Montgomery County, Texas
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the county had a population of 620,443.[1] The county seat is Conroe.[2] The county was created by an act of the Congress of the Republic of Texas on December 14, 1837, and is named for the town of Montgomery.[3] Between 2000 and 2010, its population grew by 55%, the 24th-fastest rate of growth of any county in the United States. Between 2010 and 2020, its population grew by 36%. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the estimated population is 678,490 as of July 1, 2022.
Montgomery County | |
|---|---|
The Montgomery County Courthouse in Conroe | |
Location within the U.S. state of Texas | |
Texas's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 30°18′N 95°30′W / 30.3°N 95.5°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| Founded | 1837 |
| Named for | Montgomery, Texas |
| Seat | Conroe |
| Largest township | The Woodlands |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,077 sq mi (2,790 km2) |
| • Land | 1,042 sq mi (2,700 km2) |
| • Water | 35 sq mi (90 km2) 3.3% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 620,443 |
| • Estimate (2022) | 678,490 |
| • Density | 580/sq mi (220/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional districts | 2nd, 8th |
| Website | www |
Montgomery County is part of the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography edit
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,077 square miles (2,790 km2), of which 1,042 square miles (2,700 km2) are land and 35 square miles (91 km2) (3.3%) are covered by water.[4]
Adjacent counties edit
- Walker County (north)
- San Jacinto County (northeast)
- Liberty County (east)
- Harris County (south)
- Waller County (west)
- Grimes County (northwest)
National protected area edit
- Sam Houston National Forest (partial)
Communities edit
Cities edit
- Cleveland (most of the city is in Liberty County)[5]
- Conroe (county seat)
- Cut and Shoot
- Houston (most of the city is in Harris County)
- Magnolia
- Montgomery
- Oak Ridge North
- Panorama Village
- Patton Village
- Roman Forest
- Shenandoah
- Splendora
- Willis
- Woodbranch
Towns edit
Census-designated places edit
- Pinehurst
- Porter Heights
- The Woodlands (small part of the CDP located in Harris County)
Unincorporated communities edit
- Chateau Woods (former city)
- Decker Prairie
- Dobbin
- Egypt
- Grangerland
- Imperial Oaks
- New Caney
- Porter
- River Plantation
- Spring (larger part in Harris County, which includes the CDP part)
- Tamina
Demographics edit
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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% | |
| 2020 | 620,443 | 36.1% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 648,886 | 4.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1850–2010[7] 2010–2020[8] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010[9] | Pop 2020[10] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 324,611 | 371,403 | 71.23% | 59.86% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 18,537 | 34,177 | 4.07% | 5.51% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 1,807 | 1,884 | 0.40% | 0.30% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 9,347 | 21,436 | 2.05% | 3.45% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 241 | 634 | 0.05% | 0.10% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 635 | 2,522 | 0.14% | 0.41% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 5,870 | 24,298 | 1.29% | 3.92% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 94,698 | 164,089 | 20.78% | 26.45% |
| Total | 455,746 | 620,443 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
As of the 2010 census,[11] there were 455,746 people, 162,530 households, and 121,472 families residing in the county. The population density was 423 people per square mile (163 people/km2). There were 177,647 housing units at an average density of 165 per square mile (64/km2).
In 2010, the racial makeup of the county was 83.5% White, 4.3% Black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 7.0% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. 20.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. At the 2020 census, the racial and ethnic makeup was 59.86% non-Hispanic white, 5.51% African American or Black, 0.30% Native American, 3.45% Asian alone, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.41% some other race, 3.92% multiracial, and 26.45% Hispanic or Latino American of any race.
At the 2010 census there were 162,530 households, out of which 36.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married couples living together, 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.70% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.30% were non-families. 20.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the county, 27.60% of the population was under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 26.60% from 45 to 64, and 10.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.29 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.94 males.
At the 2000 census, 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.
