Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. In 2006 the US Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 285,175, making it the eighth-largest city in the state. The city has been nicknamed The Sparkling City by the Sea, particularly in literature promoting tourism. The city is home to the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi and is served by the Corpus Christi International Airport.