Missouri City, Texas
Encyclopedia
Missouri City is a city located in the U.S. state
of Texas
within the metropolitan area. The city is mostly in Fort Bend County
with a small portion within Harris County
. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city had a total population of 52,913 (though a 2005 estimate placed the population at 63,910).
that dates back to its early days as part of the United States
. In August 1853, the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos, and Colorado Railway (BBB&C), began operating its first twenty miles (32 km) of rail line that stretched from Harrisburg (now Houston) to Stafford's Point (now Stafford
). It was the first railroad to begin operating in Texas
, and the first standard gauge railroad west of the Mississippi River
.
The railway
continued its extension westward until, in 1883, it linked with its eastward counterpart, completing the Sunset Route from Los Angeles
to New Orleans
. Today, the route of the BBB&C (now owned by the Union Pacific Railroad
) is still an important and heavily operated railroad line.
In 1890, two real estate
investors from Houston (R.M. Cash and L.E. Luckle) purchased four square miles of land directly on the route of the BBB&C, only a mile and a half from its first stop at Stafford's Point. They advertised the property as "a land of genial sunshine and eternal summer" in St. Louis, Missouri
, and its surrounding areas. Three years later, W.R. McElroy purchased 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) in the same vicinity, and in effort to promote the area jointly with Cash and Luckle in St. Louis
, he named it "Missouri City". Its first actual settlers were from Arlington, Texas
, near Dallas
and Fort Worth
.
The settlement
was officially registered in Texas
in 1894, and began to take shape as a railroad town along present-day US 90A at Texas Parkway, then known as Main Street and Blue Ridge Road. Its growth took an unexpected turn when, on February 14, 1895, shortly after the first group of settlers had arrived, the town was hit with a blizzard
. This discouraged some of the newcomers who gave up and moved elsewhere. Those unwaivered stayed and found success in farming and ranching.
Among its first businesses were a blacksmith
shop, a depot, and a general store, which also housed the first post office
. The first Catholic church
was built in 1913, but was destroyed by a hurricane in 1915. The new church built to replace it stood until 1990.
Oil
was discovered in nearby Blue Ridge in 1919; soon after, a salt mine
opened there. Missouri City became the railroad shipping point for these two resources. In 1925, at the same location, natural gas
was discovered. After a pipeline had been constructed the following year, Missouri City became the first town in Fort Bend County
to make use of natural gas
.
With the benefit of a railroad, Missouri City had already been home to commuters
who, by train
, commuted to adjacent towns like Stafford's Point
and Sugar Land
to work. With the increase of automobiles and improvement of roads and highways in the early part of the 20th century, the developing community gradually attracted a wealth of newcomers. This gave birth to a new generation of commuters
replacing railroad commuters
that eventually became obsolete. By the 1950s, the town began to take shape as a notable "bedroom community" suburb of Houston
.
After fear and rumor spread of possible annexation
of the unincorporated town by Houston, town leaders scrambled to piece together a city government. On March 13, 1956, the community that began as a small settlement more than 55 years earlier was incorporated.
Missouri City has since seen tremendous economic growth, moving eastward, southward, and then westward. The city was first made over by Fondren Park (in Harris County
), near US 90A, in the early 1960s, followed by Quail Valley
, along Cartwright Road between Texas Parkway and Murphy Road, in the late 1960s. It should be noted that, unlike neighboring Houston
, Missouri City has been a zoned city since 1981. Multifamily complexes (e.g. apartments and condominiums) are a rare find because of the current zoning ordinance.
In the 1970s, an influx of middle-class African Americans - most of them first-time homeowners - were attracted to developing communities south and west of Houston
. Many of them made the subdivisions of Missouri City home. This influx occurred after an economic downturn caused property values and interest rates to drop. Teal Run and other unincorporated areas east of Highway 6 became ethnically diverse before neighborhoods farther west. Movement by black families has been characterized by neighborhood hopping, whereby families who can afford to move go to majority white neighborhoods, ostensibly to escape possible negative influences to their children. As a result of the influx, some white families moved to different communities and neighborhoods in a response known as 'white flight
'. (White Flight usually further decreases property values, whereby a neighborhood is no longer seen as desirable to a significant segment of the population, and therefore worth less. Low income families tend to fill the void left by whites, and the process starts over again when minority members of the community once again seek a better neighborhood to live in.) Many of the newcomers were employees within nearby Houston work centers (e.g., Texas Medical Center
, Greenway Plaza
). A lot of Middle Class African Americans call Missouri City home. In 2000, it was named a model city for Middle-class African Americans by Black Entertainment Television (BET)
.
