South Houston

Product photo
Promotion: Nearby Map of Harris County

South Houston is adjacent to Pasadena two miles southeast of the intersection of Interstate Highway 45 and State Highway 3, in southeastern Harris County. It is a part of the Houston Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town was named Dumont when it was founded in 1907 by C. S. Woods of the Western Land Company. By 1910 a post office had been established, and by 1913 the town was incorporated as South Houston. The first elected mayor was Walter Tharp. During the town's early years local growers shipped the produce of truck farms, including strawberries, figs, and various vegetables, on the tracks of the Galveston, Houston and Henderson Railroad. The industries that emerged, however, were destroyed by the hurricane of 1915. The development of the Houston Ship Channel helped the development of heavy industries further inland. These industries manufactured railroad equipment, masonry, candy, toys, and an early airplane.

South Houston grew rapidly between the 1940s and the early 1960s. Its most colorful citizen during those years was George Christy, who served as the city's mayor from 1949 to 1951 and from 1960 to 1964. Christy was the owner of a circus, and his elephants helped build Spencer Highway. In 1960 South Houston had a population of 7,523. By then the city had attracted numerous smaller industries, including manufacturers of asphalt, wire products, oilfield chemicals, and concrete conduits. In 1980 South Houston reported a population of 11,782 and 303 businesses, mostly in the retail and service industries. The community is amply supplied with municipal recreation facilities and public services, including modern fire-fighting equipment, a hospital, and a library. Nearby attractions include Hobby Airport, the San Jacinto battleground, and the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. In 1990 the population was 14,207. The population grew to 15,833 in 2000 and increased to 16,983 in 2010.

Continue Reading

Debbie D. Griggs | © TSHA

Handbook of Texas Logo

Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.

Belongs to

South Houston is part of or belongs to the following places:

Currently Exists

Yes

Place type

South Houston is classified as a Town

Associated Names

  • (Dumont)

Location

Latitude: 29.66112550
Longitude: -95.22849400

Has Post Office

Yes

Is Incorporated

Yes

Population Count, 2021 View more »

15,878