Editing Friendswood, Texas

{{Redirect|Friendswood|the small community in Indiana|Friendswood, Indiana|the novel by René Steinke|Friendswood (novel)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Friendswood, Texas
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = 
| website            = [http://www.ci.friendswood.tx.us ci.Friendswood.TX.us]
| image_skyline      = 
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_map          = Galveston County Friendswood.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location in [[Galveston County, Texas|Galveston]], and [[Harris County, Texas|Harris Counties]] in the state of [[Texas]]
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Texas|Counties]]
| subdivision_name   = {{Flagicon|USA}}[[United States]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{Flagicon|Texas}}[[Texas]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Galveston County, Texas|Galveston]] and [[Harris County, Texas|Harris]]
| government_type    = [[Council manager]]
| leader_title       = [[City Council]]
| leader_name        = [[Mayor]] [[Brock Machamer|Michael Foreman]] <br /> John Elllisor  <br /> Sally Branson  <br /> Trish Hanks  <br /> Robert Griffon <br /> Joe Matranga  <br /> Brent Erenwert
| leader_title1      = [[City manager]]
| leader_name1       = Morad Kabiri
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_total_sq_mi   = 20.90
| area_total_km2     = 54.13
| area_land_sq_mi    = 20.76
| area_land_km2      = 53.76
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.14
| area_water_km2     = 0.37
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 41213
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone           = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset         = -6
| timezone_DST       = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| coordinates        = {{coord|29|30|45|N|95|11|53|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 30
| established_title  = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date   = 1960
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 77546, 77549
| area_codes         = [[Area codes 713, 281, 832, 346, and 621|281/346/621/713/832]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 48-27648<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 1336252<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|1336252}}</ref>
| footnotes          = 
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
}}

'''Friendswood''' is a city in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Texas]]. It is part of the [[Greater Houston]] metropolitan area.  The city lies in [[Galveston County, Texas|Galveston]] and [[Harris County, Texas|Harris]] counties.  As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population of Friendswood was 41,213.

== History ==
Friendswood, situated in the northwestern corner of Galveston County, has the distinction of being the only permanent town in Texas that started as a Quaker colony. It was established in 1895 by a group of Quakers led by T. Hadley Lewis and Frank J. Brown. They were looking for a "promised land" to start a colony of the people who belonged to the religious denomination called Friends or Quakers.
 
From its founding, life in Friendswood revolved around church and school. After the small church and school building was demolished in the 1900 Storm, the two-dozen families living in Friendswood erected a large two-story frame structure for their church and school. The building, called The Academy, housed the school and sanctuary until a larger, stone building replaced it.
 
Through the 1940s, Friendswood was predominately a small, remote, farming Quaker community with less than 500 citizens. The economy depended largely on growing and preserving Magnolia figs. After 1950, it became increasingly a suburban bedroom community, as Houstonians discovered the idyllic country setting the farmlands were converted to subdivision home-sites. The community became a city when it incorporated in 1960.
<ref>http://www.galvestoncountytx.gov/cm/Pages/History-Friendswood.aspx#:~:text=Friendswood%2C%20situated%20in%20the%20northwest,Brown. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017012530/http://www.galvestoncountytx.gov/cm/Pages/History-Friendswood.aspx#:~:text=Friendswood%2C%20situated%20in%20the%20northwest,Brown |date=2020-10-17 }}</ref>

