Jefferson County, a booming region with a population of 257,000, lies right along the Gulf of Mexico. It is home to two wildlife refuges and two wildlife management areas, and is bound by a bayou, river, lake, and marshland. The cities of Beaumont and Port Arthur lie within county bounds, with Houston an hour away. There are plenty of unique museums like the Fire, Steamboat, and Energy museums, cathedrals, botanical gardens, and festivals such as the pecan, heritage, and Riverfest festivals.