Pearland, Texas
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| City of Pearland | |
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| Nickname(s): P-Land | |
| Motto: Where town meets country | |
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| Coordinates: 29°33′16″N 95°17′45″W / 29.55444°N 95.29583°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| Counties | Brazoria, Harris, Fort Bend |
| Government | |
| - Type | Council-Manager City |
| - Mayor | Tom Reid |
| Area | |
| - Total | 39.4 sq mi (101.9 km2) |
| - Land | 39.3 sq mi (101.9 km2) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 49 ft (15 m) |
| Population (2008) | |
| - Total | 90,700 |
| - Density | 2,033/sq mi (784.9/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP codes | 77581, 77584, 77588 |
| Area code(s) | 281, 713, 832 |
| FIPS code | 48-56348[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1343734[2] |
Pearland is a city located along the Gulf Coast region in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area and is in the counties of Brazoria, Fort Bend, and Harris. As of the census of 2000, the city's population was 37,640. As of 2008, Pearland is estimated to have a population of 90,700 according to city limit signs. [3]. By 2011, Pearland is expected to have 96,000 residents [3]
The city's name is pronounced "pear" land (like the fruit), not "peer-land" or "pearl-land".
In 2007, Forbes Magazine ranked Pearland as the 34th fastest growing suburb in the nation. It is therefore the fastest growing suburb in the Greater Houston area, and the 10th fastest growing in the state of Texas.[4]
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[edit] Geography
Pearland is located at 29°33′16″N 95°17′45″W / 29.55444°N 95.29583°W (29.554349, -95.295959)[5].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 39.4 square miles (101.9 km²), of which, 39.3 square miles (101.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.08%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 37,640 people, 13,192 households, and 10,659 families residing in the city. The population density was 957.0 people per square mile (369.5/km²). There were 13,922 housing units at an average density of 354.0/sq mi (136.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city as of 2000, was 82.62% White, 5.33% African American, 0.42% Native American, 3.65% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 5.12% from other races, and 1.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.22% of the population.
There were 13,192 households out of which 43.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.6% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.2% were non-families. 15.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 34.2% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $64,156, and the median income for a family was $70,748 (these figures had risen to $83,706 and $92,096 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[6]). Males had a median income of $49,359 versus $34,570 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,306. About 3.4% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.
According to the 2006-2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, the racial composition was as follows:
- White: 68.6% (57.0% were non-Hispanic whites)
- Black or African American: 14.6%
- American Indian: 0.1%
- Asian: 9.5%
- Two or more races: 2.2%
- Some other race: 5.0%
- Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 17.1%
Source: [7]
[edit] History
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The area that is now Pearland had its humble beginnings near a siding switch on the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway in 1882. When a post office was established in 1893, the community was originally named Mark Belt. On September 24, 1894, the plat of "Pear Land" was filed with the Brazoria County courthouse by Witold von Zychlinski, a man of Polish nobility.[8] Pearland was promoted by some developers as an "agricultural Eden." The first subdivision was called Suburban Gardens. The Galveston hurricane of 1900 and the Galveston hurricane of 1915, destroyed most of the fruit trees and slowed growth for a considerable period of time, and caused a period of desertification in the area. In 1914, with agriculture rebounding and the end of desertification, Pearland had a population of 400, but a devastating freeze in 1918 was another setback to the local farming enterprises. Oil was discovered nearby in 1934, which led to the development of the Hastings Oilfield, though did not spur a large amount of growth, as the population fluctuated from 150 and 350. From the 1970s, the town has grown steadily to its present-day population.
[edit] Economy
Pearland does not have any major industry. The largest employers are a reflection of Pearland's suburban economy, with some businesses related to the oil industry and biomedical industry. The largest employer is the Pearland Independent School District, employing 1,800 people. The second largest employer is Wal-Mart, which operates several stores in town and employs 800 people. The H-E-B Plus is the third largest employer in town employing more than 500 people. The City of Pearland is the fourth largest employer in town at 429 employees. Rounding out the top 10 are Randall's (Grocery), 250; Kemlon (Oil field services), 275; TurboCare (Turbo machinery manufacturing and repair), 175; Target Stores (Retail) 150, Tele-Flow (Heating/ventilation/air conditioning) 140, Lowe's (Building materials), 132.[2]
Though formerly an agriculture-based town, Pearland is now predominantly white-collar(71%). "Professional and Related Occupations", "Sales and Services", and "Management, Business, and Financial Operations" are the three primary fields of employment (23%, 30%, and 18 respectively).2
Many residents in Pearland work in the Texas Medical Center (as Pearland has the highest percentage of TMC workers).
[edit] Growth and development
Current large-scale projects include:
- Pearland Town Center - A 937,000 sq ft (87,100 m2). lifestyle center. Opened in July 2008. Includes Macy's, Dillard's, and Barnes and Noble.
- Shadow Creek Town Center - A 640,265 sq ft (59,482.6 m2). retail center. Construction underway, rolling openings until Fall 2008.
- The Spectrum at Clear Creek - A 750,000 sq ft (70,000 m2). industrial/business park. Construction underway, completion date unknown.
- University of Houston–Clear Lake at Pearland - Proposed construction of a 30,000 sq ft (2,800 m2). facility for the University of Houston–Clear Lake branch campus in Pearland. Opening slated for December 2008.
- WaterLights District - The proposed 50 acre mixed-use development will house restaurants, retail centers, and a sculpture park. Opening slated for Summer 2008.
