Is Huntsville part of Greater Houston? (The Woodlands, Conroe: home, construction, university)

[locotio]

I'm looking to move to Huntsville to work at SHSU. Is this considered a far out Houston suburb, or an independent city in rural Texas? Obviously it's too far to reasonably commute, but I'm guessing you also see a lot of Texans fans, people go on day trips into Houston, and SHSU's students are largely from there as well. Hard to tell tbh.

[westsidewolf1989]

I'd say independent city in rural Texas...but yes to your last sentence (most of SHSU students are likely within an hour of Huntsville and a day trip to Houston would be easy).

[Dopo]

I don’t think so, but when I worked in Conroe I would constantly see cars with SHSU stickers driving up I-45

[As Above So Below...]

Its not part of the metro area but it is a part of the combined statistical area. So, no not really.

[timtemtym]

It never was when I was growing up.

Huntsville was the first place my dad would say we could stop to pee (coming from Clear Lake). He'd always say, "Let's way until we get out of town at least!"

So according to the acceptable pee radius, it is in the safe zone outside of "town"

[DanielWayne]

I'm considering moving to anywhere between Huntsville and the Woodlands so I make recon trips here and there from the other side of the Houston area. I'd say it's independent. It definitely feels like a slow paced town of it's own. I would not choose to commute there from where I live, which is SE of Houston. It is a startling contrast to the Woodlands which is upscale suburban. But I like Huntsville because it reminds me of my home town in SE Texas. Sam Houston is a popular regional university, but less so outside of this part of the state.

[LocalPlanner]

It's still a separate place, though at this point maybe on the verge of becoming an exurb of the northern Houston area. Day trip errands to the northern suburbs like Conroe / The Woodlands are not painful at all unless there's a traffic incident or construction. Going into to Houston itself is more of an excursion but fine for a weekend event. I wouldn't want to do it regularly on a weeknight.

I'd say New Waverly, between Huntsville and Willis, at this point is an exurb, and Willis is transitioning quickly from exurb to suburb.

[Houston parent]

I would call Huntsville an exurb of Houston.

[Thoreau424]

Considering the many miles of rural area between the Greater Houston area and Huntsville, no. There's a big break and space between the two areas. Conroe and The Woodlands though could be considered for that.

[DabOnEm]

At this point probably an exurb especially with the growth in Conroe/TW. It doesn't feel as isolated as it used to be. I-45 construction probably helps with that.

Originally Posted by Thoreau424

Considering the many miles of rural area between the Greater Houston area and Huntsville, no. There's a big break and space between the two areas. Conroe and The Woodlands though could be considered for that.

Most of the rural land is because of the national forest/state park. Hopefully it remains that way.