==Geography==

[[File:FriendswoodTXMap.gif|thumb|left|Map of Friendswood]]
Friendswood is located at {{Coord|29|30|45|N|95|11|53|W|type:city}} (29.512532, –95.197933).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city covers a total area of {{convert|54.1|sqkm}}, of which {{convert|53.7|sqkm}} are land area and {{convert|0.4|sqkm|order=flip}}, or 0.69%, is covered by water.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Friendswood city, Texas |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 6, 2012 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1970 = 5675
| 1980 = 10719
| 1990 = 22814
| 2000 = 29037
| 2010 = 35805
| 2020 = 41213
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br> 1850–1900<ref name=1900CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1900 Census of Population - Population of Texas By Counties And Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/49-population-tx.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1910<ref name=1910CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1910 Census of Population - Supplement for Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-tx-p1.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1920<ref name=1920CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1920/bulletins/demographics/population-tx-number-of-inhabitants.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1930<ref name=1930CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1930 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1930/population-volume-1/03815512v1ch10.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1940<ref name=1940CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch09.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br>
1950<ref name=1950CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-1/vol-01-46.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1960<ref name=1960CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/33255142v1p45ch02.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1970<ref name=1970CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/00496492v1p45s1ch02.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1980<ref name=1980CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1980/volume-1/texas/1980a_txab-01.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1990<ref name=1990CensusTX>{{Cite web|title=1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cph-2/cph-2-45.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 2000<ref name=2000CensusTX>{{Cite web|title=2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-45.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 2010<ref name=2010CensusTX>{{Cite web|title=2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-45.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Friendswood racial composition'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4827648&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-22 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><br /> (NH = Non-Hispanic){{efn|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.<ref>https://www.census.gov/ {{nonspecific|date=August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>}}
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|28,587
|69.36%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|1,441
|3.5%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|93
|0.23%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|2,574
|6.25%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|31
|0.08%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|136
|0.33%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|1,595
|3.87%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|6,756
|16.39%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''41,213'''
|
{{notelist}}
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 41,213 people, 13,540 households, and 10,427 families residing in the city.

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, 29,037 people, 10,107 households, and 8,085 families resided in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,381.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 10,405 housing units averagedensity of 495.0 per square mile (191.1/km{{sup|2}}). The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the city was 90.09% White, 2.70% African American, 0.40% Native American, 2.39% Asian, 2.80% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 8.79% of the population.

Of the 10,107 households, 43.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.5% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.0% were not families. About 17.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the city, the population was distributed as 30.0% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.

In 2010, the median income for a household was $115,439 and for a family was $128,898.  Males had a median income of $67,084 versus $35,447 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $39,515. About 2.3% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Government and infrastructure==
[[File:Friendswood Texas City Hall 77546.jpg|thumb|Friendswood City Hall]]
[[File:Friendswood TX PO 77546.jpg|thumb|Friendswood Post Office]]
Friendswood City Hall is located at 910 South Friendswood Drive. The [[United States Postal Service|Friendswood Post Office]] is located at 310 Morningside Drive.<ref>"[https://tools.usps.com/go/POLocatorDetailsAction!input.action?locationTypeQ=all&address=Friendswood%2C+TX&radius=20&locationType=po&locationID=1364192&locationName=FRIENDSWOOD&address2=&address1=310+MORNINGSIDE+DR&city=FRIENDSWOOD&state=TX&zip5=77546&zip4=9998&tollFree=800-ASK-USPS%26reg%3B%26nbsp%3B%28800-275-8777%29&fax=281-482-8949&tAddress=&tAddress1Ams=&tAddress2Ams=&tCityAms=&tStateAms=&tZipAms=&tCarrierRouteAms=&latitude=29.5318988&longitude=-95.201149&sWithin=20&&&&&&&&& FRIENDSWOOD]." [[United States Postal Service]]. Retrieved on April 24, 2018. "310 MORNINGSIDE DR FRIENDSWOOD, TX 77546-9998"</ref> Some locations in the City of Houston have Friendswood mailing addresses.<ref name=Kingwoodannex>{{cite web|url=http://www.ci.houston.tx.us:80/annexation/annexation_FAQ.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961031170034/http://www.ci.houston.tx.us/annexation/annexation_FAQ.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=1996-10-31|title=City of Houston Annexation FAQ|publisher=City of Houston|date=1996-10-31|access-date=2018-04-24|quote=Numerous residents of the City of Houston have Missouri City, Webster, Friendswood, Stafford, Humble and even Kingwood addresses.}}</ref> NASA astronaut [[Michael Foreman (astronaut)|Michael Foreman]] was elected mayor in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://communityimpact.com/houston/pearland-friendswood/city-county/2018/05/05/friendswood-election-results/|title=Friendswood Election Results: Mike Foreman wins mayoral race; Rockey re-elected|date=2018-05-06|work=Community Impact Newspaper|access-date=2018-11-20|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Economy==
The [[Baybrook Mall]] is physically located in the City of Houston,<ref>"[http://www.houstontx.gov/superneighborhoods/SN_LU_Maps/SN_81.pdf SN_81.pdf]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20140331095944/http://www.houstontx.gov/superneighborhoods/SN_LU_Maps/SN_81.pdf Archive]). Retrieved on March 31, 2014.</ref> but has a Friendswood mailing address.<ref>"[http://www.baybrookmall.com/contact-us Contact Us]." Baybrook Mall. Retrieved on March 31, 2014. "Mall Location 500 Baybrook Mall Friendswood, Texas 77546"</ref><!--The mall is in the HOUSTON city limits-->
{{clear}}

