Port Lavaca, Texas

Port Lavaca (ⁱ/ləvˈɑːkə/) is a city in Calhoun County, located in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 12,248 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Calhoun County and part of the Victoria, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area. Port Lavaca is 130 miles (210 km) southwest of Houston.

Geography

Port Lavaca is located in northern Calhoun County at 28°36′56″N 96°37′47″W / 28.61556°N 96.62972°W / 28.61556; -96.62972 (28.615635, -96.629741), on the west side of Lavaca Bay, an arm of Matagorda Bay. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.1 square miles (36.5 km²), of which 10.2 square miles (26.3 km²) is land and 3.9 square miles (10.2 km²), or 28.04%, is water.

Climate

Port Lavaca holds the state record of the highest wind speed ever reached. During Hurricane Carla in September 1961, the winds were recorded to gust up to 170 miles per hour (270 km/h).

In 2004, Port Lavaca, including the South Texas Area, recorded up to 12 inches (300 mm) of snowfall.