Angleton was founded in 1890 near the center of Brazoria County and named for the wife of the general manager of the Velasco Terminal Railway. A bitter rivalry emerged between the town and nearby Brazoria for the location of the county seat; Angleton was chosen as the seat in 1896 and rechosen by county-wide election in 1913. The town was incorporated on November 12, 1912. As the county seat, Angleton hosts the Brazoria County Fair every October; it is considered Texas's largest county fair.
Geography
Angleton is located near the center of Brazoria County at . Texas State Highway 288, a four-lane freeway, runs along the western edge of the city, with access from five exits. Highway 288 leads north to downtown Houston and south to Freeport near the Gulf of Mexico. Texas State Highway 35 crosses Highway 288 and passes through the center of Angleton, leading northeast to Alvin and west to Bay City. According to the United States Census Bureau, Angleton has a total area of, of which, or 0.17%, is covered by water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, 18,130 people, 6,508 households, and 4,894 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,716.3 people per square mile. There were 7,220 housing units at an average density of 683.5 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 63.21% White, 23.19% Hispanic or Latino, 11.38% African American, 0.47% Native American, 1.12% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 9.63% from other races, and 2.15% from two or more races. Of the 6,508 households, 41.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were not families. About 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.19. In the city, the population was distributed as 29.8% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males. The median income for a household in the city was $42,184, and for a family was $50,019. Males had a median income of $39,711 versus $23,508 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,915. About 8.9% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.
The Angleton Library and the Brazoria County Historical Museum Library are a part of the Brazoria County Library System.
Economy
is based in Angleton. Country Hearth Inn, originally known as Homeplace, opened its first location in Angleton in 1983.
Media
Brazosport Facts is based in nearby Clute and the Houston Chronicle is based in Houston. Angleton Times operated until 2004. Five employees were hired by The Facts, which also acquired the former newspaper's reader list.
Ron Givens, first African-American Republican in Texas House of Representatives, represented Lubbock County from 1985 to 1989; thereafter taught school in Angleton prior to 1995