The Missouri City area's recent upscale, master-planned residential developments include Lake Olympia, south of Quail Valley, and portions of Riverstone
, south of State Highway 6
. The nearby unincorporated area of Sienna Plantation
, also located south of State Highway 6, is situated on and around land once occupied by plantations where, among other things, sugarcane
and cotton
were harvested.
, State Highway 6, FM 1092 (Murphy Road), FM 2234
(Texas Parkway), and FM 3345 (Cartwright Road). Other nearby highways are US 59, and Interstate 610
(Loop 610).
Although Missouri City does not have public transportation within the city limits itself, it is part of the service area of METRO
. METRO operates the Missouri City Park and Ride located on Beltway 8 and Fondren Road, which is the terminus of express bus Route 163 Fondren to Sharpstown
and Downtown Houston
and Route 170 Missouri City Express to the Texas Medical Center
(terminating at the Texas Medical Center Transit Center METRORail
station there).
Discussions continue on commuter service along US 90A from METRORail's Fannin South station, initially to terminate at the Ft Bend County line near Beltway 8. Expansion westward awaits, among other things, formation of a transportation district or other funding means for communities that are not now in the METRO service area.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 30.4 square miles (78.8 km²), of which, 29.7 square miles (76.9 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.9 km²) of it (2.37%) is water.
of 2000, there were 52,913 people, 17,069 households, and 14,645 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,781.7 people per square mile (687.9/km²). There were 17,481 housing units at an average density of 588.6 per square mile (227.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 44.29% White, 38.35% African American, 0.20% Native American, 10.60% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 4.46% from other races
, and 2.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.88% of the population.
There were 17,069 households out of which 48.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.2% were married couples
living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.2% were non-families. 11.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.36.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.8% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 5.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $79,471, and the median income for a family was $84,636.http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=16000US4845744&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US48%7C16000US4845744&_street=&_county=missouri+city&_cityTown=missouri+city&_state=04000US48&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2006_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null®=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= Males had a median income of $51,013 versus $36,786 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $27,210. About 12.4% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.
These include:
Blue Ridge Landfill (Expanding to near 20 stories tall)
It has the headquarters of the Diocese of South-West America
of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
The United States Postal Service
operates the Missouri City Post Office and the Missouri City Post Office Annex.
, while the Harris County portion is served by Houston Independent School District
. The Harris County portion is within Trustee District IX, represented by Lawrence Marshall as of 2008.
FBISD
operates the following schools within the Missouri City limits:
In addition to these schools, a small portion of Missouri City is also served by Dulles Middle School, First Colony Middle School, Clements High School and Dulles High School
, all in Sugar Land
. Some areas of Missouri City are served by other schools.
The Harris County portion of Missouri City is zoned to HISD
schools located in the city limits of Houston
:
.
system. The library, across the street from the City Hall complex and the Missouri City Civic Center, opened in June 1992. The 18642 square foot branch, designed by Hall/Merriman Architects, was the first of four branches built with 1989 bond funds.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
within the metropolitan area. The city is mostly in Fort Bend County
Fort Bend County, Texas
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, while the 2010 U.S...
with a small portion within Harris County
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city had a total population of 52,913 (though a 2005 estimate placed the population at 63,910).
History
The area in which Missouri City is now located holds a significant part in the history of TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
that dates back to its early days as part of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In August 1853, the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos, and Colorado Railway (BBB&C), began operating its first twenty miles (32 km) of rail line that stretched from Harrisburg (now Houston) to Stafford's Point (now Stafford
Stafford, Texas
Stafford is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The city is mostly in Fort Bend County with a small portion in Harris County. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, Stafford's population was 15,681....
