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Port Bolivar, Texas facts for kids

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Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Galveston Bay
Aerial view of Port Bolivar at the end of the Bolivar Peninsula in 1999. The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway enters Galveston Bay here. Galveston Bay is at left in this photograph. View is to the northeast.
Bolivar Lighthouse -- Point Bolivar, Galveston, Texas
Bolivar Lighthouse -- Point Bolivar

Port Bolivar ( BOL-i-vər) is an unincorporated community located on the northern shore of the western tip of the Bolivar Peninsula, separated from Galveston Island by the entrance to Galveston Bay. The Bolivar Peninsula itself is a census-designated place, in Galveston County, Texas, and part of the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The entire peninsula was severely damaged during Hurricane Ike on September 13, 2008; re-building efforts were still continuing as late as 2013.

The US Census does not consider Port Bolivar as a separate community, so any population numbers are estimates from unofficial sources. The estimate suggested by City-Data was 1,349 as of 2013. One real estate site suggested 1,477 as of 2014, while another indicated 1,907 as of July 1, 2015.

The community is home to the historic Bolivar Lighthouse, which once guided ships entering Galveston Bay.

History

James Long based his operations where Port Bolivar would be located since 1819.

In 1838, Samuel D Parr surveyed the land, and it was granted to him by the Republic of Texas to be called Parrsville. It changed hands as Archibald Wynns and William Lawrence bought the land and developed it. The land was finally bought by a company and renamed to Port Bolivar in 1893.

Fort Travis in Bolivar Peninsula, separate from the Fort Travis in Galveston Island, was built with construction started in 1898.

The 1915 Galveston hurricane damaged Port Bolivar, and its port was mostly not rebuilt.

After Hurricane Ike the United States Postal Service temporarily relocated Port Bolivar post office box services to Winnie, Texas.

Transportation

Bolivar Ferry
Bolivar Ferry

Ferry service is provided by the Texas Department of Transportation between Port Bolivar and Galveston. The Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry can accommodate vehicles as heavy as 80,000 pounds, and as long as 65 feet, as high as 13.5 feet and as wide as 8.5 feet. The ferry was closed because of Hurricane Ike but re-opened on November 11, 2008.

Parks and recreation

The Galveston County Department of Parks and Senior Services operates the Bolivar Community Center, 1802 Madison Avenue and the Fort Travis Seashore Park at 900 State Highway 87, and the Pilsner Boat Ramp.

Postal service

The United States Postal Service operates the Post Office at 2500 Broadway Avenue, Port Bolivar, TX 77650 - 0736. There is no home delivery on the Bolivar peninsula, only rural delivery.


Education

Port Bolivar residents are zoned to Galveston Independent School District schools.

Residents attend Crenshaw Elementary and Middle School for grades Pre-K3 through 8 on the peninsula. Residents attend Ball High School in Galveston. As of 2020 there are no particular attendance boundaries in GISD so parents may apply to any school they wish, but only Bolivar Peninsula residents may have school bus service to Crenshaw K-8.

The Crenshaw school was located in Port Bolivar until it was damaged by Hurricane Ike. A resident of Crystal Beach, 10 miles (16 km) east of Port Bolivar, donated land there for a new Crenshaw campus, which opened in 2005.

Galveston ISD (and therefore Port Bolivar) is assigned to Galveston College in Galveston.

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