Conroe, Texas

The city is named after Isaac Conroe. Born in the North, he served as a Union Cavalry officer and settled in Houston after the Civil War. There he became a lumberman.Jackson,

Charles Christopher. [https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hec03 Conroe, TX.] The Handbook of Texas Online: December 11, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2018. Conroe founded a sawmill in this area in 1881. The community built its early economy and wealth on the lumber industry. Originally named "Conroe's Switch", the community received an influx of workers and residents in the late 19th century who were attracted to the growth of the lumber industry, which harvested the local piney wood forest.

In 1886, Conroe Mill School was established in the expanding town. Conroe Normal and Industrial College, a school for African Americans, served the area.

Six lynchings were recorded in Montgomery County around the turn of the century, and some suspects were lynched at the courthouse in Conroe. In 1922, a young black man named Joe Winters was lynched, burned alive on the courthouse square for allegedly attacking a young white woman.{{Cite web|author=Lynching in Texas Staff|title=Lynching of Joe Winters - May 20, 1922|url=http://www.lynchingintexas.org/items/show/521|access-date=2021-06-02|website=Lynching In Texas|language=en}} Within the black community, it was known he was in a consensual relationship with the woman, who denied it when they were discovered.

In 1941 Bob White was shot to death in the courthouse, during his third trial. The African-American man was arrested in 1936 on charges of assaulting a white woman in Livingston, Texas. (Alternative accounts in the black community said they had a standing consensual relationship.) He was first tried there, before an all-white jury. They convicted him. The case was appealed with the help of the NAACP in Houston because he had not been given a lawyer or been able to contact family, and he was tortured in interrogation. The second trial was held in Conroe for a change of venue. Another all-white jury convicted White again. The case reached the United States Supreme Court on appeal, which had just ruled that coerced confessions were unconstitutional and remanded the case to the lower court for trial. During the proceedings in the courtroom, in front of the judge and numerous witnesses, the husband of the alleged victim shot White in the back of the head and immediately killed him. The husband was arrested and tried the following week, and was acquitted.

In 1931 George W. Strake discovered the Conroe Oil Field. Distillate and natural gas were produced from the Cockfield Formation at a depth of about {{convert|5000|ft|m}}. cA second well in 1932 produced 1200 BOPD. By 1935, the field had produced 40 million barrels of oil.{{cite book |last1=Olien |first1=Diana |last2=Olien |first2=Roger |title=Oil in Texas, The Gusher Age, 1895-1945 |date=2002 |publisher=University of Texas Press |location=Austin |isbn=0292760566 |pages=212–213}}{{cite web |last1=Michaux |first1=Frank |last2=Buck |first2=E.O. |title=Conroe Oil Field, Montgomery County, Texas |url=http://archives.datapages.com/data/bulletns/1931-37/images/pg/00200006/0700/07360.pdf |website=AAPG Bulletin Data Pages Archives |publisher=AAPG |access-date=30 August 2020 |pages=736–773 |date=1936}}

During the 1930s, because of oil profits, the city briefly boasted more millionaires per capita than any other U.S. city. After the construction of Interstate 45 in the postwar period improved automobile access, many Houstonians began to follow the highway to new suburban communities that developed around Conroe.

The Office of Management and Budget classifies Conroe as a principal city within the {{nowrap|Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land}} metropolitan area.[https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/bulletins/2015/15-01.pdf OMB Bulletin 15-01, Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas.] Office of Management and Budget: July 15, 2015. Page 35. Retrieved March 11, 2018. The city is about {{convert|40|mi|km}} north of Houston."[http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/Pilot_Lands_Small_Plane_On_Conroe_Street_136662523.html Pilot Lands Small Plane On Conroe Street]". KBTX. Associated Press. January 4, 2012. Retrieved on January 5, 2012.

When Conroe incorporated in 1904, the city limits encompassed a 5.44 square mile area. From 1970 to 2000, the city limits expanded from 7.15 square miles to 42.35 square miles.[http://www.cityofconroe.org/home/showdocument?id=4488 100 Plus Years of Growth: Conroe's City Limit Expansion 1904 to December 2013.] City of Conroe, Texas. Retrieved March 12, 2018. Beginning in 2007, the city outlined a plan to continue expanding its city limits through annexation.Kuhles, Beth. [https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/woodlands-news/article/Conroe-studies-future-annexation-options-1546053.php Conroe studies future annexation options.] Houston Chronicle: February 22, 2007. Retrieved March 12, 2018. According to Chapter 43 of the Texas Local Government Code, home rule municipalities like Conroe may annex territory that is adjacent to the city's current boundaries, with certain restrictions.[http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/LG/htm/LG.43.htm Local Government Code Sec. 43.003: Authority of Home-Rule Municipality to Annex Area and Take Other Actions Regarding Boundaries.] Texas State Legislature: Acts 1987, amended Acts 2017. Retrieved March 12. 2018. The city's 2007 plan projected doubling its size through a combination of voluntary and involuntary annexations. As of 2022, the city has annexed territory every year since 2007, increasing the city limits from 52.8 to 77.5 square miles.Mendoza, Jesse. [https://communityimpact.com/houston/city-county/2016/05/25/conroe-expands-city-limits-tax-base-annual-annexation-program/ Conroe expands city limits, tax base through annual annexation program.] Community Impact Newspaper: June 8, 2016. Retrieved March 12, 2018.[http://www.cityofconroe.org/home/showdocument?id=4521 City Limits through April 2022.] City of Conroe, Texas. Retrieved December 29, 2022.{{cite web |title=Annexation Program |url=https://www.cityofconroe.org/departments/community-development/planning-annexation/annexation-program |publisher=City of Conroe |access-date=December 29, 2022}}

