Top 10 Reasons to Love Fort Bend County

just ten.

1. QUALITY OF LIFE 

For more than 15 years, Fort Bend has been in the top 20 counties in the United States for economic excellence and population growth. Consistently ranked in the top 3 percent of the nation's counties, the county delivers on its promise of being a “Best Place to Live and Work.” 

Excellent schools, affordable housing, and extensive recreational facilities attract families with impressive demographic profiles resulting in a local employment base that provides relocating companies with a diverse mix of professional, technical, skilled and unskilled labor with high educational attainment levels.

Named the Number One Fastest Growing County of the 10 largest counties in Texas, Fort Bend County has a population of nearly 600,000.

2. SAFEST CITY IN TEXAS

Sugar Land has the distinction of being the safest city in Texas and the 12th safest city in America , based on FBI crime statistics and national rankings by the Congressional Quarterly Press.

Missouri City, also located in Fort Bend County, ranked 36th in the top 50 safest cities nationwide and fifth in Texas.

Fort Bend County residents live in familyoriented communities only 25 minutes from the cultural activities of the city of Houston, but seemingly miles away from urban crime.

3. SKEETERS MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

Professional minor league baseball and affordable family fun all wrapped up in one big package come to Fort Bend in the spring of 2012 when the Sugar Land Skeeters open the doors of their new stadium. The Skeeters will charge onto the field in their black, blue, yellow, white and red uniforms. A member of the Atlantic League, Sugar Land will be the first team in the league’s planned Western Division, which will have 4 to 6 teams.Sugarlandskeeters.com 

4. FORT BEND BOYS CHOIR 

The nationally recognized Fort Bend Boys Choir has five performing ensembles with 200 choristers.

Choir members are selected from the local area by audition. The choir gives boys with special musical abilities an opportunity to perform challenging choral literature from classical selections to folk music. The group combines the freshness and enthusiasm of childhood with artistic maturity, something that can only be achieved through serious work. Boyish energy is channeled into dedication to excel, team effort and hard work. The group repertoire includes seasonal concerts throughout the area and national and international tours. Www.fbbctx.org 

5. SHOPPING & DINING

Unsur passed shopping and dining experiences abound in Sugar Land Town Square, First Colony Mall, the Market at Town Center and LakePointe. Small specialty shops call out to the discerning shopper alongside national department store chains such as Macy’s, Penney’s, Dillard’s, Ross, Marshall’s, Nordstrom Rack, Off Fifth and much, much more.

You can’t beat the dining opportunities in Fort Bend either. Branches of superb national restaurant chains grace residential and shopping areas, but they have stiff competition from the talented local chefs at Aura, Post Oak Grille, Kona Grill, Black Walnut Cafe and others too numerous to name.

6. PROXIMITY TO HOUSTON AMENITIES

Located a short 25 miles from the Houston metropolitan area, Fort Bend County residents have access to some of the finest museums and performing arts programs in the nation. The Museum District comprises more than 16 institutions including art, science and historical venues; Hermann Park; the Houston Zoo and the Miller Outdoor Theatre. It is one of the most visited museum districts in the country.

The Texas Medical Center, located about three miles south of the Midtown area, is the largest medical complex in the world. Many people from around the world come to the center for medical treatment. Www.tmc.edu The downtown performing arts district is home to Hobby Center, the Alley Theatre, the Houston Grand Opera and many other venues for international performers, Broadway plays, concerts and cultural events.

For sports fans, downtown venues are also home to the Houston Astros, Texans, Rockets, Dynamo and Aeros.

7. SUPERIOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Fort Bend County is home to four superior school districts, all containing academically recognized campuses. Fort Bend ISD is the only school district in the nation to be named a winner in the 2011 National Schools of Character program by the Character Education Partnership in Washington, D.C. It is also a Texas School District of Character.

FBISD is also home to several campuses named Exemplary or Recognized by the Texas Education Agency. FBISD serves 70,000 students at 73 campuses. Www.fortbend.k12.tx.us 

The Texas Education Agency rated 94 percent of Lamar CISD campuses — 28 out of 30 campuses — in the upper tiers of academic performance. LCISD is a TEA Recognized School District with low student to teacher ratio. The district’s 25,000 students are served by 32 campuses. Www.lcisd.org 

Stafford MSD, a TEA recognized school district, serves more than 3,000 students in all grades. Www.stafford.msd.esc4.net 

Katy ISD, a flourishing suburban school district west of Houston that encompasses portions of Fort Bend, Harris and Waller counties, is home to 60,000 students and 51 schools — 27,900 students and 19 schools are in Fort Bend County. Www.katyisd.org 

Fort Bend County is also home to eight private schools.

8. SUGAR LAND TOWN SQUARE

Ever dreamed of dancing under the stars? Or watching a movie under the moon? Each month, Sugar Land Town Square hosts a variety of activities to delight all ages including festivals, movies, concerts, dances, etc. Town Square is home to entertainment events, festivals and civic celebrations such as IndePendence Day, the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, National Day of Prayer, Sugar Land SuperStar competition and Cutest Baby contest. An al fresco gathering place, shopping mecca, gourmet delight, business center and entertainment venue all rolled into one, Town Square continuously adds new, exciting events to its calendar, so visit the website often to keep current on all the happenings in the square.Www.sugarlandtownsquare.com 

9. EXCEPTIONAL MEDICAL CARE

More than 10 hospitals serve the area including branches of many of the world-renowned hospitals located in the Texas Medical Center — Methodist Hospital, St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, Texas Children’s Hospital and MD Anderson Cancer Center. The finest in medical care is available right at home without having to drive into the city of Houston.

10. PARKS AND RECREATION

There is a state park, two county parks, and many city parks located throughout the county. Amenities include several public and private golf courses, hike and bike trails, aquatic centers, baseball fields, basketball pavillions, community and holiday events, playground equipment, picnic areas, and more.

BRAZOS BEND STATE PARK: 

A 4,897-acre park owned and operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department near the Brazos River, is great for camping, fishing and star gazing.

CITY OF MEADOWS PLACE: 

Year-round outdoor programs include baseball, soccer and swim team. Other special events are Christmas Memories in the Park, a Fourth of July parade, Splash Day, Halloween carnival and golf tournament.

MISSOURI CITY’S PARKS AND RECREATION: 

The department is a three-time Gold Medal Award winner and has been recognized by The Texas Recreation and Parks Society for excellence in the field of parks and recreation management. Missouri City has 33 parks ranging in size from less than an acre to 200 acres.

• CITY OF ROSENBERG’S SEABOURNE CREEK PARK: 

The 164-acre development offers major indoor and outdoor recreational activities and is located across from the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds and is contiguous to Rosenberg Civic and Convention Center.

• CITY OF STAFFORD: 

Five parks within the city limits offer a wide range of facilities such as a basketball pavilion, jogging trails, baseball fields, gazebo, playground equipment and picnic areas.

• CITY OF SUGAR LAND: 

Numerous park and recreation facilities range from quaint neighborhood parks to large athletic complexes. Hike and bike trails, greenbelts and aquatic centers complement the variety of facilities. Three community centers offer a large recreation program and private rental events.

• VAST ARRAY OF FIRST-CLASS GOLF FACILITIES:

Last, but definitely not least, is the county’s vast array of first-class golf facilities and championship courses. With six public and seven private courses, Fort Bend County offers an array of challenges to accommodate all levels of play 365 days a year.

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