==Education==
===Primary and secondary schools===
====Public schools====
Students in Friendswood attend schools in either [[Friendswood Independent School District]] (FISD) if they live south of Clear Creek (Galveston County), or [[Clear Creek Independent School District]] (CCISD) if they live north of Clear Creek (Harris County).<ref>"[http://www.ci.friendswood.tx.us/NR/rdonlyres/709BF6D2-AE35-4DE3-A5CE-745798DB2358/0/comprehensivebase.pdf Comprehensive Land Use Plan] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227013533/http://www.ci.friendswood.tx.us/NR/rdonlyres/709BF6D2-AE35-4DE3-A5CE-745798DB2358/0/comprehensivebase.pdf |date=February 27, 2009 }}." ''City of Friendswood''. Accessed September 28, 2008.</ref> The CCISD portion is within the Board of Trustees District 4,<ref>[http://www.ccisd.net/board_05/pdf/District4map.pdf District 4 Map] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227011022/http://www.ccisd.net/board_05/pdf/District4map.pdf |date=February 27, 2009 }}. ''[[Clear Creek Independent School District]]''. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.</ref> represented by Stuart J. Stromeyer as of 2008.<ref>"[http://www.ccisd.net/board_05/board_members.html School Board Members: Bios and Contact Information] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205151459/http://www.ccisd.net/board_05/board_members.html |date=December 5, 2008 }}." ''[[Clear Creek Independent School District]]''. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.</ref>

Cline Elementary School, Westwood Elementary School, Bales Intermediate School, and Windsong Intermediate School serve the FISD portion of Friendswood. All FISD residents are zoned to [[Friendswood Junior High School]] and [[Friendswood High School]].

