Beaumont is a city in and
county seatA county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of
Jefferson CountyJefferson County is a county located in the state of Texas, United States. As of 2000, the population was 252,051. Its county seat is Beaumont, and it is named for the former U.S...
,
TexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, within the Beaumont–
Port Arthur-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 57,755 people, 21,839 households, and 14,675 families residing in the city. The population density was 696.5 people per square mile . There were 24,713 housing units at an average density of 298.0 per square mile...
Metropolitan Statistical AreaThe Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Area is defined by the United States Census Bureau as a three-county region in Southeast Texas, east of the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The area is also known as the Golden Triangle...
. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With
Port Arthur-Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 57,755 people, 21,839 households, and 14,675 families residing in the city. The population density was 696.5 people per square mile . There were 24,713 housing units at an average density of 298.0 per square mile...
and
OrangeOrange is a city in Orange County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 18,643. It is the county seat of Orange County, and is the easternmost city in Texas. Located on the Sabine River at the border with Louisiana, it is part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur...
, it forms the
Golden TriangleThe Golden Triangle is an area of Southeast Texas between the cities of Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Orange. The "golden" refers to the wealth that came from the Spindletop oil strike in Beaumont in 1901...
, a major industrial area on the
Gulf CoastThe Gulf Coast of the United States, sometimes referred to as the Gulf South, South Coast, or 3rd Coast, comprises the coasts of American states that are on the Gulf of Mexico, which includes Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida and are known as the Gulf States...
.
Lamar UniversityLamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
with its 15000 students is located in Beaumont. The city's daily newspaper is
The Beaumont Enterprise, while
The ExaminerThe Examiner is an investigative weekly newspaper created in 1995 by The Examiner Corporation based in Beaumont, Texas. The newspaper's staff has been awarded numerous local, state and national awards for its in-depth coverage of news events in Southeast Texas...
is published weekly.
Gulf States UtilitiesGulf States Utilities was an electric power generation and distribution company headquartered in Beaumont, Texas. The company was founded in 1911 as Eastern Texas Electric, a holding company for Stone & Webster...
had its headquarters in Beaumont until its absorption by Entergy Corporation in 1993. GSU's
Edison PlazaThe Edison Plaza is a 17-story office building in downtown Beaumont, Texas, located at 350 Pine St. The building is downtown's newest and tallest skyscraper....
headquarters is still the
tallest building in BeaumontThe Edison Plaza is a 17-story office building in downtown Beaumont, Texas, located at 350 Pine St. The building is downtown's newest and tallest skyscraper....
(as of 2011). Since 1907, Beaumont has been home of the
South Texas State FairThe South Texas State Fair is an annual regional state fair held in Beaumont, Texas. The fair features a livestock show, a commercial exhibition, and a carnival Midway. Food concessions are a major attraction of the fair...
. In 2004, the venue for the Fair changed to
Ford ParkFord Park is a multi-purpose Park, Arena, Exhibit Hall, Pavilion, Midway, and Field located on I-10 South in Beaumont, Texas.The Arena seats 9,737 people. It is the former home to the Southeast Texas Mavericks ABA franchise, Beaumont Drillers of the NIFL and the Texas Wildcatters of the East Coast...
, a new, larger facility on the west end of Beaumont.
History
In 1824 Noah and Nancy Tevis settled on the west bank of
Neches RiverThe Neches River flows for through east Texas to its mouth on Sabine Lake near the Rainbow Bridge. Two major reservoirs, Lake Palestine and B. A. Steinhagen Reservoir are located on the Neches. Several cities are located along the Neches River Basin, including Evadale, Tyler, Lufkin, Silsbee,...
and organized a farm. Soon after that, a small community grew up around the farm, which was named
Tevis Bluff or
Neches River Settlement. In 1835 the land of Tevises together with nearby community of
Santa Anna (in total, 50 acres or 200,000 m
2) was purchased by
Henry MillardHenry Millard was an American businessman, military officer, and public servant. He founded the city of Beaumont, Texas, in 1835 and fought in the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836 during the Texas Revolution.- Early life :...
(1796?—1844), Joseph P. Pulsifer (1805—1861) and
Thomas B. HulingThomas Byers Huling , was a businessman who, along with Henry Millard and Joseph Pulsifer, helped lay out the original plans for Beaumont, Texas.Huling also owned the land upon which the former town of Zavala, Texas, was founded.-References:...
(1804—1865), who began planning a town to be laid out on this land. This town was named Beaumont, after Mary Millard (born as
Mary Dewburleigh Barlace Warren Beaumont), the late wife of Henry Millard (she died in May 1834).
Beaumont became a town on December 16, 1838. Joseph Perkins Pulsifer was a founding citizen of Beaumont. His firm, J.P. Pulsifer and Company, donated the first 50 acres (202,343 m²) upon which the town was founded. Beaumont's first mayor was
Alexander CalderAlexander Calder , a New Yorker, became the first mayor of Beaumont, Texas, on August 8, 1840.On July 28, 1840, an election was held under the Incorporation Act, and on August 8, Beaumont's first elected officials were sworn into office...
.
Schaadt (2006) examines the entrepreneurship that made Beaumont thrive in its early years. From its founding in 1835, business activities included real estate, transportation expansion, and retail sales. Later, other businesses were formed, especially in railroad construction and operation, new building construction, lumber sales, and communications. They made Beaumont a successful regional shipping center. Beaumont was a small center for cattle raisers and farmers in its early years, and with an active riverport by the 1880s, it became an important lumber and rice-milling town. The Beaumont Rice Mill, founded in 1892 by
Joseph Eloi BroussardJoseph Eloi Broussard converted a grist mill near Beaumont, Texas into the Beaumont Rice Mill, the first commercial rice mill in Texas. The Mill made rice, along with lumber and cattle, an important commodity to the early residents of Beaumont....
, was the first commercial rice mill in Texas. Beaumont's lumber boom, which reached its peak in the late 19th century, was due in large part to the rebuilding and expansion of the railroads after the
Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. The rise of Beaumont's mill economy drew many new residents to the city, many of them immigrants, among them a group of Jews who would go on to form a congregation. By the early 20th century, the city was served by the Southern Pacific, Kansas City Southern, Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe, and Missouri Pacific railroad systems.
OilPetroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
was discovered at nearby
SpindletopSpindletop is a salt dome oil field located in the southern portion of Beaumont, Texas in the United States. The Spindletop dome was derived from the Louann Salt evaporite layer of the Jurassic geologic period. On January 10, 1901, a well at Spindletop struck oil . The new oil field soon produced...
on January 10, 1901. Spindletop became the first major
oil fieldAn oil field is a region with an abundance of oil wells extracting petroleum from below ground. Because the oil reservoirs typically extend over a large area, possibly several hundred kilometres across, full exploitation entails multiple wells scattered across the area...
and one of the largest in American history. With the discovery of oil at Spindletop, Beaumont's population grew from 9,000 in January 1901 to 30,000 in March 1901. Oil is, and has always been, a major export of the city, and a major contributor to the national GDP.
Captain William Casper Tyrrell was a leading philanthropist in the 1920s. His generosity contributed to such projects as the opening of a commercial port in the city, the development of the local rice industry, the development of suburban property, and the donation of the First Baptist Church for use as a public library, which in 2002 housed the
Tyrrell Historical LibraryThe Tyrrell Historical Library in Beaumont, Texas was built in 1903 for First Baptist Church. Its design is Richardsonian Romanesque architecture mixed with features of the Victorian Gothic style, such as pointed arch windows and quatrefoils. The building was purchased by Captain W. C. Tyrrell in...
.
The city became a major center for shipbuilding during
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, as tens of thousands of rural Texans poured in for the new high-paying jobs. Housing was scarce and racial tension high when a
race riotA race riot or racial riot is an outbreak of violent civil disorder in which race is a key factor. A phenomenon frequently confused with the concept of 'race riot' is sectarian violence, which involves public mass violence or conflict over non-racial factors.-United States:The term had entered the...
took place in Beaumont in June 1943 after workers at the Pennsylvania shipyard in Beaumont learned that a white woman had accused a black man of raping her.
