Sealy is a city in Austin County in southeastern Texas, United States. The population was 6,839 at the 2020 census. Sealy is located 49 mi west of the downtown Houston area, on the most eastern part of the Texas-German belt region, an area settled by German emigrants.

History

San Felipe sold part of its original 22000 acre township to the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad to create Sealy in 1879. Sealy derives its name from business tycoon and majority stock holder of the GCSF RR, George Sealy of Galveston. In 1881, Daniel Haynes, a cotton gin builder, filled a request for a cotton-filled mattress which started a company. He named this the Sealy Mattress Company after the town. Business grew exponentially, which led to more innovation and several patents, such as a machine that compressed cotton.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.5 sqmi, of which 13.38 sqmi is land and 0.16 sqmi is water. Sealy is 49 mi west of Downtown Houston.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,839 people, 2,524 households, and 1,921 families residing in the city. As of the census of 2000, there were 5,248 people, 1,882 households, and 1,349 families residing in the city. The population density was 759.3 PD/sqmi. There were 2,077 housing units at an average density of 300.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 75.1% White, 12.3% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 12.88% from other races, and 1.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30.43% of the population. There were 1,882 households, out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.30. In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.2% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was $34,277, and the median income for a family was $40,348. Males had a median income of $28,720 versus $20,793 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,986. About 11.2% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 13.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

People who live in Sealy are zoned to schools in Sealy Independent School District. The schools in Sealy ISD are Selman Elementary School or Sealy Elementary (pre-kindergarten to fifth grade), Sealy Junior High School (6–8), and Sealy High School (9–12). All of the schools are in Sealy. Blinn College has a Sealy Campus located along Interstate 10, east of State Highway 36.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Sealy is served by Interstate 10, U.S. Highway 90, Texas State Highway 36, the BNSF Railway, and the Union Pacific Railroad. The Greyhound Bus Lines operates the Sealy Station at Mazac Muffler City AC.

Notable people