Kemah, TX Properties

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Kemah is a small city in northeastern Galveston County, Texas, positioned on the western shore of Galveston Bay where Clear Lake empties into the bay. It lies along State Highway 146, about twenty miles southeast of downtown Houston and twenty-five miles northwest of Galveston. The name Kemah comes from a Karankawa word, honoring the indigenous people who once ranged along this stretch of the Texas coast. The community began around 1898 as a stop on the Texas and New Orleans Railroad known as Evergreen — and briefly as Shell Siding, when the railroad hauled shell from the area. For much of the twentieth century, Kemah was a modest shrimping and fishing village, its economy tied to the bay, the oil industry, and shipbuilding. That identity shifted dramatically in the late 1990s, when Landry's opened the Kemah Boardwalk along the waterfront, transforming the city into a regional tourism and recreation destination. Today Kemah is home to roughly 1,800 residents, though its boardwalk, marinas, and waterfront restaurants draw visitors from across greater Houston. The Kemah Boardwalk — with its amusement rides, midway, and bayfront dining — is both the city's biggest attraction and its largest employer, while shipping and marine trades continue to operate along the waterfront. The city still honors its maritime heritage with an annual Blessing of the Fleet. Hurricane Ike made landfall in the area in 2008, and Kemah rebuilt its waterfront in the years that followed. Public schools are provided by Clear Creek ISD, a district formed in 1948 through the consolidation of Kemah, League City, Seabrook, and Webster. For homebuyers, Kemah offers a distinctly coastal Texas lifestyle — canal-front and waterfront homes, easy boating access, and a lively bayside atmosphere — all within a short drive of Houston, League City, and the Clear Lake aerospace corridor.

Population 1,800

County Galveston County

Active Listings 126

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Kemah in?

Kemah is located in northeastern Galveston County, Texas, on the western shore of Galveston Bay where Clear Lake flows into the bay. It lies along State Highway 146, roughly twenty-five miles northwest of Galveston.

What is the Kemah Boardwalk?

The Kemah Boardwalk is a waterfront amusement and dining complex on Galveston Bay, owned and operated by Landry's. It features rides, a midway, and bayfront restaurants, and it is both Kemah's biggest attraction and its largest employer.

How far is Kemah from Houston?

Kemah is roughly twenty miles from downtown Houston. State Highway 146 and the Interstate 45 corridor connect the city to Houston to the northwest and to Galveston about twenty-five miles to the southeast.

What school district serves Kemah?

Kemah is served by Clear Creek Independent School District, which was formed in 1948 through the consolidation of Kemah, League City, Seabrook, and Webster. Students in Kemah are zoned to Clear Creek ISD campuses, including Clear Creek High School.

What is the Blessing of the Fleet?

Kemah holds an annual Blessing of the Fleet that celebrates the community's shrimping and maritime heritage. The event reflects the city's history as a fishing village and its continuing connection to Galveston Bay.

City Guide

About Kemah

Real Estate & Housing

Kemah's housing is dominated by waterfront and canal-front properties, ranging from older bay cottages to newer townhomes and elevated single-family homes built after Hurricane Ike. Many homes offer boat slips, private docks, or quick water access to Galveston Bay and Clear Lake, a defining feature of the local market. The city's small size and coastal setting keep inventory limited and water-oriented, with nearby League City, Seabrook, and Clear Lake Shores providing a wider range of suburban options.

Neighborhoods

Kemah is a compact city, and much of its residential fabric is organized around its canals, marinas, and the boardwalk waterfront rather than large inland subdivisions. Clear Lake Shores, a separate small city on the peninsula just south, shares Kemah's bayside character, while League City and Seabrook frame the area with more conventional suburban neighborhoods. The marina districts and canal-front streets closest to the bay are the most water-oriented, with direct access to Clear Lake and Galveston Bay.

Lifestyle in Kemah

Kemah's lifestyle is defined by the water. Boating, fishing, and bayside dining are woven into everyday life, and the Kemah Boardwalk brings a steady stream of festivals, rides, and waterfront entertainment to the city's doorstep. The community retains a working-waterfront character alongside its tourism economy, with marinas, seafood houses, and the annual Blessing of the Fleet keeping its maritime heritage in view. It suits those who want a coastal, boat-oriented way of life within a short drive of Houston's employment centers and the Clear Lake aerospace corridor.

Schools & Education

Kemah is served by Clear Creek Independent School District, one of the region's larger suburban districts, formed in 1948 through the consolidation of Kemah, League City, Seabrook, and Webster. Students in Kemah are zoned to Clear Creek ISD campuses, including Clear Creek High School in League City. The district serves the broader Clear Lake area and offers a full range of elementary, intermediate, and high school programs. Private and specialized options are available in League City, Clear Lake, and Houston.

Getting Around

State Highway 146 runs through Kemah, connecting the city north toward Baytown and south toward the Galveston area, with access to the Interstate 45 Gulf Freeway corridor nearby. Downtown Houston is about twenty miles away, and Galveston lies roughly twenty-five miles to the southeast. The Kemah-Clear Lake area is also served by the region's road network linking to the Clear Lake aerospace corridor, NASA's Johnson Space Center, and William P. Hobby Airport, all within a reasonable drive.

Parks & Recreation

The Kemah Boardwalk anchors the city's recreation with amusement rides, a midway, waterfront restaurants, and year-round festivals and seaside entertainment. Clear Lake and Galveston Bay offer boating, sailing, kayaking, and fishing, supported by the city's marinas and boat launches. The annual Blessing of the Fleet is a signature community event. Nearby, the Armand Bayou Nature Center, Clear Lake parks, and the beaches of Galveston Island extend the region's outdoor offerings within a short drive.

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