Lexington. Some attractions located in the museum district are the Museum of Asian Cultures, the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, the South Texas Institute for the Arts, and the Harbor Playhouse Theatre, one of the oldest continually operating community theatres in Texas. Heritage Park is also in the museum district, where a number of older restored houses can be found. The downtown area, of which the museum district is a part, is home to skyscrapers such as One Shoreline Plaza, company offices, various shops, a very popular center of marinas, and Mirador de la Flor. Downtown also is home of the Texas Surf Museum, which explores the history of surfing and focuses on surf culture along Texas' 367-mile (591 km) coast, as well as K Space Contemporary, a nonprofit art organization promoting and presenting local, regional, and national contemporary art.
Texas State Aquarium

The Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, also located in the city, hosts gardening programs from time to time. On Oso Bay near the Pharaoh Valley subdivision is the Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is known for seabird-watching. The nearby Pharaohs golf course also serves as a haven for coastal and migratory birds.

Directly east of Corpus Christi are Padre Island and Mustang Island, home to various municipal, state, and national parks, most notably the Padre Island National Seashore. The city is also near King Ranch, one of the world's largest ranches, upon which the movie Giant was based.

The city also celebrates the annual Buccaneer Days Carnival, which is typically held downtown.

S. Padre Island Drive (locally abbreviated as "S.P.I.D.", with the letters pronounced individually), is the city's main retail corridor, with two shopping malls, La Palmera (formerly Padre Staples Mall), and Sunrise Mall. Also, a number of other large shopping centers, small strip centers, and restaurants can be found throughout the city.

Corpus Christi also is the home of Midget Ocean Racing Fleet, also known as MORF, which promotes sailing in the Coastal Bend. The Wednesday night races held by MORF are the longest-running weekly races in the United States.
Films made in Corpus Christi
Year Title Lead actor(s)
1979 Tilt Brooke Shields, Charles Durning
1985 The Legend of Billie Jean Christian Slater, Helen Slater
1985 Target Gene Hackman, Matt Dillon
1991 Knight Rider 2000 David Hasselhoff, Edward Mulhare
1997 Selena Jennifer Lopez
2001 Pearl Harbor Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett
2005 The King Gael Garcia Bernal
2009 The Open Road Justin Timberlake, Jeff Bridges
Sports
Whataburger Field, home of the Corpus Christi Hooks

The city is home to the Corpus Christi IceRays of the North American Hockey League, the Corpus Christi Hooks of the Texas League, and the Corpus Christi Fury of the Intense Football League. Sailing races are held weekly off downtown's T-heads every Wednesday, where spectators watch vessels competing during sunset. Corpus Christi is also home to the Corpus Christi Rugby Football Club, which is a member of the Texas Rugby Union, an affiliate of the Western Rugby Union and of the United States Rugby Football Union.
Club Sport League Venue Established Championships
Corpus Christi Hooks Baseball Texas League Whataburger Field 1968(Relocated in 2005) 1(2006)
Corpus Christi IceRays Ice hockey NAHL American Bank Center 2001(Relocated in 2010) 0
Corpus Christi Fury Indoor Football IFL American Bank Center 2003 1 (2014)
Corpus Christi Crabs Rugby Texas Rugby Union Dewey's 1973 N/A
Parks and recreation

The city's location beside Corpus Christi Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, and Laguna Madre provides opportunities for water sports and nature tourism. Waterfowl hunting is available in the region for duck, geese, coot, and teal. White-winged dove and mourning dove are also hunted on private leases. The brushland inland from Corpus Christi is also ideal for hunting feral hogs and white-tailed deer.
Fishing

Fishing is a popular recreational activity in Corpus Christi. Popular fishing activities include fishing from various piers around Corpus Christi Bay, wade fishing in Oso Bay, and fishing from the Gulf of Mexico at Packery Channel or at Bob Hall Pier.
Wind sports

The city has one of the highest average wind speeds of coastal cities in North America.[24] Combined with the Bay Front area along Ocean Drive, making the city an important destination for wind sports such as kite boarding, wind surfing, kite flying, and sailing.
Other

Skating

The Corpus Christi Skate Park opened on February 17, 2007. It is located in Cole Park on the shoreline of the Corpus Christi Bay near downtown. The 12,000-square-foot (1,100 m2) concrete park includes a skating bowl and a street course with stairs, railings, and flat surfaces.

