Photo by David PollanThe city of Stagecoach got its start when Thomas J. Stansbury obtained four areas of land on Jan. 15, 1847, by a land grant from the state of Texas. W. L. Schweinle purchased the land in 1926 and operated a sawmill on Sulphur Creek until it was closed during the Great Depression.
Then in the late 1950s, Real Estate Diversified Inc. of Houston subdivided and platted the area, and the name Stagecoach Farms was chosen by the developers, which was intended to pay homage to a stagecoach line that passed through the area during the 19th century as well as the small farms that had been in the area, according to the city's website.
Located between Tomball and Magnolia in the southwest corner of Montgomery County, a short distance from Hwy. 249, the city center of Stagecoach is tucked away in the back of the town so one can see the homes surrounding its two lakes—Lake Hardin and the larger Lake Apache.
The first road in Stagecoach, now called Shady Oaks Drive, is lined with some of the first homes built in the city. Campbell Meath and his wife were the first family to own a home in Stagecoach Farms in 1958.
The population of Stagecoach was 340 in 1990 and 455 in 2000. The current population is 538, according to the 2010 census.
"We are getting close to maximum capacity as there aren't many lots left for building," City Secretary Brenda Rutt said. "There are two houses under construction."
In 1965, the Stagecoach Farms Civic Club was created to maintain the lakes and parks in the area, and the club still owns them today. Since its inception, the civic club has played a significant role in the development of the city, from building barges, restrooms and pavilions to erecting entry, street and traffic signs.
In 1967 and 1968, the Stagecoach Farms Home Demonstration Club was formed and submitted Nevaire Richardson as a nominee for the Montgomery County Contemporary Woman of the Year. Richardson was chosen for the honor. She and her husband, Joe, were active members of the community and had been living in Stagecoach the longest before both died in 2013.
The city was incorporated in 1974 and at the time had 72 homes, about six weekend homes and a population in the city of about 165 residents. Sandy Henshaw designed the city flag after winning a contest in 2005.
With the exception of the city secretary and two police officers, all of the work in Stagecoach is done through community volunteers, Rutt said.
Connor Webster, who has been a resident since the 1960s, is now the person who has lived in the city the longest. He had been a judge for the city, even holding jury trials in a garage at one point, Rutt said. Carolyn Cox, a resident, is now the municipal judge.
Before the city center was constructed, residents would open their homes up for City Council meetings. They even held elections at the park before there was electronic voting, Rutt said.
Stagecoach had at one time looked into annexing the entire Stagecoach Road, but ended up keeping things the way they were. The aim of the city is to continue to be a quiet residential area, Rutt said.
