South Padre Island, Texas
Town in the United States in Cameron County
About South Padre Island
South Padre Island is a resort town in Cameron County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Brownsville-Harlingen metropolitan area. The population was 2,066 at the 2020 census. The town is located on South Padre Island, a barrier island with the Laguna Madre situated to the leeward of the island and the Gulf of Mexico on the windward flank, along the Texas Gulf Coast. South Padre Island is named after José Nicolás Ballí (Padre Ballí), a Catholic priest and settler.
The island is only accessible via the Queen Isabella Causeway in Port Isabel and has become a popular tourist destination for both the spring, summer and for winter Texans. It features many activities such as ecotourism, fishing, snorkeling, kiteboarding, parasailing, surfing and horse back riding. SpaceX Starships are launched from the SpaceX Starbase facility and can be observed across the Brazos Santiago Pass in Boca Chica, Texas.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How South Padre Island is governed
Form of government not yet listed.
1 of 14 positions listed. Gray dashed boxes are placeholders waiting for a name.
Residents of South Padre Island
Registered voters elect the officials below.
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Mayor
Executive
- Patrick McNulty per Wikidata
The city's chief elected official. Presides over the executive branch, proposes the budget and represents the city.
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City Manager / Administrator
Executive
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The professional administrator who runs day-to-day operations (in some cities appointed by the council instead of the mayor).
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Police Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the police department.
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Fire Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the fire and emergency services department.
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Public Works Director
Administration & departments
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Streets, water, sewer, and city buildings.
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Finance Director
Administration & departments
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The budget, taxes, and city accounts.
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Planning & Zoning Director
Administration & departments
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Land use, zoning, building permits.
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Parks & Recreation Director
Administration & departments
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Parks, programs, and public facilities.
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City Council
Legislative
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The elected body that passes ordinances, sets the tax rate and approves the budget.
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City Clerk
Administration & departments
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Keeps the official records, runs meeting agendas and, often, local elections.
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City Attorney
Administration & departments
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The city's lawyer; advises officials and prosecutes ordinance violations.
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Boards & Commissions
Legislative
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Citizen advisory bodies, such as planning, zoning appeals and library boards.
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Municipal Court
Judicial
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Hears traffic, ordinance and other minor cases.
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Municipal Judge
Judicial
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Presides over the municipal court.
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Population over time
From 2,816 in 2010 to 2,066 in 2020 (−26.6%).
Show the numbers
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 2,066 |
| 2010 | 2,816 |
History
The City of South Padre Island was officially incorporated in 1973 to better manage development and tourism. Growth was initially spurred by the construction of the original causeway in the early 1950s, which for the first time provided a permanent vehicular link between the island and the mainland. In 1974, this causeway was replaced by the Queen Isabella Causeway, a higher-capacity bridge that further boosted accessibility and economic development. Governed by a home-rule charter, the City of South Padre Island operates with a council-manager form of government, which outlines local governance rules and administrative procedures. South Padre Island became a popular spring break destination for college students and a resort destination for families. Many multistory resort hotels and condominiums have been erected along the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.