City of Sugar Land


Sugar Land 50th Anniversary
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Past & Present

We Need Your Help to Preserve the Past

The land in and about the City of Sugar Land was originally owned by the Mexican government and was granted to Samuel M. Williams through Stephen F. Austin. There were several factors which governed Williams receiving this grant, among them was the fact that he spoke Spanish, was well educated and wrote a fine Spencerian hand. Williams called this land “Oakland Plantation” because there were many different varieties of oaks on the land –– Pin Oak, Post Oak, Water Oak, Red Oak and Live Oak. During this period of time, land grants were measured from one oak to another.

Sugar became a part of life in the area when S. M. Swinson, captain of a small freight boat, made a meandering journey along the United States coast from New York to Velasco. Along the journey, commodities were picked up at various points and dispensed of as the journey proceeded. One of the stops was Cuba, and as it happened, it was during the height of sugar cane season. A small load of sugar cane stalks was taken on board and later delivered to Samuel M. Williams. The next time Swinson came to the area, he saw sugar cane growing “as high as a man on a horse” and immediately returned to Cuba to purchase more stalks. Soon after, a mill was built to squeeze the juice from the stalks.

Today, the present refinery is located approximately on the spot where the first mill was built. After the death of Samuel Williams, the family attempted to keep the mill alive; however, this was not possible, and the mill was sold to Benjamin Franklin Terry and William Jefferson Kyle. Kyle was born in Hawkins County, Tenn., in 1803, and Terry was born in Kentucky in 1821. In 1849, both Kyle and Terry, who were living at the time in Brazoria, left Texas along with 20 or 30 others to go to the gold fields of California. By the time they reached California, they had increased in number and had approximately 60 wagons, two companies of pack mules and two sets of engineers. Terry and Kyle prospected gold in California, making quite a fortune.

In 1853, they returned to Texas and with a portion of the fortune purchased the “Oakland Plantation” from the S. M. Williams family. The land, rich in sugar cane, was appropriately renamed “Sugar Land.” The mill was operated using rollers and mule power and the open-kettle process. Molasses was drained off in troughs to 1,000 pound hogsheads for shipment. The railroad from Stafford to Richmond was built by Kyle and Terry. Plans were to run the railroad from Stafford, where the timber met the prairie, direct to Richmond and would have missed Sugar Land; however, Kyle and Terry paid $25 per acre for 2,500 acres of land, paying $7,000 in cash, with the remaining balance due in a series of notes up to year 1858 at which time the notes were fully paid. The big bend, which is currently in the railroad between Stafford and Sugar Land, is a result of this land purchase and Kyle and Terry's desire to have the railroad run through Sugar Land.

In 1860, the Kyle and Terry properties were valued at $250,000. The Sugar Land plantation passed through other hands in years to follow and was finally purchased from the bankrupt Colonel E. H. Cunningham interests by I. H. Kempner and W. T. Eldridge in 1907, at which time the sugar refining process was expanded to what is now known as Imperial Holly Corp. In 1907, the town of Sugar Land began growing at a rapid rate, with operating expenses amounting to around $50,000 per year.

In the fall of 1959, the heretofore company-owned town began the process of incorporation and on Dec. 15, 1959, T. E. Harman was elected the first Mayor of Sugar Land to serve with five Aldermen. The first City Council meeting was held on Jan. 19, 1960.

The City of Sugar Land was incorporated in 1959 as a “General Law” city and remained such from 1959 until Jan. 17, 1981, at which time a special city election was held for the purpose of establishing a home rule municipal government. Voters approved the adoption of a home rule charter in accordance with the constitution and statutes of the state of Texas. The type of municipal government provided by this Charter was known as “mayor-council government,” and all powers of the City were invested in a Council composed of a mayor and five councilmen.

In January 1985 pursuant to charter requirements, a five-member charter review commission was appointed and charged with the responsibility of reviewing the operation of the City government and determining whether such Charter provisions required revision and, if deemed advisable, to make recommendations to City Council for amendments to the Charter. As a result of this review, the commission recommended that several areas of the Charter be amended. A special city election was held Aug. 9, 1986, to submit the proposed changes to the electorate for consideration. By a majority of the voters, amendments to the Charter were approved which provided for a change in the City's form of government from that of “mayor-council” (strong mayor) to that of a “council-manager” form of government which provides that the city manager be the chief administrative officer of the city. Approval of this amendment provided for the mayor to become a voting member of Council, in addition to performing duties as presiding officer of the Council. An Amendment on May 5, 1990, changed the composition of the City Council to a Mayor, four council members to be elected by single-member districts and two council members by at-large position. This composition remains in effect today with term limits of eight consecutive years.

