Located 90 miles east of Houston in the state of Texas, Port Arthur is a city that is part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur metropolitan area. It is situated mainly in Jefferson County, with a small area in Orange County that is uninhabited. The city is home to the Motiva Refinery, which is the largest oil refinery in the United States.
Hurricanes pose a threat to Port Arthur, resulting in significant damage to the city on multiple occasions.
After oil was found at Spindletop, the J.M. Guffey Petroleum Company, which would later become Gulf Oil, installed pipelines to Port Arthur for transporting and refining the oil. The first oil tanker, the Cardium, left with Spindletop oil in November 1901. The refinery underwent expansion in 1902 and a pipeline was established to link it to the Glenn Pool Oil Reserve in Oklahoma. Another company, the Texas Company, later known as Texaco, also began constructing a refinery in 1902. By 1916, the Port Arthur refinery had grown to become one of the top three largest refineries in the United States.
The city’s overall area, as per the United States Census Bureau, measures 144.1 square miles (373.1 km2). Within this total area, 76.9 square miles (199.2 km2) consist of land, while 67.1 square miles (173.9 km2) – equivalent to 46.61% of the total area – are water.
Port Arthur’s neighborhoods consist of El Vista, Griffing Park, Lakeview, Pear Ridge, Port Acres, Sabine Pass, and West Side.
On September 11, 1897, the town of Port Arthur, Texas, marked the completion of the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad with joyous celebrations. The festivities drew in crowds of people from surrounding areas. However, the following day, a devastating hurricane struck the town, causing widespread destruction. The streets were flooded with water up to five feet deep, and desperate residents sought refuge in the unfinished railroad roundhouse. Tragically, the building collapsed, killing four people, and in total, 13 lives were lost, many homes were destroyed, and the town’s pleasure pier was severely damaged.
Port Arthur shares the title of the most humid city in the contiguous United States with Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Astoria, Oregon. The morning relative humidity averages 90%, while in the afternoon it is around 72%.
Between 2014 and 2019, the median household income averaged $36,557, with families having a median income of $44,115, married families earning $56,304, and non-family households making $24,280. Around 27.2% of the population lived in poverty during this time period, compared to the state’s poverty rate of 13.6%. In contrast, the neighboring city of Beaumont experienced a decrease in its poverty rate from 17.6% to 16.7%.
Port Arthur, which houses a significant amount of the nation’s oil refining capability, has recently experienced increased investment in various essential facilities. Motiva Enterprises has initiated significant enhancements to its refinery in western Port Arthur, boosting its capacity to 600,000 barrels per day (95,000 m3/d). This project, amounting to $10.0 billion, marks the most substantial expansion of a U.S. refinery in the past three decades.
The Museum of the Gulf Coast in Port Arthur is known as the premier collection of artifacts and exhibits related to individuals from Port Arthur and nearby areas.
The Lone Star State’s premier hip-hop act, UGK, first sprouted roots in Port Arthur, later migrating to the city of Houston.
The Jefferson County Sub-Courthouse in Port Arthur is managed by the county.
The majority of the city’s primary and secondary education needs are met by the Port Arthur Independent School District. Within the district, there is a lone high school called Memorial High School, which was established in 2002 through the merger of three separate high schools: Stephen F. Austin, Abraham Lincoln, and Thomas Jefferson.
The Southeast Texas Regional Airport environs are under the purview of the Nederland Independent School District. Additionally, some areas are served by the Port Neches-Groves Independent School District. The Sabine Pass community, on the other hand, is catered to by the Sabine Pass Independent School District. Lastly, certain parts of Port Arthur fall under the jurisdiction of not just Nederland ISD but also Beaumont ISD and Hamshire-Fannett ISD.
The educational institution known as Bob Hope Charter School is situated in the city of Port Arthur.
The town once boasted a Catholic high school, Bishop Byrne High School, but it shut its doors in 1983.
The city’s public library system is housed at the Port Arthur Public Library, located at the intersection of 9th Avenue and Texas State Highway 73.
Port Arthur’s primary source of news and information is The Port Arthur News, a daily newspaper that has been in circulation since 1897. With a rich history spanning over a century, The News is one of the oldest continuously operated businesses in the city. Its current owner and operator is Boone Newspapers, who has been at the helm since 1932. Interestingly, Port Arthur once had a second newspaper, The Peoples Press, which was in publication from 1932 to 1941.
TV station KBTV (Dabl) on channel 4
The airport located in the northwest region of Port Arthur, named after Jack Brooks, provides services to both Beaumont and Port Arthur.
Port Arthur Transit offers local bus transportation services.
Port Arthur is conveniently accessible by rail via Beaumont station, located in the neighboring city of Beaumont. This station serves the surrounding region and is a stopover for Amtrak’s Sunset Limited line, with three weekly train departures in each direction.
Some notable individuals include J’Covan Brown, a basketball player in the Israel Basketball Premier League, as well as Lucian Adams, a recipient of the Medal of Honor, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart. Additionally, there’s Jonathan Babineaux, a professional football player, and his brother Jordan Babineaux, who also played football professionally. G.W. Bailey, an actor, and Zachary Breaux, a jazz musician, are also notable. Aaron Brown, a professional football player, and Jamaal Charles, a running back in the NFL, are included in this list. C. J. Chenier, a musician, and Babe Didrikson Zaharias, an athlete who excelled in multiple sports, are mentioned as well. Lastly, Todd Dodge, an American football coach, Ted Dunbar, a jazz musician, Earl Evans, a college and professional basketball player, Kevin Everett, a professional football player, and Mitch Gaspard, a college baseball coach, round out the list of notable individuals.
John Warne Gates was a prominent figure in the wire and steel industry, as well as a key player in the railroad and oil sectors. Danny Gorrer excelled as a professional football athlete, while Jason Halbert showcased his musical talents as the director for Kelly Clarkson. Kree Harrison gained recognition as the runner-up on the 12th season of American Idol, and musician Lee Hazlewood’s roots can be traced back to Port Arthur. Tom Hicks made a mark as the former owner of various sports teams and a beverage company. Jim Hurtubise, a race car driver, settled in Port Arthur later in life. Stephen Jackson enjoyed a successful career as a professional basketball player in the NBA for 14 seasons. Jimmy Johnson’s diverse career spanned roles as a football broadcaster, player, coach, and executive. Janis Joplin was a renowned singer and songwriter, while Hilton Kelley made significant contributions as an environmental activist, earning the 2011 Goldman Environmental Prize. Evelyn Keyes was known for her work as a film actress, and Bobby Leopold made a name for himself as a professional football player. Kenneth Lofton Jr. showcased his skills as a basketball player on both the college and FIBA U-19 Team USA levels. Inika McPherson excelled in track and field, and Donald Narcisse left his mark in the Canadian Football League. The duo Pimp C & Bun B of UGK were notable figures in the rap scene, with Johnny Preston making waves as a pop singer. Robert Rauschenberg was a respected painter and graphic artist, while Leah Rhodes left her mark as a Hollywood costume designer. Elandon Roberts found success as a professional football player, and Raymond Strother made a name for himself as a political consultant. Tad Tadlock showcased his talents as a choreographer, and Joe Washington thrived as both a college and professional football player. Ken Webster pursued a career in acting and directing.