Editing Montgomery, Texas

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Montgomery, Texas
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| nickname                 = Lone Star Town
| motto                    = Texas is Texas

<!-- Images -->| image_skyline            = Montgomery Business District.jpg
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = Historic Business District in Downtown Montgomery.
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map                = Montgomery County Montgomery.svg
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location of Montgomery, Texas

<!-- Location -->| subdivision_type         = [[List of Sovereign States|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Texas}}
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Texas|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Montgomery County, Texas|Montgomery]]

<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes     = <ref name=officials>[https://www.montgomerytexas.gov/citycouncil City Council] City of Montgomery, TX. Accessed on June 10, 2022.</ref>
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = Sara Countryman
| leader_title1            = City Council
| leader_name1             = Carol Langley<br/>Casey L. Olson<br/>([[Deputy mayor|Mayor Pro Tem]])<br/>Cheryl Fox<br/>Stan Donaldson
| established_title        = Incorporated
| established_date         = February 26, 1848<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gammel |first1=Hans Peter Mareus Neilsen |title=The Laws of Texas, 1822-1897 |date=1898 |publisher=University of North Texas Libraries |location=Austin, Texas |pages=361–362 |url=https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth6728/m1/365/ |access-date=12 December 2021}}</ref>

<!-- Area -->| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_magnitude           = 
| area_total_km2           = 13.26
| area_land_km2            = 13.05
| area_water_km2           = 0.20
| area_total_sq_mi         = 5.12
| area_land_sq_mi          = 5.04
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.08

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = <ref name=2010Census>[https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US4849128 Census 2010: Montgomery, TX] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200213105421/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US4849128 |date=2020-02-13 }} United States Census Bureau. Accessed on June 21, 2017.</ref>
| population_total         = 1948
| population_density_km2   = 104.20
| population_density_sq_mi = 269.89

<!-- General information -->| timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset               = -6
| timezone_DST             = CDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -5
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 90
| elevation_ft             = 295
| coordinates              = {{coord|30|23|22|N|95|41|53|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code              = 77316, 77356
| area_code                = [[Area code 936|936]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 48-49128<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 1382317<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|http://www.montgomerytexas.gov}}
| footnotes                = 
}}
'''Montgomery''' is a city<!--Montgomery is incorporated as such, so--> located in [[Montgomery County, Texas]], United States. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the city had a total population of 1,948.

==History==
[[File:Montgomery, Texas Advertisement.jpg|350px|thumb|Advertisement for the sale of lots in the Town of Montgomery, Texas from the July 8, 1837 edition of the Telegraph and Texas Register newspaper published in Houston, Texas.]]
The town of Montgomery was founded in the middle of the [[Lake Creek Settlement]] by W. W. Shepperd in July 1837 on 200 acres of land that had originally been part of the John Corner League. Shepperd had established the first store in the [[Lake Creek Settlement]] in 1835. W. W. Shepperd and his partner John Wyatt Moody named the town Montgomery.<ref name=Searle>Searle, Kameron K. [http://www.texashistorypage.com/The%20Early%20History%20of%20Montgomery%20Texas%20-%20First%20Edition.pdf The Early History of Montgomery, Texas.] City of Montgomery, Texas: July 7, 2012. Accessed on November 4, 2017.</ref>

Montgomery became the first county seat of Montgomery County shortly after the county was created on December 14, 1837.<ref name=Searle/>  Montgomery County was the third county formed during the Republic of Texas. The county originally extended from the Brazos River to the Trinity. The city was officially incorporated in 1848 with Judge Nathaniel Hart Davis as mayor.

===Etymology===
Local histories and accounts by 20th century historians held that the city and county of Montgomery were named after a family of early settlers to the area: Andrew Montgomery or Owen and Margaret Montgomery Shannon. However, recent evidence provided by Kameron Searle suggests that it is more likely that the town and county were named after [[Lemuel P. Montgomery]], a major in the U.S. Army during the [[Creek War]].<ref name=Searle/> John Wyatt Moody, one of the founders of Montgomery, was County Clerk of [[Montgomery County, Alabama]] before moving to Texas. Montgomery County, Alabama, is named for Lemuel P. Montgomery.<ref>[http://www.archives.alabama.gov/counties/montgome.html Montgomery County, Alabama.] Alabama Department of Archives and History. Accessed on June 21,
 2017.</ref> [[Sam Houston]], the President of the [[Republic of Texas]] when the town and county of Montgomery were founded, served in the [[Battle of Horseshoe Bend (1814)|Battle of Horseshoe Bend]] with Lemuel P. Montgomery, and witnessed his death in the front lines of the battle.<ref>Haley, James L. [https://books.google.com/books?id=-rcICAAAQBAJ&pg=PA18 Chapter 1: The Runaway Grocery Boy.] in ''Sam Houston'', pg. 14-15. University of Oklahoma Press: April 10, 2015. Accessed on August 9, 2017.</ref>  According to Searle, Moody and his partner W.W. Shepperd may have used Houston's connection with Lemuel Montgomery to help promote the creation of Montgomery County, with the town of Montgomery as the county seat.<ref name=Searle/>