In 1996, the Jefferson County courts, located in Beaumont, became the first court in the nation to implement electronic filing and service of court documents, eliminating the need for law firms to print and mail reams of documents.
In 2005 and 2008, Beaumont and surrounding areas suffered extensive damage from
Hurricane RitaHurricane Rita was the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the most intense tropical cyclone ever observed in the Gulf of Mexico. Rita caused $11.3 billion in damage on the U.S. Gulf Coast in September 2005...
and
Hurricane IkeHurricane Ike was the second-costliest hurricane ever to make landfall in the United States, the costliest hurricane ever to impact Cuba and the second most active hurricane to reach the Canadian mainland in the Great Lakes Region after Hurricane Hazel in 1954...
. A mandatory evacuation was imposed upon its residents for about two weeks.
Local Government
According to the city’s most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city’s various funds had $177.5 million in Revenues, $164.5 million in expenditures, $633.2 million in total assets, $332.7 million in total liabilities, and $122.2 million in cash and investments.
Politics
Beaumont is a
council-managerThe council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
form of government. Elections are held annually, with the Mayor and Council members each serving two-year terms. All powers of the City are vested in the Council, which enacts local legislation, adopts budgets, and determines policies. Council is also responsible for appointing the City Attorney, the City Clerk and
MagistrateA magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
s, and the
City ManagerA city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
. The city council is composed of two councilmembers-at-large, and four councilmembers representing four Wards of the city.
| Position |
Name |
Elected to Current Position |
Areas Represented
Council Districts |
| |
Mayor |
Becky Ames |
2007–present |
Citywide |
| |
At Large Position 1 |
Gethrel ‘Get’ Williams-Wright |
2007–present |
Citywide |
| |
At Large Position 2 & Mayor Pro-Tem |
W.L. Pate, Jr. |
2007–present |
Citywide |
| |
Ward 1 |
Dr. Alan Coleman |
2007–present |
North Beaumont |
| |
Ward 2 |
Open |
|
West Beaumont |
| |
Ward 3 |
Audwin M. Samuels |
1984–1992, 1999–present |
Central Beaumont |
| |
Ward 4 |
Jamie D. Smith |
2007–present |
South Beaumont |
State representation
The
Texas Department of TransportationThe Texas Department of Transportation is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of Texas. Its stated mission is to "work cooperatively to provide safe, effective and efficient movement of people and goods" throughout the state...
operates the Beaumont District Office in Beaumont. The
Texas Ninth Court of AppealsThe Texas Courts of Appeals are part of the Texas judicial system. In Texas, all cases appealed from the district level, both criminal and civil, may be heard by one of the fourteen Texas Courts of Appeals. The exception is for cases where the death penalty is a factor; these cases go directly to...
is located in the Jefferson County Courthouse in Beaumont. The
Texas Department of Criminal JusticeThe Texas Department of Criminal Justice is a department of the government of the state of Texas. The TDCJ is responsible for statewide criminal justice for adult offenders, including managing offenders in state prisons, state jails and private correctional facilities, funding and certain...
(TDCJ) operates the Beaumont District Parole Office in Beaumont.
Federal representation
The
Federal Bureau of PrisonsThe Federal Bureau of Prisons is a federal law enforcement agency subdivision of the United States Department of Justice and is responsible for the administration of the federal prison system. The system also handles prisoners who committed acts considered felonies under the District of Columbia's...
operates the Beaumont Federal Correctional Complex in an
unincorporated areaIn law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Jefferson County, near Beaumont.
Economy
According to the City's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report the top employers in the city are:
| # |
Employer |
# of Employees |
| 1 |
Conn's Conn's Inc. is an electronics and appliance store chain headquartered in Beaumont, Texas, United States. The chain has stores in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma...
Appliances Inc. |
3,419 |
| 2 |
Beaumont Independent School District Beaumont Independent School District is a public school district based in Beaumont, Texas .In addition to Beaumont, the district also serves the city of Bevil Oaks.In 2010, the school district was rated "Recognized" by the Texas Education Agency....
|
2,909 |
| 3 |
Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospital |
1,880 |
| 4 |
Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital |
1,783 |
| 5 |
City of Beaumont |
1,343 |
| 6 |
Lamar UniversityLamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
|
1,203 |
| 7 |
Jefferson CountyJefferson County is a county located in the state of Texas, United States. As of 2000, the population was 252,051. Its county seat is Beaumont, and it is named for the former U.S...
|
1,193 |
| 8 |
CB&I Matrix Engineering |
752 |
| 9 |
ENGlobal Corporation |
468 |
| 10 |
Wal-MartWal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
|
450 |
A significant element of the region's economy is the
Port of BeaumontThe Port of Beaumont is a deep-water port located in Beaumont, Texas near the mouth of the Neches River.It is the fourth busiest port in the United States according to the American Association of Port Authorities and the thirty-fourth largest in the world in terms of tonnage. It is also the...
, the nations 4th largest seaport by Tonnage, and the 2nd largest military seaport in the world. The 842d Transportation Battalion, and the 596th Transportation Group are both stationed at the port in Beaumont.
Conn's Appliances and
Jason's DeliJason's Deli is a fast casual deli restaurant chain headquartered in Beaumont, Texas, United States.-History:Jason's Deli was founded in Beaumont, Texas in 1976 by Joe Tortorice Jr. and his partners Rusty Coco, Pete Verde and Pat Broussard....
have their headquarters in Beaumont. Originally
Sweet Leaf Tea CompanySweet Leaf Tea Company is a producer of ready-to-drink organic teas and lemonades made with 100% pure cane sugar headquartered in the Penn Field Business Park in the South Congress area of Austin, Texas. It was founded in 1998 by Clayton Christopher and David Smith...
had its headquarters in Beaumont. The headquarters moved to Austin in October 2003.
Businesses associated with Beaumont
- Conn's
Conn's Inc. is an electronics and appliance store chain headquartered in Beaumont, Texas, United States. The chain has stores in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma...
- Chain of Appliance and Electronic stores
- Gulf Oil
Gulf Oil was a major global oil company from the 1900s to the 1980s. The eighth-largest American manufacturing company in 1941 and the ninth-largest in 1979, Gulf Oil was one of the so-called Seven Sisters oil companies...
- Gulf Oil Company founded 1901, now Chevron
- Humble Oil
Humble Oil and Refining Co. was founded in 1911. The company would later consolidate with Standard Oil of New Jersey to become Exxon.-Early history:...
- 50% of Humble Oil sold to Standard Oil of NJ to build its first refinery in Baytown. Merged and renamed Exxon 1972. Now ExxonMobilExxon Mobil Corporation or ExxonMobil, is an American multinational oil and gas corporation. It is a direct descendant of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil company, and was formed on November 30, 1999, by the merger of Exxon and Mobil. Its headquarters are in Irving, Texas...
- Jason's Deli
Jason's Deli is a fast casual deli restaurant chain headquartered in Beaumont, Texas, United States.-History:Jason's Deli was founded in Beaumont, Texas in 1976 by Joe Tortorice Jr. and his partners Rusty Coco, Pete Verde and Pat Broussard....
- Fast Casual chain with locations in 20 states.
- Magnolia Petroleum Company
The Magnolia Petroleum Company was an early twentieth century petroleum company in Texas and was founded on April 24, 1911 as a consolidation of several earlier companies. Standard Oil of New York exchanged its stock for all of the Magnolia stock in December 1925 though it continued to operate as...
