My Local Guide

Forest Paths and Communities Beyond the Lake

Montgomery County, Texas

Montgomery County connects Conroe, The Woodlands and other communities north of Houston with a landscape that includes forests and Lake Conroe. Conroe is the county seat, while the county’s name comes from the town of Montgomery. W.G. Jones State Forest offers a nature-focused destination within this developed region. Plan around a particular community, forest entrance or lake access point so that the scale of the county supports a manageable visit.

Montgomery County at a Glance

Population781,194 (July 1, 2025 estimate)
County SeatConroe
Largest CityThe Woodlands (2020 Census; unincorporated community)
EstablishedDecember 14, 1837
ZIP Codes32
Total Area1,076.885 sq mi (2,789.12 km 2 )
Major RoutesInterstate 45 Interstate 69 / U.S. Highway 59 State Highway 75 State Highway 99 - Grand Parkway Toll Road State Highway 105 State Highway 242 State Highway 249 - a.k.a. MCTRA 249 Tollway (from Spring Creek to Pinehurst) and the Aggie Expressway (Pinehurst up to Todd Mission) Loop 336 Loop 494
Area Code281 / 346 / 621 / 713 / 832 / 936
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Montgomery County photograph
Discover the County

Montgomery County

Montgomery County was created by the Congress of the Republic of Texas in December 1837 and named for the town of Montgomery. Its establishment belongs to the republic period, before Texas became a state. Conroe now serves as the county seat. The county’s present identity includes several distinct communities within the broader Houston region, rather than a single town. Reading its early county history alongside the modern map helps connect the original name with the places that make up local life today.

W.G. Jones State Forest offers a woodland destination near Conroe and The Woodlands. Use the Texas A&M Forest Service’s information when planning a visit and checking current access. Lake Conroe requires a different kind of preparation: select a specific public access point and review the applicable visitor information. Combining a forest outing with a lakeside stop can give a varied view of the county, provided the travel between those places is part of the plan.

What Shapes Us

Conroe and Montgomery

Conroe is the county seat, while the county takes its name from Montgomery. Distinguishing the two towns makes the county’s history and geography easier to follow.

W.G. Jones Forest

The state forest offers a nature-focused destination within a developed region. The Texas A&M Forest Service provides the relevant information for planning a visit.

Lake Conroe

Choose a specific public access point when planning a lake outing. Texas Parks and Wildlife provides lake information that helps distinguish the reservoir from individual facilities.

Forest landscapes and neighboring communities create room for discovery.
My Local Guide

Montgomery County

Our County. Our Stories.
Downtown Conroe, Texas Downtown Conroe, Texas Downtown Conroe, Texas Bus Depot in Conroe, Texas Gwen Hruska Park in the unincorporated community of River Plantation in Montgomery County, Texas. Little Lake Creek Wilderness seen from the Lone Star Hiking Trail, Sam Houston National Forest. Montgomery County, Texas. 30 October 2024 (30.4899°N, 95.7317°W, 79 meters elevation). Lone Star Hiking Trail, Parking lot for Trail Head #2 on Bethal Road, at the northeast end of the Little Lake Creek Wilderness. Sam Houston National Forest, Montgomery County, Texas, 30.5109°N, 95.7568°W, 103 meters elevation, 30 October 2024. Lone Star Hiking Trail between the Little Lake Creek Wilderness and Stubblefield Lake. Sam Houston National Forest, Montgomery County, Texas, 30.5185°N, 95.6951°W, 93 meters elevation, 6 November 2024. Historic train depot in Magnolia, Texas. The Montgomery County Courthouse in Conroe, Texas, United States. Peach Creek Lake in Patton Village, Texas. Bridge marking the entrance and exit from River Plantation in unincorporated Montgomery County, Texas. Aerial view northwestward centered on the northwestern portion of Porter, Montgomery County, Texas, seen from an airplane shortly after departure from George Bush Intercontinental Airport Union-Pacific Railroad Trestle over Caney Creek, New Caney, Texas 1306271303 Yesterday, the official temperature in Houston exceeded 100 degrees F by a bit. It was a Saturday so there were a lot of people on the streets and in the stores nearby. But nearby also is a place I've been to often, a place still within the sound of planes, trains and automobiles, and the songs of birds and cicadas. It's a place where a brief drive, a short walk, passing under a highway bridge and an old railroad trestle, lead one to a sparkling creek, with water running over a sand and gravel bottom. It's a place where one can take off one's shoes and wade to a sand bar and sit in the sun or in the shadow of river birches. It's a place cooled by the shade of those trees and that rippling water. It's a place where one is in the company of minnows and butterflies and dragonflies and bluejays and cardinals and crows and hawks and... And, who knows, if one is lucky, a train might pass. After all, the chance of photographing a train on the old trestle is one of the excuses that one has used for coming to this place for a few years now. The Arnold-Simonton House in Montgomery, Texas, United States. Dr. E. J. Arnold, a prominent local physician, built this vernacular Greek Revival style house in 1845. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 11, 1979. The house was moved from this location to the Fernland Historical Park in Montgomery after I took this photo. The City Hall of Cut and Shoot, Texas Home of Judge Nat Hart Davis and wife Sarah E. White. Built 1851, from an 1831 log house received as a legal fee. Registered with the State Historical Survey Committee. Now contains a historical museum.
County Wire

Montgomery County Wire

Local StoriesPhoto credits
The Texas Tribune — Statewide

TribCast: Are Texas’ voter systems ready for a contentious election?

