Region: Gulf Coast
Located on a salt dome in Chambers County, the community was established in
1849 as Barbers Hill. Postal authorities suggested a name change to Mont Belvieu
to avoid confusion with other offices of similar names. The community lay
quietly as a center for farming and cattle-raising until oil was discovered in
191 6. Though this early discovery was limited, land lease speculators quickly
grabbed up leases, buying and selling in a frenzy. In 1926, wildcatter Mills
Bennett tapped the first gusher into production. The salt-dome storage
capabilities were initiated in the 1950s and expanded. Today, products processed
through the grand underground caverns are shipped worldwide, providing the
life-blood for nearly all of the petrochemical industry. On I-10, the city is
closely tied to the Houston-Baytown area.
Nearby Cities: Silsbee, Spring, Saratoga, Cleveland, Shenandoah, La Porte, more...