Orangefield, Texas facts for kids

Orangefield is a small community in Orange County, Texas, USA. It is located about twelve miles east of Beaumont, Texas. The town got its name because it grew around an oilfield called the "Orange Oil Field." This name was later shortened to "Orangefield." The community started developing in 1913 after oil was discovered nearby. A post office was set up in Orangefield in 1922.

Orangefield's Early Days and Oil Discovery

Before oil was found, Orangefield was a quiet farming community. Most people were farmers, growing crops like rice. The area had a few small communities named Oilla, Terry, and Duncan's Woods. It's not clear exactly when the name Orangefield started, but it was after the first oil well was drilled.

Many farmers owned the rights to minerals under their land. This meant they could allow oil wells to be dug on their farms. In 1913, the first oil well, called the Bland well, struck oil. People nicknamed it "Old Faithful" because it would gush oil every 50 minutes, just like the famous geyser.

News of the Bland well spread quickly. Many "wildcatters," which were people who explored for oil in new areas, rushed to Orangefield. Everyone hoped for a big oil boom. However, it took about ten years for the real boom to begin.

Fires and Booms in Orangefield

One day, a fire started in a tailor shop in Orangefield's business area. It quickly spread and destroyed 13 buildings. The fire reportedly began when a steam press caught fire. An employee accidentally threw gasoline on the flames, thinking it was water, which made the fire much worse. By 1927, it seemed the first oil boom was over.

However, Orangefield got a second chance in 1937. Two men, A. H. Montagne and Paul Cormier, found a new, deeper pocket of oil. This discovery brought new life to the town. The number of people living in Orangefield grew very quickly again.

This second oil boom helped many people during the Great Depression in the United States. Work was easy to find in the oilfields. Farmers whose crops failed could find new jobs there to support their families. This boom lasted for a few years until World War II started, which caused it to end early.

The population of Orangefield reached about 1,000 people in the mid-1930s. By the early 1950s, it had decreased to about 500. In 1990, the estimated population was 725.

Students in the area attend schools in the Orangefield Independent School District. The community is located in the Central Standard time zone and sits about 10 feet above sea level.

Notable People from Orangefield

Orangefield has been home to some interesting people:

• Jeff Granger - He was a talented athlete who played both quarterback and pitcher for Texas A&M University. He was also a professional baseball pitcher for teams like the Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates.
• Bradley Dale Peveto - He is a football coach who has worked as an assistant coach at the University of Texas at El Paso.
• Michael Berry - He served three terms as a city councilman in Houston. Today, he is a well-known conservative talk show host on radio stations KTRH and KPRC in Houston.