Introduction to Tomball, Texas
Tomball, Texas, in Harris county, is 8 miles SW of The Woodlands, Texas (center to center) and 27 miles NW of Houston, Texas.
Tomball History
Immigrants who settled in the area in the early 1800s were drwan by the region's agricultural and pastoral resources. The area began to prosper around 1906 when it became a railroad town. State Senator Thomas Henry Ball established the city as a railroads center, and in 1907, the community was named "Tomball" in his honor. The population increased after the installation of a 100-foot gusher in 1933. Humble Oil and Gas gave the inhabitants of the city free natural gas for fifty years in exchange for the exclusive rights to drill in the city. Over the years, Tomball has emerged as a business center for the quadrant on the northwest of Houston.
Tomball and Nearby Attractions
- Battleship Texas State Historical Site
- Tomball Museum Center
- San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site
- Armand Bayou Nature Center
- Mercer Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
Things To Do In Tomball
The site where the troops led by General Sam Houston defeated the Mexican forces of President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna is near the city of Tomball. The Star of the Republic Museum, Independence Hall, and Barrington at the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site are also close by. A 1912 battleship that was used in the first and second World War can be viewed at the nearby Battleship Texas State Historical Site. Another popular place to visit near Tomball is the Mercer Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, which offers opportunities for hiking, bird watching, and also features live animal displays.
Tomball Transportation
Air transportation is available from George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Tomball Higher Education
The University of Saint Thomas, South Texas College of Law, Houston Community College System, and Houston Graduate School of Theology are located nearby.