SafekipediaFort Bend County, Texas
Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience
Fort Bend County is a place in the U.S. state of Texas. It was created on December 29, 1837, and started operating soon after. The county gets its name from 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, over 800,000 people lived there, making it the eighth biggest county in Texas. In 2017, a magazine called Forbes said it was growing faster than almost any other county in the United States.
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 enslaved Africans 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 violence. The state sent in soldiers to restore order.
In the 1960s, new planned 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 a total area of 885.250 square miles (2,292.79 km2), according to the United States Census Bureau. Of this area, 23.465 square miles (60.77 km2) is water, which makes up 2.65% of the county. It is the 181st largest county in Texas by total area.
The county shares borders with 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 saw a slower growth and even a drop in population. This happened when many African Americans moved from Texas and other Southern states to the West Coast for better jobs in defense industries. Today, the county is home to many different groups 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%, with many residents having 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, as in all Texas counties, the main way people make decisions is through a group called the commissioners' court. This group has four people who are elected by the people in each area of the county and one person called a county judge who represents everyone in the county. There are also many 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, especially around Houston, more people started voting for the Republican Party. This change began in the 1960s and continued for many years. Over time, the county has swung between the two parties. In recent years, it has often voted more like the Democratic Party than the rest of Texas, which usually favors the Republican Party. Today, Fort Bend County is seen as a place where elections can go either way, depending on who is running and what issues are important 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 the following facilities in Fort Bend County, all at the Jester State Prison Farm site:
Prisons for men:
- Jester III Unit (unincorporated area) (co-located with the Jester units)
- Carol Vance Unit (unincorporated area) (co-located with the Jester units)
Other facilities:
- Jester I Unit – Substance Abuse Felony Punishment Facility (unincorporated area) (co-located with the Jester units)
- Wayne Scott Unit (formerly Jester IV Unit) – Psychiatric Facility (unincorporated area) (co-located with the Jester units), renamed in 2021
The TDCJ announced that the Central Unit in Sugar Land was closing in 2011. The City of Sugar Land is exploring the property for future economic development, including light industrial uses, as well as a potential expansion of Sugar Land Regional Airport.
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 many 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 different types of jobs helped the county grow quickly over many years. After new hospitals like Memorial Hermann Hospital and St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital opened, many doctors moved their offices to Fort Bend County. While nearby Montgomery County has seen more corporate jobs after ExxonMobil moved some offices there, Fort Bend County is still growing, especially with Schlumberger planning to move its North American headquarters to Sugar Land.
Healthcare
Fort Bend County in Texas does not have its own hospital district. The main hospital for the county is OakBend Medical Center, which provides important healthcare services for everyone. The county works together with this hospital to make sure people get the help they need.
Education
Fort Bend County has several public school districts, including 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 include 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 that covers news in the Richmond-Rosenberg area. The county is also 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 officially created a department of public transportation in 2005 that provides commuter buses to Uptown, Greenway Plaza, and Texas Medical Center. It also provides demand-and-response buses to senior citizens and the general public that travel only in Fort Bend County. Parts of the county, such as Katy and Missouri City, participate in the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County and are served by several park-and-ride routes.
Freeway system
The TTC-69 component (recommended preferred) of the once-planned Trans-Texas Corridor went through Fort Bend County.
Toll roads
The Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority in Sugar Land manages and operates tolled portions of these toll roads operating in the county:
Notable people
Fort Bend County has been home to some well-known people. Brittney Karbowski is an American voice actress, and CeeDee Lamb plays as a Wide Receiver for the Dallas Cowboys.
Images
Related articles
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