- Startup began in Corsicana in 1898, but became a major company in Beaumont in 1901. Owned KFDM radio, now 560 KLVIKLVI is a news-talk radio station in the Beaumont, Texas, metropolitan area. It is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications....
in the 30s through the 50s. Its refinery in Beaumont along with Texas Oil Co. & Gulf's in Port Arthur, TX were 3 of the largest in the world. Magnolia later sold 45% ownership to Standard Oil of NY, Socony. Combined companies years later into MobilMobil, previously known as the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, was a major American oil company which merged with Exxon in 1999 to form ExxonMobil. Today Mobil continues as a major brand name within the combined company, as well as still being a gas station sometimes paired with their own store or On...
now ExxonMobilExxon Mobil Corporation or ExxonMobil, is an American multinational oil and gas corporation. It is a direct descendant of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil company, and was formed on November 30, 1999, by the merger of Exxon and Mobil. Its headquarters are in Irving, Texas...
- Port of Beaumont
The Port of Beaumont is a deep-water port located in Beaumont, Texas near the mouth of the Neches River.It is the fourth busiest port in the United States according to the American Association of Port Authorities and the thirty-fourth largest in the world in terms of tonnage. It is also the...
- Young town of Beaumont grew quicker around this harbor about 1840 and would mark the spot that would become the port. Ranks consistently among the top 5 ports in the country for tonnage
- Sweet Leaf Tea - A ready-to-drink organic tea company started in Beaumont in 1998 by Clayton Christopher and David Smith, later moved to Austin, TX.
- The Texas Oil Company - Founded in 1902 just west of Beaumont (Sour Lake, Texas) became Texaco
Texaco is the name of an American oil retail brand. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owns the Havoline motor oil brand....
;, now owned/part of ChevronChevron Corporation is an American multinational energy corporation headquartered in San Ramon, California, United States and active in more than 180 countries. It is engaged in every aspect of the oil, gas, and geothermal energy industries, including exploration and production; refining,...
formerly Standard Oil Company of California.
- The Texas Coffee Company - Home of Seaport Coffees and Texjoy Steak Seasoning among other products distributed regionally. The company was founded in 1921 by Charles J. Fertitta, Sr. In 1968, the Texas Coffee Company became the first company in the United States to begin packaging coffee in vacuum-packed foil bags.
Transportation
Southeast Texas Regional AirportJack Brooks Regional Airport , is a public airport located near Port Arthur, Texas, United States, nine miles southeast of the central business district of Beaumont and northeast of Port Arthur...
, located 9 miles south of Beaumont's central business district, serves the region with flights to
Houston, TexasHouston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
Intercity
AmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
rail serves the city via the
Beaumont Amtrak StationAmtrak's Beaumont Station serves Beaumont, Texas via the Sunset Limited service.After the station sustained damage in Hurrican Rita the station building was removed and only a concrete platform was left. A new station is to be constructed, which will utilize $1.2 million in federal stimulus funding...
.
The city operates a city wide bus system called Beaumont Mass Transit (BMT).
Major Highways
Geography
Beaumont is located at 30°4′48"N 94°7′36"W (30.079912, -94.126653). According to the
United States Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 85.9 square miles (222.5 km²), of which, 85 square miles (220.1 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (1.07%) is water.
Beaumont is on Texas' coastal plain, about 30 miles (48.3 km) inland from the
Gulf of MexicoThe Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
, and just south of the dense pine forests of
East TexasEast Texas is a distinct geographic and ecological area in the U.S. state of Texas.According to the Handbook of Texas, the East Texas area "may be separated from the rest of Texas roughly by a line extending from the Red River in north central Lamar County southwestward to east central Limestone...
. The city is bordered on the east by the
Neches RiverThe Neches River flows for through east Texas to its mouth on Sabine Lake near the Rainbow Bridge. Two major reservoirs, Lake Palestine and B. A. Steinhagen Reservoir are located on the Neches. Several cities are located along the Neches River Basin, including Evadale, Tyler, Lufkin, Silsbee,...
and to the north by
Pine Island Bayou-References:**USGS Hydrologic Unit Map - State of Texas...
. Before being settled, the area was crisscrossed by numerous small streams. Most of these streams have since been filled in or converted for drainage purposes. The island directly across from Riverfront Park is called Trinity Island. There are also three other islands in the Neches River around the
downtownDowntown Beaumont is the central business district of Beaumont, Texas. It is where the city's highrise buildings are located, as well as being the center of government and business for the region...
area/port: Harbor, Smith and Clark.
Climate
The city of Beaumont, Texas is within the humid subtropical climate regime. This city is within the Piney Woods, which cover the eastern region of Texas, as well as adjacent
LouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. This region of Texas receives the most rainfall in the state, with more than 48 inches (1,219.2 mm) annually. This is due to the warm gulf waters that carry humid air to the region, where it condenses and precipitates. Hurricanes also strike the region, the most disastrous of which was the
Galveston Hurricane of 1900The Hurricane of 1900 made landfall on the city of Galveston in the U.S. state of Texas, on September 8, 1900.It had estimated winds of at landfall, making it a Category 4 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale...
as well as
Hurricane IkeHurricane Ike was the second-costliest hurricane ever to make landfall in the United States, the costliest hurricane ever to impact Cuba and the second most active hurricane to reach the Canadian mainland in the Great Lakes Region after Hurricane Hazel in 1954...
in 2008.
Hurricane IkeHurricane Ike was the second-costliest hurricane ever to make landfall in the United States, the costliest hurricane ever to impact Cuba and the second most active hurricane to reach the Canadian mainland in the Great Lakes Region after Hurricane Hazel in 1954...
was the largest and most damaging hurricane to hit Beaumont to date, striking September 13, 2008. Causing $32 billion in damage, it is the third most costly hurricane in United States history. The humidity of the region greatly amplifies the feeling of heat during the summer. The winters are kept moderate by warm gulf currents. Wintry precipitation is unusual, but does occur. A recent snow event was December 24, 2004, the first such occurrence since 1989. However, more recently, Beaumont and the surrounding areas received a light snow on December 11, 2008. Up to 4 inches in the west end. And almost a year later , Beaumont and the surrounding areas received a trace to half an inch of light snow on December 4, 2009. These are the earliest measurable snowfalls at the airport since the late 19th century. And even more recently the Beaumont area had a trace of snow on February 24, 2010 that only lasted for only 30 minutes and quickly melted on contact with the ground.
The area suffered a severe ice storm in January 1997. And on February 3-4th 2011 the area suffered from a winter storm and extreme Arctic Cold.
On August 18, 2009 a tornado hit the west end of Beaumont, and caused damage to several local businesses and cars. Injuries were minimal.
The Beaumont-Port Arthur region is cited as one of the most polluted urban areas in the United States due to various energy industries and chemical plants in the area. The pollution is believed to have caused some residents to become sick and has generated debates throughout the media.
Demographics
As of the
censusA census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 113,866 people, 44,361 households, and 29,100 families residing in the city. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,339.4 people per square mile (517.2/km²). There were 48,815 housing units at an average density of 574.2 per square mile (221.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 46.39% Caucasian, 45.85% African American, 0.24% Native American, 2.48% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.55% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.93% of the population.
There were 44,361 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were
married couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,559, and the median income for a family was $40,825. Males had a median income of $35,861 versus $24,255 for females. The
per capita incomePer capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $18,632. About 16.4% of families and 19.6% of the population were below the poverty line.
Arts and theatre
- Art Museum of Southeast Texas
The Art Museum of Southeast Texas is an art museum in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Established in 1950 as the Beaumont Art Museum, it acquired its current name in 1987 and exhibits 19th century to contemporary American art.-History:...
(AMSET), with its Perlstein Plaza, dedicated in memory of pioneer real estate developer Hyman Asher Perlstein (1869–1947), who arrived in Beaumont in 1889 as a poor Jewish immigrant from Lithuania and eventually became one of the city's major builders. The museum stands on the site of the Perlstein building, which was the tallest structure between Houston and New Orleans when it was erected in 1907. Only one column still remains from the building. AMSET, formerly the Beaumont Art Museum, exhibits 19th-21st century American art and offers 10-14 educational programs in any given year. Admission is free, and the museum is open seven days per week.
