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Corpus Christi Fun Facts
Corpus in General
- Corpus Christi is the 8th largest city in Texas, with an estimated population of 277,454.
- Corpus Christi covers 452.2 square miles, of which 124.3 are land and 327.9 are water.
- The average high temperature in July and August is 93 degrees.
- The average high temperature in January is 65 degrees.
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| The Miradores Del Mar gazebos are free-standing and add no weight to the seawall. |
- Corpus Christi's biggest recorded snowfall was 5 inches on January 29, 1897.
- The eight Miradores Del Mar (Spanish for "overlooks by the sea") bay-front gazebos are copied from similar structures in Morocco, Mexico and Spain.
- Corpus Christi is home to the Corpus Christi IceRays of the Western Professional Hockey League.
- Padre Island, the largest Barrier Island in the nation, is only 25 minutes from downtown Corpus.
- The King Ranch is one of the largest and oldest working cattle and horse ranches in the world. The ranch has ranch history, wildlife and agriculture tours.
- The King Ranch is 825,000 acres — larger than Rhode Island — and has over 2000 miles of fencing.
- The distance from Corpus Christi to Washington DC is 1436 miles.
- Corpus Christi means body of Christ in Latin.
Corpus Past
- During the Civil War, the Centennial House on North Broadway became a confederate hospital.
- While encamped during the fight for Texas' Independence, General Zachary Taylor's soldiers dug an artesian sulpher well at the site of what is now Artesian Park.
- At the turn of the century, Water Street (one block west of Shoreline Boulevard) was at the water's edge, hence the name.
- The area was explored in 1519, it remained just a name on a map for over 300 years. It wasn't until 1839 that a trading post was built in the area by Col. Henry Kinney.
- During the mid-1920's, the Army Corps of Engineers dug a ship channel, transforming the bay into an international port. Today the port is the 5th largest in the United States.
Corpus Present
- The area's major industries are (1) petrochemical, (2) military and (3) tourism.
According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Port of Corpus Christi is the 5th largest port in the United States by tonnage shipped.
- The oil refineries that are found throughout the port refines over 80% of the nation's oil.
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| Whataburger Field, home of the Corpus Christi Hooks, is a sparkling new addition to the city’s skyline and economy. |
- Corpus Christi is growing quickly — new construction recently finished or currently underway totals $2 billion, and includes:
- Citgo Petroleum Corp (2004)
- Corpus Christi International Airport (2004)
- The Arena (2004)
- Shoreline Medical Plaza (2004)
- Whataburger Field (2005)
- Crosstown Expressway (2005)
- Driscoll Children's Hospital (2005)
- Seawall (2006)
- The City of Corpus Christi does not have an economic development sales tax and does not charge development impact fees. Rather, fees are collected from the Port of Corpus Christi.
- Incentive programs through the Economic Development Corporation for new business moving to the city include tax abatements — given to business owners who add jobs to the community — industrial district contracts, enterprise zones and the Smart Jobs Fund.
- Current manufacturing industry primary employers in Corpus Christi include:
- TT Electronics
- Elementis Chromium
- De Dietrich USA
- Exxene Corporation
- Tor Minerals International, Inc.
- Air Liquide
- American Dental Technologies
- Billy Pugh Company
- Companies currently headquartered in Corpus Christi include:
- Bay Inc.
- Whataburger, Inc
- Sam Kane Beef Processors
- SSP/Circle K
- Tor Minerals International, Inc.
- American Bank
- Graduate Loan Services
- Sam Hausman Meat Packer
Touring Corpus
- Approximately 5 million people visit the Corpus Christi MSA every year.
- About 74 percent of area visitors are from Texas.
- Tourism generates an annual economic impact of $1 billion for the Corpus Christi region.
- In 2003 and 2004, Corpus Christi was declared the "Birdiest City" in the nation with more individual species counted than any other city.
- The Corpus Christi area has over 113 miles of Gulf Coast beaches; visitors to Corpus Christi have access to nearly 70 miles of beachfront on Padre and Mustang islands.
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| The Velocity Games include the US Open Windsurfing Regatta and Kiteboarding Championship. |
- More than one of every 10 non-agricultural jobs in the Corpus Christi MSA is related to the travel and tourism industry.
- Corpus Christi hosts the U.S. Open Windsurfing and Kiteboarding Regatta.
- Corpus Christi is home to the official state aquarium of Texas.
Corpus' Claims to Fame
- Former President George Bush, Sr. received his Naval Aviators wings at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.
- Senator John McCain went through flight training at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.
- Sailing champion and 2004 Olympic gold medalist Paul Foerster is from Corpus Christi.
- A portion of the movie Pearl Harbor — starring Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett and Alec Baldwin — was filmed on the USS Lexington.
- Country music star Barbara Mandrell lived in Corpus Christi during part of her childhood.
- Corpus Christi is home to late Tejano singing star and legend, Selena.
- Actress Farrah Fawcett was born in Corpus Christi and graduated from W.B. Ray High School.
- The NASCAR Champions Terry and Bobby Labonte are from Corpus Christi.
- Actor Lou Diamond Phillips graduated from Flour Bluff High School in Corpus Christi.
- Grammy Award winning singer Freddy Fender calls Corpus Christi home.
- Actors Dabney Coleman and Pepe Serna are from Corpus Christi.
- Before writing the novel Old Yeller, Fred Gibson was a journalist for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times.
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IAMC Notes