Editing Fulshear, Texas

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Fulshear, Texas
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = "Fort Bend County's Premier Address"
<!-- Images --------------->
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            =  
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps ----------------->
|image_map                = FortBend County Fulshear.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Fulshear, Texas
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
<!-- Location ------------->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Texas]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Texas|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend]]
<!-- Government ----------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Don McCoy
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = Established
|established_date         = July 16, 1824
|established_title1       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date1        = 1977
<!-- Area ----------------->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023">{{cite web|title=2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2023_Gazetteer/2023_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 8, 2024}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 33.558
|area_land_km2            = 33.337
|area_water_km2           = 0.224
|area_total_sq_mi         = 12.957
|area_land_sq_mi          = 12.871
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.086
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 42616
|pop_est_as_of            = 2023
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2023"/>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 16856
|population_density_km2   = 1278.0
|population_density_sq_mi = 3310.0
|population_rank          = US: 950th<br>TX: [[List of municipalities in Texas|72nd]]
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = –6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = –5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_m              = 40
|elevation_ft             = 131
|coordinates              = {{coord|29|41|24|N|95|53|59|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
|postal_code              = 77406, 77423, 77441, 77471, 77494
|area_code                = [[Area codes 713, 281, 832, and 346|713, '''281''', 832, and 346]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 48-27876
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1336299<ref name="gnis">{{GNIS|1336299}}</ref>
|blank2_name              = [[Sales tax]]
|blank2_info              = 8.25%<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avalara.com/taxrates/en/state-rates/texas/cities/fulshear.html|title=Fulshear (TX) sales tax rate|access-date=May 18, 2024}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.fulsheartexas.gov/|fulsheartexas.gov}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Fulshear''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|ʊ|l|ʃ|ər}} {{respell|FUUL|shər}})<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.texastripper.com/pronounce/locations-f.html |title=How to Pronounce: F Cities |publisher=Texastripper.com |access-date=April 26, 2016}}</ref> is a city in northwestern [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend County]], [[Texas]], United States, and is located on the western edge of the {{nowrap|[[Greater Houston|Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land]]}} metropolitan area. The population was 16,856 as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Fulshear_city,_Texas?g=160XX00US4827876 |access-date=June 8, 2024 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> and according to 2023 census estimates, the city is estimated to have a population of 43,317.<ref name="USCensusEst2023"/>

==History==
===Before Texas Independence===
The history of Fulshear is closely intertwined with the historical events leading up to Texas Independence and eventual statehood within the [[United States|United States of America]]. The small agricultural community traces its origins to the arrival of Churchill Fulshear, one of [[Stephen F. Austin]]'s original [[Old Three Hundred]].<ref>[https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ffu06 Churchill Fulshear]</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Old 300 and Austin's Colony {{!}} Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/browse/when/mexican-texas/biographies/old-300-and-austins-colony?page=2|website=tshaonline.org|access-date=May 6, 2020}}</ref>  He moved from Tennessee to Texas in the summer of 1824 with his wife, Betsy Summers, daughter, Mary, and three sons, Benjamin, Graves, and [https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ffu07 Churchill Fulshear, Jr].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Fulshear, Churchill|url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ffu06.|last=Crawford|first=Ann|date=June 12, 2010|website=Handbook of Texas Online|access-date=May 2, 2020}}</ref>

As a man with considerable wealth and property, Churchill Fulshear Sr. obtained on July 16, 1824, a land grant from the Mexican government and Stephen F. Austin that allowed him and his family to settle in [[AUSTIN'S COLONY|Austin's colony]].<ref name=":3">{{cite web|title=Celebrating Churchill Fulshear, Jr. |url=https://www.fbherald.com/celebrating-churchill-fulshear-jr/article_4e207379-0cc1-5b36-9455-7f2df19ec865.html|last=Nguyen|first=Dianna|date=July 10, 2017|website=Fort Bend Herald|language=en|access-date=May 3, 2020}}</ref><ref name=":11">{{cite web|title=Churchill Fulshear Jr -His Land, His Family, His Home and His Legacy|url=https://exploretexas.com/fulshear/stories/introduction/churchill-fulshear-jr,-his-lan/|last=CROCKETT|first=TERRY|date=2020|website=Explore Texas|access-date=May 6, 2020}}</ref>  He established a [[Plantation|slave plantation]] that raised cotton, corn, rice, pecans and livestock.  Churchill Fulshear Sr. died on January 18, 1831, with the plantation ownership passed onto his youngest son, Churchill Fulshear, Jr.,<ref name=":0" /> who added a [[cotton gin]] and flour mill which flourished well into the late 1880s.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />

