Pearland, Texas
Encyclopedia
Pearland is a city located along the Gulf Coast
region in the US state of Texas within the 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. The 2010 census returned a population of 91,252.
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.
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.
In 2009 the city said that the city limits had 48 square miles (124.3 km²) and that the combined area of the city limits and of nearby unincorporated areas, including Country Place and Silverlake
, was 72 square miles (186.5 km²).
, 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 116.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 122.2 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). 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 in 2009 was as follows:
The City of Pearland stated in 2009 that the estimated population in the city limits was 91,000, and that city population and the population of nearby unincorporated area
s, including Country Place and Silverlake
, was 125,000 altogether.
From 2000 to 2010 the population increased by almost three times. Pearland itself is ethnically diverse; 62 languages are spoken in Pearland public schools.
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. At the time Pearland had many fruits harvested by residents. Zychlinski saw the pear trees and decided that "Pearland" would make a good name for the community.
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 to its present-day population.
oil fields.
By 1990 the city limits had extended into Harris County
. In the 1990s home developers began buying large tracts of land, changing the geography of the city. Former rice fields filled with houses. The historic town center of Pearland is at the intersection of Texas State Highway 35/Main and Broadway. Western Pearland has a lot of suburban development, while eastern Pearland has older houses and, according to Maggie Galehouse of the Houston Chronicle
, Pearland's "rural roots still show" in the east side. Pearland's main east-west corridor is Farm to Market Road 518
/Broadway.
, 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.
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
(in fact, of all neighborhoods and suburbs in Greater Houston, Pearland has the highest percentage of TMC workers).
Mayor: Tom Reid [Term Expires May 2014];
Councilmember, Position 1: Woody Owens [Term Expires May 2016];
Councilmember, Position 2: Scott Sherman [Term Expires May 2012];
Councilmember, Position 3: Susan Sherrouse [Term Expires May 2014];
Councilmember, Position 4: Felicia Harris [Term Expires May 2012];
Mayor Pro-Tem, Councilmember, Position 5: Ed Thompson [Term Expires May 2016]
The official City of Pearland website is very helpful. http://www.cityofpearland.com/index.asp?Type=NONE&SEC={B93BF3E5-1923-42DC-8C32-F1010A6D8A34}
The city is represented in the Congress in the 22nd District
by Republican
Pete Olson
, elected in 2008.
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.
. Other portions of Pearland are part of Alvin Independent School District
(including most of Shadow Creek Ranch
), 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
.
(ACC), and the Pasadena ISD portion is served by San Jacinto College
. ACC operates the Pearland Community College Center in Pearland.
The University of Houston–Clear Lake
(UHCL) has a satellite campus, located within the city.
There are many activities at all branches of the Brazoria County Library System. They are all free and open to the public.
, Southdown, Lakes of Highland Glen, and Shadow Creek Ranch
are among the most popular master-planned communities in Brazoria County. Country Place and Silverlake
are in unincorporated area
s near Pearland.
(METRO) announced that it will buy a 12 acres (4.9 ha) vacant site at the intersection of State Highway 288
and County Road 59 to build a Park and Ride. Scheduled to open in fall 2010, the facility will have 750 parking spaces. Another 750 spaces will be added at a later point. Kimberly Slaughter, METRO's associate vice president of planning, said that the facility will provide traffic relief for people living around Pearland Town Center and residents who live in or near Shadow Creek Ranch
.
, 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
.
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).
The Texas State Highway Beltway 8 (Sam Houston Tollway) services the northern part of Pearland. It is located adjacent to the northern Brazoria County and southeastern Harris County border. It also serves as one of the largest tollways in the Houston area.http://www.texasfreeway.com/Houston/photos/bw8/bw8.shtml
Matamoros, Tamaulipas
, MexicoLopez, Quezon, Philippines
Palencia, Spain
Gulf Coast of the United States
The Gulf Coast of the United States, sometimes referred to as the Gulf South, South Coast, or 3rd Coast, comprises the coasts of American states that are on the Gulf of Mexico, which includes Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida and are known as the Gulf States...
region in the US state of Texas within the metropolitan area and is in the counties of Brazoria
Brazoria County, Texas
Brazoria County[p] is a county in the U.S. state of Texas, located on the Gulf Coast within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. Regionally, parts of the county are within the extreme southern-most fringe of the regions locally known as Southeast Texas. Brazoria County is among a...