- Dishman Art Museum
The Dishman Art Museum is an art museum on the campus of Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. Admission to the museum is completely free; the gallery is open from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday. The museum also serves as a teaching facility in the Art Department at Lamar University. Exhibitions...
is the University Art Museum located on the campus of Lamar UniversityLamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
the museum features 19th and 20th century European and American Art as well as Tribal Art from Africa and New Guinea.
- Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum
The Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum is a museum in Beaumont, Texas, USA commemorating the discovery of oil at the Spindletop salt dome in Beaumont in 1901, which sparked an oil boom in Texas that continues till this day...
- Red Lobster's historical marine museum
- Edison Museum
The Edison Museum is a science and history museum about the life and inventions of Thomas Edison, and is located in Beaumont, Texas at 350 Pine St. on the grounds of Edison Plaza The museum features interactive exhibits about Edison, his inventions and innovations, as well as historic artifacts...
- about inventor Thomas EdisonThomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial...
- John Jay French Museum. The John Jay French Museum is an historic home that has been converted into a museum. Its purpose is to illustrate the life of a prosperous Texas pioneer family from 1845-1865. The home, built in 1845 by French, a tanner and merchant, showcases period furnishings, clothing and pioneer household utensils. Outbuildings on the grounds include a blacksmith shop, tannery, privy and smokehouse.
- Babe Didrikson Zaharias Museum. Museum dedicated to the life of the Beaumont native and accomplished athlete.
- Fire Museum of Texas
The Fire Museum of Texas is an example of the Renaissance Revival. The building has state-of-the-art interactive fire safety exhibits with a collection of antique fire equipment dating as early as 1856. It also has a two-story interactive playhouse for children to learn fire safety...
- Home of one of world's largest fire hydrantA fire hydrant , is an active fire protection measure, and a source of water provided in most urban, suburban and rural areas with municipal water service to enable firefighters to tap into the municipal water...
s. Antique fire trucks and equipment chronicle the history of firefighting in Texas. Educational programs stress the importance of fire safety.
- The Art Studio, Inc. (TASI), a non-profit arts cooperative and art gallery space that rents subsidized space to visual artists. Also hosts poetry readings, music events, film screenings. Housed in a converted warehouse in the industrial district of Beaumont's downtown.
- Julie Rogers Theater
The Julie Rogers Theater is a historic performing arts theater located on Pearl Street in downtown Beaumont, Texas. Built in 1928, the theater was once Beaumont's City Hall and Auditorium...
, formerly City Hall and Auditorium
- The Jefferson Theatre
The Jefferson Theatre is a historic performing arts theatre located on Fannin Street in downtown Beaumont, Texas. Designed by Emile Weil and built in 1927, it is an example of Old Spanish architecture and seats over 1400. The theatre was built by Jefferson Amusement Company, which was owned by...
, built in 1927, is an historic theater that presents musical and stage performances as well as limited revival screenings of classic films. It is featured on the National Register of Historic Places and recognized as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark.
- The McFaddin-Ward House
The McFaddin-Ward House was built in 1905 - 1906 in the Beaux-Arts Colonial Revival style in Beaumont, Texas. The historic home is and furnishings reflect the lifestyle of the prominent family who lived in the house for seventy-five years...
, was built in 1905-06 in the Beaux-Arts Colonial style and is located in the Oaks Historic DistrictThe Oaks Historic District, is a collection of historic homes and businesses in Beaumont, Texas. The area is roughly bound by I-10 to the north and Smart St. to the south and from 11th St. on the west to 1st St. to the east. Many of the historic homes are restored and still used as residences...
. The structure and its furnishings reflect the lifestyle of the prominent family who lived in the house for seventy-five years. A very large historic home with a substantial carriage house. The entire grounds are currently a public museum with a substantial permanent collection of antique furniture and household items. Educational programs focus on history and are geared toward children and adults.
- The Clifton Steamboat Museum opened its doors on October 26, 1995 with construction beginning in the earlier months of 1994. The theme of the museum is Heroes... Past, Present, and Future and honors our military and civilian heroes. The Clifton Steamboat Museum consists of a 24000 square feet (2,229.7 m²), two-story museum that is handicap accessible, and contains various exhibits. Our museum art exhibits bring to life the wars fought in Southeast Texas and Louisiana, as well as the Steamboat Era, World Wars I and II, Korea, and Vietnam. Upper art galleries of the museum feature original bronze sculptures; Native American artists, wildlife, and frontier paintings from famous artists. A special gallery in the museum is dedicated to the Boy Scouts. This boy scouts gallery features many historical scouting artifacts, some dating back before the 1960s, and is sure to spark the interest of boy scouts past and present. There is also the tugboat, "Hercules", standing at 36 feet (11 m) high, 22 feet (6.7 m) wide, and 92 feet (28 m) long which is included on the museum tour.
- Tyrrell Historical Library
The Tyrrell Historical Library in Beaumont, Texas was built in 1903 for First Baptist Church. Its design is Richardsonian Romanesque architecture mixed with features of the Victorian Gothic style, such as pointed arch windows and quatrefoils. The building was purchased by Captain W. C. Tyrrell in...
, formerly First Baptist Church
- St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica
- Temple Emanuel (Beaumont, Texas)
Temple Emanuel is a Reform Jewish synagogue in Beaumont, Texas.The congregation was founded in September 1895, and erected its first building in 1901. This wooden building in Neo-Byzantine style design was replaced by the congregation's current brick building in 1923.Particularly notable are the...
has a notable set of stained glass windows by Israeli artist Ze'ev RabanZe’ev Raban was a leading painter, decorative artist, and industrial designer of the Bezalel school style, and was one of the founders of the Israeli art world.-Life:...
- Jefferson County Courthouse
The Jefferson County Courthouse in Beaumont, Texas is one of the tallest courthouses in the state, and is an excellent example of Art Deco architecture. Built in 1931, it is the fourth courthouse built in Jefferson County. It was designed by Fred Stone and Augustin Babin, and is thirteen stories high...
, an excellent example of Art DecoArt deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
architecture.
- Jack Brooks Federal Building
The Jack Brooks Federal Building is a federal office building in Beaumont, Texas. Completed during the Great Depression in 1933, it was the United States Post Office and Federal Building. The building houses courtrooms and chambers of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of...
- Beaumont's Sister City in Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
Beppu, Oitais a city located in Ōita Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan, at the west end of Beppu Bay. As of January 1, 2011, the city has an official population of 125,664 and a total area of 125.13 km², with a population density of 977 persons per km²....
- Beaumont Commercial District
The Beaumont Commercial District is located in Downtown Beaumont, Texas. The district consists of various styles of buildings, including 6 highrises built before 1932. The district is registered on the NRHP as a U.S. Historic District. The historic district is roughly bounded by Willow, Neches,...
A collection of historic buildings in downtown, a national historic district registered with the NRHP.
Tourism and recreation
The
Beaumont Botanical GardensThe Beaumont Botanical Gardens , also known as the Tyrrell Park Botanical Gardens, are botanical gardens and a conservatory located in Tyrrell Park at 6088 Babe Zaharias Drive, Beaumont, Texas, USA...
located at Tyrrell Park and include a Cattail Marsh and mile nature trail.
Botanical Garden, Henry Homberg Municipal Golf Course, Cattail Marsh, restrooms, shelters, Babe Zaharias Drive Monument, baseball backstop, lighted basketball goals, benches, drinking fountains, 1-mile nature trail, picnic tables
Downtown Beaumont
Downtown Beaumont is the center of Business, Government and night time entertainment in southeast Texas. Downtown features the
Crockett StreetThe Crockett Street Dining and Entertainment Complex is located in Downtown Beaumont, Texas. It consists of five restored buildings built at the turn of the 20th century. They were used for various businesses then, but now host restaurants and various entertainment venues.From Left to right, the...
Entertainment Complex with entertainment options from dancing, to live music to dining or a bar. In addition to the night time entertainment downtown also features a museum district with four distinct museums.
