Location

Friendswood is part of the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan area sitting in both Harris and Galveston Counties. This 21-square-mile city is located halfway between Houston and Galveston and approximately 70% of its land is developed.

Population and Demographics

With a current growth rate of 0.42%, Friendswood’s population has increased from 35,805 residents to 39,893 residents as reported in the 2020 census. 

The demographics are as follows:

White 69.36

African American 3.5%

Native American 0.23%

Asian 6.25%

Multi-racial 3.87%

Hispanic or Latino 16.39%

History

Friendswood is the only town within Texas to have started as a Quaker colony. It was founded by Quaker settlers who were led by T. Hadley Lewis and Frank J. Brown. They were in search of land they could utilize for their religious denomination known as Friends. From its inception through the 1940s, Friendswood was a quiet farming community with less than 500 residents who relied on the growing and preservation of Magnolia figs for their living. By the 1950s, with the development of rail lines and highways, the land was converted from farming into sprawling subdivisions and was incorporated as a city in 1960.

Economy

Businesses throughout Friendswood employ more than 20,000 residents in fields such as healthcare, science and technology services, and manufacturing. The top employers are the Friends Independent School District, H.E. Butt Grocery Co, Kroger, Texas LP, and Clear Creek Independent School District.

Climate

Friendswood is classified as a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild cool winters. The average high temperature in July is 91 degrees and the average high in January is 63 degrees. The average rainfall per year is 38 inches.

Fun Fact

On April 8, 1963, Friendswood became the only dry town in the country at a time when drinking and smoking were on the rise in the country.