Tomball ( ) is a city in Harris County in the U.S. state of Texas, a part of the Houston metropolitan area. The population was 12,341 at the 2020 U.S. census. In 1907, the community of Peck was renamed Tomball for local congressman Thomas Henry Ball, who had a major role in the development of the Port of Houston.
History
Settlement began in the Tomball area in the early 19th century, where settlers found an open, fertile land that received adequate rainfall—perfect conditions for farming and raising cattle. It was on a land granted in 1838 to William Hurd's heirs. In 1906 the area began to boom. Railroad line engineers often noticed that the Tomball area was on the boundary between the low hills of Texas and the flat coastal plains of the Gulf, making it an ideal location for a train stop. The railroad could load more cargo on each car, because the topography gently sloped toward the Galveston ports and provided an easier downhill coast. Thomas Henry Ball, an attorney for the Trinity and Brazos Valley Railroad, convinced the railroad to run the line right through downtown Tomball. Soon after, people came in droves to this new train stop. Hotels, boarding houses, saloons, and mercantile stores all began to spring up in the area. At first, people called the area Peck, after a chief civil engineer of the railroad line. However, on December 2, 1907, the town was officially named Tom Ball, later to be shortened to one word, for Mr. Ball.
In 1913, Baptist minister J.H. Gambrell, president of the Anti-Saloon League, urged his fellow prohibitionists to unite behind a Democratic candidate for governor. Ball was their man.
His opponent in 1914 was the wily James E. Ferguson, the candidate of anti-prohibitionist "Constructive Democrats." Ferguson's platform was short and to the point: "Whereas, I, James Ferguson, am as well qualified to be Governor of Texas as any damn man in it; and Whereas, I am against prohibition and always will be; and Whereas, I am in favor of a square deal for tenant farmers: Therefore, be it resolved, that I will be elected."
Ball, the teetotaling man of rectitude, might have won, but Ferguson's men visited Tomball and found to their delight that the rough and ready railroad town was no "saloon-less world." They brought back photos of Tomballians staggering out of at least four saloons ("shot of whiskey 10 cents, schooner of beer a nickel") and also discovered houses of ill repute doing a "brisk business" near the depot. The Ferguson campaign plastered the state with photos of a town named for a prohibitionist, where little, it seemed, was prohibited.
Ferguson also wondered why, if Ball was a teetotaler, he was a member of the Houston Club. As Texas historian James Haley tells the story, the man whose campaign slogan was "Play Ball," played right into Ferguson's hands by responding, lamely, that he enjoyed the club's literary pursuits, whereupon Ferguson happily produced records showing that the club had recently spent $112 on reading materials and $10,483.15 for liquor. Tomball resigned from the race as a result and later stated "If they had not named that town after me I would have been the next governor of Texas"
Geophysical prospecting predicted the discovery of the Tomball Oil Field before the discovery well was drilled on 27 May 1933. Production was from the Cockfield Formation at a depth of about . The discovery produced an oil boom with many oil companies subsequently showing interest in the area. By 1935, 2,750,000 barrels of oil had been produced from 200 wells. Humble Oil Company, struck a deal with the town through which they would provide water and natural gas free of charge to the residents in exchange for rights to drill on the land. This agreement lasted until 1988.
Tomball incorporated in 1933. Because of the 1933 incorporation, Houston did not incorporate Tomball's territory into its city limits.
Geography
Tomball is located at (30.098905, –95.618899).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and , or 1.54%, is water.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Tomball has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 12,341 people, 4,516 households, and 2,678 families residing in the city.
