Port Arthur, the third member of the "Golden Triangle" with Orange and Beaumont, is primarily a petrochemical and agricultural based economy. State Correctional Facilities have recently emerged as the 2nd major industry creating more new jobs than the petrochemical industry.

Port Arthur is the retail hub drawing from Port Neches, Groves, Nederland, and Bridge City with a county population in excess of 240,000. Port Arthur is home to the three major refineries of DuPont, Chevron, and Texaco. Port Arthur has grown to a city population of over 60,000.