). It was the first railroad to begin operating in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and the first standard gauge railroad west of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
The railway
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
continued its extension westward until, in 1883, it linked with its eastward counterpart, completing the Sunset Route from Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
to New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. Today, the route of the BBB&C (now owned by the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
) is still an important and heavily operated railroad line.
In 1890, two real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
investors from Houston (R.M. Cash and L.E. Luckle) purchased four square miles of land directly on the route of the BBB&C, only a mile and a half from its first stop at Stafford's Point. They advertised the property as "a land of genial sunshine and eternal summer" in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, and its surrounding areas. Three years later, W.R. McElroy purchased 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) in the same vicinity, and in effort to promote the area jointly with Cash and Luckle in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, he named it "Missouri City". Its first actual settlers were from Arlington, Texas
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. According to the 2010 census results, the city had a population of 365,438, making it the third largest municipality in the Metroplex...
, near Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
and Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
.
The settlement
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
was officially registered in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in 1894, and began to take shape as a railroad town along present-day US 90A at Texas Parkway, then known as Main Street and Blue Ridge Road. Its growth took an unexpected turn when, on February 14, 1895, shortly after the first group of settlers had arrived, the town was hit with a blizzard
Blizzard
A blizzard is a severe snowstorm characterized by strong winds. By definition, the difference between blizzard and a snowstorm is the strength of the wind. To be a blizzard, a snow storm must have winds in excess of with blowing or drifting snow which reduces visibility to 400 meters or ¼ mile or...
. This discouraged some of the newcomers who gave up and moved elsewhere. Those unwaivered stayed and found success in farming and ranching.
Among its first businesses were a blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
shop, a depot, and a general store, which also housed the first post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
. The first Catholic church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
was built in 1913, but was destroyed by a hurricane in 1915. The new church built to replace it stood until 1990.
Oil
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
was discovered in nearby Blue Ridge in 1919; soon after, a salt mine
Salt mine
A salt mine is a mining operation involved in the extraction of rock salt or halite from evaporite deposits.-Occurrence:Areas known for their salt mines include Kilroot near Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland ; Khewra and Warcha in Pakistan; Tuzla in Bosnia; Wieliczka and Bochnia in Poland A salt mine...
opened there. Missouri City became the railroad shipping point for these two resources. In 1925, at the same location, natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
was discovered. After a pipeline had been constructed the following year, Missouri City became the first town in Fort Bend County
Fort Bend County, Texas
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, while the 2010 U.S...
to make use of natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
.
With the benefit of a railroad, Missouri City had already been home to commuters
Commuting
Commuting is regular travel between one's place of residence and place of work or full time study. It sometimes refers to any regular or often repeated traveling between locations when not work related.- History :...
who, by train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
, commuted to adjacent towns like Stafford's Point
Stafford, Texas
Stafford is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The city is mostly in Fort Bend County with a small portion in Harris County. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, Stafford's population was 15,681....
and Sugar Land
Sugar Land, Texas
Sugar Land is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area and Fort Bend County. Sugar Land is one of the most affluent and fastest-growing cities in Texas, having grown more than 158 percent in the last decade. In the time period of 2000–2007, Sugar Land also enjoyed a...
to work. With the increase of automobiles and improvement of roads and highways in the early part of the 20th century, the developing community gradually attracted a wealth of newcomers. This gave birth to a new generation of commuters
Commuting
Commuting is regular travel between one's place of residence and place of work or full time study. It sometimes refers to any regular or often repeated traveling between locations when not work related.- History :...
replacing railroad commuters
Commuting
Commuting is regular travel between one's place of residence and place of work or full time study. It sometimes refers to any regular or often repeated traveling between locations when not work related.- History :...
that eventually became obsolete. By the 1950s, the town began to take shape as a notable "bedroom community" suburb of Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
.
After fear and rumor spread of possible annexation
Annexation
Annexation is the de jure incorporation of some territory into another geo-political entity . Usually, it is implied that the territory and population being annexed is the smaller, more peripheral, and weaker of the two merging entities, barring physical size...
of the unincorporated town by Houston, town leaders scrambled to piece together a city government. On March 13, 1956, the community that began as a small settlement more than 55 years earlier was incorporated.
