Fort Bend County, Texas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Fort Bend County, Texas | |
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| Map | |
 Location in the state of Texas |
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 Texas's location in the U.S. |
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| Statistics | |
| Founded | 1837 |
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| Seat | Richmond |
| Largest city | Sugar Land |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
886 sq mi (2,295 km²) 875 sq mi (2,265 km²) 11 sq mi (30 km²), 1.29% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
354,452 |
| Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 |
| Website: www.co.fort-bend.tx.us | |
| Named for: A blockhouse positioned in a bend of the Brazos River, which was the center of life in the future county in early days. | |
Fort Bend County is a county located along the Gulf Coast region in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. In 2000 its population was 354,452; in 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated its population to have reached 509,822, a 43% growth rate in seven years from the last U.S. Census. It is named for a blockhouse positioned in a bend of the Brazos River, which was the center of life in the future county in early days. Its county seat is Richmond[1], while its largest city is Sugar Land.
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[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 886 square miles (2,295 km²), of which, 875 square miles (2,265 km²) of it is land and 11 square miles (30 km²) of it (1.29%) is water.
[edit] Major Highways
U.S. Highway 59
U.S. Highway 90 Alternate
State Highway 6 (Texas)
State Highway 36 (Texas)
Interstate 10
[edit] Adjacent counties
- Waller County (north)
- Harris County (east)
- Brazoria County (southeast)
- Wharton County (southwest)
- Austin County (northwest)
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 16,538 |
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| 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% | |
| Est. 2006 | 493,178 | 39.1% | |
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 354,452 people, 110,915 households, and 93,057 families residing in the county. The population density was 405 people per square mile (156/km²). There were 115,991 housing units at an average density of 133 per square mile (51/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 56.96% White, 19.85% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 11.20% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 9.10% from other races, and 2.56% from two or more races. 21.12% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 8.8% were of German, 6.3% American and 5.8% English ancestry according to Census 2000.
In 2006 Fort Bend county had a population of 493,187 people. This represented a growth of 39.1% since 2000. Non-Hispanic whites made up 40.8% of the population, making Fort Bend one of a growing number of counties with no clear ethnic-racial group in the majority[3].
In 2000 There were 110,915 households out of which 49.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.80% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.10% were non-families. 13.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.14 and the average family size was 3.46.
In the county, the population was spread out with 32.00% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 32.30% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 5.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $63,831, and the median income for a family was $69,781. Males had a median income of $47,979 versus $32,661 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,985. About 5.50% of families and 7.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.50% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2006 Fort Bend County is the wealthiest county in Texas with a median household income of $75,202(In 2006 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars), having surpassed Collin and Rockwall counties(Dallas suburbs) since the 2000 census.[4]
[edit] Government and politics
| Year | Republican | Democratic |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 57.4% 93,625 | 42.1% 68,722 |
| 2000 | 59.6% 73,567 | 38.5% 47,569 |
| 1996 | 53.8% 49,945 | 41.1% 38,163 |
| 1992 | 46.6% 41,039 | 34.1% 29,992 |
| 1988 | 62.4% 39,818 | 36.6% 23,351 |
| 1984 | 68.7% 41,370 | 31.1% 18,729 |
| 1980 | 66.3% 25,366 | 30.3% 11,583 |
| 1976 | 60.3% 17,354 | 39.1% 11,264 |
| 1972 | 69.4% 10,475 | 30.1% 4,541 |
| 1968 | 39.7% 4,573 | 39.0% 4,493 |
| 1964 | 36.0% 3,493 | 63.8% 6,186 |
| 1960 | 42.8% 3,301 | 56.3% 4,339 |
County politics in Fort Bend County, as with all counties in Texas, are centered around a Commissioners' Court composed of four popularly elected County Commissioners, one representing each precinct drawn on the basis of population, and a county judge elected to represent the entire county. Other county officials include a Sheriff, District Attorney, Tax Assessor-Collector, County Clerk, District Clerk, County Treasurer, and County Attorney.
Fort Bend County, like most Texas counties, was once a stronghold for the Democratic Party. In fact, so few Republicans resided in Fort Bend County at one time that in 1960, the county's Republican chair at the time once received a letter with the nickname "Mr. Republican" in lieu of his name [1]. However, as master-planned communities in the eastern and northern portions of the county began to develop, the Houston area's historically strong Republican base on the west side of Houston began to expand into Fort Bend County, and beginning in 1978, Republicans began to win several offices within the county.
