Baytown, Texas

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Baytown, Texas
| settlement_type          = City
| image_skyline            = {{multiple image
| border                 = infobox
| total_width            = 290
| image_style            = border:1;
| perrow                 = 1
| image1                 = Fred Hartman Bridge, Baytown, Texas 1209261519.jpg
}}
| image_caption            = [[Fred Hartman Bridge]]
| image_map                = Harris County Texas incorporated and unincorporated areas Baytown highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 260px
| map_caption              = Baytown, Texas
| pushpin_label            = Baytown
| pushpin_map              = Texas#USA#North America
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location in Texas
| coordinates              = {{coord|29|44|38|N|94|57|57|W|region:US-TX|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = {{USA}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Texas}}
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Texas|Counties]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Harris County, Texas|Harris]], [[Chambers County, Texas|Chambers]]
| subdivision_type3        = [[Congressional District]]
| subdivision_name3        = [[Texas's 36th congressional district|36th]]
| established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date         = January 24, 1948
| government_type          = [[Council–manager government|Council–manager]]
| leader_title             = [[City council]]
| leader_name              = Mayor Brandon Capetillo <br /> Laura Alvarado, District 1  <br /> Sarah Graham, District 2  <br /> Ken Griffith, District 3  <br /> Heather Betancourth, District 4  <br /> Jacob Powell, District 5  <br /> Mike Lester, District 6
| leader_title1            = [[City manager]]
| leader_name1             = Jason Reynolds
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_total_km2           = 98.39
| area_land_km2            = 95.59
| area_water_km2           = 2.80
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 23
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="Quickfacts: Baytown city, Texas">{{cite web| title=Quickfacts: Baytown city, Texas| url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/baytowncitytexas/PST045223| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=January 11, 2024}}</ref>
| population_total         = 83701
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_density_km2   = 807.57
| population_demonym       = Baytonian
| population_blank1_title  = [[Metropolitan Statistical Area|Metro]]
| population_blank1        = 7,206,841 ([[List of United States metropolitan areas|6th]])
| timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset               = -6
| timezone_DST             = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset_DST           = -5
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code              = 77520-77523
| area_code                = [[Area code 281]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 48-06128<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website |df=mdy }}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 1380966<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|1380966}}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|http://www.baytown.org/}}
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi         = 37.99
| area_land_sq_mi          = 36.91
| area_water_sq_mi         = 1.08
| population_density_sq_mi = 2091.58
}}
'''Baytown''' is a city in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Texas]], within [[Harris County, Texas|Harris]] and [[Chambers County, Texas|Chambers]] counties. Located in the [[Greater Houston|Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land]] [[metropolitan statistical area]], it lies on the northern side of the [[Galveston Bay]] complex near the outlets of the [[San Jacinto River (Texas)|San Jacinto River]] and [[Buffalo Bayou]]. It is the sixth-largest city within this metropolitan area and seventh largest community (including [[The Woodlands, Texas|The Woodlands]] [[Census-designated place|CDP]]). Major highways serving the city include [[Texas State Highway 99|State Highway 99]], [[Texas State Highway 146|State Highway 146]] and [[Interstate 10 in Texas|Interstate 10]]. At the [[2020 United States census|2020 U.S. census]], Baytown had a population of 83,701, and it had an estimated population of 84,324 in 2022.<ref name="Quickfacts: Baytown city, Texas">{{cite web| title=Quickfacts: Baytown city, Texas| url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/baytowncitytexas/PST045223| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=January 11, 2024}}</ref>

== History ==
{{See also| History of the Galveston Bay Area}}

[[White Americans|White American]] settlers first arrived in the now-Baytown area in 1822.<ref name="TSHA">{{cite web|title=Baytown, TX |work=Handbook of Texas Online, Texas State Historical Association |author=Buck A. Young |access-date=November 8, 2009 |url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hdb01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715035008/http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hdb01 |archive-date=July 15, 2011 }}</ref> One of its earliest settlers was Nathaniel Lynch, who set up a ferry crossing at the junction of the San Jacinto River and Buffalo Bayou. The still-operating ferry service is known as the [[Lynchburg Ferry]]. Other early settlers of Baytown included William Scott, one of [[Stephen F. Austin]]'s [[Old Three Hundred]], and [[Ashbel Smith]], who owned a [[plantations in the American South|plantation]] in the area.

The city now known as Baytown was originally three separate towns. The first of these was Goose Creek, named for the bayou of the same name where [[Canada goose|Canada geese]] wintered and whose name is still reflected in the area's [[Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District|Goose Creek school district]], whose establishment dates back to before 1850. With the discovery of the [[Goose Creek Oil Field]], the rival communities of Pelly in the late 1910s, and East Baytown in the early 1920s, developed as early [[boomtown]]s.<ref name="TSHA"/> The "East" in East Baytown was later dropped because it was west of Goose Creek.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baytown.org/about/history/default.htm |title=History of Baytown |publisher=City of Baytown |access-date=Jan 31, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091215140333/http://www.baytown.org/about/history/default.htm |archive-date=December 15, 2009 }}</ref>

Serious talk of merging the three cities began shortly after [[World War I]], but the community of Baytown was opposed to this idea. However, in 1947, the three cities finally agreed to consolidate. The citizens settled on the name Baytown for the new combined city. Baytown as it is known today was officially founded January 24, 1948.<ref name="TSHA"/>

In 1916, the [[Humble Oil and Refining Company]], founded by one-time Texas governor [[Ross S. Sterling]] and his associates, in developing the Goose Creek Oil Field, built the first [[offshore drilling]] operation in Texas and the second in the United States. The company later built the [[Baytown Refinery]], which would become one of the largest Exxon refineries in the world. Since then, many other refineries have been built in the area. [[Exxon-Mobil]] is still one of the major employers in the city and now runs over 10 plants in the area including a newly announced 2 billion dollar expansion to its chemical facilities in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ExxonMobil announces $2 billion Baytown chemical expansion project; releases study showing value of investments to U.S. economy|url=https://corporate.exxonmobil.com:443/News/Newsroom/News-releases/2019/0502_ExxonMobil-Announces-2-Billion-Baytown-Chemical-expansion-project|access-date=2021-02-03|website=ExxonMobil|language=en}}</ref>

Following the discovery of oil nearby, the population of Baytown and the tri-cities boomed. Many immigrants arrived in Baytown, among them a number of Jewish families who founded a synagogue, K’nesseth Israel, in 1930.<ref>[http://www.isjl.org/history/archive/index.html Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities], [http://www.isjl.org/history/archive/tx/baytown.html "Baytown, Texas"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402064358/http://www.isjl.org/history/archive/tx/baytown.html |date=April 2, 2012 }}</ref>

Steel manufacturing in Baytown began in 1970 when [[United States Steel]] opened the Texas Works near the city. The plant was officially closed in July 1986, due to a poor economic climate and the decline of American steel in the 1980s. The mill was later purchased by Jindal Steel and now operates as [[JSW Steel Ltd|JSW Steel USA, Inc]].<ref name="TSHA"/>

== Geography ==
[[File:Houston Galveston area towns roadmap.gif|left|thumb|245px|Baytown connects to I-10 via State Highways 99 and 146, and the [[Fred Hartman Bridge]] connects SH 146 southwest to [[La Porte, Texas|La Porte]].]]

