Field Guides
Rockport, Texas
(Aransas COUNTY)
Coastal paradise offering fishing, birdwatching, and stunning Gulf Coast sunsets.
Highlights
Aransas County serves as the de facto capital of Texas beach life. The center of Texas’ “Redneck Riviera” is famous and revered for its laid-back lifestyle. As easygoing as its inhabitants may be, Aransas County residents are even more resilient. Contending with hurricanes, climate change, and challenging economic conditions, these Texans always seem to make do.
Of course the beach and liquid activities dominate life in Aransas County. Understanding the county and its communities requires us to know a little about the geography of the Gulf of Mexico. Texas has a series of slim barrier islands that run up and down the Gulf Coast. Water indirectly flows from Texas rivers into the Gulf of Mexico, dumping into large bays between the state’s “mainland” and the barrier islands. There are two large bays in Aransas County, Copano Bay and Aransas Bay, and several smaller ones. The city of Port Aransas sits at the small break in the barrier island where the bay water rushes into the sea.
The town of Port Aransas occupies both sides of the barrier island, giving it a traditional beachfront directly on the Gulf of Mexico and bayfront views to its north. The rest of Aransas County, including the county seat of Rockport, sits entirely on the “bay side” without access to the Gulf of Mexico except through the bays.
Thus, one of the shared experiences of millions of Texans is the ferry ride from the bayside town of Aransas Pass to the gulf side town of Port Aransas. Texas Ten took that ride 50 years ago for the first time, repeated it on high school and college spring breaks, and now with our children and grandchildren. It never gets old.
Some of Texas’ greatest fishing happens in the Aransas bays. Meanwhile, Texas surf culture centers on the rolling waves hitting the Gulf Beach at Port Aransas. Other coastal cities outside of Texas may laugh at the phrase “Texas Surf Culture,” but surf culture surely exists in the Lone Star State. Finally, the staggering biodiversity that results when the ocean meets the sea is captured in the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.
In Aransas County, you can fish, surf, enjoy nature unlike any other in the world, and celebrate it all with music, food, and drink. Or you can sit on the beach and read a book. Either way, you are going to have a good time.
The Aransas County Courthouse
James Riely Gordon designed a Moorish-styled courthouse in 1889. It was demolished, and a new courthouse was built in 1956. In 2017, Hurricane Harvey destroyed the 1956 courthouse. The new county courthouse for Aransas County is currently under construction. Surely it will be hurricane resistant.
Things To See And Do
The statement “we are going to the beach” conjures a very specific image. White soft sand and blue water, a chaise lounge, and beach service margarita while the kids make sand castles. Truth be told, Aransas County offers an approximation rather than a duplication of that mental image. The beach in Port Aransas does not have the whitest, softest sand or the bluest water. But it is sand, and it is salt water, and that should be enough. So the number one attraction is the beach. In reality, this is “the beaches” because five different beach experiences are available to you in Port Aransas.
First, there is “the beach,” as the masses know it. Technically, that is the I. B. Magee Beach occuping the populated portion of Port Aransas. Close to the condos, hotels, restaurants, and bars, this is where you walk first thing in the morning, lay your towel out, and station the cooler—your starting point for wandering around and checking out beach bodies. You can find a huge pier nearby from which you can drop a line or admire the surfers up close. This part of the beach is crowded; you must watch for vehicles.
Mustang Island is further south of Port Aransas and is actually in Nueces County (Corpus Christi). It is less developed and, therefore, less crowded. The beach on Mustang Island is still open to vehicles, so the cooler can come with you, but this is a more relaxed experience. It also takes longer to get to margaritas, food to replace that stuff that got waterlogged in your cooler, and bathrooms if the ocean won’t work.
After 18 miles of Mustang Island, you get to Mustang Island State Park. It is the same island and beach, but now there are rules and rangers to enforce them gently. The biggest difference is that you park your car in a parking lot instead of on the beach. Your 40-pound cooler is not coming with you. You get fishing off the jetties, carefree frolicking for the younger set, and less humanity. Also, there are free showers and bathrooms, but there is zero chance of frozen margaritas arriving at your chaise lounge.
