Fort Bend Lifestyles & Homes December 2009
History in Fort Bend County, and Sugar Land Area
Until about 1891, the site of Needville was open prairie. The first settlers in
the area included Gottlieb Stabbert, Fritz Foerster, and most importantly
August Schendel. Schendel came with his wife Louisa and two children and built
a home, store and a cotton gin. This area became known as Schendelville. In
1894, he attempted to change the name of the town to Needmore as he jokingly
noted that the town needed more of everything. Unfortunately, this name was
taken, so the town was given the name of Needville. The first church in the
town was built in 1896. It blew down in 1900, and a new white painted church
was erected. A small school opened in 1897, and in 1898 Schendel platted the
town and began selling lots.
In 1903, Needville supported a white school with
97 students and a black school with 45 students. The Round Hall was built in
1910 and served as a social center for the area
’s residents, and in 1914 there were three general stores, two cotton gins, a
movie theater and 100 people. The early citizens of Needville were primarily
farmers or ranchers. During the 1920s and 1930s, oil, natural gas and sulfur
were discovered in the area and brought those industries to Needville. By the
1920s, Needville had around 500 residents. The first telephone line was built
in 1916, and the town received electric lights in 1917. In 1918, the Needville
State Bank opened, and the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway was
extended through town.
Highway 36 opened in 1932 allowing high school students to be bussed to Richmond
and Rosenberg until 1947 when Needville Independent School District was formed
and a high school was built in 1948. Needville was incorporated in 1944.
l
needville: a town of the southeast texas prairie
By Chris Godbold
Main Street, Needville, 1923 • City Café and Meat Market, Needville, 1920-1930 • Dixie Saloon, Needville, 1915
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By the 1920s, Needville had around
500 residents. The first telephone line
was built in 1916, and the town received electric light in 1917.
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Photos and historical facts courtesy of the Fort Bend
County Museum Association in Richmond, Texas
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Fort Bend Publishing Group 2008
Featuring the Homes, Communities, People,
Businesses, Professionals, and Lifestyles of
Fort Bend County and Sugar Land Texas Since 1987
