Splendora is a city in
Montgomery County Montgomery County may refer to:
Australia
* The former name of Montgomery Land District, Tasmania
United Kingdom
* The historic county of Montgomeryshire, Wales, also called County of Montgomery
United States
* Montgomery County, Alabama
* Mon ...
,
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
, United States. The population was 1,683 at the 2020 census. Splendora was named in reference to the "splendor of its floral environment."
[Borjas, Rebecca L]
Splendora, TX.
Handbook of Texas Online: June 15, 2010. Accessed on June 25, 2017.
History
In the late 1800s, The Houston, East and West Texas Railway (now the
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , legally Union Pacific Railroad Company and often called simply Union Pacific, is a freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Pac ...
), at the suggestion of Charles Cox, decided to build a narrow-gauge spur at the location of what is now Splendora. The location was originally known as "Cox's Switch."
[ The area slowly grew more populated after W.W. Burrow built a general store in the area in 1883.][Duke, Linda]
Splendora: Montgomery County, Texas.
County Genweb: October 18, 2016. Accessed on June 25, 2017. In 1896, Cox recommended to the town's postmaster, Milton Z. King, that the town's name should be changed. They decided to change the name to Splendora because of the "splendor of its floral environment."[ The town was incorporated in December 1966.][
]
Geography
Splendora is located at (30.220237, –95.167232), which is approximately 37 miles North-North-East of Houston, Texas.
According to the United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy
An economy is an area of th ...
, the city has a total area of , all of it land.
Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,683 people, 641 households, and 519 families residing in the city.
As of the 2010 United States Census,[2010 Census: Splendora City, Texas]
United States Census Bureau. Accessed on June 25, 2017. there were 1,615 people, 548 households, and 306 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 92.6% White
White is the lightness, lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully diffuse reflection, reflect and scattering, scatter all the ...
, 1.1% African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...
, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 3.3% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...
or Latino of any race were 9.8% of the population.
There were 548 households, out of which 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.4% were non-families. 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.8% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.
According to the 2015 American Community Survey, The median income for a household in the city was $37,431 and the median income for a family was $38,542. Males had a median income of $27,763 versus $16,809 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the city was $19,609. About 25.8% of families and 31.5% of the population were below the poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 53.3% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
Splendora is governed locally by a City Council
A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, rural counc ...
consisting of a mayor and 5 council members. As of June 2022, the mayor is Dorothy Welch. Council members are William Ramey, Evelyn Myers, Mike Clark, Sharon Ipes, and William Usher.[
In the ]Texas State Senate
The Texas Senate ( es, Senado de Texas) is the upper house of the Texas State Legislature. There are 31 members of the Senate, representing single-member districts across the U.S. state of Texas, with populations of approximately 806,000 per co ...
, Splendora is part of District 4, represented by Republican Brandon Creighton
Charles Brandon Creighton (born August 5, 1970) is an American attorney and politician from Conroe, Texas, who is a Republican member of the Texas Senate from District 4, and a former member of the Texas House of Representatives from Distric ...
. In the Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Texas Legislature. It consists of 150 members who are elected from single-member districts for two-year terms. As of the 2010 United States census, each member represents abou ...
, Splendora is part of District 16, represented by Republican Will Metcalf.[Who Represents Me: Splendora.]
Texas Legislative Council. Accessed on June 25, 2017.
In the United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and ...
, Republicans John Cornyn
John Cornyn III ( ; born February 2, 1952) is an American politician and attorney serving as the senior United States senator from Texas, a seat he has held since 2002. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the Senate majority whip fo ...
and Ted Cruz
Rafael Edward "Ted" Cruz (; born December 22, 1970) is an American politician and attorney serving as the junior United States Senator from Texas since 2013. A member of the Republican Party, Cruz served as Solicitor General of Texas from ...
represent the entire state of Texas. In the United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together the ...
, Splendora is part of District 8, represented by Republican Kevin Brady
Kevin Patrick Brady (born April 11, 1955) is an American politician and the U.S. representative for , serving since 1997. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district includes northern Houston, including The Woodlands. On April 14, 20 ...
.[
The ]United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an Independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the executive branch of the Federal government of the Uni ...
Splendora Post Office is located at 26130 Farm to Market Road 2090 East.
Education
Children who live in Splendora attend schools within the Splendora Independent School District.
The Texas Legislature
The Texas Legislature is the state legislature of the US state of Texas. It is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The state legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin. It is a powerful a ...
designated Splendora ISD (and therefore Splendora) as part of Lone Star College
Lone Star College (LSC) is a public community college system serving the northern portions of the Greater Houston, Texas, area. In 2017 it enrolled about 95,000 students. The headquarters of the Lone Star College System are located in The Wood ...
(originally the North Harris Montgomery Community College District). The territory in Splendora ISD joined the community college district in 1996.
Notable people
* Robbie Middleton
Robbie Middleton (June 28, 1990 – April 29, 2011) was an American boy from Splendora
Splendora was an American all-female alternative rock band from New York City. Formed in 1993 by Janet Wygal (lead vocals, guitar), Tricia Wygal (lead vocal ...
, burn survivor and crime victim
* Brian Robison
Brian Gale Robison (born April 27, 1983) is a former American football defensive end. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft and played for the team for 11 seasons. In 173 NFL games, he recorded 289 ta ...
, National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ma ...
player
* James Surls
James Arthur Surls (born 1943) is an American modernist artist and educator, known for his large sculptures. He founded the Lawndale Alternative Arts Space at the University of Houston in the 1970s.
Biography
James Arthur Surls was born April ...
, Modernist artist[Anspon, Catherine D]
The Return of a Master: James Surls
Paper City Magazine: May 2, 2016. Accessed on June 25, 2017.
References
External links
Handbook of Texas Online article
{{authority control
Cities in Montgomery County, Texas
Cities in Texas
Greater Houston