Missouri City has since seen tremendous economic growth, moving eastward, southward, and then westward. The city was first made over by Fondren Park (in Harris County
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
), near US 90A, in the early 1960s, followed by Quail Valley
Quail Valley (Missouri City, Texas)
For the community in Menifee, California, see: Quail Valley, Menifee, California.Quail Valley is a neighborhood dating from 1969 of Missouri City , in Fort Bend County, Texas.-Geography:...
, along Cartwright Road between Texas Parkway and Murphy Road, in the late 1960s. It should be noted that, unlike neighboring Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, Missouri City has been a zoned city since 1981. Multifamily complexes (e.g. apartments and condominiums) are a rare find because of the current zoning ordinance.
In the 1970s, an influx of middle-class African Americans - most of them first-time homeowners - were attracted to developing communities south and west of Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. Many of them made the subdivisions of Missouri City home. This influx occurred after an economic downturn caused property values and interest rates to drop. Teal Run and other unincorporated areas east of Highway 6 became ethnically diverse before neighborhoods farther west. Movement by black families has been characterized by neighborhood hopping, whereby families who can afford to move go to majority white neighborhoods, ostensibly to escape possible negative influences to their children. As a result of the influx, some white families moved to different communities and neighborhoods in a response known as 'white flight
White flight
White flight has been a term that originated in the United States, starting in the mid-20th century, and applied to the large-scale migration of whites of various European ancestries from racially mixed urban regions to more racially homogeneous suburban or exurban regions. It was first seen as...
'. (White Flight usually further decreases property values, whereby a neighborhood is no longer seen as desirable to a significant segment of the population, and therefore worth less. Low income families tend to fill the void left by whites, and the process starts over again when minority members of the community once again seek a better neighborhood to live in.) Many of the newcomers were employees within nearby Houston work centers (e.g., Texas Medical Center
Texas Medical Center
The Texas Medical Center is the largest medical center in the world with one of the highest densities of clinical facilities for patient care, basic science, and translational research...
, Greenway Plaza
Greenway Plaza
Greenway Plaza is a master-planned mixed-use development off U.S. Highway 59 in Houston, Texas, United States, five miles west of Downtown Houston and three miles east of Uptown Houston. Greenway Plaza is Houston's first totally planned business-commercial-residential complex developed by the...
). A lot of Middle Class African Americans call Missouri City home. In 2000, it was named a model city for Middle-class African Americans by Black Entertainment Television (BET)
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
.
The Missouri City area's recent upscale, master-planned residential developments include Lake Olympia, south of Quail Valley, and portions of Riverstone
Riverstone (Sugar Land, Texas)
Riverstone is a master-planned residential community in Fort Bend County, Texas. About 18,000 residents ultimately will live in 6000 homes.The community is mostly located in unincorporated areas, primarily in the extraterritorial jurisdictions of the cities of Sugar Land and Missouri City. A...
, south of State Highway 6
State Highway 6 (Texas)
State Highway 6 runs from the Red River, the Texas–Oklahoma boundary, to northwest of Galveston. In the Houston area, it runs north to FM 1960, then northwest along US Highway 290 to Hempstead, and south to Westheimer Road and Addicks, and is known as Addicks Satsuma Road. In the...
. The nearby unincorporated area of Sienna Plantation
Sienna Plantation, Texas
Sienna Plantation is a census-designated place and master-planned community located in Missouri City, mostly in its extraterritorial jurisdiction, within Fort Bend County, Texas...
, also located south of State Highway 6, is situated on and around land once occupied by plantations where, among other things, sugarcane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
and cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
were harvested.
Transportation
Missouri City is served by US 90A, Beltway 8 (Sam Houston Tollway), Fort Bend Toll RoadFort Bend Parkway Toll Road
The Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road is the Fort Bend County portion of a continuous toll road connecting State Highway 6 in Missouri City in eastern Fort Bend County to US 90A in southwestern Harris County. It is administered by the Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority...
, State Highway 6, FM 1092 (Murphy Road), FM 2234
Farm to Market Road 2234
- Route description :Farm Road 2234 is an urban and suburban route between Missouri City and Pearland, south-southwest of Houston. Beginning at Alternate Highway 90, the road follows a southerly path through neighborhoods of Missouri City, in Fort Bend County, passing briefly through Stafford...
