A SHORT HISTORY OF GOAT ISLAND
By Jon Burns and Shannon Smith
The first settlers came to Goat Island in June of 1843. They included the widow, children, and other family members of Jeddiah Rogers, who died defending the Alamo in 1836. His family was granted the land that became Goat Island by the Republic of Texas as a reward for his sacrifice. The family left Arkansas in late March of 1843, and arrived on the island in late June. They spent several months living in tents while rounding up enough wood to build the first buildings since the island only had a few trees. What the island did have was several hundred wild goats, leading the Rogers family to call their new home "Goat Island"
The family's original settlement stood in the middle of the island, and is now the site of the Goat Island Historical Park. By 1850 nearly 100 people lived and worked on the island. In 1856 the residents of Goat Island set up a city government and began planning the area that has become known as "Old Town." It was around this time that the islands population doubled almost overnight when a British schooner ran aground, making dozens of people instant immigrants. They were quickly accepted into the community, and their influence can be seen today in the titles carried by the town's various officials. Since then growth has been slow but steady. Fishing and maritime related work was the lifeblood of the island until the late seventies when the outside world learned about the "Key West Of Texas" and began invading the island each weekend.
From it's earliest days Goat Island has seen more than it's fair share of excitement and bizarre occurrences. The waters around the Island saw action in the Mexicain-American, Civil, Spanish-American, and Second World Wars. On top of that the island has enough stories about pirates, ghosts, smugglers, and angry lovers to fill an encyclopedia.
As of 2006, nearly a thousand people live on Goat Island year round. In addition to the full time residents the Island hosts approximately 1,500 "snowbirds" each winter and an average of 5,000 visitors each weekend during the Summer months. "Old Town" Goat Island is now a busy entertainment district featuring a variety of bars and restaurants along with souvenir and specialty shops. Residents and repeat visitors are proud of the island town and it's many oddities. The pecurlarites of the island keeps many people from making a return visit, but others embrace it and make Goat Island a part of their lives no matter where they actually live.
GEOGRAPHY
Goat Island is a little over 4 miles long, and is nearly a mile across at it's widest point, near Arkansas Ave. Most of the island is only a few feet above sea level, with the highest point being the historical park at 10 feet above sea level. The inland side of the island is home to a small commercial port that is primarily used by local fisherman and shrimpers. The East side of the island is generally considered the "local" side of the island while the South side is the "tourist" side with many rental properties and a few beachside resorts. Several attempts have been made to build a bridge connecting Goat Island to the mainland, but the locals have successfully defeated each attempt, keeping Goat Island a "Car Free Zone" where personal transportation is limited to golf carts and bikes, although a few shuttle buses and taxi's are available for tourist use.
Goat Island is well known for its beautiful beach's, a rarity along the Texas Coast. The city operates a pair of public parks on each end of the island, along with a pavilion and amphitheater in Old Town. Rogers Bay is located near the east end of the island, is a popular mooring spot for sailors, and seaplane pilots also use it as a landing strip. The Island is less than 3 miles from the mainland, but a world away from the frantic pace of life in the United States.
