Corpus Christi is known as the "City by the Sea" for our close proximity to Corpus Christi Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. A subtropical climate—with an annual mean temperature of 71.1 degrees—attracts visitors and residents to this outdoor paradise. Recreational opportunities abound, including fishing, tennis, golf, camping, sailing, windsurfing, kite boarding, and, of course, lounging on hundreds of miles of beautiful beaches and nearby Padre Island—the longest barrier island in the nation. A bayfront promenade, waterfront restaurants, historic sites, and an arts and museum district offer something for everyone to enjoy in Corpus Christi.
Corpus Christi is the eighth largest Texas city. The Port of Corpus Christi, the Texas Mexican, Southern Pacific, and Missouri Pacific railways, and Corpus Christi International Airport support the city's transportation needs and provide infrastructure for exporting cotton, grain sorghums, wheat, fuel oils, gasoline, crude petroleum, and natural gas. The Corpus Christi Naval Air Station is also a boon to the local economy.