Howe strives to grow without losing ‘quaintness or cuteness’
A new park is being installed on the east end of Howe, and the elementary school on the north side is about to nearly double in size, but downtown, the city still celebrates Founder’s Day as it has for roughly 40 years: with musicians playing from a trailer doubling as a stage and contests from rib-eating to pie-throwing. The community of 3,700 people is growing, but some things never change, says Amy Gibbs, a Realtor at United Real Estate Insight and a Howe resident. “Even though we’re growing and developing, we’re working hard to keep the quaintness and the cuteness and give opportunities for the town to remain connected.” Howe’s location along U.S. Route 75 puts it within an hour of several North Texas destinations, from Lake Texoma on the Oklahoma border to Mavericks games and shopping malls in Dallas.
USDA loan program helps first-time buyers in Howe
Buyers in Howe can apply for a U.S. Department of Agriculture loan program meant to promote homeownership in rural areas; the loans typically don’t require a down payment. Gibbs says this is one reason she’s able to help many young first-time buyers purchase in Howe. “My youngest buyer turned 19 four days before his closing,” she says. “Strangely enough, I’m now serving my young buyers’ parents, because they’re empty nesters, and they’re selling.” Ranch-style homes and Tudor Revivals are clustered in small neighborhoods around town, with new builds rising in the Noble Ridge subdivision. Houses in the rural areas often come with 1 to 10 acres of land. Homeowners within a couple of blocks of the tracks may hear the trains that occasionally roll through town. Homes usually cost between $175,000 and $400,000, but larger houses on spacious lots sell from $500,000 to $760,000.
Howe Independent School District to expand Summit Hill Elementary
Kindergartners through second graders can go to Summit Hill Elementary, scored a B-plus by Niche. The campus is set to expand after voters approved a $32 million bond in 2025. The school district will use the money to add classrooms and a new gym to Summit Hill Elementary to accommodate the growing student body. As a result, there will be a property tax increase; for example, a homeowner with a property valued at $350,000 will pay about $41 more per month in taxes. Third, fourth and fifth graders can attend B-rated Howe Intermediate before advancing to Howe Middle, graded an A-minus. Howe High receives a B-plus.
Connections Park adds to Howe’s recreation scene
In 2023, the city broke ground on Connections Park, where 200 locals volunteered to build the tractor- and barn-shaped playgrounds. Other amenities are being added, from pickleball courts to a volleyball pit. Public green spaces such as A.M. Ferguson Memorial Park and Howe Youth Softball Fields host baseball and softball games for the Howe Youth Sports Association. Hillside Boarding and Training stables horses and teaches riding lessons on the north side of Howe.
Chamber of commerce puts on Founder’s Day Festival, trick-or-treating
The Howe Area Chamber of Commerce organizes many of the community’s events, including the Howe Founder’s Day Festival. This May tradition draws 30,000 people and more than 50 businesses downtown. “It’s the epitome of the sweet little county country fair,” Gibbs says. In late October, the chamber puts on the Downtown Howe-lloween Festival. Trick-or-treating can be tough for children in Howe’s more rural areas, so costumed kids instead trick-or-treat from vendors set up along Haning Street.
Small businesses on Haning Street sell antiques and comfort food
Howe’s downtown consists of shops and restaurants lining a block of East Haning Street. Howe Mercantile sells antiques across the street from Abby’s Restaurant, a family-owned joint serving comfort dishes such as chicken-fried steak. The small business scene is strong, says Gibbs, a member of the Howe Area Chamber of Commerce. “We’ve got 70 small businesses in our chamber. There’s a lot of self-employment.” Locals can pick up some household items from Dollar General, but there are more stores 10 miles away in Sherman. The city is home to chains like Albertsons, Walmart and The Home Depot. Sherman Medical Center is the closest hospital to Howe.
There are several churches in Howe. Two of them, Howe Methodist Church and Summit View Church, partner to run the Feed My Sheep food bank. Twice a month, church volunteers give away shelf-stable food, with eggs, meat and fresh produce sometimes available.
Route 75 connects to McKinney, while airports are in Dallas
U.S. Route 75 leads to several cities located between Dallas and Oklahoma, including McKinney, Sherman and Denison. It’s about 60 miles to Dallas Love Field and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, two of the region’s busiest commercial airports. Howe residents may soon have a closer option, as McKinney National Airport is building a passenger terminal that is expected to open in 2026.
Written By
Alex Soderstrom
