Port Arthur, Texas
Port Arthur | |
|---|---|
Port Arthur | |
| Nickname(s): PA, PAT | |
Location of Port Arthur, Texas - U.S. Census Map | |
| Coordinates: 29°52′06″N 93°53′24″W / 29.86833°N 93.89000°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Jefferson, Orange |
| Settled | 1895 |
| Incorporation | 1898 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| • City Council | Mayor |
| Area | |
• Total | 144.17 sq mi (373.41 km2) |
| • Land | 77.15 sq mi (199.82 km2) |
| • Water | 67.02 sq mi (173.58 km2) |
| Elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 56,039 |
| • Density | 703.55/sq mi (271.64/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes | 77640-77642 |
| Area code | 409 |
| FIPS code | 48-58820 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411461 |
| Website | portarthur |
Port Arthur is a city in the state of Texas, United States of America, located 90 mi (140 km) east of metro Houston. Part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur metropolitan area, the city lies primarily in Jefferson County, with a small extension in Orange County. The largest oil refinery in the US, the Motiva Refinery, is located in Port Arthur.
The population was 53,818 at the 2010 census, down from 57,755 at the 2000 census. In 2020, its population was 56,039. In the 19th century, initial attempts to settle the area had all failed, mostly. However, in 1895, Arthur Stilwell founded Port Arthur, and the town quickly grew, being incorporated as a city in 1898. It soon developed into a seaport and, eventually, became the center of a large oil-refinery network. The Rainbow Bridge across the Neches River connects Port Arthur to Bridge City.
Due to its location on the Gulf of Mexico, Port Arthur is vulnerable to hurricanes and other intense tropical weather, as well as extreme heatwaves, high humidity, and tornadoes. Since its inception, the city has experienced several incidences of extreme weather resulting in significant damages and casualties.