Beaumont Commercial District
Roughly bounded by Orleans, Bowie, Neches, Crockett, Laurel, Willow, Broadway, Pearl, Main, and Gilbert Sts., Beaumont, TXThe City of Beaumont started in the 1830s as a small river crossing settlement and grew steadily during the last half of the 19th Century due to its transportation and lumber industries. The town played significant roles in both the Texas Revolution and the Civil War, but the thriving industrial town became nationally prominent as a result of two sensational oil discoveries at the Spindletop oil field in the early 20th Century.
The earliest recorded settlers of the Beaumont area were Noah and Nancy Tevis and their seven children from Tennessee. They settled on what is now known as Tevis Bluff on the Neches River around 1825 under the protection of Lorenzo de Zavala, who was granted land in 1829 by the Mexican government. By this time small groups of log dwellings were scattered throughout the area. Seven houses and one trading post have been attributed to the settlement in 1830 when Thomas P. and Joshua Lewis brought their families to the area from North Carolina.
The town of Beaumont was laid out in 1835, with formal organization and platting taking place two years later. It was during this organizational period that families fleeing Santa Anna's army during the "Runaway Scrape" of the Texas Revolution were forced to camp on the banks of the flooded Neches. Provisions were scarce and panic imminent by the time word reached the refugees of Texas' victory at San Jacinto on April 21, 1836.
Feeling secure in their recently won independence from Mexico, a small group of Tevis Bluff, or Neches River Settlement, pioneers recorded the 100-acre township of Beaumont in the Jefferson County Courthouse at Orange in 1837. The next year reorganization of the county changed the seat of government for Jefferson County from Orange to Beaumont.
Bibliography
Tyrell Public Library. Building Files.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
In the early 1820s, Empresario Joseph Vehlein obtained a contract to settle 300 families in the region. The land, once inhabited by the Atakapa people, soon attracted settlers of various origins, including Americans, Europeans, and enslaved Africans. The area became known for its fertile soil, offering ideal conditions for agriculture and ranching.
The city of Beaumont was established in the mid-19th century and quickly developed into a major trading and shipping center due to its access to the Neches River and the Gulf of Mexico. The discovery of oil at Spindletop in 1901 marked a turning point in the county's history, as the region experienced a significant oil boom. This brought great prosperity and transformed the area's economy, leading to the development of the petrochemical industry in the following decades.
Throughout the 20th century, Jefferson County witnessed various social and economic changes. It played a key role in World War II, serving as the location for significant military activity, including the establishment of one of the largest military shipbuilding centers in the country. The county also experienced desegregation struggles during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s, which eventually led to greater equality.
Today, Jefferson County continues to be an important industrial center for petrochemicals and petroleum-related industries. It is also home to a diverse population and offers a mix of urban and rural landscapes, with a variety of cultural and recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.
Jefferson County Timeline
This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Jefferson County, Texas.
- 1836: Jefferson County is established as a municipality of the Republic of Texas.
- 1838: The town of Beaumont is founded.
- 1840: Jefferson County becomes part of the newly-formed State of Texas.
- 1845: Texas is admitted to the United States, and Jefferson County becomes a county within the state.
- 1858: A railroad is completed, connecting Beaumont to surrounding areas.
- 1865: The Civil War ends, and Jefferson County begins to recover from the war's impact.
- 1881: The Spindletop oil field, the first major oil discovery in Texas, is found in Jefferson County.
- 1901: The Lucas Gusher at Spindletop oil field erupts, launching the Texas oil boom.
- 1925: The Neches River is first navigable by deep-draft vessels, boosting the county's shipping industry.
- 1943: The Port of Beaumont is established as a major center for the shipping and petrochemical industries.
- 1989: Hurricane Gilbert strikes Jefferson County, causing significant damage to the area.
- 2005: Hurricane Rita makes landfall in Jefferson County, leading to widespread devastation.
- 2017: Hurricane Harvey causes widespread flooding in Jefferson County.