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101-593: Hofheinz was born on April 10, 1912, in Beaumont, Texas . The Hofheinz family moved to Houston in 1924. He graduated from San Jacinto High School with highest honors as a champion debater and started work in 1928 at age 16 after his father died. In the summer of 1928, Hofheinz was an aide at the Democratic National Convention held in Houston ; he befriended future U.S. senator and president Lyndon B. Johnson at

202-402: A 10% interest. Broadcaster Gene Elston described Hofheinz as “a great entrepreneur. But he would take up projects and then drop them and move on to other things. And he didn't respect Smith.” The Astrodome initially used clear plexiglass panes to cover the roof and admit light for the special "Tifway 419" Bermuda grass, but several games were lost when fielders would lose sight of the ball from

303-629: A 1962 visit to Rome with his wife Dene: "Mama and I were standing there looking at the Colosseum . It was a large, round facility and most of the stadiums in the United States had been built to conform to the shape of the playing fields. Rectangular. I studied the history of the Colosseum and I found out that on hot days they used to have the slaves pull a cover over the top made out of papyrus or whatever they used in those days. I guess they didn't want to spoil

404-540: A 9,000 square foot mosque in 2017. According to the city's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report the top employers in the city were: A significant element of the region's economy is the Port of Beaumont , one of the largest seaports by tonnage in the United States. The 842nd Transportation Battalion and the 596th Transportation Group are both stationed at the port in Beaumont. In addition to companies doing business within

505-571: A Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. Founded in 1953 as the Beaumont Symphony Orchestra, the Symphony of Southeast Texas has been performing several performances each year since then. Several guest artists including Van Cliburn and Ferrante & Teicher have appeared with the symphony. The Beaumont Botanical Gardens is located near the entrance to the 500 acre Tyrrell Park . On its 23.5 acre grounds, it includes over ten themed gardens,

606-639: A huge oil field lay underneath and adjacent to the city. With Spindletop, several energy companies developed in Beaumont, and some remain. The area rapidly developed as one of the country's major petrochemical refining areas. Along with Port Arthur and Orange , Beaumont forms the Golden Triangle , a major industrial area on the Texas Gulf Coast . Beaumont is home to Lamar University , a national Carnegie doctoral research university with over 14,000 students, including undergraduates and postgraduates. Over

707-613: A minor league baseball team that played at Magnolia Ballpark and the Stuart Stadium from 1920 to 1949 and 1953–1955. The Beaumont Golden Gators were a minor league baseball team that played at Vincent-Beck Stadium from 1983 to 1986. The Beaumont Bullfrogs were also a minor league baseball team that played in Beaumont. The Texas Wildcatters were an ECHL Hockey team based in Beaumont from 2003 to 2008. The Beaumont Drillers were an IPFL football team that played in Beaumont from 2003 to 2007, and The Basketball League planned to add

808-586: A mortgage. The median income for a household in the city was $ 39,699, according to the American Community Survey during 2010, and the median income for a family was $ 49,766. The per capita income for the city was $ 23,137. About 17.6% of families and 22.1% of the population lived at or below the poverty line. From 2014 to 2019, its median income for households was $ 54,488; families had a median income of $ 61,069; married-couple families $ 78,239; and non-family households $ 29,415. In 2019, an estimated 16.7% of

909-487: A new facility, to use as the city's first public library, now known as the Tyrrell Historical Library . When the city became a major center for defense shipbuilding during World War II , tens of thousands of rural Texans migrated there for the new high-paying jobs. The Roosevelt administration ordered the defense industry to be integrated, and many Southern white males were working closely with black males for

1010-466: A number of professional and amateur sports teams throughout the city's history. The American Basketball Association 's Southeast Texas Mavericks were once headquartered in the city until moving to Shreveport, Louisiana in 2013. The Texas Strikers , a professional arena soccer team PASL , started playing at Ford Arena in 2012. Another notable team in the area has been the Beaumont Exporters ,

1111-511: A population of 115,282 at the 2020 census , Beaumont is the largest municipality by population near the Louisiana border. Its metropolitan area was the 10th largest in Texas in 2020, and 130th in the United States . The city of Beaumont was founded in 1838. The pioneer settlement had an economy based on the development of lumber, farming, and port industries. In 1892, Joseph Eloi Broussard opened

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1212-410: A result of Hurricane Harvey . Due to the flooding, Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospital evacuated all of its highest level of acuity patients with the help of National Guard helicopters. In addition, many Beaumont residents had to be rescued by both boats and helicopters as a result of the floodwaters. As of March 2019 , many residents in the area are still attempting to recover from the hurricane as

1313-527: A second term as mayor in 1954. HSA took advantage of Hofheinz's skills as a flamboyant and successful orator, broadcaster, developer, and sportsman. On October 17, 1960, Houston was awarded the Colt .45 franchise in the ten-team National League. HSA purchased the existing minor league team, the Houston Buffaloes , in 1961 and wound down their operations. The Colt .45s played their inaugural game on April 10, 1962 ,

