Friendswood, Texas
Friendswood is a city in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area. The city lies in Galveston and Harris Counties. As of the 2010 census, the population of Friendswood was 35,805.[5]
Friendswood, Texas | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 29°30′45″N 95°11′53″W | |
Country | |
State | |
Counties | Galveston and Harris |
Incorporated | 1960 |
Government | |
• Type | Council manager |
• City Council | Mayor Mike Foreman Steve Rockey Sally Branson Trish Hanks Robert Griffon John Scott Brent Erenwert |
• City manager | Morad Kabiri |
Area | |
• Total | 20.90 sq mi (54.13 km2) |
• Land | 20.76 sq mi (53.76 km2) |
• Water | 0.14 sq mi (0.37 km2) |
Elevation | 31 ft (9 m) |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 35,805 |
• Estimate (2019)[2] | 40,290 |
• Density | 1,941.03/sq mi (749.42/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
ZIP codes | 77546, 77549 |
Area code(s) | 281/346/713/832 |
FIPS code | 48-27648[3] |
GNIS feature ID | 1336252[4] |
Website | ci.Friendswood.TX.us |
In 2007, CNN/Money magazine listed Friendswood as one of 100 "America's Best Places to Live" for that year, making it one of 900 small towns recognized since the rankings first began in 2005.[6]
History
Friendswood was founded in 1895 by members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).
Geography
Friendswood is located at 29°30′45″N 95°11′53″W (29.512532, -95.197933).[7]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city covers a total area of 54.1 square kilometres (20.9 sq mi), of which 53.7 square kilometres (20.7 sq mi) are land area and 0.15 square miles (0.4 km2), or 0.69%, is covered by water.[8]
Demographics
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1970 | 5,675 | — | |
1980 | 10,719 | 88.9% | |
1990 | 22,814 | 112.8% | |
2000 | 29,037 | 27.3% | |
2010 | 35,805 | 23.3% | |
Est. 2019 | 40,290 | [2] | 12.5% |
U.S. Decennial Census[9] |
As of the census[3] of 2000, 29,037 people, 10,107 households, and 8,085 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,381.2 people per square mile (533.4/km2). The 10,405 housing units averagedensity of 495.0 per square mile (191.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.09% White, 2.70% African American, 0.40% Native American, 2.39% Asian, 2.80% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 8.79% of the population.
Of the 10,107 households, 43.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.5% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.0% were not families. About 17.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the city, the population was distributed as 30.0% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.
In 2010, the median income for a household was $115,439 and for a family was $128,898. Males had a median income of $67,084 versus $35,447 for females. The per capita income for the city was $39,515. About 2.3% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
The Friendswood Post Office is located at 310 Morningside Drive.[10] Some locations in the City of Houston have Friendswood mailing addresses.[11] NASA astronaut Michael Foreman was elected mayor in 2018.[12]
Economy
The Baybrook Mall is physically located in the City of Houston,[13] but has a Friendswood mailing address.[14]
Education
Primary and secondary schools
Public schools
Students in Friendswood attend schools in either Friendswood Independent School District (FISD) if they live south of Clear Creek (Galveston County), or Clear Creek Independent School District (CCISD) if they live north of Clear Creek (Harris County).[15] The CCISD portion is within the Board of Trustees District 4,[16] represented by Stuart J. Stromeyer as of 2008.[17]
Cline Elementary School, Westwood Elementary School, Bales Intermediate School, and Windsong Intermediate School serve the FISD portion of Friendswood. All FISD residents are zoned to Friendswood Junior High School and Friendswood High School.
