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Stafford, Texas Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.
Stafford, Texas facts for kids
| Stafford, Texas | |
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| City | |
Monument on US 90 Alternate
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| Motto: "City with no property taxes" | |
 Location of Stafford, Texas |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| Counties | Fort Bend, Harris |
| Area | |
| • Total | 18.2 km2 (7.0 sq mi) |
| • Land | 18.1 km2 (7.0 sq mi) |
| • Water | 0.1 km2 (0.04 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 26 m (85 ft) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 17,693 |
| • Density | 976.8/km2 (2,530/sq mi) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP codes | 77477, 77497 |
| Area code(s) | 281 |
| FIPS code | 48-69908 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1347777 |
| Website | www |
Stafford is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, within the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area. The city is mostly in Fort Bend County, with a small portion in Harris County. As of the 2010 census, Stafford's population was 17,693, up from 15,681 at the 2000 census. As of 2015 the population had risen to an estimated 18,459.
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 López de Santa Anna 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's Point" established itself 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, 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.
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.
Geography
Stafford is located in eastern Fort Bend County at 29°37′27″N 95°33′48″W / 29.62417°N 95.56333°W (29.624186, -95.563359). A small portion of the city extends northeast into Harris County. It is bordered by the city of 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 the northwest part of 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 a total 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.
Climate
The climate in this area 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.
Extraterritorial jurisdiction
The city of Stafford has several areas of extraterritorial jurisdiction. Two ETJ areas 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 ETJ 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 a portion of the 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 permission of the other school districts.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 1,485 | — | |
| 1970 | 2,906 | 95.7% | |
| 1980 | 4,755 | 63.6% | |
| 1990 | 8,397 | 76.6% | |
| 2000 | 15,681 | 86.7% | |
| 2010 | 17,693 | 12.8% | |
| Est. 2015 | 18,459 | 4.3% | |
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As of the census of 2010, there were 17,693 people, 6,750 households, and 4,483 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,527.6 people per square mile (867.4/km²). There were 7,074 housing units at an average density of 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. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.9% of the population.
There were 6,750 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 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 non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals living alone, and 4.8% of individuals living alone were 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the city, the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.9 years. For every 100 females there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $61,084, and the median income for a family was $63,244. Males had a median income of $46,023 versus $40,549 for females. The per capita income for the city 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 age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.
Parks and recreation
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 the second largest park in Stafford. 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 located next to Stafford City Hall. Its rose garden, benches, and fountain have attracted many couples to be married there. Stafford operates a Civic Center and a City Pool in the Municipal Complex. City residents pay $10 each year for pool access. The Stafford Centre Performing Arts Theatre and Convention Centre boasts 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.
Fort Bend County operates the 5-acre (20,000 m2) Stafford Community Center in Fifth Street, an unincorporated area near Stafford.
Gallery
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Stafford Municipal Court
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Stafford Police Department, part of the J.C. "Buster" Public Safety Complex
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Fire Station No. 1, part of the J.C. "Buster" Court Public Safety Complex
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Northside Fire Station
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Stafford Centre for the Performing Arts
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Stafford Post Office
- Stafford, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Muck, Patti. "Stafford, railroad on divergent tracks/1st Texas town to see a train balks at Southern Pacific's "dual' plan." Houston Chronicle. Sunday July 31, 1994. C1.
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Images for kids
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Stafford City Hall
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Houston Community College System Stafford building
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Stafford Municipal School District headquarters
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The Stafford Municipal Complex is located in the southern part of the city off Staffordshire Road at Constitution Avenue.
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Texas Instruments facility in Stafford: Texas Instruments was Stafford's largest employer.