Sabine Pass, Texas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sabine Pass, Texas is a city located in Jefferson County, Texas, 15 miles south of Port Arthur, Texas, on the west bank of Sabine Pass, near the Louisiana border.
Originally known as Sabine City, the original date of settlement of Sabine Pass is unknown, but is estimated at 1836. During the American Civil War, Fort Sabine and Fort Griffin were built by the Confederacy to protect the waterway of Sabine Pass and the Sabine River and Neches River, which it leads to.
Although the city was formally annexed by Port Arthur in 1978, Sabine Pass has continued to maintain a separate identity.
Contents |
[edit] Hurricanes
Because of the small distance separating Sabine Pass from the Gulf of Mexico, the city has suffered greatly from numerous hurricanes since its founding. After hurricanes in 1886, 1900, 1915, and the devastating Hurricane Audrey in 1957, economic development moved north from Sabine Pass to the cities of Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Orange, which still dominate the area's economy today.
On September 24, 2005, Hurricane Rita came ashore over Lake Sabine -- the surge from the storm destroyed more than 90% of the structures in Sabine Pass.
[edit] Wildlife Habitats
Sabine Pass is known for it wildlife. Sea Rim State Park and McFaddin National Wildlife Preserve lie at the end of Highway 87. The two provide excellent wildlife and especially bird watching venues. Camping on the Gulf of Mexico beach at Sea Rim State Park is a popular attraction. However the park suffered extensive damage in Hurricane Rita.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notable people from Sabine Pass:
[edit] External links
- Sabine Pass from the Handbook of Texas Online
- -- Sea Rim State Park
- Fun365Days.com -- regional tourism web site
- Partnership of Southeast Texas -- regional economic development site
- USGS Entry for Sabine Pass, Texas
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps or Yahoo! Maps
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
- Satellite image from Google Maps or Microsoft Virtual Earth