Port Arthur

Port Arthur sits 90 miles east of Houston and houses multiple industrial facilities as well as the Motiva Refinery, the largest petroleum processing plant in North America. The city spreads along the coast and connects port facilities with residential and commercial districts.

Arthur Stilwell founded the city in 1895 as a railroad terminal, which grew through expanding maritime trade to become an incorporated city by 1898. Later, the town transformed into an important site for oil refineries and petrochemical plants.

The Museum of the Gulf Coast displays exhibits about regional history, petroleum industry development, and musical contributions from local artists through multiple generations. Visitors can trace how the city shaped itself through maritime economy and oil refining.

The city connects to inland waterways, highways, railroads, and pipelines, providing multiple ways to reach the area. Visitors can orient themselves in residential neighborhoods and along the waterfront promenade, while industrial zones mostly lie away from main routes.

The city shares with Lake Charles and Astoria the title of most humid city in the contiguous United States, experiencing morning humidity levels up to 90 percent. These conditions shape daily life and vegetation throughout the coastal region.

Location: Jefferson County

Location: Orange County

Elevation above the sea: 2 m

Website: https://portarthurtx.gov

GPS coordinates: 29.88500,-93.94000

Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:03