===Birthplace of the Lone Star Flag?===
On July 7, 1922, Edmund B. Stewart, son of the early Montgomery settler [[Charles B. Stewart]], claimed in a letter that his father had drafted the original design of the [[Flag of Texas|Lone Star Flag]], enclosing what he claimed was his father's draft of the flag's design.<ref name=Searle/> To date, this letter and draft copy, along with claims by Stewart's descendants, remain the only evidence currently known that Charles Stewart was the designer of the flag.<ref name=Spain>Spain, Charles A. [https://texflags.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/texheritage.pdf Who Designed the Lone Star Flag?] Heritage Volume 18,
 Number 1: Winter 2000. Retrieved May 19, 2022.</ref> In particular, the lack of evidence not directly tied to the Stewart family has caused many flag historians to question Stewart's claim.<ref name=Spain/><ref>Maberry Jr, Robert. [https://texflags.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/maberryletter.pdf Letter to Representative Creighton] April 9, 2009. Retrieved May 19, 2022.</ref><ref>Smith, Whitney. [https://texflags.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/smithletter.pdf Letter to Charles A. Spain, Jr.] The Flag Research Center: May 19, 2009. Retrieved May 19, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://texflags.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/rpt-tvc-lonestarflagdesign.pdf Report on the Design of the Lone Star Flag] Texas Vexillological Commission: May 4, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2022.</ref> As a legacy of the Stewart claim, the city of Montgomery describes itself as the "birthplace of the Texas Lone Star Flag."<ref>{{cite web |title=Montgomery History |url=https://www.montgomerytexas.gov/community/page/montgomery-history |publisher=City of Montgomery, Texas |access-date=May 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016180420/https://www.montgomerytexas.gov/community/page/montgomery-history |archive-date=October 16, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Geography==

Montgomery is located at 30°23'22" North, 95°41'53" West (30.389406, –95.698089).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|4.6|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|4.5|sqmi|km2}}  is land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi|km2}}  is water, for a total area of 1.31% water.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 414
|1970= 216
|1980= 258
|1990= 356
|2000= 489
|2010= 621
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
|2020=1948}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Montgomery racial composition as of 2020'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4849128&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><br /> (NH = Non-Hispanic){{efn|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.<ref>https://www.census.gov/ {{nonspecific|date=August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>}}
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|1,446
|74.23%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|175
|8.98%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|2
|0.1%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|22
|1.13%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|1
|0.05%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|18
|0.92%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|86
|4.41%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|198
|10.16%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''1,948'''
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 1,948 people, 833 households, and 596 families residing in the city.

In the [[2010 United States Census]],<ref name=2010Census>[https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US4849128 Census 2010: Montgomery, TX] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200213105421/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US4849128 |date=2020-02-13 }} United States Census Bureau. Accessed on June 21, 2017.</ref> there were 621 people, 237 households, and 167 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 67.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 26.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.6% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.00% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 5.0% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 0.2% from two or more races. 14.5% of the population were [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 237 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.7% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.

As of the 2015 [[American Community Survey]], The median income for a household in the city was $48,125, and the median income for a family was $63,750. Males had a median income of $41,429 versus $24,000 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $27,376. 20.3% of the population and 16.7% of families were below the [[poverty line]]. Out of the total population, 28.6% of those under the age of 18 and 9.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

==Government and infrastructure==
[[File:Montgomery County Texas.png|thumb|Location of Montgomery County.]]

