Sugar Land in northeast Fort Bend County has seen rapid population growth during the last decade. The city's population was 63,328 in 2000, 78,817 in 2010 and was estimated at 84,511 in 2013.
The full-service municipality offers its own police and fire departments. In a citizen-satisfaction survey conducted by phone, participating residents rated the city highly for public safety, quality of life, infrastructure, entertainment venues, and parks and recreation, the city of Sugar Land has reported.
According to the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation, Sugar Land's history can be categorized into three chapters: a plantation era from the 1840s to 1900s, when sugar cane was grown; an era from the early 1900s to 1959 as a company town established by Imperial Sugar Co.; and Sugar Land's current era as modern city.
In addition to its neighborhoods and master-planned communities - including Greatwood, First Colony, Sugar Creek, River Park, Riverstone, New Territory and Telfair - Sugar Land is home to a number of energy, software, engineering and product companies.
Shopping destinations in Sugar Land include First Colony Mall, Sugar Land Town Square Plaza, Market at Town Center and First Colony Commons.
The mixed-use developed slated for the former site of Imperial Sugar Co. includes plans for homes, restaurants, retailers, entertainment destinations and offices, along with space for The Fort Bend Children's Discovery Center and the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation's museum.
Sugar Land is served by Fort Bend Independent School District. Area colleges include University of Houston Sugar Land and Wharton County Junior College Sugar Land Campus.
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