Incorporated by Houston in 1977, the Clear Lake Area has retained its own identity partly because of its unique characteristics. The 30,000 acre plot of land that contains the city was originally the home of Indians, and later to a Houston millionaire, John Marion 'Silver Dollar' West. During the Roaring '20s, West built a 17,000 square foot Italian Renaissance-style mansion for $250,000, which still stands today on NASA Road One. Most recently, it has served as home to the Lunar and Planetary Institute. J. M. West reigned the area until 1938, when he sold approximately 35,000 acres to the Humble Oil and Refining Company. Two large oil fields were discovered on 7,000 acres of land, leaving 23,000 acres for real estate development. In the late 1950's, Humble, now known as Exxon, decided to develop a 'new town' which is called Clear Lake City. It would comprise of a 10,500 acre job-generating industrial area called Bayport Industrial Complex, and a 10,000 acre master-planned residential community. In 1960 Humble gave 1000 acres to Rice Institute (now Rice University) who in turn gave the land to NASA. Humble created Friendswood Development Co. to manage the development of Clear Lake City.

    The Clear Lake Area now has a population of 54,000 and offers a friendly environment to families that locate to this area from around the world. The per capita income ranks in the upper 18 percent of the state. The population has nearly doubled in the last 15 years. The schools, city services and public facilities are second to none. The quality of life is rated among the best in Texas.

CLEAR LAKE SHORES A small lakefront community, it is known for its charming shops and is home to the largest privately owned marina in the United States.

EL LAGO Called the 'City of the Astronauts' because so many astronauts reside here. City officials have even erected a 'Space wall of Fame' with photographs of the 36 El Lago astronauts who have flown in space. The city, which incorporated in 1961, is located between Taylor Lake Village and Seabrook.

Friendswood In the spring of 1895 two Quakers named Frank Jacob Brown and Thomas Hadley Lewis came to this area of the Gulf Coast. What Brown and Lewis found was 1,538 acres of prairie, well drained by creeks beautifully framed with dense woods...[more]

KEMAH Was home to pirate Jean Lafifte in the early 1800s. Because of its location on Clear Creek at Galveston Bay, it has been called the 'Gateway to the Bay'.

LEAGUE CITY Founded in 1893 by John C. League, it is also known as the 'City of Oaks' because of the giant oak trees shading Main Street. It was incorporated in 1961, and is now one of the fastest growing cities in Texas...[more]

NASSAU BAY Bordered on three sides by water, Clear Lake, Nassau Bay and Cow Bayou, it is located across the street from the Johnson Space Center. It was established in 1963, and incorporated in 1970.

SEABROOK Between Galveston Bay and Clear Lake, wealthy families built weekend homes along the bay in the early 1900s. In 1930, a bridge was built to replace a hand-cranked ferry operating between Seabrook and Kemah. Seabrook was incorporated in 1961.

TAYLOR LAKE VILLAGE This residential community began as a country club development in the late 1950s.

WEBSTER Called 'Garden Town' in 1879 when James Webster established the community, it is now known as the home of more excellent restaurants per square mile than any other city in Texas

VIEW CHART