The city of Baytown is located at the mouth of the [[San Jacinto River (Texas)|San Jacinto River]] on [[Galveston Bay]], {{convert|26|mi}} by road east of [[Houston]]. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|94.6|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|91.8|sqkm|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|2.8|sqkm|order=flip}}, 2.92%, is covered by water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4806128| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Baytown city, Texas| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=July 27, 2015| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213084627/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4806128| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>

Baytown is located on the [[Western Gulf coastal grasslands|Gulf coastal plain]], and its vegetation is classified as temperate grassland and [[marsh]]es. The municipalities have been built on reclaimed marshes, [[swamp]]s, and [[prairie]]s, which are all still visible in undeveloped parts of the Galveston Bay area.<ref>Blackburn (2004), p. 40.<br />"The acreage of swamps and bottomlands ... found in the Galveston Bay system ... [is] about 36,000&nbsp;acres..."<br />Eubanks (2006), p. 10.<br />{{cite web
 |title=Habitats page 
 |url=http://www.gbep.state.tx.us/about-galveston-bay/habitats.asp 
 |publisher=Galveston Bay Estuary Program 
 |access-date=Sep 9, 2009 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090117215348/http://www.gbep.state.tx.us/about-galveston-bay/habitats.asp 
 |archive-date=January 17, 2009 
 |df=mdy 
}}<br />{{cite news
 |title=Draining the Swamp: A scorched-earth management philosophy is sucking the life out of our region's wetlands 
 |url=http://www.houstonpress.com/2005-01-13/news/draining-the-swamp/ 
 |newspaper=Houston Press 
 |access-date=Sep 9, 2009 
 |quote=Any local knows this city was built on a sweaty, pestilent, mosquito-infested swamp. 
}}</ref> Baytown is bordered by water on three sides. Along the south and west is Galveston Bay. On the east is [[Cedar Bayou]]. The city is roughly bordered along the north by [[Interstate 10 in Texas|Interstate 10]]. Portions of the city to the east of Cedar Bayou lie in [[Chambers County, Texas|Chambers County]].

Flatness of the local terrain and proximity to the bay have made [[flood]]ing a recurring problem for the area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crwr.utexas.edu/gis/gishyd98/class/trmproj/ahrens/prepro.htm |title=Flood Forecasting for the Buffalo Bayou Using CRWR-PrePro and HEC-HMS |publisher=Center for Research in Water Resources, The University of Texas at Austin |access-date=Jan 10, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070204065252/http://www.crwr.utexas.edu/gis/gishyd98/class/trmproj/ahrens/prepro.htm |archive-date=February 4, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Baytown and surrounding communities once relied on [[groundwater]] for its needs, but severe land [[subsidence]] has forced much the city to turn to ground-level water sources.<ref name="USGS_Subsidence_Fault_Creep">{{cite web | url=http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/circ1182/pdf/07Houston.pdf | title=Houston-Galveston, Texas: Managing Coastal Subsidence | publisher=United States Geological Survey | access-date=Jan 11, 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070113025911/http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/circ1182/pdf/07Houston.pdf| archive-date= January 13, 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref>

=== Geology ===
The land beneath Baytown consists of layers of sand and clay to great depths. These layers were created by millennia of river-borne [[sediment]]s which gradually incorporated plant and animal matter, creating the petroleum deposits for which the [[Gulf of Mexico|Gulf Coast]] is now known.<ref>{{cite web|author=Vipulanandan, C. |url=http://cigmat.cive.uh.edu/CIGMAT%20Conference/CIGMAT-08/Present%2008/C.Vipu.pdf |title=Geotechnical Engineering Challengers in the Houston Area |publisher=CIGMAT-2008 Conference & Exhibition |year=2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100625075122/http://cigmat.cive.uh.edu/CIGMAT%20Conference/CIGMAT-08/Present%2008/C.Vipu.pdf |archive-date=June 25, 2010 |df=mdy }}</ref>

The region around the city has numerous [[Fault (geology)|faults]], many considered active, but none have produced significant earthquakes in recorded history.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.ig.utexas.edu/research/projects/eq/faq/tx.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020209050102/http://www.ig.utexas.edu/research/projects/eq/faq/tx.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=2002-02-09 | title=Texas Earthquakes | publisher=University of Texas Institute for Geophysics |date=July 2001 | access-date=August 29, 2007}}</ref> These faults tend to move at a smooth rate in what is termed "[[Aseismic creep|fault creep]]", which reduces the risk of an earthquake.<ref name="USGS_Subsidence_Fault_Creep" /> The one significant earthquake that has been reported in the area was the result of an underground water and petroleum extraction.<ref name="Garcia">Garcia, T.D. "Subsidence and Surface Faulting at San Jacinto Monument, Goose Creek Oil Field, and Baytown, Texas".  ''Field Trip Guidebook on Environmental Impact of Clays along the Upper Texas Coast. Prepared by Theron D. Garcia, Douglas W. Ming, and Lisa Kay Tuck for the Clay Minerals Society, 28th Annual Meeting. Held October 5–10, 1991, in Houston, TX.'' pp. A33-A44. Hosted with National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, and the Lunar and Planetary Institute.</ref>

=== Climate ===
{{Further|Climate of Houston}}

Baytown's climate is classified as [[humid subtropical climate|humid&nbsp;subtropical]] (''Cfa'' in [[Köppen climate classification#Group C: Temperate/mesothermal climates|Köppen climate classification system]]).<ref>{{cite web
 |title=Weather Stats 
 |work=Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau 
 |access-date=October 11, 2008 
 |url=http://www.visithoustontexas.com/media/statistics/Houston_Stats_Weather 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230150744/http://www.visithoustontexas.com/media/statistics/Houston_Stats_Weather 
 |archive-date=December 30, 2008 
}}</ref> Spring [[Supercell|supercell thunderstorms]] sometimes create [[tornado]]es (but not to the extent found in [[tornado alley]]).<ref>{{cite book | title=USA business: the portable encyclopedia for doing business with the United States| author=Shippey, Karla C. | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EHLUyBTpPxgC | publisher=World Trade Press | year=1995 | page=203 | isbn=978-1-885073-01-3}}<br />{{cite web | url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/severe/swa/tornadoes.htm | title=Houston/Galveston, Texas | publisher=NOAA: National Weather Service Forecast Office | access-date=Sep 18, 2009}}</ref> Prevailing winds from the south and southeast bring heat from the deserts of [[Mexico]] and moisture from the [[Gulf of Mexico]].<ref>{{cite web
 |title=Weather Stats 
 |work=Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau 
 |access-date=October 11, 2008 
 |url=http://www.visithoustontexas.com/media/statistics/Houston_Stats_Weather 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230150744/http://www.visithoustontexas.com/media/statistics/Houston_Stats_Weather 
 |archive-date=December 30, 2008 
}}<br /> Melosi (2007), p. 13.</ref>