Even further to the south, you come to the Padre Island National Seashore. To be fair, you are now quite a ways from Aransas County. But it is all one beach, and depending on your entry point, you could arrive from several coastal counties. So we include it because you might want to visit during your trip “to the beach.” Remember all the romance on the beach movies? Not the Annette Funicello teenage romance movies. Think more of the Deborah Kerr isolated, rugged beach “From Here to Eternity” movies. That is what we are approximating with the Padre Island National Seashore. Wild, unspoiled, and lonely. Windswept and often not a building in sight. Primitive camping is available, but you had better be the hardy sort.
Finally, heading north from Port Aransas, you can get a less populated beach, great fishing, and a slice of Texas history. San Jose Island, or “St. Jo’s” to the locals, can only be reached by jetty boats leaving Fishermans’ Wharf in town. There are few boats, you cannot reserve tickets, and they are not pre-sold, so plan accordingly. St. Jo’s is privately owned by the Bass Family of Fort Worth. In 1936, the legendary wildcatter Sid Richardson bought the island to ranch on, but mostly to be his own kingdom. Sid had so much fun he never married, and his nephews (the Bass Brothers) inherited it.
Sid and the Bass family loved the island for the same reasons you will. It is even wilder and more unspoiled than the National Seashore to its south. It is likely the best place in Texas to hunt seashells. The birding and fishing are phenomenal. Once you arrive, you will be glad that the boat service is limited. Just a little bit of beachcombing, and you are by yourself or at least with only people you like. One of the wealthiest men in the world bought it as a treasured plaything, and you get to share it. Pretty spectacular. The day takes some planning, but it is a Texas Ten must-do.
So that is the “beach experience.” How about the “bay experience?” The big draw here is fish of all sorts and sizes found in various habitats. Depending on the time of year, you can fly fish for redfish in shallow water, gig flounder by hand at night, bag a trout from a kayak, or call the taxidermist to preserve your majestic tarpon. The best anglers know they need a guide to make their trip successful. Texas Ten would be surprised if you are better than the best, so arrange the three-hour tour.
Back inland to the north of Rockport, you can visit the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge draws visitors year-round, particularly in the winter. Texas is the epicenter for migrating birds, so birdwatchers (not going to say flock) arrive in large numbers. The show’s stars are the last wild whooping cranes, but many other species can be seen. Separately, the refuge is a prized deer hunting destination based on difficulty. Getting permits is done by lottery only, and some hunters feel that scoring a permit is like winning the lottery. If you are not quite that hardcore but still want to enjoy breathtaking scenery and snap some Instagram-worthy images, there are a variety of short hikes and an auto trail you can try when visiting the park.
Rockport also has the Heritage District on Austin St. downtown for relaxed beach shopping beyond t-shirts, water wings, and sunblock. Beach chic can be achieved. Goose Island State Park is small but idyllic. Again, you can take many pictures, and others can catch many fish. There are great picnicking spots, too.
For unexpected beauty and architecture, head to Lamar to view the Schoenstatt Shrine. Texas Ten still does not entirely understand Schoenstatt, but one of its attributes is a quiet, calm peacefulness that the shrine and the grounds show off to good effect. You will feel better for being there, but we are unsure why.
We could go on almost infinitely. Everyone’s ideal beach vacation is slightly different, but the Chamber of Commerce came up with 100 different options, so we are pretty sure you can find something that suits you.
Food and Drinks (Eat Local!)
One of Texas Ten’s chief researchers loves fish, but the other does not. We spent five days in the area, and both gained weight. So do not let the abundance of grilled and shelled animals fool you.
