STUDYING. PEARLAND. OVER. TIME.
On The SPOT
Pearland Incorporation
This section will focus on the process Pearland took towards legally becoming a fully recognized town.
Brazoria County Water Control and Improvement District Number Three
Pearland's first step towards incorporation was voting to create the Brazoria County Water Control and Improvement District Number Three in 1949. This allowed the sale of bonds for the $260,000 needed to generate the funds to create a water and sewer system. By fall of the next year, a 50,000 gallon water tower had been built. The tower costed $16,000. Until Pearland incorporated in 1959, the Water Board was the only government entity in Pearland.
Image Credit - Pearland Historical Society
Image of the "golf ball" water tower many "old time Pearlanders" would remember
Lions Club
The Lions Club filled this gap in the 1950s. They were responsible for the first garbage collection, sidewalks from the railroad tracks to the school, street lights and markers, and a youth baseball program complete with an illuminated park to play in at night. In 1952, the Lions Club built over 1000 feet of sidewalks, and in the same year they organized their annual Turkey Shoot, which raises money for many community projects and the Lions Camp today.
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At the end of the decade, the Lions Club worked with the Chamber of Commerce to support incorporation through financing the election to incorporate the city of Pearland. The polls approved incorporation. A primary reason for this decision was a well-founded fear of being assumed into Houston as they were gaining more land.
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The Lions Club also built a baseball field on their property assisting in forming the Little League.
Image Credit - pearlandlions.pearland411.com
Image of the Pearland Lions Club logo
City Structure
Following the election of a mayor, city council, and city marshal, R. V. Johnson became the first City of Pearland paid employee on May 5, 1960, when he accepted the post of police chief. Pearland's first Mayor was E. T. Gibbons. The first elected City Councilmen were Tom Alexander, L. C. Hawkins, W. E. Parker, David Smith and Victor Nolen. Jack Miller was elected to City Constable. That years head count showed a 3x increase over the past 20 years to 1,467, then to 5,000 in 1970.
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Information about the current City Government can be found in the Growth & Modern Day section of the website.