1414-729: A separate lawsuit filed by Hofheinz's widow, Mary Frances, who had paid for the lawyers and expert witnesses in their suit against the county. Plans for the stadium were recovered in 2015 and displayed publicly. After his stroke on May 14, 1970, Hofheinz consolidated his properties in the Astrodome area under the Astrodomain Corporation. Judge Hofheinz and his family were the sole owners of the Astrodomain Corporation; there were four subsidiary companies: Astroworld USA Inc., Astroworld Hotel Corporation, Astrodome/Astrohall Stadium Corporation, and Houston Sports Association Inc. The Hofheinz family

1515-507: A stroke in 1970 that left him in a wheelchair; he eventually died in 1982 from an apparent heart attack. Judge Hofheinz was known for his cigar habit; in a 1969 profile for Sports Illustrated he gently chided the author, Tex Maule : "Don't say 'smoke.' 'Consume' is the word. I chew a lot of them and give some away." He preferred the Sans Souci Perfecto cigar, approximately 7 in (180 mm) long, consuming 25 per day. When he

1616-581: A third term as judge in 1944 and returned to private law practice. After World War II , Hofheinz pioneered FM radio and built a network of radio and television stations (including 790 KTHT Houston, now KBME ; 1530 KSOX Harlingen TX, now KGBT ; 680 KBAT San Antonio, now KKYX ) in the Texas Gulf Coast area, and made a business of salvaging the slag from steelmaking, crushing it, and selling it as roadbuilding aggregate . Major accomplishments of his career as an elected official include leading

1717-421: A town to be laid out on this land. Their partnership, J.P. Pulsifer and Company, controlled the first 50 acres (200,000 m ) upon which the town was founded. This town was named Beaumont, after Mary Dewburleigh Barlace Warren Beaumont, the wife of Henry Millard. They added more property for a total of 200 acres. Beaumont became a town on December 16, 1838. Beaumont's first mayor was Alexander Calder . From

1818-650: A year. Ford bought out the remaining GE shares in November 1978. In his time as owner (part or fulltime) from 1962 to 1975, Hofheinz saw the Astros have a winning record just twice. Hofheinz was named University of Houston alumnus of the year in 1967. In 2006, Roy Hofheinz was inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame. Hofheinz Pavilion , a multi-purpose arena on the University of Houston campus which opened in 1969,

1919-475: Is free, and is the only museum open seven days per week. Likewise, Beaumont Children's Museum started in 2008 and opened in 2012; the museum moved to a temporary location in 2015 to the Beaumont Civic Center . Babe Didrikson Zaharias Museum is another notable museum dedicated to the life of the Beaumont native and accomplished athlete. The Beaumont Art League is the oldest non-profit art gallery in

2020-582: Is the center of business for the metropolitan statistical area, governance and night time entertainment within Southeast Texas, downtown features the Crockett Street Entertainment Complex with entertainment options from dancing, to live music to dining or a bar. In addition to the night time entertainment downtown also features a museum district with five distinct museums. Other entertainment and recreation venues located downtown include

2121-599: Is within the Piney Woods region of eastern Texas. The area around Beaumont receives the most rainfall in the state: more than 60 inches (1,500 mm) annually. The city has two distinct seasons, a wet season from April to October and a dry season from November to March. Hurricanes also pose a threat to the city and greater metropolitan area. Hurricane Rita in 2005 and Hurricane Ike in 2008 both caused significant damage. Both Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and Tropical Storm Imelda in 2019 caused historic flooding throughout

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2222-515: The Beaumont Panthers as a new team in 2022. Mayor of Houston The following is a list of people who have served as mayor of the city of Houston in the U.S. state of Texas . Until 2015, the term of the mayor was two years. Beginning with the tenure of Bob Lanier, the city charter imposed term limits on officeholders of no more than three terms (six years total). On November 3, 2015, voters approved Proposition 2, which extended

2323-523: The Houston City Council led to several members of the Council pushing to impeach him in 1955 over a dispute involving higher taxes. Instead of impeachment, as a compromise, Hofheinz was censured and a special election was called for mayor and all seats on the city council. Hofheinz was defeated in the special election. His son Fred served as mayor of Houston in the 1970s. What you see here now [in

2424-439: The U.S. Maritime Commission during World War II ; Dresser Industries , a Dresser-Ideco plant was a major employer for seventy-seven years; the plant, with around 350 employees, closed in 1985; Gulf Oil ; Humble Oil ; Magnolia Petroleum Company ; The Texas Oil Company; The Texas Coffee Company, the first company in the United States to begin packaging coffee in vacuum-packed foil bags; and Universal Coin & Bullion, one of

2525-658: The 10,000 sq ft Warren Loose Conservatory and a large collection of bromeliads . Additionally, Tyrrell Park and Cattail Marsh features botanical gardens and conservatory, the Henry Homberg Municipal Golf Course, a 900-acre cattail marsh nature area, and a 2.8 mile nature trail. There are also restrooms, shelters, the Babe Zaharias Drive Monument, baseball backstop, lighted basketball goals, benches, drinking fountains, 2.8-mile (4.5 km) nature trail, and picnic tables. As downtown Beaumont

