Port Neches, Texas

Everything Port Neches is known for

1 song mention this city 1 artist from here

Music in Port Neches

Songs About Port Neches

the ballad of lavern and captain flint
guy clark
10%

Artists From Port Neches

L
Lee Hazlewood
country Pop: 48

Rivers & Roads in Song near Port Neches

Songs written about the waterways and highways that run near Port Neches.

Sabine River 13 songs US Route 90 8 songs Interstate 10 32 songs

History of Port Neches

From Grigsby's Bluff to Port Neches RoadyGoat

1834

This town began as Grigsby's Bluff. In the 1830s land claimant Thomas F. McKinney surveyed a townsite here he wanted to call Georgia, but the plan fizzled, and in 1837 he sold two-thirds of his league to Joseph Grigsby. The Grigsby family established a plantation and a boat landing on the high bluff overlooking the Neches River, and settlers gathered around the landing through the 1840s and 1850s. The river itself carries a Caddo name. Spanish explorers took it from the Caddo word Nachawi, their name for the bois d'arc trees, whose tough wood the Caddo split into prized hunting bows. When refineries and a Kansas City railroad reached the area after 1900, Grigsby's Bluff was replatted and renamed Port Neches in 1901. Residents finally voted to incorporate the town in April 1927.

The Six Vanished Shell Mounds of Grigsby's Bluff RoadyGoat

1650

On the bluff just east of Port Neches Park once stood one of Texas's great archaeological sites. Six enormous mounds, built of clam, conch, and oyster shell mixed with pottery, bone, and buried dead, rose over the Neches River. As of 1841 the six mounds were reportedly as large as about 60 feet wide, 20 feet tall, and 100 yards long. They were the accumulated shellfish refuse and burials of Native peoples, first the Karankawa and later the Nacazils, a subdivision of the Attakapas, who lived here for roughly fifteen centuries before European contact. A Spanish priest, Father Augustin Morfi, visited and mapped the village in 1777. Then came the settlers. Between 1841 and 1901 all six mounds were carted away for road and railroad fill and plantation grade, and one was leveled when Confederate Fort Grigsby went up nearby in 1862.

A Cajun House That Floated In By Barge RoadyGoat

1810

In Riverfront Park sits La Maison Beausoleil, a small cypress house far older than the town around it. Built around 1810 in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, this authentic Acadian home was later floated to Port Neches by barge, down the Vermilion River, into the Intracoastal Canal, then west up the Neches River to the city park. Its name honors Joseph Broussard, called dit Beausoleil, an Acadian leader who fought a guerrilla campaign against the British after the 1755 deportation of the Acadians from Nova Scotia. In French, beausoleil means beautiful sun. Descendants of the Broussard family donated the cypress house to Les Acadiens du Texas, a nonprofit devoted to Acadian culture and the French language still spoken in this corner of Southeast Texas, and the group restored it as a museum.

Janis Lyn Joplin

1943

(January 19, 1943 - October 4, 1970) A native of Port Arthur, famed blues and rock and roll singer Janis Joplin lived here with her family. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1960 and attended Port Arthur College and Lamar State College of Technology (Lamar University) in Beaumont. A liberal and outspoken free spirit, Janis rebelled against the conservatism of her hometown, and in 1962 she moved to Austin to study art at the University of Texas. She connected to the burgeoning Austin music scene and began singing in clubs around town, most notably at Threadgill's, a bar operated by Texas country singer and yodeler Kenneth Threadgill. With her raw and raspy singing style exhibiting the blues, jazz, country, cajun, gospel and soul music influences of east Texas and Louisiana, she was a popular local performer. Searching for wider acceptance, Joplin moved to San Francisco in 1963 and quickly became part of the growing folk music and counter-culture movement of the 1960s. Her performances at the 1967 International Pop and Jazz Festivals in Monterey brought her widespread recognition. Her first album, Cheap Thrills, with the band Big Brother and the Holding Company, was a wild success even as her personal life became marred with alcohol and drug abuse. Later recording with the Kosmic Blues Band and the Full-Tilt Boogie Band, she was an international sensation by the end of the decade. In August 1970, at the height of her fame, Joplin returned to Port Arthur for her ten-year high school reunion. Just two months later, she died of an accidental overdose of heroin and alcohol; her ashes were spread along the coast of northern California. Her final album, Pearl, released after her death, earned a gold record. (2007)

