Sealy is a city in Austin County in southeastern Texas, United States. The population was 6,839 at the 2020 census.[8] Sealy is located 49 miles (79 km) west of the downtown Houston area, on the most eastern part of the Texas-German belt region, an area settled by German emigrants.[9]

Sealy, Texas
City
Official seal of Sealy, Texas
Motto: 
A History of Excellence. A Future of Progress.
Location of Sealy, Texas
Location of Sealy, Texas
Coordinates: 29°46′27″N 96°9′27″W / 29.77417°N 96.15750°W / 29.77417; -96.15750
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyAustin
Government
 • TypeCouncil–manager[1]
 • MayorCarolyn Bilski[1]
 • State RepresentativeLeighton Schubert[2]
 • State SenatorLois Kolkhorst (R)[3]
 • U.S. HouseMichael McCaul (R)[4]
Area
 • Total11.71 sq mi (30.32 km2)
 • Land11.56 sq mi (29.95 km2)
 • Water0.14 sq mi (0.37 km2)
Elevation
200 ft (61 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total6,839
 • Density557.37/sq mi (215.19/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP code
77474
Area code979
FIPS code48-66464[6]
GNIS feature ID1346849[7]
Websitewww.ci.sealy.tx.us

History edit

San Felipe sold part of its original 22,000-acre (8,900 ha) township to the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad to create Sealy in 1879. Sealy derives its name from business tycoon and majority stock holder of the GCSF RR, George Sealy of Galveston. In 1881, Daniel Haynes, a cotton gin builder, filled a request for a cotton-filled mattress which started a company. He named this the Sealy Mattress Company after the town. Business grew exponentially, which led to more innovation and several patents, such as a machine that compressed cotton.[citation needed]

Geography edit

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.5 square miles (40 km2), of which 13.38 square miles (34.7 km2) is land and 0.16 square miles (0.41 km2) is water.[10]

Sealy is 49 miles (79 km) west of Downtown Houston.[11]

Demographics edit

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
188024
18908373,387.5%
19501,942
19602,32819.9%
19702,68515.3%
19803,87544.3%
19904,54117.2%
20005,24815.6%
20106,01914.7%
20206,83913.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
Sealy racial composition as of 2020[13]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[a]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 2,903 42.45%
Black or African American (NH) 754 11.03%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 11 0.16%
Asian (NH) 100 1.46%
Pacific Islander (NH) 2 0.03%
Some Other Race (NH) 29 0.42%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 227 3.32%
Hispanic or Latino 2,813 41.13%
Total 6,839

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,839 people, 2,524 households, and 1,921 families residing in the city.

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 5,248 people, 1,882 households, and 1,349 families residing in the city. The population density was 759.3 inhabitants per square mile (293.2/km2). There were 2,077 housing units at an average density of 300.5 per square mile (116.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 75.1% White, 12.3% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 12.88% from other races, and 1.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30.43% of the population.

There were 1,882 households, out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.30.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.2% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,277, and the median income for a family was $40,348. Males had a median income of $28,720 versus $20,793 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,986. About 11.2% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 13.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education edit

 
Sealy High School

People who live in Sealy are zoned to schools in Sealy Independent School District. The schools in Sealy ISD are Selman Elementary School or Sealy Elementary (pre-kindergarten to third grade), Selman Intermediate School (4–5), Sealy Junior High School (6–8), and Sealy High School (9–12). All of the schools are in Sealy. Blinn College has a Sealy Campus located along Interstate 10, east of State Highway 36.

Infrastructure edit

Transportation edit

Sealy is served by Interstate 10, U.S. Highway 90, Texas State Highway 36, the BNSF Railway, and the Union Pacific Railroad.[15] The Greyhound Bus Lines operates the Sealy Station at Mazac Muffler City AC.[16]

Notable people edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ 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.[14]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "City Council". City of Sealy, Texas. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  2. ^ "Texas House of Representatives : Representative Schubert, Leighton". house.texas.gov. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
  3. ^ "District 18". www.senate.state.tx.us. Archived from the original on February 2, 1998. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  4. ^ "Congressman Michael McCaul : Communities". mccaul.house.gov. Archived from the original on June 27, 2009. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  5. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  6. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  7. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  8. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Sealy city, Texas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 10, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
  9. ^ "TSHA | Germans". www.tshaonline.org. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  10. ^ "US Gazetteer Files 2016-Places-Texas". US Census. Archived from the original on August 1, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  11. ^ Christian, Carol. "Austin County proposes reward to find stolen stop signs." Houston Chronicle. June 7, 2013. Retrieved on June 7, 2013.
  12. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  13. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  14. ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  15. ^ "Sealy Economic Development Corporation - Sealy, Texas". www.sealyedc.com. Archived from the original on October 1, 2009. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  16. ^ http://www.greyhound.com/scripts/en/TicketCenter/terminal.asp?city=682638[dead link]

External links edit