Montgomery County, Texas

Montgomery County, Texas
Location in the state of Texas
Texas's location in the U.S.
Founded	1837
Seat	Conroe
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,077 sq mi (2,789 km²) 1,044 sq mi (2,704 km²) 33 sq mi (85 km²), 3.04%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	455,746 422/sq mi (163/km²)
Website	www.co.montgomery.tx.us

Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The county was created by an act of the Congress of the Republic of Texas on December 14, 1837. The county was named for the town of Montgomery, Texas. In 2000, its population was 293,768. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery County's population to be 455,746,[1] a 55.14% growth rate in the ten years from the last U.S. Census—making the county the 24th fastest-growing county in the United States. The seat of the county is Conroe.

Montgomery county is officially the birthplace of the Texas flag. The actual design of the Lone Star Flag remained a mystery until the Texas House of Representatives passed House Resolution 1123 in 1997 commemorating Montgomery County as the flag's official birthplace.[2] Dr. Charles B. Stewart is credited with creating the inspirational banner of the State of Texas.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,077 square miles (2,790 km²), of which 1,044 square miles (2,700 km²) is land and 33 square miles (85 km²) (3.04%) is water.

Major highways

• Interstate 45
• U.S. Highway 59
• State Highway 75
• State Highway 105
• State Highway 242
• State Highway 249

See List of Highways in Montgomery County for more roadways in Montgomery County.

Adjacent counties

• Walker County (north)
• San Jacinto County (northeast)
• Liberty County (east)
• Harris County (south)
• Waller County (west)
• Grimes County (Northwest)

National protected area

• Sam Houston National Forest (partial)

Demographics

Historical populations
Year	Pop.	±%
1850	2,384	—
1860	5,479	+129.8%
1870	6,483	+18.3%
1880	10,154	+56.6%
1890	11,765	+15.9%
1900	17,067	+45.1%
1910	15,679	−8.1%
1920	17,334	+10.6%
1930	14,588	−15.8%
1940	23,055	+58.0%
1950	24,504	+6.3%
1960	26,839	+9.5%
1970	49,479	+84.4%
1980	128,487	+159.7%
1990	182,201	+41.8%
2000	293,768	+61.2%
2010	455,746	+55.1%
2010 Est	459,018	+0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 293,768 people, 103,296 households, and 80,157 families residing in the county. The population density was 281 people per square mile (109/km²). There were 112,770 housing units at an average density of 108 per square mile (42/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.25% White, 3.49% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 1.11% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.86% from other races, and 1.79% from two or more races. 12.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 103,296 households out of which 40.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.20% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.40% were non-families. 18.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the county, the population was spread out with 29.50% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 30.60% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 8.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $50,864, and the median income for a family was $58,983. Males had a median income of $42,400 versus $28,270 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,544. About 7.10% of families and 9.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.90% of those under age 18 and 10.10% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Montgomery County is one of the most heavily Republican counties in Texas, giving 78.1% of its vote to George W. Bush in 2004^[2] and giving 75.8% of its vote to John McCain in 2008.^[3] The county has not been won by a Democratic presidential candidate since native Texan Lyndon Johnson won 60.9% of the county's vote in 1964.^[4]

United States Congress

Senators		Name	Party	First Elected	Level
	Senate Class	Kay Bailey Hutchison	Republican	1993	Senior Senator
	Senate Class 2	John Cornyn	Republican	2002	Junior Senator
Representatives		Name	Party	First Elected	Area(s) of Montgomery County Represented
	District 8	Kevin Brady	Republican	1996	Entire county

Texas Legislature

Texas Senate

District		Name	Party	First Elected	Area(s) of Montgomery County Represented
	3	Robert Nichols	Republican	2006	North and west (including Conroe)
	4	Tommy Williams	Republican	2003	South (including The Woodlands)

Texas House of Representatives

District		Name	Party	First Elected	Area(s) of Montgomery County Represented
	15	Rob Eissler	Republican	2002	South (including The Woodlands)
	16	C. Brandon Creighton	Republican	2006	North and central areas (Conroe)
	18	John Otto	Republican	2004	Southeast

Communities

Cities

Conroe Cut and Shoot Houston Magnolia Montgomery

Oak Ridge North Panorama Village Patton Village Roman Forest Shenandoah

Splendora Stagecoach Woodbranch Woodloch Willis

Census-designated places

• Pinehurst
• Porter Heights
• The Woodlands

Unincorporated areas

• Dobbin
• Decker Prairie
• Imperial Oaks
• New Caney
• Porter
• Tamina
• Spring
• The Woodlands

Education

Public schools

Several school districts operate public schools in the county:

• Conroe ISD
• Magnolia ISD
• Montgomery ISD
• New Caney ISD
• Richards ISD (partial)
• Splendora ISD
• Tomball ISD (partial)
• Willis ISD (partial)

Private schools

Pre-K to 12

• Covenant Christian School
• Christ Community School
• The Woodlands Christian Academy
• The John Cooper School
• St. Anthony Of Padua Catholic School
• The Woodlands Preparatory School

The county also is home to two campuses of the Lone Star College System: Montgomery and The University Center. The county operates the Montgomery County Memorial Library System.

Transportation

Lone Star Executive Airport, a general aviation airport, is located in Conroe.

The Houston Airport System stated that Montgomery County is within the primary service area of George Bush Intercontinental Airport, an international airport in Houston in Harris County.^[5] William P. Hobby Airport in Houston in Harris County also operates regular commercial service.^{[citation needed]}

See also

Houston portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Montgomery County, Texas

References

1. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
2. ^ Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - Data Graph --2004 Montgomery County, Texas
3. ^ Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - Data Graph --2008 Montgomery County, Texas
4. ^ Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - Data Graphs
5. ^ "Master Plan Executive Summary." George Bush Intercontinental Airport Master Plan. Houston Airport System. December 2006. 2-1 (23/130). Retrieved on December 14, 2010.

External links

• Montgomery County Texas Info
• Montgomery County government's website
• Montgomery County in Handbook of Texas Online from University of North Texas
• Montgomery Count vs. Harris County Line
• History of the Lake Creek Settlement and the Founding of the Town of Montgomery, Texas
• Early History of Montgomery County, Texas
• Montgomery County Monitor - News, Video, Photos, Live Scanner Feeds and Public Information
• Lonestar College - The Lone Star College System, formerly known as the North Harris Montgomery Community College District, is accredited through the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

Coordinates: 30°18′N 95°30′W / 30.30°N 95.50°W / 30.30; -95.50