Johnson Bayou, Louisiana

History

On October 12, 1886, Johnson Bayou was completely destroyed by the "great storm of 1886;" a storm surge of between seven and twelve feet that swept inland at Johnson Bayou, killing between 50 and 100 people. Between Sabine Pass and Beaumont, thirty miles of track of the Sabine and East Texas Railway, were damaged badly and partly washed away.Young, Nancy Beck. "Sabine and East Texas Railway" – Handbook of Texas Online – (accessed September 14, 2007)

Johnson Bayou was hit again by Hurricane Audrey in 1957, and yet again by Hurricane Rita on September 24, 2005. On September 13, 2007, Hurricane Humberto made landfall west of Johnson Bayou at High Island, Texas, bringing heavy rains to the community. On September 13, 2008, Hurricane Ike made landfall on the upper Texas coast, causing extensive damage to the region (NOAA).

In 2020, Johnson Bayou was struck by two hurricanes: Hurricane Laura on August 27, 2020 and Hurricane Delta on October 6, 2020.

Geography

Johnson Bayou is located on a barrier island on Louisiana Highway 82, 12 mi west of Holly Beach, and 28 mi southeast, across the Sabine Pass channel, of Port Arthur, Texas.

Culture

The Holleyman Bird Sanctuary/Peveto Woods Bird and Butterfly Sanctuary is located in the community, and is south of the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge. Johnson Bayou is home to four natural gas pipelines, and the home of one of the largest LNG Terminals in the world. This LNG regasification terminal is being built by Cheniere Energy. https://web.archive.org/web/20071215224830/http://www.cheniere.com/default.shtml

Education

Cameron Parish School Board operates Johnson Bayou High School, a combined primary and secondary school serving the area.

Cameron Parish Public Library operated the Johnson Branch at 4586 Gulf Beach Highway in the area until the Mandatory Evacuation for Hurricane Laura in August on 2020. Currently the library expects to reopen in January of 2022.

Gallery

File:JohnsonsBayou1886Leslies.jpg|Destruction from the Great October Hurricane of 1886 Image:ALL.HM_050.JPG|The beach between Johnson Bayou and Holly Beach prior to Hurricane Rita in 2005 Image:House in Johnson Bayou, Louisiana destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.jpg|A house in Johnson Bayou destroyed by Hurricane Rita Image:Hurricane Ike Johnson Bayou LA damage.jpg|Hurricane Ike damage to main store and buildings Image:Hurricane Ike damage at Johnson Bayou (LA) School entrance.jpg|Hurricane Ike damage to school building Image:Hurricane Ike classroom damage at Johnson Bayou (LA) School.jpg|School suffered severe damage inside building due to Hurricane Ike Image:Hurricane Ike Johnson Bayou LA church and buildings.jpg|Church and buildings damaged by Hurricane Ike Image:Hurricane Ike Johnson Bayou LA brick and dbl-wide houses.jpg|Brick house completely destroyed with nearby double wide house severely damaged from Hurricane Ike

References

• Galveston Daily News, October 14–23, 1886.

References

1. {{GNIS. 546421
2. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100527122846/http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/pdfs/experience/naturalheritage/naturalcommunities/coastalliveoak_hackberry_forest_factsheet.pdf Coastal Live Oak-Hackberry Forest]
3. Roth, David. [http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lch/research/lalate19hu3.php ''"Louisiana Hurricane History: Late 19th century"''] – the [[National Weather Service]] at [[NOAA]]
4. Roth, David. [http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lch/research/txlate19hur3.php ''"Texas Hurricane History: Late 19th century"''] – the [[National Weather Service]] at [[NOAA]]
5. Block, W. T. [http://www.wtblock.com/wtblockjr/johnsons.htm ''"October 12, 1886: The Night That Johnson's Bayou, Louisiana Died"''] – the [[Beaumont Enterprise]] – October 10, 1979
6. Block, W. T. [http://www.wtblock.com/wtblockjr/great1.htm ''"The Great Storm of 1886"''] – the [[Beaumont Enterprise]] – January 9, 1977
7. Block, W. T. [http://www.wtblock.com/wtblockjr/sabine1.htm ''"The Romance of Sabine Lake: 1777–1900"''] – Texas Gulf Historical Society – 1973
8. "[http://www.state.lib.la.us/libdir/ Louisiana Library Directory]." ''[[State Library of Louisiana]]''. Accessed September 22, 2008.