Posted on 02/18/2005 7:50:43 PM PST by Paleo Conservative
Corpus Christi has an odd inferiority complex.
We think we're the little guy, but we're not.
Many people who live and do business in Corpus Christi talk about the city as if it's a small town. We wax poetic about the city's intimate feel, how it's easy to get to know people here and how much we love our laid-back coastal lifestyle.
And maybe it's because we live in Texas, where everything is bigger, that we came up with this idea. After all, we're in a state that includes three of the top 10 largest cities in the country: Houston, Dallas and San Antonio, and another two - Fort Worth and Austin - ranked in the top 20.
But that doesn't make us small.
In 10 states, Corpus Christi would be the largest city in the state. We're larger than Anchorage, Alaska; Boise, Idaho; Newark, N.J.; Providence, R.I.; Salt Lake City, Utah; Little Rock, Ark.; and Lexington, Ky., just to name a few.
In 17 states, including Georgia, New Mexico, Indiana, Missouri, Massachusetts, Oregon and North Carolina, Corpus Christi would be the second-largest city.
In 11 states, we'd be the third-largest city.
In all, in 38 states, Corpus Christi would be no smaller than the third-largest city.
With a city-limits population of 280,000 and a metropolitan statistical area that includes more than 400,000 people, we're not so small after all.
And we don't do business as if we are. We can't let the fact that we're in Texas pigeonhole us, because Corpus Christi competes nationally and globally with other cities for business.
We're home to the fifth-busiest port in the country. Nearly 40,000 jobs in Texas are related to the cargo and passenger activity at the Port of Corpus Christi, according to a 2003 study. The port has been recognized internationally for its agreement with Alimport, Cuba's government-run food-import agency. And port officials are working to build a container terminal along the La Quinta Channel near Ingleside.
More than 40 percent of the Corpus Christi population speaks Spanish, which gives us an enormous advantage over other cities in the country. We also have three major military bases in the area, whichemploy 17,500 military and civilian personnel.
The city is a major player in the petrochemical industry, yet we continue to be known as the largest industrial city in the nation to meet the Clean Air standards of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Corpus Christi also has two nationally recognized colleges, both in the middle of major construction programs.
Del Mar College, which has been named among the top 2 percent of community colleges in the United States, is on its way to completing $108 million in capital improvements, renovations and the construction of the South Campus.
The Chronicle of Higher Education named Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi one of the Top 13 Institutes of Excellence. This year we'll see the opening of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies and a new performing arts center on that campus.
According to 2003 population estimates from the U.S. Bureau of the Census, Corpus Christi is the 63rd largest city in the nation.
With everything we have going for us and everything we must achieve, we can no longer afford to think small.
Corpus is a pretty jumping place these days.
Now if Corpus would just get some High Tech jobs; I'd leave Austin and head down to the beach....
Unless you are involved in fishing, tourism, petrolium or working the ports; the opportunities are somewhat limited.
Surely he can't be serious.
I went to Del Mar
I grew up in Texas, and everytime I go to Corpus I always feel like it would be great to live there.
But, alas, as you said, job opportunities are kinda limited for my field - software developement...
Yeah Corpus is big all right. A big bunch of liberals.
For real estate; Austin and the surrounding communities are growing. Land is at a premium here in Austin, basically figure that you are going to pay in the neighborhood of $40-60K/acre for a homesite. So, for real estate and your 3% margins, you will find a LOT of houses that sell for pretty hefty fees (not California expensive, but still ....)
If you figure Austin and the surrounding communities (Round Rock, Plugerville, Dripping Springs, Buda etc.); you are talking about a city just over 1 million people strong. Industry-wise; think of this as another Silicon Valley; or as we like to call it "The Redneck Riveria". We have hundreds of 'Dell-ionares', lots of start-up millionares; and the good Lord knows I wish I were one of them. I heard the knocking on my door; but I found the opportunity to ignore that pounding sound.
Once you get into Austin; you'll wonder what took you so long to get here. After spending a year or two here; you'll find yourself never wanting to leave. If you do leave and go back, you'll kick yourself every morning for leaving .... I know I did. Now I'm back; and I ain't never leaving again.
NW or SW of Austin is realestate Meca. You could starve in Corpus.
The real estate market is down in Austin and up in Corpus.
If you look at the map in this link, guess which one is where Austin is located.
Austin > Travis County >
Kerry 196,780 56% Bush 147,625 42%
Corpus Christi > Nueces County
Bush 59,337 57% Kerry 44,408 43%
A Big RI CC bump!
Not really.
Read 'em and weep!
http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/nar_4q/
Austin -2.1%
Corpus +11.5%
I went to Texas A&I and hung out in Corpus a lot on the weekends.
I lived just over the bridge in Portland for a few years. A really wonderful, conservative town that LOVES their football.
I suggest the subdivision of North Shore. And yes 7 yeaars ago they had a good public school system where the parents had rights and teachers had elepahants in their rooms, and people went to church.
Never a traffic jam except sometimes APID out near the malls got a little crowed. Buy truck and boat on a trailer. You must also buy a "beach truck" where you could drive and camp on the beach.
But- MAN IS IT WINDY!!
Say "hello' to Rudy the barber. He's a really cool Mexican guy that will likely cut your hair for free for the opportunity to talk to you.
Weekend in San Antonio is great. Plenty to do, nice drive and "Remeber the Alamo"
I really can spell elepahants correctly. This reminds me of something pretty funny. I now live in Panama where that brush guard on the front of the SUV is not a "brush guard" is is a "mata burro" or "donkey killer." Pretty funny from a political party standpoint huh?
Austin is the coolest town in the world. Lake Travis and the Hill Country is beautiful. 6th St. and 4th St. are a blast.
If real estate is your business, the market is booming in Austin.
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