Our Vision 

The Chamber provides volunteer leadership to improve the image, prosperity and economic development of the Crosby and Huffman community while preserving the heritage and quality of life.

History

Crosby was originally an encampment known as "Lick Skillet" because legend says "East Texas oxen team drivers sipped the spring sweet water and licked their skillets clean." Crosby was founded in 1823 by Humphrey Jackson, one of the 300 original colonists to settle Texas. Jackson received a league (4,428 acres) and labor (177 acres) of land and settled near that spring, now known as Jackson Bayou. Crosby's growth was slow in the beginning; it was not until 1864 that the first general store was built. Life changed drastically in 1861 when the railroad brought the world to Crosby. As track was laid, Crosby received its new name after G.J. Crosby, and employee of Sabine and Galveston Bay Railroad & Lumber Company. The area was platted and subdivided in 1903, with telephone service coming to the area in 1910.

Cotton, rice and corn were the crops of the day, and Crosby boasted four cotton gins that operated around the clock. In 1915, while the Texas oil boom was getting underway, severe weather destroyed the llocal crops and seriously damaged the farm-based economy. Many found employment in the Goose Creek and Pelly (Humble) oil fields. Today, major access to Crosby is provided by Crosby Freeway (U.S. Highway 90) that connects to Beltway 8 and Sam Houston Toll Road, making any point in the greater Houston area within an hour. FM 2100 connects Crosby to Interstate 10 to the south and FM 1960 to the north.

Crosby's labor pool is diverse. Executive and managerial, professional specialty, sales, administrative support and precision production and craft lead the list of occupations. Crosby's employment atmosphere boasts everything from family-owned businesses to global-wide manufacturing. 

Huffman 

David Huffman, a native of Louisiana, came to Texas to fight against Mexico. For services rendered, Huffman received $24 and 324 acres of land in 1838. Along with his dad Abe, Huffman and a group from Louisiana settled in the area north of FM 1960 and east of FM 2100 in 1840.

In the early years, the economy was driven by farming with primary crops being cotton, rice and corn as well as ranching and logging. The construction and operation of the Sinclair Oil pump station in 1921 added to the economy. In 1953, Lake Houston was opened as a recreational lake and still serves the area today with boating, water skiing and jetting, fishing and sailing.