Historical Marker → · 4.9 mi away

Tex Ritter

1905

(January 12, 1905 - January 2, 1974) Western singing star Woodward Maurice ("Tex") Ritter was born in Panola County, Texas. After attending college, he began singing cowboy ballads on a Houston radio station in 1928. He advanced to broadway, where he was nicknamed "Tex," and in 1936 began a series of popular western movies. Ritter performed later for television and the Grand Ole Opry and was named to the Country Music Hall of fame. His best-know recording is the title song from the film "High Noon."

Historical Marker →

Southeast Texas Regional Airport

1941

Originally named Jefferson County Airport, this facility has served area residents since the World War II era. Jefferson County Commissioners purchased land to build the airport in 1941, and its development, which included three runways, a taxiway system and apron facilities, began the following year, with initial construction completed in early 1944. Eastern Airlines conducted the first scheduled flight in March of that year. During the war, the airport also served U.S. Marine Air Corps Dive Bomber Squadron No. 931 as a base for advanced training. Pilot trainees used floating targets in the Gulf of Mexico off Sabine Pass for gunnery and divebombing practice. The airport has accommodated developments in air technology through enhancement of its facilities. Improvements in the 1950s and 1960s included additional land, buildings and taxiways, and installation of runway lighting and an instrument landing system. In the early 1980s, when Texas International, Southwest Airlines, Air Texana and Metro Airlines all operated out of the airport, additional improvements were made, including completion of a new terminal. In 1999, County Commissioners approved a name change for the facility to the Southeast Texas Regional Airport. As chemical and petrochemical industries, paper and pulp manufacturing and other area businesses grew, the airport became an increasingly important transportation center. In 2005, it was the site of one of the largest civilian airlifts in U.S. History, when the U.S. military evacuated thousands of local residents with special medical needs during landfall of Hurricane Rita. Today, the airport continues to play a vital economic role in southeast Texas.

Historical Marker → · 4.4 mi away

Port Neches, TX

1906

Port Neches, once known as Grigsby's (or Grigsby) Bluff, is located in eastern Jefferson County on Farm roads 365 and 366 and State Highway 347, ten miles southeast of Beaumont. The area was formerly the site of an Atakapa Indian village, relics of which were excavated in 1841. Thomas F. McKinney located his land claim there during the 1830s and went so far as to survey a townsite to be called Georgia. His plans, however, never materialized, and he sold two-thirds of his league to Joseph Grigsby in 1837. Grigsby and his family, who established a plantation and boat landing on a bluff overlooking the Neches River, were the earliest Anglo settlers of the area. In the antebellum era Grigsby's Bluff was an important landing for Neches River traffic. John T. Johnson and Samuel Remley established a gristmill and steam sawmill there in 1856; in 1859 they employed six men and cut one million feet of "planks and scantlings." In 1862 Confederate troops hastily constructed Fort Grigsby to block a possible Union thrust up the Neches River, where they successfully repulsed Union forces in October 1862. The fort was abandoned in January 1863. George F. Block erected a shingle mill in 1866. The post office, originally opened in 1859 and closed during the Civil War , was reopened in 1877 and closed again in 1893. About fifty people lived at Grigsby's Bluff in 1880. The turn of the century brought sweeping changes to the lower Neches River area. In 1902 the Central Asphalt Company set up a plant near Grigsby's Bluff. A townsite on the new Kansas City railroad was drawn up the same year and called Port Neches. The Texas Company (later Texaco ) purchased and remodeled the plant in 1906, bringing in the refineries and oil-related industries that would provide Port Neches with much of its lifeblood, although in 1915 the town, with a population of 600, was still mainly dependent on the cultivation of rice and oranges. The community's voters, after defeating an incorporation measure in 1926, agreed by a 212–80 margin to incorporate their town in 1927. The location of Port Neches on the heavily industrialized upper Texas Gulf Coast encouraged steady growth. The population grew rapidly during and after World War II , rising from 2,487 in the early 1940s to 8,696 by 1960. A 100,000-ton butadiene plant built by the federal government at Port Neches during World War II was sold to Goodrich-Gulf and Texas U.S. Chemical in 1955. By 1988 more than 14,000 people lived at Port Neches. Despite a severe economic decline caused by lower oil prices, the city had 157 rated businesses. In 2000 the population was 13,601 with 327 businesses.

