A barge canal links Victoria to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway

The Victoria Barge Canal is a man-made shipping channel. It runs from Victoria to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. That connection gives inland Victoria direct water access to coastal ports and markets. The canal was completed in 1967.

After it opened, the canal helped bring industrial investment to the area, including chemical plants. It also helps move agricultural products out of the region. The canal is a big reason industrial employers settled in Victoria County after World War II.

The Victoria Navigation District oversees the canal. It is one of the 16 taxing units in the county.