The County Seat Moved Three Times Before Landing in Conroe
The Republic of Texas created Montgomery County on December 14, 1837. The town of Montgomery was the first county seat. Over the next 52 years the seat moved twice more. It went to Willis in 1874, came back to the town of Montgomery in 1880, then moved to Conroe in 1889. Conroe won out because its spot at a railroad junction made it the main business center of the county.
The town of Montgomery still exists today in the western part of the county. It has a historic downtown worth visiting. The county covers 1,047 square miles and sits about 40 miles north of Houston.
Content last revised 2026-07-11