Just east of the Brazos River, lies the land now known as Sugar Land. It was originally owned by the Mexican government and was acquired by Stephen F. Austin after Texas won its independence from Mexico. As a reward, Austin gave the land to Samuel M. Williams in 1828 for his dedicated service (Anhaiser). The land was rich with tall sugar cane, which explains the name. Williams brother, Nathanial, purchased the land from him in 1838 and at some point, built the Oakland Plantation. There he began to grow corn, cotton and sugar cane. In this paper I will be examining the structure, historical significance, budgetary information, and future plans for the city of Sugar Land.
The plantation was named Oakland because of the surrounding trees. It is rumored that the plantation changed ownership and had its ups and downs regarding the productivity of local crops. In 1853, Benjamin Terry and William Kyle purchased the plantation and changed the name to Sugar Land Plantation to represent its most profitable crop. Soon the two began to acquire surrounding sugar producing plantations making them the largest sugar operation in Texas.
With production fluctuating through the Civil War and World Wars, ownership changed hands multiple times. Different owners acquired other plantations. Cunningham and Ellis entered into a partnership in 1875 and grouped the …show more content…
“The Imperial Sugar Company (ISC) built 500 new homes, provided medical care, and established various retail stores, a cotton gin as well as feed and paper mills. ISC also paid for graveled streets with concrete curbs, gutters and sidewalks, a modern hospital and school system, as well as churches. The company furnished electricity, gas and water to the town. Sugar Land’s population grew with the sugar mill industry” (Norman). At the turn of the century, Sugar Land was looking towards a bright
The plantation was named Oakland because of the surrounding trees. It is rumored that the plantation changed ownership and had its ups and downs regarding the productivity of local crops. In 1853, Benjamin Terry and William Kyle purchased the plantation and changed the name to Sugar Land Plantation to represent its most profitable crop. Soon the two began to acquire surrounding sugar producing plantations making them the largest sugar operation in Texas.
With production fluctuating through the Civil War and World Wars, ownership changed hands multiple times. Different owners acquired other plantations. Cunningham and Ellis entered into a partnership in 1875 and grouped the …show more content…
“The Imperial Sugar Company (ISC) built 500 new homes, provided medical care, and established various retail stores, a cotton gin as well as feed and paper mills. ISC also paid for graveled streets with concrete curbs, gutters and sidewalks, a modern hospital and school system, as well as churches. The company furnished electricity, gas and water to the town. Sugar Land’s population grew with the sugar mill industry” (Norman). At the turn of the century, Sugar Land was looking towards a bright