Jacinto City incorporated in 1947 with nearly 3,800 residents; its first mayor was Inch Handler.

A waste-water facility funded by the Environmental Protection Agency opened in 1972; the Handbook of Texas stated that this may be due to complaints from residents about chemical vapors in 1969.

[5] Jacinto City was known for the murder of Louis "Buddy" Musso by Susan (or Suzanne) "Sue" Basso in 1998.

[10] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2), all land.

[10] As of the 2020 United States census, there were 9,613 people, 3,213 households, and 2,361 families residing in the city.

[17] Jacinto City is within District 6 of the Texas Senate; as of 2018 Carol Alvarado is the representative.

[19] Locations in Jacinto City have "Houston, Texas" mailing addresses.

[23] Areas south of Market Street are zoned to Galena Park Independent School District while areas north of Market Street are zoned to Houston Independent School District.

[24] This HISD section is within Trustee District VIII, represented by Diana Dávila as of 2008.

[25] Students who are in the GPISD section of Jacinto City are zoned to the following elementary schools:[26] Students who are in the GPISD section of Jacinto City are zoned to the following middle schools:[27] All students who are in the GPISD section of Jacinto City are zoned to: Students who are in the HISD area are zoned to: Whittier, named after the poet John Greenleaf Whittier, opened in 1948, Furr opened in 1961, and Holland opened in 1979.

[32] Jacinto City operates a municipal preschool as part of its Parks and Recreation Department.

[35] In addition, Jacinto City residents within the Houston Independent School District may apply to HISD early childhood programs.

Students who are eligible for HISD's preschools may attend any Early Childhood Center in Houston ISD for free.

[36] The Galena Park Independent School District operates the William F. "Bill" Becker Early Childhood Development Center, a preschool program for low income families, in Galena Park.

Jacinto City operates the Heritage Hall, a recreational center for senior citizens of age 60 or older located in the same complex.

The center provides transportation to and from Jacinto City, Galena Park, and the Songwood community in Houston.