# Dickinson, Texas

Dickinson is a city in Galveston County, Texas, United States, within Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area. Its population was 20,847 at the 2020 census.

## History

Dickinson is located on a tract of land granted to John Dickinson in 1824, and named after him. A settlement had been established in this area on Dickinson Bayou before 1850. The Galveston, Houston, and Henderson Railroad was built directly through Dickinson. This line was used in the American Civil War to successfully retake Galveston.
The Dickinson Land and Improvement Association was organized in the 1890s by Fred M. Nichols and eight other businessmen. It marketed to potential farmers with claims of the soil's suitability for food crops, and to socialites with the creation of the Dickinson Picnic Grounds and other attractions. By 1911, the Galveston–Houston Electric Railway had three stops in Dickinson, and the Oleander Country Club was a popular destination for prominent Galvestonians.
In 1905, Italian ambassador Baron Mayor des Planches convinced about 150 Italians from crowded eastern cities to move to Dickinson. They joined the dozens relocated there after flooding in Bryan forced them to seek new homes.
During the 1920s, Dickinson became a significant tourist destination resulting from investment by the Maceo crime syndicate, which ran Galveston during this time. The syndicate created gambling venues in the city such as the Silver Moon casino.
The City of Dickinson constructed a new multimillion-dollar city hall and library complex that was dedicated June 30, 2009. The complex is located at 4403 Highway 3.
In May 2009, the city began hosting a crawfish festival, called the Red, White and Bayou Crawfish Festival. The city decided in 2018 not to continue with the festival. In August 2022, the city resumed the festival.
In August 2017, Dickinson was devastated by Hurricane Harvey. About 90% of the city was flooded during the storm and 50% was destroyed by flooding. The city received international attention after they tried to force citizens to sign loyalty pledges to Israel to receive relief aid. Local officials said it was required, due to Texas' strict anti-BDS laws.
In January 2021, Dickinson made national news by the mayoral election run-off ending in a tie (1,010 votes each), Mayor Sean Skipworth was selected by drawing a name out of a hat.
In August 2021, Dickinson made national news again when Council Member Position 1, H. Scott Apley died of the COVID-19 virus after making many antimask and antivaccine social-media posts. Johnnie Simpson Jr., a United Methodist pastor, won the seat after earning 49% of the vote in a four-way special election, and 60.3% of the vote in a runoff.

## Geography

Dickinson is located at 29°27′39″N 95°03′05″W﻿ / ﻿29.4607876°N 95.0513173°W﻿ / 29.4607876; -95.0513173 (29.4607876, -95.0513173). This is about 28 miles (45 km) southeast of Houston and 19 miles (31 km) northwest of Galveston. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.397 square miles (26.93 km$^2$), of which 0.432 sq mi (1.12 km$^2$), or 4.32%, is covered by water.

## Demographics
### 2020 census

Dickinson racial composition (NH = Non-Hispanic) :
| Race | Number | Percentage |
| White (NH) | 9,507 | 45.6% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 2,202 | 10.56% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 61 | 0.29% |
| Asian (NH) | 514 | 2.47% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 14 | 0.07% |
| Some other race (NH) | 82 | 0.39% |
| Mixed/multiracial (NH) | 713 | 3.42% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 7,754 | 37.19% |
| Total | 20,847 | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 census, 20,847 people, 7,290 households, and 5,379 families were residing in the city. The population density was 2,135.32 per square mile (824.46/km2). The 8,249 housing units had an average density of 793.4 per square mile. The racial makeup was 55.1% (11,494) White, 10.9% (2,276) African American, 16.2% (3,381) two or more races, 14.0% (2,915) other races, 2.5% (531) Asian, 1.1% (230) Native American, and 0.1% (20) Pacific Islander. About 37.2% (7,754) were Hispanics or Latinos, of any race.
Of the 7,290 households, 38.8% had children under 18, 50.2% were married couples living together, and 25.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 35.0% of households consisted of individuals, and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.6 and the average family size was 3.2.

### 2000 census

As of the 2000 census, 17,093 people, 6,162 households, and 4,522 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,770.7 inhabitants per square mile (683.7/km$^2$). The 6,556 housing units had an average density of 679.1 per square mile (262.2/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 75.35% White, 10.52% African American, 0.64% Native American, 1.21% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 12.82% from other races, and 2.43% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 24.90% of the population.
Of the 6,162 households, 36.6% had children under 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were not families. About 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the city, the age distribution was 28.5% under 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $41,984, and for a family was $46,585. Males had a median income of $36,391 versus $26,943 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,785. About 9.5% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under 18 and 7.2% of those 65 or over.