Let’s start at the high end. Latitude 28°02’ at the north end of the Heritage District in Rockport hits all the right notes. You will find a warm ambiance, great food, and cocktails, with the addition of interesting art (for sale; it is also a gallery). We saved this location for the end-of-trip dinner and were glad we did. We traveled to the other side of the food chain. We visited the simply named Bakery Cafe in Aransas Pass for breakfast before a fly-fishing adventure. Lovers of cafes that we are, we have high standards for establishments that run on this tight of a margin. Bakery Cafe laughed at our standards and provided a close-to-perfect American breakfast. It was so good that we stopped on our way out of town for lunch, and they proved it was no fluke.
High on our list for next time is Tortuga’s Saltwater Grill in Port Aransas, which has earned excellent reviews for “elevated seafood.”
No beach vacation is complete without a waterside, open-air meal. Texas Ten had a couple.
Paradise Key was an enjoyable lunch, visiting an old friend and watching the boats come and go. As one would expect, the seafood was as fresh as can be. The same applies to Trout Street Bar and Grill in Port Aransas. Trout Street has the advantage (in our mind) of a beach view over a bay view. The sunset was incredible.
Plenty of other restaurants in the area feature great seafood, almost all with wide enough menus to satisfy those who want animals with legs. Here are some of the best-reviewed. Starting in Port Aransas, there is Venetian Hot Plate, Roosevelt’s, Lisabella’s Bistro and Bar, FINS Grill & Icehouse, Virginia’s on the Bay, The Crazy Cajun, or Seafood and Spaghetti Works.
For Bay people, Rockport, Fulton, and Lamar have similar offerings. Check out Wild Prawn, The Boiling Pot as seen in the October 2016 (Texas Highways article), Old Fulton Seafood Cafe and Steakhouse, Pier 77 of Fulton, Copano’s, Charlotte Plummer, Key Allegro Yacht Club, or Bourdeaux’s Cajun (a food truck but a really good one).
Aransas Pass is in the middle of it all. A working man’s vibe with down-to-earth places. If you have no catch to cook, these places have your back-Coasters, Mickey’s Bar & Grill, or Dorado’s Restaurant and Bar.
Alternatively, you may want to throw down your own seafood dinner or get the freshest shrimp for afternoon appetizers. Head out to a trio of great seafood markets: Paul’s (Port Aransas), Flowers Shrimp Market (Rockport), or Harbor Shrimp Co. (Port Aransas).
But seafood is not the be-all, end-all of beach vacation eating. For some reason, the beach and pizza make a great combination. For the best pies in Port Aransas, it is either The Gaff or Port A Pizzeria. In Rockport, Fulton, and Lamar, paradise in the round happens at Bellino’s, Taste of Chicago (Chicago dogs also), or Panjo’s. Aransas Pass has Shorty’s Pizza and More and Mama’s Italian Kitchen.
If you are looking for just the all-around menu with a great atmosphere, you could do worse than Coach’s Island Pub & Grub (People love their breakfast), Lelo’s Island Bar (Tiki Bar bonus points), Blue Water Cowboy Saloon and Mercantile, BierHaus Port Aransas (food truck with dedicated outdoor seating), or McDaddy’s Family Kitchen. All are in Port Aransas. Over in Rockport, Fulton, and Lamar, there is Steerburger Grill and Grub (Designated one of Texas Monthly’s Top 50 hamburgers in 2016), Pop’s Place, Hoot’s Country Kitchen ( a drive-thru with outdoor seating), The Shack Smokehouse and Seafood, or Toscano’s Burgers (Weather permitting, shows an outdoor movie on the side of its building). Aransas Pass lets youstay late at Texas Pride Sports Bar and Grill.
Finally, the food that gets the most universal praise in the area is not a brick-and-mortar restaurant but the Mobile Eats food truck. If you see it, eat something.
Nightlife (Play Local!)
