Stafford, Texas
Stafford is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston•Sugar Land•Baytown Metropolitan Area. Stafford is mostly in Fort Bend County with a small portion in Harris County. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city population was 15,681.
The city has the only municipal school district (Stafford Municipal School District) in all of Texas. Stafford is served by the Houston Community College System and has a campus within the city.
Stafford does not have a municipal property tax as of 1995 and the sales tax is 0.5% less than all of the surrounding cities. Even though it is known as a bedroom community of the greater Houston area, it is estimated that four times as many people work in Stafford on a week day, which is evidence of the large amount of commercial activity that helps the city financially. Many corporations both large and small including United Parcel Service,[citation needed] Texas Instruments, and Tyco[citation needed] all maintain significant operations in Stafford.
As of 2008 the Mayor of Stafford is Leonard Scarcella, who was first elected in 1969 and has been a lifelong resident of the city.
Contents |
History
William Stafford established a plantation with a cane mill and a horse-powered cotton gin in 1830. On April 15, 1836, during the Texas Revolution, the forces of Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana stopped at Stafford's plantation and ordered it to be burned. Stafford rebuilt his plantation and resided there until his 1840 death. A settlement called Stafford Point established itself around the plantation; it became a townsite in August 1853 when the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado Railway began stopping at Stafford Point. Stafford Point had a post office from 1854 to 1869. Staffordville had a post office from January 5, 1869 to February 26, 1869. The settlement, now known as Stafford, operated a post office from 1869 to 1918; the post office reopened in 1929.[3]
In 1884, Stafford had 50 residents, two general stores, and a grocer. By 1896 the settlement had a population of 300. By 1914 the population fell to 100. In 1931 320 people lived in Stafford. This increased to 400 residents in 1946. Stafford incorporated as a city in 1956.[3]
Geography
Map of StaffordStafford is located at 29°37′27″N 95°33′48″W / 29.62417°N 95.56333°W (29.624186, -95.563359)[4].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.0 square miles (18.1 km²).None of the area is covered with water.
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 15,681 people, 5,865 households, and 4,035 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,247.1 people per square mile (867.4/km²). There were 6,390 housing units at an average density of 915.7/sq mi (353.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 46.95% White, 18.85% African American, 0.43% Native American, 19.80% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 10.53% from other races, and 3.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.30% of the population. The current population is estimated to be 19,800 people.[5]
There were 5,865 households out of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 38.5% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 4.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $50,323, and the median income for a family was $58,736. Males had a median income of $41,270 versus $31,761 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,803. About 5.4% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
Stafford City Hall The Stafford Municipal Complex in located in the southern part of the city off of Staffordshire Road at Constitution AvenueLocal government
The City of Stafford stopped levying non-school property taxes in 1995. It is the only Houston-area city that does not levy non-school property taxes. It is the city with the highest population in Texas that does not levy property non-school taxes. As a result, Stafford residents have lower mortgage payments and can reinvest extra funds into their businesses. Sales and franchise taxes from businesses fund the city.[6]
The Stafford City Hall and Stafford Police Department buildings are located on South Main, adjacent to one another.[7] The Stafford Volunteer Fire Department operates two fire stations.[8]
County, state, and federal representation
Stafford is partially located in Fort Bend County and partially in Harris County. Residents pay property taxes to their respective counties.[6]
Harris County Precinct One, headed by El Franco Lee as of 2008, serves the section of Stafford in Harris County.[9][10]
Much of Stafford is located in District 26 of the Texas House of Representatives. As of 2008, Charlie Howard represents the district.[11] Some of Stafford is located in District 27 of the Texas House of Representatives. As of 2008, Dora Olivo represents the district.[12] Most of Stafford is within District 13 of the Texas Senate; as of 2008 Rodney Ellis represents that district.[13] Some of Stafford is within District 17 of the Texas Senate; as of 2008 Kyle Janek represents that district.[14]
Stafford is in Texas's 22nd congressional district. As of 2008, Pete Olson represents the district.[15] The United States Postal Service operates the Stafford Post Office at 4110 Bluebonnet Drive.[16]
Economy
Texas Instruments facility in Stafford; Texas Instruments is Stafford's largest employerOriginally Stafford was an agricultural community. As of 2009 Stafford has operations from commercial, manufacturing, retail, service, and wholesale industries which pay sales and franchise taxes to the city. Stafford has three business parks, one shopping center, and twenty hotels and motels. Texas Instruments, which has around 1,500 employees in its Stafford office, is the largest employer in the city.[6]
In 1991 BMC Software had employees in several complexes. It had leased 90,000 square feet of space at the Texas American Bank Southwest building in Stafford; around November 1991 it had leased an additional 12,000 square feet, bringing the amount of leased space to 90,000 square feet.[17] In 2005 the internet service provider Internet America had offices in Stafford.[18]