During the [[Texas Revolution]], Churchill Jr. and his two brothers, Graves and Benjamin, served as scouts for the Texan army as the Mexican army under the command of [[Antonio López de Santa Anna|Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna]] pursued [[Sam Houston]]'s army and civilians who fled after Santa Anna's victory at the 1836 [[Battle of the Alamo]]. The Fulshear area was on the route of both the Mexicans and the Texan soldiers. Churchill and his brothers scouted Santa Anna's army as they crossed the Brazos River near their plantation on April 14, 1836.<ref name=":4">{{cite web|title=Fulshear, Churchill, Jr Yes|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ffu07|date=November 5, 2019|website=Handbook of Texas|access-date=May 2, 2020}}</ref>

According to one account, the Texan army trying to prevent Santa Anna and the Mexican army from crossing the Brazos River camped on the Fulshear plantation. They retreated when they learned that:<blockquote>1,500 Mexican soldiers had crossed nearby at Thompson's Ferry, they, too, had to retreat. Randolph Foster was one of the Old 300 settlers whose plantation was in the John Foster grant that lay between what is now FM 359 and FM 723 just south of Fulshear. He was a member of Martin's Company and, from William Harris Wharton's account, we ascertain that the Company "camped on the night of the 11th at Churchill Fulshear's." Churchill Fulshear's plantation lay on the north side of the Brazos River in what is now Fulshear township.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=STRICKLAND|first=Susan|date=July 2017|title=Fulshear in the Path of Texas History|url=https://ourtexastown.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/FM_03_01_InThePath.pdf|journal=Fulshear Magazine|volume=03|pages=38–41}}</ref></blockquote>

===Texas Independence to the early 20th century===
In the years after Texas Independence, Churchill Jr. expanded the plantation and commercial interests.  This included a horse race track called "Churchill Downs" (not the same as the present-day [[Churchill Downs]], which is in Kentucky) that he operated during the 1850s to 1870s in [[Pittsville, Texas|Pittsville]], located several miles north of Fulsher.  One of the most famous horses bred by Churchill Jr. was "Get-A-Way" (known as "Old Get"), which raced on numerous tracks throughout the United States and Europe.<ref name=":11" />  He also actively sold and purchased real estate, including the 654 acres sold to John Randon on May 10, 1844, for $4,000.<ref name=":11" />

The old tombstones in the Fulshear Cemetery (previously called Union Chapel Cemetery Grounds)  identify the names of some of the original pioneers who settled the Fulshear area: Andrews, Avery, Avis, Bains, Bond, Boone, Brasell, Bulwinkel, Cooper, Davis, Dozier, Edmonson, Everett, Gibson, Foster, Harris, Holmes, Hoskins, Huggins, Hunter, Jager, Kemp, Lovelace, Mayes, McElwee, McJunkin, McLeod, Miller, Nesbitt, Parker, Patton, Quinn, Rowles, Sass, Shieve, Sheriff, Simonton, Sparks, Thompson, Utley, Wade, Walker, Wilson, Wimberly, and Winner.<ref name=":10">{{cite web|title=FULSHEAR CEMETERY|url=https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/Home/ShowDocument?id=21551|last=Wendt|first=Billie|date=2013|website=Fort Bend County|access-date=May 3, 2020}}</ref><blockquote>Mention must be made of several men who made outstanding contributions to the Fulshear community and who are buried in this cemetery. They are: (l) Randolph Foster - an "Old 300" Settler of the area, (2) Rev. John Patton - the first Methodist Minister connected to Union Chappel, and (3) Dr. Robert Locke Harris - a Confederate War Surgeon who visited after the War in 1865 and remained to become a prominent doctor of the area.<ref name=":10" /><ref>[https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ffo21 Randolph Foster]</ref></blockquote>A significant historical development occurred in 1888 when Churchill Jr. granted the San Antonio and Aransas Pass (SA & AP) Railroad (SA&AP) the right of way through his plantation.<ref>[https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/eqs06 San Antonio and Aransas Pass (SA & AP) Railroad]</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite web|title=Fulshear, Pittsville and the one decision that completely changed their futures|url=http://www.fortbendmuseum.org/1/post/2016/05/fulshear-pittsville-and-the-one-decision-that-completely-changed-their-futures.html|website=Fort Bend Museum|language=en|access-date=May 2, 2020}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{cite web |title=A Tale of Two Cities: Fulshear's Turning Point |url=https://issuu.com/realpropertymg/docs/explorefulshearmagazine_04_01|last=McJunkin|first=Daniel|date=February 4, 2019 |website=Issuu |language=en |access-date=May 6, 2020}}</ref>  The town of Fulshear grew around the railroad in the 1890s, a period that also saw the demise of other local communities which, like Pittsville, had rejected the SA & AP Railroad the right of way on their lands.<ref name=":2" />

