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Conroe, Texas

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City of Conroe
City
Location in Montgomery County in the state of Texas
Location in Montgomery County in the state of Texas
CountryUnited StatesUnited States
StateTexasTexas
CountyMontgomery
Incorporated1904
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager
 • City CouncilMayor Webb K. Melder
Marsha Porter
Toby Powell
Jim Gentry
Guy Martin
Gil Snider
 • City ManagerPaul Virgadamo, Jr.
Area
 • Total52.7 sq mi (136.4 km2)
 • Land52.6 sq mi (136.2 km2)
 • Water0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2)
Elevation
205 ft (62.5 m)
Population
 (2010)[1]
 • Total56,207
 • Density1,066.2/sq mi (411.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
77300-77399
Area code936
FIPS code48-16432Template:GR
GNIS feature ID1333238Template:GR
Websitecityofconroe.org

Conroe is the seat of Montgomery County and falls within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. It is located about 40 miles (64 km) north of Houston.

As of July 2011, the city population was 58,973, up from 36,811 in 2000.[2]

History

The city is named after northern born, Union Cavalry officer and Houston lumberman Isaac Conroe.[3] Conroe founded a sawmill there in 1881.[3] The city originally gained in wealth due to the lumber and oil industries. Originally named "Conroe's Switch",[3] the area saw an influx of residents in the late 19th century due to the lumber demands on the piney wood forest of the area.[3]

During the 1930s, due to oil profits, the city boasted more millionaires per capita than any other US city, though only for a brief period of time.[3] Elvis Presley performed at the High School football field on August 24, 1955. Also Los Tigres del Norte performed at the Crighton Theatre in 2009.[3]

After the construction of Interstate 45, many Houstonians began to settle communities around Conroe.[3]

Within the first decade of the 21st century the city attracted a great deal of new residents from the Houston area. Renée C. Lee said that Conroe around 2002 was a "a sleepy, semi-rural town 40 miles north of Houston" and that at the time, Conroe city officials needed to use financial incentives to attract home developers to Conroe. Lee said that for a three year period ending in 2007, Conroe became a hotbed of construction of new houses.[4]

Geography

Conroe is located at 30°18′58″N 95°27′32″W / 30.31611°N 95.45889°W / 30.31611; -95.45889 (30.316124, -95.458801)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 37.9 square miles (98 km2), of which, 37.8 square miles (98 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (0.21%) is water.

It is about 40 miles (64 km) north of Houston.[5]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19101,374—
19201,85835.2%
19302,45732.2%
19404,62488.2%
19507,29857.8%
19609,19226.0%
197011,96930.2%
198018,03450.7%
199027,61053.1%
200036,81133.3%
201056,20752.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2010, there were 56,207 people and 18,651 households residing in the city. The population density was 1066.2 people per square mile (411.7/km²). There were 22,215 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 69.7% White, 10.3% African American, 1.2% Native American, 1.8% Asian, less than 0.05% Pacific Islander, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 38.5% of the population.

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 36,811 people, 13,145 households, and 8,728 families residing in the city. The population density was 974.1 people per square mile (376.1/km²). There were 14,378 housing units at an average density of 380.5 per square mile (146.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 71.16% White, 11.13% African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.95% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 13.38% from other races, and 2.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 32.62% of the population.

There were 13,145 households out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% are classified as non-families by the United States Census Bureau. Of 13,145 households, 643 are unmarried partner households: 582 heterosexual, 32 same-sex male, and 29 same-sex female households. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.33.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.1% under the age of 18, 13.4% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 17.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,123, and the median income for a family was $37,201. Males had a median income of $29,468 versus $23,025 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,841. About 15.0% of families and 19.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.3% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

In the early 1980s Exxon considered consolidating its employees to a site in Conroe. The company ended the plans after the local oil-based economy collapsed.[6]

According to the City's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[7] the top employers in the city are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Conroe Independent School District 5,700
2 Montgomery County 1,946
3 National Oilwell Varco / Texas Oil Tools / Reed Hycalog 1,145
4 Conroe Regional Medical Center 1,200
5 Sadler Clinic 600
6 City of Conroe 470
7 Borden Milk Products 248
8 Capro, Inc. 225
9 Consolidated Communications of Texas 220
10 McKesson Corporation 163

Parks and recreation

The city is about 7 miles southeast of popular Lake Conroe [3] which is at the center of multiple, year round water and cultural events.

