10730 Soapberry Court Tomball, TX 77375

Tomball’s geographic advantages have made it a destination since the early 19th century. The land was flat and arable, ideal for farming and cattle raising. Plus, Tomball’s gentle downhill slope toward the Galveston ports made it a useful train stop. But the event that really put Tomball on the map was the discovery of oil in 1933 and the subsequent oil boom. Humble Oil Company, better known by its current name, Exxon, struck a deal with the town for exclusive drilling rights, in exchange for free water and natural gas, an agreement that lasted through 1988. Though Tomball has grown in the past half century, it still retains a small-town feel, with under 12,000 residents. Tomball is the rare Texas suburb with a high walkability score, and it hosts a popular weekly farmers market, a food truck park, and monthly festivals, including a well-attended annual tribute to the tasty crawfish.