Golf Courses
- Beaumont Country Club
- Tyrrell Park
- Brentwood Country Club
Events
The
South Texas State FairThe South Texas State Fair is an annual regional state fair held in Beaumont, Texas. The fair features a livestock show, a commercial exhibition, and a carnival Midway. Food concessions are a major attraction of the fair...
is held at Beaumont's
Ford ParkFord Park is a multi-purpose Park, Arena, Exhibit Hall, Pavilion, Midway, and Field located on I-10 South in Beaumont, Texas.The Arena seats 9,737 people. It is the former home to the Southeast Texas Mavericks ABA franchise, Beaumont Drillers of the NIFL and the Texas Wildcatters of the East Coast...
during March. It is the 2nd largest fair in the state with over 500,000 visitors in 2009. The fair features a livestock show, a commercial exhibition, a carnival
midwayA midway at a fair is the location where amusement rides, entertainment and fast food booths are concentrated....
and numerous food choices. The Fair moved from the
Fair Park ColiseumThe Fair Park Coliseum, located in the Beaumont Civic Center Complex, at the Beaumont Fairgrounds. It is a 7,200-seat, covered, open-sided, multi-purpose arena in Beaumont, Texas, USA. It hosts locals sporting events and concerts. It was opened in 1978. See also Beaumont Civic Center....
to
Ford ParkFord Park is a multi-purpose Park, Arena, Exhibit Hall, Pavilion, Midway, and Field located on I-10 South in Beaumont, Texas.The Arena seats 9,737 people. It is the former home to the Southeast Texas Mavericks ABA franchise, Beaumont Drillers of the NIFL and the Texas Wildcatters of the East Coast...
in 2004. The fair was previously held in the fall but had to be moved to spring after
Hurricane RitaHurricane Rita was the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the most intense tropical cyclone ever observed in the Gulf of Mexico. Rita caused $11.3 billion in damage on the U.S. Gulf Coast in September 2005...
caused its cancellation.
The
Gusher MarathonThe Gusher Marathon is an annual spring marathon held in Beaumont, Texas. It was founded in 2010 by the local nonprofit organization Sports Society for American Health and sponsored by Exygon Gym and Baptist Hospitals. The Gusher in Gusher Marathon refers to the 1901 discovery of oil at the...
formed in 2010 by the local nonprofit Sports Society for American Health is the city's first annual
marathonThe marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
.
The Gusher takes place in march and includes a
5KThe 5000 metres is a popular running distance also known as 5 km or 5K in American English. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics. "5000 metres" refers to racing on a track and "5K" usually refers to a roadrace or cross country event...
,
half marathonA half marathon is a road running event of . It is half the distance of a marathon and usually run on roads. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily recently. One of the main reasons for this is that it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a...
and full marathon. The course begins at the
Montagne CenterMontagne Center is a 10,080-seat multi-purpose arena in Beaumont, Texas. It was built in 1984. It is home to the Lamar University Cardinals basketball team. The area floor can host sporting events like basketball, volleyball, wrestling, boxing and martial arts tournaments. With stadium and floor...
of
Lamar UniversityLamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
and tours
DowntownThe Beaumont Commercial District is located in Downtown Beaumont, Texas. The district consists of various styles of buildings, including 6 highrises built before 1932. The district is registered on the NRHP as a U.S. Historic District. The historic district is roughly bounded by Willow, Neches,...
and Lamar before returning to the Montange.
The Beaumont Jazz & Blues Fest is a Jazz festival held in downtown Beaumont since 2005. The
Boomtown Film and Music FestivalThe Boomtown Film and Music Festival is a film and music festival held in Beaumont, Texas annually. It was established in 2008 after the Spindletop Film Festival was discontinued in 2006. The festival encompasses the entire Southeast Texas region...
is a
filmA film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. More and more often film festivals show part of their films to the public by adding outdoor movie screenings...
and
music festivalA music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
that began in 2008 to replace the Spindletop Film Festival.
Dog JamDog Jam is an annual rock festival held at Ford Park in Beaumont, Texas since 2001. It is sponsored by local rock radio station KIOC Big Dog 106 and Bud Light...
is a rock concert held annually at
Ford ParkFord Park is a multi-purpose Park, Arena, Exhibit Hall, Pavilion, Midway, and Field located on I-10 South in Beaumont, Texas.The Arena seats 9,737 people. It is the former home to the Southeast Texas Mavericks ABA franchise, Beaumont Drillers of the NIFL and the Texas Wildcatters of the East Coast...
.
On the first Saturday of December downtown host the Downtown Winter Parade. The parade features floats that travel down Main, College and Pearl streets. In recent years the parade has also featured a lighted boat parade that travels down the Neches River, spectators can watch from Riverfront Park.
Professional Sports
- The American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
's Southeast Texas Mavericks Play at Nutty Jerry's Arena.
- The Beaumont Golden Gators
The Beaumont Golden Gators were a minor league baseball team in the double A Texas League from 1983 to 1986. Owned by insurance man Ted Moor, the team was an affiliate of the San Diego Padres for their entire tenure...
were a minor league baseball team that played at Vincent-Beck StadiumVincent–Beck Stadium is a ballpark located in Beaumont, Texas on Jim Gilligan Way . It was built in 1969 and has a capacity of 3,500 spectators. It is the home stadium of the Lamar University Cardinals baseball team...
from 1983-1986.
- The Beaumont Bullfrogs were a minor league baseball team that played in Beaumont.
- The Texas Wildcatters
The Texas Wildcatters, who took their name from Texas wildcatters, were an ECHL team based in Beaumont, Texas. They played their home games at the Ford Arena. They were the affiliate of the Florida Panthers in 2004–2005. The team played in Huntington, West Virginia and were known as the Huntington...
were an ECHLThe ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
Hockey team based in Beaumont from 2003 to 2008
- The Beaumont Drillers
The Beaumont Drillers were a professional indoor football team. They played their home games at Ford Arena in Beaumont, TX. They originally began playing as the Louisiana Rangers in the Indoor Professional Football League in 2000 when they replaced the Louisiana Bayou Beast...
were an IPFL football team that played in Beaumont from 2003 to 2007
University Sports
The sports teams of
Lamar UniversityLamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
compete in Division I NCAA athletics as the
Lamar Cardinals. The athletics program is a full member of the
Southland ConferenceThe Southland Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the south central United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision...
. The
CardinalsThe Lamar Cardinals refers to the collegiate athletic teams of Lamar University. The inception of the nickname "Cardinals" dates back to the schools name change to Lamar in 1932. The teams compete in Division I of NCAA sports...
and Lady Cardinals compete in 14
varsityVarsity, a term originally derived from university, may refer to:In geography:*Varsity, Calgary, a neighbourhood in Calgary, Alberta, Canada*Varsity Lakes, Queensland, a suburb of the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia...
sports. The Cardinals Basketball team plays in the
Montagne CenterMontagne Center is a 10,080-seat multi-purpose arena in Beaumont, Texas. It was built in 1984. It is home to the Lamar University Cardinals basketball team. The area floor can host sporting events like basketball, volleyball, wrestling, boxing and martial arts tournaments. With stadium and floor...
and Cardinals Baseball Team plays in
Vincent-Beck StadiumVincent–Beck Stadium is a ballpark located in Beaumont, Texas on Jim Gilligan Way . It was built in 1969 and has a capacity of 3,500 spectators. It is the home stadium of the Lamar University Cardinals baseball team...
. In 2010 the university is bringing back its dormant football program and renovating Provost Umphrey Stadium. The Cardinals Football team will begin Southland Conference play officially in 2011.
Newspapers
The
Beaumont EnterpriseThe Beaumont Enterprise is a newspaper of the Hearst Corporation, headquartered in Beaumont. It has been in operation since 1880.In addition to BeaumontEnterprise.com and the daily newspaper, The Enterprise produces several weeklies—the Jasper Newsboy, the Hardin County News, the Mid County...
is the only daily
newspaperA newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
serving Beaumont. Operating since 1880
The Enterprise is one of the oldest continually operated business in Beaumont. It is operated by the
Hearst CorporationThe Hearst Corporation is an American media conglomerate based in the Hearst Tower, Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States. Founded by William Randolph Hearst as an owner of newspapers, the company's holdings now include a wide variety of media...
