Stafford, Texas

Stafford is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, in the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area. The city is mostly in Fort Bend County, with a small part in Harris County. As of the 2020 census, Stafford's population was 17,666,[4] down from 17,693 at the 2010 census.

Stafford, Texas
City
Monument on US 90 Alternate
Monument on US 90 Alternate
Motto: 
"City with no property taxes"
Location of Stafford, Texas
Location of Stafford, Texas
Coordinates: 29°37′27″N 95°33′48″W
CountryUnited StatesUnited States
StateTexasTexas
CountiesFort Bend, Harris
Government
 • TypeMayor-Council
 • MayorCecil Willis
 • City CouncilDon Jones
Alice Chen
Ken Mathew
Wen Guerra
Xavier Herrera
William K. Bostic Jr.
Area
[1]
 • Total7.04 sq mi (18.24 km2)
 • Land7.01 sq mi (18.16 km2)
 • Water0.03 sq mi (0.09 km2)
Elevation
85 ft (26 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total17,666
 • Density2,476.39/sq mi (956.11/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
77477, 77497
Area code281
FIPS code48-69908[2]
GNIS feature ID1347777[3]
Websitewww.staffordtx.gov

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 López de Santa Anna stopped at Stafford's plantation and ordered it burned. Stafford rebuilt his plantation and resided there until his 1840 death. A settlement called "Stafford's Point" was established around the plantation; it became a townsite in August 1853, when the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado Railway began stopping there. Stafford's Point had a post office from 1854 to 1869. "Staffordville" had a post office from January 5 to February 26, 1869. The settlement, now known as Stafford, operated a post office from 1869 to 1918; the post office reopened in 1929.[5]

In 1884, Stafford had 50 residents, two general stores, and a grocer. By 1896, it had a population of 300. By 1914, the population fell to 100. In 1931, 320 people lived in Stafford. This increased to 400 in 1946. Stafford incorporated as a city in 1956.[5]

Geography
Map of Stafford

Stafford is in eastern Fort Bend County at 29°37′27″N 95°33′48″W (29.624186, –95.563359).[6] A small part of the city extends northeast into Harris County. It is bordered by Houston to the north, Meadows Place to the northwest, Sugar Land to the west, and Missouri City to the south and east.

The Southwest Freeway (Interstate 69) passes through northwest Stafford, leading northeast 16 miles (26 km) to the center of Houston and southwest 18 miles (29 km) to Rosenberg. U.S. 90 Alternate passes through Stafford as Main Street, leading west 5 miles (8 km) to Sugar Land and northeast 18 miles (29 km) to the Houston East End.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Stafford has an area of 7.0 square miles (18.2 km2), of which 7.0 square miles (18.1 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.58%, is water.[4]

Climate

Stafford's climate is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Stafford has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.[7]

Extraterritorial jurisdiction

Stafford has two areas of extraterritorial jurisdiction. They are within the Houston Independent School District, including an area at Beltway 8 and Stafford Road and another area between Beltway 8 and Murphy Road. One area within the Alief Independent School District is next to the City of Meadows Place along Interstate 69/U.S. Route 59. Areas in the Fort Bend Independent School District include part of Fifth Street and an area around U.S. Route 90 Alternate, Dulles Avenue, and Avenue E. The City of Stafford has avoided annexing these areas, because doing so would give it territory in school districts other than the Stafford Municipal School District (SMSD) and the city wants its city limits and the SMSD to have the same area. The SMSD cannot annex these areas without the other school districts' permission.[8]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19601,485—
19702,90695.7%
19804,75563.6%
19908,39776.6%
200015,68186.7%
201017,69312.8%
202017,666−0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
Stafford racial composition as of 2020[10]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[lower-alpha 1]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 2,858 16.18%
Black or African American (NH) 5,239 29.66%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 27 0.15%
Asian (NH) 3,849 21.79%
Pacific Islander (NH) 19 0.11%
Some Other Race (NH) 110 0.62%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 449 2.54%
Hispanic or Latino 5,115 28.95%
Total 17,666

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 17,666 people, 6,042 households, and 4,335 families residing in the city.

As of the census[2] of 2010, 17,693 people, 6,750 households, and 4,483 families resided in the city. The population density was 2,527.6 inhabitants per square mile (975.9/km2). The 7,074 housing units averaged 1010.6 per square mile (353.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 36.6% White, 27.4% African American, 0.6% Native American, 22.8% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 9.3% some other race, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 25.9% of the population.

Of the 6,750 households, 33.2% had children under 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were not families. About 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals living alone, and 4.8% of individuals living alone were 65 or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the city, the population was distributed as 24.8% under 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 7% 65 or older. The median age was 31.9. For every 100 females, there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.[13]

The median income for a household was $61,084, and for a family was $63,244. Males had a median income of $46,023 versus $40,549 for females. The per capita income was $27,082. About 6.3% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.4% of those under 18 and 9.3% of those 65 or older.

