Sabine Pass is a neighborhood of Port Arthur, Texas, United States. It lies 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.
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Two battles, the First Battle of Sabine Pass, and the Second Battle of Sabine Pass, both occurred around the Sabine Lake estuary in Sabine Pass. In 1970, construction crews attempting to repair SH-87 accidentally dug up Civil War era ammunition. The following is an excerpt from Texas State Highway 87 :
In 1970, road machinery used in its construction accidentally dug up several cannonballs and crumbling kegs of black powder about 10 miles west of Sabine Pass. Further excavation eventually produced more kegs of black powder and several hundred cannonballs. The ammunition had been buried there by Confederate soldiers in what were the diches of Fort Manhassett in 1865. Fort Manhassett was a series of earthworks constructed by the Confederacy in 1863 to defend the western approaches to Sabine Pass.
Because of the short 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 Sabine Lake—the surge from the storm destroyed more than 90% of the structures in Sabine Pass. In February 2006, the team from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (EM: HE) visited the town and rebuilt the Firehouse (which included a new Firetruck worth $400,000), the High School Auditorium and gave dozens of families $350 gift cards from Sears to replace items such as clothes, space heaters, blankets etc., lost due to Hurricane Rita. This town was featured in the EM:HE - After The Storm Texas Special which aired on the ABC on April 14, 2006.[1]
In September 2008, Hurricane Ike struck Galveston and managed to generate the highest surge ever recorded at Sabine Pass.[2][3]
Sabine Pass is known for its wildlife. Sea Rim State Park and McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge 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 has not been well kept and suffered extensive damage due to hurricane Rita and hurricane Ike.
The United States Postal Service operates the Sabine Pass Post Office.[4]
Sabine Pass Independent School District serves the community.
The section of Port Arthur within the Sabine Pass School District is assigned to Galveston College in Galveston.[5]