Aransas Pass

Aransas Pass is a navigable salt water channel connecting the Gulf of Mexico with Aransas Bay on the Texas Gulf coast in the United States. The pass separates Mustang Island to the south from San José Island to the north, and is protected by jetties extending into the Gulf from both islands. At the eastern end of the pass is the town of Port Aransas, located at the far northern end of Mustang Island. At the western end of the pass, on the mainland side of Aransas Bay, is the town of Aransas Pass. A free ferry serves the two towns. The pass is located on the Aransas County and Nueces County line.

The second lighthouse in Texas was built at Aransas Pass by the United States government to protect shipping in Aransas Bay. Aransas Pass was originally pictured as becoming a major Texas hub of commerce and travel with rail links to the harbor and harbor links by ships to Mexico, New York and other destinations. Today, Aransas Pass is the major pass for all oceangoing traffic into and out of the port of Corpus Christi.

Aransas Pass, Texas

Aransas Pass (/əˈrænzᵻs/ ə-RAN-ziss) is a city in Aransas, Nueces, and San Patricio Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 8,204 at the 2010 census.

Geography

Aransas Pass is located at 27°54′N 97°8′W / 27.900°N 97.133°W / 27.900; -97.133 (27.9019, -97.1395),F on the shore of Redfish Bay, a tidal water body between Corpus Christi Bay to the south and Aransas Bay to the north. The city limits of Aransas Pass encompass most of Redfish Bay and its islands, most of which are in Nueces County, as well a portion of Aransas Bay in Aransas County. The land portion of the city is primarily in San Patricio County, extending north into Aransas County. The city is on the mainland of Texas and is connected to Mustang Island (which contains the city of Port Aransas) via a 6-mile (9.7 km)-long causeway, and a free ferry that carries vehicles to the island. By Texas State Highway 35 and U.S. Route 181, Aransas Pass is 20 mi (32 km) northeast of Corpus Christi.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Aransas Pass has a total area of 135.6 km² (52.4 sq mi), of which 32.6 km² (12.6 sq mi) is land and 103.1 km² (39.8 sq mi), or 75.99%, is covered by water.