Located approximately 40 miles north of Houston, Texas, Conroe serves as the county seat of Montgomery County. As a principal city in the expansive Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area, Conroe plays a significant role in the region’s economic and cultural landscape.
The city’s name honors Isaac Conroe, a former Union Cavalry officer who hailed from the North and relocated to Houston following the Civil War. He went on to establish himself as a successful lumber merchant in the area.
Conroe is categorized by the Office of Management and Budget as a major city in the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area.
April Sound residents, who lived in a gated community, took legal action against Conroe in April 2015 following the annexation of their neighborhood on January 1, 2015. The lawsuit was thrown out in March 2017. The incorporation of April Sound into the city became a contentious topic during the 2016 mayoral election, with supporters of annexation arguing that it was beneficial for growth and development, while opponents questioned the fairness of the process for the annexed areas. Despite the opposition, the city council approved more involuntary annexations in 2017.
The W. Goodrich Jones State Forest was created in 1926 when the Texas A&M Forest Service acquired 1700 acres of Piney Woods. This forest is used for studying and showcasing sustainable forestry methods. It also plays a vital role in protecting the natural environment of the red-cockaded woodpecker, a species that was categorized as Near Threatened by the IUCN in the early 21st century.
In August 2017, heavy flooding occurred in the city due to Hurricane Harvey, bringing about 32 inches of rainfall. Subsequently, in October 2017, Montgomery County commissioners sought $1.25 million from the federal government for a study on flood control and an extra $95.5 million for carrying out different flood prevention initiatives.
According to the 2020 US census, the city had a population of 89,956, with 32,547 households and 21,369 families calling it home.
During the early 1980s, Exxon explored the possibility of consolidating its staff at a location in Conroe. However, the company abandoned these efforts when the local economy, which was heavily reliant on oil, suffered a downturn.
Conroe’s Central Business District, located in the heart of downtown, boasts a vibrant arts scene with several venues. The Crighton Theatre, established in 1935, is the oldest of these cultural institutions. Named after Harry M. Crighton, who served as the city’s mayor from 1932 to 1933, the theatre has a rich history and continues to host various performances and events.
Montgomery County’s rich history is showcased in various parks throughout the city, which serve as a testament to the region’s storied past. The Heritage Museum of Montgomery County plays a crucial role in preserving the county’s heritage by safeguarding artifacts that chronicle the lives of its early settlers
During the 2019 Fiscal Year, the city recorded $157.8 million in income and $147.9 million in expenses, resulting in a net position of $189.7 million.
Off duty in July 2013, Conroe Police Sergeant Jason Blackwelder witnessed store employees pursuing a shoplifting suspect and decided to join the pursuit. In a secluded location, Blackwelder fatally shot the suspect in the head from behind. In June 2014, he was found guilty of manslaughter and received a five-year probation sentence.
The Montgomery County Memorial Library System’s primary branch is managed by the county.
The Conroe District Parole Office, under the jurisdiction of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), serves the community of Conroe and surrounding areas.
The Conroe Post Office of the United States Postal Service can be found at 809 West Dallas Street.
The majority of Conroe falls under the jurisdiction of the Conroe Independent School District, with a small part in the north being part of the Willis Independent School District, and a portion in the west belonging to the Montgomery Independent School District.
The Conroe Independent School District includes schools located within the city of Conroe. Around 60% of the Conroe ISD area in Conroe is designated for Conroe High School, while certain areas of Conroe are assigned to Oak Ridge High School and Caney Creek High School.
The following intermediate schools serve the Conroe High School feeder zone:
* John V. Peet Junior High School
* Washington Junior High School
* Albert B. Moorhead Junior High School
The following intermediate schools fall within the Conroe High School feeder zone:
* Cryar Intermediate School
* Travis Intermediate School
* Bozman Intermediate School
The Conroe High School feeder zone includes several elementary schools such as Anderson, Neil Armstrong, Giesinger, Sam Houston, O. A. Reaves, B. B. Rice, J. W. Runyan, and Wilkinson. In addition, the Willis Independent School District area is zoned to Turner Elementary School, Brabham Middle School, and Willis High School.
The list of private schools includes Sacred Heart Catholic School, Covenant Christian School, Lifestyle Christian School, and Montgomery Christian Academy. Frassati Catholic High School, located in north Harris County, is the nearest Catholic high school and serves students in the Conroe area.
KPXB-TV (channel 49) and KTBU (channel 55), both owned and operated by respective networks Ion and Quest, are licensed to broadcast from Conroe, Texas. Despite their Conroe licensing, both stations operate from studio facilities located within Houston city limits.
Interstate 45 links the city to Houston in the south (40 miles away) and Dallas in the northwest (200 miles away). Texas Highway 105 connects Cleveland to the east and Montgomery to the west. Texas Loop 336 encircles Conroe. Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport offers general aviation services. Greyhound Bus Lines operate a small station. The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (291 Conroe Park & Ride) provides transportation to Downtown Houston. In 2015, the City of Conroe introduced a local bus service, Conroe Connection, operating Monday to Friday from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.
The Conroe subdivision, a vital east-west railroad artery, is managed by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF Railway). This bustling route connects Silsbee in Hardin County with Navasota in Grimes County, where it meets a main line that runs between Fort Worth and Galveston. Meanwhile, Union Pacific Railroad Corporation oversees the Palestine subdivision, a significant north-south route that starts in Houston, Harris County, and ends in Palestine, Anderson County. The two railroads intersect at a diamond intersection in the heart of Conroe, situated between Main and First Streets.
Conroe experiences hot and humid summers, along with mostly mild to cool winters. The Köppen Climate Classification system categorizes the area as having a humid subtropical climate, which is labeled as “Cfa” on climate maps.
Prominent individuals include Brandon Allen, a retired MLB player who played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Brian Barkley, a former pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, Kyle Bennett, a professional BMX racer, Richard Bradford, a renowned actor known for his roles in various films and TV shows such as Man in the Suitcase, The Untouchables, and Trip to Bountiful, Clarence Lee Brandley, an exonerated prisoner, Jeromy Burnitz, a former baseball player drafted by the New York Mets in 1990 who played for multiple MLB teams, Rock Cartwright, an NFL running back for the San Francisco 49ers, Andrew Cashner, a pitcher for the Texas Rangers who was drafted by the Chicago Cubs, Jonathan Daviss, known for his leading role in the Netflix series Outer Banks, Colin Edwards, a former World Superbike champion and MotoGP rider, Annette Gordon-Reed, a historian and law professor at Harvard University who has received prestigious awards such as the MacArthur fellowship, Pulitzer Prize for History, and National Book Award for Nonfiction, John Hambrick, a versatile media professional involved in broadcast journalism, acting, voice-over work, and TV documentary production, Matt Lepsis, a retired NFL player for the Denver Broncos and winner of Super Bowl XXXIII, Parker McCollum, a Texas Country musician, John Monroe, a former MLB infielder for the New York Giants and Philadelphia Phillies, Kevin Slowey, a starting pitcher for the Minnesota Twins in MLB, and Grant Stuard, an NFL player and the 2021 Mr. Irrelevant.