Lake Jackson, Texas


Lake Jackson is a city in Brazoria County, Texas, United States, within the Greater Houston metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 26,849.
In 1942 a portion of Lake Jackson was first developed as a company town for workers of the Dow Chemical Company; it developed 5,000 acres on the former Abner Jackson Plantation. An oxbow lake was also named after the planter, whose house was located at the lake. Minor ruins of the Lake Jackson Plantation can now be seen in a park at the site.

History

The city was built in the early 1940s as a planned community, designed by Alden B. Dow of Midland, Michigan for workers in support of a new plant of the Dow Chemical Company, which his father owned. The City of Lake Jackson was incorporated March 14, 1944, and voted for home rule ten years later in 1954.

Geography

The city of Lake Jackson is located in south-central Brazoria County, and is bordered to the east by the cities of Clute and Richwood, and to the southwest by the Brazos River. Texas State Highway 288, the Nolan Ryan Expressway, runs through the city, leading north to Angleton, the county seat, north to downtown Houston, and southeast to Freeport on the Gulf of Mexico.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Lake Jackson has a total area of, of which is land and, or 7.11%, is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 26,849 people, 10,319 households, and 7,134 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,386.0 people per square mile. There were 11,149 housing units at an average density of 550.2 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 84.36% White, 5.10% African American, 0.52% Native American, 3.14% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 4.44% from other races, and 2.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.53% of the population.
There were 9,588 households, out of which 42.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.7% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.4% were non-families. Twenty percent of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.41% under the age of 18, 5.61% from 20 to 24, 12.51% from 25 to 34, 20.60% from 35 to 49, 20.10% from 50 to 64, and 12% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.06 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $60,901, and the median income for a family was $69,053. Males had a median income of $60,143 versus $30,398 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,877. About 5.4% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Gas station and convenience store chain Buc-ee's has its headquarters in Lake Jackson.
The Dow Chemical Company and the Brazosport Independent School District are major employers of residents. Dow planned to develop this community in 1941 as a 5,000-acre residential area for workers at its Freeport plant. Lake Jackson is now home to other chemical and manufacturing facilities, along with many other types of businesses. In Lake Jackson's early days, Dow helped to create a booming economy. In 2014 it announced an expansion project that is estimated to bring nearly 2,000 employees to the area.
The unemployment rate in Lake Jackson, TX, is 8.40%, with job growth of 2.40%. Future job growth over the next ten years is predicted to be 36.40%. The income per capita is $30,625, which includes all adults and children. The median household income is $68,391. The sales tax rate in Lake Jackson, TX, is 8.25%.
Sales tax income represents a population of over 70,000 indicating the draw of the retail shopping from the area.

Arts and culture

The Lake Jackson Library is a part of the Brazoria County Library System.

Government

Lake Jackson is within Texas's 14th congressional district and is represented by Randy Weber.

Education

Colleges

is a public community college located in Lake Jackson, with the majority of the Lake Jackson city limits in the college's district.
It which was recently upgraded to offer a baccalaureate degree in certain technical fields. It is also distinguished for its professional music hall, The Clarion.

Public schools

The public schools in the city are operated by Brazosport Independent School District.
K-5 elementary schools within Lake Jackson include:
Residents are zoned to:
Private schools within Lake Jackson include:

Transportation

Airports

serves Lake Jackson.

Mass transit

provides bus service options for Lake Jackson, Clute, Freeport and Angleton.

Highways

extends from its west end SH 36 in Brazoria to its east end at Surfside Beach.

Streets