In April 2015, residents of the gated community of April Sound filed a lawsuit against Conroe after their community was annexed on January 1, 2015. The lawsuit was dismissed in March 2017.{{Cite news |last=Dominguez |first=Catherine |date=March 10, 2017 |title=Judge dismisses annexation suit against Conroe |url=https://www.yourconroenews.com/neighborhood/moco/news/article/Judge-dismisses-annexation-suit-against-Conroe-10991000.php |work=The Courier |location=Conroe, Texas |access-date=March 13, 2018}} Involuntary annexations were a major issue in the 2016 mayoral election, the first after April Sound residents were incorporated into the city. Proponents of annexation contended that it was a useful tool to "promote and facilitate growth and progress," while those in opposition were concerned about whether annexed territories receive a "fair shake" in the negotiations.{{Cite news |last=Green |first=Stephen |date=June 18, 2016 |title=Annexation remains hot topic in mayoral race |url=https://www.yourconroenews.com/neighborhood/moco/news/article/Annexation-remains-hot-topic-in-mayoral-race-9492428.php |work=The Courier |location=Conroe, Texas |access-date=March 13, 2018}} In 2017, the city council voted in favor of additional involuntary annexations.{{Cite news |last=Snyder |first=Mike |date=December 15, 2017 |title=Conroe council OKs controversial annexations |url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/conroe/news/article/Conroe-council-OKs-controversial-annexations-12433492.php |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=March 13, 2018}}

File:Jones State Forest.jpg

Conroe is in the southwest corner of the East Texas Piney Woods.[https://tpwd.texas.gov/landwater/land/habitats/pineywood/regulatory/ Pineywoods Wildlife District.] Texas Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved March 10, 2018. The Piney Woods consist of pine trees and hardwood forests. The most common type of tree in the southwest Piney Woods is the loblolly pine. Shortleaf pine are also abundant.[https://tpwd.texas.gov/landwater/land/habitats/pineywood/ Pineywoods Wildlife Management.] Texas Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved March 10, 2018. Pockets of blackland prairie vegetation are also present, but are disappearing due to urbanization.[http://www.cityofconroe.org/home/showdocument?id=2686 "Flood Insurance Study: Montgomery County, Texas and incorporated areas volume 1 of 6"]. Federal Emergency Management Agency: September 23, 2008. Pages 6-8, 13. Retrieved March 11, 2018.

In 1926, the Texas A&M Forest Service purchased 1700 acres of Piney Woods to establish W. Goodrich Jones State Forest. The forest serves as a research and demonstration area for sustainable forestry techniques. The forest also preserves the habitat of the red-cockaded woodpecker, a species classified in the early 21st century as Near Threatened by the IUCN.[https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/jones-state-forest/ W. Goodrich Jones State Forest.] Texas A&M Forest Service. Retrieved March 11, 2018.{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International. |year=2020 |title=Leuconotopicus borealis |volume=2020 |page=e.T22681158A179376787 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22681158A179376787.en |access-date=10 July 2024}}

In 2017, Texas A&M asked Conroe state senator Brandon Creighton to author a bill setting aside 10 percent of the forest for educational and research-related development. The bill also opened the possibility of commercial development on the land.Fletcher, Abner. [https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/education/2017/04/11/219001/the-present-and-future-of-the-w-g-jones-state-forest/ The Present and Future of the W.G. Jones State Forest.] Houston Public Media: April 11, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2018. Public concern over the bill persuaded Creighton to revise it. The final version, which passed the Senate unanimously, protected the entire forest from development.{{Cite news |last=Marshall |first=John S. |date=May 31, 2017 |title=Jones State Forest offering a sanctuary from the city for nearly 100 years |url=https://www.yourconroenews.com/125years/article/Jones-State-Forest-offering-a-sanctuary-from-the-11184922.php |work=The Courier |location=Conroe, Texas |access-date=March 11, 2018}}

File:West Fork San Jacinto River.jpg

The West Fork of the San Jacinto River flows through the western edge of Conroe. The entire city is within the river's watershed.[https://www.tpl.org/sites/default/files/West%20Fork%20Greenprint.pdf West Fork San Jacinto Watershed Greenprint.] The Trust for Public Land: July 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2018. The river flows southeast from Lake Conroe, a 19,640 surface acre lake created by a dam in 1973 to establish an alternative source of drinking water for Houston.[http://www.sjra.net/lakeconroe/history/ History of Lake Conroe.] San Jacinto River Authority. Retrieved March 10, 2018.

Conroe developed over several geologic layers of underground aquifers, which supply the city with fresh drinking water.[https://www.twdb.texas.gov/publications/reports/numbered_reports/doc/R136/R136.pdf Ground-Water resources of Montgomery County, Texas.] Texas Water Development Board: November 1971. Pages 9-15. Retrieved March 11, 2018. Due to rapid development in this area, and the increased population of Conroe and the surrounding area, the groundwater supply is being withdrawn faster than it can be replenished.Oden, Timothy D. [https://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/580/pdf/ds580.pdf Groundwater Environmental Tracer Data Collected from the Chicot, Evangeline, and Jasper Aquifers in Montgomery County and Adjacent Counties, Texas, 2008.] United States Geological Survey: 2011. Pages 1-7. Retrieved March 11, 2018. As a result, the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District, which oversees groundwater usage in Montgomery County, mandated that Conroe reduce its groundwater usage by 30 percent of 2009 amounts by January 1, 2016.Jordan, Jay R. [https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/news/article/Conroe-loses-rehearing-motion-on-water-lawsuit-10984870.php Conroe loses rehearing motion on water lawsuit, could appeal to Texas Supreme Court.] Houston Chronicle: March 7, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2018. As part of the groundwater usage reduction plan, the San Jacinto River Authority began in September 2015 to supplement Conroe's groundwater supply with surface water pumped from Lake Conroe. The SJRA charges the city usage fees to cover the cost of pumping and treating the water.Mendoza, Jesse. [https://communityimpact.com/houston/conroe-montgomery/city-county/2017/07/22/water-dispute-costs-county-residents-millions-dollars/ Water dispute costs county residents millions of dollars.] Community Impact Newspaper: July 25, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2018.

