Sugar Land is a city located in Fort Bend County, Texas. As of the 2000 census, the Houston suburb had a total population of 63,328. The population in 2004 according to the city is 69,599. The city is the fastest growing municipality in Texas in terms of population.

Sugar Land is home to the headquarters for the Imperial Sugar company as the company's main refinery was once located in this city. It has since been put out of operation, but its effect on the local economy was extremely minimal, if at all, since Sugar Land today has much more of a reputation as an extremely affluent Houston suburb than the blue-collar, agriculture-dependent town it once was a generation ago. Throughout much of the nineties, it was considered one of the fastest-growing communities in the nation and the majority of Sugar Landers are white-collar, and college-educated working in Houston's renowned energy industry. An abundance of commercial growth, with numerous low-rise office buildings, banks and high-class restaurants popping up, can be seen along both US 59 and Texas Hwy 6, the two main traffic arteries in the city. The city expects the ultimate population to eventually exceed 200,000, which will make it largest Houston suburb, surpassing Pasadena, Texas.

A portion of the 1974 movie Sugarland Express takes place in Sugar Land. The movie's title spells the name of the city incorrectly, and it was among Steven Speilberg's first films, before he became nationally known.

As Sugar Land is widely considered one of the wealthiest suburbs in the state, many celebrities live in and around Sugar Land, including Olympic gold medalist Tara Lipinski. Still more celebrities simply keep houses in the upscale, but quaintly suburban Sweetwater subdivision, such as Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, and other local luminaries. It is also the hometown and area represented by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. Because of this, Sugar Land is widely considered to be an extremely Republican area.

Sugar Land is also notable for its affluent minority population, since it is also a popular place of residence among Houston's increasingly influential Asian community. According to the latest US census statistics, nearly a quarter of its residents are Asian-American. The majority of Sugar Land's Asian community consists of successful Indian, Pakistani, and Chinese-Americans owning businesses or working in nearby Houston. Sugar Land could quite possibly have the largest and most affluent Asian community in Texas, and outside of California, the largest in the nation.

Many TV & Radio Stations, whom they say is "Houston-based" actually broadcast from here. Notable ones are KPRC (Houston NBC Affiliate), KRIV (Houston's Fox Affiliate), KXTH (Houston's UPN Affiliate), and all of the Clear Channel radio stations in the Houston area all broadcasting from this large commercialized suburb.

Missouri City, located to the east, is Sugar Land's sister city.

Geography

Sugar Land is located at 29°35'58" North, 95°36'51" West (29.599580, -95.614089).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 64.5 km² (24.9 mi²). 62.4 km² (24.1 mi²) of it is land and 2.1 km² (0.8 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 3.33% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 63,328 people, 20,515 households, and 17,519 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,015.0/km² (2,629.1/mi²). There are 21,090 housing units at an average density of 338.0/km² (875.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 66.00% White, 5.20% African American, 0.24% Native American, 23.80% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.32% from other races, and 2.41% from two or more races. 7.98% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 20,515 households out of which 51.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.5% are married couples living together, 8.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 14.6% are non-families. 12.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 2.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.06 and the average family size is 3.36.

In the city the population is spread out with 31.2% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 6.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $81,767, and the median income for a family is $88,639. Males have a median income of $63,834 versus $37,498 for females. The per capita income for the city is $33,506. 3.8% of the population and 3.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.3% of those under the age of 18 and 8.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

External links

• Sugar Land official website