Fort Bend County

Fort Bend County, Texas
Fort Bend County is in the coastal plains of southeastern Texas. Richmond, the county seat, at 29°35' north latitude and 95°45' west longitude, is twenty-eight miles west-southwest of Houston and at the approximate center of the county. The county comprises 869 square miles of level to slightly rolling terrain with an elevation ranging from eighty to 250 feet above sea level. Temperatures range from an average high of 94° F in July to an average low of 44° in January; rainfall averages slightly more than forty-five inches a year, and the growing season lasts 296 days. The Brazos River flows diagonally northwest to southeast through the county and drains the broad central valley via numerous creeks and bayous. The San Bernard River, which forms the west boundary, drains the western quarter of the county. Major streams include Big Creek, which flows east into the Brazos River; Oyster Creek, which winds parallel to and east of the Brazos River; and Buffalo Bayou, which rises in the northern tip of the county and flows east into Harris County. Soils vary from rich alluvial in the Brazos valley to sandy loams and clay on the prairies. Native trees include pecan, oak, ash, and cottonwood; there are some timberlands in the north and along streams. Mineral resources include natural gas, oil, and sulfur; sand, clay, and gravel are also produced in commercial quantities.
Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.
Virginia Laird Ott | © Texas State Historical Association
Fort Bend County at a Glance
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County Map of Texas
Fort Bend County
- Fort Bend County
Currently Exists
Yes
Place type
Fort Bend County is classified as a County
Altitude Range
46 ft – 158 ft
Places of Fort Bend County
Photos of Fort Bend County and surrounding areas

Fort Bend County, Texas
View of the Fort Bend Justice Center building in Richmond, Texas. Photograph by Djmaschek.

Fort Bend County, Texas
Map of Fort Bend County, Texas. Map Credit: Robert Plocheck.

Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas Photo by Efrain Alonso from Pexels Houston

Richmond, Texas
View of the Forth Bend County Courthouse in Richmond, Texas the seat of the county. Photograph by Larry D. Moore. Richmond

Stafford, Texas
Stafford, Texas Photo by Alisa Matthews on Unsplash Stafford

The water of Smithers Lake is used for cooling an electric plant
Photo by the Texas state government, public domain Smithers Lake

The Barker Reservoir spillway flooded after Hurricane Ike in 2008
Photo by karllehenbaur, Flickr, CC2 Barker Reservoir

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Fort Bend County by the Numbers
Population & Civilian Labor Counts
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Population Counts
Fort Bend County
Pop. | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
811,688 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |
Civilian Labor Counts
Fort Bend County
People | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
385,787 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Per Capita Income
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Per Capita Income (USD) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
$57,540 | 2019 | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |
Property Values, Retail Sales, and Wages
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Property Values
Fort Bend County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
85,053,198,282 | 2019 | State Property Tax Board |
Retail Sales
Fort Bend County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
8,598,868,230 | 2019 | State Comptroller of Public Accounts |
Wages
Fort Bend County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
2,693,630,795 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Unemployment
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Unemployment Percentage | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
9.0 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Rainfall
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Rainfall (inches) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
50.4 | 2019 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Temperature Ranges
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Min. (January Average, °F) | Max. (July Average, °F) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|---|
44.1 | 94.9 | 2019 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Land Area & Total Area
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Land Area
Fort Bend County
Area (square miles) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
861.5 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |
Total Area
Fort Bend County
Area (square miles) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
885.3 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |