FM 971 was designated on July 28, 1959, from SH 95 in Granger to Friendship as a replacement of a section of FM 972 (this section was originally FM 971). On June 2, 1967, the road was extended west to Business I-35-M (former Loop 418) north of Georgetown, replacing the -mile FM 2983 on the eastern section and the -mile FM 2606 on the western section, and connecting the sections.
