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Island Facts:

Padre Island, is a long sand-barrier island extending some 130 miles along the coast of South Texas, and has the longest sand beach in the United States. Nowhere is the island more than three miles wide. Padre Island is a biological wonder with more than 600 species of plants and wildflowers. A unique species of oily live oak tree (Quercus fusiformis) grows only on the island. Blacktail jackrabbits, ground squirrels, coyotes, and eastern moles are among the many animals on Padre. The Laguna Madre is noted for its great fishing and its astronomical number of waterfowl. Herons, ibis, egrets, spoonbills, pelicans, cormorants, ducks, and geese use the island and the lagoons as a sanctuary and breeding ground. In 1991 the island was divided into three distinct areas: north, central, and south. The north is devoted to residential, water-oriented, recreational development. In 1962 the central portion became Padre Island National Seashore, which is in its natural state except at Malaquite Beach. The south part has been developing rapidly since the 1970s as a resort area; the town of South Padre Island was incorporated in 1973."The Sigsbee Deep", the deepest part of the Gulf of Mexico, is situated off the central part of the island. It is an abyss 300 miles long, 100 miles wide, and 12,000 feet deep. More than 272 varieties of saltwater fish have been identified in the Sigsbee Deep, a favorite site for saltwater fishermen.

Packery Channel:

The long awaited Packery Channel is now open. Boaters and fisherman alike are enjoying the conveniences of having the Gulf of  Mexico at their back door. The channel was originally opened in the 1930's but with time and hurricanes over the years it naturally closed from sand and silt washed in by storms. Finally in October of 2006 it was officially re-opened for all to use. The impact of fresh Gulf waters entering our back bays, and waterways has given new new life to our fishing, and the boating activities that the community on north padre has come to enjoy as Island residents. 

Shown left, starting on the left are : County Commissioner Chuck Cazales, Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Mayor of Corpus Christi Henry Garrett, and Mark Scott, city councilman from the North Padre Isle area at the time.

Community:

North Padre Island Texas, began development in 1965 with 8,950 residential/commercial sites planned. To date, 5,313+ lots have been completed. An estimated 8,000 +/- residents now call the Island home. The Island has several small strip malls, offering anything from furniture to beach souvenirs. Several nice restaurants located on the island offer a wide variety of delicious foods, along with island style atmosphere. Also on the island there are several churches one could visit, or join, Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, and Methodist are all represented.

 Bob Hall Pier

Above: View of the public beach along the seawall, only minutes walking from the Villas of Padre. A great place for bike riding, rollerblading, or just taking a walk down to the Holiday Inn  Restaurant and outside Cabana Bar. Enjoy live music there during the summer.

**Some of the information used on this page was taken from the Texas State Historical Association for more info on this and other Texas topics please visit there web site.>>TSHA Online

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