Pelly and Baytown (Humble Refinery side) were separated by the Goose Creek stream.

Pelly took it's name from Englishman Fred T. Pelly, an area pioneer and first mayor.

Early Pelly was known as Middle Town and was a hastily constructed boom town with wooden and canvas structures. Most of the residents were squatters.

Middle Town incorporated in January 1920 and became Pelly.

Pelly's business district was located on the Pelly-Baytown Road (currently West Main).

Pelly named their Bank Goose Creek State Bank (never getting over the fact that Goose Creek had stolen their Post Office).  It fell on hard times during the Depression and was taken over by a Goose Creek Bank and moved away.

Robert E. Lee High School was located in the Pelly city limits.  Goose Creek unsuccessfully tried to annex the complex.

Anson Jones, Horace Mann Junior, Sam Houston Elementary, and (what was then known as) the colored schools were in Pelly.

In 1944 Pelly voted to remain independent of Goose Creek. In 1945, Pelly voted itself a home-rule city with a charter.

The first Mayor of Pelly was Fred Pelly  and E. D. "Eddie" Cleveland was the top elected official in Pelly. Wanda Orton  Read Wanda Orton's explanation on how Pelly came into being. CLICK HERE

On Monday, January 26, 1948 the city of Pelly officially became the city of Baytown...the second largest city in Harris County (Houston).

Pelly - Home of the Pelly Rats as told by Mrs. S.E. Iles of Old River, Texas

Much of the information on this page comes from the excellent book 'Baytown Vignettes', or 'The History of Baytown'  available at Sterling Municipal Library and the Baytown Historical Museum located at 220 W. Defee and Wanda Orton.