THE HISTORY OF BAYTOWN.

Baytown: Baytown Heritage Society, 1986. 155pp. Index. Bibliography. Maps including endpapers. Photographs. Illustrations. Notes. Dark brown cloth with the title in gilt on the cover and spine. First edition, limited edition of 2000 copies. INSCRIBED.  Fine copy. The dust jacket has a circular water mark on the front panel with other minor wear, else, very good. Beginning with an early history of the area, there is information on the early Indian tribes, Jean Lafitte who used the area as his base, the first Anglo settlers lead by Nathaniel  Lynch, James Strange, Christian Smith, and John Iiams, and the impact of the empresarios and their land grants. Contains a chapter devoted to the area’s impact during the Texas revolution with material on the Battle of San Jacinto. There is also extensive information on the impact of the oil industry, beginning with the Goose Creek field in 1903 and ten years later with the drilling of the first offshore well at Tabbs Bay. The Humble Oil and Refining Company established by Ross Sterling and impact on the area is also covered. It closes with a chapter on modern day Baytown and its future. Enhanced by a number of excellent photographs.