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Physical Features: Gulf Coast grassy plain, with timber in northwest; beach sands, sandy loams, black clay soils; drains to Neches River, Gulf of Mexico.

Economy: Government/services, petrochemical and other chemical plants, shipbuilding, steel mill, port activity, oil-field supplies.

History: Atakapas and Orcoquizas, whose numbers were reduced by epidemics or migration before Anglo-American settlers arrived in the 1820s. Cajuns arrived in the 1840s; Europeans in the 1850s. Antebellum slaveholding area. County created in 1836 from Mexican municipality; organized in 1837; named for U.S. President Thomas Jefferson.

Race/Ethnicity: (In percent) Anglo, 40.4; Black, 34.3; Hispanic, 20.8; Asian, 4.0; Other, 1.1; Two or more races, 1.7.

Vital Statistics, annual: Births, 3,782; deaths, 2,514; marriages, 1,699; divorces, 616.

Recreation: Beaches, fresh and saltwater fishing; duck, goose hunting; water activities; Dick Dowling Monument and Park; Spindletop site, energy, fire museums; saltwater lake; J.D. Murphree WMA, McFaddin wildlife refuge, Texas Point wildlife refuge; Lamar University events; historic sites; South Texas Fair in March-April.

Minerals: Large producer of oil, gas, sulfur, salt, sand and gravel.

Agriculture: Rice, hay, beef cattle, crawfish; considerable rice irrigated. Market value $38 million. Timber sales significant.

BEAUMONT (117,245) county seat; oil and gas production, government/services, engineering and industrial services, port; Lamar University, Institute of Technology; hospitals; entertainment district; Neches River Festival in April.

PORT ARTHUR (53,706) oil, chemical activities, shrimping and crawfishing, shipping, offshore marine, tourism; hospitals; museum; prison; Asian New Year Tet, Janis Joplin Birthday Bash in January. Sabine Pass and Port Acres are now within the city limits of Port Arthur.

Other towns include: Bevil Oaks (1,227); Central Gardens (4,241); China (1,186); Fannett (2,236); Groves (15,698) retail center, some manufacturing, government/services, tourism; hospital, pecan festival in September; Hamshire (759).

Also, Nederland (17,305) petrochemical refining, retail center, education; Windmill and French/Acadian museums; extended-care hospital; Tex Ritter memorial and park; heritage festival in March (city founded by Dutch immigrants in 1898).

Also, Nome (590); Port Neches (12,680) chemical and synthetic rubber industry, manufacturing, library, riverfront park with La Maison Beausoleil, RiverFest in May; Taylor Landing (209).

The coastal prairie south of Port Arthur. Photo by Robert Plocheck.