, Fort Bend
Fort Bend County, Texas
Fort Bend County is a county located along the Gulf Coast region in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. In 2000 its population was 354,452, while the 2010 U.S...
, and Harris
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
. 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. The 2010 census returned a population of 91,252.
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
Greater Houston
Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown is a 10-county metropolitan area defined by the Office of Management and Budget. It is located along the Gulf Coast region in the U.S. state of Texas...
area, and the 10th fastest growing in the state of Texas.
Geography
Pearland is located at 29°33′16"N 95°17′45"W (29.554349, −95.295959).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, 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.
In 2009 the city said that the city limits had 48 square miles (124.3 km²) and that the combined area of the city limits and of nearby unincorporated areas, including Country Place and Silverlake
Silverlake, Texas
Silverlake is a planned community in unincorporated Brazoria County, Texas, United States, near Pearland. The community has 2,500 single family houses and of supporting commercial usage...
, was 72 square miles (186.5 km²).
Demographics
As of the census 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 per square mile (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 racesRace (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 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 116.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 122.2 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). 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
American Community Survey
The American Community Survey is an ongoing statistical survey by the U.S. Census Bureau, sent to approximately 250,000 addresses monthly . It regularly gathers information previously contained only in the long form of the decennial census...
conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, the racial composition in 2009 was as follows:
- WhiteWhite AmericanWhite Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
: 68.6% (57.0% were non-Hispanic whites) - Black or African American: 14.6%
- American IndianIndigenous peoples of the AmericasThe indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
: 0.1% - AsianAsian AmericanAsian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
: 9.5% - Two or more racesMultiracial AmericanMultiracial Americans, US residents who identify themselves as of "two or more races", were numbered at around 9 million, or 2.9% of the population, in the census of 2010. However there is considerable evidence that the real number is far higher. Prior to the mid-20th century many people hid their...
: 2.2% - Some other race: 5.0%
- Hispanic or LatinoHispanic and Latino AmericansHispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
(of any race): 17.1%
The City of Pearland stated in 2009 that the estimated population in the city limits was 91,000, and that city population and the population of nearby unincorporated area
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
s, including Country Place and Silverlake
Silverlake, Texas
Silverlake is a planned community in unincorporated Brazoria County, Texas, United States, near Pearland. The community has 2,500 single family houses and of supporting commercial usage...
, was 125,000 altogether.
From 2000 to 2010 the population increased by almost three times. Pearland itself is ethnically diverse; 62 languages are spoken in Pearland public schools.
History
The area that is now Pearland had its humble beginnings near a siding switch on the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe RailwayGulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway
The Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway was a subsidiary of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in eastern Texas and to Purcell, Oklahoma.- Nineteenth Century :...
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. At the time Pearland had many fruits harvested by residents. Zychlinski saw the pear trees and decided that "Pearland" would make a good name for the community.
Pearland was promoted by some developers as an "agricultural Eden." The first subdivision was called Suburban Gardens. The Galveston hurricane of 1900
Galveston Hurricane of 1900
The Hurricane of 1900 made landfall on the city of Galveston in the U.S. state of Texas, on September 8, 1900.It had estimated winds of at landfall, making it a Category 4 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale...
and the Galveston hurricane of 1915
1915 Galveston Hurricane
The 1915 Galveston Hurricane was a deadly hurricane that struck Leeward Islands, Hispanola, Cuba and Texas, in mid August of the 1915 Atlantic hurricane season...
