Nederland, Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nederland, Texas
City
Motto(s):  "Programmed for progress"
Location of Nederland, Texas
Nederland, Texas Location in Texas Show map of Texas Nederland, Texas Location in the United States Show map of the United States Nederland, Texas Location in North America Show map of North America
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Jefferson
Settled	1897
Incorporated	1940
Named for	Netherlands
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
Area
• Total	6.05 sq mi (15.67 km2)
• Land	5.92 sq mi (15.34 km2)
• Water	0.13 sq mi (0.33 km2)
Elevation	13 ft (4 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	18,856
• Density	2,932.31/sq mi (1,132.20/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	77627
Area code(s)	409
FIPS code	48-50580
GNIS feature ID	2411219
U.S. Routes	FM 365

Nederland (pronounced NEE-dər-lənd) is a city in Jefferson County, Texas, in the United States. In 2020, about 18,856 people lived there.

The city was started in 1897 by Dutch immigrants. They bought land from the Kansas City Southern railroad. Nederland became an official city in 1940. It is part of a larger area called the Beaumont–Port Arthur metropolitan area. This area is also known as "the Golden Triangle," which includes Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Orange. Nederland is right next to the Jack Brooks Regional Airport.

History of Nederland

Nederland was founded in 1897 by settlers from the Netherlands. The name Nederland means "Lowland" in Dutch. It was named this because the flat land reminded the settlers of their home country. Some important early families were the Rienstras, Doornbos, and Van Oostroms. Their family members still live in the area today.

Early Economy and Changes

At first, Nederland's economy relied on rice and dairy farming. But a financial crisis in 1907 and too much rice being grown caused the rice industry to fail. Many Dutch settlers left the area then, but some stayed.

After oil was discovered nearby in 1901 at Spindletop, Nederland changed. It became a place where workers for the new oil companies lived. The city officially became incorporated in 1940.

Growth and Challenges

In the 1940s and 1950s, the ports in nearby Port Arthur and Beaumont became very important. This helped Nederland to grow and do well. Many workers moved to the area, especially from southern Louisiana. This is why you can still see a strong Cajun influence in the community.

However, when oil prices dropped in the 1980s, Nederland's economy struggled. The population went down a little, but it has been stable since the late 1990s. Today, Nederland is also where the Keystone Pipeline ends.

Geography and Climate

Nederland is in eastern Jefferson County. It borders Port Neches to the east and Port Arthur to the south. Texas State Highway 347 and U.S. Route 69/96/287 run through the city. Nederland is about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Beaumont and 8 miles (13 km) northwest of Port Arthur. It is also about 90 miles (145 km) east of Houston.

The city covers about 6.05 square miles (15.67 km2). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Weather in Nederland

Nederland is on a coastal plain, which means it's near the ocean. This makes the air very humid in the summer. The area also gets tropical storms.

Several hurricanes have hit Nederland:

• Hurricane Rita in 2005 caused a lot of damage.
• Hurricane Humberto in 2007 passed right over the city.
• Hurricane Ike in 2008 brought strong winds. A sea wall protected Nederland from a large storm surge.
• Hurricane Harvey in 2017 set a record for the most rainfall from a tropical cyclone in U.S. history. Over 60 inches (153 cm) of rain fell in Nederland.

People of Nederland

In 2020, Nederland had 18,856 people living in 6,761 homes. About 4,448 of these were families. The population density was about 3,063 people per square mile (1,183 per km2).

About 69.7% of the people were White, and 17.9% were Hispanic or Latino. Other groups included 4% African American and 4.33% Asian.

About 27.3% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age was 36.5 years. The median income for a household was $53,231. This means half of the households earned more than this, and half earned less. About 6% of the population lived below the poverty line.

Economy of Nederland

Nederland has several important employers. The largest is the Nederland Independent School District, which employs many people. Other major employers include companies like Entergy Transfer and Phillpott Motors.

Culture and Fun in Nederland

Arts and History

Dutch Windmill Museum

The Nederland Performing Arts Theater is at Nederland High School. It hosts school plays, concerts, and other performances.

The Dutch Windmill Museum is a special place. It looks like a real Dutch windmill and honors the Dutch settlers who founded Nederland. It was built in 1969 and shows items from the city's past. You can find it in Tex Ritter Park.

La Maison Des Acadiens house

Next to the Windmill Museum is the La Maison Des Acadiens house. This house is a copy of homes used by early French settlers in the area.

