History

The Woodlands, Texas is located a little over 20 miles north of Houston. Its history is relatively new because it was a master planned community that was developed in 1974. It was the brainchild of George P. Mitchell, an oil industry investor. He used the idea behind the Title VII town of Columbia, Maryland. His thought was that if he developed a community just to the north of Houston, he would attract city dwellers who wanted to branch out to an expansive suburb. Over the next 30 years the development would change hands three times. First, it was bought by Morgan Stanley and Crescent Real Estate Equities in 1997. Then in 2003 Crescent sold to the Rouse Company who sold to General Growth Properties in 2004. Eventually in 2011 the Howard Hughes Development Corporation purchased the entire development.

Mitchell’s original planning was for the community to be modeled after existing master planned communities. He therefore encouraged design concepts based on communities like Irvine Ranch, California, Columbia, Maryland, and Reston, Virginia. He had hoped to also have a conference center, distribution centers, golf courses, schools, hotels, retail parks, and office parks included in the plan.

Today

The community is a fast growing community today. The current population is nearly 115,000 people, which is a significant growth from the 2010 census, which had the population at 94,000. Several corporations have been attracted to the region over the years. Some of the most notable are Chevron Phillips Chemical, Aon plc, Southwestern Energy, Woodforest National Bank, ExxonMobil, and Halliburton. All of which have build small to large corporate campuses throughout the community.

In 2011, The Woodlands was designated a “large urbanized transit area” because of its population. This means that it will now qualify for federal funds for transportation. What was originally thought of as being a bedroom community for Houston has established itself as its own urban force to be reckoned with.

Things to do

There are several parks and nature areas located in or around The Woodlands. The most popular of which is the George Mitchell Nature Preserve. This preserve is large and offers several types of outdoor activities to visitors that include a lake, several hiking and biking trails, and various green space for relaxation. A few of the other spots worth checking out are the Town Green park, Northshore Park, Bear Branch Park, Sawmill Park, Terramont Park, the W.G. Jones State Forest, and the Montgomery County Preserve.

There are also several family activity places in the city. The most well known of these is Wet’n’Wild Splash Town. This water amusement park offers rides for the whole family that range from lazy river to thrilling water slides. It is a popular place to beat the Texas heat. Other notable spots include The Woodlands Children’s Museum, Shadowbend Park & Pool, and Falconwing Park & Pool. The downtown district of the city is also a great place for shopping, dining, and nightlife. There are lots of restaurants to choose from as well as shopping centers and public spaces.