History of Kemah (From the Kipp Collection)
KEMAH, GALVESTON COUNTY, TEXAS
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Frank C. Mabry. The first Police Chief was Kenneth Hanson. On October 22, 1966 the village of Kemah adopted Chapters 1 through 10, Title 28 of Vernon’s Texas Civil Statutes becoming a General Law City. In 1972 the city encompassed two square miles with a population of 1,300. [1]
While Kemah is, in some ways, like any other small village or town on the Texas Gulf Coast, it has a history that is still quite important to its residents today. The land was originally owned by Mexico and was granted to one of those first brave settlers of Texas. It passed through the hands of several important pioneers including John Flanders, who died for Texas’ independence. Even in this century, a few small families, including the Kipps, Bradfords, Wises, Harveys, Purdeys and Wolfs among others, worked to bring Kemah into reality. [2] Through their work and the work of those who have come after, Kemah has become a quiet but growing coastal resort on the Gulf of Mexico.