The seat of Fort Bend County, Richmond is rooted in an agricultural past but today is experiencing a huge influx of people and development. As of 2024, the population is 13,859, an increase of 19% since 2020. The outer, rural areas of town are experiencing the biggest growth spurt, transforming into modern master-planned communities with shopping, dining and recreation. "There are areas you can still find that are countrylike — we still see lots of cows — but there are also areas where the cows are going away. So, there's a lot of land that's being developed," says Evan Hitch, a Realtor with Southern Trust Realty who lives in Richmond. Even with the wave of new development, Richmond maintains its historic core, with numerous 19th- and early 20th-century buildings such as the Fort Bend Museum. Fort Bend County's major employers are its school districts, healthcare and oil and gas industries. Residents can also commute 30 miles to Houston via Interstate 69.
Residents enjoy easy access to parks, shopping centers, and eateries.
Jaime's has been a local Richmond staple since the 1950's and is a local favorite.
Fort Bend Museum off Jackson Street offers an educational look at the history of Richmond.
Richmond, TX, hosts several medical centers serving Fort Bend County residents.
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Country homes and master-planned living
Richmond's downtown is densely built and features vintage homes dating from the 1910s to the 1950s. But it's the outskirts of the city that are seeing the most traction. "People aren't moving to the downtown area. If you have a Richmond address, you're probably in one of the unincorporated areas," Hitch says. Diana Power, an eighth-generation resident living on a 200-year-old ranch in Richmond, notes that the area north and east of the Brazos River, surrounding Highway 359, is now known as the "acreage corridor," with homes sitting on multiacre lots. This is also where established neighborhoods like Pecan Grove and new master-planned communities like Harvest Green are located. Harvest Green spans 2,000 acres, with 12 acres devoted to a community farm. Indigo, another MPC, is currently under development. It will also integrate a working farm and feature a walkable town center. The median home price for Richmond in 2024 is around $400,000, up from $319,000 in 2020. This is about 3% less than the national average and 20% more than the state average.
The neighborhood of Richmond is dotted with charming traditional residences.
Many properties feature spacious front porches and mature landscaping.
Richmond's modern architecture sets it apart from other neighborhoods.
Richmond has preserved its historic homes throughout the neighborhood.
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Historic downtown dining and shopping
Richmond’s compact historic downtown is centered along Morton Street and is a hub for government offices, local eateries, antique stores and boutiques. Morton Street is intersected by Thompson Road, which flows south to FM 762 Road, a major thoroughfare lined with big-box retailers and chain restaurants. Highway 90 bisects downtown and flows east toward the Grand Parkway, where Hitch says Richmond is seeing the most commercial development, including a brand-new Costco built just north of the Harvest Green Community.
Many shops are housed in restored historic buildings from the early 1900s.
Richmond, TX, boasts a charming downtown with unique shops and boutiques.
Richmond, TX, is home to the historic Fort Bend County Courthouse, built in 1908.
The ciy also has newer retail centers only a short drive away.
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Richmond recreation
Richmond maintains six city parks including George Park, home of Lamar Little League, as well as other youth sports. Near downtown is the T.W. Davis Family YMCA which is in the midst of renovating to offer pickleball courts, an aquatic center and more. Additionally, the city is an 80-mile drive to the beaches of West Bay and Galveston Bay. "That's what's kind of what's cool about us. We are maybe an hour and a half from the beach, so it's very easy to go take a day trip and spend some time with your toes in the sand," Hitch says.
Playgrounds can be found at many of Richmonds neighborhood parks.
Residents enjoy lush parks with plenty of greenery for outdoor activities.
For outdoor recreational activities, Richmond residents can head to George Park,
Richmond parks feature colorful playgrounds and open spaces.
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Richmond students served by two school districts
Richmond students are served by two school districts: Fort Bend Independent School District (ISD) and the Lamar Consolidated ISD (CISD), both rated A on Niche. However, most students attend Lamar CISD. There are nearly 30 colleges within a 50-mile radius of Richmond, including Wharton County Junior College, University of Houston, Rice University and Sugar Land Texas State Technical College.
Smith is renowned for its commitment to academic excellence and innovative teaching methods.
It boasts a diverse student body, fostering a vibrant community.
Lamar Consolidated High School in Houston boasts a robust extracurricular program.
Pink is renowned for its commitment to academic excellence and innovative teaching methods
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Richmond events throughout the year
Many city and regional events celebrate agriculture and history. Downtown is the site of the annual November Pecan Harvest Festival, celebrating Texas' state tree with a bake-off. About 10 miles south of Richmond, the George Ranch Historical Park hosts November's Frontier Days, where visitors enjoy battle reenactments and tours of historic homes. "The George family was very influential in this area, and there are lots of buildings named after them," Hitch says. "Of course, the Fort Bend County Fair is huge here," Power says of the fall agricultural event and rodeo which has taken place in the area since 1933. "We're kind of known for that. We still have a lot of cattle ranches." Richmond also hosts family-friendly and cultural events, from monthly movie nights at Wessendorff Park to Art in the Bend, a free spring outdoor festival that brings art, food, live music and more to Morton Street.
The event highlights Richmond’s agricultural heritage and small-town charm.
Held annually downtown, it features local vendors and live music.
Come see the horses at George Ranch Historical Park's Frontier Days in Richmond, TX.
Learn about the traditional skills of our ancestors at George Ranch Historical Park.
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Getting around Richmond
Richmond is 11 miles west of Sugar Land and 30 miles southwest of Houston, both reachable via Interstate 69. Other major roadways around the area are U.S. Highway 90, Grand Parkway and the West Park Tollway. George Bush Intercontinental Airport, around 50 miles away, has over a dozen flights from major airlines to more than 180 nonstop international and domestic destinations. William P. Hobby Airport is 40 miles away and mostly has domestic flights.
Crime and environmental factors in Richmond
In 2024, FBI data showed violent crime in Richmond was around 14% lower than the state average, and property crime was about 28% higher than the state average. The Richmond Police Department (RPD) promotes "Wide Angle Policing," which assigns officers to specific areas of the city and has programs such as Coffee with a Cop and Citizens Police Academy.
Hitch says while Richmond is on the Texas Gulf Coast, it's far enough inland to experience only moderate impact from hurricanes. He adds that flooding has not been an issue in Richmond, although a few low-lying areas may be affected. "There are a lot of levee-protected areas to mitigate flood risk," he says.
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