You may find live music in many of the restaurants listed above. The Nightlife section focuses on venues where, if there is food, it is just an afterthought. We start with one of Texas Ten’s favorite places in the entire state – Shorty’s Place in Port Aransas. Shorty’s bills itself as the oldest and friendliest bar in Texas. We are unsure how you verify that claim, but when you are there, it certainly seems like the oldest and friendliest.
Shorty’s recently survived a landlord who was ignorant of Texas tradition. The landlord owned the land but not the building. He wanted the land for something more lucrative. The end was in site, particularly given the size of the building made it difficult to move. But Shorty is resourceful. He cut the building in half, moved it to a new location on Beach Street, and reopened. Shorty’s lives! Survival should not be surprising. The structure is built to withstand hurricanes by being ground-hugging and something you can just power wash if it gets too dirty. Craft cocktails are not their thing. Acoustics are what you get outside with basic equipment.
The last time we were there, we sat with friends, listening to Ty Dietz go for at least four hours. The breeze was just right, the beer was ice cold, and Ty was phenomenal. It was perfection in the chillest sort of way. Here is to another 80 years.
For a more formal concert experience, the renovated Rialto Theater in Aransas Pass hosts a variety of music, comedy, and open mic talent. In Rockport, the Rock Bottom Pub often has live music and, if not, karaoke. The Inn at Fulton Harbor has a listening room that occasionally gives that great singer-songwriter vibe. If outdoor music is your thing, the Festival Grounds will host the occasional big deal and festivals of all types – music, art, oysters, etc. The Rockport Center for the Arts hosts a varied music series. If there is no concert while you are in town, something else is likely going on.
As an exception to the “not listing restaurants with live music” idea, Texas Ten notes that Charlotte Plummer offers tent concerts that routinely feature some of the more well-known acts. It’s in a tent, not a restaurant, so breaking our rules is okay. Aransas Pass hosts Shrimporee. Music abounds during the festival, but the Shimporee Grounds and the Civic Center will host concerts year-round.
You can always catch some live music in the immediate area. For updated listings, here are a couple of decent resources:
Shorty’s Place
101 Beach St,
Port Aransas, TX 78373
(361) 749-8224
Rialto Theater
327 S. Commercial St.
Aransas Pass, TX
(361) 229-0809
Rock Bottom Pub
507 S. Austin St.
Rockport, TX 78372
(361) 450-0345
Inn at Fulton Harbor
215 N. Fulton Beach Rd.
Rockport, TX 78732
Festival Grounds at Rockport
1500 E. Laurel St.
Rockport, TX 78732
Rockport Center for the Arts
106 S. Austin St.
Rockport, TX 78732
(361) 729-5519
Charlotte Plummer
202 N. Fulton Beach Rd.
Fulton, TX 78358
(361) 729-1185
Aransas Pass Civic Center
700 W. Wheeler Ave.
Aransas Pass, TX 78336
(361) 758-0009
Shrimporee Festival Grounds
200 E. Johnson Ave.
Aransas Pass, TX 78336
Where To Drop A Dime (Shop Local!)
It is easy to spend a bunch at the beach. We are not going to help you avoid that fate. But let’s at least be organized about it. First, we don’t care about t-shirt stores. One is the same as another, so they do not make our listing. Second, the most important money you spend at the beach is not what you buy but what you rent. That can be things like kayaks, dune buggies, bicycles, etc., or it can be the time and expertise of people, such as fishing guides or surf instructors. We cannot list all of them, but we try to point you in the right direction. Third, Texas Ten is only about local shopping. Target and Walmart spend millions a year on advertising; we let you find national chains on your own. We highlight the galleries, boutiques, and quality vintage stores where you find that special thing that reminds you of your vacation. So here goes.