Education
Colleges and universities
HCCS Stafford Campus Administration BuildingThe city is served by Houston Community College System. The HCCS Southwest College includes the Stafford Campus at 9910 Cash Road.[19]
Primary and secondary schools
Public schools
Stafford Municipal School District administrative buildingIn 1977, Stafford broke away from the Fort Bend Independent School District, which caused several rounds of federal litigation and by 1981 its was finally declared that the Stafford Municipal School District was constitutional. Almost all of Stafford was in FBISD, with a minuscule portion in the Houston Independent School District. All of Stafford is now zoned to the Stafford Municipal School District, which is the only school district in all of Texas that is controlled by the city. Residents pay property taxes to the school district.[6]
When most of Stafford was a part of Fort Bend ISD, Staffordshire Elementary was located in Stafford. Staffordshire housed Black students in grades 1-4. Staffordshire closed in September 1965 when Fort Bend ISD desegregated. The district later sold the Staffordshire property.[20]
Public libraries
Fort Bend County Libraries has the Mamie George Branch located within the city limits of Sugar Land on Dulles Avenue right next to Dulles Middle School.[21][22] The Mamie George Library, a 4,900 square feet (460 m2) library designed by Wylie W. Vale and Associates, opened in November 1974. The library was named after Mamie George, a philanthropist from Fort Bend County. The George Foundation donated funds for the building, and the Fort Bend Independent School District donated the land that the library was built on. The library was renovated in 1991. In 1996 the small-business-center materials were moved from the Missouri City Branch to the Mamie George Branch.[23]
Parks and recreation
Stafford Civic Center35.6 acres of greenspace in Stafford are designated as municipal parks. Stafford City Park, the largest park, covers 16 acres of land. The park includes baseball and softball fields, basketball courts, a pavilion, playground equipment, picnic benches, and soccer (football)/open fields. Gordon Fountain Lake Park, covering 9 acres, is the second largest park in Stafford. It has a 1/2 mile lighted jogging trail, a lake, a pavilion, pincic benches, and playground equipment. The 4.5 acre Vaccaro Manor Park has a lighted .25 mile jogging trail, a pavilion, playground equipment, sidewalks, and soccer/open fields. The 3.14 acre Rubin Park has playground equipment and picnic benches. First Street Park has three acres of land and includes baseball/softball fields, a jogging trail, lighting, and picnic benches.[24] Stafford operates a Civic Center and a City Pool in the Municipal Center. City residents pay $10 each year for pool access. Second and fourth grade classes of the Stafford Municipal School District use the city pool.[25] In addition, the city has a Civic Center at the municipal complex.[26]
Fort Bend County operates the 5 acre Stafford Community Center in Fifth Street, an unincorporated area near Stafford.[27]
Image gallery
|
Stafford Municipal Court |
Stafford Police Department, part of the J.C. "Buster" Public Safety Complex |
Fire Station No. 1, part of the J.C. "Buster" Court Public Safety Complex |
Northside Fire Station |
|
Stafford Centre for the Performing Arts |
References
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ a b Stafford, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ ""CNN Money's Best Places to Live" CNN". http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2008/snapshots/PL4869908.html. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
- ^ a b c d Lee, Renée C. "Property tax set at zero seems to suit Stafford." Houston Chronicle. June 7, 2009. Retrieved on June 10, 2009.
- ^ "Stafford Police Department." City of Stafford. Retrieved on June 12, 2009.
- ^ "Stafford Volunteer Fire Department." City of Stafford. Retrieved on June 12, 2009.
- ^ "Precinct Maps : All Precincts." Harris County, Texas. Retrieved on October 13, 2008.
- ^ "Welcome to the Harris County Precinct One Website!." Harris County, Texas. Retrieved on October 13, 2008.
- ^ "District 26." Texas House of Representatives. Retrieved on December 5, 2008.
- ^ "District 27." Texas House of Representatives. Retrieved on December 5, 2008.
- ^ "Senate District 13" Map. Senate of Texas. Retrieved on September 28, 2008.
- ^ "Senate District 17" Map. Senate of Texas. Retrieved on December 5, 2008.
- ^ "Congressional District 22." National Atlas of the United States. Retrieved on November 28, 2008.
- ^ "Post Office Location - STAFFORD." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 5, 2008.
- ^ Bivins, Ralph. "BMC signs a big lease/Firm needs space until tower's done." Houston Chronicle. Sunday November 17, 1991. Retrieved on August 2, 2009.
- ^ Azevedo, Mary Ann. "Internet America's Dallas presence dwindles." Dallas Business Journal. Friday October 28, 2005. Retrieved on September 25, 2009.
- ^ "College Operations." Houston Community College Southwest College. Accessed September 5, 2008.
- ^ "FBISD History." Fort Bend Independent School District. Retrieved on December 5, 2008.
- ^ "City Map." City of Stafford. Retrieved on December 5, 2008.
- ^ "Stafford Area Directories." City of Stafford. Retrieved on August 17, 2009.
- ^ "Mamie George Branch Library." Fort Bend County Libraries. Retrieved on May 14, 2010.
- ^ "Stafford City Parks." City of Stafford. Retrieved on June 12, 2009.
- ^ "Pool & Recreation." City of Stafford. Retrieved on June 12, 2009.
- ^ "Stafford Civic Center and Recreation Department." City of Stafford. Retrieved on June 12, 2009.
- ^ "Community Centers." Fort Bend County. Retrieved on October 11, 2009.
External links
| Houston portal |
- Stafford official website
- Stafford Municipal School District
- Stafford, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
Categories: Cities in Texas | Harris County, Texas | Fort Bend County, Texas | Greater Houston
|