(Texas Parkway), and FM 3345 (Cartwright Road). Other nearby highways are US 59, and Interstate 610
Interstate 610 (Texas)
Interstate 610 is a freeway that forms a forty-two-mile loop around the downtown sector of city of Houston, Texas. Interstate 610, colloquially known as "The Loop", "Loop 610", "The 610 Loop", or just "610", traditionally marks the border between the inner city of Houston and its surrounding areas...
(Loop 610).
Although Missouri City does not have public transportation within the city limits itself, it is part of the service area of METRO
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County is a major public transportation agency based in Houston . It operates bus, light rail, future commuter rail, and paratransit service in the city as well as most of Harris County...
. METRO operates the Missouri City Park and Ride located on Beltway 8 and Fondren Road, which is the terminus of express bus Route 163 Fondren to Sharpstown
Sharpstown, Houston, Texas
Sharpstown is a master-planned community in Greater Sharpstown, Southwest Houston, Texas, United States. It was one of the first communities to be built as a master-planned, automobile centered community and the first in Houston. Frank Sharp, the developer of the subdivision, made provisions not...
and Downtown Houston
Downtown Houston
Downtown Houston is the largest business district of Houston, Texas, United States. Downtown Houston, the city's central business district, contains the headquarters of many prominent companies. There is an extensive network of pedestrian tunnels and skywalks connecting the buildings of the district...
and Route 170 Missouri City Express to the Texas Medical Center
Texas Medical Center
The Texas Medical Center is the largest medical center in the world with one of the highest densities of clinical facilities for patient care, basic science, and translational research...
(terminating at the Texas Medical Center Transit Center METRORail
METRORail
METRORail is the light rail line in Houston . It is the second major light rail service in Texas following the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system. With an approximate daily ridership of 34,155, the METRORail ranks as the fourteenth most-traveled light rail system in the United States, with the...
station there).
Discussions continue on commuter service along US 90A from METRORail's Fannin South station, initially to terminate at the Ft Bend County line near Beltway 8. Expansion westward awaits, among other things, formation of a transportation district or other funding means for communities that are not now in the METRO service area.
Geography
Missouri City is located at 29°34′58"N 95°32′22"W (29.582799, -95.539423).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 30.4 square miles (78.8 km²), of which, 29.7 square miles (76.9 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.9 km²) of it (2.37%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 52,913 people, 17,069 households, and 14,645 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,781.7 people per square mile (687.9/km²). There were 17,481 housing units at an average density of 588.6 per square mile (227.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 44.29% White, 38.35% African American, 0.20% Native American, 10.60% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 4.46% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.88% of the population.
There were 17,069 households out of which 48.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.2% were non-families. 11.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.36.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.8% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 5.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $79,471, and the median income for a family was $84,636.http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=16000US4845744&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US48%7C16000US4845744&_street=&_county=missouri+city&_cityTown=missouri+city&_state=04000US48&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2006_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null®=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= Males had a median income of $51,013 versus $36,786 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $27,210. About 12.4% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
- DeWaltDeWalt, Missouri City, TexasFor the manufacturer of power tools, see: DeWalt.Dewalt is an area within Missouri City, Texas, United States.Prior to annexation it was an unincorporated area within Fort Bend County.Historic Dew House is near Dewalt.-Location:...
- TrammelsTrammels, Missouri City, TexasTrammels is an area within Missouri City, Texas, United States that was an unincorporated settlement in eastern Fort Bend County. Trammels was located fourteen miles northeast of Richmond at the junction of a graded and drained road and Texas State Highway 6....
Points of interest
Missouri City is home to much of the Houston area's "antennae farm" for radio and television outlets.These include:
- Senior Road TowerSenior Road TowerSenior Road Tower is a high guyed radio mast for FM and TV broadcasting in unincorporated northeastern Fort Bend County near Missouri City, Texas, USA, at . Senior Road Tower was built in 1983 as a replacement for a tower which collapsed in 1982...