There have been nine mayors in Sugar Land's history:

T.E. Harman (1959-1961 and 1964-1968)
Bill Little (1961-1964)
C.E. McFadden (1968-1972)
Roy Cordes, Sr. (1972-1981)
Walter McMeans (1981-1986)
Lee Duggan (1986-1996)
Dean A. Hrbacek (1996-2002)
David G. Wallace (2002-2008)
James A. Thompson (2008-present)

Historical Timeline

1959 Sugar Land is granted its city charter and elects its first mayor and city council.
1960s In the early 1960s, a new subdivision development introduced contemporary affordable housing in Sugar Land for the first time called Covington Woods.
1967 206.6 acres acquired for the extension of the U.S. Highway 59
1968 Sugar Creek - the first master-planned community in the area -- introduced country club living with two golf courses and country clubs, swimming pools, and security. The Imperial Cattle Ranch sold about 1,200 acres to a developer to create what became Sugar Creek in 1968.
1969 Sugar Land State Bank groundbreaking
1972 Sugarland Industries sells 7,500 acres to Gerald Hines Interests for the development of First Colony.  It is one of the largest land sales in Texas history.
1974 A portion of the 1974 movie, The Sugarland Express, takes place in Sugar Land. Many of the movie's earliest scenes were filmed at the nearby Beauford H. Jester prison pre-release center. Other parts of the set were filmed in and around Sugar Land. The movie's title spells the name of the city incorrectly, and it was among Steven Spielberg's first films before he became famous. The film was the first theatrical feature film directed by Spielberg.
1975 Sugar Land Junior High School opens
1977 First Colony, a new master-planned community encompassing 10,000 acres (40 km˛) set out to create a new standard in development in Sugar Land. Development began in 1977 by Sugarland Properties Inc. and would follow the next 30 years. The master-planned community offered homebuyers formal landscaping, neighborhoods segmented by price range, extensive greenbelts, a golf course and country club, lakes and boulevards, neighborhood amenities and shopping.
1980s Sugar Land began attracting the attention of major corporations throughout the 1980s, and many chose to make the city their home. Fluor, Schlumberger, Unocal and others offered their employees the opportunity to work within minutes of their home.
1984 annexation of Sugar Creek, which was developed during the 1960s
1984 Sugar Land Community Center completed
January 1985 Changed the City's form of government from that of "mayor-council" to that of a "council-manager" form of government which provides that the city manager be the chief administrative officer of the city.
1990s Throughout much of the 1990s, Sugar Land was considered one of the fastest-growing communities in the nation and the majority of Sugar Landers are white-collar, and college-educated working in Houston's renowned energy industry. An abundance of commercial growth, with numerous low-rise office buildings, banks and high-class restaurants popping up.
1990 annexation of Fort Bend County MUD 16
December 1990 Sugar Land purchased Hull Field from Dr. Hull for $18.5 million with help of a Federal Aviation Administration grant, and changed the name to Sugar Land Municipal Airport.
1992 annexation of Fort Bend County MUD 12
1995 45,097 annexation of First Colony MUDs 1 & 6 & internal MUD 13
1995 State-of-the-art air traffic control tower opens at Sugar Land Regional Airport
1996 First Colony Mall opens
1997 Sugar Land annexed the remaining Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) of the 10,000 acre (40 km˛) First Colony master-planned community, bringing the population to almost reaching 60,000. This was Sugar Land's largest annexation to date.annexation of First Colony MUDs 2, 3, 4, 5 & 8
1997 Texas Legislature deeded more than 660 acres for a university and park development along the Brazos River.
2000 U.S. Census show Sugar Land grows 158 percent; second fast-growing city in Texas
2000 Oyster Creek Park opens
2001 University of Houston System at Sugar Land opens
December 2001 ground is broken on Sugar Land Town Square
2002 Imperial Sugar refinery closes
2003 In a television feature production, The Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth About Enron (2003) (TV), Sugar Land was mentioned as an affluent area to buy a house as did the main female character (Courtney).
Nov. 22, 2004 the City's fourth and final City Hall opens
2005 Annexation of Avalon
2006 MONEY Magazine and CNN/Money rank Sugar Land the third best place to live in America.
2006 New state-of-the-art terminal at Sugar Land Regional Airport opens.  SLRA is recognized as region's premier corporate aviation facility.
2007 Sugar Land named America's Fifth Safest City, a distinction based on an analysis of FBI crime statistics. The national ranking is included in the 14th edition of City Crime Rankings: Crime in Metropolitan America, published today by Washington-based CQ Press

Historic Walking Tours

If you'd like to see historic locations in old Sugar Land up close and personal, you will want to go on one of the monthly Historic Walking Tours, scheduled for the first Saturday of each month in 2009, 9 a.m.-11 a.m., starting May 2. Rain date for tours will be the following Saturday. The tours will begin at Lakeview Elementary School (Wood at 2nd Street) and be guided by a knowledgeable local historian. All walkers are urged to bring plenty of water and sun protection. For more information, or to reserve a place, call 281-275-2216.

