A beachgoer uses an inflatable kite wing to power him across the sand.
Location
Northern tip of Mustang Island 30 minutes from Corpus Christi; three hours south of San Antonio, three hours south of Houston and three-and-a-half hours from Austin. 45 minutes from Corpus Christi International Airport, 30 minutes from downtown Corpus Christi and shopping malls.
Population
Port Aransas: 2,904 (2020 census)
Registered voters: 3,145
Utilities
Natural gas: City of Port Aransas
Water/Sewer: Nueces County Water Control & Improvement District No. 4
Solid waste disposal: Contracted by city. Residential curbside recycling.
Telephone: Provider of choice
Taxes
Entity Rate/ $100 Net Taxable Value
City .225781 3,953,251,644
County (Only)……………………..$.288228 $40,013,761,122
School 92926 4,356,219,433
Industries
Tourism
Charter Fishing
Higher Education
Climate
Annual Avg. Temperature: 71.0º,
Rain: Winter: 30.13”
Monthly Avg. Temperatures: January: 55.1º October: 73.9º July: 84.1º
Average Elevation:
5-6 feet above sea level
Prevailing Wind: Southeasterly
Library
Bill Ellis Memorial Public Library: 700 W. Avenue A.
Medical Services
Emergency Medical Service
(City operated): 10 full-time medics.
Doctor: 1 Dentist: 0
Hospitals: Corpus Christi (30 minutes away): Driscoll Children’s Hospital, Christus Spohn Hospital-Shoreline, Christus Spohn Hospital-South, Christus Spohn Hospital-Memorial, Corpus Christi Medical Center; Bay Area, Doctor’s Regional
Lodging
Hotels/motels, Condominiums, Cottages/ Courts, RV Parks, Vacation home rental services, Bed & Breakfasts. Lodging units available: 7,069. RV spaces: 1,458.
Fishing
Head (party) boats: 11
Private charter boats: 45
Charter boat agents: 6
Port Aransas Boatmen, Inc.: Fishing guides dock at city marina available for private charters.
Communications
Television: Local, Cable Channel 20
Telephone: Choose your own provider.
Education
Port Aransas ISD District 2A: Total enrollment: 520 Port Aransas High School: 183 Brundrett Middle School: 109 H.G. Olsen Elementary School: 228 Fifth grade: 40 Eighth grade: 45 Twelfth grade: 36
The University of Texas Marine Science Institute: International research facility, graduate program.
Churches
Protestant: 4
Catholic: 1
Banks
2 Branches: American Bank, ValueBank Texas
Boat Launch
City marina: 6 ramps
Air service
Mustang Beach Airport: SH 361. City-operated, 3,500-foot surfaced, lighted runway, AWOS. Self-service fuel system, GPS approach, attendant.
Government
Home Rule: City Council (six members + mayor)
Police department: 24 officers (+ 7 dispatchers)
Fire department: 25 volunteers with 10 vehicles
Fire insurance key rating: 4
County Constable: 9 full time
Recreational Facilities, Birding, Camping, Amenities
Port Aransas Nature Preserve at Charlie’s Pasture: 1,217-acre preserve that parallels the Corpus Christi Ship Channel. Hikers welcome; vehicles prohibited. Dogs OK on leashes only in certain areas. Some areas off-limits due to Hurricane Harvey.
Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center: On Ross Ave. Boardwalk, gardens.
Port Aransas Wetlands Park: Boardwalk, observation deck, State Hwy. 361 South
Scott & Joan Holt Paradise Pond Birding Habitat: Boardwalk, observation areas, Cut-off Road.
Port Aransas Community Park: 6-lane, 25-meter outdoor heated swimming pool, 2 baseball fields, t-ball field, soccer field, 1.1-mile jogging trail/exercise course, picnic area, basketball court, skateboard park, disc golf course, pickle ball courts, dog park. Off Ross Avenue.
Roberts Point Park: Pavilion, amphitheatre, bulkheading with walkway, rock jetties, basketball and bocce courts, picnic and playground equipment, observation tower. Pier under construction.
Fishing/sight seeing: Horace Caldwell Pier, Ancel Brundrett Pier, J.P. Luby Pier open. Charlie’s Pasture Pier reconstruction expected to be completed soon.
Mustang Island beach: Beachcombing, swimming, camping (3-day limit in city limits), surfing, windsurfing.
I.B. Magee Jr. Beach Park: 64 RV sites. No tent sites.
Wetlands Education Center at the UTMSI: Trail, boardwalk at 3.5-acre wetland. Tours available.
Leave a Reply