Churchill Fulshear Jr. died in 1892.<ref name=":4" />  In the same year, the Southern Pacific Railroad gained ownership of the SA & AP Railroad.<ref name=":12" />  In the decades following, the town established a public school district (1893), a Methodist church (1894) and business establishments that included a barber shop, doctor, drug store, blacksmith, saloon, hotel, and post office.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=Details - Pittsville - Atlas Number 5507016356 - Atlas: Texas Historical Commission|url=https://atlas.thc.texas.gov/Details/5507016356|website=atlas.thc.texas.gov|access-date=May 2, 2020}}</ref>

A [[Texas Historical Marker]] located in downtown Fulshear succinctly summarizes its 19th Century history:

{{block quote|On July 16, 1824, land grant of Mexico to Churchill Fulshear, one of the "Old 300" settlers of Stephen F. Austin, father of Texas. Churchill Fulshear, Jr., veteran of Texas War for Independence, built 4-story brick mansion in the 1850s, bred and raced horses at Churchill Downs (at Pittsville, 2 mi. N). His pupil, John Huggins, won world fame by training first American horse to win the English Derby. Town platted here 1890 by San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railroad, soon was trade center, with many facilities. The Rev. J. H. Holt was first (1894) pastor of the still existent Methodist church.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/Details/5157008998|title=Details - Town of Fulshear - Atlas Number 5157008998 - Atlas: Texas Historical Commission|website=atlas.thc.state.tx.us|access-date=April 26, 2020}}</ref>}}

===American Civil War, slavery and sharecropping===
While few historical records exist on the [[American Civil War]] and the people of Fulshear, there are accounts that local landowners, surgeons, and commercial business men actively supported and enrolled in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.<ref name=":1" />

Two of the three active Fulshear cemeteries provide insights into the history of the non-white racial minorities.<ref>[https://ourtexastown.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/FM_Cemeteries.pdf Fulshear cemeteries]</ref> As was common practice prior to the Civil War, plantation owners like Churchill Fulshear would build separate cemeteries based on race.  In addition to farm labor, "Churchill Fulshear's slaves were put to work making the bricks for the Fulshear plantation mansion, called Lake Hill."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fort Bend County |url=https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/home/showdocument?id=12648 |title=Fulshear Black Cemetery }}{{Dead link|date=May 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>  Since the mid-1800s, minority families were buried either in the Fulshear Black Cemetery or the Fulshear Spanish Cemetery, which were originally part of the Fulshear family plantation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Historic Fulshear ethnic cemeteries are families' link to the past|url=https://communityimpact.com/houston/katy/features/2017/10/25/historic-fulshear-black-and-spanish-cemeteries-are-families-link-to-the-past/|last=Brust|first=Amelia|date=October 25, 2017|website=impact|language=en|access-date=May 2, 2020}}</ref>  This includes many of the black sharecroppers who worked the land after the end of slavery in the United States.  A Texas Historical Marker here gives the historical information of the Black Cemetery:

