The town of Collegeport was established on May 25, 1908 by the Burton D. Hurd Land Company.  Land was provided for the establishment of the Gulf Coast University of Industrial Arts, and it was planned that the Pilkington Slough be dredged for a port just south of the town. 

Excursion cars brought investors and settlers mainly from the mid-western states to buy land and start businesses. Businesses, churches and schools were established. The Collegeport Industrial League took the initiative in arranging for a special tax and later for the voting of bonds to build the brick schoolhouse.  Organizing the school was the principle act of the first meeting of the League in 1910.

The port never materialized, and the university thrived just a short while before the economy failed in the young community.  Despite the hopes of Collegeport being a dynamic center of commerce and education, economics of production plagued the early settlers.  The Gulf Coast University of Industrial Arts planted orchards and crops utilizing student labor in exchange for tuition.  Pioneers experimented in order to find viable crops which would produce in the area.  Rail service into the community brought hope that this would open markets for local products.

 
Collegeport Depot ca. 1910

Rice Warehouse

Dairy products, eggs and other farm-raised commodities were marketed.  On one occasion, watermelons were shipped and all that was gleaned was a bill for freight.  By 1915, the university had closed; the Hotel Collegeport was vacant in 1916, and many of the original settlers had moved back from

whence they came.  In the 1920’s, Dr. W. W. Van Wormer began the Collegeport Fig Orchards Company, which thrived, but failed due to the depression.  Despite the hard times, a community spirit prevailed, and residents thrived on that unity.  There were many opportunities for social engagement including barn dances, box socials, concerts and dances on the pavilion, community fairs, New Years Day and Washington’s Birthday Banquets, and of course the annual homecoming celebration—Collegeport Day.  Civic and church organizations included the Industrial League, Mopac House Foundation, Woman’s Club, Women’s Union , King’s Daughters (who maintained the Cemetery) and the Princes of Jonathan (Young Men’s Sunday School Class).  The advent of a paved road into the community, and improved transportation brought about the end of rail service to Collegeport.  H. A. Clapp was instrumental in securing a gift of the railroad depot to the community for the use as a Community House.  Mopac House was constructed of materials salvaged from the Collegeport Depot, and opened on May 4, 1935 .  The Community House was now the place the community gathered.  Before that time, the Federated Church building was the center of community affairs, having also served as the community’s early schoolhouse.

 
Irrigation Plant

Rice production was introduced in the area after irrigation facilities were completed.  A large rice warehouse was built to store the grain which was shipped out by rail.

First Church of Collegeport—Federated

  Collegeport became primarily a rural, agricultural community whose products included rice, cattle, grain and cotton.  The Bay View Consolidated School District consolidated with the Palacios School District in 1947 and the school building was demolished in the 1950’s.  Development of natural gas fields came about in the 1940’s when Brazos Oil and Gas established its operations here.  Apache Corporation currently operates the field which is now depleted, with the exception of a couple of producing wells.  In September of 1961, Hurricane Carla devastated the area and destroyed the remaining business houses in Collegeport, namely the Mowery Store and the Collegeport Pharmacy, including Miss Hattie’s soda fountain. The U. S. Post Office has been maintained through the years, and the Mopac House and Library still serve as the community center.  There are two active churches in the community, the First Baptist Church , established in 1949 and the First Presbyterian Church which evolved from the First Church of Collegeport—Federated which was established in 1910.  The Collegeport Area Volunteer Fire Department was established in 1965.  More recently, aquaculture operations producing cultivated shrimp and fish have been on the increase, as conventional agriculture has declined.  The Nature Conservancy of Texas acquired the Clive Runnells Mad Island Marsh Preserve and maintains offices here.  Also, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. has a preserve near Mad Island .   Several families have weekend homes here and consider Collegeport their community, too.  Collegeport continues to observe its founding day with annual celebrations now held the last Saturday in May.