SafekipediaFort Bend County, Texas
Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience
Fort Bend County is a place in the U.S. state of Texas. It was created on December 29, 1837. The county is named for an old blockhouse near a bend in the Brazos River. People first settled around this fort a long time ago.
The main town, called the county seat, is Richmond. The biggest town completely inside the county is Sugar Land. Even though Houston has more people, most of its residents live in a different county nearby.
Fort Bend County is part of the bigger area known as the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan statistical area. By the time of the 2020 census, many people lived there, making it one of the bigger counties in Texas.
History
Before Europeans arrived, the area was home to the Karankawa people. Spanish settlers mostly stayed further south in Texas.
Later, people from the United States began moving in. In 1822, a group led by William Travis built a fort at the bend of the Brazos River, naming it Fort Bend. The city of Richmond was created in 1837.
The county grew with a focus on farming, especially cotton. Many people were brought in to work on farms. By the 1850s, most of the county’s people were African American.
In the late 1800s, there were conflicts over voting rights. In 1889, a fight at the courthouse led to trouble. The state sent in soldiers to help.
In the 1960s, new communities began to appear, changing the county from rural to more like a city. Areas like Sugar Land grew quickly. By 2010, over 500,000 people lived there.
In 2017, Hurricane Harvey caused huge floods. Many homes were damaged, and thousands of people needed help to stay safe.
Geography
Fort Bend County in Texas covers an area of 885.250 square miles (2,292.79 km2), according to the United States Census Bureau. A small part of this area, 23.465 square miles (60.77 km2), is water. The county is the 181st largest in Texas by total area.
The county borders several other counties: Waller County to the north, Harris County to the northeast, Brazoria County to the southeast, Wharton County to the southwest, and Austin County to the northwest.
Communities
Fort Bend County has many places where people live. Some of these places share space with other counties. Big cities like Houston and Sugar Land are partly in Fort Bend County. Other cities fully inside the county include Richmond, which is the county seat, and Needville.
There are also smaller towns such as Thompsons and villages like Fairchilds. Some areas are called census-designated places, meaning they are groups of homes counted by the government but not officially cities, like Cinco Ranch and Sienna. There are also places that used to be counted this way but are not anymore, like Town West. Additionally, there are unincorporated areas where homes and farms are spread out, such as Booth and Clodine. Some old settlements, known as ghost towns, include Duke and Pittsville.
Demographics
From 1930 to 1950, Fort Bend County's population grew slowly and even dropped. This happened when many African Americans moved to the West Coast for better jobs. Today, the county has many different kinds of people.
As of 2024, the median home value in Fort Bend County was $395,730. In 2023, the county had about 281,259 households, with an average of 3 people per household. The median household income was $113,409, and about 8.5% of people lived below the poverty line. The county's employment rate was 66.7%, and many residents had education beyond high school.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 2,533 | — | |
| 1860 | 6,143 | 142.5% | |
| 1870 | 7,114 | 15.8% | |
| 1880 | 9,380 | 31.9% | |
| 1890 | 10,586 | 12.9% | |
| 1900 | 16,538 | 56.2% | |
| 1910 | 18,168 | 9.9% | |
| 1920 | 22,931 | 26.2% | |
| 1930 | 29,718 | 29.6% | |
| 1940 | 32,963 | 10.9% | |
| 1950 | 31,056 | −5.8% | |
| 1960 | 40,527 | 30.5% | |
| 1970 | 52,314 | 29.1% | |
| 1980 | 130,846 | 150.1% | |
| 1990 | 225,421 | 72.3% | |
| 2000 | 354,452 | 57.2% | |
| 2010 | 585,375 | 65.1% | |
| 2020 | 822,779 | 40.6% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 975,191 |  | 18.5% |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 | |||
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980 | Pop 1990 | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 79,549 | 121,245 | 163,788 | 211,680 | 243,726 | 60.80% | 53.79% | 46.21% | 36.16% | 29.62% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 20,132 | 45,678 | 69,579 | 123,267 | 167,964 | 15.39% | 20.26% | 19.63% | 21.06% | 20.41% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 276 | 411 | 621 | 1,159 | 1,269 | 0.21% | 0.18% | 0.18% | 0.20% | 0.15% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 3,694 | 13,978 | 39,545 | 98,762 | 181,522 | 2.82% | 6.20% | 11.16% | 16.87% | 22.06% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 31 | 52 | 97 | 174 | 276 | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 508 | 217 | 165 | 1,341 | 4,055 | 0.39% | 0.07% | 0.15% | 0.23% | 0.49% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x | x | 5,407 | 10,025 | 25,387 | x | x | 1.53% | 1.71% | 3.09% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 26,656 | 43,892 | 74,871 | 138,967 | 198,580 | 20.37% | 19.47% | 21.12% | 23.74% | 24.14% |
| Total | 130,846 | 225,421 | 354,452 | 585,375 | 822,779 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Government and politics
In Fort Bend County, people make decisions through a group called the commissioners' court. This group has four people elected from each area and one county judge who represents everyone. There are also other important jobs, like the sheriff, who helps keep the county safe.
For many years, most people in Fort Bend County voted for the Democratic Party. But as new neighborhoods grew, more people began voting for the Republican Party. This change started in the 1960s and continued for many years. Over time, the county has changed between the two parties. Recently, it often votes more like the Democratic Party than the rest of Texas. Today, Fort Bend County is seen as a place where elections can go either way, depending on who is running and what issues matter to voters.
Commissioners' court
County officials
United States Congress
Source:
Texas Legislature
Texas Senate
Texas House of Representatives
Corrections
The Fort Bend County Jail is at 1410 Richmond Parkway in Richmond.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates several facilities in Fort Bend County at the Jester State Prison Farm site.
Prisons for men include:
- Jester III Unit (unincorporated area)
- Carol Vance Unit (unincorporated area)
Other facilities include:
- Jester I Unit – Substance Abuse Felony Punishment Facility (unincorporated area)
- Wayne Scott Unit (formerly Jester IV Unit) – Psychiatric Facility (unincorporated area), renamed in 2021
The TDCJ announced that the Central Unit in Sugar Land was closing in 2011. The City of Sugar Land is looking at the property for future uses.
County buildings
Fort Bend County Justice Center at 1422 Eugene Heimann Cir.
William B. Travis Building is just east of the courthouse.
Fort Bend County Rosenberg Annex
| Name | Party | First Elected | Communities Represented | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Judge | KP George | Republican | 2018 | Countywide |
| Precinct 1 | Vincent Morales | Republican | 2016 | Arcola, Beasley, Fairchilds, Fresno, Greatwood, Needville, Orchard, Richmond, Rosenberg, Sienna Plantation |
| Precinct 2 | Grady Prestage | Democratic | 1990 | eastern Stafford, most of Missouri City east of FM 1092, Meadows Place, Mission Bend |
| Precinct 3 | Andy Meyers | Republican | 1996 | Cinco Ranch, Fulshear, Lakemont, Pecan Grove, Simonton, small portions of Sugar Land |
| Precinct 4 | Dexter L. McCoy | Democratic | 2022 | Most of Sugar Land, Missouri City west of FM 1092, New Territory, Riverstone |
| Name | Party | |
|---|---|---|
| County Attorney | Bridgette Smith-Lawson | Democratic |
| County Clerk | Laura Richard | Republican |
| District Attorney | Brian Middleton | Democratic |
| District Clerk | Beverley McGrew Walker | Democratic |
| Sheriff | Eric Fagan | Democratic |
| Tax Assessor-Collector | Carmen Turner | Democratic |
| Treasurer | Bill Rickert | Republican |
| Name | Party | First Elected | Level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senate Class 1 | Ted Cruz | Republican | 2012 | Junior Senator |
| Senate Class 2 | John Cornyn | Republican | 2002 | Senior senator |
| Name | Party | First Elected | Area(s) of Fort Bend County Represented | |
| District 7 | Lizzie Fletcher | Democratic | 2018 | Mission Bend, Four Corners, western portions of Sugar Land, and unincorporated portions of the north-central part of the county |
| District 9 | Al Green | Democratic | 2004 | Northeastern corner of the county, including Fresno and most of Stafford, Missouri City, and the county's portion of Houston |
| District 22 | Troy Nehls | Republican | 2020 | Greater Katy areas, Fulshear, Richmond, Rosenberg, Sienna, eastern portion of Sugar Land, and southwestern Missouri City |
| Name | Party | First Elected | Area(s) of Fort Bend County Represented | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Borris Miles | Democratic | 2016 | Fresno, Fifth Street, most of Missouri City, the county's share of Pearland and Stafford, and most of the county's share of Houston |
| 17 | Joan Huffman | Republican | 2008 | Northwestern and southern areas of the county, including Fulshear, eastern portions of Sugar Land, and the county's share of Cinco Ranch and Katy |
| 18 | Lois Kolkhorst | Republican | 2015 (special) | Central areas of the county, including Richmond, Rosenberg, Mission Bend, Pecan Grove, Four Corners, and western portions of Sugar Land |
| Name | Party | First Elected | Area(s) of Fort Bend County Represented | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Matt Morgan | Republican | 2024 | Richmond, Pecan Grove, most of Cinco Ranch, some of Rosenberg and Katy, and other northern and central areas of the county |
| 27 | Ron Reynolds | Democratic | 2010 | Missouri City, Sienna Plantation, Fresno, Arcola, much of Stafford, and county's share of Houston |
| 28 | Gary Gates | Republican | 2020 | Western and southern areas of county including Fulshear, most of Rosenberg and much of Sugar Land |
| 76 | Suleman Lalani | Democratic | 2022 | Northern areas of county including Meadows Place, Four Corners, and some of Sugar Land, Stafford and Mission Bend |
| 85 | Stan Kitzman | Republican | 2022 | Southern fringe of the county, including Thompsons and Kendleton; district also includes Austin, Colorado, Fayette, Waller and Wharton counties |
Economy
Fort Bend County's economy is different from the rest of greater Houston. It has jobs in healthcare, energy, education, and hospitality. Big companies like Schlumberger, Minute Maid, Fluor, and Sunoco have offices in the county, especially in Sugar Land.
