The city of Houston is in northern Houston County, in southeastern Minnesota. Platted in 1852 by William McSpadden, the village was named for Sam Houston, the first president of the Republic of Texas, who McSpadden had served under during the Mexican-American War. When McSpadden arrived, a band of Winnebago Indians were living on a bend in the Root River. After platting the town, McSpadden returned to La Crosse, where he operate a ferry, dividing his time between the two places while encouraging immigrants to located in his Root River settlement. By 1854, he had settled in Houston permanently. Other early settlers include Ole Knudson, Walter Webster, Lars Johnson, David Johnson, Henry Hyatt, and Charles Gainer. In 1854, there were about forty buildings in the new settlement, including stores and a school. Houston was incorporated as a city in 1874. An area just outside of the city is known as Houston Township, organized in 1858. The Root River enters the township at its most western section, flowing east through the southern part of the township, passing just north of the city, while the South Fork of the Root River enters the main stream just east of the city. A ferry across the Root River was established in 1858, which was later replaced by a bridge. The first manufacturing business was a sawmill, built on the bank of Silver Creek by McSpadden in 1855, in an area where there was a natural falls that could provide water power. The original village of Houston was south of the current townsite. Its business interests moved beginning in 1866 after the Southern Minnesota Railroad was constructed through a point north of the current downtown section. Nearby communities include Bratsberg, Brownsville, Caledonia, Choice, Highland, Hokah, La Crescent, Money Creek, New Hartford, Peterson, Rushford, Sheldon, and and Yucatan. La Crosse, Wisconsin is about twenty miles east of Houston.
 
 
Recommended Resources
Houston Area Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber is a non-profit organization made up of business owners and managers, professional people, and others in the Houston, Minnesota region. The benefits of membership are discussed, along with a meeting schedule and a guide to local events, attractions, and businesses. Notices are posted to the site.
http://www.houstonmnchamber.com/
Held during the last full weekend in July, the annual Houston, Minnesota event features a large variety of activities, some of which may change from year to year, including parades, softball tournament, tractor pull competition, bingo, a dance, fireworks soap box derby, and many others, as well as food, drinks, and other activities.
http://www.houstonhoedown.com/
Built by the City of Houston, Minnesota in 2001, as an educational and informational center for the trailhead of the Root River Trail, the project has grown into a multi-purpose building with a gift shop, meeting room, hand-on nature displays, showers, restrooms, and a parking lot. Its programs, volunteer opportunities, and contacts are posted.
http://www.houstonnaturecenter.com/
Located on East Cedar in Houston, Minnesota, the public library offers books, movies, music and other materials and collections, as well as research facilities, schedules events and programs. The library’s online resources are highlighted, along with its location, hours of operation, and contact data.
https://houston.lib.mn.us/
Offering a PK-12th grade curriculum, as well as a community education program, the public school district in Houston, Minnesota operates Houston Elementary School, Houston High School, Summit Learning Center, and the Minnesota Virtual Academy at both the elementary and high school levels. Its campuses, academic and athletic programs, and district calendars are featured.
http://www.houston.k12.mn.us/
The City of Houston is in the Root River Valley of southeastern Minnesota. A profile of the community is outlined on the city’s official web site, along with a city newsletter, an overview of its projects and services, council agendas and minutes, administrative contacts and office hours.
http://www.houston.govoffice.com/
International Festival of Owls
In 1997, a three-week old owlet fell from her nest in Wisconsin and was never able to fly or live in the wild, so she served as an education bird for the Houston Nature Center in Houston, Minnesot, where she was the only live animal. Her life is commemorated with the annual festival. Schedules, event registration, programs, and activities are highlighted.
http://www.festivalofowls.com/
Built in 2005 on the site of their grandfather’s historic sawmill, the guest accommodations are in Houston, Minnesota, near the Root River State Trail and the Houston Nature Center. The facility’s rooms and amenities are highlighted, with photographs, rates, and a map showing the location of the inn.
http://www.sawmillinnandsuites.com/
Administered by Houston Public Schools, the MNVA is a state-approved and accredited online educational program offering a K-12th grade curriculum, where students receive a complete curriculum, lesson planning tools, books, and instructional materials through the use of a computer and a printer, with certified teachers monitoring each child’s progress, attendance and work samples, as well as providing instruction, suggestions and support.
http://www.mnva.k12.mn.us/