Camp Chemical

	Dow built Camp Chemical in 1942. It was torn down in 1945 to make room for more plants.

As Dow's Texas Division continued to grow, it became harder for the multitude of workers building and operating the plants to find living quarters. So Dow executive A.P. Beutel organized the construction of "Camp Chemical," a temporary housing area for employees. At its pinnacle, Camp Chemical was the largest city in Brazoria County and home to more than 12,000 people.

With help from the U.S. Government, who needed Dow materials for the war effort, construction on the project began Feb. 20, 1942, and was completed in just 31 days. Designed by Alden B. Dow, Camp Chemical consisted of more than 2,000 one-room cottages for married workers and 46 barracks able to house 120 men each.

It also contained a cafeteria that could seat 1,000 people, a school, a large store, an entertainment hall, a ballpark, a fire house and a police station. Roads, sidewalks, running water, sewer lines and electricity kept it going. Soon after World War II ended, Camp Chemical was torn down to make room for more plants at Plant B.