South Padre Island

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South Padre Island is a barrier island in the U.S. state of Texas. The remote landform is located in Cameron County, Willacy County, and accessible by the Queen Isabella Causeway. South Padre Island was formed when the creation of the Port Mansfield Channel split Padre Island in two. The resort city of South Padre Island, a popular vacation destination, is located on the island.

Before the arrival of European settlers in North America, the island was inhabited by native tribes. Western settlement is considered to have been started by Padre Jose Nicolas Balli, who set up a cattle ranch early in the 19th century. He and his family were driven out by the Mexican–American War and were unable to return because of the American Civil War.

Most of the island was closed by the National Park Service until 1962, after which settlement was not allowed, and incomers began to establish an economy on the island and neighboring Port Isabel. By 1978, the island had a population of around 314; a decade later, it had a population of 1,012 and 111 businesses. Being mainly coastline, the island's main source of income is tourism, with tens of thousands of college students flocking to the island every Spring Break. In winter, the island hosts "winter Texans": people (often retirees) from colder states who winter in the warm Texas climate. Isla Blanca Park, a preserve and recreational park, is located at the southern end of the island.^[1]

• Geography of Texas
• North Padre Island
• Padre Island National Seashore

• Lonard, R.I.; Judd, F.W. (1981). The Terrestrial Flora of South Padre Island, Texas. Texas Memorial Museum, University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
• Judd, Frank W.; Summy, Kenneth R.; Lonard, Robert I.; Mazariegos, Ruben (2008). "Dune and Vegetation Stability at South Padre Island, Texas, United States of America". Journal of Coastal Research. 244: 992–998. doi:10.2112/07-0841.1. ISSN 0749-0208.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for South Padre Island.

• Padre Island from the Handbook of Texas Online
• Destination South Padre Island

26°15′50″N 97°11′20″W / 26.264°N 97.189°W / 26.264; -97.189

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