From 2010 to 2016, 54% of all vehicle-related fatalities in the county were related to the use of controlled substances, including alcohol, marijuana, methamphetamine and synthetic drugs. According to Tyler Dunman, former Montgomery County assistant district attorney, approximately 60-70% of all crime in the county is connected to substance abuse.[12]
Politics edit
Since the late 20th century, Texas's suburbs, especially those of Houston, Dallas and Austin, have supported Democratic candidates in greater proportion. However, Montgomery County has largely bucked this trend; it has given GOP candidates 70 percent or more of the vote since 2000. The county has not been won by a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964, when native Texan and favorite son Lyndon Johnson won 60.9% of the county's vote.[13]
In 2004, county voters gave 78.1 percent of their vote to Republican candidate George W. Bush.[14] In 2008, 75.8% of the voters supported the Republican ticket of John McCain and Sarah Palin.[15] In 2016, this was the only county in the United States where Republican nominee Donald Trump won against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton by a margin of greater than 100,000 votes.[16]
In 2020, Trump won Montgomery County again, with an expanded margin of 119,000 votes.[18]| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 193,382 | 71.22% | 74,377 | 27.39% | 3,784 | 1.39% |
| 2016 | 150,314 | 73.00% | 45,835 | 22.26% | 9,755 | 4.74% |
| 2012 | 137,969 | 79.51% | 32,920 | 18.97% | 2,634 | 1.52% |
| 2008 | 119,884 | 75.76% | 36,703 | 23.19% | 1,664 | 1.05% |
| 2004 | 104,654 | 78.11% | 28,628 | 21.37% | 706 | 0.53% |
| 2000 | 80,600 | 75.89% | 23,286 | 21.92% | 2,327 | 2.19% |
| 1996 | 51,011 | 65.23% | 20,722 | 26.50% | 6,469 | 8.27% |
| 1992 | 39,976 | 51.28% | 18,551 | 23.80% | 19,431 | 24.92% |
| 1988 | 40,360 | 68.24% | 18,394 | 31.10% | 392 | 0.66% |
| 1984 | 41,230 | 75.39% | 13,293 | 24.31% | 167 | 0.31% |
| 1980 | 26,237 | 65.64% | 12,593 | 31.51% | 1,141 | 2.85% |
| 1976 | 15,739 | 53.07% | 13,718 | 46.25% | 202 | 0.68% |
| 1972 | 15,067 | 77.48% | 4,358 | 22.41% | 22 | 0.11% |
| 1968 | 4,353 | 32.84% | 4,021 | 30.34% | 4,881 | 36.82% |
| 1964 | 3,167 | 38.64% | 4,989 | 60.87% | 40 | 0.49% |
| 1960 | 3,309 | 47.70% | 3,510 | 50.60% | 118 | 1.70% |
| 1956 | 3,360 | 56.24% | 2,572 | 43.05% | 42 | 0.70% |
| 1952 | 2,969 | 46.32% | 3,432 | 53.54% | 9 | 0.14% |
| 1948 | 544 | 16.30% | 1,795 | 53.77% | 999 | 29.93% |
| 1944 | 219 | 6.05% | 2,902 | 80.17% | 499 | 13.78% |
| 1940 | 408 | 10.87% | 3,347 | 89.13% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 186 | 7.05% | 2,443 | 92.61% | 9 | 0.34% |
| 1932 | 126 | 6.00% | 1,971 | 93.90% | 2 | 0.10% |
| 1928 | 613 | 40.36% | 905 | 59.58% | 1 | 0.07% |
| 1924 | 166 | 9.83% | 1,500 | 88.81% | 23 | 1.36% |
| 1920 | 203 | 14.00% | 935 | 64.48% | 312 | 21.52% |
| 1916 | 197 | 16.13% | 880 | 72.07% | 144 | 11.79% |
| 1912 | 120 | 12.67% | 613 | 64.73% | 214 | 22.60% |
United States Congress edit
| Senators | Name | Party | First Elected | Level | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senate Class 1 | Ted Cruz | Republican | 2012 | Junior Senator | ||
| Senate Class 2 | John Cornyn | Republican | 2002 | Senior Senator | ||
| Representatives | Name | Party | First Elected | Area(s) of Montgomery County Represented | ||
| District 2 | Dan Crenshaw | Republican | 2018 | South county | ||
| District 8 | Morgan Luttrell | Republican | 2020 | West and north county | ||
Texas Legislature edit
Texas Senate edit
| District | Name | Party | First Elected | Area(s) of Montgomery County Represented | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Robert Nichols | Republican | 2006 | North | |
| 4 | Brandon Creighton | Republican | Special election 2014 | South and central (including The Woodlands and Conroe) | |
Texas House of Representatives edit
| District | Name | Party | First Elected | Area(s) of Montgomery County Represented | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Cecil Bell Jr. | Republican | 2012 | Southwest to southeast | |
| 15 | Steve Toth | Republican | 2014 | South (including The Woodlands) | |
| 16 | Will Metcalf | Republican | 2014 | North and east (including Conroe) | |
Education edit
Public schools edit
Several school districts operate public schools in the county:[19]
- Conroe ISD
- Magnolia ISD
- Montgomery ISD
- New Caney ISD
- Richards ISD (partial)
- Splendora ISD
- Tomball ISD (partial)
- Willis ISD (partial)
Private schools edit
- Pre-K to 12
- Covenant Christian School
- Christ Community School
- Esprit International School
- The Woodlands Christian Academy
- The John Cooper School
- The Woodlands Preparatory School
- Porter Christian Academy
- Cunae International School
- Legacy Preparatory Christian Academy
- Willis Classical Academy
- Pre-K to 8
- St. Anthony Of Padua Catholic School of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
The closest Catholic high school is Frassati Catholic High School in north Harris County; the planners of the school intended for it to serve The Woodlands.[20]
Colleges and universities edit
The county is also home to two campuses of the Lone Star College System (formerly North Harris-Montgomery Community College District): Montgomery and The University Center.
