Fort Bend

Welcome to Fort Bend, Texas, Genealogy!

My name is Mary Ann Hetrick, I am the Coordinator for Fort Bend County. I don't live in Fort Bend, but I will do my best to add what I can to help you find your ancestors. I can't do research for you, or answer queries, what I do know will be posted on these pages.

I do need your help to make this a better site! Please volunteer for Lookups, or donate source materials to help out others if you can.

This page is a proud part of the TXGenWeb Project, and USGenWeb Project. You can Learn more About Us. If Fort Bend County is not the County your looking for look at The TXGenWeb County Selection Page

New!

• Courthouse History
• Research Page Updated

An act establishing Fort Bend County and fixing its boundaries was passed on December 29, 1837;

Fort Bend County is located in the Houston metropolitan area of southeast Texas. It encompasses a total of 879.0 square miles (562,560 acres). The terrain varies from level to gently rolling with elevations from 46 to 127 feet above sea level, with an average elevation of 85 feet. US 59 traverses the center of the County from northeast to southwest, while US 90A crosses from east to west. State Highways (SH) 6 and 36 provide important north-south routes. Neighboring counties are Austin, Brazoria, Harris, Waller and Wharton.

"Fort Bend County holds a prominent place in Texas history. Karankawa Indians once roamed the plains and inhabited the river bottoms. In the early 1820's, the Anglo-American colonization of Texas under grants from the Spanish government was initiated. The arrival of Stephan F. Austin's original colony of 300 families at the bend of the Brazos River was delayed until 1822 by the death of Moses Austin and the independence of Mexico. Ninety miles inland from the coast the settlers built a two-room cabin that was known both as Fort Settlement and Fort Bend. Fifty-three of the land grants to the early settlers were in Fort Bend. They found the area suitable for crops and livestock. In 1837, the Congress of the Republic of Texas incorporated Richmond and eighteen other towns. Later in the same year, the County of Fort Bend was created from portions of Austin, Harris and Brazoria County. Notable citizens of the county included Jane Long, Mirabeau B. Lamar, and Samuel May Williams." 2

2. Fort Bend County Gov. http://www.co.fort-bend.tx.us/