Birdwatching

Being a coastal city, Corpus Christi is a good spot for seabird watching. One popular spot is the Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge along Oso Bay.
Government
Municipal government

In 1852, the City of Corpus Christi was incorporated. Texas’ 31st Legislature chartered the city as a political and corporate municipal entity in 1909. By ordinance, the city possesses power to “fix, alter and extend its boundaries.”[25]

Corpus Christi is under a council-manager municipal government. The elected city council is the primary authority in municipal matters such as enacting local legislation, determining policies, and appointing the city manager. Together, the city council and city manager execute laws and administer the municipal government.[25] Organized by governmental sectors of city council, city management, city secretary, and several city departments, Corpus Christi is seated in Nueces County. The city council currently consists of these elected members:

Mayor Nelda Martinez
David Loeb At Large
Mark Scott At Large
Lillian Riojas At Large
Kelley Allen District 1
Chad Magill District 2
Priscilla Leal District 3
Colleen McIntyre District 4
Rudy Garza, Jr District 5[26]

Corpus Christi City Manager Ronald L. Olson was appointed in March 2011, and works alongside Assistant City Managers Margie C. Rose (general government), Oscar Martinez (public works and utilities), Susan K. Thorpe (safety, health, and neighborhoods), and Wesley S. Pierson (business support services). The city's Intergovernmental Relations department is under the direction of Tom Tagliabue. Appointed by the city council, Armando Chapa serves as the city secretary.[27]

The Corpus Christi City Charter was adopted by public referendum in 1987, with amendments to the entire charter conducted January 19, 1991, and April 3, 1993. Further revisions to the charter were conducted on November 2, 2004, and November 7, 2006.[28] The charter consists of 10 articles and 41 sections regarding stipulations of home rule government, city council and city manager procedures, administration, planning, boards and commissions, etc. The Code of Ordinances of Corpus Christi was codified through Ordinance No. 028493, and adopted Feb. 23, 2010.[29]
State and federal representation

The Texas 13th Court of Appeals is located in the Nueces County Courthouse in Corpus Christi.[30]

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the Corpus Christi Parole Office in Corpus Christi.[31]

The United States Postal Service operates the Corpus Christi Post Office, the city's main post office,[32] and several station post offices.
Education
Colleges and universities

Corpus Christi is home to several institutions of higher learning: Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Del Mar College, Saint Leo University-Corpus Christi and numerous vocational schools, including Southern Careers Institute, South Texas Vo-Tech, Career Centers of Texas-Corpus Christi, and Vogue Cosmetology School. The city is also home to the South Texas School of Christian Studies located on Ward Island alongside Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The school serves as an extension campus on the undergraduate level for Hardin Simmons University and on the graduate level for Logsdon Seminary of Hardin-Simmons.

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is a component of the Texas A&M University System. It was formerly known as Corpus Christi State University, Texas A&I University at Corpus Christi, and University of Corpus Christi.

Saint Leo University Corpus Christi Education Center is located at Corpus Christi's Naval Air Station.

Del Mar College is a local community college begun in the 1940s at a location behind Wynn Seale Jr. High School. The main campus began with the administration building, which was constructed after World War II on Del Mar. The college grew to encompass a good portion of a residential addition called Southmoreland built from the Bohemian farm lands in the late 1930s. Del Mar now includes a west campus located in area of Corpus Christi that once was Cliff Maus Airport.

