The population of Beaumont tripled in two months following the discovery of oil. Oil has been the main export of Beaumont, contributing to its GDP and its economy. However, the city's growth has come at a price. It has had to contend with a high crime rate and a lack of housing. To address the problem, the city's government organized a police force. This resulted in racial tensions that continue to this day.
In the 2010 U.S. census, 45,648 households were recorded. Twenty-seven percent of households were headed by married couples, while 37.8% were non-families. An additional ten percent of households were headed by individuals. A median household income was $34,817, indicating that the city's population is more than a quarter higher than the national average. The median age was 34.6 years.
The second oil boom brought a greater number of people and wealth to Beaumont. In response, the city built several landmarks, including the 12-story American National Bank Building, the Goodhue Building, and the Edison Plaza. There is also the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, where you can view the last remaining column from the Perlstein Building. If you are interested in learning more about the history of this city, read more about its history in this article.
The population of Beaumont was 94,014 in 1950 and 119,175 in 1960. By the mid-1870s, Beaumont was a thriving river port. The city also became a significant rice milling center. The city's first commercial rice mill was located in Beaumont. Afterwards, after the Civil War, the growth of the railroad system led to the development of the city's economy. The city was served by three railroad systems: the Southern Pacific, the Atchison-Topeka, and the Missouri Pacific.