{{block quote|Oral tradition says that this cemetery begin as a slave cemetery on the plantation of Tennessee native Churchill Fulshear. Many early burials are unmarked, and the oldest headstone is that of Rebecca Scott in 1915. In addition, midwives, a chef, a horse trainer and cowboy, the first colored school house founders, business men and women, two local entrepreneurs, religious leaders, and veterans from WWI to the Vietnam War are buried here. The rural landscape of the rolling hills and trees surrounding a variety of headstones made of fieldstone, granite, marble, steel, homemade concrete, wood and resin. The cemetery is evidence of the rich heritage of the people in this area.  Historic Texas Cemetery - 2010<ref>{{cite web|url=https://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/Details/5507017257|title=Details - Fulshear Black Cemetery - Atlas Number 5507017257 - Atlas: Texas Historical Commission|website=atlas.thc.state.tx.us|access-date=April 26, 2020}}</ref>}} 
After the abolition of slavery with defeat of the Confederacy, many of the emancipated slaves became [[sharecroppers]], which meant they rented land to farm it. Many grew cotton and potatoes, and supplemented their livelihood by raising chickens, eggs, and pigs as well as helping other farmers pick beans, potatoes, and peanuts.<ref name=":5" />  Many of these sharecroppers are buried in the Fulshear Black Cemetery.  In 1995, Fulshear Mayor [https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/fortbend/news/slideshow/Fulshear-celebrates-rich-heritage-67185.php Viola Randle] won a class-action lawsuit to legally define the Fulshear Black Cemetery as belonging to the Fulshear Black Cemetery Association and to prevent an attempt by a local property owner to restrict more burials in the cemetery.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|last=Strickland|first=Susan|date=March 27, 2018|title=Grande Dame of Fushear Viola Gilmore Randle|work=Fulshear Magazine|url=https://issuu.com/realpropertymg/docs/fulshearmagazine_04_01|access-date=May 2, 2020}}</ref>

The Spanish Cemetery, which was often referred to as the "Catholic Cemetery," is just south of the Fulshear Cemetery and has an estimated 300 grave sites.<ref>{{Cite news|last=McJunkin|first=Daniel|date=March 30, 2017 |title=Fulshear Area Cemeteries|work=Fulshear Magazine|url=https://issuu.com/realpropertymg/docs/fulshearmagazine_03_01|access-date=May 2, 2020}}</ref>

Like elsewhere in Texas and the American South, the schools segregated based on race.  The original "white-only" school house was built in 1893 and was expanded into a two-story building in 1912.<ref name=":6">{{cite web|title=Fulshear Magazine Volume 2 - Number 2|url=https://issuu.com/realpropertymg/docs/fulshearmagazine_02_02/1|last=Strickland|first=Susan|website=issuu|date=July 2016 |access-date=May 3, 2020}}</ref>  The segregated school for Mexican students was located nearby. Two "black-only" school houses were built in rural areas several miles to the south and northwest of town.<ref name=":6" />  These Fulshear schools were merged into the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District in 1948.<ref name="Home to a Proud Past">{{cite web|title=Home to a Proud Past|url=http://www.fulsheartexas.gov/about_us/history.php|website=www.fulsheartexas.gov|access-date=May 3, 2020}}</ref>

===Boom and bust, 1900s–1970s===
<blockquote>By 1898 a thriving population of 250 residents supported eleven stores, three saloons, a school and a hotel. A block of businesses was destroyed by a fire in 1910 but the town recovered quickly and soon downtown consisted of several general stores, a drug store, a doctor's office, a post office, a millinery shop, three churches, an undertaker's supply store, a depot, a grist mill, a cotton gin, a blacksmith shop, a barber shop, six saloons, four schools, a boarding house, a hotel and a local telephone system. On Saturdays, when the local hands were paid, Fulshear was so busy that residents complained that the sidewalks were too crowded to walk on. The town had 300 residents and ten stores in 1929. But the population fell to 100 in 1933, around the time that the Fulshear plantation house was torn down. The Depression and a changed lifestyle caused residents to leave Fulshear.  Fulshear did her share toward the war effort during WWII. Not only did she contribute men and women for the armed forces and war industries but an airplane lookout station was also manned daily on the roof of one of the brick buildings.<ref name="Home to a Proud Past"/></blockquote>Fulshear remained a rural agricultural town with population ranging from 300 to 700 into the 1970s.<ref name=":2"/>

