Honey Island is an

unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...

in Hardin County,

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...

, United States. It is part of the

Beaumont Beaumont may refer to: Places Canada * Beaumont, Alberta * Beaumont, Quebec England * Beaumont, Cumbria * Beaumont, Essex ** Beaumont Cut, a canal closed in the 1930s * Beaumont Street, Oxford France (communes) * Beaumont, Ardèche * ...

– Port Arthur

Metropolitan Statistical Area In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally incorporated as a city or tow ...

. The

Kountze Independent School District Kountze Independent School District is a public school district based in Kountze, Texas (USA). In addition to Kountze, the district serves the unincorporated community of Honey Island Honey Island is an Unincorporated area, unincorporated comm ...

provides public schools for area students. Though not usually an island, it is located on elevated land between the Cypress and Flat Cypress creeks, which rise in heavy rain, thereby temporarily isolating the area as an island.

Historical development

During the time of the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

, this site was known to attract

Jayhawkers Jayhawkers and red legs are terms that came to prominence in Kansas Territory during the Bleeding Kansas period of the 1850s; they were adopted by militant bands affiliated with the free-state cause during the American Civil War. These gangs w ...

due to the area's numerous beehives. In addition to using the honey as food source, they would often stash honey in hidden pots that local sympathizers would exchange for supplies. This activity would eventually lead to the

Kaiser Burnout The Kaiser Burnout was a fire set by Confederate Captain James Kaiser during the American Civil War in the Big Thicket area of Southeast Texas. Historical background Like their counterparts in the Kansas region, local Texans that lived in the Big ...

by the Confederates in the nearby cane fields. In 1901 the

Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway The Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway was a subsidiary of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway. From its starting point in Galveston, Texas, the railroad eventually extended northwestwards across the state to Sweetwater and northwards via ...

reached the site, and by 1907 a post office was established. The local

sawmill A sawmill (saw mill, saw-mill) or lumber mill is a facility where logs are cut into lumber. Modern sawmills use a motorized saw to cut logs lengthwise to make long pieces, and crosswise to length depending on standard or custom sizes (dimensi ...

was sold several times until it came into ownership of the Kirby Lumber Company, owned by

John Henry Kirby John Henry Kirby (November 16, 1860 – November 9, 1940) was a businessman whose ventures made him the largest lumber manufacturer in Texas and the Southern United States. In addition to serving two terms in the Texas Legislature, he also est ...

. The mill closed during the Great Depression, but it reopened, to run until its final closing in 1955.

Population

According to the 1950 census, the community had 1,250 inhabitants. By the 1990 census, its population was reported to have declined to 400. As of the 2000 census, its population had remained essentially stable at 401.

References

Unincorporated communities in Hardin County, Texas Unincorporated communities in Texas Beaumont–Port Arthur metropolitan area {{HardinCountyTX-geo-stub