I keep reading that Corpus Christi isn't like the rest of Texas (Houston: living, military)

[gabetx]

Crime isnt even high in CC. You will never catch yourself in one if you are a normal law abiding citizen. I really dont know why people always say crime is so high...

[tstone]

Awecelot I'll give you ''heavy Hispanic'' -- but there is a big difference between South American & Cuban influence versus Tex-Mex & Mexican influence.

If you tell a South American they're Hispanic and therefore similar to Mexican, you're liable to start a passionate fight, if not a war!!!

[awecelot]

Originally Posted by tstone

Awecelot I'll give you ''heavy Hispanic'' -- but there is a big difference between South American & Cuban influence versus Tex-Mex & Mexican influence.

If you tell a South American they're Hispanic and therefore similar to Mexican, you're liable to start a passionate fight, if not a war!!!

I know that there's a difference...part of my family is Spanish...as in Spaniard, and there's a huge difference between them and the many different Latin American cultures as well...

However, both CC and Miami have a Hispanic vibe.

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by bb54321

NOTAM,

I'm anglo and have a great social life. Sounds lilke your "comfort zone" must be only anglos in cowbowy hats. Yes I said it's not country and western here, but I've never seen anyone give dirty or odd looks to people in cowboy hats. It is still Texas you know. I have friends that are "kickers" and they don't seem uncomfortable at all. Everyone is excepted here. It's probably one of the most firendly places I've ever lived or visited. I'm sorry you had such a horrible experience, but no one points at me and calls me anglo. I think that might have been all in your head. But if you say so, then perhaps you were haning around the wrong crowd.

CC not like San Diego at all? How about the geographic set up around the bay, the military presence, the hispanic culture, the large marina and endless outdoor recreational opportunities, the beaches, the laid back atmosphere coupled with the cosmopolitain feel. What more do you need for two places to resemble each other? I'm not saying it's exactly like San Diego, but you have to admit it really isn't that far off. Miami, I can see some similarities, but not quite the same. South Beach is very fake and pretentious and I wouldn't describe CC that way at.

that is much the impression and thoughts that i thought when notam said those things. i find that younger corpus christians look beyond race and ethnicity and welcome all.

[love roses]

I've spent tons of time in Corpus and I am not one of the naysayers. I don't know why people talk like you cannot step foot in Corpus without encountering crime. I haven't found that to be the case. Like any city, it has areas that are high crime but you can walk through many neighborhoods and not be dodging bullets from driveby's or get mugged every 20 ft. for cryin' in the soup!

It IS very humid, and yes, during some parts of the year you get mosquitos. I challenge anyone to tell me a place you don't in Texas. Well, maybe West Texas.

It's heavily hispanic from San Antonio on down. Yes, there are some rascist hispanics who don't like whites, from what I hear, although myself, I haven't encountered it. Rascists live everywhere. Even here in the Austin area. But, every time I've been to Corpus and environs, I've not had a problem finding Asian food, seafood or barbecue as far as food goes. I don't think the area would be the same without it's hispanic influence. But, fearing getting ostracized by Mexicans or who have you, when you go there isn't realistic. You can walk around without having insults thrown at you every few minutes. Many of the Mexicans there are as American as anyone, families going back many generations in the area.

Sorry some of the above doesn't sound very coherent

[Kibby]

Originally Posted by Jammie

I'm glad you asked that question cause I've been confused about CC, too. Anyone from up here who has visited, likes it there. But it's totally different from living there so this is interesting. I know a few people who would like to retire there.

It was mentioned that there's a strong Hispanic influence there. What is the ratio of transplants to locals? Are the Hispanics accepting of others? Is it a clean and neat area or is it trashy? (Sorry, I've read that so I'm just curious)

I grew up in Corpus, my family still lives there, I visit often. It's clear that there are a couple of posters who definately don't like Corpus ... I would guess many more that do like it.

YEP - there is a large Hispanic population , pretty much the same thing with all towns from San Antonio south. San Antonio has a much stronger "Hispanic influence" than Corpus ... for instance, not a single Mission anywhere in Corpus. YEP, there is a lot of Mexican food and really good Mexican food at that - seafood is the real "star" in Corpus and you can even (should even) buy your shrimp right off the boats at one of the marinas. You can find good Chicken Fried steak (this IS Texas, not California/Florida) and even good BBQ (but that's more difficult) ... just ask the locals, they ALL know where to go.

The average age in CC is around 35 which actually surprised me because there are SOOO many retired people in Corpus. It often seems like a good 25% of the cars are Buick LeSabres - that's the big tip off to a senior driver. Many of the Hispanics are local, most of the seniors are local, although it's a popular retirement place - the young are like many places, those who love the ocean (really bay/gulf) living stay if they can find jobs, or have to leave for their careers. Some just want to leave and try something new, or don't like coastal living. It's not unusual for them to come back to retire.

