U.S. Route 96, a four-lane bypass, forms the southeastern border of the city; the highway leads northeast 50 miles (80 km) to Jasper and south 21 miles (34 km) to Beaumont.

Texas State Highway 327 runs through downtown Silsbee south of the city center, leading east to US 96 and west 9 miles (14 km) to Kountze, the Hardin county seat.

[4] Silsbee was first referred to as "Mill Town" when the site was reached by the Gulf, Beaumont, and Kansas City Railway in 1894.

This business was the main employer and strength of the Silsbee economy from the city's beginning.

[7] As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,935 people, 2,441 households, and 1,745 families residing in the city.