Texas City, Texas, a city in Galveston County. It lies opposite Galveston on a channel to Galveston Bay, about 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Houston. The city is an industrial center and port. Industries include oil refining, chemical manufacturing, and tin smelting. An excellent harbor has made Texas City a major port on the Gulf of Mexico and the Intracoastal Waterway.
Texas City was founded in 1893 at Shoal Point by a group of shipping men who recognized its potential as a deepwater port adjacent to Galveston. Large portions of Texas City were destroyed in 1947 when a freighter loaded with ammonium nitrate exploded in the harbor. The disaster left more than 500 dead and caused damage exceeding $60,000,000. On several occasions the city has been damaged by hurricanes.
Population: 41,521.