Summer temperatures typically have highs near {{convert|90|°F|°C}} though higher temperatures are not uncommon.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/golf/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/77573?from=tenDay_bottomnav_undeclared |publisher=The Weather Channel |title=Monthly Averages for League City, TX (77573) |access-date=Dec 14, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019173244/http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/golf/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/77573?from=tenDay_bottomnav_undeclared |archive-date=October 19, 2012 }}<br />{{cite web |url=http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/max90temp.html |title=National Climatic Data Center |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]], [[United States Department of Commerce]] |date=June 23, 2004 |access-date=December 14, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061210082240/http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/max90temp.html |archive-date=December 10, 2006 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}<br />{{cite web |url=http://www.met.utah.edu/jhorel/html/wx/climate/rh.html |title=Average Relative Humidity |publisher=Department of Meteorology at the [[University of Utah]] |access-date=December 14, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209105754/http://www.met.utah.edu/jhorel/html/wx/climate/rh.html |archive-date=December 9, 2006 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref> The city's proximity to the bay and the winds that it generates moderate the area's temperatures and ease the effects of the humidity, creating a more pleasant climate than inland communities like Houston.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.met.utah.edu/jhorel/html/wx/climate/windavg.html |title=WIND – AVERAGE SPEED (mph) |publisher=Department of Meteorology, [[University of Utah]] |year=1993 |access-date=January 10, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209112400/http://www.met.utah.edu/jhorel/html/wx/climate/windavg.html |archive-date=December 9, 2006 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref> Winters in the area are temperate with typical January high of {{convert|61|°F|°C}} and lows are near {{convert|42|°F|°C}}. Snowfall is rare. Annual rainfall averages are around or exceed {{convert|60|in|cm}}.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/outdoors/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USTX0087 | title=Monthly Averages for Baytown, TX | publisher=The Weather Channel | access-date=Jan 11, 2010}}</ref>

Excessive [[ozone]] levels can occur due to industrial activities; nearby Houston is ranked among the most ozone-polluted cities in the United States.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://lungaction.org/reports/sota05_analysis4.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050429071936/http://lungaction.org/reports/sota05_analysis4.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=April 29, 2005 | title=State of the Air 2005, National and Regional Analysis | publisher=American Lung Association | date=Mar 25, 2005| access-date=Jan 11, 2010}}</ref> The industries located along the ship channel and the bay are a major cause of the pollution.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cleanhouston.org/air/index.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041215015743/http://www.cleanhouston.org/air/index.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 15, 2004 | title=Citizens League for Environmental Action Now | date=Jan 8, 2004 | access-date=Jan 11, 2010}}</ref>

[[Hurricane]]s are a substantial concern during the fall season. Though [[Galveston Island]] and the [[Bolivar Peninsula]] provide some shielding, Baytown still faces more danger than Houston and other inland communities, particularly because of storm surge, as well as severe land subsidence in some low-lying areas of town due to excess pumping of groundwater in the 1960s (see [[Wooster, Baytown, Texas|Brownwood subdivision]])<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rice.edu/~lda/wet/bwood/sog/index.htm | title=Back to nature | publisher=Rice University | date=May 28, 2010 | access-date=Aug 15, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924091020/http://www.rice.edu/~lda/wet/bwood/sog/index.htm | archive-date=September 24, 2015 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref> by area refineries and municipalities.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/26676728 | title=Wide Ike and shallow coast mean strong surge | work=NBC News | date=Sep 12, 2008 | quote=Houston is buffered by Galveston Island – which sits in the way of the surge – and the bay system }}<br />{{cite news | author=Spinner, Kate | url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090531/article/905311057?Title=Hurricane-forecasters-zero-in-on-threat-of-surge | title=Hurricane forecasters zero in on threat of surge | work=Sarasota Herald Tribune | date=May 31, 2009 | quote=Just north of Galveston Island, the Bolivar Peninsula shields Galveston Bay much like Lido Key and Longboat Key shield Sarasota Bay. | access-date=January 11, 2010 | archive-date=June 5, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605103443/http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090531/article/905311057?Title=Hurricane-forecasters-zero-in-on-threat-of-surge | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="TM: Houston sinking">{{cite journal | title=Disaster Part II. Houston is sinking into the sea | author=Broyles, William | journal=Texas Monthly | date=December 1974 | page=78 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gisEAAAAMBAJ | quote=At the height of such a hurricane [the 1900 Galveston Hurricane] today, the temporary shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico will be ten miles inland.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | author=Berger, Eric | url=http://blogs.chron.com/sciguy/archives/2008/09/post_39.html | title=Would a category 3 hurricane surge flood your home? | work=Houston Chronicle Blogs | date=Sep 9, 2008}}</ref> Hurricanes [[Hurricane Carla|Carla]] (1961), [[Hurricane Alicia|Alicia]] (1983), [[Hurricane Ike|Ike]] (2008), and [[Hurricane Harvey|Harvey]] (2017) were the four most damaging hurricanes to affect Baytown.

{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | collapsed   = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Baytown, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1983–present)
 | Jan record high F  = 83
 | Feb record high F  = 86
 | Mar record high F  = 90
 | Apr record high F  = 93
 | May record high F  = 96
 | Jun record high F  = 102
 | Jul record high F  = 102
 | Aug record high F  = 107
 | Sep record high F  = 109
 | Oct record high F  = 94
 | Nov record high F  = 88
 | Dec record high F  = 84
 | year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 76.7
|Feb avg record high F = 79.5
|Mar avg record high F = 82.8
|Apr avg record high F = 86.3
|May avg record high F = 90.6
|Jun avg record high F = 95.5
|Jul avg record high F = 97.3
|Aug avg record high F = 98.5
|Sep avg record high F = 95.2
|Oct avg record high F = 90.4
|Nov avg record high F = 84.0
|Dec avg record high F = 79.1
|year avg record high F = 99.6