Interactive Walking Tour Map

Historic Walking Tour Promo Video

Sugar Land 50th Anniversary Speakers Bureau

Interested in hearing about Sugar land's rich history-and seeing some remarkable historic photos? The Sugar Land 50th Anniversary Speakers Bureau is now scheduling its interesting presentation about our city's past. You can arrange for this 40-minute presentation to your organization or school by e-mailing pubinfo@sugarlandtx.gov or calling 281-275-2216.

Fort Bend Independent School District 50th Anniversary

Fort Bend Independent School District is also celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, having incorporated in 1959 the same year as the City of Sugar Land. Click here to find out more about FBISD's Golden Anniversary events, activities, history and legacy.

Visit the Fort Bend Independent School District Web site

NEW! 50th Anniversary Parent/Child/Teacher Activities & Lesson Plans

In partnership with the City and its 50th Anniversary celebration, we are delighted to share this series of Parent/Child and Teacher activities and TEKS lesson plans created by aspiring future teacher students at the University of Houston System at Sugar Land. Lessons and activities, ranging from reading to fun field trips, are designed to highlight the City's rich history, amenities, cultural heritage, local trees, foods and much more. Designed for sharing with children from Kindergarten through 4th grade, all ages and grades will find something fun to do or learn about our city's rich history and diversity.

Click to view the lesson plans

Upcoming City Events

50th Commemorative Sculpture - Be a part of History-Donate today!

A commemorative art sculpture has been commissioned to be installed in the main foyer of City Hall to educate and celebrate our rich history and diverse community. Well-known and respected sculptor Joe Kenney, of Austin, Texas, has been selected to create the historic bronze, art piece as a salute to our historic Texas and Imperial Sugar roots and the incredible growth and accomplishments of our 50 years as a City.

Learn more about the Sculpture or becoming a donor

Videos: 50th Anniversary Promotional Videos

Historic Walking Tour Promo Video

Videos: Past Reflections

Golden Moments: Former Mayor Little remembers how he arrived in Sugar Land.

Mayor McMeans: Being Elected and Serving as Mayor

Mayor Lee Duggan: Letters from Students
Mayor David Wallace: America's Best

We Need Your Help to Preserve the Past

Mayor Bill Little: City Incorporation and Comprehensive Plan

Mayor Dean Hrbacek: Strong Economy, Value for Tax Dollars

Mayor Dean Hrbacek: First Colony Mall

Mayor Cordes, Sr talking about early City Council

McLemore Family Recalls Living and Working in Sugar Land

Everywhere a Sign -- Austin, Kempner and Eldridge

Three Generations: The Morales Family

50 Best Things about Sugar Land

Drum Roll, Please!

Many thanks to the hundreds of Sugar Land residents who submitted nominations for “The 50 Best Things About Sugar Land.” The tabulating has been done, and here are the results. Looking over the list, it is easy to see why Sugar Land is acknowledged as one of the very best places to live in America!

  1. Town Square
  2. People of Sugar Land
  3. Restaurants
  4. Oyster Creek Park
  5. First Colony Mall
  6. Safe City thanks to Sugar Land Police & Fire Departments
  7. Clean City
  8. Excellent Public Schools
  9. Diversity
  10. Landscaping
  11. Green Areas
  12. Mobility
  13. City Hall
  14. Red, White and Bluefest
  15. Animal Shelter
  16. Imperial Sugar Refinery
  17. Waterways
  18. Stephen F. Austin Statue in Town Square Fountain
  19. Small City Feel
  20. Movies Under the Moon
  21. Lakeview Elementary Auditorium
  22. Memorial Park
  23. Lost Creek Park
  24. Numerous Hospitals
  25. Dulles High School
  26. Tree-lined streets
  27. Interesting City History
  28. Ice Skating Rink
  29. Chinese Hotline
  30. Sugar Land Regional Airport
  31. University of Houston - Sugar Land/ Wharton County Junior College
  32. Mercer Stadium
  33. AMC Movie Theater
  34. First Colony Library
  35. Sugar Land Branch Library
  36. Citizen Communications
  37. Dragon Boat Races
  38. Chili Cook off
  39. Wildlife
  40. Water Towers
  41. Volunteer Opportunities
  42. Good Veterinarians
  43. Lots of Sidewalks
  44. Well Maintained Roads
  45. Night Life
  46. History written out on Town Square Plaza
  47. Health clubs and gyms
  48. Concerts in the Park
  49. Nice Neighborhoods
  50. Community Response to Ike
 


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