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About the Sugar Land, Fort Bend County and Richmond, Texas Area
Our goal is to give you the feel of living in Sugar Land, Texas.... 
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Sugar Land
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LOCATION
Sugar Land is located southwest of Houston on Highway alternative 90 and highway 6. It is about 20 miles Southwest of downtown Houston.
TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS
Sugar Land has its own regional airport (3 miles outside of Sugar Land) as well as being 32 miles from the major airport in Houston-George Bush Intercontinental Airport. There are also 2 other small public-use airports within miles of Sugar Land. Trek Express bus lines and vanpools provide transportation in and around Fort Bend County.
BRIEF HISTORY
In 1907, Sugar Land began growing at a rapid rate when the sugar refining process was expanded. The process of incorporation of the town began in the fall of 1959. The first mayor was elected on December 15, 1959 and the first City Council meeting was held on January 19, 1960.
The Mexican government granted Sugar Land to Samuel M. Williams through Stephen F. Austin. Williams originally called this land “Oakland Plantation” because of the wide variety of oak trees on the land. Samuel M. Williams planted sugar cane stalks that he got from S.M. Swinson. This crop flourished such that a mill was built to squeeze the juice from the stalks.
In 1853, the “Oakland Plantation” was purchased from the S.M. Williams family by Benjamin Franklin Terry and William Jefferson Kyle, who had made quite a fortune prospecting gold in California. Kyle and Terry built the railroad from Stafford to Richmond and were instrumental in getting it to run through Sugar Land.
EDUCATION
In Sugar Land, some of the larger elementary schools have from 700 to 900 students and the larger middle schools have 1,000 to 1,500. The four public high schools have about 2,000 students each and there is one progressive high school with 100 students. There is a private Baptist Academy that has 900 students and serves grades pre-kindergarten through high school. In addition there are three private elementary schools (with one of these being a Montessori school) and one private pre-kindergarten and kindergarten school.
The University of Houston has a campus for students in Sugar Land where 34 degree programs through the master’s level can be chosen from. Two community colleges-Wharton County Junior College and the Houston Community College System- provide freshman and sophomore courses and the University of Houston System offer the junior and senior courses and the master’s degree courses. Courses are taught traditionally by university faculty and also via instructional TV, videotapes and KUHT-TV Channel 8, and the Internet. For Sugar Land, these same colleges and Universities mentioned below for Richmond are between 10 and 21 miles away.
SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS
Among the top 45 largest cities in Texas, Sugar Land is number on in growth. It is economically strong and a culturally diverse population in the 60,000 range. The City of Sugar Land has many park and recreational facilities. These include many quaint neighborhood parks as well as large athletic complexes. There are hike and bike trails, swimming centers, and greenbelts. There are also three community centers that have both a large recreational program and private rental events. | |
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Richmond
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LOCATION
Richmond is located west-southwest of Houston, about 29 miles away. It is located on Brazos River near Highways 59 and 36. It is 10 miles from Sugar Land. Richmond is the county seat of Fort Bend County and is located in about the middle of the county.
TRANSPORTATION
Richmond’s transportation links include US 90A and US 59, the Southern Pacific Railroad, and the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway. George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston is only 40 miles away. Two other airports certified for carrier operations are also 35 and 40 miles away. Three smaller public use airports are located within 9 miles of Richmond, including the Sugar Land Regional Airport.
BRIEF HISTORY
Richmond was first settled in the 1820’s with the original settlers coming from New Orleans and driving out the Karankawa Indians who lived nearby. Richmond was incorporated as a town in May of 1837. It quickly developed into a lucrative trade center being on the Brazos River. Richmond continued to develop and in the late 1940’s people wanted to move to that area in order to commute to Houston for work. During and after the 1950’s, the trend increased. The town’s population grew quickly, from 2,026 in 1950 to 3,668 in 1960, 5,777 by 1970 and 9,692 in 1980. By 1990, growth had slowed somewhat and the population of Richmond was 9,801 and at latest count, it is reported to be a population of 11,081.
EDUCATION
Richmond’s biggest primary schools have between 300 and up to 700 students. The biggest middle school has 1100 students. There is one public high school in Richmond and it has over 900 students. There is one private school, which is pre-kindergarten through 8th grade with only 280 students.
Higher education for the Richmond area includes 7 campuses of full time students at the Community College level and full University level with an enrollment of over 2,000 in the Houston area (which is only between 19 and 30 miles away).
SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS
Richmond had developed in many ways cooperatively with her “twin” city of Rosenberg. Rosenberg developed more quickly in population, leaving Richmond with a more rural, small town feeling. Decker Park and historic homes in Fort Bend Museum in Richmond add to its charm. | |
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Fort Bend County
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LOCATION
The county of Fort Bend is located in the coastal plains of southeastern Texas.
BRIEF HISTORY
Fort Bend is named after the settlements that were started there in the 1820’s. Three hundred families were originally settled there when the Spanish government and then the newly independent Mexican government granted land grants. In December of 1837, a Texas law established Fort Bend County and it’s boundaries. Agriculture became the means for prospering in Fort Bend County from the 1840’s through to 1860’s and on into the twentieth century. In 1919, the first oil well was dug. The County is rich in oil, gas, sulfur and salt below the earth’s surface. Oil wells have continued to be dug throughout the 1900’s. Agriculture and cattle continue to bring in substantial income to the county and in the last decade commerce has diversified into other areas.
EDUCATION
Fort Bend County schools are fast growing districts with nationally recognized education facilities. School districts rate above state and national standards. A big factor contributing to the excellence in the schools is the wealth of community involvement and volunteer support as well as new technologies and teaching critical analysis skills to the students to serve their growth and thriving in a competitive world. Sixty nine percent of Fort Bend’s high school graduates go on to higher education and learning. |
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About Appraisals >Three Caballeros
When you buy a house or refinance your present home, your lender will ask you to pay for an appraisal to help ensure that the sales price and mortgage amount is consistent with the property's market value. The appraiser will look for "three caballeros" or three "comparables" -- homes that are very similar to the one you are buying -- and will make adjustments to reflect the differences between the properties.
Housing patterns tend to be homogenous, meaning that homes worth $300,000 are usually located in $300,000 neighborhoods. It is important for properties to be within the general pricing patterns of their neighborhoods because over-valued homes, even if they are exceptional, are sometimes difficult to sell at full market price.
This is not the only factor considered in determining the worth of a property, but it is an important one. The buyer or seller may view the property as a home or an investment, but lenders view it in a completely different way. To a lender, property means security in the event a borrower fails to repay a mortgage. Therefore, lenders must know real estate values in order to limit their risks.
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| Q |
What is a VA home loan?
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| A |
The Office of Veterans Affairs guarantees small or no-down payment mortgage loans made by lenders to U.S. veterans. |
 See More Real Estate Trivia > |
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