SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS is the tropical southernmost part of the world's longest barrier reef island on the Gulf of Mexico at the Texas / Mexico border and is THE premiere resort in Texas. Named by the Travel Channel as "One of America's Best Beaches" for 2006, it is perfect for vacationing families, honeymooners and those looking for a great place to retire.

This 34 mile long stretch of white sand is bordered to the east by the Gulf of Mexico and to the west by the Laguna Madre bay. The conveniences and attractions of a modern resort coupled with miles of pristine island terrain is what draws thousands of visitors to the area each year, and has brought many back to live.

South Padre Island Picked as one of the Best Places To Buy A Second Home In The United States by the Wall Street's RealEstateJournal.com - "South Padre Island, Texas (Brownsville-Harlingen, Texas) is at 11th position with a median home price of $631600 and a price change of 29.6 %. The projected metro employment increase for the next 5 years is at 14.6 %."

South Padre Island is the finest coastal resort in Texas, with beautiful beaches, tall sand dunes, and warm clear clean Gulf waters. The natural beauty of its beaches, and the friendly people that call the Island home matches South Padre’s rich history.   Among the locals, eccentric is the norm, and shorts are acceptable attire anywhere. The various tourist seasons cause the population to swell and shrink with families on summer vacation, Winter Texans escaping the chill of northern states, and spring breakers enjoying a holiday (despite what you hear, they really are nice kids).

While its many amenities make South Padre the premiere vacation spot in the state, the location of the Island also makes it one of the premiere spots in the state to observe wildlife in its natural state, and to find that allusive bird to add to your list. One of the best spots in the United States to see all of the regularly occurring rails, South Padre has over 300 recorded species to date, and the list continues to grow, as do the bird watchers.

With 33-miles of pristine beach, the Gulf side of the island offers plenty of water and water-related sports. Surfing, sailboarding, kiteboarding, parasailing, and wave running are just a few of the activities available along the beach. The Laguna Madre borders the western edge of the island and is also a pristine and unique ecological zone that offers habitat to wildlife of every kind.

General Info

South Padre Island is a township located in Cameron County. The 2000 census listed the official population of 2,422 permanent residents. However, this number is slightly inaccurate as many winter or part-time residents claim South Padre as home for large portions of the year. It is also a popular destination for Mexican Nationals particularily those from Monterrey, Mexico. It is extimated that Mexican Nationals own between 30% and 50% of the island's real estate.

Geography

South Padre is located at 26.111935, -97.169587. Approximately the same latitude as Miami, Florida.

The town's total area is about 1,200 acres. The island is approximately 1/2 a mile wide from beach to bay.

It is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico and the Laguna Madre Bay. The Laguna Madre Bay is one of only 5 hyper-saline bays in the world. The only saltier body of water in the U.S. is the Great Salt Lake. This unusual bay is home to diverse species and a nursery to fish. It is estimated that 30% of the Gulf's fish are spawned in the bay. This body of water is also home to young Sea Turtles, dolphins, endangered Brown Pelicans and much more.

Demographics

The census of 2000 lists 2,422 residents, 1,211 households, and 662 families residing in the town. There were 4,685 housing units. Of the 1,211 households 15.4% has children in the residence, 47.2% were married couples, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband, and 45.3% were non-families. 35.8% of households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone over the age of 65. The average household size was 2 people and the average family size was 2.54.

Welcome to the Tropical Tip of Texas.