Port Arthur, Texas

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Port Arthur is a city in Jefferson County within the Beaumont-Port Arthur metropolitan area and is situated in southeast Texas. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city had a total population of 57,755.

The Southeast Texas Regional Airport in Nederland serves Beaumont and Port Arthur.

Contents

[edit] Geography and History

Location of Port Arthur, Texas

Port Arthur is located on the western bank of Sabine Lake. The Rainbow Bridge across the Neches River connects Port Arthur to Bridge City. Port Arthur was founded by Arthur Edward Stilwell in the late 19th century, and was once the center of the largest oil refinery network in the world. [1]

Port Arthur experienced an economic decline under the corrupt administration of Mayor J.P. "Pink" Logan. Pink Logan's regime inspired the "Clean Government Movement", established by Logan's primary adversary, W.C. Welch.[1] The efforts of the Clean Government Movement ultimately led the Texas Legislaure to establish the James Committee Report 1961. The James Committee, headed by Dallas Representative Tom James, identified corruption and graft at all levels of Port Arthur's municipal government and law enforcement. Unfortunately, the release of the report did not end corruption, rather it merely pushed all of the rackets into the underground.

Port Arthur has yet to recover from the effects of Pink Logan's political machine, and the city faces great challenges in the future given the predicted increase in hurricane activity. The Clean Government movement, however, remains in Port Arthur and was one of the first organizations to denounce local and national corrupt politicians such as Tom DeLay. In 2006, the Clean Government Movement supported Congressman Chris Bell and Congressman Nick Lampson; both men had lost their seats in Congress in 2004 because of Tom DeLay's redistricting scheme.

Port Arthur has produced its fair share of famous individuals, including singing legend Janis Joplin and Dallas Cowboys coach, Jimmy Johnson. Currently, Port Arthur's profile has risen on the hip-hop scene with the emergence of the rap group UGK. Both members of UGK, Bun B and Pimp C, are from Port Arthur and often refer to their hometown in their songs. The phrase "Free Pimp C" has become an anthem in the Texas hip-hop music scene.

The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway runs past the city, separated from Sabine Lake by Pleasure Island. The 18.5 mile man-made island was created from dredged material from 1899 and 1908 Corps of Engineers projects.

Port Arthur is located at 29°53′6″N, 93°56′24″W (29.884864, -93.939902)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 372.3 km² (143.8 mi²). 214.8 km² (82.9 mi²) of it is land and 157.6 km² (60.8 mi²) of it (42.32%) is water.

Port of Port Arthur
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Port of Port Arthur
Big Arthur crane
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Big Arthur crane
Delta Queen moored in front of City Hall.
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Delta Queen moored in front of City Hall.

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 57,755 people, 21,839 households, and 14,675 families residing in the city. The population density was 268.9/km² (696.5/mi²). There were 24,713 housing units at an average density of 115.1/km² (298.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 39.01% White, 43.70% African American, 0.45% Native American, 5.89% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 8.88% from other races, and 2.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.45% of the population.

There were 21,839 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 19.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the city the population had 28.7% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,455, and the median income for a family was $32,143. Males had a median income of $30,915 versus $21,063 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,183. About 22.9% of families and 25.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.2% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Education

The City of Port Arthur is served by the Port Arthur Independent School District.

[edit] Hurricane Rita

During the night of 23 September 2005 and through early morning of September 24, 2005, Port Arthur was damaged by the great winds and rain of Hurricane Rita. The damage was extensive and widespread, including flooding in Port Arthur's Downtown area. The Proctor Street Seawall held throughout the storm.*

Port Arthur had the highest recorded winds during Hurricane Rita's landfall—at 116mph.

[edit] Famous natives of Port Arthur

  • Janis Joplin: singer
  • Grant Lyons: Friend of Janis Joplin, published writer of both fiction and nonfiction, journalist
  • "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias: athlete and Olympic gold medalist
  • Amy Acuff: five-time US Outdoors high jump champion
  • Robert Rauschenberg: artist
  • Becky Barksdale: musician
  • UGK: rap group
  • Stephen Jackson: basketball player
  • Jimmy Johnson: football coach
  • G.W. Bailey: Actor
  • Clifford Antone: blues club owner
  • Ken Webster: actor, director
  • Aaron Brown: Univ. of Minn., NFL Kansas City Chiefs, Super Bowl MVP. High School two-time Basketball All-State, played one year of football and made All-State Fullback.
  • Joe "Joe Boy" Washington: Oklahoma, Redskins, San Diego (How could you forget "Joe Boy"? One of NFL Best Monday Night performances.)
  • Harry Gunner: College All-American Football and Basketball in JUCO; MVP of the Hula Bowl; Number 1 in NFL draft, chosen by Cincinnati Bengals; was on the front page of Sports Illustrated.
  • Charles "Chucky" Baker: High School All-American (wr)
  • Lee Richards: Lincoln High School, Southern University, No. 1 baseball draft pick. chosen by St. Louis Cardinals. Was on the front page of Sports Illustrated.
  • James Gamble: All-American Basketball in college, SWAC Hall of Fame, street named after him in Port Arthur.
  • Robert Perry: Had the fastest 100m time in high school in USA. Later attended LSU.
  • Tommy Smiley: Lincoln High School, Lamar University, Cincinnati Bengals.
  • Barbara Jacket: Lincoln High Coach, Prairie View Coach, Olympic Coach.
  • Jordan Babineaux: NFL player
  • Jonathan Babineaux: NFL player
  • Eric Alexander: NFL player
  • Terry Oubre: musician

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Hunt, Herschiel. The History of Port Arthur. Southern Publishing Concern, 1926.

[edit] External links

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