Conroe History & Today

Conroe, Montgomery County, Willis, The Woodlands, and Montgomery welcome many new residents every year. So this part of our website shares information about the area we serve. We hope our new friends and neighbors enjoy learning more about their new hometown.

A Quick History of the Conroe, Texas Area

To look at Conroe History and today, we go back to where scholars estimate, native tribal peoples inhabited the Montgomery County area going back about 10,000 years. The Atakapan Indians were various related tribes, mostly hunter-gatherers. Their range extended from the Old San Antonio Road in the north to the Gulf Coast. Life was hard for these peoples. Indeed, disease, warfare, intermarriage, and migration reduced their numbers until no trace remained in the area by 1850.

European explorers from France and Spain journeyed through the area in the 16th and 17th centuries. Spain made the strongest claim. In 1825, Stephen F. Austin contracted with Mexican authorities to bring 500 families to the region. That group received Mexican land grants to settle near Lake Creek in western Montgomery County. By 1831, they had formed the Lake Creek Settlement.

During the Texas Revolution in 1835–1836, these settlers sided with the new Republic of Texas. For a time, they relocated to Washington County. When people returned by 1837, the store of W.W. Shepperd and John Wyatt Moody became the settlement's focal point. Furthermore, a stagecoach line ran from Huntsville to Houston and stopped at Shepperd's Store. Taking its name from Montgomery County, Alabama, the town of Montgomery was founded in 1837. Then on December 14, 1837, President Sam Houston signed an act forming Montgomery County.

Local historians credit Montgomery County as the "Birthplace of the Lone Star Flag." Specifically, Mr. Charles B. Stewart of Montgomery designed the flag in 1839.

Settlers arrived steadily, and by 1860, the county held 5,479 people. Methodist minister I.L.G. Strickland began preaching in the area in the 1840s. Additionally, Baptists organized the first church in Montgomery town in the 1850s. During the Civil War, hundreds of local men volunteered for Southern military units. Sadly, nearly three-fourths were killed or wounded. Rebuilding after the war proved difficult. Moreover, growing only cotton badly depleted the soil.

Railroads Expand Opportunity

Recovery began in the 1870s when railroads arrived. As new towns sprang up, competition for the County Seat emerged. In 1889, Conroe won that honor at the junction of two major rail lines. Consequently, commerce grew and by 1900 the county population exceeded 17,000.

The lumber industry thrived next, using railway freight to reach markets across Texas. Forty-five steam-powered sawmills created many jobs and strong economic growth. Related box and railroad cross-tie factories also sprang up. Furthermore, cleared fields led to steady growth in farming and livestock. New crops like Cuban tobacco were tried with short-term success, showing farmers the value of diversification. By 1920, the number of farms reached 1,932. Post-1910 brought a further shift to fruits and vegetables. However, by 1930 the Great Depression had taken hold. Joblessness rose, population fell, and farming suffered badly.

Oil was discovered 6½ miles southeast of Conroe in December 1931. Then a second well in June 1932 sparked a boom that quadrupled the town's population. Other discoveries brought jobs and prosperity to counter the Depression's worst effects. As a result, the county built roads, schools, public buildings, and monuments. New businesses opened, residents arrived, and by 1940 the population reached 23,055.

Those oil resources also proved vital during World War II. Local refineries supplied the US military, and a carbon black plant sent feedstock to tire factories. Together, these contributions supported the Allied war effort.

After the war, farming and lumbering stabilized. Ranching, livestock, and equine activities grew. Additionally, greenhouse and nursery businesses appeared. New highways then allowed Montgomery County residents to commute easily to Houston. By 2020, the census counted 620,443 people in Montgomery County. The two largest cities were The Woodlands at 114,436 and Conroe at 89,956.

Things Many People Like about Conroe and the Area

Conroe and Montgomery County sit a short drive from Houston's major metropolitan attractions. Both Interstate 45 and the Hardy Toll Road offer direct routes to central Houston. So residents enjoy a small-town feel while accessing major league sports, dining, culture, and the Galveston Bay area.

Highly rated public schools are another strong draw. The district includes 42 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 5 high schools. Moreover, many of these schools rank among the best in Texas. The schools also promote safety through a specially trained police force.

Cost of living in Conroe runs 5% to 7% below the national average, helping to make the Conroe area an attractive place to put down roots.