[edit] Government and infrastructure
City Elected Officials: Mayor: Tom Reid [Term Expires May 2011]; Councilman, Position 1: Woody Owens [Term Expires May 2010]; Councilman, Position 2: Scott Sherman [Term Expires May 2012]; Councilman, Position 3: Steve Saboe [Term Expires May 2011]; Councilwoman, Position 4: Felicia Kyle [Term Expires May 2012]; Councilman, Position 5: Kevin Cole [Term Expires May 2010]
The city is represented in the Congress in the 22nd District by Republican Pete Olson, elected in 2008.[9]
The United States Postal Service operates the Pearland Post Office at 3519 East Walnut Street and the Silver Lake Post Office at 2700 Cullen Boulevard.[10][11]
[edit] Education
[edit] Primary and secondary schools
[edit] Public schools
Most of Pearland is a part of the Pearland Independent School District. Other portions of Pearland are part of Alvin Independent School District (including most of Shadow Creek Ranch and South Gate), Fort Bend Independent School District (including some of Shadow Creek Ranch), Clear Creek Independent School District, Houston Independent School District, and Pasadena Independent School District.
- All schools in Pearland ISD, including Pearland High School and Glenda Dawson High School, serve the Pearland ISD portion of Pearland.
- The Alvin ISD portion is served by several elementary schools as well as Manvel High School (in Manvel).
[edit] Private schools
- St. Helen Catholic School, a K-8 Roman Catholic School operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
- The Eagle Heights Christian Academy is operated by the First Baptist Church and is located in Pearland on Pearland Parkway. It offers grades Pre-K - 12 and a rigorous and Christian education (http://www.fbcpearland.org/fbcp/home).
[edit] Colleges and universities
The Pearland ISD and Alvin ISD portions are served by Alvin Community College (ACC), and the Pasadena ISD portion is served by San Jacinto College.
ACC operates the Pearland Community College Center in Pearland.
University of Houston–Clear Lake (Pearland Campus) — Construction of a 30,000 sq ft (2,800 m2). facility for a branch campus in Pearland. Opening slated for January 2010.
[edit] Public libraries
The Pearland Library at 3522 Liberty Drive is a part of the Brazoria County Library System. As of December 6, 2008 the library was closed until further notice due to storm damage.[12] It has since re-opened.[13]
[edit] Neighborhoods
Eighty-three percent of Pearland is residential, which is the one big contributing factor to the high population. The city is home to many master-planned communities—Silverlake, Sunrise Lakes, Southern Trails, Southdown, and Shadow Creek Ranch are among the most popular master-planned communities in Brazoria County.
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Airports
Skyway Manor Airport, a privately-owned airport, is located within the Pearland city limits. Pearland Regional Airport, a privately-owned airport, is located in unincorporated Brazoria County south of the Pearland city limits. Both airports allow public use.
The closest publicly-owned airport is the Brazoria County Airport, located in an unincorporated area.
Commercial airline service is provided out of Houston from William P. Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
[edit] Freeway system
Pearland is served by State Highway 288 which connects the city to Houston. FM 518, locally known as Broadway, is considered the main east-west artery of the city. State Highway 35, locally called Main Street and known as Telephone Road, is the main north-south artery of the city. Given the spread out area, SH 288 serves the westernmost part of the city, while SH 35 serves the easternmost part as both connect Pearland to Houston (FM 865/Cullen Blvd also connects Houston as well in between).
[edit] Parks and recreation
- C.V. 'Vic' Coppinger Family YMCA Branch is located in Pearland.
[edit] Trivia
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Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (February 2008) |
- Around 2:00 a.m. on December 14, 2000, members of the Texas 7 robbed a local computer store and an adjacent Radio Shack in Pearland, stealing tools that would help them pull off their infamous Christmas Eve robbery in Irving, Texas. That Radio Shack has since closed.
- A car explosion scene at the end of the pilot episode of Houston Knights was filmed in an airfield in Pearland, Texas, much to the surprise of several Pearland residents. It was filmed around midnight and the explosion was heard for quite some distance. The remains of the car were left on the property for a week or two before being towed away, offering Pearland residents and other passersby a look at it as it sat in full view of State Highway 35, which runs through the center of town. This was at least the second time Pearland was used as a location for filming a movie or television show, following Urban Cowboy and preceding Arlington Road.
[edit] Sister cities
[edit] References
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ a b Pearland Economic Development Corporation: Demographics
- ^ America's Fastest-Growing Suburbs - Forbes.com
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=16000US4827648&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US48%7C16000US4827648&_street=&_county=pearland&_cityTown=pearland&_state=04000US48&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2007_3YR_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null®=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=
- ^ http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ADPTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=16000US4856348&-qr_name=ACS_2008_3YR_G00_DP3YR5&-ds_name=ACS_2008_3YR_G00_&-_lang=en&-_sse=on
- ^ http://www.pearlandhistoricalsociety.com/Photos_Zychlinski.html
- ^ "Texas Secretary of State, 2008 General Election, U.S. Representative District 22". 2008-11-05. http://team1.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/nov04_141_race22.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-08.
- ^ "Post Office Location - PEARLAND." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
- ^ "Post Office Location - SILVER LAKE." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
- ^ PEARLAND Library Brazoria County Library System. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
- ^ "[1]"
http://www.chron.com/community/photogallery/pearland/library_reopens.html
[edit] External links
- City of Pearland, Official Website
- Pearland Community Website
- Pearland Volunteer Fire Department, Official Website
- Pearland Economic Development Corporation
- Pearland Area Chamber of Commerce
- Pearland, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Pearland Journal
- Chron.com News - Pearland, Alvin, Friendswood
- Pearland, Texas is at coordinates 29°33′16″N 95°17′45″W / 29.554349°N 95.295959°WCoordinates: 29°33′16″N 95°17′45″W / 29.554349°N 95.295959°W
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