Sugar Land History

By Sheila Cox

Born and raised in Texas, I love our state's marvelous history...especially Sugar Land history. As you may already know, Sugar Land is located in Fort Bend County. And while Fort Bend may not be the location of the Alamo (the Shrine of Texas Liberty) it has a storied past and tons to offers today's residents.

Characterized by rolling hills and wide open prairies, Fort Bend is situated along the banks of the Brazos River. At 879 square miles, our county is home to 500,000 people from all over the globe. 

Part of Sugar Land history includes the "Father of Texas": Stephen F Austin. Around 1825, Stephen F. Austin, for whom the state's capital is named, brought 300 settlers, known as the "Old Three Hundred" to what is now Fort Bend County. This first community was called Fort Settlement. At the time, the area was inhabited by a Native American Indian tribe called the Karankawa. As with many other tribes, the Karankawa ultimately left the region, migrating south to Mexico.

In the late 1830s, Richmond, Texas, grew around the agricultural trade and built a rail line to Galveston to transport its goods. Sugar cane plantations also began to flourish in the area. Soon a sugar mill was built and, 53 years later, a refinery was built...a very important part of Sugar Land history. In 1905 Imperial Sugar was formed, and Sugar Land grew from the prosperity of Imperial Sugar and the rail yards.

In the late 1950s, Houston began to establish itself as one of the nation's most prominent cities and a leader in the petroleum industry. As a result, Fort Bend experienced phenomenal growth in the 1970s, and "master planned" communities began.

Today Sugar Land is still one of the nation's fastest growing areas. With real estate prices below the national average, low-cost utilities, a young and educated work force, competitive wages, and no personal or state income tax, Sugar Land is appealing to businesses and individuals. With its master planned communities and top ranked, culturally diverse schools, it has become the perfect place to raise a family...and to tell them about Sugar Land history!  

Read more:

• Homes for sale in Sugar Land TX
• Sugar Land Neighborhoods
• Sugar Land Schools

Old Imperial Sugar Mill