The City of Montgomery is governed locally by a [[Municipal council|city council]], consisting of a mayor and five council members.<ref name=officials/>

In the [[Texas Senate]], Montgomery is part of District 3 and District 4, represented by Republicans [[Robert Nichols (politician)|Robert Nichols]] and [[Brandon Creighton]]. In the [[Texas House of Representatives]], Montgomery is part of District 3 and District 16, represented by Republicans [[Cecil Bell Jr.]] and [[Will Metcalf]].<ref name=Legislate>[https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/map?address=&city=Montgomery&zip=&county= Who Represents Me: Montgomery] Texas Legislative Council. Accessed on September 24, 2022.</ref>

In the [[United States Senate]], Republicans [[John Cornyn]] and [[Ted Cruz]] represent the entire state. In the [[United States House of Representatives]], Montgomery is part of District 8, represented by Republican [[Kevin Brady]].<ref name=Legislate/>

The [[United States Postal Service]] operates the Montgomery Post Office at 821H Eva Street ([[Texas State Highway 105]]) and the Montgomery Post Office Annex at 21359 Eva Street.<ref>"[https://archive.today/20120716222543/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/46485?p=1&s=TX&service_name=post_office&z=Montgomery Post Office Location - MONTGOMERY]." ''[[United States Postal Service]]''. Retrieved on December 8, 2008.</ref><ref>"[https://archive.today/20120716222543/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/46485?p=1&s=TX&service_name=post_office&z=Montgomery Post Office Location - MONTGOMERY ANNEX]." ''[[United States Postal Service]]''. Retrieved on December 8, 2008.</ref>

==Education==

Montgomery is a part of the [[Montgomery Independent School District]].

Montgomery ISD is currently changing the structure of their feeder system. Previously, students attended a K–4 elementary, a fifth grade intermediate school, a sixth grade middle school, a 7–8th grade junior high school, and a 9–12th grade high school.

Beginning in the 2017–2018 school year, students will instead attend a K–5th grade elementary, 6–8th grade junior high, and 9th–12th grade high school.<ref>[http://montgomeryisdbond.org/ MISD Bond 2015.] Accessed on June 21, 2017.</ref>

For students located within Montgomery city limits:<ref>[http://www.misd.org/page/dis.attendance MISD Attendance Zones 2017 and Beyond.] Accessed on June 21, 2017.</ref>
*K–5 students will attend Montgomery Elementary.
*6–8 students will attend Montgomery Junior High.
*9–12 students will attend [[Montgomery High School (Montgomery, Texas)|Montgomery High School]] and [[Lake Creek High School]].

[[Montgomery County Memorial Library System]] operates the Charles B. Stewart West Branch at 202 Bessie Price Owen Drive.<ref>"[http://www.countylibrary.org/wst.htm Charles B. Stewart West Branch] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219222308/http://www.countylibrary.org/wst.htm |date=2008-12-19 }}." ''[[Montgomery County Memorial Library System]]''. Retrieved on December 8, 2008.</ref>

The [[Texas Legislature]] designated Montgomery ISD (and therefore the City of Montgomery) as part of [[Lone Star College]] (formerly the North Harris Montgomery Community College District).<ref>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.191.  LONE STAR COLLEGE SYSTEM DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.].</ref>

==Places==
[[File:Fernland Entrance.jpg|thumb|View of the entrance to Fernland Historical Park from Memory Park.]]
[[File:Arnold simonton house 2008.jpg|thumb|The Arnold-Simonton House, built in 1845, is a [[List of Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks (Mason-Rusk)#Montgomery County|Recorded Texas Historic Landmark]] and was formerly listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Montgomery County, Texas|National Register of Historic Places]].]]

'''Fernland Historical Park'''

In 2012, the city established Fernland Historical Park to serve as a permanent location for some of the oldest remaining buildings and artifacts in Texas. A non-profit group, Fernland, Inc., and [[Sam Houston State University]] assisted the city in restoring and relocating the buildings to the park.<ref>[http://www.chron.com/life/health/article/Order-of-the-Confederate-Rose-meet-in-Fernland-9886259.php Order of the Confederate Rose meet in Fernland Historical Park.] Houston Chronicle: August 9, 2016. Accessed on November 5, 2017.</ref>
[[File:Lake Creek Settlement Marker.jpg|thumb|Texas Historical Commission marker approved for the [[Lake Creek Settlement]] located in front of the Nat Hart Davis Cottage, 308 Liberty Street, Montgomery, Texas.]]