Economy

Stafford has not had a municipal property tax since 1995. Though it is known as a bedroom community of the greater Houston area, an estimated four times as many people work in Stafford on a weekday, which is evidence of the large amount of commercial activity that helps the city financially. Many corporations large and small, including the United Parcel Service[14] and Tyco, maintain significant operations in Stafford.

Texas Instruments facility in Stafford: Texas Instruments was Stafford's largest employer.

Originally, Stafford was an agricultural community. As of 2009, it has operations from commercial, manufacturing, retail, service, and wholesale industries that pay sales and franchise taxes to the city. Stafford is known internationally for attracting valve manufacturing companies; it has 11. Stafford has 15 business parks, a shopping center, and 19 hotels and motels.[15]

Texas Instruments (TI) operates a production facility in Stafford, where it manufactures 6-inch (150 mm) wafers used in cell phones, high-definition televisions, and solar devices. The plant first opened in 1967.[16] In 2009, TI, which had around 1,500 employees in its Stafford office that year, was the city's largest employer.[15] In 2012, the company announced it was closing its Stafford plant because industry demand for larger, more efficient wafers increased and the company, in lieu of upgrading the Stafford plant to accommodate production of larger wafers, opted to shift production to newer plants.[16] Of the 1,000 employees at the plant during that year, TI laid off 500 and sent 500 to another facility. Mayor Leonard Scarcella said the closure would adversely affect Stafford.[17]

About 15 years ago, TI comprised about 25% of the city's economy and by 2012, it stood at about one-tenth of that, or 2.5%.[18] Some jobs at the plant were scheduled to end in July 2012. Other jobs were scheduled to remain until the factory's closure in late 2012. TI said it planned to open another facility in greater Houston for the 500 remaining employees.[16] In 2012, TI announced that it was relocating its Fort Bend County operations to the Telfair area in Sugar Land.[19]

Parks and recreation
Stafford Civic Center

About 35.6 acres (144,000 m2) of greenspace in Stafford are designated as municipal parks. Stafford City Park, the largest, covers 16 acres (65,000 m2) 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 (36,000 m2), is Stafford's second-largest park. It has a 1/2-mile, lighted, jogging trail, a lake, a pavilion, picnic benches, and playground equipment. The 4.5-acre (18,000 m2) Vaccaro Manor Park has a lighted, quarter-mile jogging trail, a pavilion, playground equipment, sidewalks, and soccer/open fields. The 3.14-acre (12,700 m2) Rubin Park has playground equipment and picnic benches. First Street Park has 3 acres (12,000 m2) of land and includes baseball/softball fields, a jogging trail, lighting, and picnic benches. The Margaret Havens Historical Memorial Garden is next to Stafford City Hall. Its rose garden, benches, and fountain have attracted many couples to marry there.[20] Stafford operates a Civic Center and a City Pool in the Municipal Complex. City residents pay $10 a year for pool access. The Stafford Centre Performing Arts Theatre and Convention Centre has a 1,100-seat performing arts theater; 25,000 square feet of meeting, banquet, and exposition space, including a 20,000-ft2 ballroom; and over 28 acres of outdoor festival green space.[21]

Fort Bend County operates the 5-acre (20,000 m2) Stafford Community Center in Fifth Street, an unincorporated area near Stafford.[22]

In 2014 the Sugar Land Youth Cricket Club, a children's cricket club, was established. In 2016 it played its home games at Everest Academy in Stafford.[23]

Government and infrastructure
Stafford City Hall
The Stafford Municipal Complex is located in the southern part of the city off Staffordshire Road at Constitution Avenue.

Local government

The City of Stafford stopped levying nonschool property taxes in 1995. It is the only Houston-area city and the most populous city in Texas to do so. Sales and franchise taxes from businesses fund the city.[15]

From 1969 to 2020, Stafford's mayor was Leonard Scarcella. By 2018, he was the longest-serving mayor in the United States.[24][25] On June 28, 2020, Scarcella died at age 79.[26] In December 2020, Cecil Willis was elected mayor.[27]

The Stafford City Hall, Stafford Police Department, and Municipal Court buildings are on South Main, adjacent to one another.[28] The Stafford Volunteer Fire Department operates out of three fire stations.[29]

The city is governed by its Home Rule Charter, which resembles the US Constitution.[30] The Charter Review Commission reviews the charter every five years. The most recent review was in 2018. The commission consisted of:[31]

Ash Hamirani

Jonathan Montoya

Hector Acevedo

Christeen Seymour

Lawrence Vaccaro, Jr.

