The History
Tomball traces its foundational history back to the early 19th century when European pioneers discovered the fertile, rolling plains of northwest Harris County. Originally an agrarian settlement known as Peck, the community underwent a massive commercial transformation in 1906 thanks to the efforts of local lawyer and politician Thomas Henry Ball. Ball successfully structured a plan to route the Trinity and Brazos Valley Railway directly through the town, transforming the quiet farming outpost into a critical regional shipping hub. Grateful residents officially renamed the town Tomball in his honor, and the city incorporated in 1933. That same year, the economic landscape shifted monumentally when the Humble Oil & Refining Company struck oil, triggering a massive energy boom. This discovery established Tomball as a highly resilient and wealthy center for trade, paving the way for its modern transition into a premier suburban residential community.
