There’s something special about living in a coastal town in south Texas, but before you settle in, there are some things about living here that you should know. Because we’re Texans and we’re helpful, we thought we’d share a few must-know things about the sparkling city by the sea (though no one calls it that).
1. “Corpus”
Just drop the Christi and you’ll start sounding like a local in no time.
2. Corpus Christi is Latin for Body of Christ.
The name has its origins from Spanish explorers, who discovered the land on the Catholic feast day of Corpus Christi in the early 1500s.
3. Before it was Corpus, it was Kinney’s.
In 1838, Henry L. Kinney settled in an area known as the Old Indian Trading Grounds and established a fort-like trading post called Kinney’s Ranch which specialized in contraband among other things. The settlement however incorporated as Corpus Christi in 1852.
4. It’s always windy here.
Like unusually windy. It’s actually got one of the highest average wind speeds in the country. It’s great if you love that wind-blown hair look. If not, bring hairspray.
5. The city sits alongside Corpus Christi Bay.
So while it’s not a straight shot to wide-open beach, there are so many different small man-made beaches, bays and fishing spots that there’s always a geographical adventure ahead.
6. Selena is the pride of Corpus.
Selena Quintanilla-Perez, the Tejano music queen better known by her first name, was the top-selling Latin music artist when she was killed by her friend and obsessed fan club president. The shocking murder at a Corpus Christi motel made news across the globe, but her fans preserved her indelible presence in the city with a memorial statue downtown and Selena Museum, where you can see her recording studio, the iconic costumes she wore, awards, platinum records and her red Porsche.
7. FYI, South Padre Island Drive does not go to South Padre Island.
Locals refer to South Padre Island Drive as S.P.I.D. (Just don’t pronounce it Spid).
8. Texas State Aquarium is a must-see.
This sea sanctuary is the largest in the state of Texas and one of the largest aquariums in the U.S. Admission might seem steep at $35 for adults and $25 for under 12 years old, but this place is huge and the official state aquarium of Texas.
9. With 600 miles of coastline in Texas, there’s a lot of beach to explore.
The most iconic is Padre Island, the federally-protected national seashore that exists now as it did centuries ago: just miles and miles of pure, untouched seashore. It’s the largest undeveloped barrier island in the world, and protects Corpus from inundating weather.
10. Farrah Fawcett is a homegrown celeb.
Before she donned that iconic red swimsuit for a pin-up poster, she was voted Most Beautiful three years in a row at local Ray High School.
11. You can daytrip like a boss here.
Weird fun in Austin, shopping in San Marcos and southern sunshine in South Padre Island are all just three hours away.
12. When you need a beach day, like stat, head to McGee Beach.
It’s a straight shot down I-37 to downtown Corpus, where there’s plenty of easy parking, clean bathrooms and packed sand that makes for easier walking. But let’s be honest, if you’re looking for the quickest beach to get to, then you’re running to the water.
13. The bird’s the word around here.
San Diego Audubon Society designated Corpus as “America’s birdiest place,” with more individual species of birds than any other US city. That’s because the Coastal Bend gets birds from both the eastern and western halves of North America.
14. Before she was a Desperate Housewife, Eva Longoria was Miss Corpus Christi.
Before she was an acclaimed actress, Longoria grew up on the west side of Corpus and worked at a local Wendy’s to earn money for her Quinceañera. She won the 1998 Miss Corpus Christi pageant, which cemented her space in the spotlight.
15. We take Whataburger seriously around here.
67 years ago today, on August 8th, 1950, Harmon Dobson opened a burger stand at 2609 Ayers street in Corpus Christi. pic.twitter.com/EpLduLq80m
— Erik Stenger (@abitbig) August 8, 2017
The fast-food hamburger chain opened its first location here in 1950 and we’ve been hooked ever since.
16. Take some Insta-worthy pics at the Miradors.
https://twitter.com/Daniel_Yanez1/status/900776420447850497
Derived from the Spanish verb “mirar” (meaning to look), these small, gazebo-like structures are a perfect outlook over the city’s downtown waterfront and Corpus Christi Bay. Read the plaques inside each gazebo and feel the culture around you.
17. We know how to do fried shrimp.
Not too much breading, six at a bare minimum and served with a lime or lemon wedge (in order of preference).
18. There’s surfing, kinda.
While the Gulf of Mexico doesn’t have those big Atlantic or Pacific waves, surfing’s possible when the wind and swells are right at Padre Balli Park and Bob Hall Pier, on the north end of Padre.
19. Drive the Beach Loop for a real lay of the land.
The best way to see Corpus is driving the beach loop, which goes from Shoreline Blvd. downtown to Ocean Drive, a scenic boulevard with grandiose homes overlooking the bay. Hook a right around Oso Bay and follow JFK Memorial Causeway across Laguna Madre to the Island.
20. Just call it the Island.
Locals don’t say they’re driving to Padre Island. No, we say we’re headed to the Island. Any of the barrier islands that line the beautiful Texas coast are called the Island. Doesn’t matter which one. They’re all wonderfully unique and what makes South Texas and Corpus Christi so special.