, destroyed most of the fruit trees and slowed growth for a considerable period of time, and caused a period of desertification
Desertification
Desertification is the degradation of land in drylands. Caused by a variety of factors, such as climate change and human activities, desertification is one of the most significant global environmental problems.-Definitions:...
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 to its present-day population.
Cityscape
In the 1800s present-day Pearland consisted of prairie. Residents harvested fruit and vegetables such as cantaloupes, corn, figs, pears, and watermelons. In the 1930s and 1940s Pearland had many dance halls and beer joints that entertained people from the Hastings and ManvelManvel, Texas
Manvel is a city in Brazoria County, Texas, United States. The current population is approximately 7,160 as of April 2008, a 235% growth over the 3,046 population recorded in the last official US Census in 2000.- Geography :...
oil fields.
By 1990 the city limits had extended into Harris County
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
. In the 1990s home developers began buying large tracts of land, changing the geography of the city. Former rice fields filled with houses. The historic town center of Pearland is at the intersection of Texas State Highway 35/Main and Broadway. Western Pearland has a lot of suburban development, while eastern Pearland has older houses and, according to Maggie Galehouse of the Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
, Pearland's "rural roots still show" in the east side. Pearland's main east-west corridor is Farm to Market Road 518
Farm to Market Road 518
Farm to Market Road 518, or simply FM 518, is a farm to market road located in Texas. It traverses the Greater Houston area, primarily running from Pearland in Brazoria County to Kemah in Galveston.-History:...
/Broadway.
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 DistrictPearland Independent School District
Pearland Independent School District is a school district based in Pearland, Texas, United States.Pearland ISD serves most of the city of Pearland, the city of Brookside Village, and unincorporated areas in Brazoria County ....
, employing 1,800 people. The second largest employer is Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
, 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
Randall's Food Markets
Randall's Food Markets operates 112 supermarkets in the Houston, Austin, and Dallas-Fort Worth areas under the Randalls, Flagship Randalls, Tom Thumb, Flagship Tom Thumb, and Simon David banners. Randall's employs more than 10,000 associates and is the Texas division of Safeway Inc. The Texas...
(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
Lowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a U.S.-based chain of retail home improvement and appliance stores. Founded in 1946 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the chain now serves more than 14 million customers a week in its 1,710 stores in the United States and 20 in Canada. Expansion into Canada began in...
(Building materials), 132.
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
Texas Medical Center
The Texas Medical Center is the largest medical center in the world with one of the highest densities of clinical facilities for patient care, basic science, and translational research...
(in fact, of all neighborhoods and suburbs in Greater Houston, Pearland has the highest percentage of TMC workers).
Growth and development
Current large-scale projects include:- Pearland Town CenterPearland Town CenterPearland Town Center is a "lifestyle center" concept regional shopping mall located in the rapidly growing city of Pearland, Texas south of Houston...
– A 1100000 sq ft (102,193.3 m²). lifestyle center. Opened in July 2008. Includes Macy's, Dillard's, Sports Authority, and Barnes and Noble. - Shadow Creek Town Center – A 640265 sq ft (59,482.6 m²). retail center. Construction underway, rolling openings until Fall 2008.
- The Spectrum at Clear Creek – A 750000 sq ft (69,677.3 m²). industrial/business park. Construction underway, completion date unknown.
- WaterLights District – a proposed 50 acres (202,343 m²) mixed-use development, went into foreclosure.
Government and infrastructure
City Elected Officials:Mayor: Tom Reid [Term Expires May 2014];
Councilmember, Position 1: Woody Owens [Term Expires May 2016];
Councilmember, Position 2: Scott Sherman [Term Expires May 2012];
Councilmember, Position 3: Susan Sherrouse [Term Expires May 2014];
Councilmember, Position 4: Felicia Harris [Term Expires May 2012];
Mayor Pro-Tem, Councilmember, Position 5: Ed Thompson [Term Expires May 2016]
The official City of Pearland website is very helpful. http://www.cityofpearland.com/index.asp?Type=NONE&SEC={B93BF3E5-1923-42DC-8C32-F1010A6D8A34}
The city is represented in the Congress in the 22nd District
Texas's 22nd congressional district
Texas District 22 of the United States House of Representatives is the Congressional district that covers a south-central portion of the metropolitan area. It includes the cities of Rosenberg and La Marque as well as portions of Missouri City and Pearland, in Fort Bend, Harris, Galveston, and...