General Rentals
Island Surf Rentals (Golf carts, beach bikes, kayaks, and boards of all types)
Island Outfitters (Golf Carts, beach gear, and catered shrimp broils)
Jackfish Carts (Customized carts, golf carts, beach gear of all types, and pizza)
Texas Coast Kayaking (Kayak rentals including on-location pickup and delivery and/or
lessons)
Coastal Bend Kayak (Kayak rentals including on-location pickup and delivery and/or
lessons)
Nauticool Adventures (Kayaks and wave runners)
Rockport Birding and Kayak Adventures (Golf Cart, paddleboard, and kayak rentals; Whooping Crane tours and sunset cruises)
Boardhouse Surf and Skate (Surf and Skate/sales and rentals)
Golf Carts Only:
Bron’s Backyard (carts, shaved ice and live music)
Surf Lessons and Camps
Fishing Guides and Charters
Texas Ten has never missed going to a new location and picking from the guides on Fishing Booker. There are hundreds of them. But if you want a direct contact, here are some suggestions based on numerous positive Google reviews:
Surrender at Sunrise (Night Flounder gigging)
High Tide Adventure Guide Service
Fly Fish Rockport (specializing in-you guessed it-fly fishing)
DM Fly Fishing (again…)
Aransas Bay Fishing Charters (featured in Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine)
Mojo Guide Service and Outfitters (guided duck hunts too!)
Fishing Gear and Supplies
In Rockport, we used Swan Point Landing for gear, lessons, and general directions about life and cannot sing its praises highly enough. The owner arranged fly fishing lessons and a trip with an incredible guide. Swan Point is an authorized Orvis store. Other spots to get the rig that will land the fish you always dreamed of are Rockport Tackle Town, The Fly Trap, or Seaworthy Marine Supply,
Rockport is a fishing town, and there are bait stores all around Rockport. Most open by 6:00 am to sell the early worm. It turns out that bait shop owners are not in on the whole internet/social media thing, So Texas Ten goes old school here with phone numbers. Pelican Bait ((361) 249-439), Paradise Key Bait and Tackle ((361) 557-1818), Mom’s Bait Shop ((361) 729-0173 ), Bacon Bait Stand ((361)249-4319), Salty Dog II Bait House ((361) 7229-8302), Captain Cady’s II ((361) 557-4914), Fleming’s Bait Stand ((361) 441-9921), and Sea Gun Bait ((361) 737-2220).
Aransas Pass
Try these bait stores before heading onto the bay from Aransas Pass: Bait RunnerZ ((361) 633-0365), Truly Salty Fishing Adventures ((361) 946-2149), Captain Joe’s Seafood Bait and Tackle ((361) (263-8267), Fin and Feather Bait ((361) 758-7414), Harbor City Bait ((361) 717-4511), Capt’s Bait ((361) 758-0162), and Capt. Cady’s 1 Bait Shop. ((361) 678-3731).
Port Aransas
Beachside in Port A: The best gear can be found at Island Tackle of Port A and Port A Outfitters. We suggest remembering to get your bait in Aransas Pass, but usually, something is available near the piers.
Retail
The best shopping area is in Rockport’s cultural arts district on Austin Street between North and Market. Galleries, boutiques, and restaurants are in an easily walkable and pleasant area.
Something about the ocean draws the artistic types. The best keepsakes are the ones that cannot be duplicated. See what you can find at these local art galleries.
Moon Over Water Gallery and Artist Market
Elisa Baker Art is unique in that she specializes in “functional art,” making things you use every day beautiful with coastal images.
The Splendid Sun is a fetching independent bookstore where you can get the latest beach read.
Texas Ten loved The Coastal Mercantile for decorating the fishing villa. Now we just need to get a fishing villa.
If you are looking for that “just so relaxed” beachwear, the distaff half of Texas Ten suggests The Salty Gypsea, Ann Marie James, Goin’ Coastal Outfitters, Rowdy Maui, or Southern Rayne.
Of course, Texas Ten is a huge fan of Texas By Design for your performance fishing shirt needs. Alternatively, try Reel Wicked Apparel.