2626-527: The 12-story Goodhue Building which included a penthouse. In 1928, the Edson Hotel was built. No other buildings were built until Century Tower in 1962 and in 1982 Edison Plaza was built. In 1994 the 12-story LaSalle Hotel, built in 1927, was demolished. The Jefferson Theatre was built in 1927 by the Jefferson Amusement Company for $ 1 million and was Beaumont's showpiece for many years. In 1928

2727-505: The 1880s, it became an important lumber and rice-milling town. The city exported rice as a commodity crop. Beaumont's lumber boom, which reached its peak in the late 19th century, was stimulated by the rebuilding and expansion of the railroads in the state and region after the Civil War . The Beaumont Rice Mill, founded in 1892 by Joseph Eloi Broussard , was the first commercially successful rice mill in Texas. In addition, Broussard cofounded

2828-628: The Astrodomain: the Judge's Quarters, a 24-room suite on the sixth floor of the Astrodome decorated in an eclectic fashion that Bob Hope quipped was "early King Farouk ", where he moved after the death of his first wife; and the Celestial Suites on the ninth floor of the Astroworld Hotel, with interiors designed by Harper Goff , which Elvis Presley reportedly found too gaudy. Hofheinz decamped from

2929-737: The Astrodomain] is only a small part of my future plans ... Other people build a Coney Island and quit, or a race track and quit, or get a pro football team and quit. I pull every thing all together, and I won't stop until I make this a place where you can check in and spend a whole vacation without getting into your car until it's time to go home. I'm 56 years old now, so if I want to get that done in my lifetime, it will have to be done soon, around 1975.   — Judge Roy Hofheinz, 1968 article in Florida Today The Houston Sports Association (HSA) executive committee

3030-473: The Beaumont Irrigation Company in 1898 to operate an irrigation system to support rice culture. The company along with four others established around the same time helped stimulate the expansion of rice cultivation from 1500 acres in 1892 to 400,000 acres in 23 counties by his death in 1956. The other companies were The Port Arthur Rice and Irrigation Company, The McFaddin-Wiess-Kyle Canal Company,

3131-586: The Beaumont area on Christmas Eve 2004. In January 1997, a severe and historic ice storm struck the region, leaving thousands without power and major tree damage in its wake. In unofficial records, Beaumont received as much as 30 inches (760 mm) of snow during the blizzard of February 1895 that impacted the Gulf Coast. The city of Beaumont and its metropolitan statistical area have experienced slight population decline and stagnation since 2015's census estimates, while modest increases in population have assisted in

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3232-558: The Bettes House a historic landmark in 2009; The Cochran-Hofheinz House was so designated in 2005. After his father, a laundry truck driver, died when he was 16, Hofheinz became the breadwinner for his family. He opened a private law practice shortly after his graduation in 1931, then served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1935 to 1937 as the youngest person ever elected to the state legislature. After his one term, he ran for and

3333-821: The City Hall and Auditorium was built. It is now the Julie Rogers Theater . Beaumont's Jefferson County Courthouse is one of the tallest county courthouses in the state and is an excellent example of Art Deco architecture. Across the street from the Jack Brooks Federal Building is the Kyle Building , built in 1933. The storefront was recently restored and is considered to be one of the best examples of Zig-Zag architecture in Texas. The Oaks Historic District has many restored historic homes. The Beaumont–Port Arthur region has historically been cited as one of

3434-829: The Fire Museum of Texas chronicle the history of firefighting in Texas. The McFaddin-Ward House was built in 1905–1906 in the Beaux-Arts Colonial style and is located in the Oaks Historic District . The structure and its furnishings reflect the prominent family who lived in the house for seventy-five years. This very large historic home has a substantial carriage house. The complex has a substantial permanent collection of antique furniture and household items. Educational programs focus on history and are geared toward children and adults. Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum includes several reconstructed buildings reminiscent of

3535-546: The Judge's 50th birthday, beating the Chicago Cubs 11–2 at the temporary outdoor Colt Stadium . Initially, Hofheinz and Smith each retained a one-third interest in HSA, with the remainder divided between Cullinan (15%), Kirksey (2%), and other investors, including Bud Adams . At the end of the inaugural 1962 season, Cullinan withdrew and sold his shares to Smith, who was already beginning his feud with Hofheinz. Smith and Hofheinz were

3636-424: The Judge's Quarters in the Astrodome in 1972; the suite was removed in 1988. The Celestial Suites are still present on the top floor of the Astroworld Hotel (now a Crowne Plaza ), but have not been used recently. Hofheinz purchased the historic River Oaks mansion (also known as the T.J. and Ruth Bettes House, originally completed in 1928) in 1980 and lived there until his death in 1982. The city of Houston designated