I find Corpus a lot cooler in the summer than the DFW area because of the constant breeze (that's tourism talk for wind). It's pretty rare that you don't have that breeze. Corpus is like any other big city - there are crime areas, there are areas that need renovation, there are areas with poor/unkept neighborhoods -- that is certainly not all (or even most), of Corpus. Same thing for the residents -- some are nice, some are not - most are like the rest of Texas (unless they are out of state transplants), and just nice friendly folks who welcome everyone.

It has more a vibe of "small city" than big city, more outdoor/nature oriented than "party" oriented. I can see that it might be difficult for the swinging singles scene, although there seem to be a lot of clubs. The Hispanic population has always been a part of Corpus, it's grown of course but it's well integrated, and they "accept" the anglos just as the anglos "accept" them.

From the outside, looking in ... I would say that the politics of Corpus are a "battle" of sorts between those who want to develop it as a resort with casinos, and those who want to preserve the history and laid back lifestyle. I prefer the older parts of town - the area bordered by Louisiana/Ocean Drive/Everhart/Staples, but the growth areas are out by Saratoga which used to be farmland when I lived there. Fortune magazine included Corpus in their top 100 US cities to live in a couple of years ago.

The thing that Corpus Christi needs most is the Bass family to fix downtown. They are slowly working on it (been working on it for years), but it really takes the kind of money and commitment that the Bass Family spent to bring back Fort Worth downtown and turn it into a vibrant showplace. Corpus could be even better than Fort Worth and Sundance Square. It's totally bizarre to me that the urban spread gets further and further away from the most beautiful parts of the city. Urban planning has been lacking for decades.

K

[awecelot]

Very good post, Kibby. Having lived in Corpus for almost 20 years before moving to Dallas, I can say that your post does a great job in explaining Corpus.

[edubya]

I agree with Kibby's comments re CC needing its own Bass family to help revitalize downtown. We've enjoyed our time visiting CC well enough, but downtown is always a big disappointment.

[Kibby]

Originally Posted by awecelot

Very good post, Kibby. Having lived in Corpus for almost 20 years before moving to Dallas, I can say that your post does a great job in explaining Corpus.

I was one of those "youngsters" who just wanted to leave - that didn't have anything to do with the town, it was all family. I used to say it was a great place to be "from" and a great place to have family to visit. Now, I certainly wouldn't mind moving back but it's hard enough to travel (which we love) outside of Texas - the further south you go, the harder (longer the distance) it is.

I think what most "foreigners" don't understand about Corpus is that is it a Port City. Corpus is the 6th largest Port in the USA, the deepest port on the Gulf Coast and in the top 50 or so world wide.

It's not a "beach city" like Miami or San Diego -- it'a major working port. They done a good job of keeping the industrial areas north of downtown and around the port area under the Harbor Bridge. The scenic areas are the Bay Front from downtown out Ocean Dr (beautiful) with lots of parks to the Naval Air Station and the college. The true sandy beaches (with good surfing) are out at Padre/Mustang Islands - but still considered part of Corpus. You can "go to the beach" and see beach ... not a string of condos and fancy hotels. You can still actually drive on the beaches - they are trying to change that. It's very "nature" oriented instead of commercial oriented.

It's different and that's probably the biggest difference.
Nature vs commercial

K

[bamba_boy]

[It's heavily hispanic from San Antonio on down. Yes, there are some rascist hispanics who don't like whites, from what I hear, although myself, I haven't encountered it. Rascists live everywhere. Even here in the Austin area. But, every time I've been to Corpus and environs, I've not had a problem finding Asian food, seafood or barbecue as far as food goes. I don't think the area would be the same without it's hispanic influence. But, fearing getting ostracized by Mexicans or who have you, when you go there isn't realistic. You can walk around without having insults thrown at you every few minutes. Many of the Mexicans there are as American as anyone, families going back many generations in the area.

Sorry some of the above doesn't sound very coherent]

We went last night to a filled up Toyota Center to see the world unified lightweight championship fight between Juan Diaz, a Tex-Mex from Houston and Juan Marquez, a Mex-Mex from Ciudad de Mexico (Mexico City). As one of the few Anglo white or black folks in attendence at an arena of 15-20,000 hispanics it was a really interesting to see the hispanic-hispanic rivalry in full form. Marquez trash talked Diaz as being only "half-Mexican" and that a "full-Mexican" like himself was so much tougher and would "shed his last bit of sangre (blood) for the motherland, dying in the ring before he would loose to a halfbreed", etc etc. The crowds were really polarized - the Mexican Americans shouting for Diaz and the native Mexicans yelling for Marquez and yelling AT each other. I saw two big multi-person fistfights erupt outside the stands.

Oh, by the way, "last drop of sangre" Marquez beat Diaz down with a double-knockout after a real good fight of 9 rounds that Diaz was ahead most of the time. Perhaps a prophetic warning to the lazy gringos and 2cd and 3rd generation hispanics that the Reconquista has begun. I'm telling you, Marquez was 35 vs 25 for Diaz and he was just that much tougher and hungrier.