Galveston Texas
About Galveston
Galveston (pron.: /ËɡælvɨstÉn/) is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. The community of 208.3 square miles (539 km2), with its population of 47,743 people, is the county seat and second-largest municipality of Galveston County. It is located within the HoustonâSugar LandâBaytown metropolitan area.
Named after Bernardo de Gálvez y Madrid, Count of Gálvez, Galveston's first European settlements on the island were constructed around 1816. The Port of Galveston was established in 1825 by the Congress of Mexico following its successful independence from Spain. The city served as the main port for the Texas Navy during the Texas Revolution and later served as the capital of the Republic of Texas.
During the 19th century, Galveston became a major U.S. commercial center and one of the largest ports in the United States. Galveston is known for the hurricane that devastated the city in 1900. The natural disaster that followed still counts as the deadliest in American history.
