La Belle, Texas facts for kids
La Belle, also known as LaBelle, is a small community in Texas, United States. It's not officially a city, but it is a recognized place. You can find it about twelve miles south of Beaumont in central Jefferson County. La Belle is located near Taylor Bayou and FM 365. It is part of the larger Beaumont–Port Arthur area.
Contents
History of La Belle
Early Days in La Belle
People officially settled in the Taylor Bayou area as early as the 1830s. However, the community did not get its own post office until 1888. This post office was first known as Lower Taylor's Bayou. The new postmaster, J. E. Broussard, changed the name to La Belle. He chose this name to honor his fiancée, Mary Bell Bordages. The first school in the area was likely started by Leo (Peg Leg) Craigen. It was located near what is now the Port Arthur Country Club.
Controlling Floods
La Belle is located on the fertile prairies of the upper Texas Gulf Coast. This area often faced floods. Because of this, La Belle became the site of an important pumping station. This station helped control flooding and drainage along Taylor Bayou.
Changes Over Time
Due to its somewhat isolated location, the La Belle post office closed in 1914. Later, in 1923, the local schools joined with those in the town of Fannett.
Oil Discovery and Modern Schools
Fourteen years later, in 1937, something big happened. Large amounts of oil and natural gas were found at the La Belle oilfield. This field was about five miles south of the community. This discovery brought new attention to the area. By the mid-1970s, maps showed La Belle with scattered homes, the pumping station, and oil and gas lines.
In 1961, the Fannett Independent School District combined with the neighboring Hamshire district. This created the Hamshire-Fannett Independent School District. This district still serves the students in the La Belle area today.