by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Pete Olson
Pete Olson
Peter Graham "Pete" Olson is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district includes much of southeastern Houston, as well as most of the city's southern suburbs such as Pearland, Sugar Land, and Pasadena.-Early life, education, and military...
, elected in 2008.
The United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates the Pearland Post Office at 3519 East Walnut Street and the Silver Lake Post Office at 2700 Cullen Boulevard.
Public schools
Most of Pearland is a part of the Pearland Independent School DistrictPearland Independent School District
Pearland Independent School District is a school district based in Pearland, Texas, United States.Pearland ISD serves most of the city of Pearland, the city of Brookside Village, and unincorporated areas in Brazoria County ....
. Other portions of Pearland are part of Alvin Independent School District
Alvin Independent School District
Alvin Independent School District is a school district based in Alvin, Texas .Alvin ISD is a large suburban school district south of Houston that serves the communities of Alvin, Manvel, Pearland, Hillcrest, Rosharon, Iowa Colony, Liverpool, and Amsterdam...
(including most of Shadow Creek Ranch
Shadow Creek Ranch
Shadow Creek Ranch is a master planned community in Pearland, Texas, United States. Shadow Creek Ranch is along State Highway 288, which connects Brazoria County with Houston....
), Fort Bend Independent School District
Fort Bend Independent School District
The Fort Bend Independent School District, also known as Fort Bend ISD or FBISD, is a school district system in the U.S. state of Texas based in the city of Sugar Land....
(including some of Shadow Creek Ranch), Clear Creek Independent School District
Clear Creek Independent School District
Clear Creek Independent School District is a school district based in League City, Texas . The district serves most of the Clear Lake Area and some other neighboring parts of the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown metro area....
, Houston Independent School District
Houston Independent School District
The Houston Independent School District is the largest public school system in Texas and the seventh-largest in the United States. Houston ISD serves as a community school district for most of the city of Houston and several nearby and insular municipalities...
, and Pasadena Independent School District
Pasadena Independent School District
Pasadena Independent School District is a school district that is based in Pasadena, Texas . Dr. Kirk Lewis, was named Superintendent of Schools in 2005.Pasadena ISD serves much of southeast Harris County...
.
- All schools in Pearland ISD, including Pearland High SchoolPearland High SchoolPearland High School is a public high school located in Pearland, Texas, United States, south of Houston. Pearland High School is one of two high schools in Pearland Independent School District, and serves parts of Pearland and most of the city of Brookside Village.Pearland High School has also...
and Glenda Dawson High SchoolGlenda Dawson High SchoolGlenda Dawson High School is a public secondary school in Pearland, Texas, United States. It is a part of the Pearland Independent School District serving grades 9 through 12. In 2011, the school was rated "Recognized" by the Texas Education Agency....
, serve the Pearland ISD portion of Pearland. - The Alvin ISD portion is served by several elementary schools as well as Manvel High SchoolManvel High SchoolManvel High School is a secondary school located at 19601 Texas State Highway 6 in Manvel, Texas, United States.Manvel High School serves 9th through 12th grade and is part of Alvin Independent School District.- History :...
(in Manvel). - The Pearland ISD is an Exemplary school district per the Texas Education Agency. http://www.pearlandisd.org/news.cfm?story=488
Private schools
- St. Helen Catholic School, a K-8 Roman Catholic School operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-HoustonRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-HoustonThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston encompasses of ten counties in the southeastern area of Texas: Galveston; Harris; Austin; Brazoria; Fort Bend; Grimes; Montgomery; San Jacinto; Walker; and Waller.The chancery of the diocese is located in Downtown Houston. The Archdiocese's...
