Richmond

At a glance

• Population (2020 Census) The Census Bureau counted 11,627 residents inside the City of Richmond on April 1, 2020. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts
• Population estimate (2025) The Census Bureau's July 1, 2025 estimate for the City of Richmond is 13,389 residents. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts
• Land area The City of Richmond covers 4.91 square miles of land, per the 2020 Census. Much of the area with Richmond mailing addresses lies outside that footprint. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts
• Fort Bend County seat Richmond is the seat of Fort Bend County. The city's history page says it became the county seat when the county was formed in December 1837. City of Richmond
• City limits vs. a Richmond address A Richmond mailing address does not mean a home is inside city limits. The city's utility office serves customers inside city limits plus a short list of named utility districts and sends everyone else to their own water provider, HOA or agent. City of Richmond Customer Service
• City and ETJ The city's Planning & Zoning Department guides development both inside city limits and in Richmond's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), the unincorporated area around the city where many master-planned communities sit. City of Richmond Planning & Zoning

History and development

• 1822: first Anglo settlers In early 1822 a party of 12 to 15 men led by William W. Little camped near the present city, and members of Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred colony soon followed. City of Richmond
• "Fort Settlement" The Texas Historical Commission's City of Richmond marker says Austin's colonists called the place "Fort Settlement," the origin of the Fort Bend name. Texas Historical Commission Atlas (marker 9059)
• 1836: Runaway Scrape The Fort Settlement was evacuated in 1836 during the Runaway Scrape, as settlers fled ahead of the Mexican army. City of Richmond
• 1837: town laid out Robert Eden Handy and William Lusk laid out the town in early 1837 and named it after Richmond, England; the Republic of Texas incorporated it in May 1837. City of Richmond
• Jane Long Jane Long, called the "Mother of Texas," ran a hotel and started a plantation at Richmond in 1837, according to the state historical marker. She is buried in Morton Cemetery. Texas Historical Commission Atlas (marker 9059)
• Morton Cemetery (1825) Morton Cemetery at 2nd and Commerce streets was founded in 1825 by William Morton, one of the 1822 Old Three Hundred settlers. Mirabeau B. Lamar, president of the Republic of Texas from 1838 to 1841, and Jane Long are buried there (state marker erected 1972). Texas Historical Commission Atlas (marker 9012)
• 1855: the railroad arrives The Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado Railway reached Richmond in 1855, and by 1859 the town was a shipping and market center. City of Richmond
• 1878: Rosenberg founded In 1878 the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway bypassed Richmond, and the neighboring town of Rosenberg grew up along that line. City of Richmond
• Fort Bend County Courthouse The Classical Revival courthouse at 400 Jackson St. is the county's fifth. It was designed by C. H. Page of Austin, dedicated in 1909 and named a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1980. Texas Historical Commission Atlas (marker 8994)
• Fort Bend Museum The Fort Bend Museum at 410 South 5th Street has exhibits on life along the Brazos River and the Long-Smith Cottage, built around 1855 on land once owned by Jane Long. It is open Tuesday to Saturday; check the site for current hours and admission. Fort Bend History Association
• 1883 John and Lottie Moore Home The 1883 home of Congressman John M. Moore, at 406 South Fifth Street, is a National Register property shown by the Fort Bend History Association. Moore served in the U.S. Congress from 1905 to 1913. Fort Bend History Association
• George Ranch Historical Park George Ranch Historical Park, 10215 FM 762 south of the city, is listed by the Texas Historical Commission as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark museum site. Texas Historical Commission Atlas

Homes and architecture

• Pecan Grove HAR counts 2,072 single-family homes in Pecan Grove Plantation (ZIP 77406), with a median year built of 1986, making it one of the older large subdivisions in the Richmond area. HAR.com (2025 Facts)
• Original townsite homes HAR's small "Richmond" neighborhood in the old town (159 single-family homes) has a median year built of 1948. HAR.com (2025 Facts)
• Aliana HOA Aliana, along the Grand Parkway at 17122 W Bellfort Blvd, is governed by Aliana Homeowners Association, Inc., managed by Sterling ASI. Its site lists pools, fitness centers, lakes and trails but does not publish dues. Aliana Homeowners Association

Market snapshot and homes for sale

Values exactly as HAR.com shows them for each neighborhood (2025 data), checked Oct. 21, 2026. Neighborhood figures are not the value of any one home: request a property-specific pricing review.

• Neighborhood figures, not citywide HAR publishes 2025 Facts by neighborhood, not for the City of Richmond as a whole, so the market table shows the old townsite and five master-planned or established communities separately. HAR.com

Live listings in Richmond

Every active listing from every brokerage, through our HAR.com MLS search. This search covers listings with a Richmond mailing address, which reaches well beyond city limits; use the filters to narrow it.

