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NEDERLAND,
TEXAS
Jefferson County,
Texas Gulf Coast
/ East Texas
29°58'23"N 93°59'48"W (29.973113, -93.996715)
U.S. Hwy 69/96/287, Texas Hwy 347, and FMs 365/366
10 Miles SE of Beaumont the county
seat
W of Port Neches
8 Miles NW of Port Arthur
90 Miles E of Houston
ZIP code 77627
Area code 409
Population: 17,371 Est. (2019)
17,547 (2010) 17, 422 (2000) 16,192 (1990)
Nederland, Texas Area Hotels › Beaumont
Hotels |
Nederland Windmill
TE photo, 2003 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
Railroad magnate
Arthur E. Stilwell brought the railroad to Port
Arthur in the 1890s. It was Stilwell’s pet project and it was
partially funded by Dutch investors. His plan was to entice Dutch
immigrants to Texas and what better way
than to name the place after the homeland?
The first Dutch settler arrived in 1897 and as others arrived, they
set their hands to dairy farming and vegetable growing. Many started
growing rice – an unlikely crop for Dutchmen but one that was gaining
in popularity, having been introduced just a few years earlier. But
rice proved too successful and an economic slump and overspeculation
all but destroyed the industry at Nederland. Many disillusioned immigrants
left.
The discovery of oil at Spindletop
gave Nederland another chance at prosperity. Two oil terminals were
set up close to the city limits. In 1913 the community was connected
to Beaumont and Port
Arthur by Interurban service.
Telephone and electrical service soon followed. The building of oil
infrastructure continued with refineries literally being built “left
and right.” The demand for workers brought legions of Louisianans
to the area.
In the 1930s Nederland acquired it’s first weekly newspaper. Oil kept
the community prosperous through the Great Depression and by 1940
the population was nearing 4,000 residents.
By 1970 the population had leaped to over 16,000 and has stabilized
at just over 17,000 for the 2000 and 2010 census. |
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Nederland Pharmacy
corner of Boston Avenue and Hwy 347
closed in 2002
TE photo, 2003 |
Historical Marker:
in front of Dutch windmill replica in Tex Ritter Park
City of Nederland
Settled by Dutch
immigrants in 1897; named for their native Netherlands, which in the
1890s suffered overcrowding, wornout soil, and scant hope for prosperity.
Thus when the Port Arthur Land Company (joined by Dutch businessmen)
advertised the abundance of America, many families eagerly moved to
this region. The new colony thrived, although torrid summers, frigid
winters, and swamps prompted a few to return to Holland. Those who
remained built a sound economy of farming and ranching,
now largely replaced by rice-growing and industries.
1970 |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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