|
 |
|
|
|
Jefferson County
1149 Pearl Street
Beaumont, Texas 77701
Phone: 409-835-8400 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jefferson County is a county in the
Coastal Plain or Gulf Prairie region of Southeast Texas. The
Neches River forms its northeast boundary. As of the 2020
census, the population was 256,526. The county seat is
Beaumont. Jefferson County has the highest percentage of
African Americans in the state of Texas. |
|
|
|
The county was established in 1835 as a municipality of
Mexico, which had gained independence from Spain. Because
the area was lightly settled, the Mexican government allowed
European Americans from the United States to settle here if
they pledged loyalty to Mexico. This was organized as a
county in 1837 after Texas achieved independence as a
republic. It was named by European-American settlers for
U.S. president Thomas Jefferson. Texas later became part of
the US. |
|
|
| Jefferson County is part of the
Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area and has
the highest population of the four-county MSA. It has three
state correctional facilities and a federal high-security
prison in unincorporated areas of the county. Together they
have a maximum capacity of nearly 9,000 prisoners. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Jefferson County Courthouse |
|
|