(which operates most of the Houston area's radio stations) - KRIV-TV Tower
- KHOU-TV Tower
- KTRK-TV Tower
- Houston Tower Joint Venture Tower (which operates KPRC-TVKPRC-TVKPRC-TV is the NBC affiliated television station based in Houston, Texas, and serving the Greater Houston television market. It has studios located in the Sharpstown district on the Southwest portion of the city, and has a transmitter site in unincorporated Fort Bend County near Missouri City...
and KIAH-TV) - American Towers Tower Missouri City
- Richland Towers Tower Missouri City
- Blue Ridge Tower Missouri City
Blue Ridge Landfill (Expanding to near 20 stories tall)
It has the headquarters of the Diocese of South-West America
Diocese of South-West America
The Diocese of South-West America is a diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. Its headquarters are in Missouri City, Texas, in Greater Houston. The diocese covers churches several U.S. states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana,...
of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
Government and infrastructure
On Friday October 1, 2010, the City of Missouri City's anti-smoking law, which bans smoking in most public places, will go into effect.The United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates the Missouri City Post Office and the Missouri City Post Office Annex.
Public schools
The Fort Bend County portion of Missouri City is served by Fort Bend Independent School DistrictFort Bend Independent School District
The Fort Bend Independent School District, also known as Fort Bend ISD or FBISD, is a school district system in the U.S. state of Texas based in the city of Sugar Land....
, while the Harris County portion is served by Houston Independent School District
Houston Independent School District
The Houston Independent School District is the largest public school system in Texas and the seventh-largest in the United States. Houston ISD serves as a community school district for most of the city of Houston and several nearby and insular municipalities...
. The Harris County portion is within Trustee District IX, represented by Lawrence Marshall as of 2008.
Fort Bend Independent School District
FBISD
Fort Bend Independent School District
The Fort Bend Independent School District, also known as Fort Bend ISD or FBISD, is a school district system in the U.S. state of Texas based in the city of Sugar Land....
operates the following schools within the Missouri City limits:
- Elementary Schools
- E. A. Jones Elementary School
- Glover Elementary School
- Hunters Glen Elementary School
- Lantern Lane Elementary School
- Palmer Elementary School
- Quail Valley Elementary School
- Middle Schools
- Lake Olympia Middle School
- Missouri City Middle School
- Quail Valley Middle School
- Baines Middle School
- High Schools
- Elkins High School
- Hightower High SchoolHightower High SchoolL.V. Hightower High School is a secondary school located at 3333 Hurricane Lane, Missouri City, Texas, United States.Hightower is administered by Fort Bend Independent School District and its mascot is Poseidon, but they are known as the Hightower Hurricanes.Hightower serves parts of Missouri City...
- Thurgood Marshall High SchoolThurgood Marshall High School (Missouri City, Texas)Thurgood Marshall High School is a secondary school located in Missouri City, Texas and is a part of the Fort Bend Independent School District....
In addition to these schools, a small portion of Missouri City is also served by Dulles Middle School, First Colony Middle School, Clements High School and Dulles High School
Dulles High School (Sugar Land, Texas)
John Foster Dulles High School is a high school in Sugar Land, Texas. It was the first site purchase and new build, in the 1950s, of the newly formed Fort Bend Independent School District, which held its first graduation in 1960. The first class to graduate from Dulles itself was 1962...
, all in Sugar Land
Sugar Land, Texas
Sugar Land is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area and Fort Bend County. Sugar Land is one of the most affluent and fastest-growing cities in Texas, having grown more than 158 percent in the last decade. In the time period of 2000–2007, Sugar Land also enjoyed a...
. Some areas of Missouri City are served by other schools.
Houston Independent School District
The Harris County portion of Missouri City is zoned to HISD
Houston Independent School District
The Houston Independent School District is the largest public school system in Texas and the seventh-largest in the United States. Houston ISD serves as a community school district for most of the city of Houston and several nearby and insular municipalities...
schools located in the city limits of Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
:
- Kate Bell Elementary School (places south of Beltway 8)
- Jenard M. Gross Elementary School (places north of Beltway 8)
- Louie Welch Middle School
- Westbury High SchoolWestbury High School (Houston)Westbury High School is a secondary school located in Brays Oaks, of Southwest Houston, Texas, near the Westbury neighborhood. It has grades 9 through 12, and is part of the Houston Independent School District. As of 2010 the principal is Andrew Wainwright...
