Galveston is a city of about 53,000 on Galveston Island, a barrier island off the southeastern Texas coast connected to the mainland by the I-45 causeway. The city has a rich and sometimes tragic history — the 1900 Galveston Hurricane remains the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history, and hurricane preparedness is a fact of life for island residents. The historic Strand District downtown features ornate Victorian commercial buildings that survived the hurricane thanks to the seawall, now housing restaurants, shops, and galleries. The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) is the island's largest employer and one of the premier medical education and research institutions in the state. The Port of Galveston handles cruise ship traffic for Royal Caribbean and Carnival, contributing to the local tourism economy alongside Moody Gardens, Pleasure Pier, and the annual Mardi Gras celebration. Neighborhoods range from the historic East End with its restored Victorian homes to the more modern developments along the seawall and the west end of the island. Galveston ISD serves local students. The commute to Houston's mainland employment centers takes 45 to 90 minutes via I-45, depending on traffic and destination. Housing on the island ranges widely in price, with flood insurance being a significant additional cost for most properties. Salt air corrosion, humidity, and storm risk are practical realities of island living that affect every aspect of homeownership.