On August 27, 2015, the City of Conroe filed a lawsuit against the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District, claiming that the LSGCD did not have the authority to limit the city's groundwater usage. The city also refused to pay SJRA water usage fee increases in 2016, resulting in a separate lawsuit filed by the SJRA against the city. The LSGCD and Conroe reached a settlement agreement in January 2019.{{cite web |last1=Schafler |first1=Kelly |title=UPDATED: Conroe City Council approves settlement agreement in lawsuit against Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District |url=https://communityimpact.com/houston/conroe-montgomery/environment/2019/01/24/breaking-conroe-city-council-approves-settlement-agreement-in-lawsuit-against-lone-star-groundwater-conservation-district/ |website=Community Impact Newspaper |access-date=17 October 2020 |date=25 January 2019}} The SJRA case was dismissed in June 2020.{{cite web |last1=Dominguez |first1=Catherine |title=Judge dismisses San Jacinto River Authority suit against Conroe and Magnolia |url=https://www.yourconroenews.com/neighborhood/moco/news/article/Judge-dismisses-San-Jacinto-River-Authority-suit-15374511.php |website=The Courier of Montgomery County |access-date=17 October 2020 |date=30 June 2020}}

Parts of Conroe surrounding the West Fork of the San Jacinto River are in a floodplain.[http://gis.mctx.org/apps/floodplains/ Montgomery County Floodplain Viewer.] Montgomery County, Texas, Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Retrieved March 11, 2018. Significant flooding occurs along the floodplain when rainfall exceeds nine inches in a 48-hour period. The Conroe area has approximately a 10 percent chance of receiving this much rainfall in any given year. Urban development in Conroe and the surrounding area has also exacerbated the risk of flooding.Zedaker, Hannah. [https://communityimpact.com/houston/the-woodlands/environment/2016/06/08/montgomery-county-recovers-historic-flood-conditions/ Montgomery County recovers from historic flood conditions.] Community Impact Newspaper: June 13, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2018. Montgomery County had 500-year floods in three successive years, in May 2015, April 2016, and August 2017.Schlafer, Kelly. [https://communityimpact.com/houston/conroe-montgomery/editors-pick/2018/01/24/local-officials-study-flood-mitigation-montgomery-county/ Local officials to study flood mitigation in Montgomery County.] Community Impact Newspaper: January 24, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2018. A 500-year flood has a 0.2 percent chance of occurring in a year. In addition, a fourth major flood occurred in May 2016, resulting in two major floods in two months.

The flooding in August 2017 took place during Hurricane Harvey, when nearly 32 inches of rain fell on the city.{{Cite news |last=Marshall |first=John S. |date=August 31, 2017 |title=Flooded-out Conroe-area residents returning to damaged homes |url=https://www.yourconroenews.com/news/article/Flooded-out-Conroe-area-residents-returning-to-12162882.php |work=The Courier |location=Conroe, Texas |access-date=March 11, 2018}} To protect the integrity of the dam, San Jacinto River Authority officials released 79,100 cubic feet per second of water from Lake Conroe downstream into the West Fork of the San Jacinto River, exacerbating flooding already taking place in the floodplain. Conroe city officials ordered a mandatory evacuation of McDade Estates, a neighborhood on the banks of the river.Osborne, Ryan. [http://www.star-telegram.com/news/state/texas/article170132167.html "40 miles from downtown Houston, 'We thought the rain was going to come but not flood{{'"}}] Star-Telegram: August 30, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2018. As a response to the flooding, Montgomery County commissioners in October 2017 requested $1.25 million from the federal government for a flood mitigation study, along with an additional $95.5 million to implement various flood mitigation projects.

{{US Census population

|align=right

|1910= 1374

|1920= 1858

|1930= 2457

|1940= 4624

|1950= 7298

|1960= 9192

|1970= 11969

|1980= 18034

|1990= 27610

|2000= 36811

|2010= 56207

|2020=89956

|estyear= 2023

|estimate= 103035

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{Cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|access-date=2017-12-07 }} 2010–2020, 2021{{cite web|title=QuickFacts: Conroe city, Texas|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/conroecitytexas/POP010220|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 15, 2022}}U.S. Census Bureau. [https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2023/subcounty-metro-micro-estimates.html Large Southern Cities Lead Nation in Population Growth], May 18, 2023}}

{{cbignore}}

File:Race and ethnicity 2020 Conroe, TX.png

During the first decade of the 21st century, the city attracted many new residents from the Houston area. Renée C. Lee said that Conroe around 2002 was "a sleepy, backwater town" and that at the time, Conroe city officials needed to use financial incentives to attract home developers to Conroe. Between 2003 and 2006, Conroe became a hotbed of construction of new houses.Lee, Renée C. "[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/biz/4758372.html Conroe housing market going through the roof]." Houston Chronicle. April 29, 2007. Retrieved on January 15, 2010. As a result, Conroe's population grew from 36,811 in 2000 to 56,207 in 2010.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 89,956 people, 32,547 households, and 21,369 families residing in the city.

