Friendswood

About Friendswood

Friendswood is a mid-size city near Texas’ Gulf of Mexico coast. It’s one of the select small towns to be named among CNN’s “America’s Best Places to Live,” providing a welcoming home for its many young families with children. Many people are attracted to the area for its warm year-round weather, with plenty of sun and temperatures that rarely dip below 60 degrees.

The History of Friendswood

Friendswood was founded in 1895 by a small group of Quakers, a religious community that took part in America’s westward migration throughout the 1800s. Quakers Frank Jacob Brown and Thomas Hadley Lewis arrived in the area and felt compelled to establish a settlement. It was named “Friendswood,” likely after the common term for Quakers, “Friends.” The colony was officially recorded in 1895, and news spread throughout the Quaker communities of the Midwest.

Within just a few years, Friendswood was a flourishing farming community. In the 1920s, non-Quaker farmers also joined the community as the burgeoning fig farming industry drew plant workers and support personnel as well. Up through the middle of the 20th century, the nearby oil fields fueled growth in the city, but it still remained fairly rural.

The 1960s were a period of major growth for Friendswood, as its population swelled with the arrival of hundreds of NASA workers. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, it experienced several population spikes, and it continues to steadily grow even today.

Special Events in Friendswood

One of the highlights of living in Friendswood is its welcoming, small-town spirit. You’ll find that year-round community events provide plenty of opportunity to get to know your neighbors as well as experience the local culture of Friendswood. Nearly every month of the year is filled with special events, including holiday, kid-centered and charity efforts.

The Annual Tree Giveaway is unique city event geared to keeping Friendswood green and lush, and 100 trees are given for free to local families. October and November are host to the local Community Softball Tournament, while summertime is a busy season with Movies in the Park, July Fourth fireworks and a youth fishing derby.

Friendswood Schools

The city’s schools fall under the jurisdiction of the Friendswood Independent School District and the Clear Creek Independent School District. Private school options include early education, Montessori and faith-based campuses.

Resources for Moving to Friendswood

If you’re preparing for a move to Friendswood, the following resources will be useful:

• Utilities: Like all Texas cities, Friendswood allows you to choose your own electricity provider from those that serve your region. The city manages water and sewer services.
• Garbage and Recycling: Trash, recycling, yard waste and bulky items are all collected on a set schedule, which is determined by your home’s specific location.
• Transportation: The most popular form of public transit in Friendswood is the METRORail.

Friendswood Housing Information

Homes in Friendswood tend to be priced higher than the national average, but the market generally provides a wide range of options for many different budgets. Affordable townhouses, fixer-upper investment properties and new construction communities are all on your list of options in Friendswood, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a home that works for you.