Vice Chairperson Ettienne Zak

Chairperson Robert Sorbet

County, state, and federal representation

Stafford is partly in Fort Bend County and partly in Harris County. Residents pay property taxes to their respective counties.[15]

Harris County Precinct One, headed by Commissioner Rodney Ellis, serves the section of Stafford in Harris County.[32][33]

Much of Stafford is in District 26 of the Texas House of Representatives. As of 2012, Charlie Howard represents the district.[34] Some of Stafford is in District 27 of the Texas House of Representatives. As of 2012, Ron Reynolds represents the district.[35] Most of Stafford is in District 13 of the Texas Senate, represented by Borris L. Miles.[36] Some of Stafford is in District 17 of the Texas Senate, represented by Joan Huffman.[37]

Stafford Post Office

Stafford is in Texas's 22nd congressional district. As of 2021, Troy Nehls represents the district.[38]

The U.S. Postal Service operates the Stafford Post Office.[39] Some locations in Houston have Stafford mailing addresses.[40]

Fort Bend County does not have a hospital district. OakBend Medical Center serves as the county's charity hospital which the county contracts with. Harris County has a hospital district, Harris Health.[41]

Media

The Fort Bend Star, a weekly newspaper, is headquartered in Stafford.[42] The Houston Chronicle is the area's newspaper of record.

Culture

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is in unincorporated Fort Bend County, Texas, within the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) of Stafford and with a Stafford mailing address.[43][44]

Education
Houston Community College System Stafford building

Colleges and universities

Stafford MSD (and therefore the city) is served by the Houston Community College System.[45] The HCCS Southwest College includes the Stafford Campus at 10041 Cash Road. In spring 2012, the enrollment at the Stafford Campus was 8,139.[46] Stafford is also home to North American University, a small private university with an enrollment of roughly 800 students.[47]

Primary and secondary schools
Stafford Municipal School District headquarters

Public schools

The city has the only municipal school district (Stafford Municipal School District) in all of Texas. In 1977, Stafford broke away from the Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD), which caused several rounds of federal litigation; by 1981, it was 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, Texas's only municipal school district controlled by the city. Residents pay property taxes to the school district.[15]

When most of Stafford was a part of FBISD, Staffordshire Elementary was in Stafford. Staffordshire housed Black students in grades 1–4. Black secondary school students attended the M.R. Wood School in Sugar Land. At the time FBISD formed in 1959, white students could attend one of two elementary schools, and they attended a middle school in Sugar Land and a high school site in Missouri City; the latter two sites now house Lakeview Elementary School and Missouri City Middle School. Dulles High School became the high school for white students in FBISD. In September 1965 Fort Bend ISD desegregated and Staffordshire School closed.[48] Staffordshire students were reassigned to E. A. Jones Elementary School in Missouri City. Dulles Junior High School served as FBISD's sole junior high school from March 1965 to August 1975.[49] Dulles High became the only zoned high school for students of all races in FBISD until Willowridge High School in Houston opened in 1979.[50]

Private schools

Everest Academy (Pre-K–5), a school of the Darul Arqam Schools, is in Stafford.[51] Sugar Creek Montessori School also has a campus in Stafford.[52]

Public libraries

Fort Bend County Libraries' Mamie George Branch is in Sugar Land, on Dulles Avenue next to Dulles Middle School.[53][54] The Mamie George Library, a 4,900 square feet (460 m2) library designed by Wylie W. Vale and Associates, opened in November 1974. It 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 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.[55]

  • Stafford Municipal Court
    Stafford Municipal Court
  • Stafford Police Department, part of the J.C. "Buster" Public Safety Complex
    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
    Fire Station No. 1, part of the J.C. "Buster" Court Public Safety Complex
  • Northside Fire Station
    Northside Fire Station
  • Stafford Centre for the Performing Arts
    Stafford Centre for the Performing Arts
  • Stafford Post Office
    Stafford Post Office