As of the census[https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website] United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 13, 2018. of 2010, there were 56,207 people, 18,651 households, and 13,086 families residing in the city. Since the 2010 census, Conroe's population has continued to grow. Between 2014 and 2015, Conroe was the sixth fastest growing city in the United States.Rhor, Monica, and John D. Harden. [https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Conroe-booming-as-America-s-fastest-growing-city-11174748.php#photo-12974239 Conroe booming as America's fastest growing city.] Houston Chronicle: May 26, 2017. Retrieved March 13,

2018. The following year, the US Census Bureau reported that Conroe was the fastest-growing large city in the United States. It had a 7.8% growth rate between 2015 and 2016.{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2017/05/25/census-bureau-shows-fastest-growing-cities-u-s/344945001/ |title=The Census Bureau shows the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. are ... |first=Mary |last=Bowerman |date=May 25, 2017 |newspaper=USA Today |access-date=February 18, 2018}} New housing developments throughout the city have contributed to the rapid population growth. Conroe's annexation of growing communities within its extraterritorial jurisdiction has also contributed to its growth.

The racial makeup of the city was 69.7% White (including Hispanic), 10.3% African American, 1.2% Native American, 1.8% Asian, less than 0.05% Pacific Islander, 13.7% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 38.5% of the population. White alone (not Hispanic or Latino) were 48.3% of the total population.

According to the 2016 American Community Survey, the median income for a household in the city was $50,517 and the median income for a family was $60,087. Males had a median income of $44,343 versus $37,747 for females. The per capita income for the city was $28,672. About 12.2% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over. In response to income inequality, several non-profit groups including the Montgomery County United Way, The Salvation Army, and the Crisis Assistance Center help provide residents of the area with a variety of services ranging from transportation to food and shelter.Mendoza, Jesse. [https://communityimpact.com/houston/economic-development/2016/02/24/economic-inequality-challenges-cities/ Economic inequality challenges cities.] Community Impact Newspaper: February 24, 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2018.

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.Dawson, Jennifer. "Exxon Mobil campus 'clearly happening'." Houston Business Journal. Friday January 15, 2010. [http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2010/01/18/story2.html?b=1263790800^2732161&page=2 2]. Retrieved on January 16, 2010.

According to the city's 2016 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[http://www.cityofconroe.org/home/showdocument?id=14189 City of Conroe 2016 CAFR, page 138] Retrieved February 25, 2018 the top employers in the city are:

File:Crighton Theatre.jpg

Downtown Conroe's Central Business District hosts multiple arts venues. The oldest is the Crighton Theatre, which opened on November 26, 1935. The theatre is named after Harry M. Crighton, Conroe's mayor from 1932 to 1933. The theatre functioned as the community's movie theatre until 1967, at which point it fell into disrepair. In 1979 it was renovated, and it now hosts live theatrical productions.{{Cite news |last=Hernandez |first=Sondra |date=May 10, 2017 |title=Crighton Theatre 'Crown Jewel of Conroe' still shines after 80-plus years |url=https://www.yourconroenews.com/125years/article/Crighton-Theatre-Crown-Jewel-of-Conroe-still-11136197.php |work=The Courier |location=Conroe, Texas |access-date=March 15, 2018}} Another theatre, the Owen Theatre, is also located in the district.Mendoza, Jesse. [https://communityimpact.com/houston/conroe-montgomery/editors-pick/2018/02/22/stage-set-new-performing-arts-venues-conroe/ Stage set for new performing arts venues in Conroe.] Community Impact Newspaper: February 22, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018. The Central Business District has outdoor performance venues at Conroe Founder's Plaza and Heritage Place, which host multiple festivals throughout the year.Mendoza, Jesse. [https://communityimpact.com/houston/development-construction/2015/07/15/downtown-initiatives-aim-to-attract-visitors/ Downtown initiatives aim to attract visitors.] Community Impact Newspaper: July 15, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2018.

The city supports several arts organizations, including the Greater Conroe Arts Alliance.[http://www.conroetoday.com/newsarchives/archivedetails.cfm?id=5386 Greater Conroe Arts Alliance unveils two sculptures honoring the arts in Conroe.] Conroe Today: July 16, 2013. Retrieved March 15. 2018. The Alliance is a network of multiple arts groups in the city such as the Conroe Symphony, the Conroe Art League, and the Montgomery County Choral Society.[http://greaterconroeartsalliance.com/member_organizations/ Current Member Organizations.] Greater Conroe Arts Alliance. The Alliance also sponsors, along with the state of Texas, the Young Texas Artists Music Competition. The competition, founded in 1983, showcases young musicians who aspire to careers in classical music.[https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/moco/events/article/Young-Texas-Artists-Music-Competition-s-Bach-12704744.php Young Texas Artists Music Competition's Bach, Beethoven & Barbecue set for March 10.] Houston Chronicle: February 23, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018. In 2009, the city sponsored the Art Bench Project, which converted 13 stone benches scattered throughout the central business district into works of art. Each bench portrays a different part of Conroe's history and culture, from historical figures like George Strake and Charles B. Stewart to contemporary art groups such as the Crighton Players.Kuhles, Beth. [https://www.chron.com/news/article/Conroe-art-bench-project-debuts-downtown-1732612.php Conroe art bench project debuts downtown.] Houston Chronicle: August 10, 2009. Retrieved March 15, 2018.