. - The Eagle Heights Christian Academy http://eagle-heights.org/ 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).
- Heritage Christian Academy is located in Pearland.
Colleges and universities
The Pearland ISD and Alvin ISD portions are served by Alvin Community CollegeAlvin Community College
Alvin Community College is a community college in Brazoria County in the U.S. state of Texas. Alvin Community College provides educational opportunities in workforce training, academics, technical fields, adult basic education, and personal development.As defined by the Texas Legislature, the...
(ACC), and the Pasadena ISD portion is served by San Jacinto College
San Jacinto College
San Jacinto College is a community college in the Greater Houston area in the U.S. state of Texas. Established in 1961, San Jacinto College originally consisted of the areas of Channelview ISD, Deer Park ISD, Galena Park ISD, La Porte ISD, and Pasadena ISD. The College now also serves Sheldon ISD,...
. ACC operates the Pearland Community College Center in Pearland.
The University of Houston–Clear Lake
University of Houston–Clear Lake
The University of Houston–Clear Lake is a state university, and is a component institution of the University of Houston System. Its campus spans 524-acre in Pasadena, with a satellite campus in Pearland. Founded in 1971, UHCL has an enrollment of more than 8,000 students...
(UHCL) has a satellite campus, located within the city.
Public libraries
The Pearland Library at 3522 Liberty Drive is a part of the Brazoria County Library System. As of September 13, 2008 the library was closed for many months due to Hurricane Ike storm damage. It reopened in March 2009.There are many activities at all branches of the Brazoria County Library System. They are all free and open to the public.
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—Sunrise Lakes, Southern TrailsSouthern Trails
Southern Trails is a master planned community located west of State Highway 288 in Pearland, Texas, United States.Developed by Ashton Woods, Newmark Homes, Taylor Morrison, and Coventry Homes, the neighborhood includes a recreation center with a kitchen and fitness center, a junior Olympic pool,...
, Southdown, Lakes of Highland Glen, and Shadow Creek Ranch
Shadow Creek Ranch
Shadow Creek Ranch is a master planned community in Pearland, Texas, United States. Shadow Creek Ranch is along State Highway 288, which connects Brazoria County with Houston....
are among the most popular master-planned communities in Brazoria County. Country Place and Silverlake
Silverlake, Texas
Silverlake is a planned community in unincorporated Brazoria County, Texas, United States, near Pearland. The community has 2,500 single family houses and of supporting commercial usage...
are in unincorporated area
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
s near Pearland.
Transportation
In 2010 Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, TexasMetropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County is a major public transportation agency based in Houston . It operates bus, light rail, future commuter rail, and paratransit service in the city as well as most of Harris County...
(METRO) announced that it will buy a 12 acres (4.9 ha) vacant site at the intersection of State Highway 288
State Highway 288 (Texas)
State Highway 288, or SH 288, is a north–south highway in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Texas, between I-45 in downtown Houston and Freeport, where it terminates on FM 1495...
and County Road 59 to build a Park and Ride. Scheduled to open in fall 2010, the facility will have 750 parking spaces. Another 750 spaces will be added at a later point. Kimberly Slaughter, METRO's associate vice president of planning, said that the facility will provide traffic relief for people living around Pearland Town Center and residents who live in or near Shadow Creek Ranch
Shadow Creek Ranch
Shadow Creek Ranch is a master planned community in Pearland, Texas, United States. Shadow Creek Ranch is along State Highway 288, which connects Brazoria County with Houston....
.
Airports
Skyway Manor AirportSkyway Manor Airport
Skyway Manor Airport is a public-use airport located three nautical miles west of the central business district of Pearland, a city in Brazoria County, Texas, United States. The airport is privately owned by Skyway Manor.- Facilities and aircraft :...