Port Aransas tends towards the large souvenir shops you enter through the mouth of the shark from Jaws. Not that these places lack their own Redneck Riviera charm, but there is not much distinguishing them. If you need aloe vera, a margarita cure, and a new t-shirt, just pick one. Most of these shops are on the main drag of Alister St. Many are congregated near the Avenue G intersection.
Exceptions worth checking out are Coastal Closet, https://hazelgracebtq.com/, and Ragdoll Boutique for women’s beachwear, as well as Coastal Bend Handmade for more thoughtful gifts. Fly It Port A is the go-to for kids’ kites.
On the other side of the bay, Aransas Pass offers more fishing than shopping, but Cajun K’s Boutique gets high marks.
Special Places to Lay Your Head (Stay Local!)
Let’s face it—you are likely going to be staying at a condominium, resort-style complex, or a beachy VRBO. The newest, bestest developments are Cinnamon Shores and Palmilla Beach Resort. It is impossible to guess how many Texans and Texas visitors have stayed at Port Royal over the years, and the condos there are just finishing up an expensive facelift. In Rockport, the Inn At Fulton Harbor is charming and has great marina views.
For real history, though, the place to go is the Tarpon Inn. A hotel in Port Aransas since 1886, this Key West-style gem’s ambiance and beach vibes are unbeatable.
For the Professional Traveller (Campgrounds and RV Parks)
Aransas County is an absolute haven for snowbirds spending the winter here. As a result there are many, many RV parks and campgrounds to choose from. Many, many. Here is a partial list.
Rockport
Rockport RV Resort by Rjourney
Cape Velero RV Park
Ancient Oaks RV Park
Port Aransas
Gulf Water Beach Front RV Resort
Lafitte’s Hideout RV Campground
Aransas Pass
Special Events
Well-known fact: Beach people like to party. There are lots of great times to visit this area because there are lots of big parties.
Maybe the biggest is Shrimporee, which is held each June in Aransas Pass.
Not to be outdone, Rockport hosts the Sea Fair in October. Fishing tournaments are regular events, but Texas Ten favors “Babes on the Bay,” an all-women contest held each May. You have to love a county that can host Babes on the Bay one month and back it up the next (June) with one of the country’s leading Chamber Music Festivals. Pretty impressive diversity. July sees Art Fest in Rockport. Tejano music takes center stage in August at Fiesta En La Playa.
Port Aransas makes great use of its best asset each April by hosting Sandfest, the United States’ biggest sandcastle-building extravaganza. In February, you can celebrate the Whooping Crane with birders from everywhere. Craftsmen of the coolest type of boats get their due in October at the Wooden Boat Festival. Palmfest in May is a burgeoning music festival where you can catch tomorrow’s stars today and have some excellent barbecue.
It is almost like these folks will use any excuse to throw a party.
Fore! (Golf Courses)
The premier opportunity for seaside golf can be found at Palmilla Beach and Golf Resort, featuring nine holes designed by Arnold Palmer plus three more par threes. If you know someone, maybe Rockport Country Club is in your future. Live Oak Country Club is a nine hole track accessible to the public for low rates.
Getting to Aransas County
For 90% of Texans and 99% of Americans, head south and stop when you get to the water. Rockport is four hours and forty minutes of drive time from the state’s geographic center in Brady, Texas. Windshield time from other cities can be seen here. State Highway 181 southeast from San Antonio, State Highway 35 southwest from Houston, or State Highway 35 Northeast from Corpus Christi are the roads that will get you there.
If you are flying, Southwest, American, and United all have Corpus Christi operations, which are just 42 miles to the south. Smaller aircraft can utilize the Rockport Airport, but you better be able to handle the wind on takeoff and landing.
History
The nomadic hunter-gatherers of Aransas County, the Aransas, occupied this region more than 7,000 years before Spanish colonization but left the coastal area by about 1200 AD. It remained unoccupied for approximately 100 years until the Karankawa and Couhiltecan people moved in. These two groups never formed formal alliances but remained in the region until the early Europeans arrived. By the mid-1500s, these natives fled to Mexico or succumbed to disease. By 1800, most traces of these earliest inhabitants vanished.