File:Montgomery County Heritage Museum, Conroe, Texas.jpg

The city contains multiple parks which document local history. The Heritage Museum of Montgomery County maintains artifacts of Montgomery County's early settlers.{{cite web|title=Heritage Museum of Montgomery Co.|url=http://heritagemuseum.us/|publisher=Heritage Museum of Montgomery County, Texas|access-date=August 8, 2013}}Barrett, Natasha. [http://abc13.com/news/precious-relics-of-texas-history-stolen-from-heritage-museum/2234703/ Precious relics of Texas history stolen from Heritage Museum.] Eyewitness News: July 19, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2018.

The Lone Star Monument and Historical Flag Park displays the flags that flew over Texas. The flags are positioned in a circle around the park, with a statue of a Texian in the center. Each flag comes with a plaque that describes its connection to Texas history.Meyer, Brad. [https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/article/Lone-Star-Flag-Park-celebrates-Texas-history-9371811.php#photo-11099861 Lone Star Flag Park celebrates Texas History.] ''Houston Chronicle': April 15, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2018. At the park's entrance is a statue of Charles B. Stewart, who is claimed to have designed the lone star flag.Spain, Charles A. [http://www.texflags.org/texheritage.pdf Who Designed the Lone Star Flag?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122223039/http://www.texflags.org/texheritage.pdf |date=2020-01-22 }} Heritage Volume 18, Number 1: Winter 2000. Retrieved March 15, 2018.

Montgomery County War Memorial Park is a memorial to the 166 soldiers from Montgomery County who have been killed in active duty. The park's dedication ceremony was in 1976 and featured a speech by President Gerald Ford.Zedaker, Hannah. [https://communityimpact.com/houston/the-woodlands/city-county/2017/06/12/veterans-memorial-commission-planning-relocate-war-memorial-park-2/ Veteran's memorial commission planning to relocate War Memorial Park.] Community Impact Newspaper: June 12, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2018.Ford, Gerald R. [http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=5898 Remarks at Dedication Ceremonies for the Montgomery County War Memorial Park in Conroe, Texas.] The American Presidency Project: April 29, 1976. Retrieved March 15, 2018. In 2017, the Montgomery County Commissioners Court and the City of Conroe agreed to relocate and expand the memorial, to include the names of up to 50,000 soldiers who have lived in Montgomery County.Dominguez, Catherine. [https://www.expressnews.com/militarycity/article/Commissioners-commit-to-help-fund-Montgomery-11038941.php Commissioners commit to help fund Montgomery County war memorial.] San Antonio Express News: March 30, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2018. As of June 2019, the expansion is ongoing.{{cite web |last1=Dominguez |first1=Catherine |date=5 June 2019 |title=Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Commission's unveils first monument in new park |url=https://www.yourconroenews.com/neighborhood/moco/news/article/Montgomery-County-Veterans-Memorial-13939425.php |work=The Courier |location=Conroe, Texas |access-date=17 October 2020}}

Lake Conroe, northwest of downtown Conroe, is a site for such water-based activities as boating and fishing. The most common fish in the lake are Largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, white bass, and hybrid striped bass. Crappie may also be found in the early spring and fall.[https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/recreational/lakes/conroe/ Lake Conroe.] Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved March 15, 2018.

File:Montgomery county tx courthouse 2014.jpg

For the 2019 Fiscal Year, the city had $157.8 million in revenues and $147.9 million in expenditures. The city's net position was $189.7 million.{{cite web |title=City of Conroe, Texas Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the year ended September 2019 |url=https://www.cityofconroe.org/home/showdocument?id=22921 |publisher=City of Conroe, Texas |access-date=30 June 2020}}

The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:[https://www.cityofconroe.org/departments/administration/city-management Management Staff.] City of Conroe. Retrieved March 29, 2020.

The Conroe Police Department has 142 full-time police officers and 42 support staff.{{Cite web|title=Police Home Page|website=Conroe Police Department|url=http://www.cityofconroe.org/departments/police-department-home-page|accessdate=15 March 2015}} The department has a number of bureaus. The Uniformed Services Bureau includes the Patrol Division, SWAT a part time unit and honor guard. The Support Services Bureau the Criminal Investigations Division and animal control unit.

On 14 September 1982, Sergeant Ed Holcomb was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call.{{Cite web|title=Sergeant Ed Holcomb, Jr.|website=Officer Down Memorial Page|url=http://www.odmp.org/officer/6609-sergeant-ed-holcomb-jr|accessdate=15 March 2015}}

In July 2013, Conroe Police Sergeant Jason Blackwelder was off duty, and he observed store employees chasing a shoplifting suspect. He joined the chase. In an isolated area, Blackwelder killed the suspect with a single gunshot to the back of the head. In June 2014, he was convicted of manslaughter. He was sentenced to five years' probation.{{Cite news|title=Conroe officer indicted in fatal Walmart shooting|date=27 September 2013|newspaper=KHOU|url=http://www.khou.com/story/news/local/2014/07/23/12163456/|accessdate=15 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402120143/http://www.khou.com/story/news/local/2014/07/23/12163456/|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=dead}}

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

98% of Conroe is represented in the Texas Senate (District 4) by Republican Brandon Creighton. A small portion of the northern part of Conroe is part of District 3, represented by Republican Robert Nichols.[http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/City.aspx?CityCode=16432&CityName=Conroe Who Represents Me: Districts by City] Texas Legislative Council. Retrieved on June 17, 2017

In the Texas House of Representatives, 94% of Conroe is part of District 16, represented by Republican Will Metcalf. The southern portion of Conroe is in District 15, represented by Republican Steve Toth. Less than 1% of Conroe residents are part of District 3, represented by Republican Cecil Bell Jr.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the Conroe District Parole Office in Conroe."[http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/parole/parole-directory/paroledir-rgnldisparoff1.htm Parole Division Region I] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928130938/http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/parole/parole-directory/paroledir-rgnldisparoff1.htm |date=September 28, 2011 }}." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 15, 2010.