CCISD students from Friendswood attend Wedgewood Elementary School in Friendswood,[18] and Brookside Intermediate School in Friendswood.[19] Most residents of CCISD Friendswood are zoned to Clear Brook High School in unincorporated Harris County,[20] while some residents of CCISD Friendswood are zoned to Clear Springs High School in League City.[21]
Students who live in the area around Friendswood, but are in unincorporated Harris County with address listed as Friendswood or Webster attend Greene Elementary School or Landolt Elementary School in unincorporated Harris County for elementary schools.[22][23] For middle school they are zoned to Westbrook Intermediate School in Houston.[24]
Public libraries
The Friendswood Public Library at 416 South Friendswood Drive serves Friendswood.[25]
Notable people
- Greg Bonnen - neurosurgeon and Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from Friendswood
- Stephen Bowen - NASA astronaut and a United States Navy submariner.
- Katie Rose Clarke - Broadway actor, famous for the roles of Clara in Light in the Piazza, Glinda in Wicked, and Hannah in Allegiance
- Robin Coleman - American Gladiator Hellga, 2001 World's Strongest Woman (bronze)
- Penny Edwards - actress known for many western films; died in Friendswood
- Joseph Gutheinz – attorney and investigator of stolen and missing moon rocks
- Clara Harris - convicted murderer who made national and international headlines for murdering her husband by running him over with their car
- Bill McArthur - retired United States Army colonel and NASA astronaut and a veteran of three Space Shuttle missions and one expedition to the International Space Station via the Russian Soyuz capsule
- Balor Moore - former MLB pitcher resides in Friendswood
- Ronnie Price – NBA basketball player
- Bruce Prichard - former producer for WWE and co-host of Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard
- Ryan Sitton - Republican nominee for the Texas Railroad Commission in the November 4, 2014, general election
- Steve Stockman – departing Republican member of the United States House of Representatives; unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. Senate in the 2014 primary election, convicted felon
- Booker T and spouse Sharmell Sullivan-Huffman – professional wrestling personalities
- Larry Taylor - Republican member of the Texas Senate. He was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 24 in Galveston County from 2003 to 2012, former City Council Member for Friendswood.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, Friendswood has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.[26]
Legacy
The 2014 novel Friendswood, set in the area, was written by René Steinke.
References
- "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Friendswood city, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
- "Best Places to Live 2007: Friendswood." CNN/Money. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
- "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Friendswood city, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
- "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- "FRIENDSWOOD." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on April 24, 2018. "310 MORNINGSIDE DR FRIENDSWOOD, TX 77546-9998"
- "City of Houston Annexation FAQ". City of Houston. 1996-10-31. Archived from the original on 1996-10-31. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
Numerous residents of the City of Houston have Missouri City, Webster, Friendswood, Stafford, Humble and even Kingwood addresses.
- "Friendswood Election Results: Mike Foreman wins mayoral race; Rockey re-elected". Community Impact Newspaper. 2018-05-06. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
- "SN_81.pdf" (Archive). Retrieved on March 31, 2014.
- "Contact Us." Baybrook Mall. Retrieved on March 31, 2014. "Mall Location 500 Baybrook Mall Friendswood, Texas 77546"
- "Comprehensive Land Use Plan Archived February 27, 2009, at the Wayback Machine." City of Friendswood. Accessed September 28, 2008.
- District 4 Map Archived February 27, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Clear Creek Independent School District. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
- "School Board Members: Bios and Contact Information Archived December 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine." Clear Creek Independent School District. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
- Wedgewood Elementary attendance zone. Clear Creek Independent School District. Retrieved on December 31, 2016.
- "Brookside Intermediate attendance zone. Clear Creek Independent School District. Retrieved on December 31, 2016.
- Clear Brook High boundary. Clear Creek Independent School District. Retrieved on December 31, 2016.
- Clear Springs High boundary. Clear Creek Independent School District. Retrieved on December 31, 2016.
- Greene Elementary attendance zone. Retrieved on December 31, 2016.
- Landolt Elementary attendance zone. Retrieved on December 31, 2016.
- Westbrook Intermediate attendance zone. Clear Creek Independent School District. Retrieved on December 31, 2016.
- "Welcome to the Friendswood Public Library." Friendswood Public Library. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
- Climate Summary for Friendswood, Texas