 | Jan high F = 62.9
 | Feb high F = 66.4
 | Mar high F = 72.1
 | Apr high F = 77.5
 | May high F = 84.2
 | Jun high F = 89.2
 | Jul high F = 91.5
 | Aug high F = 92.3
 | Sep high F = 88.5
 | Oct high F = 81.6
 | Nov high F = 71.4
 | Dec high F = 64.5
 | year high F = 78.5
 | Jan mean F = 52.1
 | Feb mean F = 55.8
 | Mar mean F = 62.0
 | Apr mean F = 68.0
 | May mean F = 75.4
 | Jun mean F = 80.9
 | Jul mean F = 83.1
 | Aug mean F = 83.3
 | Sep mean F = 78.8
 | Oct mean F = 70.6
 | Nov mean F = 60.7
 | Dec mean F = 54.1
 | year mean F = 68.7
 | Jan low F = 41.4
 | Feb low F = 45.3
 | Mar low F = 52.0
 | Apr low F = 58.5
 | May low F = 66.7
 | Jun low F = 72.7
 | Jul low F = 74.6
 | Aug low F = 74.3
 | Sep low F = 69.0
 | Oct low F = 59.6
 | Nov low F = 50.1
 | Dec low F = 43.6
 | year low F = 59.0

|Jan avg record low F = 28.4
|Feb avg record low F = 32.6
|Mar avg record low F = 36.2
|Apr avg record low F = 44.4
|May avg record low F = 54.2
|Jun avg record low F = 65.9
|Jul avg record low F = 71.1
|Aug avg record low F = 70.5
|Sep avg record low F = 58.4
|Oct avg record low F = 45.5
|Nov avg record low F = 35.5
|Dec avg record low F = 31.2
|year avg record low F = 26.7

 | Jan record low F  = 17
 | Feb record low F  = 14
 | Mar record low F  = 25
 | Apr record low F  = 30
 | May record low F  = 43
 | Jun record low F  = 58
 | Jul record low F  = 62
 | Aug record low F  = 58
 | Sep record low F  = 48
 | Oct record low F  = 30
 | Nov record low F  = 25
 | Dec record low F  = 7
 | year record low F = 
 | precipitation colour   = green
 | Jan precipitation inch = 4.85
 | Feb precipitation inch = 3.78
 | Mar precipitation inch = 3.94
 | Apr precipitation inch = 4.51
 | May precipitation inch = 6.01
 | Jun precipitation inch = 7.08
 | Jul precipitation inch = 5.49
 | Aug precipitation inch = 6.82
 | Sep precipitation inch = 6.41
 | Oct precipitation inch = 6.13
 | Nov precipitation inch = 4.94
 | Dec precipitation inch = 4.77
 | year precipitation inch = 64.73
 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
 | Jan precipitation days  = 10.6
 | Feb precipitation days  = 9.3
 | Mar precipitation days  = 9.0
 | Apr precipitation days  = 7.9
 | May precipitation days  = 7.7
 | Jun precipitation days  = 10.1
 | Jul precipitation days  = 10.1
 | Aug precipitation days  = 10.7
 | Sep precipitation days  = 9.7
 | Oct precipitation days  = 7.1
 | Nov precipitation days  = 8.3
 | Dec precipitation days  = 10.5
 | year precipitation days = 111.0
 | Jan snow inch = 0.0
 | Feb snow inch = 0.0
 | Mar snow inch = 0.0
 | Apr snow inch = 0.0
 | May snow inch = 0.0
 | Jun snow inch = 0.0
 | Jul snow inch = 0.0
 | Aug snow inch = 0.0
 | Sep snow inch = 0.0
 | Oct snow inch = 0.0
 | Nov snow inch = 0.0
 | Dec snow inch = 0.0
 | year snow inch = 0.0
 | unit snow days = 0.1 in
 | Jan snow days  = 0.0
 | Feb snow days  = 0.0
 | Mar snow days  = 0.0
 | Apr snow days  = 0.0
 | May snow days  = 0.0
 | Jun snow days  = 0.0
 | Jul snow days  = 0.0
 | Aug snow days  = 0.0
 | Sep snow days  = 0.0
 | Oct snow days  = 0.0
 | Nov snow days  = 0.0
 | Dec snow days  = 0.0
 | year snow days = 0.0
 | source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=hgx
|title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 11, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00410586&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 11, 2023}}</ref>
}}

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
|1950= 22983
|1960= 28159
|1970= 43980
|1980= 56923
|1990= 63850
|2000= 66430
|2010= 71802
|2020= 83701
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015|df=mdy }}</ref><ref name="Quickfacts: Baytown city, Texas">{{cite web| title=Quickfacts: Baytown city, Texas| url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/baytowncitytexas/PST045223| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=January 11, 2024}}</ref>
|align=right}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Baytown racial composition as of 2020'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4806128&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><br /> (NH = Non-Hispanic){{efn|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.<ref>{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>}}
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|24,137
|28.84%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|13,652
|16.31%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|233
|0.28%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|1,447
|1.73%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|42
|0.05%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|526
|0.63%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|2,250
|2.69%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|41,414
|49.48%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''83,701'''
|
|}
The [[2020 United States Census]] determined Baytown had a population of 83,701, up from 71,802 people at the [[2010 United States Census]].<ref name="Quickfacts: Baytown city, Texas">{{cite web| title=Quickfacts: Baytown city, Texas| url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/baytowncitytexas/PST045223| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=January 11, 2024}}</ref> In 2010, its population density was {{convert|2,025.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 26,203 housing units at an average density of {{convert|802.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}} in 2010, and 28,802 housing units in 2019.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates 2019|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Baytown%20city,%20Texas%20population%20density&tid=ACSDP1Y2019.DP05&hidePreview=false|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213015748/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Baytown%20city,%20Texas%20population%20density&tid=ACSDP1Y2019.DP05&hidePreview=false |archive-date=February 13, 2021 |access-date=2021-02-03|website=data.census.gov}}</ref> As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 83,701 people, 26,592 households, and 18,169 families residing in the city.

In 2019, the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]] estimated that the racial and ethnic makeup of the city was 31.8% [[Non-Hispanic whites|non-Hispanic white]], 17.2% [[African Americans|Black or African American]], 0.1% [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian or Alaska Native]], 1.8% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.1% from some other race, and 2.0% from [[Multiracial Americans|two or more races]]. Approximately 47.0% of the local population were [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latin American]] of any race.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=ACS Demographic and Housing 5-Year Estimates 2019|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Baytown%20city,%20Texas%20population%20density&tid=ACSDP5Y2019.DP05&hidePreview=false|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208135125/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Baytown%20city,%20Texas%20population%20density&tid=ACSDP5Y2019.DP05&hidePreview=false |archive-date=February 8, 2021 |access-date=2021-02-03|website=data.census.gov}}</ref> Of the Hispanic or Latin American population, the largest group was [[Mexican Americans]]. At the 2010 U.S. census, the racial and ethnic makeup of the city was 62.9% [[White Americans|White]], 15.5% African American, 0.6% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 14.42% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 43.4% of the population.