Southern Careers Institute offers career training at two Corpus Christi locations, primarily in the medical, business, and cosmetology fields.
Schools

Six school districts provide primary and secondary education for area residents: Corpus Christi Independent School District, Calallen ISD, Flour Bluff ISD, Tuloso-Midway ISD, West Oso ISD, and London ISD. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi provides the primary and secondary education for Catholic schools. Several Open Enrollment Charter Schools are in Corpus Christi. These public schools are: Accelerated Learning Center, Cesar E Chavez Academy, Corpus Christi College Preparatory HS, Corpus Christi Montessori School, Dr ML Garza-Gonzalez Charter School, GCCLR Institute of Technology, Premier HS of Corpus Christi, Richard Milburn Academy, School of Science and Technology, Seashore Learning Center, and Seashore Middle Academy.
Corpus Christi Independent School District

High Schools

Mary Carroll High School
Richard King High School
Roy Miller High School
Foy H. Moody High School Health Science Academy
W. B. Ray High School
Collegiate High School
Solomon Coles High School
Branch Academy for Career and Technical Education

Middle Schools

Marvin P. Baker Middle School
Tom Browne Middle School
Cullen Place Middle School
Claude Cunningham Middle School
Robert Driscoll Middle School
Elliott Grant Middle School
Carl O. Hamlin Middle School
R. Haas Middle School
Harold Kaffie Middle School
Martin Middle School
South Park Middle School
Wynn Seale Academy of Fine Arts Magnet Middle School

Elementary Schools

Allen Elementary School
Barnes Elementary School
Berlanga Elementary School
Calk Elementary School
Club Estates Elementary School
Crockett Elementary School
Dawson Elementary School
Early Childhood Development Center
Evans Elementary School
Fannin Elementary School
Galvan Elementary School
Garcia Elementary School
Gibson Elementary School
Hicks Elementary School
Houston Elementary School
Jones Elementary School
Kolda Elementary School
Kostoryz Elementary School
Los Encinos SES Elementary School
Meadowbrook Elementary School
Menger Elementary School
Metropolitan Elementary School of Design
Mireles Elementary School
Montclair Elementary School
Moore Elementary School
Oak Park Elementary School
Sanders Elementary School
Schanen Estates Elementary School
Shaw Elementary School
Smith Elementary School
Travis Elementary School
Webb Elementary School
Wilson Elementary School
Windsor Park Elementary School
Woodlawn Elementary School
Yeager Elementary School
Zavala Elementary School

Alternative

Student Learning and Guidance Center
Mary Grett School

Flour Bluff Independent School District

Flour Bluff High School Grades 9-12
Flour Bluff Jr. High School Grades 7-8
Flour Bluff Intermediate School Grades 5-6
Flour Bluff Elementary School Grades 3-4
Flour Bluff Primary School Grades 1-2
Early Childhood Center Prekindergarten and kindergarten
Head Start Ages 1–4

West Oso Independent School District

West Oso High School Grades 9-12
West Oso Junior High School Grades 6-8
West Oso Elementary Grades 2-5
West Oso John F. Kennedy Elementary Grades Prekindergarten to 1

Tuloso-Midway Independent School District

Tuloso-Midway High School
Tuloso-Midway Middle School
Tuloso-Midway Intermediate School
Tuloso-Midway Primary School
Tuloso-Midway Academic Career Center

Calallen Independent School District

Calallen High School
Calallen Middle School
Magee Intermediate School (Grades prekindergarten and 4-5)
East Primary School (Grades kindergarten-3)
Wood River Primary School (Grades kindergarten-3)

London Independent School District

London High School
London Middle School
London Elementary School

Private/Charter/Other

John Paul II High School

Libraries

Libraries in the city include:[33]

Garcia, 5930 Brockhampton
Ben F. McDonald, 4044 Greenwood
Janet F. Harte, 2629 Waldron
La Retama, 805 Comanche
Owen R.Hopkins, 3202 McKinzie
Neyland, 1230 Carmel Pkwy

TexShare card holders also have limited borrowing privileges at these area libraries:[34]

Nueces County Public Library in Robstown, Texas
Mary and Jeff Bell Library at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Del Mar College Libraries

Transportation

Corpus Christi is served by Corpus Christi International Airport and Interstate 37. Interstate 69E/U.S. Highway 77 connects the city to Brownsville and Victoria. Texas State Highway 44 is a main thoroughfare that connects Corpus Christi to Laredo and the western part of South Texas by way of Interstate 69W/U.S. Highway 59, Interstate 35, and U.S. Highway 83. The inner-city public transportation is provided by Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority with its 28 bus routes. Corpus Christi once had a streetcar system functioning from 1910 to 1931 and a railway station (passenger service ended in 1965). Despite the convenience of a large harbor, the city does not have a passenger port. Plans to bring a cruise service are pending.

