Texas Real Estate & Relocation Guide

Bridge City, Texas

Population: 8,651

Located in Orange County

Bridge City, the "Golden Link to the Triangle" is a residential community. It is located on the west bank of Cow Bayou adjacent to Sabine Lake & the Neches Rivers. Sabine Lake is a 78-square mile saltwater lake opening into the Gulf of Mexico. At the south end of town is the scenic Rainbow Bridge, the south's tallest bridge. The bridge's 176-foot clearance height resulted from requirements that any U.S. Navy ship could pass under it. The sister span is the Veteran's Memorial Bridge, the first cable-stayed suspension bridge in the state of Texas. At the north end of town are double bridges crossing Cow Bayou on Highway 87 and a smaller steel bridge on East Roundbunch at the east entrance. The community's name changed from Prairie View and became known as Bridge City in 1941.

With the addition of a second Neches River bridge & with the extension of Highway 1442 (W. Roundbunch) to link Bridge City with Interstate-10, it is no wonder that Bridge City is one of the highest growth spot in Orange County. The city of Orange is the county seat; one of some 254 counties in the state. The county is home to the state's busiest Travel Information Center on IH-10 that opened May 12, 2000. (At the TX-LA border). The new center was built along the Blue Elbow Swamp.

Bridge City is centrally located on Hwy. 87/73 between Orange, Port Arthur and Beaumont (The Golden Triangle) with major highway connections to Interstate-10, Hwy. 62, FM 105, FM 408 & FM1006 (to local refinery-Chemical Row), and is intersected by FM 1442. One should use exit #869 off IH-10 and take FM1442 ten miles south to Bridge City. It has access to the Port of Orange and the Port of Port Arthur, Sabine River and Intracoastal Canal. The Golden Triangle region got the name from the proliferation of refineries in the three cities of Beaumont, Port Arthur & Orange (forming a triangle). The refineries used yellow lights, and at night, all you could see was the golden glow from them.

The 2000 census showed an 8% growth to 8,651 with continued development outside city limits in Bridgefield, Waterwood and Regal Point Subdivisions. An ample supply of vacant residential building sites remains available. Several new multi-family development has occurred within the past five years. Continued growth will likely increase demand for residential support facilities such as doctors, dentists, restaurants, retail shops, etc. Thus, the economic climate is favorable for future development as is evidenced by the recent construction of Regal Plaza and Grace Plaza, two new banking facilities, one major bank renovation and a second credit union locating in the community.

The market area of approximately 24,101which includes city limits & outskirts Orangefield, McLewis and south of Vidor. Within a 3-mile range the population is 12,217; within 5-miles 15,621 & within 7 ½ miles is 44,952. Other towns in Orange County are Orange, Mauriceville, Vidor, Rose City, W. Orange, Little Cypress, Orangefield and Pine Forest.

Bridge City is considered a "bedroom community" where residents may work in another city/county but live, pay taxes and spend most of their income in their resident city. Area residents find ample job opportunities in the industrial, medical, schools and government fields. Recently built correctional facilities in Jefferson County contribute significantly to the local economy and have served to help diversify the area economic base.