Chateau Woods, Texas
Encyclopedia
Chateau Woods was an incorporated community in southern Montgomery County
, Texas
, United States
. It was located east of Interstate 45
, approximately 10 miles south of Conroe
and 27 miles north of Houston
.
Residential development of the area began in the 1960s with the building of a subdivision known as Lake Chateau Woods. A civic club was formed during the late 1960s that eventually pursued incorporation to improve infrastructure in the area. Residents voted in favor of incorporating the community on December 6, 1975. The following year, a mayor (Leon Kennedy) and five aldermen were elected to serve the newly-created village. Using state bonds, a multi-million dollar sewer system was constructed. In the 1980 Census, Chateau Woods had a population of 590. That same year, aldermen voted to change its status from a "village" to a "city." By 1990, the population had risen to 641.
Although the local government tried to maintain unpaved roads in the city by laying down gravel, the streets deteriorated on an annual basis. During dry spells, travel on the unpaved streets would stir up thick clouds of dust, while rain caused the streets to become muddy and nearly impassable. Officials had planned to pave the roads, but wanted to wait until the sewer bonds were fully paid off. Had they proceeded immediately, residents would have faced higher tax rates. As frustration among residents grew, calls for the city to rejoin unincorporated Montgomery County gained popularity in the early 1990s. A slate of candidates who supported that idea were elected and on August 14, 1993, citizens voted to dis-incorporate and form a Municipal Utility District
(MUD). The Municipal Utility District was formed to maintain the area's septic system and ensure that the state was reimbursed – which it was, several years later.
An estimated 1,091 people lived in the Chateau Woods area in 2000.
Montgomery County, Texas
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The county was created by an act of the Congress of the Republic of Texas on December 14, 1837. The county was named for the town of Montgomery, Texas. In 2000, its...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was located east of Interstate 45
Interstate 45
Interstate 45 is an intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the U.S. state of Texas. It connects the cities of Dallas and Houston, continuing southeast from Houston to Galveston over the Galveston Causeway to the Gulf of Mexico...
, approximately 10 miles south of Conroe
Conroe, Texas
Conroe is a suburban city 40 miles north of Houston in the gulf coastal plains/piney woods region of southeast Texas.It is the seat of Montgomery County and falls within the metropolitan area.As of the 2000 U.S...
and 27 miles north of Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
.
Residential development of the area began in the 1960s with the building of a subdivision known as Lake Chateau Woods. A civic club was formed during the late 1960s that eventually pursued incorporation to improve infrastructure in the area. Residents voted in favor of incorporating the community on December 6, 1975. The following year, a mayor (Leon Kennedy) and five aldermen were elected to serve the newly-created village. Using state bonds, a multi-million dollar sewer system was constructed. In the 1980 Census, Chateau Woods had a population of 590. That same year, aldermen voted to change its status from a "village" to a "city." By 1990, the population had risen to 641.
Although the local government tried to maintain unpaved roads in the city by laying down gravel, the streets deteriorated on an annual basis. During dry spells, travel on the unpaved streets would stir up thick clouds of dust, while rain caused the streets to become muddy and nearly impassable. Officials had planned to pave the roads, but wanted to wait until the sewer bonds were fully paid off. Had they proceeded immediately, residents would have faced higher tax rates. As frustration among residents grew, calls for the city to rejoin unincorporated Montgomery County gained popularity in the early 1990s. A slate of candidates who supported that idea were elected and on August 14, 1993, citizens voted to dis-incorporate and form a Municipal Utility District
Municipal Utility District
A Municipal Utility District is a special-purpose district or other governmental jurisdiction that provides public utilities to the residents of that district...
(MUD). The Municipal Utility District was formed to maintain the area's septic system and ensure that the state was reimbursed – which it was, several years later.
An estimated 1,091 people lived in the Chateau Woods area in 2000.