Howe, Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Howe, Texas
Town
Downtown Howe
Flag
Location of Howe, Texas
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Grayson
Area
• Total	5.10 sq mi (13.22 km2)
• Land	5.10 sq mi (13.22 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	797 ft (243 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,571
• Density	699.78/sq mi (270.19/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	75459
Area code(s)	903, 430
FIPS code	48-35084
GNIS feature ID	2412773

Welcome to Howe

Official city flag adopted in 2014

Howe is a friendly town located in Grayson County, Texas, in the United States. In 2020, about 3,571 people lived there. Howe is part of the larger Sherman–Denison metropolitan area.

History of Howe

A 1910 map of Howe

The first people settled in the Howe area around 1836, the year of the Texas Revolution. In 1843, the last battle with Native Americans in Grayson County reportedly happened here. Jabez and Harriet Haning, along with Jabez's brother John, were among the very first settlers. They came from Pennsylvania before 1850 and received land through the Peters colony.

Early Days and the Railroad

In 1873, the Houston and Texas Central Railway built tracks through the area. A special spot for trains, called a "railroad switch," was placed in the community. This spot was first named "Summit." It was thought to be the highest point between the Red River and the Gulf of Mexico, at about 810 feet above sea level.

When Summit got a post office in 1873, it had two businesses: a general store and a saloon. Jabez Haning helped the railroad build a depot on his land. He gave the railroad every second lot in his new town plan. In 1876, the depot, store, and post office were all renamed "Howe." This new name honored F. M. Howe, who worked for the Houston and Texas Central Railway.

Howe had three saloons until around 1900. Then, the town decided to become a "dry" area, meaning alcohol sales were not allowed. The first one-room school opened in 1877. It was later replaced by a bigger, two-story building in 1884.

Growth and Development

Howe officially became a town in 1884, with George M. McCrary as its first mayor. By the late 1880s, Howe became a major center for shipping grain. It was especially known for its red rust-proof oats. Many seed companies started in Howe during this time.

In 1890, Howe had about 450 people. It also had a steam gristmill (for grinding grain), a farmers' cooperative, and churches for Baptist and Methodist faiths. There were also hotels, doctors, and barbers. Several newspapers were published in Howe over the years, like the Howe Herald and the Howe Enterprise.

Major Events and Changes

On May 15, 1896, a very strong tornado, called an F5, passed through the west side of Howe. It destroyed about 17 homes. Later, on October 6, 1904, a fire swept through Howe's business area, destroying four stores.

By 1914, an electric train service, called the Interurban, connected Howe to Denison and Dallas. This made travel much easier. Howe also had a bank, grain elevators, and an ice plant by this time. The town's population grew from 521 in 1904 to 680 in the early 1960s. It then grew quickly, reaching 2,173 by 1990 and 2,478 by 2000.

For most of its history, Howe was mainly a farming community. However, some oil has also been found in the area. By the early 1980s, Howe had about 30 businesses. These included a shirt factory and a company that made hydraulic equipment. By 1991, Howe had five manufacturing companies, making things like plastics, electronics, and farm tools.

On April 26, 2016, another tornado, an EF1, hit Howe around 10:00 pm. It injured three people and damaged over 20 homes, including the Howe High School. The storm even tossed a truck and three cars on US Highway 75.

Geography of Howe

Howe is located in the southern part of Grayson County. It sits where U.S. Highway 75, Texas State Highway 5, and Farm to Market Road 902 meet. The city of Sherman, which is the county seat, is just north of Howe.

The town covers an area of about 13.2 square kilometers (5.1 square miles), and all of it is land. Howe's elevation is about 860 feet above sea level. This makes it the highest point along US 75 between the Red River and the Gulf of Mexico.

Howe's Population

People in Howe (2020)

The table below shows the different groups of people living in Howe as of the 2020 census. "NH" means "Non-Hispanic."

In 2020, there were 3,571 people living in Howe. There were 1,069 households and 775 families in the town.

Traditions in Howe

Founders Day Celebration

2015 Founders Day

Howe celebrates its history and beginnings every May with a special event called Founders Day. The first Founders Day was held in 1986 and included a professional rodeo and many other festival activities.

Each year, vendors set up stalls in the downtown area, selling various items. The festival offers food, shaved ice, bounce houses, and more fun activities. The Howe Area Chamber of Commerce organizes this event. In 2016, the town celebrated the 30th anniversary of Founders Day with live music.

Education in Howe

The Howe Independent School District serves the city. Howe is home to the Howe High School Bulldogs.

Media in Howe

Newspapers

• The Howe Enterprise
• The Herald Democrat

Radio Stations

• KLAK Adult Contemporary 97.5
• KMAD Mad Rock 102.5
• KMKT Katy Country 93.1
• KDOC Doc FM 107.3

Television Stations

• KTEN Channel 10 – (NBC)
• KTEN DT Channel 10.2 – (The CW Texoma)
• KTEN DT Channel 10.3 – (ABC)
• KXII Channel 12 – (CBS)
• KXII DT Channel 12.2 (My Texoma)
• KXII DT Channel 12.3 (Fox Texoma)

Notable Person

• Dale Milford, a U.S. Representative, lived in Howe when he passed away.

See also

In Spanish: Howe (Texas) para niños