.
Two weekly publications
The ExaminerThe Examiner is an investigative weekly newspaper created in 1995 by The Examiner Corporation based in Beaumont, Texas. The newspaper's staff has been awarded numerous local, state and national awards for its in-depth coverage of news events in Southeast Texas...
and
The Southeast Texas Record. The Examiner is primarily an investigative reporting paper. the
Southeast Texas Record is a legal journal that covers
JeffersonJefferson County is a county located in the state of Texas, United States. As of 2000, the population was 252,051. Its county seat is Beaumont, and it is named for the former U.S...
and
Orange CountyOrange County is one of 254 counties of the State of Texas and its county seat is the city of Orange, Texas. In the year 2000, the population of Orange County was about 85,000. Orange County is the county in the very southeastern corner of Texas, with a boundary with Louisiana and a seacoast on the...
courts.
Television
- KBTV
KBTV-TV, channel 4, is the Fox affiliated television station serving the Beaumont/Port Arthur, Texas designated market area, and is licensed to Port Arthur. The station is owned by Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc., and its studios are located at Parkdale Mall in Beaumont...
4 (Fox)/DT 40
- KFDM 6 (CBS)/DT 6.1 with (CW Network) on 6.2 (digital RF channel 21 / PSIP 6)
- KBMT
KBMT is the ABC-affiliated television station for the Golden Triangle area Southeast Texas that is licensed to Beaumont. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 12 from a transmitter in Mauriceville. The station can also be seen on Time Warner channel 5 and in high definition...
12 (ABC)/DT 12.1 with (NBC) on 12.2 (digital RF channel 50 / PSIP 12)
- KITU-TV
KITU-TV is a religious television station in Beaumont, Texas, broadcasting locally on channel 34 as an affiliate of TBN. Founded November 21, 1984, the station is owned by TBN, under the license name of Community Educational Television.- External links :*...
34/DT 33 (TBNThe Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New...
)
- KUIL-LD 64 /K36ID-D 36 (Independent) (operated by KVHP
KVHP is a television station in Lake Charles, Louisiana, broadcasting locally on digital channel 30 as an affiliate of the Fox network. KVHP is owned by National Communications, LLC, and its transmitter is located halfway between Lake Charles and Beaumont, Texas in Vinton, Louisiana, allowing it to...
, the Fox affiliate in Lake Charles, LouisianaLake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
)
- LUTV Lamar Universities Television station that provides C-Span
C-SPAN , an acronym for Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network, is an American cable television network that offers coverage of federal government proceedings and other public affairs programming via its three television channels , one radio station and a group of websites that provide streaming...
coverage on local government proceedings, and original programming from students.
The region currently has no
PBSThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
station of its own; Houston's
KUHT-Technical firsts:The station is also noted in Houston for many technical firsts at the local level. In 1981, KUHT became Houston's first closed captioned television station, and ten years later, in 1991, it became the first station in Houston to offer Descriptive Video Service , and other services...
is the region's de facto PBS station.
Radio
- KIOC 106.1 Rock (Big Dog) Clear Channel
- KCOL 92.5 Oldies (Cool 92.5) Clear Channel
- KVLU
KVLU , is a National Public Radio-affiliated station in Beaumont, Texas. It primarily features National Public Radio programming. The college radio station broadcasts from the campus of its owner, Lamar University.-News:...
91.3 NPR located at Lamar University with HD-Radio
- KYKR 95.1 Country (Kicker) Clear Channel
- KAYD 101.7 Country (KD 101) Cumulus
- KTCX
KTCX is an Urban Contemporary formatted radio station in Beaumont, Texas. It serves the entire Golden Triangle and is owned by Cumulus Media.KTCX "Magic 102.5" was launched in 1998 based on its current format...
102.5 Urban (Magic 102.5) Cumulus
- KQXY
KQXY-FM is a radio station broadcasting a Top 40 format. Licensed to Beaumont, Texas, it serves the Beaumont/Port Arthur metropolitan area. It first began broadcasting under the call sign KQXY...
94.1 Top 40 (Q94) Cumulus
- KKMY 104.5 Adult Contemporary (Mix) Clear Channel
- KQBU 93.3 Party 93 Univision (Based out of Houston; licensed to Port Arthur)
- KQQK 107.9 Spanish Top 40 (XO "Equis O") Libermann (Based out of Houston; licensed to Beaumont)
- KFNC 97.5 Sports/Talk (ESPN 97.5 The Ticket) Cumulus (serves Houston market; 2000 ft (609.6 m) tower south of Winnie)
- KHJK
KHJK is an Adult Alternative-formatted radio station serving the Houston and Beaumont, Texas, areas. The studios are currently located in the Westchase Bank Building at 9801 Westheimer Road in Houston, Texas, with its transmitter facility located southeast of Devers, Texas, in Liberty County...
103.7 Variety Hits (103.7 Jack FMJACK FM is the alternative name and on-air brand of 60 radio stations in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia. Jack stations play a mix of 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s hits with some current hot adult contemporary singles. Jack's slogan "playing what we want" can also be...
) Cumulus (serves Houston market; 2000 ft (609.6 m) tower NW of Winnie)
- KTJM
KTJM is a radio station broadcasting a regional Mexican format. Licensed to Port Arthur, Texas, it serves the Beaumont-Port Arthur area. The station is currently owned by Liberman Broadcasting....
98.5 Regional Mexican (La Raza) Liberman (Based out of Houston; licensed to Port Arthur)
- KHPT 106.9 "Best of the 80s and more" COX (serves Houston market from 2000 ft (609.6 m) Splendora tower)
- KLVI
KLVI is a news-talk radio station in the Beaumont, Texas, metropolitan area. It is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications....
560 AM Talk/Fox News Clear Channel
- KOLE 1340 AM //KRCM 1380 Gospel
- KBPO 1150 AM Port Neches (off air)
- KZZB 990 AM Martin Broadcasting; poor range and low audio
- KDEI 1250 AM Catholic / Radio Maria
- KIKR 1450 AM Regional Mexican "La Gran D" (simulcast on KBED 1510)
- KSET 1300 AM Local News, Talk, and Information - Live and Local - Locally owned and operated
- The Lone Star Bagpipe Band is out of Beaumont and plays traditional Scottish and Celtic music on the bagpipes and drums from Lake Charles to Galveston.
Architecture
Beaumont has 8 buildings over 100 feet tall, the tallest being the
Edison PlazaThe Edison Plaza is a 17-story office building in downtown Beaumont, Texas, located at 350 Pine St. The building is downtown's newest and tallest skyscraper....
, which is 254 feet tall. The old
Edson HotelThe Edson Hotel in Beaumont, Texas was built in 1929 at a cost of $1.5 Million, and was designed by F.W. and D.E. Steinman of Beaumont. The building is 22 stories tall. The building was bought in 1955 by Gulf State Utilities, and has been an office building ever since....
, built in 1928 is nearly the same height at 240 feet. One of the most prominent downtown buildings is the 15 story
San Jacinto BuildingThe San Jacinto Building in Beaumont, Texas was built between 1921–1922 and was completed for the San Jacinto Life Insurance Company. The building is 15 stories tall and supports a large clock tower on top. Each dial is 17 feet in diameter. The building was altered in the 50's with the removal of a...
. Built in 1921, it sports one of the largest four faced clock towers in the nation, each dial being 17 feet in diameter. In 1922 the 11 story
Hotel BeaumontThe Hotel Beaumont in Beaumont, Texas was built in 1922 by a group of 277 investors. One Million dollars was spent to build the structure. The building is 11 stories tall, and has 250 rooms. The building contains two ballrooms, the Rose Room, and the Sky Room on the Roof, both of which were used...
was built across the street from the San Jacinto. The Hotel Beaumont bears a resemblance to the old
Winecoff HotelThe Winecoff Hotel, today the Ellis Hotel, is located at 176 Peachtree Street NW, in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Designed by William Lee Stoddart, the 15-story building opened in 1913...
in Atlanta. The second
oil boomAn oil boom is a boom in the oil producing sector of an economy. Generally, this short period initially brings economical benefits, in term of increased GDP growth, but might later lead to a resource curse.-Consequences:...
of 1925 brought more people and wealth to Beaumont, the same year the 12 story American National Bank Building (now
Orleans BuildingThe Orleans Building in Beaumont, Texas was built in 1925 for the American National Bank. It is located at 470 Orleans St. in Downtown Beaumont. The building is 12 stories tall....