3737-464: The Neches River around the downtown area/port: Harbor, Smith and Clark. Beaumont is relatively flat compared to other Texas cites at being 16 ft. above sea level. South of Beaumont, Port Arthur is only 7 ft. above sea level. Several towns and communities have been absorbed into the city of Beaumont. These include: Amelia, established in 1885 and incorporated into Beaumont in 1956; Elizabeth,

3838-512: The Royal Air Force, flying from their training base at Terrell, Texas, routinely flew to Beaumont on training flights. The community served as a stand-in for the British for Paris, France, which was the same distance from London, England as Beaumont is from Terrell. In the postwar years, Beaumont's port continued in importance. As was typical with other cities, post-war highway construction led to

3939-730: The Treadaway or Neches Canal Company, and the Taylors-Hillebrand complex. The holdings of those companies formed the basis for the Lower Neches Valley Authority established by the state legislature in 1933. The rise of Beaumont's mill economy drew many new residents to the city, many of them immigrants. By the early 20th century, the city was served by the Southern Pacific; Kansas City Southern, Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe; and Missouri Pacific railroad systems. Oil

4040-488: The area's demographic sustainment. Similar to its population fluctuations from 1980 to 1990, Beaumont's population has shifted from roughly 115,000 to 118,000 residents from the 2020 and 2010 United States census . According to the 2010 United States census there were 118,296 people, 45,648 households, and 28,859 families residing in the city limits. Per the 2020 United States census, its population slightly declined to 115,282 residents. In 2010, Beaumont's population density

4141-492: The area, operating for 70 years. The two gallery spaces (at the old Fairgrounds on Gulf Street) host art exhibitions and juried shows year-round, including the notable BAL National Exhibition (formerly the Tri-State Show), which attracts artists from across the country. Within the city, the historic Chambers House, built in 1906, this home is open for tours. It is filled with period furniture, personal items, and artifacts used in

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4242-655: The circus to Mattel, Inc. in 1971. He also owned the Houston Stars professional soccer team, which played in the United Soccer Association in 1967 and North American Soccer League in 1968. The Stars team was actually the Bangu Atlético Clube , imported from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil . In the late 1960s, Hofheinz became partners with Edward Cottrell, a developer from Buffalo, New York, in an effort to have Erie County, New York build what would have been

4343-505: The circus's chairman of the board starting on November 11, 1967; his son Fred served as vice president. In 1968, the circus announced it would create a second unit to complement the original unit; the second (Blue) unit would also tour but played two shows per day in the AstroHall for thirteen weeks, starting on May 30, 1969, while the original (Red) unit continued to tour. Hofheinz and the Felds sold

4444-400: The city and area have included the following: Bethlehem Steel / Trinity Industries Shipyard, where over eight hundred (800) vessels were built and repaired at the shipyard including barges, ships, and offshore drilling rigs including seventy-two (72) jack up offshore drilling rigs, the second-most offshore drilling rigs built in the United States, and seventy-one (71) Type C1 ships built for

4545-520: The city and metropolitan area has been Islam , with religious Jews comprising the third largest religiously-affiliated demographic in Beaumont; Jewish Beaumonters settled the area in the 19th century, primarily affiliated with Orthodox Judaism . As the area has a substantial Islamic community, interfaith efforts among the dominant religions have occurred, and the Islamic Society of the Triplex completed

4646-559: The city and port. In 1824 Noah and Nancy Tevis settled on the west bank of the Neches River and developed a farm. Soon after that, a small community grew up around the farm, which was named Tevis Bluff or Neches River Settlement . In 1835 the land of Tevis, together with the nearby community of Santa Anna (in total, 50 acres (20 ha)), was purchased by Henry Millard ( c.  1796 –1844), Joseph Pulsifer (1805–1861), and Thomas Byers Huling (1804–1865). They began planning

4747-748: The city limits, several large industrial facilities are located within the city's five-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction boundaries including the ExxonMobil Beaumont refinery and chemical plants, Goodyear Beaumont chemical plant, and DuPont chemical plant. Jason's Deli has its headquarters in Beaumont. Conn's Appliances did have its headquarters in Beaumont; however, in mid-2012, Conn's moved its corporate headquarters to The Woodlands . Originally Sweet Leaf Tea Company had its headquarters in Beaumont. The headquarters moved to Austin in October 2003. Other prominent businesses which have been associated with

4848-545: The city received emergency assistance. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 85.8 square miles (222.3 km ), of which 82.8 square miles (214.5 km ) are land and 3.1 square miles (7.9 km ), or 3.53%, are water. Beaumont lies on Texas' coastal plain, about 30 miles (48 km) inland from the Gulf of Mexico , 85 miles (137 km) east of Houston , and just south of

4949-466: The city to use oyster shells to pave city streets instead of gravel which had to be brought in from far flung locations at great cost. He also helped reinvent the system which cares for delinquent and homeless youth; creating a model which provided ‘homes’ for the youth rather than treating them as young prisoners. This model was immensely successful and replicated around the country, revolutionizing how municipalities handle troubled youth. In 1952, Hofheinz

