Santa Fe Map
Santa Fe (Spanish: santa—holy, fe—faith) is a city in Galveston County, Texas, United States. The population was 9,548 at the 2000 census. The town is named for the Santa Fe Railroad (now part of BNSF Railway) which runs through the town alongside State Highway 6.
The community grew after the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway was built outside the area in 1877. Just over a century later in 1978, the residents there voted to become incorporated, and by the 1980s, Santa Fe annexed the towns of Arcadia and Alta Loma.
The City of Santa Fe came to be when the neighboring City of Hitchcock tried to annex a large portion of Alta Loma. After a six year struggle the residents of Alta Loma were given the chance to become their own incorporated city. On January 21, 1978, Santa Fe incorporated Alta Loma into its city limits. To be in accordance with the laws of Texas, a certain number of residents was required, so a large part of the next town of Arcadia was also included. The new city's name, Santa Fe, was chosen after the Santa Fe Independent School District which had been named for the railroad in the early 19th century.
Nearby cities include Bacliff, Texas City, Webster, Kemah, Liverpool.