At the Federal level, the two U.S. senators from Texas are Republicans John Cornyn and Ted Cruz. Conroe is part of Texas's 8th congressional district, which is represented by Republican Morgan Luttrell.

The United States Postal Service Conroe Post Office is located at 809 West Dallas Street."[https://archive.today/20120718035649/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/4415?p=1&s=TX&service_name=post_office&z=Conroe Post Office Location - CONROE]." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 8, 2008.

File:Conroe High School.jpg, Conroe Independent School District.]]

Residents of both Conroe ISD and Willis ISD (and therefore the whole city of Conroe) are served by the Lone Star College System (formerly North Harris Montgomery Community College).[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.191. LONE STAR COLLEGE SYSTEM DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.].

It is primarily served 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.lonestar.edu/locations.htm |title=Lone Star College System Locations |access-date=2012-12-10}} The territory in Conroe ISD joined the community college district in 1991, and the territory in Willis ISD joined the district in 1996."[https://web.archive.org/web/20021222065728/http://www.nhmccd.edu/l.cfm?id=01004 History]." North Harris Montgomery Community College District. December 22, 2002. Retrieved on April 5, 2010.

The Catholic University of St. Thomas opened a campus in Conroe in fall 2020. The Old Conroe Police building has been adapted to serve as a temporary site for up to three years. The permanent campus is proposed to be at Deison Technology Park. Class of 1952 alumnus Vincent D'Amico offered the university {{convert|50|acre|ha}} of land in east Montgomery County for the project.{{cite web|author=Britto, Brittany|first2=Catherine|last2=Dominguez|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/education/campus-chronicles/article/University-of-St-Thomas-to-open-first-part-of-13808455.php|title=University of St. Thomas to open first part of Conroe campus in fall 2020|work=Houston Chronicle|date=2019-04-30|access-date=2019-12-29}}

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, and a western section is in the Montgomery Independent School District.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48339_montgomery/DC20SD_C48339.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Montgomery County, TX|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-02-15|pages=5-6,9-10/11 (PDF pp. 6-7, 10-11/12)}}

All of the schools listed here are in the city of Conroe. Approximately 60% of the Conroe ISD section of Conroe is zoned to Conroe High School{{cite web |url=http://chs.conroeisd.net |title=Conroe High School |access-date=2012-12-10}} though some parts of Conroe attend Oak Ridge High School and Caney Creek High School.

The junior high schools that serve the Conroe High School feeder zone are:

• John V. Peet Junior High School
• Washington Junior High School
• Albert B. Moorhead Junior High School

Some intermediate schools that serve the Conroe High School feeder zone are:

• Cryar Intermediate School
• Travis Intermediate School
• Bozman Intermediate School

Some elementary schools that serve the Conroe High School feeder zone are:

• Anderson Elementary School
• Neil Armstrong Elementary School
• Giesinger Elementary School
• Sam Houston Elementary School
• O. A. Reaves Elementary School
• B. B. Rice Elementary School
• J. W. Runyan Elementary School
• Wilkinson Elementary School

The Willis ISD section is zoned to Turner Elementary School,{{cite web |url=http://art.willisisd.org/ |title=A.R. Turner Elementary School |access-date=2012-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115160307/http://art.willisisd.org/ |archive-date=2013-01-15 |url-status=dead }} Brabham Middle School,{{cite web |url=http://bms.willisisd.org/ |title=Robert P. Brabham Middle School |access-date=2012-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115160307/http://bms.willisisd.org/ |archive-date=2013-01-15 |url-status=dead }} and Willis High School.{{cite web |url=http://whs.willisisd.org/ |title=Willis High School |access-date=2012-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115160331/http://whs.willisisd.org/ |archive-date=2013-01-15 |url-status=dead }}

• Sacred Heart Catholic School – Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
• Covenant Christian School
• Lifestyle Christian School
• Montgomery Christian Academy

The closest Catholic high school is Frassati Catholic High School in north Harris County; Conroe is in the school's intended catchment area.{{cite web|author=Dominguez, Catherine|url=http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/spring/news/article/New-Catholic-high-school-breaks-ground-9432116.php|title=New Catholic high school breaks ground|publisher=The Spring Observer at the Houston Chronicle|date=2012-08-29|access-date=2017-03-25}}

The Courier is a daily newspaper published in Conroe, Texas, covering Montgomery County. In 2016, the newspaper was purchased by Hearst Communications, a media conglomerate which also owns and operates the Houston Chronicle.{{Cite news |last=Lewis |first=Al |date=July 29, 2016 |title=Hearst purchases community newspapers across Houston's suburbs |url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/katy/news/article/Hearst-purchases-community-newspapers-across-9882614.php |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=February 25, 2018}}

Two Houston television stations, Ion owned-and-operated KPXB-TV (channel 49) and Quest owned-and-operated KTBU (channel 55), are licensed to Conroe. Both stations operate from studios located in the city of Houston.

