Portland, Texas
is a city primarily located in San Patricio County with some portions extending into Nueces County, in the U.S. state of Texas. It is located along the north shore of Corpus Christi Bay and Nueces Bay, across from Corpus Christi, in the Coastal Bend region. Portland was established in 1890 as a port and agricultural community by land developer John G. Willacy, who saw the city's high bluff and bays as an opportunity. The early settlement of the area progressed slowly until the establishment of transportation routes and developing industries, primarily in Corpus Christi, stimulated Portland's growth. Portland was officially incorporated in 1949.
Throughout the twentieth century, Portland grew from a small farming settlement into a well-established suburb closely tied to the surrounding industrial and economic development of Corpus Christi. Specifically, its location along the bay provided both scenic and commercial assistance to new residents and businesses. By the early twenty-first century, Portland was marked by residential neighborhoods, waterfront parks for recreation, and the proximity of industrial development in the area, which included the Port of Corpus Christi and petrochemical industrial plants across the bay.
In the 2020 census in the United States, Portland had a population of 20,383. The City of Portland has conducted more ongoing estimates that currently put the population at about 20,956, a continued growth trend in the area. Today, Portland maintains a blend of suburban character, coastal natural areas, and economic integration with the greater Corpus Christi metropolitan area.
History
Founding and Early Development
In 1890, John G. Willacy, a well-known rancher, real estate developer, and state legislator from South Texas, laid out the City of Portland. Born in Hallettsville, Texas, in 1859, Willacy promoted agricultural and coastal development projects in the area. He had purchased land from the Coleman-Fulton Pasture Company on a high bluff overlooking Nueces Bay, which he believed to be the perfect location for a settlement, given its high-quality land and access to the Bayfront for shipping. Willacy invited investors from Maine and Kansas to join him in forming the Portland Land and Improvement Company, which marketed this new town as a viable coastal port and agricultural site.Willacy's impact reached well beyond Portland. Subsequently, he was elected as Texas State representative from 1899 to 1903 and a state senator from 1903 to 1915, where he advocated for land and tax reform in South Texas and sponsored legislation supporting fence laws, county reorganization, and road construction. Willacy also helped establish Willacy County, which was named for him upon its establishment in 1911.
In his push to encourage settlers to Portland, Willacy was put in charge of building a large hotel and running extensive promotional campaigns. He arranged for steamboats and railroad lines to bring people in from the surrounding area for a large land sale sponsored in July 1891, which attracted hundreds of prospective buyers. The early advertisements highlighted the ocean breezes and fertile soil. Within a few months, many lots had been sold, and the young settlement had several storefronts, a newspaper, and new houses.
The economic optimism was short-lived however, as the Panic of 1893, a national financial catastrophe, put a stop to land sales and frightened some settlers away. Willacy's once grand hotel, was later converted to Bay View College until it burned in a hurricane in the early 1900s. Hurricanes in 1916 and 1919 added to the toll on Portland, and the population would remain stagnant for several decades.
Incorporation and Early Industry
The next growth for Portland happened in the 1910s when the Portland Development Company extended rail linkages, improved access to water resources, and provided assistance with shipping cotton and other agricultural commodities to neighboring ports. The community was slowly beginning, but the groundwork had been laid for future urban and industrial growth.A pivotal moment occurred in the 1950s with the establishment of the Reynolds Metals Company aluminium plant in 1942. This plant created hundreds of jobs and drew new families to the area, changing Portland from a small farming community into a growing residential and commercial area closely tied to Corpus Christi's industrial economy. The plant later closed in 1981, where it employed over 850 people at the height of the factory's career. Officials claimed that the closing was due to high energy costs that would cut the company's primary aluminium production by 114,000 tons annually.
Mid-20th Century Industrial Expansion
Portland became even more connected to the expanding industrial base in the Coastal Bend. Businesses, such as Sherwin Alumina, OxyChem, and Gulf Marine Fabricators. These factories had facilities in or near the City, increasing Portland's place in the Corpus Christi portion of the Metropolitan area. Portland's location near the Port of Corpus Christi and major highway routes allowed for a variety in manufacturing, energy, and petrochemical industries.By the century's end, Portland had grown south into Nueces County and had established a reputation as a prosperous, family-friendly community with a rising population, modern infrastructure, and scenic views along the waterfront of Nueces and Corpus Christi Bays.
Geography
Portland is situated on the second-highest bluff on the Gulf Coast and overlooks both Nueces and Corpus Christi Bays. Portland is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 25.14 sq mi, of which 21.84 sq mi are land and 3.3 sq mi is covered by water. The city is roughly equidistant from Portland, Maine, and Portland, Oregon. The city is just north of Corpus Christi and is connected by roads and highways including U.S. Highway 181 and State Highway 35.Climate
Portland's summers usually have high temperatures that average in the low to mid 90 degrees F. The coastal humidity can make it feel hotter outside. During the wintertime the temperatures average in the upper 40's, and the highs of the day range in the 60's. The amount of rainfall in Portland per year can average 30 to 35 inches. It rains the most during the spring into the fall. Portland also experiences a good amount of wind that can average from 15 to 20 MPH. The city also has tropical weather systems during the late summer and early fall that results with heavy rainfall and increased wind.Demographics
2020 census
| Race | Number |
| White | 12,840 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 8,483 |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial | 4,432 |
| Some Other Race | 1,888 |
| Asian | 583 |
| Black or African American | 413 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 178 |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 49 |
| Total | 20,383 |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 20,383 people, 6,136 households, and 4,639 families residing in the city.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, 14,827 people, 5,021 households, and 4,051 families were residing in the city. The population density was. The 5,351 housing units averaged 767.1sq mi.In 2017, the Texas Demographic Center estimated the population at 21,619.
Of the 5,021 households, 47.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.6% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.3% were not families. About 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94, and the average family size was 3.30.
In the city, the age distribution was 32.6% under 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $48,574, and for a family was $52,220. Males had a median income of $37,316 versus $25,722 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,871. About 5.8% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
In 2023, 9.61k people were employed by Portland, Texas. The City of Portland employs numerous workers to help protect the city. They have police officers and firefighters, public works, parks and recreation, and utility workers.| Industry | People in Workforce |
| Construction | 1,372 |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | 1,277 |
| Manufacturing | 978 |
Industry and Corporations in Portland
Portland's economy is sustained by the presence of significant petrochemical and industrial plants in the nearby Coastal Bend area, taking advantage of it being adjacent to the water with access to shipping, railing, and pipelines. For example:- Cheniere Energy is expanding its liquefied natural gas facility in the region from an output of ~15 million/tons/year to 20 million tons/year of LNG and has about 300 full-time employees and hundreds of indirect construction job posts.
- The Chemours Company operates a fluorochemical plant in Ingleside/San Patricio County, described as a critical aspect of the local industrial sector, with over 200 employees and around 75 contract employees.
- Occidental Chemical Corporation operates a large plant with docks, pipelines, and rails in the area. It is described as one of the world-leading producers and demonstrates the scale of industrial investment in the area.
- Regional permitting and industrial listing data indicates that the area surrounding San Patricio County, including Portland's portion of the Coastal Bend region, has seen a growth of several petrochemical plants and chemical-manufacturing investments in recent years.