Listings provided through HAR.com (Houston Association of REALTORS® Information Service); information believed accurate but not guaranteed. Open this search in a new window · Search all Houston homes

Property taxes, districts and exemptions

Tax bills depend on the exact taxing units on a property. These are the official rates we could confirm, with the year; check the appraisal district account for the units on any address.

• School homestead exemption Fort Bend County's 2025 rate and exemption worksheet lists a $140,000 homestead exemption (plus $60,000 for over-65 or disabled owners) for both Lamar CISD and Fort Bend ISD. Fort Bend County Tax Office
• Who sends the bill The Fort Bend County Tax Office (1317 Eugene Heimann Circle, Richmond; 281-341-3710) collects for the county, the drainage district, the city and Lamar CISD. Many MUDs use their own collector; Pecan Grove MUD's is Tax Tech, Inc. in Stafford. Fort Bend County Tax Office (tax rate information)

Schools

• Lamar CISD School Finder Lamar CISD's School Finder (apps.myplanware.com/schoolsearch/lamar) shows the zoned campuses for an address. The district lists it as step one of enrollment. Lamar CISD
• Zones change as the district grows Lamar CISD says it caps full campuses and sends new students to a neighboring school, rezones when new schools open, and uses parent Attendance Boundary Committees. Check the zone for the right school year before buying. Lamar CISD
• Proof of residency Enrollment requires proof of an address in Lamar CISD, such as a utility bill, closing disclosure or warranty deed, mortgage statement or lease, plus a parent photo ID. Lamar CISD
• District growth Lamar CISD told Community Impact in April 2026 that enrollment is still growing by 1,600 to 1,900 students a year, with about 57,600 students projected for 2030-31. Community Impact (Apr 29, 2026)
• Fort Bend ISD overlap Some Richmond-address neighborhoods, such as Aliana, are in Fort Bend ISD rather than Lamar CISD. Fort Bend ISD publishes a school locator for each school year; check the address there. Fort Bend ISD

School assignments and attendance boundaries can change. Confirm the assigned schools directly with the district before making a housing decision.

Flood maps and drainage research

No guide can tell you whether a particular house has flooded or will flood. These are the official tools and records to research an address, and the public projects that affect drainage.

• Effective county flood maps Fort Bend County's effective Flood Insurance Rate Maps date from April 2, 2014. The county posts the Flood Insurance Study report and a floodplain mapping tool. Fort Bend County Drainage District
• FEMA Flood Map Service Center FEMA's Flood Map Service Center searches the official flood map by address, place or coordinates. FEMA
• Brazos River inundation maps The Fort Bend County Drainage District publishes a Brazos River inundation map for river stages of 43 to 55 feet at the Richmond gauge, a 2- to 500-year frequency map and a map of historical Brazos flood events. Fort Bend County Drainage District
• Brazos River at Richmond gauge The Brazos River at Richmond gauge is USGS 08114000 (NWS ID RMOT2); the county links its live readings. Fort Bend County Drainage District
• NWS flood stages at Richmond The National Weather Service sets flood categories for the Richmond gauge at 45 feet (minor), 48 feet (moderate) and 50 feet (major), with action stage at 20 feet. Its highest recorded crest there is 55.19 feet on Sept. 1, 2017. National Weather Service (National Water Prediction Service)
• Levee districts map The county drainage district keeps an interactive map of Fort Bend County levee improvement districts, which shows whether a property sits inside one. Fort Bend County Drainage District
• City floodplain permit Inside city limits, no work in a floodplain may start without a City of Richmond floodplain development permit. The city form lists 1.0 foot of freeboard and may require an elevation certificate after the foundation is poured. City of Richmond (Flood Plain Development Permit Application)

More: Houston flood maps and flood questions.

Parks, trails and recreation

• George Park George Park, 2155 Collins Rd, has ball fields, soccer and football fields, a walking trail, a pavilion, a playground and a sand volleyball pit. Open daily 6 a.m. to midnight. City of Richmond Parks
• Wessendorff Park Wessendorff Park is a city park at 500 Preston Street. City of Richmond facility directory
• Clay Park Clay Park is a city park at 400 Riveredge Drive. City of Richmond facility directory
• Freeman Town park and trail Freeman Town Community Park, the city's sixth park, opened in October 2017 at 7th and Burnet streets, along with the Wessendorff Park trail system linking north Richmond to the historic district. Community Impact (Oct 11, 2017)
• Historic downtown The city lists its Historic Downtown District as 2nd through 7th streets, north and south of Jackson Street. City of Richmond facility directory

Golf nearby: Houston golf courses and golf communities.

Restaurants and shopping

Listed because the business’s own site, current social account or a recent news report confirms it is open. Not a review or a ranking.