Two low-power FM radio stations, KZCW-LP (104.5 FM) and KZCC-LP (106.1 FM), are owned by the city.{{cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=KZCW-LP |title=KZCW-LP Facility Record |work=United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division }}{{cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=KZCC-LP |title=KZCC-LP Facility Record |work=United States Federal Communications Commission, audio division }} The stations were purchased for emergency broadcasts during natural and civil emergencies, but air local and regional content when these are not a threat. Content is usually simulcast on the city's official cable television channel 12 "Our City TV" on the Consolidated and Optimum providers.{{Cite web|title=Our City TV {{!}} City of Conroe|url=https://www.cityofconroe.org/departments/our-city-tv|access-date=2020-10-08|website=www.cityofconroe.org}}

File:Downtown Conroe 105.jpg in downtown Conroe. The archway connects the Montgomery County Courthouse (right) with the Montgomery County Court Annex.]]

In 2012 the U.S. Census Bureau classified the area around Conroe and The Woodlands as a "large urbanized transit area." This is defined as an area having more than 200,000 residents, which makes it eligible to receive federal transportation funds, particularly to support transit.Lee, Renée C. "[http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Growth-transforms-rural-areas-north-of-Houston-to-3925086.php Growth transforms rural areas north of Houston to urban centers]." Houston Chronicle. Saturday, October 6, 2012. Retrieved on October 7, 2012.

• Interstate 45 directly connects the city with Houston to its south (40 miles) and with Dallas to its northwest (200 miles).
• 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.
• Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport provides general aviation services to Conroe.
• Greyhound Bus Lines operate a small station.[http://www.greyhound.com/en/locations/terminal.aspx?city=680669 Greyhound Conroe]
• Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (291 Conroe Park & Ride) provide service to Downtown Houston.
• The City of Conroe launched a local bus service, Conroe Connection, in 2015. It runs Monday through Friday, from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm[http://cityofconroe.org/departments/transit City of Conroe: Transit.] Accessed on June 25, 2017.
• Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway BNSF Railway operates the busy Conroe subdivision, an east–west railroad main line that runs from Silsbee in Hardin County to Navasota in Grimes County. There it intersects a main line running between Fort Worth and Galveston.

Union Pacific Railroad Corporation operates another busy main line that runs north from Houston in Harris County to Palestine in Anderson County, known as the Palestine subdivision. The two railroads intersect at a diamond in downtown Conroe between Main and First Streets.

In the early 1920s the Mary Swain Sanitarium, was established as the first organized healthcare institution in the city.{{cite web |last=Hernandez |first=Sondra |date=2021-03-23 |title=Developer looks to renovate old Montgomery County Hospital property |url=https://www.yourconroenews.com/neighborhood/moco/events/article/Developer-looks-to-renovate-old-Montgomery-County-16046849.php |accessdate=2021-04-28 |work=The Courier |location=Conroe, Texas}} - [https://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/moco/events/article/Developer-looks-to-renovate-old-Montgomery-County-16046849.php See at] Houston Chronicle, [https://www.pressreader.com/usa/houston-chronicle/20210324/281560883569143 see at] PressReader. The Mary Swain Sanitarium was private.{{cite web |title=Mary Swain Sanitarium, County Hospital cornerstones to local modern healthcare |url=https://www.yourconroenews.com/125years/article/Mary-Swain-Sanitarium-County-Hospital-12377049.php |work=The Courier |location=Conroe, Texas |date=2017-11-22 |accessdate=2021-04-28}}

In 1938 the Montgomery County Hospital, a public institution, replaced it. It had 25 beds. The hospital closed after a new hospital of the Montgomery County Hospital District opened in 1982.

• Brandon Allen, former Major League Baseball player for Arizona Diamondbacks{{cite web |url= http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=allenbr01| title= Brandon Allen Stats|publisher= Baseball Almanac |access-date=November 21, 2012}}
• Brian Barkley, former pitcher for Boston Red Sox{{cite web|url= http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=barklbr01| title= Brian Barkley Stats |publisher=Baseball Almanac |access-date=November 21, 2012}}
• Kyle Bennett, professional BMX racerMulvaney, Erin, and David Barron. [http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Former-Olympian-cyclist-dies-in-overnight-crash-3947635.php Former Olympian cyclist dies in overnight crash.] Houston Chronicle: October 15, 2012. Accessed on July 4, 2017.
• Richard Bradford, motion picture and television actor, notable leading roles in Man in the Suitcase, The Untouchables and Trip to BountifulHayward, Anthony. [http://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-richard-bradford-american-television-and-film-actor-1-4099580 Obituary: Richard Bradford, American television and film actor.] The Scotsman: April 13, 2016. Accessed on July 5, 2017.
• Clarence Lee Brandley, exonerated prisoner
• Jeromy Burnitz, Conroe High School 1987, baseball player drafted by New York Mets in 1990; played for seven major league teams over a fourteen-year career[http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=burnije01 Jeromy Burnitz Stats] Baseball Almanac. Accessed on July 4, 2017.
• Rock Cartwright, NFL running back, San Francisco 49ers{{cite news|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/301996/rock-cartwright| title= 28 Rock Cartwright, RB |work= CBSSports.com|access-date= November 21, 2012}}
• Andrew Cashner, Conroe High School 2005, drafted by Chicago Cubs, pitcher for Texas Rangers{{cite web|url= http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=cashnan01 |title= Andrew Cashner Stats |publisher=Baseball Almanac |access-date=November 21, 2012}}
• Jonathan Daviss, leading role in the Netflix series Outer Banks
• Colin Edwards, two-time World Superbike champion and former MotoGP rider{{Cite news |last=Green |first=Stephen |date=September 3, 2015 |title=Superbike world champion Colin Edwards named Conroe Legend |url=http://www.yourconroenews.com/news/article/Superbike-world-champion-Colin-Edwards-named-9497062.php#photo-11185435 |work=The Courier |location=Conroe, Texas |access-date=July 4, 2017}}
• Annette Gordon-Reed, historian and law professor at Harvard University, MacArthur fellow and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for History and the National Book Award for Nonfiction{{cite web |last=Walsh |first=Colleen |title=Annette Gordon-Reed's personal history, from East Texas to Monticello |url=https://today.law.harvard.edu/annette-gordon-reeds-personal-history-east-texas-monticello/ |website=Harvard Law Today |publisher=Harvard Law School |access-date=7 October 2018 |date=4 May 2017}}
• John Hambrick, broadcast journalist, reporter, actor, voice-over announcer, and TV documentary producer
• Matt Lepsis, former National Football League player for the Denver Broncos and Super Bowl XXXIII winner
• Parker McCollum, Texas Country musician{{cite news|title=Parker McCollum Surveys the Limestone Landscape|first=Chris|last=Parton|url=http://www.cmtedge.com/2015/02/12/parker-mccollum-surveys-the-limestone-landscape/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218164205/http://www.cmtedge.com/2015/02/12/parker-mccollum-surveys-the-limestone-landscape/|archive-date=February 18, 2015|newspaper=CMT Edge|date=February 12, 2015}}
• John Monroe, infielder in Major League Baseball for the New York Giants and Philadelphia Phillies
• Kevin Slowey, starting pitcher for MLB's Minnesota Twins{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=458713 |title=Kevin Slowey Stats, Video Highlights, Photos, Bio |access-date=2012-12-10}}
• Grant Stuard, NFL player and 2021 Mr. Irrelevant
• Roger Vick, former NFL fullback

