Crosby, Texas
Census-designated place in the United States in Harris County · Not an incorporated municipality
About Crosby
Crosby is a census-designated place in Harris County, Texas, United States. Its population was 3,417 at the 2020 census.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How Crosby is governed
Crosby appears to be an unincorporated community or a census-designated place, so it may have no city government of its own — services usually come from Harris County and its elected officials. The chart below is a generic template; readers can correct it if Crosby does have local officials.
Form of government not yet listed.
0 of 14 positions listed. Gray dashed boxes are placeholders waiting for a name.
Residents of Crosby
Registered voters elect the officials below.
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Mayor
Executive
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The city's chief elected official. Presides over the executive branch, proposes the budget and represents the city.
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City Manager / Administrator
Executive
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The professional administrator who runs day-to-day operations (in some cities appointed by the council instead of the mayor).
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Police Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the police department.
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Fire Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the fire and emergency services department.
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Public Works Director
Administration & departments
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Streets, water, sewer, and city buildings.
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Finance Director
Administration & departments
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The budget, taxes, and city accounts.
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Planning & Zoning Director
Administration & departments
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Land use, zoning, building permits.
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Parks & Recreation Director
Administration & departments
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Parks, programs, and public facilities.
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City Council
Legislative
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The elected body that passes ordinances, sets the tax rate and approves the budget.
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City Clerk
Administration & departments
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Keeps the official records, runs meeting agendas and, often, local elections.
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City Attorney
Administration & departments
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The city's lawyer; advises officials and prosecutes ordinance violations.
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Boards & Commissions
Legislative
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Citizen advisory bodies, such as planning, zoning appeals and library boards.
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Municipal Court
Judicial
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Hears traffic, ordinance and other minor cases.
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Municipal Judge
Judicial
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Presides over the municipal court.
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- Website
- crosbytx.us
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Population over time
From 75,000 in 2010 to 3,417 in 2020 (−95.4%).
Show the numbers
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 3,417 |
| 2010 | 75,000 |
History
The site north of U.S. Route 90 (according to some) was an encampment nicknamed Lick Skillet in 1823 by Humphrey Jackson, one of the 300 original Anglo colonists to settle Texas. The name "Lick Skillet" came from the phrase, "The East Texas oxen team drivers sipped the spring sweet water and licked their skillets clean."
Humphrey Jackson (1784–1833) moved to Texas from Louisiana in September 1823, and built a log cabin outside Austin's colony on the San Jacinto River, 0.5 miles (800 m) west of the site of present-day Crosby. On August 16, 1824, the Baron de Bastrop granted him title to a league and a labor of land, including the place where he had settled, in what is now Harris County. Jackson next petitioned the Mexican government to form the San Jacinto District under control of the Austin colony; he was elected alcalde of the new district in 1824, 1825, and 1827, and served as ex officio militia captain of the San Jacinto area. Jackson was buried at Crosby. Jackson's Bayou in eastern Harris County is probably named for him.
In 1860, the town was named Gentry after President of the Sabine and Galveston Bay Railroad and Lumber Company, A. M. Gentry who constructed the 41 miles of railroad from Houston to Liberty in what was called the Texas and New Orleans Railroad, Texas Division. The first general store was built in 1865 by Charlie Karcher, and thereafter the town would become a shipping and retail center for lumber and agricultural products.
The railroad was eventually taken over by the Southern Pacific Railroad and rebuilt. The platform that had been built with a sign showing the name "Gentry" was located and a new depot built. In 1877, the town was renamed by former judge, state representative, legislator, and vice president of the railroad, Josiah Frasier Crosby, and a post office was established. By 1884, Crosby reported a population of 50, a school, a Baptist church, and a general store. In 1905, it had one school with four teachers and 122 students. As of 1929, the population was about 600, but the Great Depression reduced this number by half. World War II brought the population to over 900, and the population continued to grow.
For a brief 19 days in 1953 (from December 19 to 31), the town of Crosby briefly changed its name to Hope, Texas, to participate in a contest conducted by comedian Bob Hope. Reported in a news transcript from WBAP-TV in Fort Worth, Texas; "Hope recently announced that he would like to have a pretty girl from every city in the nation named Hope to appear on his television show next Tuesday. Maine, Rhode Island, Michigan, Kansas, and Indiana are sending representatives, so the folks in Crosby decided they'de [sic] get into the act. The result: they changed the town's name to Hope and set about naming a queen. The town will keep its new name until New Years Day, then it will become Crosby, Texas, again."
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.