Of the 2010 population, 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were not families. About 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.32. The 2019 American Community Survey estimated the average family size declined to 2.83.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=ACS Households and Families Estimates 2019|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Baytown%20city,%20Texas%20households&tid=ACSST1Y2019.S1101&hidePreview=false|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-03|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

In 2019, Baytown's population had a distribution of 95.3 males per 100 females aged 18 and older, and 68.2 males per 100 females aged 65 and older.<ref name=":0" /> In 2010 the city's population was distributed as 29.2% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $48,191, and for a family was $45,346 in 2010, and the median income in 2019 was $57,765.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=ACS Annual Income Estimates 2019|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Baytown%20city,%20Texas%20income&tid=ACSST1Y2019.S1901&hidePreview=false|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208050658/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Baytown%20city,%20Texas%20income&tid=ACSST1Y2019.S1901&hidePreview=false |archive-date=February 8, 2021 |access-date=2021-02-04|website=data.census.gov}}</ref> Residents of Baytown had a per capita income of $26,978 in 2019,<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=ACS Per Capita Income 2019|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Baytown%20city,%20Texas%20per%20capita%20income&tid=ACSST1Y2019.S1902&hidePreview=false|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209090519/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Baytown%20city,%20Texas%20per%20capita%20income&tid=ACSST1Y2019.S1902&hidePreview=false |archive-date=February 9, 2021 |access-date=2021-02-04|website=data.census.gov}}</ref> and an estimated 14.0% lived at or below the poverty line.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=ACS Poverty Line Statistics 2019|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Baytown%20city,%20Texas%20poverty&tid=ACSST1Y2019.S1701&hidePreview=false|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-04|website=data.census.gov}}</ref> According to 2010's census, males had a median income of $38,039 versus $25,012 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,641. About 13.0% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.9% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

The median value of owner-occupied housing units was $133,900 in 2019 and the median monthly cost with a mortgage was $1,360. The median cost without a mortgage was $422. Baytown had a median gross rent of $938.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=ACS Selected Housing Characteristics 2019|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Baytown%20city,%20Texas%20rent&tid=ACSDP1Y2019.DP04&hidePreview=false|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208121242/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Baytown%20city,%20Texas%20rent&tid=ACSDP1Y2019.DP04&hidePreview=false |archive-date=February 8, 2021 |access-date=2021-02-04|website=data.census.gov}}</ref> In 2010 the American Community Survey determined the median owner-occupied housing unit value at $101,700.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=ACS Selected Housing Characteristics 2010|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Baytown%20city,%20Texas%20rent&tid=ACSDP1Y2010.DP04&hidePreview=false|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209152542/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Baytown%20city,%20Texas%20rent&tid=ACSDP1Y2010.DP04&hidePreview=false |archive-date=February 9, 2021 |access-date=2021-02-04|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

As of 2010, the property crime rate in the community was 4.6% compared to 5.45% for Harris County as a whole. The violent crime rate was 0.5% compared to 1.03% for Harris County.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.trulia.com/real_estate/Baytown-Texas/community-info/ | publisher=Trulia, Inc. | title=Baytown Community Info | access-date=Jan 11, 2010}}</ref>

[[Christianity]] is the most prevalent religion in Baytown and the Greater Houston area. The [[Latin Church]]'s [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston|Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston]] of the [[Catholic Church]] is the largest Christian body in the city, followed by [[Baptists]] of the [[Southern Baptist Convention]] and [[Baptist General Convention of Texas|Texas Baptists]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Agency|first=Mere|date=|title=SBC Churches Directory|url=https://churches.sbc.net/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811073354/https://churches.sbc.net/ |archive-date=August 11, 2020 |access-date=2021-02-04|website=churches.sbc.net|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Texas Baptists - Churches|url=https://texasbaptists.org/churches/|access-date=2021-02-04|website=texasbaptists.org|language=en}}</ref> the [[Assemblies of God USA]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Find a Church|url=https://ag.org/Resources/Directories/Find%20a%20Church?C=Baytown&S=TX|access-date=2021-02-04|website=ag.org|language=en}}</ref> and [[United Methodist Church]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Search - Find A Church|url=https://www.umc.org/en/find-a-church/search|access-date=2021-02-04|website=The United Methodist Church|language=en|archive-date=April 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413050031/https://www.umc.org/en/find-a-church/search|url-status=dead}}</ref> Other prominent religions include [[Judaism]] and [[Islam]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-25|title=Baytown synagogue celebrates 90 years, restoration|url=https://tjpnews.com/baytown-synagogue-celebrates-90-years-restoration/|access-date=2021-02-04|website=Texas Jewish Post|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Baytown's K'Nesseth Israel: the little congregation that could|url=http://jhvonline.com/baytowns-knesseth-israel-the-little-congregation-that-could-p9299-90.htm|access-date=2021-02-04|website=jhvonline.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Turner|first=Allan|date=2016-08-10|title=Spanish-language mosque opens new doors for Hispanic Muslims in Houston|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Spanish-language-mosque-opens-new-doors-for-9132297.php|access-date=2021-02-04|website=Houston Chronicle|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Economy ==
[[File:Sunrise Texas.jpg|thumb|Baytown Refinery]]
The centerpieces of Baytown's economies are three industrial districts the city has created, all outside the city limits but within its [[extra-territorial jurisdiction]]. These districts primarily support petroleum and petrochemical processing. The anchors of the business community are [[ExxonMobil]], [[Covestro]], and [[Chevron Phillips]]. The ExxonMobil Baytown Complex, founded in 1919, is one of the world's largest industrial complexes.<ref name="Economic Development">{{cite web |url = http://global.cushmanwakefield.com/en/news/2014/12/cedar-crossing-houston/|title = Economic Development|publisher = Cushman & Wakefield|access-date = September 4, 2015}}</ref> The [[Baytown Refinery]] located there is the largest in the United States.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/rankings/refineries.htm | title=U.S. Refineries* Operable Capacity | publisher=Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration |date=July 2008}}</ref> The Covestro (former [[Bayer]] MaterialScience) Baytown Industrial Park is the largest of Covestro's U.S. chemical processing sites producing a variety of petrochemical products. The [[Cedar Bayou plant]], in operation since 1963, is Chevron Phillips Chemical's largest manufacturing site in the United States.{{Clarify|date=February 2017|reason=Missing words here}} It is a newer and growing industrial district which is quickly acquiring new tenants such as [[Jindal Steel and Power Limited]] and [[Samson AG|Samson Controls]].<ref name="Economic Development"/>

