Boca Chica, Texas

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Boca Chica is a very small village about 15 miles straight east of Brownsville, about 2 miles from the Gulf, and a mile north of the Rio Grand. It was founded about 100 years ago by a hustler who advertised it heavily in Poland. He sold parcels to about 2000 investors. Thirty two houses were built. There are now 6 permanent residents. Water is trucked in from Brownsville.
It's a very desolate area - the soil is so salty and sandy that virtually nothing grows. One photo shows the gas station/ bait shop at the entrance to the village. Folks surf fish in the gulf. Kay is standing by a group of floats that mark the entrance to the village. In the photo of Bil, the land over his shoulder is a wide salt flats, with low dunes about 2 miles behind him. Those dunes
are at the Gulf. Apparently, depending on the storms and tides, sometimes the land along the shore becomes a barrier island, and the salt flats become full of sea water.
We can only wonder what the weather is like in the summer. It's interesting to see how other Americans live.

Comments

Cynthia Turner said…
I'm enjoying your photos and accompanying stories. Keep em coming. I'm not sure why the 6 people who still live here continue to do so.
Saturday, February 26, 2011 9:28:00 AM
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