5050-542: The city's major builders. The museum stands on the site of the Perlstein building, which was the tallest structure between Houston and New Orleans when it was erected in 1907. Only one column still remains from the building. AMSET, formerly the Beaumont Art Museum, exhibits 19th–21st century American art with a collecting focus on Texas art and Folk Art and offers 10–14 educational programs in any given year. Admission

5151-499: The city. Hurricane Laura in 2020 posed a significant threat to the town, as it was forecasted to make landfall at the border of Texas and Louisiana, almost following the same track as Hurricane Rita in 2005. The storm turned more northerly close to landfall, and spared Beaumont the worst impacts and damage. Minor damage was reported with winds gusting around hurricane-force for a short period of time as Laura moved over Lake Charles, Louisiana . Also, Hurricane Delta in 2020 passed near

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5252-544: The convention. Hofheinz matriculated at Rice University and Houston Junior College before graduating from the now-defunct Houston Law School in 1931 at age 19. He married Irene ("Dene", née Cafcalas; 1912–1966) in 1933, a fellow law student; together they had three children: Roy Jr. (1935–), Fred (1938–), and Dene (1942–). The two had met at the University of Houston in 1929. After the death of his first wife, Hofheinz married his divorced executive assistant, Mary Frances (née Gougenheim) on April 10, 1969. Hofheinz survived

5353-545: The county refused to build the facility, Cottrell and Hofheinz began what became a 20-year breach of contract litigation seeking hundreds of millions of dollars of lost profits and damages. After an initial favorable jury verdict, Dome Stadium, Inc.'s claims ultimately were dismissed following one of the longest jury trials in New York history. Cottrell would eventually receive a $ 10.2 million settlement in September 1989, but faced

5454-406: The dense pine forests of East Texas . The city is bordered on the east by the Neches River and to the north by Pine Island Bayou . Before being settled, the area was crisscrossed by numerous small streams. Most of these streams have since been filled in or converted for drainage purposes. The island directly across from Riverfront Park is called Trinity Island. There are also three other islands in

5555-399: The depot of Amelia that was established around 1903 or after and annexed into Beaumont in 1957; Elwood, established sometimes in the late 1800s, changed to Voth in 1902, and annexed into Beaumont in 1957; Guffey, post office was established in 1901 and closed in 1925 but is part of Beaumont now; Santa Anna, became part of Beaumont when it was founded; Tevis Bluff, became part of Beaumont when it

5656-813: The development of new suburbs and dispersal of the population in search of new housing. Recently, there has been some renewal in Downtown Beaumont and in other areas of the city. In 1996, the Jefferson County courts, located in Beaumont, became the first court in the nation to implement electronic filing and service of court documents. This eliminated the need for law firms to print and mail reams of documents. In 2005 and 2008, Beaumont and surrounding areas suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Ike , respectively. Mandatory evacuations were issued in advance of both storms. In August 2017, Beaumont and surrounding areas experienced severe flooding as

5757-519: The early 20th century, developing businesses during the Texas Oil Boom . An entrepreneur from Pennsylvania and Iowa, he arrived after the gusher at Spindletop , and invested in development of a commercial port in the city, and an irrigation system to support the local rice industry, as well as residential and retail development of suburban property. He was also a philanthropist. He purchased and donated First Baptist Church, whose congregation had moved to

5858-460: The first commercially successful rice mill in Texas, stimulating development of rice farming in the area; he also started an irrigation company (since 1933, established as the Lower Neches Valley Authority ) to support rice culture. Rice became an important commodity crop in Texas and is now cultivated in 23 counties. A big change occurred in 1901 with the Spindletop gusher, which demonstrated that

5959-523: The first time. Housing was scarce in the crowded city, and racial tensions increased. In June 1943 after workers at the Pennsylvania shipyards in Beaumont learned that a white woman had accused a black man of raping her, nearly 2,000 went to the jail where a suspect was being held, attracting more men along the way and reaching a total of 4,000. Ultimately the white mob rioted for three days, destroying major black neighborhoods and killing five persons. No one

6060-608: The following: Beaumont Civic Center ; the Event Centre and plaza features include a twelve-acre great lawn for concerts and a walking path, and a 3,800 sq ft canopy with stage overlooks the great lawn, and a 14,000 sq ft canopy overlooks a two-acre lake with a thirty-five foot fountain; and Beautiful Mountain Skate Plaza, opened in 2013. The park includes ledges, rails, banks, bank-to-bank, quarter pipes, and stairs. The park also has an amphitheater for other events. Beaumont has had

6161-529: The glare, and the panels were painted white. Later, after the "Dome" was built, he worked with engineers at Monsanto Corporation to develop Astroturf , an imitation grass now widely used where natural grass does not flourish. Other landmarks built in the giant southwest Houston development project surrounding the Astrodome, which Hofheinz dubbed the Astrodomain , included the Astrohall exposition center (billed as