Among the first Republicans elected was the fiscally conservative Ron Paul to the U.S. House of Representatives, who became known for his staunch opposition to the general platforms of both major parties earning the nickname "Dr. No" in the process. Another key Republican elected during this time was future Congressman and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who was elected to represent the county's only seat in the Texas House of Representatives. By 1982, several county-level positions were taken over by Republicans. In 1984, DeLay succeeded Paul in Congress after the latter ran for an unsuccessful U.S. Senate campaign; the seat was won by the Republican primary winner, Phil Gramm. The 1994 takeover of the Commissioners' Court by a Republican County Judge for the first time since Reconstruction solidified Fort Bend County's perceived reputation as a Republican stronghold. Today, every elected countywide office in Fort Bend County is held by Republicans, who also control a majority of precinct-based positions (County Commissioners, Constables, Justices of the Peace, etc.). No Democrat has carried Fort Bend County in the presidential election since 1964, when Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas won his second term.
Despite Fort Bend being a Republican stronghold, Democrats continue to show sporadic strength in a handful of areas within the county. In 2004, George W. Bush won 57 percent of the vote compared to 42 percent for John Kerry, compared to 60 percent for Bush and 39 percent for Al Gore (as well as 2% for Green Party candidate Ralph Nader) in 2000, and Bill Clinton lost the county by only 12 percent in 1992 (to incumbent George Bush, whom Clinton defeated nationally) and 1996 (when Clinton defeated Bob Dole in the national election). Also, in 2006, Democrat Nick Lampson defeated Republican write-in candidate Shelley Sekula-Gibbs for the congressional seat in Texas's 22nd congressional district that was vacated by Tom DeLay after he resigned from Congress. While Lampson won all four counties that cover the district (Fort Bend, Harris, Brazoria and Galveston), Fort Bend gave Lampson his smallest winning margin of the four counties, at 6.4% percent, compared to 6.92% for Harris County, 7.23% for Brazoria County, and more than 45 percent in Galveston County (whose Democratic base is considered the most active in the state outside of Austin). Lampson is expected to face a very strong challenge for his seat in 2008 due to the district's overwhelming Republican nature (John Kerry only received 34% of the vote in 2004).
Among the four Commissioners' Court precincts, three precincts are heavily Republican. Two of them, Precinct 3 and Precinct 4 which cover most of the Sugar Land and Katy areas, consistently vote Republican, with Precinct 1 containing significant Democratic areas specifically in Rosenberg and in the northeastern parts of the county around the community of Fresno (which have large Hispanic populations). All of its elected precinct officials in these precincts are Republicans. The fourth precinct, Precinct 2 which covers much of Missouri City including its mostly African-American north side, is heavily Democratic with a few Republican pockets mainly around the Quail Valley neighborhood of Missouri City, and likewise all of its precinct-level officeholders are Democrats.
