Our Cities

San Patricio County is economically diverse, ranging from big industry to small local mom and pop shops to an array of retail, both local and chain.  The county comprises 9 cities ranging from agricultural farmlands to coastal living.

Aransas Pass

The City of Aransas Pass is nestled between the Aransas and Corpus Christi Bays on the mainland of Texas. While parts of the city lie within Nueces and Aransas Counties, much of the eastern portion of the city’s landmass, including the public boat launch, lie within San Patricio County. Visitors to the city love the relaxed atmosphere and bay breezes that make Aransas Pass a fisherman’s paradise. In addition, high-quality educational, recreational, and cultural opportunities make Aransas Pass a great place to live and work.

The successful development of the high-end Bay Harbor and Pelican Cove waterfront subdivisions proved Aransas Pass could attract and retain an affluent audience of saltwater enthusiasts. With the expansion of maritime and other significant industries on the close-by La Quinta Ship Channel, families new to the area discover the city’s relaxed way of life. Aransas Pass is a great place to raise a family, with excellent schools and entertainment options for children and adults, and is also popular among retired persons.

Gregory

Like many of the towns in San Patricio County, Gregory was established in 1887 as a company town by the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway and the Coleman-Fulton Pasture Company. The site was then known as the Corpus Christi Junction, where a spur of the railway broke southeast across Nueces Bay. In 1909, seeing the county’s great economic potential, President William Howard Taft made his famous extended visit; with it came the opening of the Gregory Hotel, which became known as one of the finest hotels on the coast, and a popular stop-over place for travelers. The La Quinta Ship Channel has made Gregory and San Patricio County one of the world’s best locations for industrial development, providing access to transportation of goods and materials by rail, road, and sea. The city of Gregory is a hub for locations both domestic and abroad.

Founded as a company town more than a century ago, Gregory is once again welcoming new industry to their friendly community and doing so at an unprecedented rate. Already home to some of the county’s major employers, Gregory is presently on the front end of an industrial boom like no other in the county’s history.  Cheniere Energy, a Houston-based LNG company, is an example of a leading industry company to call this town home.

Ingleside

Ingleside's reputation as a friendly, small coastal community attracts new families and businesses who enjoy clean streets, quiet neighborhoods, a low crime rate, wonderful parks, and excellent schools. Also, retirees find a affordable property, a leisurely pace of life, excellent regional healthcare facilities, some of the world's best birding and saltwater recreation at their doorstep. Business owners and industrial developers are opened with welcome arms receiving cooperation and support from City Hall. The city of Ingleside is experiencing a resurgence of growth, fueled by expanding local energy and chemical industries. The City of Ingleside was incorporated in 1951, and in 1954 the Army Corps of Engineers dredged the La Quinta Channel through Ingleside Point. The chemical industry came to town in 1973 with the opening of the DuPont plant, now Chemours, which provides coolant for 50 percent of the nation's automobiles. Followed by OxyChem, and most recently, Kiewit Offshore Services and Gulf Marine Fabricators in the heavy marine construction sectors. This town is also called home by Moda, Flint Hills Resources, Signet, and Buckeye Terminal.

Ingleside on the Bay

The IOB community is surrounded on two sides by Corpus Christi Bay, and the owners along the waterfront enjoy fabulous sunrises and sunsets, windsurfing, and outstanding fishing. The tiny town is home to one Bed and Breakfast named The Brass Turtle Lodge & Restaurant and one private marina residents enjoy.

Ingleside Beach Club in IOB is a private club that offers members terrific fishing, dinners, activities, and pool and beach access.

Mathis

Many people who live in the central or eastern portions of the county have summer homes on the lake, which is excellent for fishing, jet-skiing, boating, or simply floating. The quiet community also attracts a healthy population. Riveriver now feeds the 21,000-acre Lake Corpus Christi, a primary water source for the City of Corpus Christi.

The City of Mathis is situated on the far western end of the county, off of Hwy 37. Leisure and industry find a crossroads in Mathis, which, like many of San Patricio County’s communities, offers excellent water recreation. Unlike other communities, however, Mathis, which is about 40 miles from the coast, is home to a freshwater lake, Lake Corpus Christi, and its accompanying state park. It is also home to the three county parks created for residents and visitors to enjoy the rich history of the Nueces River and all of its beauty. The Mathis area is an integral part of the county’s history, as just a few miles away in Old San Patricio, pivotal points of the Texas War for Independence from Mexico were waged. 

Odem

Located in the southwestern portion of San Patricio County, close to the neighboring community of Calallen. Situated on Highway 77 between Corpus Christi and Houston, Odem benefits monetarily from a steady flow of vehicles – passenger and commercial – that travel through the area. The City has grown in recent years with several new housing developments, including Angelita Estates and Odem South in the outer-lying regions of town. Odem is positioned to become a “bedroom community” for residents wishing to work on the industrial east end of San Patricio County and “Refinery Row” in Corpus Christi. Residents enjoy various dine-in and fast food restaurants to include traditional Mexican taquerias, a home-style BBQ joint, and a popular up-scale seafood restaurant, The Railroad Seafood Station. Each year, the City hosts the Odem Jubilee, which includes a sanctioned barbecue cook off at “Easter in the Park” and “Christmas in the Park.”

Portland

The land of possibilities is the most populated city in San Patricio County, Portland, which boasts more housing, commercial development, and modern amenities than local communities. Gregory-Portland ISD schools rank among the best in academics and athletics, and NorthShore Country Club provides access to an 18-hole golf course and pro shop. Portland is praised for its business-friendly policies but is best known for its breathtaking sunsets and sunrises on the beach. Perfect for a fishing excursion, raising a family, or both! The area caters perfectly to those who enjoy a suburban lifestyle while maintaining water and city lifestyles. With several public parks, sports complexes, and piers, residents enjoy the luxuries of close-knit neighborhoods and quick access to wide-open waters for fishing, sailing, windsurfing, and other recreational and extreme water sports. Residents proudly support the Gregory-Portland Wildcat football team, which regularly makes long playoff runs.  The city’s location, across the bridge from Corpus Christi, allows easy access to some of the best attractions on the Texas coast.

Sinton

Sinton Texas is the county seat of San Patricio County and is conveniently located in the center of the county. Sinton occupies a strategic location of business, transportation, and trade in South Texas. Most of San Patricio’s county offices are located in Sinton. These include the courthouse, sheriff’s office, jail, appraisal district, health department, Civic Center, fairgrounds, drainage district, extension office, farm service agency, and one of two county airports. In addition, Sinton serves as the area office for several state departments, including the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Department of Transportation. San Patricio County Courthouse is the city’s historic downtown center of county government administration. Steel Dynamics is the newest industry to Sinton, Texas, with an announced $1.9 billion steel plant.

Taft

Residents in the community of Taft enjoy public recreation options, including a widely popular community pool and park. The Blackland Museum, which is home to many of the tangible pieces of San Patricio County’s history, it houses everything from antique farm equipment to personal and household items used by the town’s earliest inhabitants. Ties to the past help maintain Taft’s strong agricultural roots, while today’s residents are casting seeds in new directions. Most notably, Taft’s young population is dedicated to education, as 100% of the graduating class of 2013 was accepted into a college or university. A 10-minute drive into neighboring Portland provides access to Walmart, Academy, and a wide array of chain restaurants and shopping venues.