Bolivar Peninsula
| Bolivar Peninsula, Texas | |
|---|---|
| CDP | |
Point Bolivar Lighthouse
|
|
 Location of Bolivar Peninsula, Texas |
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| Coordinates: 29°27′52″N 94°36′28″W / 29.46444°N 94.60778°WCoordinates: 29°27′52″N 94°36′28″W / 29.46444°N 94.60778°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Galveston |
| Area | |
| • Total | 48.1 sq mi (124.7 km2) |
| • Land | 42.5 sq mi (110.1 km2) |
| • Water | 5.6 sq mi (14.6 km2) |
| Elevation | 10 ft (3 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 2,417 |
| • Density | 50/sq mi (19/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| FIPS code | 48-09250 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1852688 |
Bolivar Peninsula (/ˈbɒlᵻvər/ BAHL-i-vər) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Galveston County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,417 at the 2010 census. The communities of Port Bolivar, Crystal Beach, Caplen, Gilchrist, and High Island are located on Bolivar Peninsula.
The peninsula was named by 1816 for Simón Bolívar, a South American political leader. Jean Laffite had associations with Bolivar Peninsula.James Long based his operations here since 1819 with the first establishment of Bolivar Peninsula, and Fort Las Casas was built here in 1820. Samuel D. Parr was responsible for starting the settlement in 1838 that would later become Port Bolivar.
The Point Bolivar Lighthouse (which is now privately owned and not open to the public) has an important history with the peninsula, since 1872. It is located on the western end of the peninsula, directly across from Fort Travis Seashore Park. Fort Travis in Bolivar Peninsula, a separate facility from Fort Travis in Galveston, was built with construction started in 1898. The North Jetty, extending from Bolivar Peninsula, of the entrance to Galveston Bay started being constructed in 1874. From 1896 to 1968, the Gulf and Interstate Railway connected Beaumont to Galveston Island with aid of train ferries. At one time the Bolivar Peninsula was called the "breadbasket of Galveston" and the "watermelon capital of Texas".
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