Explorer Alonzo Álvarez de Pineda entered this area in 1519, and Cabeza de Vaca was shipwrecked along this coast, though the exact route is unknown. The Spanish had little interest until René Robert Cavelier and Sieur de La Salle arrived and established a colony in 1685.
By the late colonial period, the Spanish had a small fort named Aránzazu, after a palace in Spain. A port of entry and customs house was built in 1780 by Refugio County Governor Bernardo de Gálvez. The port was considered the best in what was then called West Texas; however, plans for further settlements were halted due to numerous threats of Indian attacks.
In 1828, at the site of Aranzaau fort, a Mexican Empresario gave James Power and James Hewetson land grants (within areas closed for colonization) for Irish and Mexican settlers to come. At this point, there was a customs house, a post office, and a few stores. Despite most settlers preferring to move inland, Aransas County became the Refugio County seat of Government in 1832. Power and Hewetson bought even more land despite being relatively undeveloped and became the most prominent landowners east of the Nueces. After the Texas Revolution, between 1838 and 1841, the area came under several attacks, notably by Karankawas, Couhiltecans, and Mexican bandits, making it even less desirable for settlers. Native and bandit attacks weren’t all that riddled the area during this time, however. Power and Hewetson also came under attack by Joseph F. Smith and several other individuals who claimed that the original land grants were void. Though the case dragged on for years, Power and Hewetson, in the late 1850s, ultimately lost all land titles to their original plaintiff, Joseph F. Smith.
Smith went on to develop the area further. By 1860, his newly developed port, St. Mary’s, was the most important shipping point for hides, cotton, cattle, lumber, and tallow. During the Civil War, this Confederate area saw numerous engagements and became a depot to store captured cotton. The islands in this area volleyed between Union and Confederate control until they were finally seized by Confederate troops in 1863.
New port towns such as Fulton and Rockport replaced those destroyed by the War, such as Lamar and Aransas City. In 1867, W. S. Hall built the first meat packing plant in Fulton. Its success led to slaughterhouses and wharf pens springing up and shipping lines using the port as a direct line to New Orleans. By September 1871, the great cattle boom had grown tremendously, forcing a legislative vote to divide the coastal area into two counties. This heralded the birth of Aransas County as we know it today, separated from Refugio County. , Aransas County named Rockport its seat.
By 1888, The San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad (whose extension had been curtailed by the Civil War) finally expanded to Rockport, bolstering its role as a shipping center. Though the meat packing industry had begun to wane, deep channel shipping was needed to secure the area’s financial future. Lack of equipment and effective plans, however, made early efforts unsuccessful. Plagued by numerous hurricanes between 1900 and 1920, industries in this region took a significant hit. Populations that soared earlier were now dwindling.
Just in time, the fishing and shipbuilding industries flourished, overtaking the importance of needing a deepwater port any longer. Over the next several decades, Rockport’s shrimping industry grew and overtook agriculture as the leading industry in this area.
Small ship-building companies saw tremendous growth throughout the First and Second World Wars, and one shipyard, owned by Rob Roy Rice, even built wooden submarine chasers.
Today, large-volume shipping through the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway allows for significant economic growth in addition to agribusiness, tourism, oil and gas extraction, and fish packing.
The population of Aransas County is almost 58,000, and its ethnic makeup is approximately 60% white and non-Hispanic, 18% African American, and 12% Hispanic or mixed. The county’s income and education profiles are less than Texas overall, with the median income just over $57,000.
Notable individuals from Aransas County include Emory Bellard, former head coach and offensive coordinator at Texas A&M, who invented the Wishbone formation. Also in the sports world, former star defensive end at TCU Tommy Blake and former Baylor baseball coach Mickey Sullivan came from here. Texas music legend Guy Clark went to junior high and high school in Rockport. Country superstar George Strait owns a home there now.
Primary Sources: