Set on Upper Galveston Bay, about 25 miles east of Downtown Houston, Baytown is known primarily as an oil city. It was officially founded in 1948 by combining three smaller oil towns, and today, over 84,000 people call Baytown home. Many residents work at local petrochemical and oil plants, including the largest ExxonMobil refinery in the U.S. and the Cedar Crossing Industrial Park, the largest industrial park on the Gulf Coast. “Baytown is truly a global industry powerhouse, and our community has a rich industrial heritage,” says Jason Calder, Baytown’s communications manager.
But the city isn’t only defined by its industry. With plenty of water nearby, Baytown is well-suited for kayaking, fishing and boating, and its wetlands attract hundreds of species of birds. And its downtown is emerging as a cultural district, with art events and multiple performance venues.
Many Baytown residents work in the nearby oil refineries.
A Baytown fishing guide steers his boat toward the dock.
Baytown Nature Center offers residents a place to kick back and take in nature.
Baytown residents enjoy a variety of watersports.
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Birding at Baytown Nature Center
Baytown is fronted by bays, creeks and bayous, making fishing, boating and other watersports a part of everyday life. The city is home to 50 parks, with many centered around water. The 500-acre Baytown Nature Center features fishing piers and miles of biking and walking trails like the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, with over 300 species of birds. Baytown also has multiple family-friendly waterparks and pools, including Pirates Bay and Calypso Cove. Public golf courses include Tabbs Bay Golf Course. There’s a Showbiz Cinemas with an IMAX theater off Interstate 10.
Located on the banks of Burnet Bay, a walking pier is available for residents of Lynchburg.
Baytown Nature Center is not to be missed if in the area.
A fisherman cleans his catch at a public boat ramp in Evergreen Fairways.
Hike scenic trails, explore wetlands, and bike through the Baytown Nature Preserve.
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Emerging arts scene in downtown Baytown
The city’s Arts, Culture and Entertainment Council has worked to amplify the arts scene in Baytown’s small, vibrant downtown, centered around Town Square park. “We formed seven years ago to help bring more people downtown, and it worked,” says Yvonne Thomas, a local artist and president of the Arts, Culture and Entertainment Council. “We hold all types of events like art walks, a Latin festival, Oktoberfest [and] a Christmas on Texas Avenue festival.” Downtown features arts-focused attractions like the Art Alley, a street blanketed in colorful murals and floating umbrellas, and the Baytown Sculpture Trail, which covers four blocks of Texas Avenue. Baytown Little Theater, Lee College Performing Arts Center and the Art League of Baytown also add to the city’s cultural scene.
A Baytown family enjoys the murals located in the downtown art district.
Baytown has a deep appreciation for art.
Baytown Art League has been in operations for decades.
A Baytown artist's work entitled "I wanna go home" is pictured.
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Dining along Alexander Drive
Downtown Baytown has multiple bars, small coffee shops and cafes along Main Street and West Texas Avenue. Most of the city’s restaurants are along Alexander Drive, Market Street and Garth Road, with small Mexican, Cuban, Caribbean and Indian eateries as well as fast-food chains. Garth Road is also lined with shopping centers, large grocery stores and medical offices. San Jacinto Marketplace is under construction on 105 acres along I-10 and will be a major shopping and dining area when it opens, scheduled for 2028.
Starbucks, located a short drive from Lynchburg, offers hot coffee and fresh pastries.
Kroger is one of several grocery stores located in Baytown.
There are several shopping centers in Baytown.
Residents of Lynchburg can run by nearby Buc-ee's for fuel and snacks.
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Well-rated schools in Goose Creek CISD
Baytown students attend schools in the Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District, which holds a B-plus rating from Niche. The district has 29 schools, with three new elementary schools and a district-wide robotics center. Impact Early College High School is one of Goose Creek CISD’s highest-rated schools, and the only district high school to have an A rating from Niche. Lee College, which shares a campus with Impact Early College, is a community college located in downtown Baytown.
Lee College is located in Baytown, TX.
Located near Lynchburg, Robert E. Lee High School offers a diverse range of academic programs.
Alamo Elementary School offers classes for grades K-5 for the greater Baytown area of Texas.
Gentry Junior High School offers classes for grades 6-8 in the greater Baytown area.
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Median home price lower than Houston
In September 2024, the median home price in Baytown was around $260,000, below the median price for Houston, which was $336,000. Smaller homes from the 1940s to the 60s are located in and around downtown, starting from around $80,000 for fixer-uppers up to about $250,000 for renovated homes. Larger, newer homes tend to populate the city north of downtown, where prices range from about $215,000 to the mid-$400,000s. New construction is less common, but homes are rising in Rollingbrook Estates subdivision, with prices from $250,000 to $350,000.
Single family homes are becoming more prevalent in the Baytown area.
A row of traditional style homes accompany a quiet street in Baytown.
A row of two story homes sit along a quiet cul-de-sac road in Baytown.
A single story home sits underneath mature trees in Baytown, Texas.
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Over the Fred Hartman Bridge to Houston
Baytown residents can use Texas State Highway 146 and the Fred Hartman Bridge to reach the south side of Houston. Texas State Highway 330 and Interstate 10 provide a direct route to downtown Houston, about 25 miles west. Harris County METRO operates the Baytown Park and Ride, where commuters can take an express bus route into downtown Houston. Baytown has an airport for private planes; Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport is a 25-mile drive, and the George Bush Intercontinental Airport is 35 miles away. There are three major hospitals in the city, including BMC Baytown Hospital.
The Fred Hartman bridge has come to be a staple of the Baytown area.
Downtown Houston can be seen from Midtown.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport is located just a short drive from East Aldine.
Various bus stops are located throughout the area in Mount Houston.
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Baytown’s risk of chemical emissions and crime data
Baytown has hot summers with temperatures in the 90s and mild winters with lows in the 40s. Wind coming off the bay makes Baytown less humid than other areas near Houston. However, because it’s next to water, the city is frequently hit hard during storm season, and Hurricanes Carla, Alicia, Ike and Harvey heavily damaged Baytown. The city’s industry also poses some risks. There have been hundreds of chemical releases and fires in Baytown since 2015, including a 2019 explosion at the ExxonMobil plant that injured 66 people. The local government provides all residents with information on emergency preparedness, especially for hurricanes and chemical accidents.
Baytown’s violent crime rate has inched upward since a city-wide low in 2017 but is still far lower than the historic highs reported in the 1990s. According to local police data, over 6,000 total crimes were reported in 1990, compared to 3,361 total crimes in 2023. Of those, 1,930 were for theft/larceny.
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