## Government and infrastructure

The Dickinson City Hall is located at 4403 Highway 3 and the Dickinson Public Library is located at 4411 Highway 3. The Dickinson Police Department is located at 4000 Liggio Street. Fire stations are located at 4500 FM 517 East, which also houses EMS, and 221 FM 517 West. The fire department is run by volunteers. The Dickinson Post Office is located at 2515 Termini Street.
The National Weather Service Houston/Galveston Office and the Galveston Office of Emergency Management share a facility in League City; the facility has a Dickinson postal address.

## Education
### Public schools

Most of Dickinson is a part of the Dickinson Independent School District. Some of it is a part of the Santa Fe Independent School District.
These schools serve the Dickinson ISD portion:
* Elementary schools (prekindergarten–grade 3)
** Calder Road Elementary School
** Bay Colony Elementary School
** Hughes Road Elementary School
** Jake Sibernagel Elementary School
** K. E. Little Elementary School serves Bacliff portion of DISD
** San Leon Elementary School serves San Leon portion of DISD
** Louis G. Lobit Elementary School
* Middle schools
** John and Shamarion Barber Middle School (grades 4-5)
** Dunbar Middle School
** Elva C. Lobit Middle School
* Junior high schools
** R.D. McAdams Junior High School (grades 6-8)
** Eugene Kranz Junior High School
** Dickinson Junior High School
* High schools
** Dickinson High School (grades 9-12)
Before the 2004–2005 school year, all DISD elementary schools provided education for prekindergarten through grade 5, but Barber Elementary School was turned into a middle school center for fifth grade from the 2004/05 school year to the 2007/08 school year. For the 2008/09 school year, a newly built Barber Middle School built off FM 517 and Dunbar Middle School (which previously only held the sixth grade) was set to both hold grades five and six. Students were to be separated into schools based on where they resided.
As of the 2023-2024 school year. two new junior high schools were built. The Eugene 'Gene' Kranz Junior High School opened in 2018 serving grades seven and eight until the start of the 23–24 school year, and Dickinson Junior High who along with Kranz Junior High now serves 6th-8th grade as of the 2023–2024 school year. All the elementaries now serve prekindergarten through third-grade students, and all middle schools servegrades four and five..
Bay Area Charter Middle School is a state charter school in Dickinson.

### Private schools

True Cross School, a Roman Catholic prekindergarten through grade eight school operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, is in Dickinson. True Cross School was the first Roman Catholic school on the Galveston County mainland. The school was unusable due to Hurricane Harvey. The students attended classes at Our Lady of Fatima in Texas City, Texas. The school reopened for the 2019–2020 school year.
Queen of Angels Academy, a school of the Society of St. Pius X, is located at the original Holy Cross location, and provides a classical Catholic education. Queen of Angels parish also has the traditional Latin Mass daily. Although the church structure was built in 1947, the interior has been renovated to reflect the church's attachment to Catholic tradition. The sanctuary, containing the main altar, has been praised for its beauty by many visitors.

### Colleges and universities

Dickinson is served by the College of the Mainland, a community college in Texas City.

### Public libraries

Dickinson Public Library, operated by the city, is located at 4411 Highway 3.

## Parks and recreation

The Galveston County Department of Parks and Senior Services operates the Dickinson Community Center at 2714 Highway 3.
Dickinson Bayou is a bayou that flows in and out of the city of Dickinson.
Parks are numerous around the city. Paul Hopkins Park on 517 is host to the Festival of Lights each December. Elva Lobit Park and Zempter Park are parks that host the city's youth baseball leagues. A state-maintained boat dock is present at the Highway 3 and 146 bridges.

## Notable people

* Bill Gurley, venture capitalist, is originally from Dickinson.
* Gene Kranz, NASA flight director during the Gemini and Apollo programs, is from the city.
* Donnie Little is a former American football quarterback and the first Black quarterback to play for the University of Texas.
* Tracy Scoggins is a Hollywood actress born in the city.
* Andre Ware, 1989 Heisman Trophy winner (University of Houston, quarterback) and former professional football player grew up in the area.