===Incorporated city, 1977–present===
The city was incorporated in 1977.<ref name="Intro">"[http://www.fulsheartx.net/index.php?page_id=481 City Demographics]." City of Fulshear. Retrieved on November 6, 2011.</ref>  The town served as a marketing center for locally produced rice, cotton, soybeans, corn, poultry, sorghum, pecan, horses and cattle.  Growth in Fulshear exploded in the 2000s, due to its proximity to [[Houston]].<ref>"[http://www.khou.com/video/news-index.html?nvid=134022 The city is moving to the country] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070909094745/http://www.khou.com/video/news-index.html?nvid=134022 |date=September 9, 2007 }}." ''[[KHOU-TV]]''. April 6, 2007. Retrieved on December 4, 2008.</ref> ''Circa'' 2008, the community had approximately 700 residents. In October 2013, the population rose to over 5,000. By that time, traffic was commonplace while historically it had not been.<ref name="Mulvaneygrowth">Mulvaney, Erin. "[http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/Fulshear-growing-pains-hit-ballot-4952023.php#/0 Fulshear growing pains hit ballot]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. November 3, 2013. Retrieved on April 7, 2014.</ref>  In May 2017, Fulshear was listed the richest small town in Texas<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/the-richest-town-in-every-state/ar-BBBddkD?li=AA4Zjn#image=BBBdhy8%7C2 |title=Archived copy |website=[[MSN]] |access-date=May 3, 2020 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041015/https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/the-richest-town-in-every-state/ar-BBBddkD?li=AA4Zjn#image=BBBdhy8%7C2 |url-status=dead }}</ref> on MSN.com.

==Geography==
[[File:FulshearTXMap.gif|thumb|left|General Location Map of Fulshear|283x283px]]
Fulshear is located in northwestern Fort Bend County at {{coord|29|41|24|N|95|53|59|W|type:city}} (29.6899563, -95.8996757), 60 miles inland from the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. It is located at the intersection of [[Farm to Market Road 359|FM 359]] and [[Farm to Market Road 1093|FM 1093]].<ref name="Intro"/> Downtown Houston is {{convert|33|mi}} to the east, and [[Wallis, Texas|Wallis]] is {{convert|15|mi}} to the west. [[Interstate 10]] at [[Brookshire, Texas|Brookshire]] is {{convert|7|mi|0}} to the north.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|12.957|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|12.871|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.086|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023"/>

Fulshear has an [[extraterritorial jurisdiction]] (ETJ) of {{convert|37.11|sqmi|sqkm}}. Of the general-law cities in Texas, Fulshear has one of the largest ETJs.<ref name="Intro"/>

Sediments deposited over time by the Brazos River have created rich soil, enabling many native trees to grow in the area, including oak, cottonwood, ash, and pecan.  The growing season is very long (296 days) thanks to the county's geographical proximity to the Gulf Coast, and temperatures are mild year-round. April, October and November are the most pleasant months in Fulshear; July and August are the least comfortable.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1930= 300
|1940= 100
|1950= 250
|1960= 200
|1970= 349
|1980= 594
|1990= 557
|2000= 716
|2010= 1134
|2020= 16856
|estyear=2023
|estimate=42616
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=June 5, 2024|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020–2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=May 20, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref><br>Texas Almanac: 1850-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/CityPopHist%20web.pdf|title=Texas Almanac: City Population History from 1850–2000|author=Texas Almanac|access-date=July 5, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf|title=Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010|author=Texas Almanac|access-date=July 5, 2022}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Fulshear, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''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 may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Fulshear city, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=160XX00US4827876|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fulshear city, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2010.P2?q=p2&g=160XX00US4827876|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fulshear city, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P2?g=160XX00US4827876&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|373
|700
|style='background: #ffffe6; |9,407
|59.92%
|61.5%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |55.81%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|169
|179
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,061
|24.02%
|15.8%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6.29%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|0
|21
|style='background: #ffffe6; |24
|0.00%
|2.0%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.14%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|5
|23
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,288
|0.70%
|2.0%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |13.57%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|0
|0
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1
|0.00%
|0.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|0
|0
|style='background: #ffffe6; |71
|0.00%
|0.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.42%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|8
|14
|style='background: #ffffe6; |684
|1.54%
|1.3%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.06%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|161
|197
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,321
|22.49%
|17.4%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |19.7%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''716'''
|'''1,134'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''16,856'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 16,856 people, 4,990 households, and 4,482 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Fulshear%20city,%20Texas%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=June 8, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|1400.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 5,353 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 59.5% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 6.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 13.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.0% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 4.8% from some other races and 15.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 19.7% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How many people live in Fulshear city, Texas |url=https://data.usatoday.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/fulshear-city-texas/160-4827876/ |access-date=June 8, 2024 |publisher=USA Today}}</ref> 32.6% of residents were under the age of 18, 4.1% were under 5 years of age, and 8.9% were 65 and older.