Tsha Handbook →

Nederland, TX

1897

Nederland is on Farm roads 365 and 366, State Highway 347, and U.S. Highway 69/96/287, seven miles southeast of Beaumont in eastern Jefferson County. The site was developed by the Port Arthur Townsite Company and the Port Arthur Land Company as part of Arthur E. Stilwell 's effort to make his newly built Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railway profitable. Stilwell, who had received much of his financial backing from Dutch investors, wanted a community for Dutch immigrants to Southeast Texas. The first such settler at Nederland was George Rienstra; forty others arrived in November 1897. As other immigrants followed, Nederlanders began establishing truck and dairy farms. Rice farming was especially popular until overproduction, overspeculation, and the depression of 1907 virtually wiped out the rice industry at Nederland. Many of the recent immigrants left. Prosperity was restored by the discovery of the Spindletop oilfield on January 10, 1901. The Sun Oil Company established a major terminal just to the north at Sun, and the Texas Company built a plant a mile south of Nederland. An interurban line tied the former Dutch community with Beaumont and Port Arthur in 1913. Electricity was provided shortly thereafter, and telephone and gas service came during the mid–1920s. During the same decade the Humphrey Oil Company and Pure Oil Company (subsequently Union Oil) built a refinery at Smith's Bluff to the east, drawing large numbers of former Louisiana residents to Nederland. The refineries and related petroleum industries have continued to be the mainstays of the city's economy. A weekly newspaper, the Mid-County Chronicle , was established in 1930. The town incorporated on April 29, 1940, and the population reached 3,801 in 1950. Nederland grew rapidly as a residential center during the boom years that followed. By 1970 the number of inhabitants had surpassed 16,000. Though the local economy was hurt by the declining demand for petroleum during the 1980s, the city's rated businesses increased from 136 in 1972–73 to 401 in 1984–85. The population was reported at 16,855 in 1980 and 16,192 in 1990. At that time Nederland had two museums, the Dutch Windmill Museum and La Maison Acadienne. They stood side by side in Tex Ritter Park, situated in the heart of Nederland. By 2000 the population was 17,422.