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Stafford city, Texas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  5. Stafford, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online
  6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. Climate Summary for Stafford, Texas
  8. Kumar, Seshadri. "Stafford, SMSD mull over annexation." Houston Chronicle. October 30, 2006. Retrieved on April 12, 2014.
  9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  11. https://www.census.gov/
  12. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  13. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Stafford city, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  14. "Find Locations | UPS - United States". www.ups.com. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  15. Lee, Renée C. "Property tax set at zero seems to suit Stafford." Houston Chronicle. June 7, 2009. Retrieved on June 10, 2009.
  16. Sixel, L.M. "TI to close Stafford plant, move 500 jobs to N. Texas." Houston Chronicle. Monday January 23, 2012. Retrieved on January 24, 2012.
  17. "Texas Instruments to close plants in Houston, Japan." KPRC-TV. January 23, 2012. Retrieved on January 24, 2012
  18. "." Fort Bend Star. Retrieved on May 3, 2012.
  19. Pulsinelli, Olivia. "Texas Instruments to build Sugar Land facility, employ 375." Houston Business Journal. Wednesday November 7, 2012. Updated Friday November 9, 2012. Retrieved on November 13, 2012.
  20. "Stafford City Parks." City of Stafford. Retrieved on May 2, 2012.
  21. "Pool & Recreation." City of Stafford. Retrieved on June 12, 2009.
  22. "Community Centers." Fort Bend County. Retrieved on October 11, 2009.
  23. Kadifa, Margaret (March 22, 2016). "'Cricket' isn't a bug to this group of youngsters". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  24. "About Mayor Scarcella".
  25. "Stafford to celebrate a legend, 50 years of Mayor Scarcella".
  26. "Mayor Leonard Scarcella of Stafford dies at age 79". June 28, 2020.
  27. "About Cecil Willis". www.staffordtx.gov. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  28. "Stafford Police Department." City of Stafford. Retrieved on June 12, 2009.
  29. "Stafford Volunteer Fire Department." City of Stafford. Retrieved on June 12, 2009.
  30. "Stafford Home Rule Charter" (PDF).
  31. "Home Rule Charter Review Commission". staffordtx.suiteonemedia.com. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  32. "Precinct Maps : All Precincts Archived 2009-01-08 at the Wayback Machine." Harris County, Texas. Retrieved on May 2, 2012.
  33. "Welcome to the Harris County Precinct One Website!." Harris County, Texas. Retrieved on May 2, 2012.
  34. "District 26." Texas House of Representatives. Retrieved on December 5, 2008.
  35. "District 27." Texas House of Representatives. Retrieved on May 2, 2012.
  36. "Senate District 13 Archived 2011-06-28 at the Wayback Machine" Map. Senate of Texas. Retrieved on May 2, 2012.
  37. "Senate District 17 Archived 2008-12-19 at the Wayback Machine" Map. Senate of Texas. Retrieved on May 2, 2012.
  38. "Congressional District 22 Archived 2012-06-09 at the Wayback Machine." National Atlas of the United States. Retrieved on May 2, 2012.
  39. "STAFFORD." U.S. Postal Service. Retrieved on April 24, 2018. "4110 BLUEBONNET DR STAFFORD, TX 77477-9998"
  40. "City of Houston Annexation FAQ". City of Houston. October 31, 1996. Archived from the original on October 31, 1996. Retrieved April 24, 2018. Numerous residents of the City of Houston have Missouri City, Webster, Friendswood, Stafford, Humble and even Kingwood addresses.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  41. Knipp, Bethany (November 2, 2016). "Fort Bend County lacks hospital district". Community Impact Newspaper. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  42. "Contact Us." Fort Bend Star. Retrieved on April 7, 2014. "The offices of fortbendstar.com are located at 4655 Techniplex Dr, Suite 300, Stafford, TX 77477 (the same location as the physical newspaper)."
  43. "Map of Stafford" (PDF). City of Stafford. Retrieved November 7, 2019. - Linked from this page on the Stafford website - Based on the location, BAPS is in the extraterritorial jurisdiction but not the city limits
  44. "Home". BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Houston, TX, USA. Retrieved November 7, 2019. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir 1150 Brand Lane Stafford, TX 77477 USA - Despite the "Stafford, TX" city name, it is outside of the Stafford city limits
  45. Sec. 130.182. HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM DISTRICT SERVICE AREA..
  46. "College Operations." Houston Community College Southwest College. Accessed May 2, 2012.
  47. https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=north+american+university&s=all&id=461795
  48. "History." Fort Bend Independent School District. Retrieved on July 20, 2017.
  49. "FBISD History". Fort Bend Independent School District. December 3, 2018. Archived from the original on September 7, 2008. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  50. Solomon, Jerome. "FOOTBALL 1997/HIGH SCHOOLS/FORT BEND BONANZA/Phillips, Dulles in hunt to add to town's memories." Houston Chronicle. Thursday August 28, 1997. Special 33. Retrieved on December 31, 2011.
  51. "Contact." Everest Academy. Retrieved on April 24, 2018. "610 Brand Ln, Stafford, TX 77477, USA"
  52. "Contact Us." Sugar Creek Montessori School. Retrieved on April 24, 2018. "Sugar Land Campus 615 Dulles Avenue Stafford, Texas 77477"
  53. "City Map." City of Stafford. Retrieved on December 5, 2008.
  54. "Stafford Area Directories." City of Stafford. Retrieved on August 17, 2009.
  55. "Mamie George Branch Library." Fort Bend County Libraries. Retrieved on May 14, 2010.
  1. Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.[11][12]
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