Fresno, Texas

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Fresno is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fort Bend County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,603 at the 2000 census.

Fresno is located in the extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ) of Houston, which is the fourth largest city in the nation in population. Fresno physically borders Houston to the north, the suburban Fort Bend County cities of Missouri City to the northwest and west, Arcola to the south and southeast and Pearland to the east and northeast.

1 Geography
2 History
3 Demographics
4 Education
5 Recent Changes in Fresno

[edit] Geography

Fresno is located at 29°31′36″N, 95°27′35″W (29.526728, -95.459849)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 23.3 km² (9.0 mi²). 23.3 km² (9.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.11% is water.

[edit] History

A settler from Fresno, California, reportedly chose the name. The town is on land patented in 1824, once surrounded by cotton plantations. Fresno acquired a post office in 1910. In 1914 it had a telephone connection, a general store, a hardware store, and a population of thirty-two. By 1933 the town had only ten inhabitants and one business. In 1936 it had three rows of dwellings on both sides of a paved highway (old Hwy 288, present day FM 521) and was served by the International-Great Northern Railroad. By 1946 the population had risen to 100, a level maintained throughout the 1960s. In 1970 the figure had increased to 120; two years later it had grown to 161. During the 1970s and 1980s the population of Fresno increased more rapidly as the area was affected by growth of Houston.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 6,603 people, 1,881 households, and 1,600 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 283.6/km² (734.8/mi²). There were 2,002 housing units at an average density of 86.0/km² (222.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 44.36% White, 26.55% African American, 0.41% Native American, 1.08% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 25.23% from other races, and 2.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 49.89% of the population.

There were 1,881 households out of which 54.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.6% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.9% were non-families. 12.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.51 and the average family size was 3.83.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 36.1% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 16.0% from 45 to 64, and 4.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 102.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $46,290, and the median income for a family was $48,824. Males had a median income of $32,606 versus $30,527 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $14,340. About 10.9% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.6% of those under age 18 and 17.0% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Education

School age children in Fresno attend schools in the Fort Bend Independent School District. Two elementary schools, Lula Belle Goodman and Burton Elementary are located in Fresno's Teal Run neighborhood. Middle school students north of FM 521 in grades 6-8 attend Lake Olympia Middle School in Missouri City, while Fresno students on the south side of FM 521 will attend Billy Baines Middle School in Sienna Plantation, a 10,000 acre master planned community just north of Fresno, in Missouri City, starting in the fall of 2006.

High school students in Fresno attend Hightower High School in Missouri City, whose campus has a full fleged media and medical academy, as well the newest district wide athlethic complex, built in 2004, featuring Kenneth Hall Stadium for football, track, soccer and band competetions and Dennis Hopson Field House for volleyball and basketball as well as locker rooms for Hall stadium compettions.

[edit] Recent Changes in Fresno

With its prime location on state highway 6 south and FM 521 in unincorporated Fort Bend County, developers have recently built large bedroom communities over what was once forest and grazeland, and a number of first time homeowners have made the Fresno area home.

The demographics in the Fresno area have changed dramatically since the last US Census in 2000 due to a large increase in home building, and the area is now mostly made up of first time African American homeowners in the new housing communities, with Hispanics holding a majority in the older areas of Fresno.

The area is heavily democratic in nature, and due to population increases in the area, Fresno was switched from Fort Bend county precinct two jurisidiction in 2003 and is now located within Fort Bend county precinct one, which is located primarily on the western side of Fort Bend county, some 25-30 miles away from Fresno, which is located in far eastern Fort Bend County.

Among the largest communities in Fresno are the six neighborhoods that make up the Fort Bend MUD #23 area. Teal Run, the oldest of the neighborhoods, was started in the early 1990's.

The Estates of Teal Run, located at the intersection of Raab and Sycamore Road, was started in 1999.

Teal Run North (Villages of Teal Run and Teal Run Meadows), located just off of Teal Bend Blvd, directly adjacent to both Teal Run and Teal Run Estates, was started in 2001. There are over 3100 total homes in the Fort Bend MUD #23 area in 2006.

NewPoint Estates, located across from Teal Run on hwy 6 and Darby Rd, is an area for acreage type home sites, stables and expensive properties. A number of Houston area professional athlethes make this neighborhood home.

Winfield Lakes, which is located on Trammel Fresno Rd, was started in 2004.

Andover Farms, which is located on state highway 6 and south post oak rd, was started in 2004.

Cambridge Falls, a David Weekley homes site, located right next to Winfield Lakes, started with infastructure additions (lights, gas, water, sewer lines, streets) in 2005 and has built many spec homes, which are now available for purchase.

The newly built Fort Bend Tollway has given eastern Fort Bend County residents another option of travel into the city of Houston, as the Tollway is 6.2 miles long from Highway 6 to Highway 90 in southwest Houston, and eventually will travel all the way to loop 610. The average commute time for those living in eastern Fort Bend County using the full route from Highway 6 to loop 610(when it opens) should average 20 minutes. A typical trip down FM 521, which turns into Almeda in Houston, or hwy 288 north into the Texas Medical center takes at least 30-45 minutes in rush hour traffic.