Tsha Handbook → · 3.0 mi away

Ezzell, Margaret Murphy

1961

Margaret Murphy Ezzell, civic leader and historic preservationist, was born on November 11, 1902, in Hillsboro, Texas, the daughter of Joshua Elmer and Linnie (Lovejoy) Murphy. She was active in civic affairs in Port Arthur, Beaumont, Nederland, and Port Neches. From 1962 to 1972 she was a member and vice chairwoman of the Jefferson County Historical Survey Committee. In 1962 she was coorganizer of the Port Arthur Historical Museum and chaired the building committee that oversaw construction of the first public library building in Port Neches. She was also actively involved in the planning and building of a clubhouse for the Nechesland Study Club. In 1972 she was the state coordinator of activities to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the battle of Sabine Pass . From 1961 to 1976 Ezzell served on the Battleship Texas Commission. During her tenure she gathered many of the historic items that were on the ship originally and opened a museum on the ship to house them. In 1966 she became a charter member of the Historic Naval Ships of North America, an organization of groups that maintain historic vessels, and in 1975 she was elected president. She also located and presented to the legislature the reverse side of the Great Seal of the state of Texas ( see SEALS OF TEXAS ). Margaret Ezzell was an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution , the United Daughters of the Confederacy , and the Daughters of the Republic of Texas . She served as president-general of the DRT from 1961 to 1963 and as registrar general from 1971 to 1973. From 1963 through 1969 she chaired the DRT projects committee. Under her leadership the Long Barrack of the Alamo , which is administered by the DRT, was restored and a museum established there. She raised funds for the restoration and directed the planning and completion of the museum. From 1965 to 1969 she served on the DRT Alamo committee. In 1966 the Texas Historical Foundation honored Ezzell for her work in historic preservation, and in 1970 the Texas State Genealogical Society recognized her for the preservation of historical documents. The Sons of the Republic of Texas awarded her a Medal of Appreciation in 1970 for her contributions to the preservation of American history. Ezzell was married to Asa Murray Ezzell, an executive with the Texaco oil company. She died at her home in Port Neches on October 24, 1987, and was buried in Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston. Her large library of Texana was given to the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center at Liberty.

Tsha Handbook →

Things to Do in Port Neches

historical 9.2 mi away
Spindletop

On January 10 1901 a well south of Beaumont blew its crown block clean off the derrick and started gushing oil a hundred and fifty feet in the air at nine…

Sports in Port Neches

🏆 STATE CHAMPIONS Class 5A · Football · 2023

Port Neches-Groves Indians — 2023 UIL 5A Division 2 Football State Champions

Most recent: 20-17 over Dallas South Oak Cliff · 2023 5A Division 2 final

Down in Southeast Texas, Port Neches-Groves High School stands as a proud Class 5A football program. The community rallies around its team, and the school has seen its share of gridiron glory over the years. Their commitment to excellence on the field has brought significant achievements to Port Neches.

The Indians have a history of developing talent, with former players like Roschon Johnson going on to play at the major college and professional levels. These athletes, cultivated in the heart of Southeast Texas, represent the spirit and dedication fostered within the Port Neches-Groves football program.

State titles
2023
Most recent
2023, 20-17
Class
5A
Key Players
  • Roschon Johnson — , NFL running back for the Chicago Bears
The moment

The 2023 5A Division 2 state championship saw Port Neches-Groves defeat Dallas South Oak Cliff with a score of 20-17.

Sources: Wikipedia · UIL State Championship Archives · SI High School (ScoreBook Live)
🏆 STATE CHAMPIONS Class 5A · Baseball · 2017

Port Neches-Groves Indians — 2017 UIL 5A Baseball State Champions

Most recent: 2017 5A

Down in Port Neches, the Port Neches-Groves High School baseball program stands out in Class 5A. The Indians have a notable state championship win to their name, securing the 5A title in 2017. This achievement reflects the sustained effort within the program over the years, bringing pride to the Southeast Texas community.

The school has also been a launching pad for talent, with alumni like Lew Ford and Carson Roccaforte moving on to professional or major-college baseball careers. Their journeys highlight the foundational development provided by the Port Neches-Groves program, underscoring its role in shaping athletes for the next level.

State titles
2017
Most recent
2017
Class
5A
Key Players
  • Lew Ford — , Major League Baseball player
  • Carson Roccaforte — , MLB outfielder
The moment

The Port Neches-Groves Indians celebrated a significant victory in 2017, earning the Class 5A State Championship in baseball.

Sources: Wikipedia · UIL State Championship Archives · SI High School (ScoreBook Live)

Everything Near Port Neches

488 stories, landmarks & places within ~20 miles — the same local lore RoadyGoat plays as you drive through.

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