The Woodlands, Texas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = The Woodlands Township
settlement_type = CDP
nickname =
website = [http://www.thewoodlands.com/ http://www.thewoodlands.com/]
website = [http://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov thewoodlandstownship.gov/]

---

imagesize =
image_caption =


mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in the state of Texas

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mapsize1 = 250px
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Texas
subdivision_name2 = Harris & Montgomery
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
area_magnitude = 1 E8
area_total_sq_mi = 23.9
area_total_km2 = 61.8
area_land_sq_mi = 23.4
area_land_km2 = 60.6
area_water_sq_mi = 0.5
area_water_km2 = 1.2
population_as_of = 2008
population_footnotes = cite web | url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFFacts?_event=&geo_id=16000US4872656&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US48%7C16000US4872656&_street=&_county=The+Woodlands&_cityTown=The+Woodlands&_state=04000US48&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2005_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=| title=US Census Bureau Population Finder: The Woodlands CDP, Texas | publisher=factfinder.census.gov | accessdate=2007-07-01]
population_total = 88,428
population_density_sq_mi = 2,328.4
population_density_km2 = 900.5
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
latd = 30 |latm = 10 |lats = 39 |latNS = N
longd = 95 |longm = 30 |longs = 14 |longEW = W
elevation_m =
elevation_ft = 160
established_title = Established
established_date = 1974
postal_code_type =
postal_code = 77380-77386
area_code = 281 713 832
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 48-72656GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1867568GR|3
footnotes =

The Woodlands is not a census-designated place (CDP) and large master-planned community of Montgomery and Harris counties in the U.S. state of Texas within the nowrap|Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The population was 55,649 at the 2000 census, 90.5% increase over 1990 population. As of 2006, the estimated population had reached approximately 84,418. [cite news |title=The Woodlands CDP, Texas |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=&geo_id=16000US4872656&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US48%7C16000US4872656&_street=&_county=The+Woodlands&_cityTown=The+Woodlands&_state=04000US48&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= |work=2006 American Community Survey |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |date=2006 |accessdate=2008-06-10] Much of the development is located in the city of Houston's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), but small portions of The Woodlands extends into the ETJ of Shenandoah and Conroe. Plans for annexation of both the Houston and Conroe portions were once in discussion, but regional agreements have been set in place to allow The Woodlands to incorporate itself.

The Woodlands is located 32 miles north of Downtown Houston along Interstate 45. Though it began as a suburban development and a bedroom community, it also has attracted corporations to the area. As a result, the area features several corporate campuses, most notably Chevron Phillips, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Baker Hughes, CB&I, and Hewitt Associates . The development won a Special Award for Excellence in 1994 from the Urban Land Institute. ULI Awards for Excellence Winners, 1979-2006. Urban Land Institute. [http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:7XCWDvEkBzMJ:www.uli.org/AM/Template.cfm%3FSection%3DArchives6%26Template%3D/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm%26ContentID%3D12066+Urban+Land+Institute+award+of+excellence+woodlands&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1 (Link from Google Cache)] ]

In addition to residential and corporate housing, The Woodlands features a shopping mall, seven golf courses and The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, a regional concert venue, and The Woodlands Resort a Resort of 4 stars. Over the past decade, The Woodlands has seen tremendous growth in terms of commercial/office space in Town Center. Many high-rise office and residential buildings have recently been built. Just completed is 24 Waterway Avenue, a 13 story class A office/retail building. Recently announced for The Woodlands are several new class A office structures and a 20-story condominium tower that will sit on the waterway next to 24 Waterway Ave.Fact|date=May 2008 Also announced is the new satellite location for the Houston Museum of Nautral Science that will be housed in a 200,000+, 5-story building; complete with an observation tower that overlooks The Woodlands.Fact|date=May 2008

Activities and Entertainment

The master planned community of The Woodlands features an ever growing list of entertainment venues including an amphitheater, two movie theaters, over 150 restaurants, and a publicly accessible waterway complete with a colored light, dancing waterfall complete with music. The Woodlands Waterway will eventually be more than 1/2 mile long, reaching from The Woodlands Mall, around to Lake Woodlands and features lighted, wide sidewalks along both sides as well as the Waterway Taxi.

Corruption

The Woodlands Township Chairman, Ms Nelda Blair, has seen her share of legal battles. Ms Blair was charged with smuggling marijuana across the Mexico border in 1988.Ms Blair has been fined by the Texas Ethics Commission.Mr Bruce Tough, who sits on The Woodlands Township board with Ms Blair, has also been fined by the Texas Ethics Commission.