In addition to the heavy industry in the business community, Baytown is home to the Cedar Crossing Industrial Park. With a total expanse of 15,000 acres, Cedar Crossing Industrial Park is considered the world's fifth largest [[industrial park]] and the largest on the Gulf Coast. Cedar Crossing has attracted many top-tier companies with significant operations, including [[Home Depot]]'s 755,000-square-foot distribution hub, [[Walmart]]'s 4.2 million-square-foot import center (their largest in the U.S.), JSW Steel's plate and pipe manufacturing facilities, and [[Borusan|Borusan Mannesmann]]'s $148 million steel pipe manufacturing facility. Other occupants include [[Exel]], [[S&B Engineers]], [[National Oilwell]], [[GE Water]], [[TMK-IPSCO]], [[Century Asphalt]], [[Samson Controls]], and [[LS Energy Fabrication]].<ref name="Economic Development"/>

{{As of|2006}}, the largest taxpayers in the city were ExxonMobil Company, CenterPoint Energy, [[Verizon Southwest]], [[Wal-Mart Stores]], Inc., [[Continental Airlines]], Inc., [[Valero Marketing & Supply]], [[Car Son Bay]] LP, [[Memorial NW Pavilion Trust]], [[Camden Property Trust]], and [[LCY Elastomers]] LP.<ref name="Economic Development"/>

== Culture ==
[[File:Texas Street Fest Baytown.jpg|thumb|Texas Street Fest in Baytown, Texas]]
The Downtown Arts District is home to a plethora of different arts and cultures programs such as the Baytown Little Theater, Lee College Performing Arts Center, Art Gallery of Baytown, and the Baytown Public Art Program.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Directory of Art and Culture Activities in Baytown, TX|url=https://www.visitbaytown.com/arts-culture|access-date=2021-02-04|website=visitbaytown|language=en}}</ref> The Baytown Little Theater is a [[community theater]] in Baytown run entirely by volunteers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About the BLT {{!}} Baytown Little Theater|url=https://baytownlittletheater.org/about-us/|access-date=2021-02-04|website=baytownlittletheater.org}}</ref> The theater has been in operation for more than 55 years and is one of the longest continuously running community theaters in Texas. The theater typically produces six shows each year from September to August, with each show giving seven performances. The Baytown Little Theater is known for their summer musical. Past performances include The Wizard of Oz and Disney's Little Mermaid.

The Lee College Performing Arts Center hosts a number of theater performances, symphony performances, and art exhibits year around. The Baytown Symphony Orchestra, in residence at Lee College Performing Arts Center,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Baytown Symphony Orchestra - History|url=http://bsocom.ipower.com/history.html|access-date=2021-02-04|website=BSO|language=en}}</ref> performs several concerts throughout the year for the enjoyment of the public.

The Art Gallery of Baytown is also in the Downtown Arts District, and houses the Art League of Baytown. The Art League was organized in 1954 and incorporated as a Texas non-profit corporation in 1963.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Should You Visit Baytown for Art? Absolutely!|url=https://www.houstoniamag.com/sponsored/2020/03/should-you-visit-baytown-for-art-absolutely|access-date=2021-02-04|website=Houstonia Magazine|language=en-US}}</ref> The gallery features works of art created by local artists. There is also a variety of gifts available for purchase such as paintings, pottery, jewelry, stained glass, photos, cards and other unique art.

In the Downtown Arts District are the roots of the Baytown Public Art Program spearheaded by the City of Baytown Tourism Division. Overseeing the program is the Public Art Visioning Committee with members from the Art League of Baytown, Lee College Art Department, Sterling Municipal Library, Parks and Recreation Department, and the Baytown Tourism Division.<ref>{{Cite web|last=KTRK|date=2018-05-01|title=New art popping up around Baytown|url=https://abc13.com/3413077/|access-date=2021-02-04|website=ABC13 Houston|language=en}}</ref>

=== Tourism and recreation ===
[[File:Baytown-005-01.jpg|thumb|[[Baytown Nature Center]]]]

[[Baytown Nature Center]], located on a {{convert|450|acre|km2|adj=on}} peninsula along the Houston Ship Channel and surrounded on three sides by Burnet Bay, Crystal Bay, and Scott Bay, is both a recreation area and a wildlife sanctuary that is home to hundreds of bird species, mammals, reptiles, and aquatic species.<ref name="Overview">{{cite web | url=http://www.baytownnaturecenter.org/bnc_information/features_activities.html | title=BNC Facilities: Nature Center Overview | publisher=Friends of the Baytown Nature Center | access-date=Nov 4, 2009 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608164927/http://www.baytownnaturecenter.org/bnc_information/features_activities.html | archive-date=June 8, 2009 | df=mdy-all }}</ref>

[[Royal Purple Raceway|Houston Raceway]] is a [[motorsports]] complex featuring [[National Hot Rod Association]] (NHRA) races and a weekly drag racing program. Established in 1988, the venue accommodates 40,000 fans and included a high-banked dirt oval race track that hosts races each year from March through October.<ref>{{cite web
 |title=Houston Raceway Park – About Us 
 |access-date=November 8, 2009 
 |url=http://www.houstonraceway.com/index.php?id=6 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401024338/http://www.houstonraceway.com/index.php?id=6 
 |archive-date=April 1, 2009 
}}</ref>

=== Media ===
''The [[Baytown Sun]]'' serves as the city and urban area's newspaper.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The History of the Baytown Sun|url=https://baytownsun.com/site/history.html|access-date=2021-02-04|website=BaytownSun.com|language=en}}</ref> [[Media of Houston|Houston television, newspaper, and radio outlets]] also provide coverage of Baytown as part of the [[Greater Houston|Greater Houston metropolitan area]].

== Government and infrastructure ==

=== Local government ===
Baytown has a [[Council–manager government|council–manager]] form of government. Jason Reynolds currently serves as the Baytown City Manager. Brandon Capetillo is Mayor while council members are Laura Alvarado, Sarah Graham, Ken Griffith, Heather Betancourth, Jacob Powell, and Mike Lester.

===City services===
[[File:BFD E2.JPG|thumb|One of the engines of the Baytown Fire Department]]
The City of Baytown operates the Sterling Municipal Library, which has a collection of 300,000 items.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Library {{!}} Baytown, TX|url=https://baytown.org/206/Library|access-date=2021-02-04|website=baytown.org}}</ref> The original Goose Creek Library opened in 1925;<ref>{{Cite web|title=TSHA {{!}} Goose Creek, TX|url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/goose-creek-tx|access-date=2021-02-04|website=www.tshaonline.org}}</ref> the first county library in Texas, it was funded by the private donations of [[Humble Oil and Refining Company]] president [[Ross S. Sterling]]. The current Sterling Library was dedicated in 1963. The library's space increased to {{convert|50500|sqft|m2}} after bond programs in 1975 and 1995.<ref>"[http://www.baytownlibrary.org/aboutus.php About Us]." Sterling Municipal Library. Retrieved on November 5, 2009.</ref> In addition Baytown residents are served by the [[Harris County Public Library]] system.