The city is accessed by two major bridges, the Harbor Bridge (US 181) and the John F. Kennedy Causeway (PR 22). Both bridges are maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation.

Freight service from San Antonio to Corpus Christi is provided by the Union Pacific Railroad, but the original line, both freight and passenger, was the San Antonio, Uvalde, and Gulf Railroad, which operated to Corpus Christi from 1913 to 1956.[35] Then the SAU&G, or "The Sausage", as it was commonly called, was merged into the Missouri Pacific Railroad. It was subsequently procured by the Union Pacific.[36]
Major highways

I-37 (TX).svg Interstate 37
I-69E (TX).svg Interstate 69E
US 77.svg U.S. Highway 77
US 181.svg U.S. Highway 181
Texas 44.svg Texas State Highway 44
Texas 286.svg Texas State Highway 286 (Crosstown Expressway)
Texas 358.svg Texas State Highway 358 (North and South Padre Island Drive, locally referred to as N.P.I.D. and S.P.I.D. respectively)
Texas 35.svg Texas State Highway 35
Texas 361.svg Texas State Highway 361
Texas 357.svg Texas State Highway 357

Notable people

Amy Acuff, five-time Olympic high jumper
Mike Adams, MLB pitcher for Philadelphia Phillies
Barbara Barrie, actress
Raymond Berry, NFL Hall of Famer
Justin Brantly, NFL punter
John A. Brieden, American Legion commander
Tammie Brown, drag queen and musician
Johnny Canales, TV host
Dabney Coleman, actor
Roger Creager, country music singer-songwriter
Dr. Roberto Cruz, founder of the National Hispanic University
Paula DeAnda, musician
Tom DeLay, U.S. Congressman and House Majority Leader
Carlos DeLuna, executed for murder, controversial conviction causing concerns about wrongful executions
Helen Donath, opera singer
Chet Edwards, U.S. Representative from Texas's 17th district
Farrah Fawcett, actress and artist
Blake Farenthold, current U.S. Representative from Texas 27th District
Joe Bertram Frantz, historian
David Freese, MLB player for the Los Angeles Angels
Clint Gresham, Seattle Seahawks Long Snapper, Super Bowl Champion
Stephanie Griest, author
Jim Heath, musician known as the Reverend Horton Heat
Burt Hooton, baseball pitcher
Todd Ames Hunter, member of Texas House of Representatives, 1989-1997 and since January 2009
Ernestine Jackson, actress and singer
Bret Anthony Johnston, author of Corpus Christi: Stories
Jeremy Jordan, Broadway performer
Mifflin Kenedy, rancher and businessman
Brooks Kieschnick, baseball player
Bobby Labonte, NASCAR Sprint Cup driver and 2000 champion
Terry Labonte, NASCAR Sprint Cup driver and 1984 and 1996 champion
Colleen LaRose, indicted in 2010 for trying to recruit Islamic terrorists to wage jihad
Chris Layton, drummer for Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
Brian Leetch, NHL defenseman, born in Corpus Christi but grew up in Connecticut
Danny Lohner, musician
Eva Longoria, actress
Allen Ludden, TV game show host
Ramsey Luna, Mexican American boxer
Terrence McNally, playwright
Nina Mercedez, pornographic actress
Mitch Morris, actor
Roger Narvaez, Mixed Martial Artist
Joe Nixon, state representative from Houston, reared in Corpus Christi
Larry Norman, musician and songwriter
Todd Oldham, fashion designer
Revilo P. Oliver, notorious 20th-century fascist and scholar
Solomon P. Ortiz, U.S. Congressman, represented Corpus Christi for 28 years
Jessie Pavelka, actor and model
Jennifer Peña, Latin Pop and Tejano singer and actress
Cliff Pennington, MLB player for the Oakland Athletics
Paul Peress, drummer, composer, producer
Lou Diamond Phillips, actor
Billy Powell, keyboardist
A.B. Quintanilla, singer, songwriter with Kumbia All Starz, Selena's older brother
Suzette Quintanilla, drummer for Selena y los Dinos, Selena's older sister
Dody Roach, professional poker player, two-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner
Johnny Roland, NFL player and coach
Lester Roloff, radio evangelist
Leslie Sanchez, political pundit
Selena, Grammy- winning Tejano singer and songwriter
Pepe Serna, actor
Sid Sheinberg, ex-president of Universal Studios, helped make Jaws
Bart Shirley, MLB player for Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets
Robert Simpson, meteorologist and hurricane specialist
Lori Singer, actress
Marc Singer, actor
Justin Storms, artist, musician
Raul Torres, state representative from Nueces County
Carlos Truan, politician
George Conrad Westervelt, naval officer and engineer; cofounder of Boeing Corporation
Don Williams, country and western singer

