Cheek, Texas

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

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

Cheek Elementary School was supported by the local community in the 1940s and beyond as an independent school district. The school served as a community center for the surrounding area. Later Cheek School was incorporated into the South Park School District of Beaumont. The Cheek School no longer exists.

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

Law and 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.

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

References

^ ^a ^b ^c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Cheek, Texas
^ "Profile for Cheek, Texas, TX".
^ Wooster, Robert (June 12, 2010). "Cheek, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved July 3, 2014.

[gnis-1] U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Cheek, Texas

[2] "Profile for Cheek, Texas, TX".

[3] Wooster, Robert (June 12, 2010). "Cheek, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved July 3, 2014.

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v t e 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	Jefferson County map
CDPs	Beauxart Gardens Central Gardens Fannett Hamshire
Other communities	Cheek Dowling La Belle Viterbo
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
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