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Conroe has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=63637&cityname=Conroe%2C+Texas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Conroe, Texas]

{{Weather box

|location = Conroe, 1991–2020 normals,{{efn|Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1981 to 2010.}} extremes 1897–present

|collapsed =

|single line = Y

|Jan high F = 62.7

|Feb high F = 66.7

|Mar high F = 73.5

|Apr high F = 79.7

|May high F = 86.5

|Jun high F = 92.3

|Jul high F = 94.9

|Aug high F = 95.8

|Sep high F = 90.4

|Oct high F = 82.1

|Nov high F = 71.8

|Dec high F = 64.1

|year high F=

|Jan mean F = 52.3

|Feb mean F = 56.3

|Mar mean F = 62.8

|Apr mean F = 69.3

|May mean F = 76.6

|Jun mean F = 82.4

|Jul mean F = 84.7

|Aug mean F = 85.1

|Sep mean F = 80.2

|Oct mean F = 71.2

|Nov mean F = 61.2

|Dec mean F = 53.9

|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 41.9

|Feb low F = 45.9

|Mar low F = 52.1

|Apr low F = 58.9

|May low F = 66.7

|Jun low F = 72.6

|Jul low F = 74.4

|Aug low F = 74.4

|Sep low F = 70.0

|Oct low F = 60.4

|Nov low F = 50.7

|Dec low F = 43.7

|year low F=

|Jan record high F = 84

|Feb record high F = 91

|Mar record high F = 96

|Apr record high F = 98

|May record high F = 100

|Jun record high F = 105

|Jul record high F = 107

|Aug record high F = 109

|Sep record high F = 109

|Oct record high F = 102

|Nov record high F = 94

|Dec record high F = 89

|year record high F= 109

|Jan record low F = 5

|Feb record low F = 6

|Mar record low F = 18

|Apr record low F = 29

|May record low F = 40

|Jun record low F = 47

|Jul record low F = 57

|Aug record low F = 57

|Sep record low F = 43

|Oct record low F = 26

|Nov record low F = 21

|Dec record low F = 3

|year record low F= 3

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 4.38

|Feb precipitation inch = 3.32

|Mar precipitation inch = 3.46

|Apr precipitation inch = 3.39

|May precipitation inch = 5.46

|Jun precipitation inch = 5.21

|Jul precipitation inch = 3.32

|Aug precipitation inch = 4.53

|Sep precipitation inch = 3.69

|Oct precipitation inch = 5.39

|Nov precipitation inch = 4.77

|Dec precipitation inch = 4.10

|year precipitation inch=

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 9

|Feb precipitation days = 9

|Mar precipitation days = 8

|Apr precipitation days = 7

|May precipitation days = 6

|Jun precipitation days = 8

|Jul precipitation days = 9

|Aug precipitation days = 7

|Sep precipitation days = 7

|Oct precipitation days = 7

|Nov precipitation days = 8

|Dec precipitation days = 10

|year precipitation days= 94

|source 1 = NOAA (precipitation days 2000–2017)

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/datatools/normals

|title = Data Tools: 1981-2010 Normals for Conroe, Texas

|publisher = National Centers for Environmental Information

|access-date = 2021-09-29}}

{{cite web

| url = http://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=hgx

| title = NOWData: Monthly Summarized Data for Conroe, Texas

| publisher = National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = 2021-09-29}}

}}

{{Portal bar|Texas}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website|https://www.cityofconroe.org/}}
• [https://www.conroe.org/ Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce]
• [https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hec03 Conroe in Handbook of Texas]
• [https://www.zipdatamaps.com/en/us/zip-maps/tx/city/borders/conroe-zip-code-map Conroe TX ZIP Code Map]

{{Conroe, Texas}}

{{Montgomery County, Texas}}

{{Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown MSA}}

{{Texas county seats}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Montgomery County, Texas

Category:Cities in Texas

Category:County seats in Texas

Category:Greater Houston

Category:Populated places established in the 1880s