Galveston Bay Area

The Galveston Bay Area is a region that surrounds the Galveston Bay estuary of Southeast Texas in the United States within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. Residents of Houston and surrounding areas typically call it simply the "Bay Area". Normally the term refers to the mainland communities around the bay and excludes Galveston as well as most of Houston.

Originally part of the pirate kingdom of Jean Lafitte, this area played a role in the early history of Texas having been the site of some early rebellions against Mexican rule and the site of the victory of the Texas army over the Mexican army during the Texas Revolution. Ranching interests became early economic drivers around the bay. As the nearby cities of Galveston and Houston developed as commercial centers, the Bay Area communities became part of a principal commercial corridor between the cities.

Despite being seen by some as a sleepy region of the Houston metro area, the region in fact has become a world leader in both manned space exploration and the petrochemical industry.

The landscape around the bay features a mix of swamps, beaches, industrial facilities, tourist attractions, and historic sites. The area's developing population is ethnically diverse with a growing international community. The communities host cultural events ranging from ballet and musical theater to fairs and rodeos. The bay itself supports a commercial fishing industry and features one of the highest concentrations of marinas in the nation. On land the area holds numerous historic sites such as the San Jacinto Monument, and many parks and nature preserves such as the Armand Bayou Nature Center.