, a privately owned airport, is located within the Pearland city limits. Pearland Regional Airport
Pearland Regional Airport
Pearland Regional Airport is a public-use general aviation airport located in unincorporated Brazoria County, Texas, United States south of the city limits of Pearland and 17 miles south of the central business district of Houston. It is privately owned by the Clover Acquisition Corporation and...
, 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
Brazoria County Airport
Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport , previously known as Brazoria County Airport, is a county-owned public-use airport located four miles southwest of the central business district of Angleton and north of Lake Jackson, both cities in Brazoria County, Texas, United States.Although most U.S...
, located in an unincorporated area.
Commercial airline service is provided out of Houston from William P. Hobby Airport
William P. Hobby Airport
William P. Hobby Airport is a public airport in Houston, Texas, located from Downtown Houston. The airport covers and has four runways. Hobby Airport is Houston's oldest commercial airport and was the city's primary air terminal until the opening of Houston Intercontinental Airport in 1969...
and George Bush Intercontinental Airport
George Bush Intercontinental Airport
George Bush Intercontinental Airport, is a Class B international airport in Houston, Texas, serving the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area, the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the United States. Located north of Downtown Houston between Interstate 45 and U.S. Highway 59...
.
Freeway system
Pearland is served by State Highway 288State Highway 288 (Texas)
State Highway 288, or SH 288, is a north–south highway in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Texas, between I-45 in downtown Houston and Freeport, where it terminates on FM 1495...
which connects the city to Houston. FM 518
Farm to Market Road 518
Farm to Market Road 518, or simply FM 518, is a farm to market road located in Texas. It traverses the Greater Houston area, primarily running from Pearland in Brazoria County to Kemah in Galveston.-History:...
, locally known as Broadway, is considered the main east-west artery of the city. State Highway 35
State Highway 35 (Texas)
State Highway 35, or SH 35, is a largely north–south highway in southeastern and southern Texas between Houston, junction of I-45 on the southeast side of the city and Corpus Christi, where it terminates on I-37....
, 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).
The Texas State Highway Beltway 8 (Sam Houston Tollway) services the northern part of Pearland. It is located adjacent to the northern Brazoria County and southeastern Harris County border. It also serves as one of the largest tollways in the Houston area.http://www.texasfreeway.com/Houston/photos/bw8/bw8.shtml
Parks and recreation
- C.V. 'Vic' Coppinger Family YMCAYMCAThe Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
Branch is located in Pearland. - The Pearland Parks and Recreation Department is a large, active city entity http://www.pearlandparks.com/index.html
People
- The 1980s punk and new wave band The Judy'sThe Judy'sThe Judy's were a Pearland, Texas-based punk and new wave band from the late 1970s and early 1980s. The song for which they are most likely best-remembered, "Guyana Punch", recounted the infamous Jonestown massacre. On December 1, 2007, The Judy's announced the opening of their own label and...
- Thomas MorsteadThomas MorsteadThomas Morstead is an American football punter. He was a fifth-round draft choice of the New Orleans Saints, 164th overall, in the 2009 NFL Draft. He was the second punter taken overall. He played college football at SMU...
, New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans SaintsThe New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
punter
Sister cities
Markham, Ontario, CanadaMarkham, Ontario
Markham is a town in the Regional Municipality of York, located within the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario, Canada. The population was 261,573 at the 2006 Canadian census...
Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, officially known as Heroica Matamoros, is a city in the northeastern part of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, directly across the border from Brownsville, Texas, in the United States. Matamoros is the second largest and second...
, MexicoLopez, Quezon, Philippines
Lopez, Quezon
Lopez is a 1st class municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines. It is located in the southern part of the province, 220 kilometers away from Manila, 83 kilometers away from Lucena City, 25 kilometers to Camarines Norte, 3 nautical kilometers to Alabat Island and bordered by the...
Palencia, Spain
Palencia
Palencia is a city south of Tierra de Campos, in north-northwest Spain, the capital of the province of Palencia in the autonomous community of Castile-Leon...