Beaumont, Texas

Beaumont is a city and county seat of Jefferson County in U.S. state of Texas within the Beaumont?Port Arthur metropolitan area. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 113,866. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the Gulf Coast.

Climate

Beaumont has a subtropical climate with mild winters and hot, humid summers. The most recent snow event was December 24, 2004, the first such occurrence since 1989, though the area did suffer a devastating ice storm in 1997.

Related Topics:
December 24 - 2004 - 1989

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hurricanes have left their mark on Beaumont as well. In 1957 Hurricane Audrey, a strong category 4 hurricane (borderline category 5 at times) came onshore straight up the Texas/Louisiana border causing massive flooding and wind damage. 390 people lost their lives (other estimates show over 500), most in Louisiana due to drowning. In 1961 Hurricane Carla, the largest storm in terms of size, affected the entire Texas coast line from Jefferson County down to Brownsville. Carla caused millions of dollars in damage and still remains the strongest storm to strike the Texas coast. Beaumont suffered massive flooding due to poor drainage at the time and tornadoes. Some portions of the Golden Triangle never recovered but most parts grew back and prospered fully.

Related Topics:
1957 - Hurricane Audrey - Hurricane Carla - Brownsville

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Beaumont lived without a strong hurricane until June 23 1986. On that day, Hurricane Bonnie roared through the region with maximum winds at 90 miles per hour (gusts to 125 mph) creating a havoc on local roadways because of the massive amounts of rain dumped on the area. Some regions received upwards of 10-15 inches in some places, flooding homes and businesses. Many mobile home parks were destroyed, people were displaced, and some businesses in the area never recovered. Three people lost their lives in Bonnie. Nevertheless, Beaumont quickly recovered. The region had some hits and misses but none more so than in 1992 when Hurricane Andrew threatened the area. Beaumont was under a hurricane warning and evacuation procedures took place. It was rough going for the evacuation, which became the largest peacetime evacuation in the United States since Hurricane Carla in 1961. Andrew missed the Beaumont area, but it was a scare that still haunts the area today. More recently, Beaumonters dealt with Tropical Storm Allison in 2001. Although Beaumont and the vicinity did not get the damage and destruction that Houston got, marks were still left and some are still being felt today. Homes are still abandoned due to massive flooding that took place because of the non stop five-day rainfall. Total rainfall amounts associated with Allison reached the 20 inch mark in most towns and cities in Southeast Texas. Hurricane Lili threatened the area in 2002 as a category 4 hurricane, and prompted another "Andrew-style" evacuation. Though large, it went relatively smoothly and didn't mirror the 1992 evacuation. Lili veered north into central Louisiana and did not affect the region significantly. Hurricane Rita hit the city in 2005, leveling many buildings and leaving remaining residents without power. Virtually every building in the town was damaged, some even destroyed.

Related Topics:
June 23 - 1986 - Hurricane Bonnie - 1992 - Hurricane Andrew - 1961 - Tropical Storm Allison - Hurricane Lili - 2002 - Hurricane Rita

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~