Since the 1970s Fort Bend County has been one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. It is named for a blockhouse at a bend of the Brazos River; the fort was the start of the community in early days. Its county seat is Richmond, while its largest city is Sugar Land.
As of the census of 2000, there were 354,452 people, 110,915 households, and 93,057 families residing in the county. The population density was 405 people per square mile (156/km²). There were 115,991 housing units at an average density of 133 per square mile (51/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 56.96% White (46.21% White Non-hispanic), 19.85% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 11.20% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 9.10% from other races, and 2.56% from two or more races. 21.12% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Other self-identifications were 8.8% of German ancestry, 6.3% American and 5.8% English ancestry according to Census 2000.
In 2006 Fort Bend county had a population of 493,187. This represented a growth of 39.1% since 2000. The county's racial or ethnic makeup was 53.96% White (39.63% White Non-hispanic), 20.88% African American, 14.77% Asian, 0.51% Native American, 7.73% other races and 2.14% from two or more races. 22.88% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.82% of the population was foreign born; of this, 50.24% came from Asia, 37.17% came from Latin America, 5.74% from Africa, 5.28% from Europe and 1.57% from other parts of the world.
Since the 1970s Fort Bend County has been attracting people from all types of racial and ethnic backgroups and according to a 2001 Claritas study, it is the 5th most diverse county in the United States among counties of 100,000+ population. It is one of a growing number of counties with no clear ethnic-racial group in the majority. Fort Bend County also has the highest percentage of Asian Americans in the Southern United States, with primarily Vietnamese Americans, Chinese Americans, Indian Americans, and Filipino Americans having large populations in Fort Bend County.
In 2000 There were 110,915 households out of which 49.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.80% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.10% were non-families. 13.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.14 and the average family size was 3.46.
In the county, the population was spread out with 32.00% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 32.30% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 5.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $63,831, and the median income for a family was $69,781 (these figures had risen to $76,635 and $85,025 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $47,979 versus $32,661 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,985. About 5.50% of families and 7.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.50% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2006 Fort Bend County is the wealthiest county in Texas and the 24th wealthiest in the US with a median household income of $75,202(In 2006 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars), having surpassed Collin and Rockwall counties(Dallas suburbs) since the 2000 census. However, the Council for Community and Economic Research ranked Fort Bend County as America's 3rd wealthiest county when the local cost of living was factored into the equation with median household income.
The sole publicly-owned airport in the county is Sugar Land Regional Airport in Sugar Land
Privately-owned airports for public use include:
Privately-owned airports for private use include:
The following general aviation heliports (all privately owned, for private use) exist in unincorporated areas:
The closest airport with regularly scheduled commercial service is Houston's William P. Hobby Airport in Harris County. The closest airport with regularly scheduled international commercial service is George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston in Harris County.
Fort Bend County officially created a department of Public Transportation in 2005 that provides commuter buses to Greenway Plaza, Houston Galleria, and starting in July 2008, The Texas Medical Center. It also provides Demand and Response Buses to Senior Citizens and the General Public that travel only in Fort Bend County to anywhere in Fort Bend County. www.co.fort-bend.tx.us
The TTC-69 component (recommended preferred) of the planned Trans-Texas Corridor goes through Fort Bend County .