Jefferson County Is Part of the Golden Triangle
The 'Golden Triangle' refers to three cities: Beaumont (the Jefferson County seat), Port Arthur (also in Jefferson County), and Orange (in Orange County). By the 1950s, these cities were tightly linked through the petrochemical industry that grew after the 1901 Spindletop discovery. The Port Arthur Ship Canal connects the area to the Gulf of Mexico for shipping.
Jefferson County holds two of the three points — Beaumont and Port Arthur. The county covers about 937 square miles. The northern part is forested. The southern part gives way to marshes and coastline.
As of the 2014 census estimate, about 252,000 people lived in the county.
The Texas State Historical Association's Handbook of Texas has a detailed county history.
Content last revised 2026-07-11