With 44 miles of beach and two merging rivers, the Brazosport area offers a wide range of recreational opportunities to newcomers, tourists and long-time residents. Nine separate municipalities–Brazoria, Clute, Freeport, Jones Creek, Lake Jackson, Oyster Creek, Quintana, Richwood and Surfside Beach—comprise the Brazosport Area.

Clute

Clute is home to the “Great Texas Mosquito Festival” held each year in July. The city’s crowning glory is the nationally-recognized Brazosport College. The campus occupies 156 acres of naturally landscaped grounds enclosed on two sides by Oyster Creek. The Brazosport Fine Arts Council, Art League, Brazosport Center Stage and the Museum of Natural Science and Nature Center, and Planetarium are all located in The Center for the Arts and Sciences. The college is a key provider of a highly-trained work force for industrial employers throughout the state.

Lake Jackson

Lake Jackson, the largest city in the Brazosport area, is home to Dow Chemical. To mark its continuing commitment to the Brazosport area, Brazoria County and the U.S. Gulf Coast, Dow Chemical opened the Texas Innovation Center (TXINN) in Lake Jackson in 2015. The TXINN houses advanced laboratory facilities, technical expertise centers and administrative offices for the Texas operation in the A. P. Beutel Building.

Lake Jackson is a jump-off point for endless indoor and outdoor activities.  Sea Center Texas, Lake Jackson Historical Museum, and The Gulf Coast Bird Observatory are in Lake Jackson. The Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail and the Upper Texas Coast Guide show more than a dozen birding spots in the area.

Dow Center Brazosport – Credit: Brazosport College

Freeport

Freeport, the second largest city in the Brazosport area, is less than 5 miles from the mouth of the Brazos River. Popular activities include fishing from land and offshore, crabbing, and sun bathing at Bryant Beach and Quintana Beach Park. The Gulf Coast Bird Observatory and Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge are in Freeport.

Freeport is home to Dow Chemical, one of the largest chemical companies in the world. Dow recently completed a new ethylene and plastics plant at full operating capacity the plant will be the world’s largest ethylene production facility. Freeport LNG and BASF have recently completed large manufacturing plants in Freeport.

In addition to the economic impact of Dow Chemical, BASF, and numerous other chemical companies, Freeport is a thriving port city just three miles from open Gulf of Mexico waters. Port Freeport currently ranks 27th 26th among U.S. ports in international cargo tonnage.

Surfside Beach

Surfside Beach is a popular destination for locals and Houstonians seeking sun, surf and seafood. While just 2.2 square miles in size, Surfside offers visitors a host of activities. Beach houses are available for short stays or longer family vacations. You will find homes for sale or lease along the beach and inland.

The heart of Surfside Beach is Stahlman Park on Bluewater Highway. Stahlman Park, a favorite event venue and Gulf-side park, is ideal for large occasions or casual gatherings. Views of the Gulf of Mexico via decks, a gazebo, and walkover are spectacular.

The Bluewater Highway runs the length of Surfside Beach and continues northeast to San Luis Pass and the bridge onto Galveston Island’s west beach.

Quintana Beach

Quintana Beach County Park is a 51-acre beachfront park located on the upper Texas gulf coast with day-use amenities and overnight facilities. Natural attractions include bird watching, fishing, nature viewing, swimming, surfing, and beachcombing.

Open year-round, the park features paved full-service RV campsites, self-contained cabins, tent camping, restrooms and showers, a meeting/party house complete with kitchen, an event center, covered pavilions, picnic tables, grills, playgrounds, volleyball court, hiking trails, pedestrian beach, and lighted fishing pier.

Angleton

Angleton has been the county seat of Brazoria County since 1896. Today, Angleton can boast excellent schools, affordable housing, a low crime rate, and a high quality of life just minutes from the Texas Gulf Coast and the Houston area.

The Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport (LBX) located in Angleton features an 11,000 square-foot terminal office building, a restaurant and private hangers. The $2.5 million facility is a key part of the airport’s $34 million, 20-year master plan.

The Brazoria County Fair, one of the largest fairs in Texas, is held in Angleton in October. Angleton’s current population is approaching 20,000. The Parks and Recreation Department operates and maintains more than 200 acres of developed parkland spread over eight parks.  The Angleton Recreation Center offers a variety of activities including a weight room, fitness classes, a full court gymnasium, meeting rooms and indoor pool.

Pearland

As the third largest city in the Houston MSA and the 33rd largest city in Texas, the greater Pearland area is a thriving community with a diverse and educated workforce. Driving much of its growth is the city’s location just 18 miles south of the Texas Medical Center and Central Houston. Pearland caught the eye of the nation in 2015 when the Pearland Little League West team placed third in the Little League World Series in Williamsport PA.

Pearland residents have quick access to three major thoroughfares; Interstate 45, Highway Texas 288 and the Sam Houston Parkway, opening job opportunities in major employment centers. Hobby Airport is 12 miles north of Pearland.

Pearland adopted the 20/20 Plan, a strategic outline for future success in 2012. The plan incorporates a wide range of economic development partners in government, education, healthcare and business. New initiatives are focusing on significant improvements along major corridors into city. Projects target transportation, drainage, public safety, library expansions, parks, recreation facilities and sports venues. Many of these improvements have been completed, others are being designed or are already under construction.

The Pearland Economic and Development Corporation, the City of Pearland and local commercial property owners created a Municipal Management District to oversee a 288 Corridor Master Improvement Plan. This Plan provides design, concepts and landscaping plans to help enhance key intersections along Texas 288 between Beltway 8 and County Road 59, and includes lighting, special paving, water features, sculptural elements and landscaping. The Texas 288 Toll Road is currently under construction and should be completed by late 2019.

In addition to the acclaimed Pearland Independent School District the city has a bustling college campus. University of Houston-Clear Lake Pearland Campus offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Alvin Community College offers Core classes at the UHCL Pearland campus and Shadow Creek Ranch High School, giving Pearland area students the opportunity to attend elementary school through college without leaving the area.

Pearland’s growing business community includes Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Merit Medical, Cardiovascular Systems, Kelsey Seybold, Re-Chem, Dover Energy, Aggreko, PLC, Tool-Flo and FloWorks International. In the Lower Kirby District, Lonza Houston, Inc. recently opened an 80,000-sq.ft. biotech facility. Healthcare providers in the Pearland area include Memorial Hermann Hospital, HCA Pearland Medical Center, Methodist Hospital, HealthSouth Hospital and Kelsey Seybold.