• Messina Hof Harvest Green Messina Hof Harvest Green, 8921 Harlem Road, is a winery location with a full-service restaurant, tasting room and wine bar, closed Mondays. Messina Hof

New construction and builders

• Harvest Green Harvest Green is a Johnson Development community of about 1,700 acres (the original 1,070 acres plus a 630-acre expansion), at 3400 Harvest Corner Dr. Harvest Green
• Harvest Green builders Harvest Green lists Coventry Homes, David Weekley Homes, Partners in Building, Perry Homes, Tri Pointe Homes and Westin Homes as its builders. Harvest Green (Johnson Development)
• Veranda Veranda is a 710-acre Johnson Development community at 23323 Pearl Glen Drive with a pool, recreation center, lakes and trails. The city lists it as served by city utilities through Fort Bend MUD 215. Veranda (Johnson Development)

See verified builder incentives and the builder directory.

Getting around

We name the roads and transit options; we do not quote drive times, because they change with the hour and the exact address.

• Grand Parkway (SH 99) Grand Parkway Segment D runs 17.4 miles from US 59 South in Sugar Land north to I-10. The Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority runs the tolled section from US 59 to south of Fry Road. TxDOT
• Westpark Tollway connectors Direct connectors between the Westpark Tollway and the northbound Grand Parkway, built by the Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority, were set to open in mid-October 2024. Community Impact (Oct 2, 2024)
• US 59 / I-69 TxDOT's widening of US 59/I-69 from SH 99 to the Wharton County line (to 6 and 8 lanes with frontage roads) was substantially complete as of December 2023. Fort Bend County Precinct 1 (TxDOT projects recap, Dec 2023)
• FM 723 FM 723 is being widened from 2 to 4 lanes between FM 1093 and the Brazos River; the December 2023 recap listed completion in June 2028. Fort Bend County Precinct 1 (TxDOT projects recap, Dec 2023)
• FM 359 TxDOT plans to widen FM 359 from FM 1093 to Mason Road to four divided lanes; the project was still in planning with no construction schedule posted. TxDOT

City services, utilities and rules

• Commission-manager government Richmond uses a commission-manager form of government under its city charter: an elected commission sets policy and an appointed city manager runs day-to-day operations. City of Richmond
• City Commission The City Commission has a mayor and four commissioners, all elected at large to three-year terms. Regular meetings are the third Monday of each month at 4:30 p.m. at 600 Morton Street. City of Richmond
• Unified Development Code Inside city limits, land use is regulated through the city's Unified Development Code and Comprehensive Master Plan, administered by Planning & Zoning (fax 281-238-1215, weekdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m.). City of Richmond Planning & Zoning
• City utility billing City of Richmond Customer Service bills water, wastewater and garbage. City Hall is at 402 Morton Street (281-342-5456, option 2), open weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. City of Richmond Customer Service
• Who gets city water Besides homes inside city limits, the city serves Williams Ranch (MUD 1), River Park West (MUD 121), Del Webb (MUD 187), MUD 207 and Veranda (MUD 215). Other neighborhoods get water from their own district. City of Richmond Customer Service
• Current rate ordinance City water, sewer and garbage rates are set by Ordinance 2024-15, effective Oct. 1, 2024. City of Richmond Customer Service
• Pecan Grove MUD services Pecan Grove MUD provides water, wastewater and trash service and parks, with Si Environmental as operator. The district office is at 751 Pitts Road. Pecan Grove MUD

Buyer due-diligence checklist

Tick items as you go; your ticks stay on this device. Print the checklist.

1. Confirm city limits and water provider Check whether the home is inside city limits or in a MUD, and who supplies water, using the city's list of served areas. City of Richmond Customer Service
2. List every taxing unit Pull the Fort Bend CAD property record to see the school district, MUD, levee district and other units on the account. Fort Bend Central Appraisal District
3. Look up each unit's rate Check each unit's adopted rate on the county tax rate site, including MUDs and LIDs that bill separately. Fort Bend County Tax Office
4. File the homestead exemption After closing, file the homestead exemption with Fort Bend CAD online; the district lists April 30 as the deadline. Fort Bend Central Appraisal District
5. Confirm school zoning Run the address through Lamar CISD's School Finder, or Fort Bend ISD's school locator if the home is in that district, for the year you will enroll. Lamar CISD
6. Check the flood map and river maps Look up the address on FEMA's Map Service Center, then on the county's Brazos River inundation and frequency maps. Fort Bend County Drainage District
7. Check for a levee district Use the county's levee districts map to see if the property is in a levee improvement district, which adds its own tax. Fort Bend County Drainage District
8. Plan additions with the city For additions or rebuilds inside city limits in a floodplain, get the city floodplain development permit first (1.0 foot freeboard). City of Richmond