The Woodlands Community In The Woodlands, Texas

The Woodlands in Texas is a census-designated place located on 27,000 acres of timberland, 27 miles to the north of Houston, Texas, along Interstate 45. The Woodlands was a planned community of Montgomery and Harris counties, founded by George Mitchell in 1974. Mitchell had originally hoped to have The Woodlands annexed into Houston, but residents of The Woodlands disagreed with this idea. They began a movement to create an independent city government and to date has avoided annexation efforts. To become established with a city government would require the approval of State of Texas and the City of Houston, which has extra jurisdiction over the area.

Since October of 1974, when The Woodlands first opened it has enjoyed a steady growth in population, and is considered to be a prestigious place to reside and work. What began as a small suburban community, has grown to include several large businesses such as; Chevron Phillips, Baker-Hughes, Hewitt Associates and Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and many others. The Woodlands won a Special Award for Excellence in 1994, from the Urban Land Institute.

The Woodlands Community not only offers residential and corporate housing options, it also has a variety of other attractions as well. There is a shopping mall, seven golf courses, a regional concert arena, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, and the 4-star The Woodlands Resort. In addition to these offerings, The Woodlands has experienced an influx of growth in terms of commercial and office space. There is also a 20-story condominium tower that sits on the waterway next to Highway 24. The new Houston Museum of Natural Science will also be located in The Woodlands, in a 20,000 plus five story building, along with an observation tower that will overlook The Woodlands.

What was once a private community has grown to substantial size and The Woodlands continues to grow at a rapid pace. It feature large entertainment locations such as an amphitheater, two movie theaters, over one hundred restaurants, and a public access waterway, that boasts colored lights, a dancing waterfall and music. There are plans for The Woodlands Waterway to be over a half mile long and reaching from The Woodlands mall and wrapping around Lake Woodlands and including a Water taxi. With a population of 120,000 the residents can enjoy all the conveniences of a larger city, while The Woodlands still manages to retain a small-town feel.