Old Ocean, Texas

Old Ocean, Texas
Unincorporated community
Old Ocean Location within the state of Texas
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Brazoria
Population (2000)
• Total	915
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes	77463

Old Ocean is an unincorporated community in Brazoria County, Texas, United States.

Geography

Old Ocean is located at 29°4′47″ North, 95°44′58″ West (29.07972, -95.74944), at the intersection of Loop 419 and Farm to Market Road 524, just south of State Highway 35, five miles (8 km) northwest of Sweeny.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 915 people in the community. That figure had not changed since the census of 1970.

History

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. 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 of Old Ocean was established in 1945.

Present-day Old Ocean

Little remains of Old Ocean besides the post office, a Baptist church and two convenience stores. The former town has been redeveloped into an industrial facility and both State Highway 35 and FM 524 have been bypassed around the townsite.

Education

Old Ocean is served by the Sweeny Independent School District.

External links

• Old Ocean at the Handbook of Texas Online