In 2010, the Houston Business Journal said that having many types of jobs helped the county grow. After new hospitals like Memorial Hermann Hospital and St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital opened, many doctors moved to Fort Bend County. Nearby Montgomery County has more corporate jobs after ExxonMobil moved some offices there, but Fort Bend County is still growing.
Healthcare
Fort Bend County in Texas does not have its own hospital. The main hospital is OakBend Medical Center, and it helps everyone in the county stay healthy. The county works with the hospital to make sure people get the care they need.
Education
Fort Bend County has several public school districts. These include Brazos Independent School District, Fort Bend Independent School District, Katy Independent School District, Lamar Consolidated Independent School District, Needville Independent School District, and Stafford Municipal School District. The University of Houston has a campus in Sugar Land.
The Texas Legislature decides which community colleges serve different parts of the county. Houston Community College System serves Katy ISD, Stafford MSD, and parts of FBISD. Wharton County Junior College serves Sugar Land, Lamar CISD, Needville ISD, and Brazos ISD.
The county also has Texas State Technical College for technical training. Fort Bend County Libraries operate many libraries, and Houston Public Library has a branch in Blue Ridge, Houston.
Media
Fort Bend County has several local newspapers. Three weeklies are the Fort Bend Star in Stafford, the Fort Bend Independent, and the Fort Bend Sun in Sugar Land. There is also a daily paper called the Fort Bend Herald and Texas Coaster for the Richmond-Rosenberg area. The county is served by the Houston Chronicle, which has special sections for Sugar Land and Katy.
Transportation
Major highways
- .svg) Interstate 10
- .svg) Interstate 69
- U.S. Route 59
- U.S. Route 90 Alternate
- State Highway 6
- State Highway 36
- State Highway 99 — Grand Parkway (Under Construction)
- Fort Bend Parkway
- Westpark Tollway
Major Farm to Market Roads
- Farm to Market Road 359
- Farm to Market Road 442
- Farm to Market Road 521
- Farm to Market Road 762
- Farm to Market Road 1092
- Farm to Market Road 1093
- Farm to Market Road 1462
- Farm to Market Road 1463
- Farm to Market Road 1464
- Farm to Market Road 1876
- Farm to Market Road 2234
- Farm to Market Road 2759
- Farm to Market Road 2977
- Farm to Market Road 3345
Airports
The only publicly owned airport in the county is Sugar Land Regional Airport in Sugar Land.
Privately owned airports for public use include:
- Houston Fort Bend Airport in an unincorporated area east of Beasley
- Houston Southwest Airport in Arcola
- Westheimer Air Park in an unincorporated area between Fulshear and Houston
Privately owned for private use:
- Cardiff Brothers Airport in an unincorporated area near Fulshear and Katy
- Dewberry Heliport is a general-aviation heliport (privately owned, for private use) in unincorporated areas between Fulshear and Katy.
The closest airport with regularly scheduled commercial service is Houston's William P. Hobby Airport in Harris County. Fort Bend County is also within the primary service area of George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.
Mass transit
Fort Bend County started a public transportation department in 2005. It provides buses for people traveling to Uptown, Greenway Plaza, and the Texas Medical Center. It also has buses for senior citizens and others that only travel within Fort Bend County. Some parts of the county, like Katy and Missouri City, use buses from the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County and have several park-and-ride stops.
Freeway system
The TTC-69 part of the planned Trans-Texas Corridor would have gone through Fort Bend County.
Toll roads
The Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority in Sugar Land manages toll roads in the county:
Notable people
Fort Bend County has been home to some famous people. Brittney Karbowski is an American voice actress. CeeDee Lamb is a Wide Receiver for the Dallas Cowboys.
Images
Related articles
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