History

The Woodlands was founded by George P. Mitchell in 1974 Historic Houston, Who's Who: George Mitchell. Houstonhistory.com. [http://www.houstonhistory.com/whoswho/history23hof.htm http://www.houstonhistory.com/whoswho/history23hof.htm] ] , managed by The Woodlands Corporation as an extension of Mitchell Energy & Development. The Woodlands Corporation was acquired on July 31, 1997 by a joint partnership between Morgan Stanley and Crescent Real Estate Equities. SECinfo.com. [http://www.secinfo.com/dsvrp.88U1.htm#Dates http://www.secinfo.com/dsvrp.88U1.htm#Dates] ] In December of 2003, the Rouse Company acquired Crescent's interest in The Woodlands, SEC Edgar document through SECinfo.com. [http://216.239.51.104/search?q=cache:tvXJnsWvsywJ:www.secinfo.com/dsvrp.2eRc.d.htm+rouse+woodlands+site:secinfo.com&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&client=firefox-aand (Link from Google Cache)] ] Rouse was itself sold to General Growth Properties Inc. on November 12, 2004. Washington Post 2005 Top 200, General Growth Properties. Washingtonpost.com. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/business/post200/2005/RSE.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/business/post200/2005/RSE.html] ]

The tract of land where The Woodlands is situated was previously occupied by the Grogan-Cochran Lumber Mill "With Grogan at Bivins and Magnolia (Gulf Coast Lumberman, 1939)". Texas Transportation Archive. [http://www.ttarchive.com/Library/Companies/GroganAtBivins-Magnolia.html http://www.ttarchive.com/Library/Companies/GroganAtBivins-Magnolia.html] ] and are the namesakes for the Grogan's Mill and Cochran's Crossing neighborhoods. The original planning of The Woodlands utilized many of the planning concepts and design consultants employed in other well regarded new communities of that era such as Columbia, Maryland, Irvine Ranch, California and Reston, Virginia. The original development plan included environmental design principals espoused by Ian McHarg, a distinguished landscape architect, teacher and author of the seminal work "Design With Nature."

The Woodlands continues to grow residentially and commercially as many companies are moving to The Woodlands. In addition to Chevron Phillips, Huntsman, Anadarko, Hewitt Associates, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Mærsk Sealand, Chicago Bridge & Iron, and Woodforest National Bank have set up operations in the development. The Woodlands Town Center area includes shopping and eating facilities, plus a waterway resembling the San Antonio River Walk.

Incorporation

In the middle part of the 2000s decade, some in The Woodlands feared annexation by the city of Houston, as had happened to the Kingwood development some years before. To counteract any possible move by the city, a movement began to create an independent city government.Fact|date=May 2008 However, the formation of an independent government by The Woodlands would require authorization by the State of Texas and the City of Houston, as Houston held extraterritorial jurisdiction over the area.Fact|date=May 2008

In 2007, two state legislators representing Woodlands voters, Sen. Tommy Williams and Rep. Robert Eissler, created and passed two bills in the 2007 Legislature - House Bill 4109 80th Texas Legislature, House Bill 4109. [http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB4109 http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB4109] ] and Senate Bill 1012 80th Texas Legislature, Senate Bill 1012. [http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=SB1012 http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=SB1012] ] . HB 4109 called for a vote to allow expansion of an existing improvement district (now the Woodlands Township) and to allow The Woodlands to collect sales tax "Woodlands governing groups prepare for November election". Houston Chronicle. June 19, 2007. [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/woodlands/news/4902497.html http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/woodlands/news/4902497.html] ] , while SB 1012 allowed for the creation of regional agreements between governments. The passage of these bills allowed an opportunity for The Woodlands to incorporate itself.

To make the City of Houston agree to release the Woodlands from its ETJ, the city and the development entered into a regional agreement where The Woodlands put 16 million dollars "Bill Seals Deal to halt Woodlands' annexation". Houston Chronicle. March 1, 2007. [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/special/07/legislature/4592681.html http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/special/07/legislature/4592681.html] ] into a fund the city of Houston can use for general improvements. In return, Houston will release the development from its ETJ allowing The Woodlands to incorporate through an election in 2014 and create a city government. "Legislation puts Woodlands on track for future". Houston Chronicle. May 23, 2007. [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/special/07/legislature/4828223.html http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/special/07/legislature/4828223.html] ]

In addition, The Woodlands entered into a similar regional agreement with Conroe to avoid annexation of a municipal utility district inside The Woodlands. "Agreement will keep neighborhood in The Woodlands". Houston Chronicle. June 14, 2007. [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/4891964.html http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/4891964.html] ] The Woodlands put $320,000 into a fund to serve mutual interests. In return, Conroe ended annexation proceedings and will release the district to The Woodlands in 2014.

Geography

The Woodlands is located at coor dms|30|10|39|N|95|30|14|W|city (30.177430, -95.503795)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 23.9 square miles (61.8 km²), of which, 23.4 square miles (60.6 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.2 km²) of it (1.97%) is water.

The development is situated in a heavily forested area and much of the community has retained trees for shade and decoration. The terrain is of small rolling hills.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 55,649 people, 19,881 households, and 15,546 families residing in the CDP. [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFFacts?_event=&geo_id=16000US4872656&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US48%7C16000US4872656&_street=&_county=The+Woodlands&_cityTown=The+Woodlands&_state=04000US48&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2005_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= 2000 US Census, The Woodlands CDP, Texas] ] The population density was 2,328.4 people per square mile (900.5/km²).There were 21,014 housing units at an average density of 897.7/sq mi (346.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.36% White, 1.75% African American, 0.29% Native American, 2.80% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.43% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.64% of the population.

