As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 150 people in the community.
Historyedit
Old Ocean was originally known as Chance's Prairie, after the land grant made to Joseph H. Polley and Samuel Chance on July 27, 1824. William B. Sweeny, one of the founders of Chance's Prairie and for which the local town of Sweeny was named, bought 2,319 acres (9.38 km2) from Polley and Chance for $1,950. He had arrived in the county in 1832. His family and their 250 slaves arrived here and settled on a league of land donated by Charles Breen, on the southern boundary of this grant. John Sweeny, Sr.'s six children eventually owned more local plantations after he died in 1854. Eventually, more people settled here, and the town reportedly had a population of 18 in 1880. James Abercrombie discovered oil nearby in 1934, and a government oil refinery was constructed to make high-octane gas. It was closed near the end of World War II. The oilfield was called Old Ocean, and by 1936 the town eventually took that name. A post office with the name Old Ocean was established in 1945 and was located inside a commissary on Sweeny's plantation. The 1936 county highway map showed Bethlehem church, several other buildings, and several scattered houses in the area. Its population was 800 in 1945 and had four businesses two years later. Its population grew to over a thousand residents and had nine businesses in 1964, losing 100 residents and only one business in 1972. Its population was recorded as 915 from the 1970s through 2000. It had two churches in 1974. Its business directory included 19 businesses in 1982, eight a decade later, and 21 in 2000.[3]
Some settlers of the community included Mills M. Battle, M. Berry, Thomas H. Borden, Charles Breen, Benjamin C. Franklin, Freeman George, Henry W. Johnson, Oliver Jones, Imla Keep, David McCormick, Zeno Philips, Thomas Walker, John Williams, and Robert Harris Williams. Before the American Civil War, Sampson Brown was brought here as a slave from Maryland by Joseph McCormick in 1837. He then became a teacher and a preacher in Milam and Fort Bend counties after he was emancipated. Prince Monroe managed McCormick's plantation for more than 20 years.[3]
Present-day Old Oceanedit
Little remains of Old Ocean besides the post office. The Baptist church and other buildings were demolished. The town is currently being redeveloped into an industrial facility and both State Highway 35 and FM 524 have been bypassed around the townsite.
Although Old Ocean is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP Code 77463.[4]
Educationedit
Around 1906, Old Ocean had four schools for Black students that had a combined total of 199 students enrolled and four teachers employed. There was only one school in 1936.[3] Today, Old Ocean is served by the Sweeny Independent School District.
ocean, texas, ocean, unincorporated, community, brazoria, county, texas, united, states, according, handbook, texas, community, population, 2000, located, within, greater, houston, metropolitan, area, unincorporated, communityold, oceanlocation, within, state,. Old Ocean is an unincorporated community in Brazoria County Texas United States According to the Handbook of Texas the community had a population of 915 in 2000 It is located within the Greater Houston metropolitan area Old Ocean TexasUnincorporated communityOld OceanLocation within the state of TexasShow map of TexasOld OceanOld Ocean the United States Show map of the United StatesCoordinates 29 4 47 N 95 44 58 W 29 07972 N 95 74944 W 29 07972 95 74944CountryUnited StatesStateTexasCountyBrazoriaPopulation 2010 Total150Time zoneUTC 6 Central CST Summer DST UTC 5 CDT ZIP codes77463 Contents 1 Geography 2 Demographics 3 History 4 Present day Old Ocean 5 Education 6 ReferencesGeography editOld Ocean is located at the intersection of Farm to Market Road 524 and Texas State Highway 35 5 mi 8 0 km northwest of Sweeny It is also located 7 mi 11 km west of West Columbia and 22 mi 35 km west of Angleton 1 Demographics editAs of the census 2 of 2000 there were 150 people in the community History editOld Ocean was originally known as Chance s Prairie after the land grant made to Joseph H Polley and Samuel Chance on July 27 1824 William B Sweeny one of the founders of Chance s Prairie and for which the local town of Sweeny was named bought 2 319 acres 9 38 km2 from Polley and Chance for 1 950 He had arrived in the county in 1832 His family and their 250 slaves arrived here and settled on a league of land donated by Charles Breen on the southern boundary of this grant John Sweeny Sr s six children eventually owned more local plantations after he died in 1854 Eventually more people settled here and the town reportedly had a population of 18 in 1880 James Abercrombie discovered oil nearby in 1934 and a government oil refinery was constructed to make high octane gas It was closed near the end of World War II The oilfield was called Old Ocean and by 1936 the town eventually took that name A post office with the name Old Ocean was established in 1945 and was located inside a commissary on Sweeny s plantation The 1936 county highway map showed Bethlehem church several other buildings and several scattered houses in the area Its population was 800 in 1945 and had four businesses two years later Its population grew to over a thousand residents and had nine businesses in 1964 losing 100 residents and only one business in 1972 Its population was recorded as 915 from the 1970s through 2000 It had two churches in 1974 Its business directory included 19 businesses in 1982 eight a decade later and 21 in 2000 3 Some settlers of the community included Mills M Battle M Berry Thomas H Borden Charles Breen Benjamin C Franklin Freeman George Henry W Johnson Oliver Jones Imla Keep David McCormick Zeno Philips Thomas Walker John Williams and Robert Harris Williams Before the American Civil War Sampson Brown was brought here as a slave from Maryland by Joseph McCormick in 1837 He then became a teacher and a preacher in Milam and Fort Bend counties after he was emancipated Prince Monroe managed McCormick s plantation for more than 20 years 3 Present day Old Ocean editLittle remains of Old Ocean besides the post office The Baptist church and other buildings were demolished The town is currently being redeveloped into an industrial facility and both State Highway 35 and FM 524 have been bypassed around the townsite Although Old Ocean is unincorporated it has a post office with the ZIP Code 77463 4 Education editAround 1906 Old Ocean had four schools for Black students that had a combined total of 199 students enrolled and four teachers employed There was only one school in 1936 3 Today Old Ocean is served by the Sweeny Independent School District References edit Old Ocean Texas Texas Escapes Online Magazine Retrieved September 7 2022 U S Census website United States Census Bureau Retrieved January 31 2008 a b c Old Ocean TX from the Handbook of Texas Online Zip Code Lookup Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Old Ocean Texas amp oldid 1192421526, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