The Baytown Police Department has 167 sworn officers and 52 support personnel as of 2014. The department provides all-hour patrol services and has many special units: SWAT, Dive Team, D.A.R.E., Hot Spot, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, Investigations, Police Academy, Bomb Squad, and others.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Police {{!}} Baytown, TX|url=https://baytown.org/195/Police|access-date=2021-02-04|website=baytown.org}}</ref>

Fire, rescue, hazardous materials response, and EMS are provided by the Baytown Fire Department,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fire & EMS {{!}} Baytown, TX|url=https://baytown.org/196/Fire-EMS|access-date=2021-02-04|website=baytown.org}}</ref> an all-professional department of approximately 140 sworn members. The Fire Department is led by Kenneth Dobson and is an ISO 1 rated agency.

=== County, state and federal services ===
The [[United States Postal Service]] operates the Baytown Main Post Office at 601 West Baker Road and the Baytown Post Office "Station A" at 3508 Market Street. The "Station A" designation is a leftover from Baytown's pre-consolidation days. Prior to consolidation in 1948 each of the tri-cities, (Baytown, Pelly, and Goose Creek), had their own post office. After 1948 when the tri-cities consolidated under the name Baytown, Goose Creek's post office became the main post office but they still needed a post office to service the rest of town so the Old Baytown Post Office became "Station A".<ref>"[https://archive.today/20120715085240/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/12759?p=3&s=TX&service_name=post_office&z=Baytown Post Office Location – BAYTOWN]." ''[[United States Postal Service]]''. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.</ref><ref>"[https://archive.today/20120721000149/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/70628?p=1&s=TX&service_name=post_office&z=Baytown Post Office Location – STATION A BAYTOWN]." ''[[United States Postal Service]]''. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.</ref>

Harris County Precinct Two operates Baytown Park, a senior citizen sports complex, at 4500 Hemlock Drive.<ref name="BaytownPark">"[http://www.hctx.net/CmpDocuments/2/Parks/BAYTOWN.pdf Baytown Park] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227005131/http://www.hctx.net/CmpDocuments/2/Parks/BAYTOWN.pdf |date=February 27, 2009 }}." ''[[Harris County, Texas]]''. Retrieved on November 30, 2008.</ref> Baytown Park includes two unlighted baseball/softball fields and toilets.<ref name="BaytownPark"/><ref name="Precinct2Parklistings">"[http://www.co.harris.tx.us/Comm_Garcia/parklistings.aspx Precinct Two Park Listings] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024205515/http://www.co.harris.tx.us/Comm_Garcia/parklistings.aspx |date=October 24, 2008 }}." ''[[Harris County, Texas]]''. Retrieved on November 30, 2008.</ref> The precinct also operates the Baytown Soccer Complex, located north of Baytown at 9600 North Main Street in an unincorporated area.<ref>"[http://www.hctx.net/CmpDocuments/2/Parks/BaytownSoccerComplex.pdf Baytown Soccer Complex] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227005135/http://www.hctx.net/CmpDocuments/2/Parks/BaytownSoccerComplex.pdf |date=February 27, 2009 }}." ''[[Harris County, Texas]]''. Retrieved on November 30, 2008.</ref> The complex has eight soccer fields; four are lighted and four are unlighted.<ref name="Precinct2Parklistings"/>

[[Harris Health System]] (formerly Harris County Hospital District) operates the Baytown Health Center in Baytown. The center opened on February 14, 1967.<ref>"[https://archive.today/20121206034235/https://www.hchdonline.com/en/about-us/who-we-are/pages/history.aspx A Proud History of Caring for More Than 45 Years]." [[Harris County Hospital District]]. Retrieved on February 9, 2012.</ref> The designated public hospital is [[Harris Health System|Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital]] in northeast Houston.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tmc.edu/hchd/LOCATE.HTM|title=Clinic/Emergency/Registration Center Directory By ZIP Code|publisher=[[Harris County Hospital District]]|date=2001-11-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011119141023/http://www.tmc.edu/hchd/LOCATE.HTM|accessdate=2021-04-08|archive-date=November 19, 2001}} - See ZIP code 77520. [https://www.harrishealth.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/community-assessment/pregnancy-birth-data/2012/infant-mortality-rate-2012.pdf See this map for relevant ZIP code].</ref>

Harris County operates a tax office at 701 West Baker Boulevard.<ref>"[http://www.tax.co.harris.tx.us/locations/locations.asp Branch Office Locations] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404021604/http://www.tax.co.harris.tx.us/locations/locations.asp |date=April 4, 2008 }}." ''Harris County Tax Office''. Retrieved October 13, 2008.</ref>

== Education ==

=== Colleges and universities ===

East Harris County and West Chambers County are served by [[Lee College]], a two-year community college.<ref>Texas Education Code, Section 130.186, "Lee College District Service Area".</ref>

=== Primary and secondary schools ===

Baytown is served by the [[Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District]]. Based in Baytown, the district has 14 elementary schools (grades K–5), 5 junior highs (grades 6–8), 3 high schools (grades 9–12), a career center, and two alternative centers for education. The district serves all of Baytown, Highlands, outlying areas of East Harris County, and a small portion of western Chambers County. The three local high schools are [[Robert E. Lee High School (Baytown, Texas)|Robert E. Lee]] (opened in 1928), [[Sterling High School (Baytown, Texas)|Ross S. Sterling]] (opened in 1966), and [[Goose Creek Memorial High School (Baytown, Texas)|Goose Creek Memorial High School]] (opened in 2008).

[[Stallworth Stadium]] is the home for varsity football and soccer for [[Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District|GCCISD]] as well as for the annual [[Bayou Bowl]]. The stadium seats approximately 16,000 fans, making it one of the largest high school sports venues in the nation. It recently underwent a press box renovation in 2009, as well as an innovation in 2006 when artificial turf and a huge scoreboard were installed. On a campaign stop for the 1976 presidential election, President [[Gerald Ford]] attended a Robert E. Lee High School fall football game.

The immediate area has four private schools. These include: [[Baytown Christian Academy]], [[Chinquapin Preparatory School]], Light House Baptist Academy, and the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston]]’s St. Joseph Regional Catholic School.

