Jefferson County

Jefferson County Offices

Jefferson County Town List

Jefferson County, Texas, got its name after Thomas Jefferson, the US president. The county became operational in 1937. Early settlers of this area were mostly from Virginia and Kentucky, but later immigrants came to settle here. Beaumont, the county seat, was established in 1836 by a group of men who wanted to establish an independent republic. It has been named one of the best places for business in America. 

The Economy  

The county’s economy relies heavily upon oil production, petrochemical manufacturing, tourism, agriculture, and healthcare services. In addition to these industries, many small businesses operate within the county.   

There are several large employers such as ExxonMobil Corporation, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, Shell Oil Company, and Valero Energy Corporation. These companies employ thousands of people throughout the county.  

Many residents work at local hospitals or clinics, including Baptist Memorial Hospital-Beaumont, St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, and Parkland Health & Hospital System.  

There are over 2 million acres of land owned by private individuals in Jefferson County. This includes farms, ranches, residential properties, and commercial real estate.  

Some of the largest landowners include John T. Snow Family Trust; William G. Moseley Jr.; Robert E. Lee III; J.B. Hunt Transport Services Incorporated; and James W. “Jim” Thompson. 

Education  

Jefferson County offers public schools through four school districts: 

• Jefferson Independent School District, 
• Orangefield Consolidated Independent School District, 
• Port Arthur ISD 
• Southeast Pines ISD.  

Each district operates its own elementary, middle, and high schools.  

All students attend either JISD or OCISD. Both districts offer online classes via Coursera. Students can take courses offered by other universities like the University of Houston, Rice University, Southern Methodist University, Baylor College of Medicine, UT Austin, etc.  

Healthcare 

Residents have access to health care facilities located in both Beaumont and Orange. They can receive treatment at any hospital in the region, including Baptist Medical Center – Beaumont, St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center, and Parkland Health and Hospital System. Residents can also visit outpatient medical centers such as Driscoll Children’s Cancer Institute, Park Plaza Clinic, and Bay Area Healthcare Group.  

The county has emergency services provided by EMS First Responder Service, Fire Rescue Department, Police Department, Emergency Management Agency, and Office of Homeland Security. 

If you are in a situation that requires an emergency response, you can call 911. If your need is non-emergency-related, you may contact the police department directly at 979-826-7000. You may also go to the nearest fire station and ask them to respond to your request. 

Cities and Towns 

Cities and towns in this county offer various amenities for their citizens. The following list contains some of those cities/towns that serve this county; 

Beaumont- Located on I-10 between Houston and New Orleans, Beaumont serves as an important transportation hub for the area. It is home to two major airports, three cruise ship terminals, and numerous bus lines. It is also the county seat of Jefferson county. 

Nederland- Nederland was founded in 1836 and became part of Jefferson County in 1850. Its population grew from 1,500 in 1900 to 8,700 in 2000. Today it remains one of the fastest-growing areas in the state, with a current estimated population of about 16,800. 

Port Neches: Port Neches is along Sabine Lake near the Louisiana border. Besides being a popular tourist destination, it is also known for its oil industry. There are several refineries within the city limits. 

Groves: Groves is named after George Washington Groves, who settled there in 1840. He established a trading post where he sold goods to Native Americans and settlers alike. His store later evolved into what we know today as Groves Mercantile Company. 

Fennett: Fennett was originally called “New Hope” but changed its name when incorporated in 1908. It is now considered a suburb of Beaumont. 

China: China was first inhabited around 1000 BC. By the time Europeans arrived in 1519 AD, the Chinese had already lived there for more than 500 years. At that point, they were building gigantic stone structures which still stand today. 

Other cities are; Bevil Oaks, Nome, Central Gardens, and Taylor landing.    

Attractions  

Jefferson has many attractions for tourists to enjoy. Some include:  

Sea Rim State Park- This park offers visitors scenic views of the Gulf Coast. Visitors can view wildlife like alligators, turtles, birds, fish, etc. while walking through the trails or driving down the roads. 

Sabine River National Wildlife Refuge- A refuge dedicated to protecting endangered species of plants and animals. It is open daily during daylight hours. 

Bethany Beach: Bethany Beach is a small town just south of Orange. It features a boardwalk, restaurants, shops, and other recreational activities. 

Art Museum of South Texas- Art museum located in downtown Orange. It displays art by local artists, including paintings, sculptures, pottery, glasswork, photography, jewelry, woodcarvings, textiles, and folk arts. 

Gator Country: Gator country is a theme park featuring gators, reptiles, and wildlife exhibits. It is located north of Orange, off Highway 87. 

Museum of Gulf Coast: MGC is a history museum at the old courthouse square in Orange. It houses artifacts related to the region’s past.  

County Offices 

The County Judge’s Office is under Honorable Jeff Branick. If you have questions on legal matters regarding the county, call the Office at (409) 835-8466 / (409) 839-2311. 

The County Clerk’s Office is under Carolyn L. Guidry. It helps residents file their taxes online or over the phone. Call her office for information on filing taxes at (409) 835-8475 / (409) 839-2394.  

The sheriff’s Office is under Sheriff Zena Stephens. Their main purpose is to protect lives and property. To report crimes call 911 or (409) 835-8411 / (409) 784-5817. 

Tax Assessor- The tax assessor is under Allison N. Getz. Contact him via (409) 835-8516 / (409) 835-8589. 

The county auditors’ Office handles all financial audits. They do not handle tax assessments. The auditor is Patrick Swain. Call at (409) 835-8500 / (409) 839-2369.