Green Lake (Texas)
| Green Lake | |
|---|---|
| Location | Calhoun County, Texas, USA |
| Coordinates | 28°31′43″N 96°50′23″W / 28.5287°N 96.8397°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 10,000 acres (40 km2) |
Green Lake is a natural tidal lake in Calhoun County, Texas known for its greenish waters. The lake is located twelve miles west of Port Lavaca and 22 miles south of Victoria. Although it is less than three miles from the coast at San Antonio Bay near the mouth of the Guadalupe River, its waters are fresh, and it is considered the largest natural freshwater lake entirely in Texas, covering 10,000 acres (40 km²).[1]
The shoreline is naturally grassy and poorly drained with coastal marshes between the lake and San Antonio Bay.[1] A levee has been constructed around certain parts of the lake to improve drainage.[2] The nearest community is the rural settlement of Green Lake, whose residents use the lake for fishing, hunting waterfowl and water sports.[1] The town of Tivoli is four miles to the southwest.
History
Cotton farmers from Kentucky established plantations and settled the fertile lands near the lake in the 1850s. During the American Civil War, Union troops under General David E. Twiggs were stationed near the bay for a short time, while they waited for their ships to return. After the war, returning residents found that their slaves, livestock and farm equipment had been taken. Most residents moved elsewhere, however, in the early 20th century, farmers returned and the town of Green Lake began to grow, with an approximate population of 300 in 1914. In the midst of the Great Depression, the population dwindled to 25, until oil was discovered near the lake in 1947. Twenty wells were constructed at the Green Lake oilfield, although as of 1984, only one still produced. By 2000, the population was 51, the same amount that had been reported in 1970 and 1990.[3]
References
- ^ a b c "Green Lake". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. May 30, 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
- ^ McGillicuddy, Ryan (July 2009). "What Makes a Lake" (PDF). Texas Wetland News. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
- ^ Rupert, Rebecca (May 30, 2010). "Green Lake, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
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