<gallery widths="300px" heights="225px"> 
File:Fulshear TX FMs 359 and 1093.JPG|View south on FM 359 toward signal at FM 1093
File:Fulshear TX Wildflowers.jpg|Wildflowers on Winner-Foster Road south of Fulshear
</gallery>

==Government and infrastructure==
Fulshear is incorporated as a general law city. As of 2015 the taxation rate is 0.161631% per $100 valuation. Of the taxation rates in [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend County]], Fulshear's is among the lowest.<ref name="Intro"/>

Mayor Don McCoy was elected mayor in 2024 and has also served as President of the Fulshear Regional Chamber of Commerce since its inception in 2013.<ref>[http://www.fulsheartexas.gov/government/elected_officials.php ''City of Fulshear'']</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Office
! Office Holder
|-
| Mayor
| Donald McCoy
|-
| Mayor Pro Tem & District 4
| Joel M. Patterson 
|-
| At-large Position 1
| Kent Pool
|-
| At-large Position 2
| Jason Knape
|-
| District 1
| Sarah Johnson
|-
| District 2
| Patrick Powers
|-
| District 3
| Christina Baron
|-
| District 5
| Abhi Utturkar
|}

Fort Bend County does not have a [[hospital district]]. [[OakBend Medical Center]] serves as the county's [[charity hospital]] which the county contracts with.<ref>{{cite web|last=Knipp|first=Bethany|url=https://communityimpact.com/news/2016/11/02/fort-bend-county-lacks-hospital-district/|title=Fort Bend County lacks hospital district|newspaper=[[Community Impact Newspaper]]|date=November 2, 2016|accessdate=October 18, 2021}}</ref>

===Postal service===
The [[United States Postal Service]] operates the Fulshear Post Office at 8055 [[Farm to Market Road 359]] South.<ref>"[http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/fulshear-8055-fm-359-rd-s-fulshear-tx-1364252 Post Office Location - FULSHEAR] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701055933/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/fulshear-8055-fm-359-rd-s-fulshear-tx-1364252 |date=July 1, 2010 }}." [[United States Postal Service]]. Retrieved on May 14, 2010.</ref>

===Public libraries===
Fulshear's Bob Lutts Fulshear/Simonton Branch Library is a part of the [[Fort Bend County Libraries]] system. The branch, which opened in May 1998, was the third branch built with 1989 bond funds. The land currently occupied by the library was previously the Fort Bend County Precinct 4 headquarters. Bob Lutts, the precinct commissioner, offered the land to the library system. The Fulshear City Council asked the county to name the library after Lutts. The library is now within Precinct 3.<ref>"[http://www.fortbend.lib.tx.us/branches/fs.html Bob Lutts Fulshear/Simonton Branch Library]." [[Fort Bend County Libraries]]. Retrieved on May 14, 2010.</ref>

<gallery widths="300px" heights="225px">
File:Fulshear TX City Hall.jpg|Fulshear City Hall on FM 1093
File:Fulshear TX Fire Dept.jpg|Fire Station No. 1 on 5th Street
File:Fulshear TX Lutts Library.jpg|Bob Lutts Library on FM 359
File:Fulshear TX Post Office.JPG|US Post Office on FM 359 in Fulshear
</gallery>

==Education==
===Public schools===
Fulshear is served by the [[Lamar Consolidated Independent School District]] (LCISD) and the [[Katy Independent School District]] (KISD).

====LCISD portion====
* The LCISD portion is served by (all in Fulshear):
**Huggins Elementary School – The elementary school is named after [[John Huggins (racehorse trainer)|John Huggins]] who won world fame by training the first horse to win the English Derby.<ref>{{cite web|title=Town of Fulshear|url=https://texashistoricalmarkers.weebly.com/town-of-fulshear.html|website=Texas Historical Markers|language=en|access-date=May 2, 2020}}</ref>
**Leaman Junior High School  – The junior high school is named after Dean Leaman, the owner of Allied Concrete.<ref>Dolan, Betsy. "[http://www.fortbendstar.com/2012/06/27/lamar-consolidated-isd-chooses-names-for-new-schools/ Lamar Consolidated ISD chooses names for new schools] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408222245/http://www.fortbendstar.com/2012/06/27/lamar-consolidated-isd-chooses-names-for-new-schools/ |date=April 8, 2014 }}." ''[[Fort Bend Star]]''. June 27, 2012. Retrieved on April 7, 2014.</ref> 
**[[Fulshear High School]] – The high school is named after the city founder, Churchill Fulshear Jr