'''Historical Markers'''

The city of Montgomery contains buildings and other sites which date back to the original settlement of the area, such as Old Montgomery Cemetery, which contains the grave sites of some of Montgomery's first settlers. Historic buildings include the Davis Cottage and Museum, First State Bank, the Old Montgomery Baptist Church, and the Shelton-Smith House. Each site is designated with a historical marker established by the [[Texas Historical Commission]].<ref>[http://www.countygenweb.com/txmontgomery/montgomery_buildings.htm Montgomery Historic Landmarks] County Gen Web. Accessed on June 21, 2017.</ref> Texas Historical Commission markers inside the city limits include the most recent marker for the [[Lake Creek Settlement]] located in front of the Nat Hart Davis Cottage.

'''Westland Bunker'''

Ling-Chieh "Louis" Kung, the nephew of [[Soong Mei-ling]], built an underground bunker in Montgomery, which was completed in 1982. Kung took money that he made from the success of the Westland Oil Development Corp. in the 1970s and used it to build the bunker, since he feared that the [[Soviet Union]] or the [[People's Republic of China]] would launch nuclear weapons towards the United States. Kung bought hundreds of acres of cow pasture on the outskirts of Montgomery and secretly began building the bunker. The two story, {{convert|40000|sqft|sqm}} bunker could house at least 700 people; Kung intended to have the bunker house his employees, their families, and others in case of a two-month emergency. Melanie Trottmann of ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' stated that the bunker "was a source of intrigue and gossip for the town of Montgomery." After the oil bust in the 1980s, Kung lost the title to the property; Kung died in 1996. Trottman said that the bunker "sat frozen in time" until a group of investors bought the property. The facility, now called "Westland Bunker," serves as a data storage center for businesses. The facility also contains office space that corporations can use in the event of a disaster.<ref>Trottman, Melanie. "[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB115974968675779545?mod=googlewsj Continental Airlines Finds a Safe Haven In a Texas Bunker]." ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''. October 2, 2006. Retrieved on December 22, 2009.</ref><ref>Mendoza, Jesse. [https://communityimpact.com/houston/features/2015/05/20/westland-bunker/ Westland Bunker] Community Impact Newspaper: June 2, 2015. Accessed on June 21, 2017.</ref>

==Notable people==

* [[Norm Branch]], major league baseball pitcher. In retirement, he served as a mail carrier in the Montgomery area<ref>Lee,
 Bill. [https://books.google.com/books?id=4oEwCgAAQBAJ&dq=norm+branch+baseball&pg=PA44 The Baseball Necrology: The Post-Baseball Lives and Deaths of More Than 7,600 Major League Players and Others.] McFarland: April 16, 2009. Page 44. Retrieved on October 28, 2017.</ref>
* [[Kambri Crews]], producer and publicist located in New York City, and author of ''Burn Down the Ground: A Memoir ''in which Montgomery is prominently featured<ref>"[http://www.kambricrews.com/about Kambri Crews' Website]." ''[[Kambri Crews]]''. Retrieved on December 8, 2008.</ref>
* [[Bailie Key]], artistic gymnast<ref>[https://usagym.org/pages/women/history/past_nat_teams_sr.html Women's Past Senior National Teams: 2015-2016.]
 USA Gymnastics. Accessed on July 20, 2017.</ref>
* [[Charles B. Stewart]], physician and statesman. Stewart was Secretary to the Executive of the [[Consultation (Texas)|Consultation]], a provisional government established during the [[Texas Revolution]]. He served as a delegate at the [[Convention of 1836]], signing the [[Texas Declaration of Independence]]. He also represented Montgomery County at the Convention of 1845, which drafted the [[Constitution of Texas|Texas State Constitution]], and served as Montgomery County's first representative in the [[Texas Legislature|Texas State Legislature]]<ref>[http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/scanned/members/bios/Bio_Directory_Texas_Convs_Congresses_1832-1845.pdf#page=171 Biographical Directory of the Texan Conventions and Congresses: 1832-1845.] Legislative Reference Library of Texas: 1942. Page 171. Retrieved on October 28, 2017.</ref>*

==Climate==
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Montgomery has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=420614&cityname=Montgomery%2C+Texas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Montgomery, Texas]</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{notelist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Montgomery (Texas)}}
{{Portal|Texas}}
* [http://www.montgomerytexas.gov City of Montgomery]
* [http://www.texashistorypage.com/Lake_Creek_Settlement.html History of the Lake Creek Settlement and the Founding of the Town of Montgomery, Texas]

{{Montgomery County, Texas}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Montgomery County, Texas]]
[[Category:Greater Houston]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1837]]
[[Category:1837 establishments in the Republic of Texas]]