Today, Galveston County Mosquito Control has 13 full-time employees, 17 spray trucks, two aircraft, and an annual budget over a million dollars. Its establishment dates back to the early 1950s. After years of enduring hordes of salt marsh mosquitoes, the citizens of Galveston County formed an association to develop a plan of action. Dr. Carl A. Nau, then Chairman of the Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health of the University of Texas Medical Branch, was made President. He along with Ed J. Fox, then Superintendent of Union Carbide, and Ms. J.D. Smollen, a newspaper publisher, spearheaded an advisory committee to explore ways to deal with the growing mosquito problem.

   Mosquito Control District was created in 1953, approved by voters in accordance with Article 4477-2 of Vernon’s Civil Statues (Section 1), for the purpose eradicating mosquitoes. William M. Cox, who had been in charge of mosquito control for the City of Galveston, was made Director, and Dr. Don W. Micks, Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at The University of Texas Medical Branch, was named Consultant.

Galveston County Mosquito Control District began operation on May 1, 1955 with a total budget of $35,000. Its headquarters was established in Dickinson where its offices stands today. The Gulf Coast Mosquito Control Association was also established, bringing together representatives from Chambers, Brazoria, Galveston, Jefferson, and Orange Counties. This association later became the Texas Mosquito Control Association.

Benzene hexachloride (BHC) dust was selected as the insecticide to be dispersed by airplane and truck-mounted power dusters. After enjoying success in its first year, the program’s budget was doubled to $75,000 . A larvicidal program was developed by using an oil-kerosene mixture in ditches.

After several hurricanes, an emergency vector control budget was created. The control program was bolstered by additional personnel, equipment and insecticide. At this time BHC was replaced with DDT which in two years was also subject to mosquito resistance. A new insecticide, malathion, became available and was adopted as the new control agent. Initially it was employed as a fog, later as a 5% dust distributed by both ground equipment and airplane. In 1967, a new and efficient method was introduced. Ultra-low volume (ULV) allows five fluid ounces of malathion concentrate to be sprayed to cover an entire acre with microscopic droplets of malathion. This agent has enjoyed enormous success in fighting mosquitos in Galveston County and is still being used today.