The LCISD portion was formerly zoned to [[John and Randolph Foster High School]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lcisd.org/DistrictbrInformation/MapofLCISD/Images/map.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030412233748/http://www.lcisd.org/DistrictbrInformation/MapofLCISD/Images/map.pdf|title=SECONDARY ATTENDANCE ZONE|publisher=[[Lamar Consolidated Independent School District]]|date=July 2001|archive-date=April 12, 2003|accessdate=September 27, 2022}}</ref>
<br /><gallery widths="300px" heights="225px">
File:Lamar CISD Fulshear High School.jpg|[[Fulshear High School]]
File:Lamar CISD Leaman Jr High School.jpg|Dean Leaman Junior High School
File:Lamar CISD Huggins Elem School.jpg|Huggins Elementary School
</gallery>

====Katy ISD portion====
The KISD portion is served by:

* James Randolph Elementary (Fulshear)
* Campbell Elementary
* Adams Junior High School 
* [[Jordan High School (Fulshear, Texas)|Jordan High School]]

===Private schools===
{{Asof|2019}} the [[British International School of Houston]] in Greater Katy has a school bus service to Fulshear.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/our-schools/houston/british-international/admissions/school-bus-transportation|title=School Bus Transportation|publisher=[[British International School of Houston]]|access-date=March 30, 2019}}</ref>

===Colleges and universities===
The LCISD portion is zoned to [[Wharton County Junior College]] while the Katy ISD portion is zoned to [[Houston Community College]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm|title=Sec. 130.182. HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM DISTRICT SERVICE AREA. and Sec. 130.211. WHARTON COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.}}</ref>

==Transportation==
Airports near Fulshear, located in unincorporated Fort Bend County, include Cardiff Brothers Airport and Dewberry Heliport.

Area airports with commercial airline service include [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport]] and [[William P. Hobby Airport]], both of which are in Houston.

==Arts and culture==
In 2011, the Fulshear Art Council (FAC), a non-profit [[501(c)(3)]] organization, was created to encourage and support the arts and arts education in Fulshear and the surrounding areas.<ref>"{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20140421163454/http://artsfulshear.org/ Arts Fulshear]}}" Retrieved on April 21, 2014</ref> The council began showcasing local artists and their artwork at events hosted in downtown Fulshear. These showcases now occur the first Tuesday of the month and are referred to as Arts and Drafts events. FAC changed its name to Arts Fulshear in 2012, and the organization began providing art and theater classes to local youth. In 2013, Arts Fulshear added adult art classes, and it began hosting the annual Fulshear Art Walk.

In 2020, the Fulshear Historical Association (FHA), a non-profit 501c3 organization, was formed to preserve and share the history and heritage of Fulshear, Texas.<ref>"[http://www.fulshearhistoricalassociation.org Fulshear Historical Association]"</ref> It continues this work today by encouraging community collaboration through public opportunities for historical documentation and learning.

==Documentaries==
The documentary ''The Heart of Texas'' was filmed partly in Fulshear.

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{notelist}}

==Further reading==
* "[http://www.fortbendcounty.org/documents/CityPresentationRevised031913.pptx City of Fulshear Update]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20140801234909/http://www.fortbendcounty.org/documents/CityPresentationRevised031913.pptx Archive]), Fort Bend Economic Development Council.
*[https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hlf34 "FULSHEAR, TX,"] ''Handbook of Texas Online'', Ann Fears Crawford, accessed April 26, 2020.
*[https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/home/showdocument?id=12648 Fulshear Black Cemetery]{{Dead link|date=May 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Fort Bend County

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Portal|Texas}}
* {{Official website|http://www.fulsheartx.com/ }}
* {{Handbook of Texas|id=hlf34|name=Fulshear, Texas}}

{{Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown MSA}}
{{Fort Bend County, Texas}}
{{Texas}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Fort Bend County, Texas]]
[[Category:Greater Houston]]