There were 19,881 households out of which 47.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.2% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.8% were non-families. 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 31.8% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $85,253, and the median income for a family was $98,675. Males have a median income of $78,642 versus $38,505 for females. The Per capita income for the CDP was $37,724. About 3.0% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.

According to a 2006 estimate, the median income for a household in the CDP had fallen to $78,006, and the median income for a family had risen to $105,079.2005 American Community Survey Estimate via US Census Factfinder. [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=&geo_id=16000US4872656&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US48%7C16000US4872656&_street=&_county=The+Woodlands&_cityTown=The+Woodlands&_state=04000US48&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=DEC_2000_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= 2005 American Community Survey Estimate via US Census Factfinder.] ]

In 2006, the estimated population was 63,875 people.

Education

Pupils in the Montgomery County-portion of The Woodlands attend schools in the Conroe Independent School District. Pupils from the Creekside Park Village in Harris County attend the Tomball Independent School District. The Montgomery County Memorial Library System operates two libraries in The Woodlands, the South Branch and the George and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Library.

chools

The Woodlands High School (TWHS) is the largest high school in Texas in terms of its size (it extends over two campuses).Fact|date=May 2008 It serves the western portion of The Woodlands of Montgomery County. Refer to the Conroe School District for specific feeders. The school once had the largest number of students (over 4,900) until the opening of a second high school in The Woodlands. TWHS is ranked 760 on "Newsweek's" 2007 list of the 1000 Best High Schools in America. America's Top Public High Schools. MSNBC.com. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18757087/?sort=Rank&count=1327&Search=&start=700&limit=100&year=2007& http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18757087/?sort=Rank&count=1327&Search=&start=700&limit=100&year=2007&] ]

The Woodlands College Park High School is a second high school serving the eastern portion of The Woodlands of Montgomery County. Refer to the Conroe School District for specific feeders.
Tomball High School serves pupils residing inside the Harris County portion of the township.

Junior high schools
*Montgomery County: Knox Junior High School, McCullough Junior High School
*Harris County: Tomball Junior High School

Private schools

The Woodlands also has several private schools:
* [http://www.OakRidgeChristian.org/ Oak Ridge Christian Academy]
* [http://www.twca.net/ The Woodlands Christian Academy]
*The John Cooper School
* [http://www.espritinternationalschool.com/ Esprit International School]
* [phoenix-woodlands.com/ The Phoenix Academy]
* St. Anthony Of Padua Catholic School
* [http://www.woodlandspreparatory.org/ The Woodlands Academy Preparatory School]
* [http://www.cunaeinternationalschool.org/ Cunae International School]
* [http://www.woodlandswaldorf.org/ Harvest Waldorf School]
* [http://www.thesherwoodacademy.com/ The Sherwood Academy]

Neighborhoods

Organized into "villages" which are further subdivided into "neighborhoods."
* Village of Alden Bridge: Northwest corner of development. Bordered by FM 2978 on the West and FM 1488 and the Jones State Forest on the North (opened 1993).
* Village of Cochran's Crossing: location of The Woodlands High School. Named for the Grogan-Cochran Lumber Mill (opened 1983).
* Village of College Park: location of Montgomery College, a public two-year community college. This village includes Harper's Landing neighborhood east of Interstate 45 (opened 1995).
* Village of Creekside Park: The last new village development to be undertaken by The Woodlands Development Company. A portion lies inside Harris County. Creekside Park is planned to have 5,516 single-family production homes, 541 age 55 and over homes, 738 multi-family residences, and 298 Custom Homes and Estate Homes in the gated community of Carlton Woods Creekside (opened 2007).
* Village of Grogan's Mill: The Woodlands' first neighborhood. Located near the Town Center. Named for the former Grogan-Cochran Lumber Mill (opened 1974).
* Village of Indian Springs: lies on the northern border of Spring Creek (opened 1984).
* Village of Panther Creek: borders the west shore of Lake Woodlands (opened 1976).
* Village of Sterling Ridge: location of The Woodlands High School Ninth Grade Campus. Includes the gated community of Carlton Woods, which initially existed as a village in its own right (opened 2000).
* Town Center: a primarily commercial development. Location of Market Street, The Waterway District, The Woodlands Mall and The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, along with hotels and a convention center (formerly known as "Metro Center").

References

External links

* [http://woodlandsevents.com/woodlands-entertainment/leisure/waterway-facts.html Woodlands Waterway Facts and Information]
* [http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/urbanarea/uaoutline/UA2000/ua87328/ua87328_01.pdf U.S. Census Bureau map of The Woodlands]
* [http://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/ The Woodlands Township] ,Local Government.
* [http://www.thewoodlandsgovernance.com/ The Woodlands Governance Steering Committee] , an archived information resource from a previous municipal governance project.
* [http://www.thewoodlandsgovernance.com/overview/?page=21 Woodlands Neighborhood Map]
* [http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/TT/hltgl.html Handbook of Texas' Online entry]