A southeastern suburb of Houston, South Houston is a city in Texas with its own unique charm and a distinctly southern way of life. With a rich history and a community of hard working Texans, South Houston boasts easy access to all of the big city amenities that Houston has to offer. Families love living in South Houston because of its low crime rate, safe neighborhoods, and tight-knit community. If you’re ever in southeastern Texas, South Houston is worth a visit.
In South Houston’s early days, development began when the railroad brought settlers to the area. Famers began planting and harvesting, and soon South Houston was known for its crops, which were primarily vegetables, strawberries, along with a significant crop of figs. Shipping this produce around the surrounding cities helped to get South Houston “on the map” when it came to local successful economies.
South Houston maintained moderate growth in the early 1900s, during the early years as an incorporated city. During the middle of the 20th century, however, South Houston noticed a significant increase in growth. Interestingly enough, during its “heyday”, South Houston’s mayor was a man named George Christy. This fascinating and quirky character also owned a local circus company, which probably gave him good experience when it came to the dynamic of running a city! It also gave him an innovative mind, which came into play during a project to build a nearby road. Enlisting elephants from his own circus, George Christy helped to construct the roadway.
Years later, South Houston saw its economy grow and expand, its local industries shifting to other production. The oil industry’s boom within southern Texas played a big part in this, as South Houston began exporting oil related chemicals, asphalt, and concrete products. Its flourishing economy drew more residents to the area, and soon more modern facilities were built in South Houston.
South Houston is no stranger to tropical storms. Its location in southern Texas puts it within the danger zone when it comes to hurricane activity. Thankfully, local residents are kept aware of current weather situations, and certain emergency plans and precautions are taken very seriously. One particularly devastating storm went down in history as destructive, and that happened around the city’s beginning back in 1915. Since then, a lot has changed when it comes to South Houston’s infrastructure, and residents need not worry if they are well prepared for these storms.