Located about 20 miles southwest of downtown Houston, Sugar Land has a population of about 82,000 people. It has a warm and humid climate, with summer temperatures reaching close to 100 and being very humid. Winters are mild and snow is virtually unheard of. Sugar Land is known as being a very healthful town, and has won the award for being the ‘Fittest City in Texas' four years in a row. The publication City Crime Rankings has named Sugar Land ‘America's 12th Safest City' for 2010-2011. The Anti-Defamation League has named Sugar Land a ‘community of respect' twice. Sugar Land has six master-planned communities with affordable housing. Those planning on moving to Sugar Land will find it a city of exceptional quality and pride.
Economy:
Sugar Land has a median household income that is almost the same as the state average. The cost of living is lower than the national average. Unemployment is low in Sugar Land, currently only 5.9 percent. CNN and Money Magazine have both ranked Sugar Land third best city in the nation to live. Noting the affluence of the area, Forbes chose Sugar Land as a Houston-area ‘best suburb to live.' Sugar Land enjoys a much diversified economy, with a good mix of industry, business and tech. The top employers are Fluor, Schlumberger, Nalco and Baker Petrolite.
History:
The area where Sugar Land is located today was purchased in 1838 by brothers Samuel and Nathaniel Williams. They built a plantation and grew cotton, corn and sugar cane. Benjamin Terry purchased the plantation in 1853 and is responsible for naming the town. A man named Cunningham bought the plantation after Terry's death and began a sugar refining plant in 1879. In 1908, a company bought land adjoining the Cunningham plantation, and started a raw sugar mill and a sugar cane refinery. The merging of the two became the Imperial Sugar Company. The business began a company-owned town called Sugar Land. It remained a company town until 1959, when it incorporated as a city. The city grew, attracted more and more businesses and corporations and began an era of planned communities.
Tourism:
There are many water-related activities available in Sugar Land, at both Oyster Creek Park and the Cleveland Lake. In the same place since 1843, you can tour the Imperial Sugar Company and see how sugar is processed. There are bird-watching opportunities, and biking trails all around the city. Plus, you have easy access to everything that Houston has to offer. There are several public golf courses there. The Sugar Land Town Square has year round events, shopping and fine dining.