Votebeat's Natalia Contreras joins TribCast to explain the state of Texas’ voter rolls one month before election day.

Read the Story Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read
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News & resources for Montgomery County

Local reporting when available, plus statewide Texas news and official resources.

TribCast: Are Texas’ voter systems ready for a contentious election?

Votebeat's Natalia Contreras joins TribCast to explain the state of Texas’ voter rolls one month before election day.

The Texas Tribune — Statewide • Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read

Democrat Jon Rosenthal outraises Bo French in Railroad Commission race in latest report

A big chunk of Rosenthal’s haul came after French’s racist social media comments following a UT-Austin football game…

The Texas Tribune — Statewide • Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read

Greg Abbott outraised Gina Hinojosa but burned through much of his campaign cash in Texas governor’s race

Abbott outspent Hinojosa 6-to-1 from July to late September, but the governor’s narrow polling lead was largely unchanged…

The Texas Tribune — Statewide • Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read

Law enforcement Democrat, GOP Air Force vet upend partisan script in race for new San Antonio U.S. House district

The 35th Congressional District was redrawn to elect a Republican, but Latino voters’ brewing leftward shift has put…

The Texas Tribune — Statewide • Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read

These are the most competitive November races up and down Texas’ midterm ballot

Texas has an unusually large slate of competitive races for the state Legislature and U.S. House this year.…

The Texas Tribune — Statewide • Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read
LOCAL WEATHER

Montgomery County

Forecast near Conroe

National Weather Service →

Tonight

63°F

Mostly Clear

Wind 5 mph N

Wednesday

91°F

Sunny

Wind 5 mph NE

Wednesday Night

70°F

Mostly Clear

Wind 0 to 5 mph N

Thursday

91°F

Sunny

Wind 5 to 10 mph NE

Thursday Night

68°F

Mostly Clear

Wind 0 to 5 mph E

Friday

90°F

Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Wind 5 to 10 mph NE
Updated Oct 6, 7:20 pm CDT · Conditions vary across the county.
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Meet Local Businesses

Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.

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County Resources

Useful connections for everyday life

Find public information and services through the county and relevant service providers.

Government

County & local resources

Tax Office

Tax office information, payments and available services.

Official Website

County Judge

County judge’s office and county administration information.

Official Website

Commissioner’s Court

Commissioners court information, meetings and county business.

Official Website

County Commissioners

Commissioners court information, meetings and county business.

Official Website

Commissioners Court Live

Commissioners court information, meetings and county business.

Official Website

Food, housing & family support

Montgomery County Food Bank — food assistance

Regional food-bank network serving Montgomery County. Find a nearby pantry or distribution and confirm its schedule before visiting.

Montgomery County Food Bank — food assistance — details and contacts

2-1-1 Texas — local assistance

Search community assistance by location and type of need, including food, housing and family support.

2-1-1 Texas — local assistance — details and contacts

Texas HHS — local family support

Search family-support programs and local services for parents and caregivers.

Texas HHS — local family support — details and contacts

A little local knowledge goes a long way

Find practical information before you visit or make a move.

Helpful Information

Frequently Asked Questions

Start with the essentials, then follow the source links for more detail.

Conroe is the county seat of Montgomery County, Texas.

Shop - Dine - Discover

Meet Local Businesses

Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.

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My Local Guide

Find Something Fun

Make time for a local discovery

Plan your day around places and experiences in the county.

Kids’ Fun

  1. 7 Acre Wood — Enjoy family activities; check admission and availability.
  2. Lake Conroe Beach Park — Plan a lakeside outing; check access fees and conditions.
  3. Jolly Mon Water Park — Check resort day-access arrangements before visiting.

Restaurants

  1. Honor Cafe — A local breakfast and lunch option.
  2. Pacific Yard House — Enjoy downtown dining.
  3. Red Brick Tavern — A pub dining option with scheduled live music.

Shopping & Retail

  1. Main Street Merchants — Browse locally made gifts and home goods.
  2. Conroe Central Market — Explore a downtown market.
  3. Mimi’s on Main — Browse a downtown shopping stop.

Clothing & Boutiques

  1. Mod Boutique — Explore a downtown boutique.
  2. Grace Good Boutique — Browse casual clothing in Panorama Village.
  3. Sweet Texas Treasures — Browse clothing, jewelry and local goods.

Outdoor Fun

  1. W. Goodrich Jones State Forest — Explore forest trails and birdwatching areas.
  2. Carl Barton Jr. Park — Plan a park outing; use current city facility information.
  3. McDade Park — Bring discs for the park’s disc golf course.

Free Things To Do

  1. Lone Star Monument and Historical Flag Park — Explore an outdoor display of Texas history.
  2. Downtown Art Bench walking tour — See artist-designed benches on a downtown stroll.
  3. Heritage Place First Thursday concerts — Free seasonal concerts; check the current schedule before going.
Every place has a story.Find Your Next Favorite.
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