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6262-511: The home. Among other museums, Clifton Steamboat Museum opened on October 26, 1995. The theme of the museum is "Heroes... Past, Present, and Future", honoring military and civilian heroes. The Clifton Steamboat Museum consists of a 24,000 square feet (2,200 m ), two-story museum. Exhibits bring to life the wars fought in Southeast Texas and Louisiana, as well as the Steamboat Era, World Wars I and II, Korea, and Vietnam. Upper art galleries of

6363-580: The largest one-story convention facility in the world) and the first major theme park in coastal Texas, AstroWorld , which opened in 1968. In addition, the Astrodomain included a four-hotel complex totaling 970 rooms on Kirby Drive to serve tourists, Astrodome patrons, and theme park guests. In 1967, he purchased, along with Israel and Irvin Feld , the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus . Hofheinz became

6464-524: The largest retailers in precious metals and rare coins. Beaumont hosts many museums and buildings open for tours within the Southeast Texas region. The Art Museum of Southeast Texas (AMSET), with its Perlstein Plaza, was dedicated in memory of pioneer real estate developer Hyman Asher Perlstein (1869–1947), who arrived in Beaumont in 1889 as a poor Jewish immigrant from Lithuania and eventually became one of

6565-562: The largest single denomination in the city as a result of Spanish colonialism and missionary work , and its increasing Hispanic or Latino population (reflecting nationwide trends); Roman Catholics have been primarily served by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Beaumont which is a jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Galveston–Houston. Beyond Christianity, the second largest religion in

6666-420: The lions' appetite with too much heat. And I found out, too, that the emperor and the bigwigs all sat at the top of the stadium. Standing there, thinking back on those days, I figured that a round facility with a cover was what we needed in the United States and that Houston would be the perfect spot for it." Together, Hofheinz and Smith acquired 497 acres (201 ha) in the South Loop region of Houston , which

6767-422: The most polluted urban areas in the United States due to various energy industries and chemical plants in the area. Even so, as of July 2014 , the Beaumont-Port Arthur region was not under any Environmental Protection Agency non-attainment restrictions; however, counties in the Greater Houston area, the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex , and El Paso were. As of October 2014 , the Beaumont-Port Arthur area

6868-413: The museum feature original bronze sculptures; Native American artists, wildlife, and frontier paintings from famous artists. A special gallery in the museum is dedicated to the Boy Scouts of America . This gallery features many historical scouting artifacts, some dating before the 1960s. The tugboat, Hercules, 36 feet (11 m) high, 22 feet (6.7 m) wide, and 92 feet (28 m) long, is included on

6969-418: The museum tour. Dishman Art Museum is the university art museum of Lamar University . The museum features 19th and 20th century European and American Art, as well as Tribal Art from Africa and New Guinea. Nearby Edison Museum (about inventor Thomas Edison ) and the Fire Museum of Texas (home of one of world's largest fire hydrants ) are also located within the city. Antique fire trucks and equipment at

7070-439: The nation, each dial being 17 feet (5.2 m) in diameter. In 1922 the 11-story Hotel Beaumont was built across the street from the San Jacinto. The Hotel Beaumont bears a resemblance to the old Winecoff Hotel in Atlanta . The second oil boom of 1925 brought more people and wealth to Beaumont, the same year the 12-story American National Bank Building (now Orleans Building ), was erected, and in 1926 Forrest Goodhue built

7171-438: The original Gladys City. The buildings contain artifacts from the period. The Texas Energy Museum of Beaumont opened on January 10, 1990, the anniversary of the Spindletop gusher. Jefferson Theater , built in 1927, is a historic theater that presents live musical and stage performances as well as limited revival screenings of classic films. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and recognized also as

7272-464: The other half was held in trust for his three children as an inheritance from their mother, Dene. In the early 1970s, the debt Hofheinz accumulated in purchasing the circus and opening AstroWorld was consolidated in a single $ 38 million loan held by Ford Motor Credit , General Electric Credit Corporation, and HNC Realty, to be repaid in quarterly installments at an interest rate of 4% above prime. Falling baseball attendance led to cash flow issues, and

7373-689: The past two years". By that time, the Six Flags Corporation had entered a long-term lease to operate the AstroWorld theme park. Hofheinz admitted that he had lost control of the Astrodomain in January 1976, in announcing his opposition to a potential move by the Astros to New Orleans. The Astrodomain hotels were sold to Servico in May 1976. Hofheinz sold his remaining shares of the Astrodomain to GE and Ford in September 1976, retaining an option to buy it back within

7474-415: The population lived at or below the poverty line. According to the 2010 census, the racial and ethnic makeup of the city was 33.5% non-Hispanic white , 47.3% Black and African American , 0.0% American Indian and Alaska Native , 3.3% Asian , 0.0% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander , 7.1% from other races , and 2.0% from two or more races . Hispanic or Latino Americans of any race were 13.4% of

