Beaumont is a city with a little over 110,000 people located just 30 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico in south Texas. Home to the first major oil strike in 1910, oil is still the major industry in this thriving little city. Beaumont prides itself on its nightlife, music and food. Anyone moving to Beaumont can expect a quick education in their combination of Cajun and Tex-Mex cuisine. Billed as "Texas with a little something extra," Beaumont lies just minutes from the Louisiana border. Although the area has very mild winters, it does get humid in the summer, being so close to the Gulf and being so low in elevation. The summers only average temperatures in the high 80s. Beaumont sits alongside the Neches River, so there are many water-related activities to be enjoyed there. There are museums, shopping and activities galore in the amazing city of Beaumont.
History:
Named after the wife of businessman Henry Millard, Beaumont officially became a town in December of 1838. Because of its natural river port, it had a booming lumber and rice-milling industry. Then, in 1901 the oil drilling site on Spindletop Hill gushed oil hundreds of feet in the air and everything changed. Within days, people were moving to Beaumont, and restaurants, hotels and everything else these people needed began to spring up. The city became a shipbuilding center during WWII. Beaumont houses the Jefferson County Courts, and in 1996 they became the first court system in the nation to use electronic filing.
Economy:
Although Beaumont's economy is still closely tied to petrochemicals, much progress has been made in diversifying the city's industries. There has been a trend toward service industry jobs which has caused an upsurge in people moving to Beaumont. The so-called ‘golden triangle' of shipping, consisting of Beaumont, Port Arthur and East Orange has proven to be fairly recession-proof. Industrial expansion continues to this day.
Tourism:
Located in Hardin County, Beaumont is the home of the South Texas State Fair. This city prides itself on its night life, with Crockett Street in the historic district being the area for music and nightclubs. There is plenty of water sports to be had, due to its close proximity to both the Neches River and the Gulf Of Mexico. There are a myriad of museums including the Texas Energy Museum. There are many casinos in the area. Beautiful botanical gardens, camping and nature parks round out the many activities there are here.