Things to Do and See

Boston Avenue: A Historic Street

Boston Avenue was part of Nederland's first plan when it was founded in 1897. Street signs still show its original Dutch name, Heeren Straats. This area has shops and hosts many events throughout the year.

Exciting Events

• Nederland Heritage Festival: This big festival started in 1973. It attracts over 100,000 people each year! It has carnival rides, parades, live music, and more. It usually happens in March during the school's spring break.
• Fourth of July Celebration: The city holds a celebration at Doornbos Park with fireworks, food, and music. It started in 2012 and is open to everyone.
• Christmas Parade: Nederland has an annual Christmas parade in December. Businesses and groups enter floats and vehicles decorated with lights. The parade goes through historic Boston Avenue.

Parks for Play and Relaxation

Nederland has six parks for everyone to enjoy:

• Nederland Veterans Park: This park honors all veterans and has a Wall of Honor for local veterans.
• Doornbos Heritage Park: This park has the city swimming pool, a duck pond, and play areas. It also has the Nederland Recreation Center with an indoor gym.
• Tex Ritter Park: Named after country singer Tex Ritter, this park is home to the Dutch Windmill and Le Maison de Acadiens Museums.
• Homer Nagel Park: Named after a former mayor, this park has a fenced play area for children.
• Carl "Cropo" Leblanc Park: Named after another former mayor, this park has swings and slides for younger kids.
• South 5th St. Park: This park offers climbing structures and swings for children.
• Rienstra Heritage Park: Named after another founding family, this park has walking paths and picnic areas.

Historic Buildings to Explore

• The Orange Hotel: Built in 1897, it was a main place for visitors and workers to stay. It was torn down around 1912.
• Nederland Pharmacy: Opened in 1902, this pharmacy was a local landmark for 100 years.
• Langham Elementary School: The current building was built in 1940.
• Setzer's Hardware: Built in 1898, this building was first used to store rice. It still stands today.

Education in Nederland

Schools for All Ages

The Nederland Independent School District serves the city. In 2022, about 5,372 students attended schools in Nederland. The district has a high rating of "A" from the Texas Education Agency.

Nederland has four elementary schools for early education through fourth grade:

• Langham Elementary School (rated "A")
• Helena Park Elementary School (rated "B")
• Highland Park Elementary School (rated "A")
• Hillcrest Elementary School (rated "A")

There are two middle schools for fifth through eighth grade:

• C. O. Wilson Middle School (rated "B")
• Central Middle School (rated "B")

The one high school is Nederland High School, for ninth through 12th grade. It is rated "B" by the Texas Education Agency.

School Improvements

In 2019, voters approved a $155 million plan to improve the schools. This plan includes building a new high school, upgrading the middle schools, and adding classrooms to all elementary schools. It also includes improvements to Bulldog stadium, like new turf and facilities.

City Library

Nederland has the Marion and Ed Hughes Public Library. It is currently located on Nederland Avenue. The library has moved several times as the city has grown.

Colleges Nearby

For higher education, students can go to:

• Lamar University in nearby Beaumont, established in 1923.
• Lamar Institute of Technology, also in Beaumont.
• Lamar State College–Port Arthur in Port Arthur, which offers two-year degrees.

Media and News

Local TV Channels

Nederland receives several TV channels:

Newspapers

Nederland is served by two main newspapers:

• The Beaumont Enterprise: This daily newspaper has been around since 1880 and covers the Golden Triangle area.
• The Port Arthur News: This newspaper delivers seven days a week and focuses on Nederland, Port Neches, and Port Arthur.

Getting Around Nederland

Roads and Highways

Nederland is connected by several important roads:

• US 69/US 287/US 96 runs along the west side of Nederland.
• SH 347 runs along the east side.
• FM 365 runs along the south side.

About 11 miles (18 km) northwest is Interstate 10. This major highway goes all the way from Florida to California.

Air Travel

Nederland is served by the Jack Brooks Regional Airport. This airport has daily flights to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. From there, you can connect to many other places.

Famous People from Nederland

Many notable people have come from Nederland, including:

• Davy Arnaud, a professional soccer player.
• Clay Buchholz, a Major League Baseball pitcher.
• Phyllis Davis, an actress.
• Walt Davis, a 1952 Olympics gold medalist in high jump.
• Tim Foust, a country music singer.
• Kendrick Perkins, a professional basketball player.
• Bum Phillips, a famous NFL head coach.
• Tex Ritter, a country singer and actor.
• Brian Sanches, a Major League Baseball pitcher.
• John Varley, a science-fiction author.
• Lance Watson, a professional soccer player.

See also

In Spanish: Nederland (Texas) para niños