7575-608: The population were religious. Christianity , since colonial times, has remained the dominant religion by identification in Beaumont and its surrounding area. Among the Christian community, Baptists were the largest Protestant Christian tradition and spread among numerous denominations; the most notable denominational affiliations among Baptists were the Southern Baptist Convention and National Baptist Convention ( USA and America ). Roman Catholicism , however, remained

7676-443: The population. By 2020, its population increased to being predominantly Black or African American as its non-Hispanic white population slightly declined, reflecting nationwide demographic trends of diversification and self-identification. Also in 2020, its Hispanic or Latino American population of any race increased to 20,607 residents, or 17.88% of the total population. Religiously, Sperling's BestPlaces estimated roughly 78.6% of

7777-592: The principal shareholders in HSA by 1965, and Smith became chairman of the board. HSA also was responsible for the development of the Astrodome , initially known as the Harris County Domed Stadium, the first large covered baseball and football facility in the world; the earliest discussions of a domed stadium in Houston were held at Hofheinz's house. Hofheinz later recounted the genesis for the Astrodome came from

7878-557: The proposed lease, prompting a lawsuit threat from Dome Stadium, Inc. Erie County authorized construction financing of up to $ 50 million, and the bids for the project totaled more than $ 70 million, causing the county to pass a resolution in early 1971 declaring an end to its relationship with Kenford/Dome without any legal liability. The slow movement on the Lancaster dome proposal also led Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson to explore team relocation with Seattle city officials. After

7979-730: The region as it made landfall in Southwest Louisiana . Impacts were about the same with Delta as they were with Laura. On August 18, 2009, a tornado hit the west side of Beaumont, causing damage to cars and several local businesses. Injuries were minimal. While wintry precipitation is unusual, it does occur. The most recent significant wintry event to occur was December 8, 2017 when the Southeast Texas Regional Airport recorded 3 inches (76 mm) of snowfall. December 11, 2008 and December 4, 2009, were also days that Beaumont saw measurable snowfall. Snow also fell across

8080-532: The second domed stadium in the world in Lancaster , just outside Buffalo. The county, Kenford Company, and Dome Stadium, Inc. signed a contract on August 8, 1969. Under the terms of the contract, the overall idea would have been similar to the Astrodome: Kenford would donate land to the county, and the county would construct the domed stadium. Hofheinz formed a corporation, The Dome Stadium, Inc., which would lease

8181-482: The shares in HSA, with Smith owning the controlling interest of 88%. According to Hofheinz, Smith grew tired of Hofheinz's unilateral decisions affecting the construction of the stadium and demanded that he be bought out for $ 7.5 million on short notice; Hofheinz surprised Smith by raising the money in a week, buying out Smith in August 1965, which put him in control of HSA. As a concession, Hofheinz allowed Smith to retain

8282-587: The spring of 2017. The university and Hofheinz family settled the dispute, and as part of the agreement a plaza with a bronze statue of Hofheinz was built near the new arena. It was announced on January 20, 2020, by the Astros that Hofheinz would be inducted into the 2020 Houston Astros Hall of Fame for the 2020 class. The ceremony for the class was delayed a year by the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in Hofheinz being inducted on August 7, 2021. On November 1, 2023, it

8383-436: The stadium from the county and operate events there for forty years; alternatively, the county could operate the stadium for twenty years, with Kenford and Dome providing management and promotional services. The contract became the subject of three separate lawsuits brought by interested citizens against the county. The first was filed on August 6, 1969, alleging the contract had been "arbitrary and capricious and fraudulent"; it

8484-462: The three creditors seized control of the Astrodomain, naming a three-person board to run it jointly in June 1975, including Hofheinz, Astrodomain president T.H. Neyland, and Astrodomain first vice president Sidney L. Shlenker. However, Schlenker denied that Hofheinz had lost control of Astrodomain, stating "the judge will retain the title of chairman of the board and will continue to be active as he has been in

8585-427: The town's founding in 1835, business activities included real estate, transportation, and retail sales. Later, other businesses were formed, especially in railroad construction and operation, new building construction, lumber sales, and communications. The Port of Beaumont became a successful regional shipping center. Beaumont was a small center for cattle raisers and farmers in its early years. With an active riverport by

8686-407: The years, several corporations have been based in this city, including Gulf States Utilities, which had its headquarters in Beaumont until its takeover by Entergy Corporation in 1994. GSU's Edison Plaza headquarters remains the tallest building in Beaumont. The ExxonMobil Beaumont Refinery and Petrochemical Complex is the largest private employer in the city and occupies more than 2,000 acres of

8787-483: Was 1,339.4 inhabitants per square mile (517.1/km ). Housing units were at an average density of 574.2 per square mile (221.7/km ). Of the 45,648 households at the 2010 United States census, out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.7% were married couples living together, 19.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families; 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who

8888-404: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.12. Among its population at the 2019 American Community Survey , the median age was 34.6 and the average family size was 3.23. From an estimated 45,435 occupied housing units in 2019, 52.1% were owner-occupied and the median selected monthly costs for units with a mortgage were $ 1,366 and $ 412 without