Sister cities

Corpus Christi keeps a thriving and active relationship with these sister cities:[37]

France Agen, France
Taiwan Keelung, Taiwan
Japan Yokosuka, Japan

See also
Portal icon Geography portal
Portal icon North America portal
Portal icon United States portal
Portal icon Texas portal

List of mayors of Corpus Christi, Texas
Nueces Hotel
Old Bayview Cemetery

References

"US Census change list". Census.gov. 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
"American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
"US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
"Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
"Corpus Christi, History, Historical, Interesting". Downtowncorpuschristi.com. Retrieved 2010-05-22.[dead link]
"Official web site for City of Corpus Christi, Texas". Cctexas.com. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
Carrigan, William D; Webb, Clive (20 February 2015). "When Americans Lynched Mexicans". The New York TImes.
texascoastgeology.com
"City Annexation Map" (PDF). City of Corpus Christi. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
"NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
"Climatological Information for Corpus Christi, United States". Hong Kong Observatory. Retrieved 2011-01-24.
"Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
"Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
"factfinder.census.gov". United States Census. United States Census Bureau.
http://www.caller.com/news/corpus-christi-ranks-next-last-among-us-most-liter
"Corpus Christi, TX Economy at a Glance". Bls.gov. Retrieved 2012-08-30.
http://aapa.files.cms-plus.com/Statistics/2008%20U%2ES%2E%20PORT%20RANKINGS%20BY%20CARGO%20TONNAGE.pdf
"City of Corpus Christi CAFR" (PDF).
Susser Holdings - About Us
AEP Texas - Facts, Figures & Bios
"Corpus Christi Texas Extends Free Wi-Fi".
"EarthLink Dedicates Wi-Fi Network In Corpus Christi". Informationweek.com. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
"Corpus Christi CVB Vacation Information". Visitcorpuschristitx.org. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
Wind Average Data: University of Utah: http://www.met.utah.edu/jhorel/html/wx/climate/windavg.html
Citgo Online GrayBook, Corpus Christi.
"Christ Government." City Government Website for the city of Corpus Christi, Texas. Retrieved on Feb 11, 2013.
"[1]." City Government Website for the city of Corpus Christi, Texas. Retrieved on Jun 1, 2013.
"Corpus Christi City Charter." City Charter, Official Website of Corpus Christi Retrieved on March 29, 2010.
"Municipal Code." Code of Ordinances of Corpus Christi Retrieved on March 29, 2010.
"Contact Information." Thirteenth Eleventh Court of Appeals. Retrieved on March 10, 2010.
"Parole Division Region IV." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 21, 2010.
"Post Office Location - CORPUS CHRISTI." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on May 21, 2010.
Corpus Christi Public Libraries
TexShare Card Program - Patron Information Page. Accessed 7 April 2009.
"Nancy Beck Young, "San Antonio, Uvalde and Gulf Railroad Company"". Texas State Historical Association on-line. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
"Hugh Hemphill, "San Antonio Uvalde and Gulf Railroad"". txtransportationmuseum.org. Retrieved April 28, 2013.

"Sister Cities". Sister Cities Committee Of Corpus Christi. Retrieved 4 March 2014.