Missouri City
Texas
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City of Missouri City
History of Missouri City
The Beginning
In 1890, the land that now comprises Missouri City was advertised for sale in St. Louis Missouri and surrounding areas as "a land of genial sunshine and eternal summer." Despite all the efforts to appeal to settlers from the "north," the first actual settlers came from Arlington, Texas - between Dallas and Fort Worth - in early 1894.
Soon after the arrival of the first group of settlers from the "north" in 1895, a paralyzing blizzard hit Missouri City. Up to 28 inches of snow covered the ground that Valentine's Day, and a number of the surprised and shocked newcomers gave up. Of those hardy souls who remained, many prospered through farming and ranching, and the little town on the southwest edge of Houston grew and changed.
In the first group of settlers were W. Allen Robinson, his wife Susan (Wyman) and their seven boys and one girl. The Robinson land, purchased in February 1894, consisted of 80 acres located on the west side of the Blue Ridge Road and Adams Street. That home was a spacious two story house, with a large barn, smoke house, chicken house and smaller houses for the farm labor and household help.
By the turn of the century, a depot has been build. The site selected was near the point where today Texas Parkway (known also as Main Street, Blue Ridge Road, or Farm-To-Market Road 2234) crosses the tracks and changes it name to Pike Road. The first Missouri City station agent for the Southern Pacific Railroad was James Goodwin ("Uncle Jim") whose wife was Leona Robinson. The Goodwins build a home on Main Street. The Goodwin family came to Missouri City from Oakwood Plantation in Louisiana.
Early Settlers to Missouri City included these Gentlemen who helped to forge the City's progress, and became the founding fathers of Missouri City, Top Row Dr. Minton, Hugh S. Dew, Bassetts Blakely, Mr. DeMoss; Bottom Row, second from right, Mr. Williford; on the end, Mr. G. G. Roane Sr.
Missouri City was a railroad shipping point for the Blue Ridge Oil Field and salt mine. It was on the railroad that some residents established a precedent for Missouri City residents that continues through today - they commuted to adjacent towns to work. Some residents worked at the Imperial Sugar Company in Sugar Land and would ride there from Missouri City for six cents.
Missouri City was the first town in the county to make use of natural gas, this being brought in by pipeline in 1926.
In the depression year of 1933, Missouri City registered a population of only 86. In 1940, the official U.S. Census showed Missouri City with 100 inhabitants and three businesses. What the village did have to offer, however, was a safe, comfortable place in whch to live, with high-quality schools close by.
Over the years, as the automobile became more and more dependable, and highways improved, it became easier and more attractive for people to live in Missouri City while working in nearby Houston. Gradually, Missouri City evolved into a village of commuters - what is sometimes aptly called a "bedroom community," - a town where citizens live in safe and pleasant surroundings, but drive back and forth each day to work in Houston.
Such advantages as these also quickly began to draw newcomers to Missouri City. The village that lay almost within the shadows of the skyscrapers of Houston could not avoid attracting notice. In the mid-1950's rumors began to circulate that Houston was making plans to annex the community.
Alarmed by the growing threat to the independence of their town, some of the leading citizens of Missouri City moved to forestall the annexation menace. The plan they adopted to do this was to incorporate Missouri City itself. This would put it beyond the grasp of Houston, since Houston could only annex unincorporated territory, and not another organized city.
The Beginning
In 1890, the land that now comprises Missouri City was advertised for sale in St. Louis Missouri and surrounding areas as "a land of genial sunshine and eternal summer." Despite all the efforts to appeal to settlers from the "north," the first actual settlers came from Arlington, Texas - between Dallas and Fort Worth - in early 1894.
Soon after the arrival of the first group of settlers from the "north" in 1895, a paralyzing blizzard hit Missouri City. Up to 28 inches of snow covered the ground that Valentine's Day, and a number of the surprised and shocked newcomers gave up. Of those hardy souls who remained, many prospered through farming and ranching, and the little town on the southwest edge of Houston grew and changed.
In the first group of settlers were W. Allen Robinson, his wife Susan (Wyman) and their seven boys and one girl. The Robinson land, purchased in February 1894, consisted of 80 acres located on the west side of the Blue Ridge Road and Adams Street. That home was a spacious two story house, with a large barn, smoke house, chicken house and smaller houses for the farm labor and household help.
By the turn of the century, a depot has been build. The site selected was near the point where today Texas Parkway (known also as Main Street, Blue Ridge Road, or Farm-To-Market Road 2234) crosses the tracks and changes it name to Pike Road. The first Missouri City station agent for the Southern Pacific Railroad was James Goodwin ("Uncle Jim") whose wife was Leona Robinson. The Goodwins build a home on Main Street. The Goodwin family came to Missouri City from Oakwood Plantation in Louisiana.
Early Settlers to Missouri City included these Gentlemen who helped to forge the City's progress, and became the founding fathers of Missouri City, Top Row Dr. Minton, Hugh S. Dew, Bassetts Blakely, Mr. DeMoss; Bottom Row, second from right, Mr. Williford; on the end, Mr. G. G. Roane Sr.
Missouri City was a railroad shipping point for the Blue Ridge Oil Field and salt mine. It was on the railroad that some residents established a precedent for Missouri City residents that continues through today - they commuted to adjacent towns to work. Some residents worked at the Imperial Sugar Company in Sugar Land and would ride there from Missouri City for six cents.
Missouri City was the first town in the county to make use of natural gas, this being brought in by pipeline in 1926.
In the depression year of 1933, Missouri City registered a population of only 86. In 1940, the official U.S. Census showed Missouri City with 100 inhabitants and three businesses. What the village did have to offer, however, was a safe, comfortable place in whch to live, with high-quality schools close by.
Over the years, as the automobile became more and more dependable, and highways improved, it became easier and more attractive for people to live in Missouri City while working in nearby Houston. Gradually, Missouri City evolved into a village of commuters - what is sometimes aptly called a "bedroom community," - a town where citizens live in safe and pleasant surroundings, but drive back and forth each day to work in Houston.
Such advantages as these also quickly began to draw newcomers to Missouri City. The village that lay almost within the shadows of the skyscrapers of Houston could not avoid attracting notice. In the mid-1950's rumors began to circulate that Houston was making plans to annex the community.
Alarmed by the growing threat to the independence of their town, some of the leading citizens of Missouri City moved to forestall the annexation menace. The plan they adopted to do this was to incorporate Missouri City itself. This would put it beyond the grasp of Houston, since Houston could only annex unincorporated territory, and not another organized city.