Cheek, Texas

Cheek, Texas
Unincorporated community
Cheek, Texas Show map of Texas Cheek, Texas Show map of the US
Coordinates: 29°59′01″N 94°12′10″W / 29.98361°N 94.20278°W / 29.98361; -94.20278Coordinates: 29°59′01″N 94°12′10″W / 29.98361°N 94.20278°W / 29.98361; -94.20278
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Jefferson
Elevation	20 ft (6 m)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Area code(s)	409
GNIS feature ID	1354336^[1]

Cheek is an unincorporated community, southwest of Beaumont in central Jefferson County, Texas, United States.^[1] In 1906, it was established by John R. Cheek. Although an identifiable community remains with a population of 550, the area is included within Beaumont city's jurisdiction.^[2]^[3]

Location

Cheek is located within Precinct 4 of Jefferson County. Precinct 4 is divided into four zones. Zone 1 and Zone 2 describe the area known as Cheek.

Zone 1

Boyt Road Area:

Kidd Rd to Boyt Rd
Boyt Rd from Blossom Rd to Deshotel Rd
Martel Height Area:
Lawhon Rd from Gums St to Bluebird Way
Lawhon Rd from South China to Hwy 365

Zone 2

Township of Cheek:

Blewett Rd from Avenue C to Industrial Rd

History

The Gulf & Interstate Railway Company, later amended to The Gulf & Interstate Railway Company of Texas, was chartered by C. J. and N. C. Jones on May 19, 1894. Its intent was to improve economic development by connecting Port Bolivar, on one of the headlands to Galveston Bay, with the Red River. By 1896, the Gulf and Interstate Railroad to Beaumont stopped in Bolivar Point, allowing local farmers to ship their produce to market on iced rail cars. Previously, produce was taken to Galveston by boat. Trains connecting to Galveston were taken across the bay on a barge. The railway was completed only to Beaumont by 1897, according to Reed and Zlatkovich; although the hurricane in 1900 destroyed more than twenty-eight miles of the road between Beaumont and Port Bolivar, and it was repaired in 1904.

In 1906, John R. Cheek established a stop for the Gulf and Interstate Railway to provide services for farmers and passengers midway between Beaumont and Winnie. The area was inhabited largely by rice farmers who used the Beaumont Irrigating Company's canal, which cut through Cheek and irrigated the surrounding farms. The Cheek Common School District, organized in 1907 and bolstered by the construction in 1939 of a new school building by the Public Works Administration. In 1912, J.R. Cheek supervised Cheek & Heyman Lumber Co as was common for leaders of railroad operations to also hold key positions at lumber mills of the time. By 1925, Cheek's population was estimated to be forty. The post office was discontinued in 1928. By the 1970s a large Goodyear and Gulfco plant were located nearby.

Religion

Cheek has hosted a variety of religious worship centers over the years. New Bethel Baptist Church originating in 1957 and St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church originating in 1962 are two of the oldest establishments located in the heart of the community. Currently, both congregations actively offer regular worship services and venues for special celebrations.

Education

Primary education is provided by the following:

Hardin-Jefferson Independent School District for students in west and northwest regions
Hamshire-Fannett Independent School District for students in south and southeast regions
Beaumont Independent School District for students in north and northeast regions

Business Economy

With large rice fields, cattle farmlands, and ever evolving natural resource extracting,

Cheek is rich in resources. The community also hosts a variety of businesses.

Goodyear Plant
Doug Nelson Café
Monument Constructors
Kidd Road Store
Gulf Coast Machine & Supply
Clark Pillow Co
Texas Coastal Credit Union

Law & Government

Cheek is served by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.

Cheek Volunteer Fire Department And Ambulance Service is located at 8523 Kidd Rd and is operated by community leaders.

On April 9, 2002, Everette “Bo” Alfred was sworn in as Jefferson County Commissioner of Precinct 4, where Cheek is included as Zone 1 and Zone 2. Cheek hosts the Precinct 4 Service Center where the former Fanshire Elementary School was converted to meet the needs of the community. Such services include:

Maintenance of Roads and Bridges
Constructing Driveways and Installing Culverts
Signage and Striping of Roads
Ditching
Grass Cutting
Elections
Public Health Fair
Southeast Texas Super Seniors
Summer Nutrition Program

Entertainment

There are often weekend events for everyone to enjoy. Rodeos, zydecos, and trailrides account for some of the areas larger gatherings and festivities where nationally renowned artists often join in the celebrations.

Local Places of Entertainment:

Laday Rodeo Arena
Bassett's Ranch
Crenshaw Old Barn Orchard
Clifton Steamboat Museum

References

1 2 "Cheek, Texas". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
↑ "Profile for Cheek, Texas, TX".
↑ Wooster, Robert (June 12, 2010). "Cheek, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved July 3, 2014.

Municipalities and communities of Jefferson County, Texas, United States

County seat: Beaumont

Cities	Beaumont Bevil Oaks China Groves Nederland Nome Port Arthur‡ Port Neches Taylor Landing

CDPs	Central Gardens Fannett

Other unincorporated communities	Beauxart Gardens Cheek Dowling Hamshire LaBelle Viterbo

Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

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