CCISD students from Friendswood attend Wedgewood Elementary School in Friendswood,<ref>{{cite web |title=Wedgewood Elementary attendance zone |url=https://www.ccisd.net/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=12858286 |website=ccisd.net |publisher=[[Clear Creek Independent School District]] |access-date=December 31, 2016 |format=PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231114143/https://www.ccisd.net/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=12858286 |archive-date=December 31, 2016 |language=en-us |url-status=dead}}</ref> and Brookside Intermediate School in Friendswood.<ref>{{cite web |title=Brookside Intermediate attendance zone |url=https://www.ccisd.net/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=12858302 |website=ccisd.net |publisher=[[Clear Creek Independent School District]] |access-date=December 31, 2016 |format=PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231124042/https://www.ccisd.net/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=12858302 |archive-date=December 31, 2016 |language=en-us |url-status=dead}}</ref> Most residents of CCISD Friendswood are zoned to [[Clear Brook High School]] in [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] Harris County,<ref>{{cite web |title=Clear Brook High boundary |url=https://www.ccisd.net/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=15629521 |website=ccisd.net |publisher=[[Clear Creek Independent School District]] |access-date=December 31, 2016 |format=PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231131644/https://www.ccisd.net/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=15629521 |archive-date=December 31, 2016 |language=en-us |url-status=dead}}</ref> while some residents of CCISD Friendswood are zoned to [[Clear Springs High School]] in [[League City]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Clear Springs High boundary |url=https://www.ccisd.net/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=15629519 |website=ccisd.net |publisher=[[Clear Creek Independent School District]] |access-date=December 31, 2016 |format=PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231130924/https://www.ccisd.net/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=15629519 |archive-date=December 31, 2016 |language=en-us |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Students who live in the area around Friendswood, but are in unincorporated Harris County with address listed as Friendswood or Webster attend Greene Elementary School or Landolt Elementary School in unincorporated Harris County for elementary schools.<ref>{{cite web |title=Greene Elementary attendance zone |url=https://www.ccisd.net/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=12858257 |website=ccisd.net |publisher=[[Clear Creek Independent School District]] |access-date=December 31, 2016 |format=PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231111210/https://www.ccisd.net/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=12858257 |archive-date=December 31, 2016 |language=en-us |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Landolt Elementary attendance zone |url=https://www.ccisd.net/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=12858263 |website=ccisd.net |publisher=[[Clear Creek Independent School District]] |access-date=December 31, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231113757/https://www.ccisd.net/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=12858263 |archive-date=December 31, 2016 |language=en-us |format=PDF |url-status=dead}}</ref> For middle school they are zoned to Westbrook Intermediate School in Houston.<ref>{{cite web |title=Westbrook Intermediate Attendance Zone |url=https://www.ccisd.net/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=12858318 |website=ccisd.net |publisher=[[Clear Creek Independent School District]] |access-date=December 31, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231124338/https://www.ccisd.net/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=12858318 |archive-date=December 31, 2016 |language=en-us |format=PDF |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Public libraries===
The Friendswood Public Library at 416 South Friendswood Drive serves Friendswood.<ref>"[http://www.friendswood.lib.tx.us/ Welcome to the Friendswood Public Library]." ''Friendswood Public Library''. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.</ref>

===Colleges and universities===
The Friendswood ISD area is assigned to [[College of the Mainland]], while the portion of Clear Creek ISD in Harris County (and therefore the Harris County part of Friendswood) is assigned to [[San Jacinto College]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm|title=Sec. 130.174. COLLEGE OF THE MAINLAND DISTRICT SERVICE AREA. Sec. 130.197. SAN JACINTO COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.}}</ref>

==Controversy==
In 2011, the City of Friendswood locked access to its computer system, e-mail and online services after hackers extracted hundreds of emails from then Police Chief Robert Wieners and posted them online.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Staff reports |title=Friendswood computers locked down: Hackers post police chief's emails online |url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bellaire/news/article/Friendswood-computers-locked-down-Hackers-post-9434209.php |access-date=2024-05-16 |work=Chron |language=en}}</ref> Wieners allegedly wrote an e-mail in which he described a suspect as a “stupid bitch” who “got what she deserved.” Wieners then goes on to state “I’ll bet she was fat and black too.”<ref name="AutoB8-23">{{cite web |last1=Wukman |first1=Alex |title=Updated: Anonymous shows HPD Lieutenant and Friendswood PD chief love racist and sexist emails |url=https://freepresshouston.com/anonymous-shows-hpd-lieutenant-and-friendswood-pd-chief-love-racist-and-sexist-emails/ |website=Free Press Houston |access-date=17 May 2024 |date=1 September 2011}}</ref> Wieners denied he was the creator of the e-mail.<ref>{{Cite news |last=LANGFORD |first=TERRI |title=Friendswood chief denies email is his in hacking dump |url=https://www.chron.com/news/article/friendswood-chief-denies-email-is-his-in-hacking-2153013.php |access-date=2024-05-16 |work=Chron |language=en}}</ref> The hackers also claimed Wieners' e-mail account contained an anti-Muslim chain e-mail entitled “1,400 years of inbreeding amongst [[Muslims]].”<ref name="AutoB8-23"/>

