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Sheldon, Texas
Location in Harris County and the state of Texas
Location in Harris County and the state of Texas
Country United States
State Texas
County Harris
Area
 • Total 2.6 sq mi (6.7 km2)
 • Land 2.6 sq mi (6.7 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation
46 ft (14 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 2,361
 • Density 908/sq mi (352.4/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
77044, 77049
Area code(s) 281, 713, 832, 346
FIPS code 48-67376
GNIS feature ID 1380920

Sheldon is a community in northeastern Harris County, Texas, United States. It is located near Houston. Sheldon is an unincorporated community. This means it is not part of a city. It is also a census-designated place (CDP). This is a special area the government uses for counting people.

Sheldon is found along Beltway 8 and US Highway 90. It is about 12 miles (19 km) northeast of Downtown Houston. Since the 1950s, more people have moved to Sheldon. The area is now seen as matching the Sheldon Independent School District boundaries.

Sheldon used to be a rural area with farms. Now, it is growing quickly. It is becoming a busy suburban community. In 2020, about 2,361 people lived in the CDP part of Sheldon. The main zip codes for Sheldon are 77049 and 77044.

Sheldon's Story: A Look Back in Time

Sheldon started in the 1850s. It was a place where farmers sold their crops and lumber. Lumber came from trees near the San Jacinto River. The community was named after Henry K. Sheldon. He was involved with a railroad company.

In 1887, Sheldon got its own post office. By 1896, about 50 people lived there. It had a general store and a grocer. A school opened in 1905. In the 1940s, Sheldon had 150 residents and ten businesses. The population grew to 200 by the 1950s. The post office closed in 1955.

Sheldon's population has continued to grow. In 1980, there were 1,665 residents. By 1990, it was 1,653. In 2000, the population reached 1,831. In the ten years before 2011, the number of people living in Sheldon increased by 46%.

Where is Sheldon? Exploring its Location and Nature

SheldonTXMap
Map of Sheldon CDP

Sheldon is located in northeastern Harris County, Texas. Its exact location is 29°51′38″N 95°8′2″W.

The area is near several waterways. These include Greens Bayou, Carpenters Bayou, and the San Jacinto River. The western edge of Sheldon is Greens Bayou. The San Jacinto River forms its eastern border. To the north, you'll find the southern shore of Lake Houston. The southern border is about one mile south of the Crosby Freeway (US Hwy 90).

Sheldon has many trees and some grassy areas. It is also home to Sheldon Lake State Park and Environmental Learning Center. This park has many different animals and plants. Most of Sheldon is managed by Harris County Commissioner Precinct 1. A small part is in Precinct 2.

Important roads in Sheldon include Beltway 8 and US Highway 90.

Who Lives in Sheldon? Understanding its Population

Historical population
Census Pop.
2020 2,361
U.S. Decennial Census
1850–1900 1910
1920 1930 1940
1950 1960 1970
1980 1990 2000
2010
Sheldon racial composition as of 2020
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 366 15.5%
Black or African American (NH) 206 8.73%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 2 0.08%
Asian (NH) 18 0.76%
Some Other Race (NH) 1 0.04%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 45 1.91%
Hispanic or Latino 1,723 72.98%
Total 2,361

As of the 2020 United States census, 2,361 people lived in Sheldon. There were 521 households and 458 families. In 2000, there were 1,831 people.

Sheldon's Work and Businesses

Sheldon is home to several large companies. These include LyondellBasell, Apache Industrial Services, and National Oilwell Varco. Other companies like Genan and Koch also have a presence here.

Sheldon also has a large business park called Generation Park. The main office for FMC Technologies, a Fortune 500 company, opened there in 2016. Redemption Square, a part of Generation Park, is also growing. It will have offices, restaurants, and hotels.

More companies are moving their offices to Sheldon. These include Stolt-Nielsen and McCord Development. Patterson UTI is building a large corporate campus on 365 acres.

Learning in Sheldon: Schools and Colleges

Primary and Secondary Schools

Public Schools

Students in Sheldon attend schools in the Sheldon Independent School District. The schools in the CDP area are:

  • Sheldon Early Childhood Academy
  • Sheldon Elementary School
  • Michael R. Null Middle School
  • C.E. King High School

C.E. King High School is named after Cortes Ewing King. He donated the land for the middle school and the old high school. The area's middle school used to be C.E. King Middle School. Michael R. Null Middle School opened in 2009.

In 1905, Sheldon had two schools. One school had 39 African American students and one teacher. The other had 15 White students and one teacher.

Private and Charter Schools

Sheldon also has private and charter schools.

  • Holy Trinity Episcopal School is a private school. It teaches students from Pre-K3 up to 12th grade.
  • The Rhodes School is a special magnet charter school.

Colleges and Universities

San Jacinto College District serves the Sheldon ISD area. There is an extension center of San Jacinto College at Sheldon Early College High School. The closest main campus is the North campus, just south of Sheldon.

In 2015, San Jacinto College bought 57 acres in Generation Park. They plan to build a new campus there.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Sheldon (Texas) para niños

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