[edit] Commissioners' Court
| Commissioners | Name | Party | First Elected | Communities Represented | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Judge | Bob Hebert | Republican | 2002 | Countywide | |
| Precinct 1 | Tom Stavinoha | Republican | 2000 | 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 | |
| Precinct 3 | Andy Meyers | Republican | 1996 | Cinco Ranch, Fulshear, Mission Bend, Pecan Grove, Simonton, north Sugar Land, western Stafford | |
| Precinct 4 | James Patterson | Republican | 1998 | Missouri City west of FM 1092, New Territory, western and southern areas of Sugar Land (including the planned development of First Colony) | |
[edit] United States Congress
| Senators | Name | Party | First Elected | Level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senate Class 1 | Kay Bailey Hutchison | Republican | 1993 | Senior Senator | |
| Senate Class 2 | John Cornyn | Republican | 2002 | Junior Senator | |
| Representatives | Name | Party | First Elected | Area(s) of Fort Bend County Represented | |
| District 9 | Al Green | Democrat | 2004 | Mission Bend, eastern portion of Stafford, northern and eastern portions of Missouri City, county’s entire share of Houston | |
| District 14 | Ron Paul | Republican | 1996 (also served 1976-1977 and 1979-1985) | Far northern and western areas | |
| District 22 | Nick Lampson | Democrat | 2006 (also served 1997-2005) | Sugar Land, Rosenberg, western and southern portions of Missouri City | |
[edit] Texas Legislature
[edit] Texas Senate
| District | Name | Party | First Elected | Area(s) of Fort Bend County Represented | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Rodney Ellis | Democrat | 1990 | Northern portions of Missouri City, Stafford, county’s share of Houston | |
| 17 | Kyle Janek | Republican | 2002 | Sugar Land and southern Missouri City | |
| 18 | Glenn Hegar | Republican | 2006 | Richmond, Rosenberg, Katy | |
[edit] Texas House of Representatives
| District | Name | Party | First Elected | Area(s) of Fort Bend County Represented | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Charlie Howard | Republican | 1994 | Sugar Land | |
| 27 | Dora Olivo | Democrat | 1996 | Rosenberg, most of Missouri City, county’s share of Houston | |
| 28 | John Zerwas | Republican | 2006 | Far northern and western areas | |
[edit] Communities
[edit] Cities
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[edit] Towns
[edit] Unincorporated areas
- Cinco Ranch
- Clodine
- Cumings
- Fifth Street
- Fresno
- Greatwood
- Juliff
- Mission Bend
- Rosharon
- Sienna Plantation
- Tara Subdivision
- Rio Vista
[edit] Education
[edit] Public school districts
- Brazos Independent School District
- Fort Bend Independent School District
- Katy Independent School District
- Kendleton Independent School District
- Lamar Consolidated Independent School District
- Needville Independent School District
- Stafford Municipal School District
[edit] Colleges and universities
- Houston Community College System
- University of Houston System at Cinco Ranch
- University of Houston System at Sugar Land
- Wharton County Junior College
[edit] Libraries
Fort Bend County Libraries operates many libraries in the county.
Houston Public Library operates one branch in the county.
[edit] Transportation
Two general aviation airports operate within municipalities in the county:
The closest airport with regularly scheduled commercial service is Houston's William P. Hobby Airport in Harris County. The closest airport with regularly scheduled international commercial service is George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston in Harris County.
The TTC-69 component (recommended prefered) of the planned Trans-Texas Corridor goes through Fort Bend County [5].
[edit] References
- ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Fort Bend County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau
- ^ 2006 American Community Survey: Fort Bend County, Texas. census.gov (2006). Retrieved on 2007-11-21.
- ^ TxDoT, TTC Section C & S, Detailed Maps 2 & 3, 2007-12-17
[edit] External links
- Fort Bend County official website
- Historic Images from the Fort Bend Museum hosted by the Portal to Texas History
- Fort Bend County, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Fort Bend County profile from The County Information Project
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Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown METROPOLITAN AREA |
|---|---|
| Counties | Austin | Brazoria | Chambers | Fort Bend | Galveston | Harris | Liberty | Montgomery | San Jacinto | Waller |
| "Principal" cities |
Houston | Sugar Land | Baytown | Galveston |
| Cities and towns |
Alvin | Angleton | Bellaire | Cleveland | Clute | Conroe | Dayton | Deer Park | Dickinson | Freeport | Friendswood | Galena Park | Hitchcock | Hempstead | Humble | Jacinto City | Jersey Village | Katy | Lake Jackson | La Marque | La Porte | League City | Liberty | Meadows Place | Missouri City | Pasadena | Pearland | Richmond | Rosenberg | Santa Fe | Seabrook | Sealy | South Houston | Stafford | Texas City | Tomball | Webster | West University Place |
| Unincorporated areas | Atascocita | Channelview | Cloverleaf | Cypress | Klein | Spring | The Woodlands |
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Fort Bend County, Texas |
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| County seat: Richmond | ||
| Cities |
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| Town | ||
| Villages | ||
| CDPs and other unincorporated areas |
Booth | Cinco Ranch‡ | Clodine | Cumings | DeWalt | Fifth Street | Four Corners | Fresno | Greatwood | Mission Bend‡ | New Territory | Pecan Grove | Rosharon | Sienna Plantation |
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| Footnotes |
‡This city also has portions in adjacent county or counties |
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