== Transportation ==
[[File:Fred Hartman Bridge Houston.jpg|thumb|The [[Fred Hartman Bridge]], which connects Baytown to La Porte]]

[[Harris County Transit]] provides public transportation.<ref>"[http://www.harriscountytransit.com/routes.html Routes / Maps]." [[Harris County Transit]]. Retrieved on January 15, 2010.</ref> The Baytown Park and Ride lot is located on the western side of [[San Jacinto Mall]].<ref>"[http://www.harriscountytransit.com/park_ride.html Park & Ride] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711145747/http://www.harriscountytransit.com/park_ride.html |date=July 11, 2011 }}." [[Harris County Transit]]. Retrieved on May 28, 2010.</ref> Harris County Transit also offers a bus line that runs along Decker Drive, Garth Road, North Main Street, Baker Road, and Rollingbrook Drive connecting most of Baytown's major shopping areas with Lee College.

[[Greyhound Bus Lines]] operates the Baytown Station at Baytown Travel Express.<ref>"[http://www.greyhound.com/scripts/en/TicketCenter/terminal.asp?city=688567 Baytown, Texas]{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." ''[[Greyhound Lines]]''. Retrieved on November 30, 2008.</ref>

[[Baytown Airport]] is a privately owned [[general aviation]] airport in unincorporated Harris County located north of Baytown. [[RWJ Airpark]] is a privately owned airport three miles (5&nbsp;km) east of Baytown in [[Beach City, Texas|Beach City]]. The closest airports with commercial airline service are [[William P. Hobby Airport]] and [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport]] in [[Houston]].<ref>"[http://www.baytown.org/NR/rdonlyres/F14FDB49-43C9-4931-97DC-FA89A658E27F/0/6Transportation.pdf Transportation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080229163805/http://www.baytown.org/NR/rdonlyres/F14FDB49-43C9-4931-97DC-FA89A658E27F/0/6Transportation.pdf |date=February 29, 2008 }}." ''City of Baytown''. Retrieved on November 30, 2008.</ref>

Baytown is served by [[Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas]] (METRO) express route 236 Maxey Road/Baytown during the rush hours, sending commuters to [[Downtown Houston]].<ref>"[http://www.ridemetro.org/SchedulesMaps/Pdfs/eastcorridor.pdf East Corridor] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008202829/http://www.ridemetro.org/SchedulesMaps/Pdfs/eastcorridor.pdf |date=October 8, 2008 }}." ''[[Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas]]''. Retrieved on November 30, 2008.</ref>

Baytown is linked to [[Interstate 10 in Texas|Interstate 10]] (Baytown East Freeway) by [[Texas State Highway 99|State Highway 99]] (Grand Parkway), [[Texas State Highway 146|State Highway 146]] ([[Bob Lanier (politician)|Lanier]] Freeway) and [[Texas Spur 330|Spur 330]] (Decker Drive).  It is also linked by the [[Fred Hartman Bridge]], which crosses into the city from nearby [[La Porte, Texas|La Porte]]; the bridge was built in 1995, replacing the [[Baytown Tunnel]], to allow a deeper ship channel.

== Notable people ==
{{alumni|residents|date=January 2024}}
<!--Please only add people when you have a reliable source to reference it!-->
* [[Rocky Bernard]], defensive tackle for the NFL [[New York Giants]]
* [[Kirk Botkin]], former NFL player and collegiate football coach
* [[William Broyles, Jr.]], Oscar-winning screenwriter, co-founder of ''Texas Monthly'' magazine; raised in Old Baytown, Robert E. Lee High School graduate
* [[Gary Busey]], born in Goose Creek, Texas<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000997/ Gary Busey]</ref>
* [[Chris Cagle]], [[country music]] artist
* [[Wanda Garner Cash]], [[open government]] advocate and former publisher of ''The Baytown Sun''
* [[Quentin Coryatt]], former NFL player and [[Texas A & M]] linebacker; attended Baytown Lee High School
* [[Macey Cruthird]], actress born in Baytown
* [[Bobby Fuller]], rock musician best known for his single "[[I Fought the Law]]"; born in Baytown
* [[John Hagee]], pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas; born in Baytown
* [[Brian Johnson (American football coach)|Brian Johnson]], former quarterback for the [[University of Utah]], now the offensive coordinator for the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] 
* [[Gene Kelton|"Mean" Gene Kelton]], singer-songwriter, blues musician, and band leader of ''Mean Gene Kelton & The Die Hards''
* [[Bob Lanier (politician)|Bob Lanier]], born and raised in Baytown. Mayor of Houston 1991–1997
* [[Romany Malco]], actor/rapper; attended Ross S. Sterling High School
* [[Fred Marti]], Professional Golfer; 1962 NCAA Champion and All American - [[University of Houston]]
* [[Leeland Mooring]], lead singer for Christian band [[Leeland (band)|Leeland]]. Brother Jack Mooring is the keyboardist for the band, also from Baytown
* [[RaeLynn]], country music star and competed on ''[[The Voice (American TV series)|The Voice]]'' in 2012
* [[Ell Roberson III]], former [[Kansas State University]] quarterback; graduated in 1999 from Baytown Lee High School
* [[Howard Sampson]], former NFL player
* [[Wayne Smith (Texas politician)|Wayne Smith]] (born 1943), Republican member of the [[Texas House of Representatives]] from Baytown since 2003<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/50030/wayne-smith |title=Wayne Smith's Biography |publisher=votesmart.org |access-date=March 26, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602070909/http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/50030/wayne-smith |archive-date=June 2, 2013 }}</ref>
* [[Sherwood Stewart]], former Pro Tennis player
* [[Clint Stoerner]], former [[Dallas Cowboys]] and [[University of Arkansas]] quarterback; 1996 Baytown Lee graduate
* [[Tom Stolhandske]], NFL and CFL player
* [[Drew Tate]], former University of Iowa quarterback and current CFL member
* [[Joe Tex]], popular R&B singer during the 1960s
* [[Buddy Wakefield]], champion [[Slam Poetry|slam poet]], was raised in Baytown
* [[Henrietta Bell Wells]], first African-American woman to participate in debate team in Wiley College and to be a lawyer
* [[Glenn Wilson (baseball)|Glenn Wilson]], former [[Major League Baseball]] outfielder
* [[Nathaniel Holt]], actor <ref>https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2050436/</ref>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
{{Portal|Texas}}
{{Commons category|Baytown, Texas}}
* {{Official website|http://www.baytown.org|City of Baytown official website}}
* [http://www.baytownchamber.com/ Baytown Chamber of Commerce]

{{Baytown, Texas}}
{{Galveston Bay Area}}
{{Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown MSA}}
{{Chambers County, Texas}}
{{Harris County, Texas}}
{{Texas}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Baytown, Texas| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Chambers County, Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Harris County, Texas]]
[[Category:Greater Houston]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1822]]
[[Category:1822 establishments in Mexico]]