==Notable people==

* [[Greg Bonnen]], neurosurgeon and Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from Friendswood 
* [[Stephen Bowen (astronaut)|Stephen Bowen]], [[NASA]] astronaut and a [[United States Navy]] submariner.
* [[Katie Rose Clarke]], Broadway actor, famous for the roles of Clara in ''[[The Light in the Piazza (musical)|Light in the Piazza]]'', Glinda in ''[[Wicked (musical)|Wicked]]'', and Hannah in ''[[Allegiance (musical)|Allegiance]]'' 
* [[Haley Carter]], former [[Houston Dash]] soccer player
* [[Robin Coleman]], ''American Gladiator'' Hellga, 2001 World's Strongest Woman (bronze)
* [[Charles L. Cotton]], president of the [[National Rifle Association of America]] (NRA)<ref name="amrif2014">{{cite news |date=May 2014 |title=Board Spotlight – Charles Cotton |work=[[American Rifleman]] |url=https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nra/ar_201405/index.php?startid=108#/p/108 |access-date=August 25, 2022}}</ref>
* [[Penny Edwards (actress)|Penny Edwards]], actress known for many [[Western (genre)|western]] films; died in Friendswood
* [[R'Bonney Gabriel]], beauty queen, model, fashion designer, [[Miss Universe]] 2022 
* [[Joseph Gutheinz]], attorney and investigator of [[stolen and missing Moon rocks]]
* [[Suzanna Hupp]], former member of the Texas House of Representatives
* [[Corey Julks]], MLB player
* [[Christopher C. Kraft Jr.]], aerospace engineer and NASA administrator
* [[Glynn Lunney]], NASA flight director
* [[William S. McArthur|Bill McArthur]], retired United States Army colonel and NASA astronaut
* [[Balor Moore]], former MLB pitcher resides in Friendswood
* [[Ronnie Price]], NBA basketball player
* [[Bruce Prichard]], executive director for [[WWE]] and co-host of ''[[Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard]]''
* [[Ryan Sitton]], Republican nominee for the [[Railroad Commission of Texas|Texas Railroad Commission]] in the November 4, 2014, [[general election]]
* [[Deke Slayton]], [[Mercury Seven]] astronaut and NASA administrator
* [[Rene Steinke]], novelist and author of [[Friendswood (novel)]]
* [[Steve Stockman]], politician
* [[Booker T (wrestler)|Booker T]], and spouse [[Sharmell Sullivan-Huffman]] – professional wrestling personalities
* [[Larry Taylor (politician)|Larry Taylor]], [[Republican Party of Texas|Republican]] member of the [[Texas Senate]] from [[Texas Senate, District 11|District 11]] (2013–Present) and [[Texas House of Representatives]] from District 24 (2003–2013)

==Climate and weather ==
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the [[Köppen climate classification]], Friendswood has a [[humid subtropical climate]], ''Cfa'' on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=9537&cityname=Friendswood%2C+Texas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Friendswood, Texas]</ref>

Friendswood has a historical reputation among Friends, Friendswood inhabitants, for extreme weather due to the close proximity to Galveston Island and therefore the Gulf of Mexico. In recent history Friendswood was devastated by Hurricane Harvey in 2017, a category 4 hurricane, along with Hurricane Beryl of 2024. After numerous major storms swept through southeastern Texas, where Friendswood is located, residents began building houses above ground to avoid flooding. Major flooding is caused by the rise of Clear Creek, a body of water near the suburbs of Polly Ranch.

==Legacy==
The 2014 novel ''[[Friendswood (novel)|Friendswood]]'', set in the area, was written by René Steinke.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Texas}}
* [http://www.ci.friendswood.tx.us/ City of Friendswood official website]
* {{Handbook of Texas|id=hef04|name=Friendswood, Texas}}
* [http://www.friendswood.lib.tx.us/ Friendswood Public Library]

{{Galveston County, Texas}}
{{Harris County, Texas}}
{{Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown MSA}}
{{Texas}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Galveston County, Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Harris County, Texas]]
[[Category:Greater Houston]]