), was erected, and in 1926 Forrest Goodhue built the 12 story
Goodhue BuildingThe Goodhue Building is an office building in the downtown area of Beaumont, Texas. Built in 1926 by Forrest Goodhue, the building has 190 offices and is one of the most decorative structures in the area. The building has 11 stories and a penthouse....
which included a penthouse. In 1928, the Edson Hotel was built. No other buildings were built until
Century TowerCentury Tower is a 13 story building located in downtown Beaumont, Texas. The building was built in 1962, and was known as the Petroleum Building....
in 1962 and in 1987 Edison Plaza was built. In 1994 the 12 story LaSalle Hotel, built in 1927, was demolished.
The
Jefferson TheatreThe Jefferson Theatre is a historic performing arts theatre located on Fannin Street in downtown Beaumont, Texas. Designed by Emile Weil and built in 1927, it is an example of Old Spanish architecture and seats over 1400. The theatre was built by Jefferson Amusement Company, which was owned by...
was built in 1927 by the Jefferson Amusement Company for $1 million and was Beaumont's showpiece for many years. In 1928 the City Hall and Auditorium was built. It is now the
Julie Rogers TheaterThe Julie Rogers Theater is a historic performing arts theater located on Pearl Street in downtown Beaumont, Texas. Built in 1928, the theater was once Beaumont's City Hall and Auditorium...
.
Beaumont's
Jefferson County CourthouseThe Jefferson County Courthouse in Beaumont, Texas is one of the tallest courthouses in the state, and is an excellent example of Art Deco architecture. Built in 1931, it is the fourth courthouse built in Jefferson County. It was designed by Fred Stone and Augustin Babin, and is thirteen stories high...
is one of the tallest county courthouses in the state and is an excellent example of Art Deco architecture.
Across the street from the
Jack Brooks Federal BuildingThe Jack Brooks Federal Building is a federal office building in Beaumont, Texas. Completed during the Great Depression in 1933, it was the United States Post Office and Federal Building. The building houses courtrooms and chambers of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of...
is the
Kyle BuildingThe Kyle Building was built in 1933 as a storefront. It is located at 215 Orleans St. in downtown Beaumont, Texas. The building contains 11 storefronts and has two story offices at both ends of the building. It is an excellent example of Zig-Zag Art Deco architecture. It is located at the site of...
, built in 1933. The storefront was recently restored and is considered to be one of the best examples of Zig-Zag architecture in Texas.
The
Oaks Historic DistrictThe Oaks Historic District, is a collection of historic homes and businesses in Beaumont, Texas. The area is roughly bound by I-10 to the north and Smart St. to the south and from 11th St. on the west to 1st St. to the east. Many of the historic homes are restored and still used as residences...
has many restored historic homes.
Lamar University
Beaumont has one state university,
Lamar UniversityLamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
, which belongs to The
Texas State University SystemThe Texas State University System was created in 1911 to oversee the state's normal schools. Since its creation it has broadened its focus and comprises institutions of many different scopes. It is the oldest multi-system University System in Texas...
. Lamar University was established in 1923 as
South Park Junior College. Lamar University is a Doctoral granting institution with over 100 degrees offered. The school's main academic offerings are in Business, Nursing, Teaching and Engineering.
Lamar UniversityLamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
's enrollment has grown tremendously in the first decade of the 21st century. This has prompted a building boom at the campus. The school's enrollment as of 2010 was above 14,000 students. In the fall of 2010 the school fielded its first football team in 21 years. The team competes in the Southland Conference of the FCS.
LIT
Lamar Institute of TechnologyLamar Institute of Technology is a public technical school in Beaumont, Texas. LIT was formerly a part of Lamar University, but became a separate institution when the university joined the Texas State University System in 1995.- Accreditation :...
is located directly adjacent to
Lamar UniversityLamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
and serves as the region's technical college for two-year degrees and certificates.
Primary and secondary schools
Beaumont is served by the
Beaumont Independent School DistrictBeaumont Independent School District is a public school district based in Beaumont, Texas .In addition to Beaumont, the district also serves the city of Bevil Oaks.In 2010, the school district was rated "Recognized" by the Texas Education Agency....
.
High Schools
- West Brook Senior High School
West Brook Senior High School is the largest high school in the city of Beaumont, Texas. West Brook is located at 8750 Phelan Boulevard. It is operated by the Beaumont Independent School District.The school's official mascot is the Bruin Bear...
- Ozen High School
- Central High School
Harmony Science Academy of Beaumont, public charter school.
Premier High School of Beaumont, also a public charter school in Beaumont.
The
Roman Catholic Diocese of BeaumontThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Beaumont is a Roman Catholic diocese covering thirteen counties and portions of two others in Texas. The diocese was founded on September 29, 1966; the first bishop was Most Rev. Vincent Madeley Harris, D.D. St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica serves as the cathedral church...
runs three Catholic elementary schools in Beaumont, St. Anne Catholic School, St. Anthony Cathedral Catholic School, and Our Mother of Mercy Catholic School.
Monsignor Kelly Catholic High SchoolMonsignor Kelly Catholic High School is a parochial, Roman Catholic high school in Beaumont, Texas. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Beaumont. A majority of students at Kelly come from various grade schools within the Diocese of Beaumont and one Episcopalian elementary and middle...
is the city's lone Catholic high school. Cathedral Christian School on US 69 enrolls kindergarten through 6th grade, and
Legacy Christian AcademyLegacy Christian Academy is private, non-denominational high school located in Beaumont, Texas.-Background:Formerly Cathedral Christian High School, Legacy Christian Academy is the largest non-denominational private school in southeast Texas and the only PK3 - 12 Non Catholic Private school in...
, on Highway 105, enrolls 6th through 12th grade. All Saints Episcopal School, on Delaware St., enrolls Kindergarten through 8th grade.
Notable residents
For a full list of people associated with Beaumont Texas see: People from Beaumont, Texas
- Chip Ambres
Raymond Payne "Chip" Ambres is a right-handed Minor League Baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent.- Florida Marlins :...
, Minor league baseball player
- Bob Pollard, NFL Football Player
- Jerry Ball
Jerry Ball is a former professional American football defensive lineman in the NFL who played primarily as a nose tackle. During his career he went to three Pro Bowls. In the NFL for 13 seasons, Ball recorded 32.5 sacks during his career, most of them coming as a nose tackle with the Detroit Lions...
, NFL Football Player
- Charlotte Beers
Charlotte Beers is an American businesswoman and former Under Secretary of State.She was the first female vice-president at the JWT advertising firm, then CEO of Tatham-Laird & Kudner until 1992, and finally CEO of Ogilvy & Mather until 1996...
, American businesswoman and former Under Secretary of State
- The Big Bopper
Jiles Perry "J. P." Richardson, Jr. also commonly known as The Big Bopper, was an American disc jockey, singer, and songwriter whose big voice and exuberant personality made him an early rock and roll star...
, American rock-and-roll artist and disc jockey
- James Brown, starting quarterback of the Texas Longhorns from 1994 to 1997
- Jay Bruce
Jay Allen Bruce is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds. He was selected 12th overall in the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft....
, Major League baseball player
- Tracy Byrd, American country music artist. Grew up in Vidor
Vidor is a city in western Orange County, Texas, United States. A city of Southeast Texas, it lies at the intersection of Interstate 10 and Farm to Market Road 105, six miles east of Beaumont. The town is mainly a bedroom community for the nearby refining complexes in Beaumont and Port Arthur and...
