Padre Island is the largest of the Texas barrier islands as well as the world's longest barrier island. It is part of the U.S. state of Texas. The island is located on Texas' southern coast of the Gulf of Mexico and is famous for its white sandy beaches at the south end. The name of the island means Father in Spanish, after Father José Nicolás Ballí (c.1770-1829),who served as collector of finances for all the churches in the Rio Grande Valley and founded the first mission in present Cameron County. - Source: Wikipedia