The city is served by a number of parks, most notably, Candy Cane Park[3]

Government

Local government

According to the city’s most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Fund Financial Statements, the city’s various funds had $58.3 million in Revenues, $71.6 million in expenditures, $69.6 million in total assets, $7.6 million in total liabilities, and $57.5 million in investments. :[8]

The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:[9]

Department Director
City Manager Paul Virgadamo, Jr.
City Secretary Marla Porter
City Attorney Marcus Winberry
Finance Director Steve Williams
Police Chief Philip Dupuis
Fire chief Ken Kreger
Parks Director Mike Riggens
Public Works Director Dean Towery
Human Resources Director Andre Houser

The city employs 108 police officers, as of October 2009.[3]

Public libraries

The county operates the main branch of the Montgomery County Memorial Library System.

State government

Conroe is represented in the Texas Senate by Republican Robert Nichols, District 3, and in the Texas House of Representatives by Republican Brandon Creighton, District 16.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the Conroe District Parole Office in Conroe.[10]

Federal government

At the Federal level, the two U.S. Senators from Texas are Republicans John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison; Conroe is part of Texas' US Congressional 8th District, which is currently represented by Republican Kevin Brady.

The United States Postal Service Conroe Post Office is located at 809 West Dallas Street.[11]

Education

Colleges and universities

The city is served by the Lone Star College System primarily by the Lone Star College-Montgomery Campus and LSC University Center. Other campuses in the county include the EMCID Center in New Caney, and the Conroe Center.[3] The territory in Conroe ISD joined the community college district in 1991, and the territory in Willis ISD joined the district in 1996.[12]

Public school districts

Almost all areas of Conroe are within the Conroe Independent School District though a small northern section of Conroe is within the Willis Independent School District.

Conroe Independent School District

All of the schools listed here are in the city of Conroe. All of the Conroe ISD section of Conroe is zoned to Conroe High School [4].

Public elementary and middle schools

The two junior high schools that serve the CISD portion are:

The three intermediate schools that serve the CISD portion are:

The elementary schools that serve the CISD portion are:

Willis Independent School District

The Willis ISD section is zoned to Turner Elementary School [5], Brabham Middle School [6], and Willis High School [7], all of which are in unincorporated Montgomery County.

Private schools

Media

The Courier is a daily newspaper published in Conroe, Texas, covering Montgomery County. It is owned by ASP Westward LP.[13]

Infrastructure

Transportation

Interstate 45 directly connects the city with Houston to its south (40mi) and with Dallas to its northwest (200mi).

Lone Star Executive Airport provides general aviation services to Conroe.

Greyhound Bus Lines operate a small station.[14]

Texas Highway 105 connects the city of Cleveland to the east and town of Montgomery to the west.

Texas Loop 336 circles the city of Conroe.

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "Conroe (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". US Census Bureau. Retrieved 02-08-2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ^ "Conroe (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". US Census Bureau. Retrieved 02-08-2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/CC/hec3.html Cite error: The named reference "test" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  4. ^ Lee, Renée C. "Conroe housing market going through the roof." Houston Chronicle. April 29, 2007. Retrieved on January 15, 2010.
  5. ^ "Pilot Lands Small Plane On Conroe Street." Associated Press at KBTX. January 4, 2012. Retrieved on January 5, 2012.
  6. ^ Dawson, Jennifer. "Exxon Mobil campus ‘clearly happening’." Houston Business Journal. Friday January 15, 2010. 2. Retrieved on January 16, 2010.
  7. ^ City of Conroe 2009 CAFR, page 115 Retrieved on 2010-11-09
  8. ^ City of Conroe 2009 CAFR Retrieved 2010-11-09
  9. ^ City of Conroe 2009 CAFR, page 7 Retrieved 2010-11-09
  10. ^ "Parole Division Region I." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 15, 2010.
  11. ^ "Post Office Location - CONROE." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 8, 2008.
  12. ^ "History." North Harris Montgomery Community College District. December 22, 2002. Retrieved on April 5, 2010.
  13. ^ "The Courier". The Courier. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
  14. ^ [1]
  15. ^ [2]
  16. ^ http://www.corinnakirsch.com
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