Magnolia Beach
Magnolia Beach is a natural beach fronting Lavaca Bay in central Calhoun County. A late-1800s project of Northern entrepreneurs to sell the land to settlers was a failure, but some camp cottages built for summer visitors proved a successful venture. The word Magnolia was probably added to the beach name for the Magnolia fig, which was grown commercially, preserved, and marketed in the area. In 1914 the resort community that had developed there reported a telephone connection, a general store, and eighty inhabitants. By 1925 the population had dwindled to fifteen; it remained at this level until the early 1930s, after which population figures were no longer available. In 1936 Magnolia Beach had two rows of dwellings, four other houses, and a community school; State Highway 316 led to the community, and a soil-surfaced road skirted the shoreline linking Magnolia Beach and the old Indianola site. The school was in still operation in 1939, when one teacher instructed four White students. In 1973 the site had several dwellings, most of which were newly built. By the late twentieth century and into the early twenty-first century the area had become a growing tourist destination for fishermen and was highly acclaimed for birdwatching. Magnolia Beach included a public beach project and fishing pier as well as beach homes and an RV park. A renovated marina was located nearby in Indianola. Part of the Victoria Metropolitan Statistical Area and within the Calhoun County Independent School District, Magnolia Beach reported a population estimate of 250 in 2008.
Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.
Rebecca Rubert | © Texas State Historical Association
At a Glance
Belongs to
Magnolia Beach is part of or belongs to the following places.
Adopt a Town
The Texas Almanac's Land Rush program lets you adopt the town, county, or lake of your choice and share your message with the world. 100% of the proceeds benefit education in Texas.

- Adoption Status: ✅
- This place is available for adoption!
- Adopted by:
- Your name goes here
- Dedication Message:
- Your message goes here
Currently Exists
Yes
Place type
Magnolia Beach is classified as a Town
Locations
-
- Latitude
- 28.56027650
- Longitude
- -96.54275400
Has Post Office
No
Is Incorporated
No

Proud to call Texas home?
Put your name on the town, county, or lake of your choice.
Search Places »
Magnolia Beach by the Numbers
Population Counts
This is some placeholder text that we should either remove or replace with a brief summary about this particular metric. For example, "We update population counts once per year..."
Population Counts
Magnolia Beach
Pop. | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
217 | 2020 | United States Census Bureau |
250 | 2009 | Local Officials |