Colleges and universities
The entire city is served by the Houston Community College SystemHouston Community College System
Houston Community College System is a community college system that operates community colleges in Houston, Missouri City, and Stafford in Texas....
.
Public libraries
Missouri City is served by the Missouri City Branch of the Fort Bend County LibrariesFort Bend County Libraries
Fort Bend County Libraries is a public library system in Fort Bend County, Texas .The library system, headquartered in the George Memorial Library in Richmond, operates two libraries and nine branches throughout Fort Bend County.-Libraries:...
system. The library, across the street from the City Hall complex and the Missouri City Civic Center, opened in June 1992. The 18642 square foot branch, designed by Hall/Merriman Architects, was the first of four branches built with 1989 bond funds.
Notable people
- Crystle StewartCrystle StewartCrystle Danae Stewart , from Missouri City, Texas, is an American beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 2008. She was born to Robert & Cynthia Franklin Stewart...
- Miss Texas USAMiss Texas USAThe Miss Texas USA competition is the pageant who selects the representative for the state Texas in the Miss USA pageant. In turn, the winner of Miss USA competes for the title of Miss Universe....
2008, Miss USAMiss USAThe Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA...
2008
- Houston rap artist Z-RoZ-RoJoseph Wayne McVey , better known by his stage name Z-Ro, is an American rapper, singer and producer from Houston, Texas. He was named one of America's most underrated rappers by the New York Times.-Early life:...
, a native of Missouri City, sometimes refers to it as "MO City" or "Misery City". Joseph McVey, a.k.a. Z-Ro, sometimes refers to himself as the "MO City Don". The nickname MO City derives the postal abbreviation for Missouri (MO).
- Houston AstrosHouston AstrosThe Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
pitcher Doug BrocailDoug BrocailDouglas Keith Brocail is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently the interim pitching coach for the Houston Astros.-High school years:...
resides in Missouri City during the off-season with his wife and five daughters.
- Paul BegalaPaul BegalaPaul Edward Begala is an American political consultant and political commentator. He was an adviser to President Bill Clinton. Begala was a chief strategist for the 1992 Clinton-Gore campaign, which carried 33 states and made Clinton the first Democrat to win the White House in sixteen years...
, a political commentator, born in New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, was raised in Missouri City.
- Bruce Matthews, NFL Hall of Famer, who formerly played with the Houston OilersHistory of the Tennessee TitansThe Tennessee Titans are the professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the then-Houston, Texas, team began play in 1960 as a...
and the Tennessee TitansTennessee TitansThe Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
, now assistant coach with the Houston TexansHouston TexansThe Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, resides in Missouri City with his family.
- Numerous current and former professional athletes live in Missouri City, most notably in Sienna Plantation, including Houston Texans Dunta RobinsonDunta RobinsonWillie Dunta Robinson is an American football cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons. He was drafted by the Houston Texans 10th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at South Carolina.-Early years:...
, NY Giant QB (and former Texan) David CarrDavid CarrDavid Duke Carr is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Houston Texans first overall in the 2002 NFL Draft...
, and former Houston Oilers Sean JonesSean Jones (defensive end)Dwight Sean Jones is a former American football defensive end, who played for the Los Angeles Raiders , Houston Oilers , and the Green Bay Packers . Jones was selected to the Pro Bowl after the 1993 season...
, Alonzo HighsmithAlonzo HighsmithAlonzo Walter Highsmith is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League for the Houston Oilers, Dallas Cowboys, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
, and Webster SlaughterWebster SlaughterWebster Melvin Slaughter is a former American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League from 1986 to 1998....
.
- Former Houston Oiler and NFL hall of fame QB Warren MoonWarren MoonHarold Warren Moon is a former American professional gridiron football quarterback who played for the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos and the National Football League's Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs...
lived in the area from 1984 to 2004.
- Frank Beard of the rock band ZZ TopZZ TopZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
lived in the Quail Valley subdivision for many years.
- Errol "E-POPPI" McCalla Jr. Grammy Award winning music producer