8989-575: Was announced that Hofheinz would be one of the nine inductees for the Texas Sports Hall of Fame class of 2024. Beaumont, Texas Beaumont is a city in the U.S. state of Texas . It is the seat of government of Jefferson County , within the Beaumont– Port Arthur metropolitan statistical area , located in Southeast Texas on the Neches River about 85 miles (137 km) east of Houston (city center to city center). With

9090-505: Was discovered at nearby Spindletop on January 10, 1901. Spindletop became the first major oil field and one of the largest in American history. With the discovery of oil at Spindletop, Beaumont's population more than tripled in two months from 9,000 in January 1901 to 30,000 in March 1901. William Casper Tyrrell , nicknamed "Captain W.C.", was a leading businessman and oil tycoon in the city in

9191-452: Was dismissed without prejudice on October 1. The second alleged the contract had been awarded without competitive bidding; the request for an injunction to block the contract was denied because an exception existed "for services requiring special skill or training". The third alleged the contract violated the state constitution "and effected a waste of county funds"; this argument was also dismissed. In 1970, Erie County narrowly voted to reject

9292-459: Was elected the county judge (the highest-ranking county administrator) for Harris County, Texas from 1936 to 1944, again setting a record for the youngest judge, at age 24. Known in his youth as the "Boy Mayor", at 23 he was the youngest county administrator in the state. He acted as campaign manager for Lyndon B. Johnson during Johnson's rise to the position of Congressman and then two Senatorial campaigns in 1941 and 1948. He lost an election for

9393-558: Was elected to the first of two terms as Mayor of Houston . Hofheinz claimed credit for integrating the Harris County buses and golf courses as a judge, and as mayor, for quietly integrating rest rooms in City Hall and public libraries. He recounted an encounter with a "socially prominent [white] female" as mayor: " 'I won't let my children sit by black children in the library; I don't know what they would catch! ' " to which he retorted "Maybe tolerance". His often-contentious relationship with

9494-420: Was formed in 1957 as a syndicate of local businessmen dedicated to bringing a Major League Baseball franchise to Houston with three founding members: George Kirksey, William Kirkland, and Craig Cullinan . Cullinan, chair of the HSA, previously had been involved with the failed " Continental League ". Local landowner R. E. "Bob" Smith and Hofheinz joined HSA in 1959. Previously, Bob Smith had helped Hofheinz win

9595-454: Was founded in 1835. Beaumont has 8 buildings over 100 feet (30 m) tall, the tallest being the Edison Plaza , which is 254 feet (77 m) tall. The old Edson Hotel , built in 1928 is nearly the same height at 240 feet (73 m). One of the most prominent downtown buildings is the 15-story San Jacinto Building . Built in 1921, it sports one of the largest four faced clock towers in

9696-539: Was named in his honor. In 2016, the Hofheinz family filed suit to require the University of Houston to keep Hofheinz's name on the school's basketball arena, where the Houston Cougars play. The university has asked the Harris County Probate Court to end the 47-year agreement on Hofheinz Pavilion so that the institution can negotiate a naming-rights deal in a $ 60 million renovation project set to begin in

9797-424: Was not under any Texas Commission on Environmental Quality attainment compliance deadlines. Regardless, according to an article published in 2007 focusing on Port Arthur , a neighboring city to the southeast of Beaumont, pollution was believed to have caused some area residents to become sick. This has generated debates throughout the local media. The city of Beaumont experiences a humid subtropical climate and

9898-415: Was prosecuted for the deaths. The riot in Beaumont was one of several in 1943 which centered in the defense industry, including Los Angeles , Detroit , and Mobile, Alabama as well as other cities across the country. The wartime social disruption was similar to war time riots which had occurred in other parts of the country during and following World War I . During the war years, airmen cadets from

9999-558: Was serving as the mayor of Houston, he lived in a home on Galveston Bay which he named "Huckster House" (also known as the Gribble-Hofheinz House, Texas Historical Marker no. 10683); he had acquired it in 1950 and decorated the interior with a circus theme. In 1956, he purchased the Cochran-Hofheinz House; the house had originally been built for banker Owen L. Cochran around 1912. Hofheinz had two separate residences in

10100-462: Was the sole owner of each subsidiary aside from HSA; 98% of HSA stock was held by the Hofheinz family, and 1% each were held by Earl Allen and the Beck Estate. Hofheinz's ill health led to rumors the Astrodomain was for sale in August 1970. However, the Astrodomain came at hard times just before the recession during the early 1970s. Hofheinz personally controlled 50% of the Astrodomain Corporation, and

10201-558: Was then a swamp, from the owners of the Shamrock Hilton Hotel and resold 254 acres (103 ha) to Harris County for the site of the Astrodome; to finance its construction, the county issued $ 31 million in two separate bond votes. HSA leased the Astrodome from the county (at $ 750,000 per year) and the Colt .45s were renamed the Houston Astros in 1965 when they moved into their new domed stadium. Hofheinz and Smith held 98% of

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