- Henry E. Chambers
Henry Edward Chambers, Sr. , was an educator and historian from New Orleans, Louisiana, known principally for his 1925 work, History of Louisiana: State and People, a principal source for much on the 19th and early 20th centuries.-Background:Chambers was born to Captain Joseph Chambers and the...
, Louisiana historian and educator; was a school principal in Beaumont from 1884 to 1885.
- Mark Chesnutt
Mark Nelson Chesnutt is an American country music singer. Chesnutt recorded and released his first album, Doing My Country Thing, in the late-1980s on private independent record label, Axbar Records, with the vinyl album version now a collector's item...
, American country music artist. Grew up in NederlandNederland is a city in Jefferson County, Texas, United States. The population was 17,547 at the 2010 census.The city is adjacent to the Southeast Texas Regional Airport in Port Arthur, which serves the nearby cities of Beaumont and Port Arthur. It is part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur...
- Debra Jo Fondren
Debra Jo Fondren is an American model and actress. She was Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month for the September 1977 issue and Playmate of the Year for 1978...
, American model and actress
- Herman Fontenot
Herman J. Fontenot is a former professional American football player who played running back for six seasons for the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers. Fontenot was raised by his Grandmother, growing up in the Neches Homes housing projects in Beaumont, Texas....
, NFL football player
- Rock Griffis, Christian. Saved by the grace of God
- Slade Ham
Slade Ham is a comedian and radio personality from Beaumont, Texas. Ham has toured the United States and twenty two countries overseas through the USO program, and was formerly the owner of the comedy club Comedy, TX in Beaumont.Aside from comedy, Ham is part of the ensemble cast of the Outlaw...
, stand up comedian and writer
- Harry James
Henry Haag “Harry” James was a trumpeter who led a jazz swing band during the Big Band Era of the 1930s and 1940s. He was especially known among musicians for his astonishing technical proficiency as well as his superior tone.-Biography:He was born in Albany, Georgia, the son of a bandleader of a...
, American big band leader
- Blind Willie Johnson
"Blind" Willie Johnson was an American singer and guitarist, whose music straddled the border between blues and spirituals....
, Baptist minister and seminal gospel/blues bottle-neck guitarist
- George Jones
George Glenn Jones is an American country music singer known for his long list of hit records, his distinctive voice and phrasing, and his marriage to Tammy Wynette....
, American country music artist. Grew up in Vidor, Texas
- Bruce Lietzke
Bruce Alan Lietzke is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments at both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour level.Lietzke was born in Kansas City, Kansas...
, American professional golfer
- Barbara Lynn
Barbara Lynn is an American rhythm and blues and electric blues guitarist and singer. She is best known for her R&B chart-topping hit, "You'll Lose A Good Thing" .-Life and career:She played piano as a child, but switched to guitar...
, American R&B music artist
- Kevin Millar
Kevin Charles Millar is an American former professional baseball first baseman and current analyst for MLB Network and New England Sports Network. Millar played college baseball at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, where he continues to reside in the off-season. Millar is the nephew of former...
, Major League Baseball Player
- Vamsi Mootha
Vamsi Mootha is an Indian-American physician-scientist and computational biologist. He holds the position of Professor of Systems Biology and Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School...
, Indian-American physician-scientist
- David Ozio
David Ozio of Beaumont, TX is a right-handed ten-pin bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association . He won 11 titles on the PBA Tour. He was the 2004 Senior PBA Rookie of the Year, winning the 2004 Senior U.S. Open. Through 2008, he has won five titles on the Senior and Generations...
, professional bowler who won 11 titles on the PBA TourThe Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour is the major professional tour for ten-pin bowling, operated by the Professional Bowlers Association. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the PBA Tour consists of "exempt" bowlers who are a part of the almost 4,300 members worldwide...
; now General Manager for the bowling division at Etonic Shoe Company
- Kendrick Perkins
Kendrick Perkins is an American professional basketball player who plays as a center for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA....
, NBA basketball player
- Mark Petkovsek
Mark Joseph Petkovsek is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Texas Rangers , Pittsburgh Pirates , St. Louis Cardinals and Anaheim Angels ....
, retired Major League Baseball Player
- Kheeston Randall, Starting defensive tackle for the Texas Longhorns 2008-present
- J.P. Richardson, Rock & Roll star, "The Big Bopper". Killed with Buddy Holly in Plane Crash
- Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson , is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He played from 1956–1976, most notably for the Cincinnati Reds and the Baltimore Orioles. He is the only player to win league MVP honors in both the National and American Leagues...
, retired Major League Baseball Player and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
- Brian Sanches
Brian Sanches is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Florida Marlins.In 1996, Sanches graduated Nederland High School in Texas where he played baseball, basketball, football, and ran track. Sanches attended Lamar University in Texas where he played for the Lamar Cardinals Baseball team...
, Major League Baseball player. Grew up in Nederland, TX
- Jimmy Seibert, Our Generation's Paul. World Changer.
- Bubba Smith
Charles Aaron "Bubba" Smith was an American professional football player who became an actor after his retirement from the sport. He first came into prominence at Michigan State University, where he twice earned All-American honors as a defensive end on the Spartans football team...
, Actor and NFL football player.
- Jason Tyner
Jason Renyt Tyner is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. Tyner stands at 6'1" tall and weighs 175 pounds...
, Major League baseball player.
- Clay Walker
Ernest Clayton "Clay" Walker Jr. is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1993 with the single "What's It to You," which reached Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, as did its follow-up, 1994's "Live Until I Die." Both singles were included on...
, American country music artist. Grew up in Vidor, TexasVidor is a city in western Orange County, Texas, United States. A city of Southeast Texas, it lies at the intersection of Interstate 10 and Farm to Market Road 105, six miles east of Beaumont. The town is mainly a bedroom community for the nearby refining complexes in Beaumont and Port Arthur and...
- Edgar Winter
Edgar Holland Winter is an American musician. He is famous for being a multi-instrumentalist. He is a highly skilled keyboardist, saxophonist and percussionist. He often plays an instrument while singing. He was most successful in the 1970s with his band, The Edgar Winter Group, notably with their...
, American rock music artist
- Johnny Winter
John Dawson "Johnny" Winter III is an American blues guitarist, singer, and producer. Best known for his late 1960s and 1970s high-energy blues-rock albums and live performances, Winter also produced three Grammy Award-winning albums for blues legend Muddy Waters...
, American blues and rock music artist
- Will Wynn
William Patrick Wynn served as mayor of Austin, Texas from 2003 to 2009. He is a Democrat.- Family :Born and raised in Beaumont, Texas, Wynn was the sixth of seven children. He attended Texas A&M University, where he graduated cum laude with a degree in Environmental Design in 1984...
, former mayor of Austin, Texas
- Mildred Ella ("Babe") Didrikson Zaharias
Mildred Ella "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias was an American athlete who achieved outstanding success in golf, basketball, and track and field...
, American athlete
- Gus Zernial
Gus Edward Zernial was a Major League Baseball left-fielder and right-handed batter who played for the Chicago White Sox , Philadelphia Athletics , Kansas City Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
, Major League Baseball player.
Further reading
- "Banking in Beaumont 1960-2006," Texas Gulf Historical and Biographical Record (Nov 2007), Vol. 43, pp 2–6; Examines the banking system since the 1960s and the impact of the One Bank Holding Company Act of 1970.
- Faucett, William T. "Shipbuilding in Beaumont during World War II," Texas Gulf Historical and Biographical Record 2005 41: 55-65
- Linsley, Judith Walker; Rienstra, Ellen Walker; and Stiles, Jo Ann. Giant under the Hill: A History of the Spindletop Oil Discovery at Beaumont, Texas, in 1901 (Austin: Texas State Hist. Assoc., 2002). 304 pp.
- Schaadt, Robert L. "The Business of Beaumont Prior to 1880," Texas Gulf Historical and Biographical Record 2006 42: 34-53
External links