Lone Star College's service area under Texas law includes, in Montgomery County: Conroe, Magnolia, Montgomery, New Caney, Splendora, Tomball, and Willis ISDs. The portion in Richards ISD is zoned to Blinn Junior College District.[21]
Libraries edit
The county operates the Montgomery County Memorial Library System.
Healthcare edit
In 1938, the Montgomery County Hospital, a public institution, opened, the first public hospital in the county. It had 25 beds.[22] The Montgomery County Hospital District opened in the 1970s, and the purpose of the district was making a new hospital, which opened in 1982 and replaced the former hospital.[23]
Transportation edit
Airports edit
Conroe-North Houston Regional 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.[24]
Major highways edit
- Interstate 45
- Interstate 69/U.S. Highway 59
- State Highway 75
- State Highway 99 - Grand Parkway Toll Road
- State Highway 105
- State Highway 242
- State Highway 249 - a.k.a. MCTRA 249 Tollway (from Spring Creek to Pinehurst) and the Aggie Expressway (Pinehurst up to Todd Mission)
Toll roads edit
Montgomery County has several toll roads within its borders, most of which are operated as "pass-through toll roads"[25] or shadow toll roads.
There are two "true" toll roads within Montgomery County. One toll road consists of a section of mainlanes of State Highway 249 between the Harris County line at Spring Creek to FM 1774 in Pinehurst and is signed as MCTRA 249 Tollway (maintained by the Montgomery County Toll Road Authority).[26] North of Pinehurst, the toll road continues as the TxDOT maintained Aggie Expressway (SH 249 Toll) up north to FM 1774 near Todd Mission then as a two-lane freeway up to State Highway 105 near Navasota.[27] The other toll road within Montgomery County (also maintained by TxDOT) is Grand Parkway (State Highway 99) between the Harris County line at Spring Creek, with an interchange at I-69/US 59 near New Caney, and reentering Harris County before continuing into Liberty and Chambers Counties.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ Searle, Kameron K. The Early History of Montgomery, Texas. City of Montgomery, Texas: July 7, 2012. Accessed on June 5, 2021.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ . Archived from the original on January 6, 2022. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
- ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
- ^ . United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 24, 2011. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
- ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Montgomery County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Montgomery County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ Zedaker, Hannah. Officials: Substance abuse rising in Montgomery County. Community Impact Newspaper: June 12, 2017. Retrieved April 23, 2018
- ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - Data Graphs". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - Data Graph --2004 Montgomery County, Texas". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - Data Graph --2008 Montgomery County, Texas". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- ^ "2016 Presidential Election Results". The New York Times. August 9, 2017.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- ^ 2020 Presidential General Election Results - Montgomery County, TX, Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Elections, LLC.
- ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Montgomery County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 29, 2022. - Text list
- ^ Dominguez, Catherine (August 29, 2012). "New Catholic high school breaks ground". The Spring Observer. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- ^ Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.168. BLINN JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA. Sec. 130.191. LONE STAR COLLEGE SYSTEM DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
- ^ "Mary Swain Sanitarium, County Hospital cornerstones to local modern healthcare". Montgomery County Courier. November 22, 2017. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ^ Hernandez, Sondra (March 23, 2021). "Developer looks to renovate old Montgomery County Hospital property". Montgomery County Courier. Retrieved April 28, 2021. - See at Houston Chronicle, see at Press Reader.
- ^ "Master Plan Executive Summary July 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine." George Bush Intercontinental Airport Master Plan. Houston Airport System. December 2006. 2-1 (23/130). Retrieved on December 14, 2010.
- ^ TxDot's Pass-Through Financing Program
- ^ [1] Montgomery County Toll Road Authority (MCTRA) SH 249 Retrieved May 8, 2020
- ^ First stretch of ‘Aggie Expressway’ toll road opens Saturday Houston Chronicle. 8 August 2020 (same-day retrieval)
External links edit
- Montgomery County government's website
- Montgomery County in the Handbook of Texas Online from The University of Texas at Austin
- History of the Lake Creek Settlement and the Founding of the Town of Montgomery, Texas
- Early History of Montgomery County, Texas
- 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).
- Montgomery County Community Website