You know the traffic on Highway 6 and the best spot for Sunday brunch. But how well do you really know Fort Bend County?
From a log fort on the Brazos to a city named to attract buyers from Missouri, here are 10 fun facts about the place you call home. Some might surprise you, even if you have lived here for years.
Quick answer: Fort Bend County is named for a log fort built in 1822 in a bend of the Brazos River. Missouri City got its name from land promoters trying to attract buyers from St. Louis, and Sugar Land was once a company town for Imperial Sugar.
1. The County Is Named for a Log Fort
In 1822, members of Stephen F. Austin's "Old Three Hundred" colonists built a log fort at a bend in the Brazos River. The settlement that grew around it became known as Fort Bend, and the county took its name.
2. Richmond Is Named After a Town in England
Richmond, the county seat, was named after Richmond, England. It was incorporated by the Republic of Texas in May 1837 and became the county seat when Fort Bend County was formed that December.
3. Early Settlers Had to Flee During the Texas Revolution
The Fort Bend settlement was evacuated in 1836 during the Runaway Scrape, when settlers fled ahead of the Mexican army.
4. Rosenberg Started as Richmond's Railroad Rival
In 1878, the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway extended its tracks through the area but bypassed Richmond. A new, rival community called Rosenberg was built on the railway about three miles from the old town.
5. Missouri City Was Named to Attract Buyers From Missouri
In 1890, real estate promoters R. M. Cash and L. E. Luckle advertised the land to residents of St. Louis as "a land of genial sunshine and eternal summer." Another promoter, W. R. McElroy, named the town Missouri City to appeal to buyers from St. Louis.
6. But Its First Settlers Came From Texas
Despite all that marketing to Missourians, Missouri City's first settlers actually came from Arlington, Texas, between Dallas and Fort Worth.
7. Missouri City Was Tiny When It Incorporated
Missouri City was registered as a town in 1894, but it was not incorporated until 1956, when it had a population of 604. In 2007, the city embraced its name with a new slogan: "The Show Me City."
8. Sugar Land Was a Company Town
Sugar Land was once a company town for Imperial Sugar. Today, it is the largest city in Fort Bend County.
9. Brazos Bend Has Hundreds of Alligators
According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, more than 300 adult alligators make their homes in Brazos Bend State Park. During mating season, their calls can be heard up to half a mile away.
10. One of the Nation's Biggest Public Telescopes Is Here
The George Observatory, inside Brazos Bend State Park, houses the 36-inch Gueymard Research Telescope, one of the largest telescopes in the nation open to the public on a regular basis.
Bonus: The Scoreboard Is Shaped Like Texas
At Constellation Field in Sugar Land, home of the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, the giant center-field scoreboard is shaped like the state of Texas.
How Many Did You Know?
Share this list with a neighbor, or a friend who is thinking about moving to Fort Bend. (Want more to explore? See The Fort Bend County Bucket List.)
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Fort Bend County get its name? It is named for a log fort built in 1822 at a bend in the Brazos River by members of Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred colonists.
Why is it called Missouri City if it is in Texas? In the 1890s, land promoters advertised the area to residents of St. Louis, and promoter W. R. McElroy named the town Missouri City to attract them.
What is the county seat of Fort Bend County? Richmond, which was named after Richmond, England.
What is the largest city in Fort Bend County? Sugar Land.
Love Where You Live
Fort Bend has a story worth being part of. Ryan Adams and The Adams Group TX help families find their place in it, from historic Richmond to Missouri City and Sienna. Call us at (832) 308-7633 or visit us at 5822 Sienna Parkway, Suite 500, Missouri City, TX 77459.
