Understand
Incorporated in 1973, it lies just across Laguna Madre, the bay separating island from mainland.
The South Padre Island Visitors Center provides detailed information about accommodations, activities and events related to boating, sailing, fishing, and seashore recreation. Open Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sat., Sun. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. a half-mile north of the causeway at 600 Padre Blvd. Telephone 956/761-6433, or 1-800-SOPADRE (767-2373) U.S. and Canada.
Get in
By plane
Valley International Airport,in nearby Harlingen,which is served by Southwest Airlines, Continental ExpressJet, and Sun Country Airlines.
By train
By car
Access via free causeway on Texas 100.
By bus
By boat
Do
South Padre is known for its water sports, including jet skiing; bay, surf, and deep-sea fishing; parasailing, sailing, dolphin cruise, and windsurfing. Other island activities include bicycling, tennis, shelling, and horseback riding on the beach. The popular Laguna Madre Nature Trail for nature enthusiasts and bird-watchers is north of the city next to the convention center.
Eat
Restaurants feature fresh seafood harvested daily from the Gulf.
Sleep
Visitors find wide range of accommodations from campgrounds and family motels to high-rise luxury hotels and condo rentals, marinas and seaside cottages.
Get out
Go north to North Padre Island
South Padre Island is a resort community in Cameron County, Texas, United States.
As of the 2000 census, the town had an official population of 2,422, although this significantly underestimates its size since many people split their time between vacation properties on South Padre and permanent residences elsewhere in the Rio Grande Valley. The town is located on Padre Island, a large barrier island along the Texas Gulf coast. South Padre Island is named after José Nicolás Ballí (Padre Ballí), a Catholic priest and settler.
In 1967, Hurricane Beulah caused extensive damage to much of the town of South Padre Island.
Subsequent to rebuilding, the island became a popular spring break destination for college students and other tourists. Many multistory resort hotels and condominiums have been erected along the coastline to the Gulf of Mexico. The second Schlitterbahn water park (Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark) opened in South Padre Island in 2001.
Geography
South Padre Island is located at (26.111935, -97.169587).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.9 km² (1.9 mi²). 4.7 km² (1.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (4.23%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,422 people, 1,211 households, and 662 families residing in the town. The population density was 516.7/km² (1,335.9/mi²). There were 4,685 housing units at an average density of 999.4/km² (2,584.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.59% White, 0.70% African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.77% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. 22.83% of the...
