Located among the tall trees of the Sam Houston National Forest, Cleveland is defined by its countryside that extends from an already rural downtown core. This former railroad town has evolved from a small, 19th-century agricultural settlement into a longstanding community just 20 miles east of Conroe, 35 miles from The Woodlands and 50 miles from Houston. Currently, 9,646 people live in this part of Liberty County, a 22.24% increase from 2020. Most residents are generational and have made their mark. “When you go into town and start meeting people, you will eventually meet the people the streets are named after. They are from Cleveland, and they stay in Cleveland,” says Trisha M. Cranney, a former resident and licensed Realtor since 2014 who works for Anne Vickery & Associates Realty, L.L.C. Employment opportunities in Cleveland center around health services, oil, gas, lumber and farming. The city’s cultural and recreational attractions include the Cleveland Historical Museum, the Locke Surls Center for Art and Nature and Cleveland City Park. Due to its wooded nature, Cleveland has long been a favorite destination for Houstonian campers, hunters and outdoorsy folk.
Cleveland is a city nestle in the Piney Woods of east Southeast Texas.
A mural depicting the towns lumber history is painted on a building at Campbell Park.
Cleveland sits on the edge of the Sam Houston National Forest, an outdoor oasis.
The residents of Cleveland have pride in their community.
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High-speed internet comes to Cleveland
Cleveland's core is gridded, while its outskirts offer country homes on vast acreage. "When I first started in real estate, the mayor was trying to get some of the older people to sell off pieces of their land so they could get some growth," Cranney says. There's currently a ton of land for sale, and Cranney says it's Cleveland's biggest draw. Many of her clients are seeking to build a second home outside the city where they can hunt, fish and ride their four-wheelers. New construction dots the city, but the highest concentration is eastward, in Grand Oaks Reserve, a coveted golf course community. This is one of the only new subdivisions in Cleveland, but the city hopes to attract the kind of development New Caney and Splendora are seeing. A recent initiative they're taking to attract developers is bringing much-needed high-speed internet to the area. The median home price in Cleveland is around $270,000. This is about 23% less than the state average and 34% less than the national average. Housing prices in Cleveland are on par with New Caney and Splendora, but land is often less. "In New Caney or Splendora, you have to pay $85,000 and up for an acre. You can get an acre out in Cleveland for $50,000 to $60,000, maybe less," Cranney says.
Cleveland is a growing, with new homes found in subdivisions like Grand Oaks Preserve..
The neighborhood of Midline has charming ranch-style houses, defining its suburban landscape.
Brick traditional style homes are common in the Cleveland area.
Xfinity partnered with the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce to organize Downtown Cocoa Crawl.
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Locke Surls Center for Art offers a tour of sculptures
Cleveland may be a small city, but its age and its century of continued evolution have imbued this community with a rich heritage. Locals can explore their city’s story at the Cleveland Historical Museum, which showcases nearly 200 years of history. Set amid over 170 acres of woodland, the Locke Surls Center for Art allows locals to tour modern sculptures in a natural setting. Local culture comes alive at annual events like the Dairy Day cook-off and rodeo each April, the city’s Fourth of July fireworks celebration, October’s Fall Festival with its farmers’ markets and food and Cleveland’s November-December holiday light displays at the “Christmas Ranch.”
Visit the Locke Surls Center for Art and see the incredible art exhibit in Cleveland.
A family roasts marshmallows over an open fire at the Downtown Cocoa Crawl.
Lean about the history of Cleveland at the Cleveland Historical Museum downtown.
Children enjoy playing in the artificial snow at the Downtown Cocoa Crawl.
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Cleveland’s cuisine
Cleveland's shopping and dining mostly centers around Washington Avenue. "There's not many chains there unless it's fast food related," Cranney says, although she adds there is a Walmart and H-E-B, and both are "big deals." Local eateries serve up dishes from around the world, from Mexican and Chinese classics to Japanese steakhouse favorites and the famous Texas-style barbecue. Major shopping is in New Caney at Valley Ranch and The Woodlands.
Eat locally in Cleveland at restaurants like Reyes Mexican Grille.
There are many different local vendors for food and produce in Midline.
Cleveland residents have access to shopping nearby like H-E-B.
Families can shop at the Valley Town Ranch shopping center in New Caney
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Hiking through Sam Houston National Forest
To Greater Houston residents, Cleveland is perhaps best known as a camping resort. Locals can join in on the fun with a trip to the neighboring Sam Houston National Forest, a preserve of over 163,000 acres of East Texas' Piney Woods ecoregion. This natural kingdom contains the 128-mile Lone Start Hiking Trail, the longest in the state. Campers can stay at one of three recreation areas and canoe and paddleboat amid the forest's wetlands, while fishing and hunting are also popular pastimes. Within Cleveland, families can go to Old City Park for a playground, while Campbell Park has a splash pad. Summers in Cleveland are hot and humid, and winters are mild. The city has faced all the extremes Texas is known for over the past few years as well. The most extreme years on record were between 2023 and 2024 when Cleveland suffered a historic tornado event, a 97-acre wildfire and downtown flooding. Cranney says flood risk in Cleveland is low compared to nearby cities. "It's way less in Cleveland than it is in east Montgomery County where it floods all the time," she says. "In New Caney and Splendora, you have to be very careful about where you buy." Since 5 million Texans are affected by flooding annually, the state adopted its first city-wide flood plan in 2024. The plan proposes to strengthen dam and levee programs and expand early warning systems.
Cleveland residents can take a hike along the Lone Star Hiking Trail, the longest in Texas.
Cleveland's Campbell Park is where locals can get out an play.
The Old City Park provides residents a fun place to get out and play.
A father and his son play a game of basketball at Campbell Park in Cleveland.
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Learning at Cleveland Independent School District
Cleveland Independent School District earns a C-minus on Niche. Tarkington Independent School District — in the Tarkington community, on the eastern edges of the city — has the most highly regarded schools in the city and is rated B on Niche. The closest higher education option is Lone Star College, a community college around 23 miles from Cleveland. The University of Houston and the prestigious Rice University are both within 50 miles and Texas A&M University is about 90 miles from the city. Rice University came in as the ninth-ranking college on Forbes' top 10 U.S. 2024-2025 colleges list.
Cleveland High School is located in Liberty County, Texas.
2,655 students attend Cleveland Middle School.
Northside Elementary School is a great school to send your children.
Southside Primary School serves various neighborhoods of Cleveland, Texas.
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Highway to Houston
Interstate 69 is the main highway traveling through Cleveland. Houston-bound commuters can take this highway into the city and to George Bush Intercontinental Airport, around 30 miles away. The airport is one of the busiest in the state, with a dozen airlines traveling to 187 domestic and international destinations. The city is home to a Texas Emergency Hospital, which also offers lab testing and specialized cardiac procedures. While most residents drive, this city also has fixed bus routes through the Brazos Transit District.
Crime in Cleveland
While Cleveland is a small exurban city, its law enforcement still has to contend with high crime rates. According to a 2020 FBI report, Cleveland has an average violent crime rate of 5.53 incidents per 1,000 residents and a property crime rate of 41.75 per 1,000. The total crime rate of 47.28 is well above the national average of 38.7. The Cleveland Police Department is addressing crime by hiring patrol officers to be “generalists” rather than “specialists,” training them to prepare each officer for any type of incident.
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