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Hempstead is a city in Waller County, Texas, and serves as the county seat. It sits at the junction of U.S. Highway 290 and Texas State Highways 6 and 159, roughly 50 miles northwest of downtown Houston, a position that places it at the outer edge of the Houston metropolitan area and on the historic corridor toward Brenham and Austin. The city was founded in the mid-1850s and grew as a Southern Pacific railroad town, with its location at a convergence of rail lines and highways shaping its early economy. Hempstead is best known for watermelons. The surrounding farmland proved ideal for the crop, and by the early 20th century the city had become the largest shipper of watermelons in the United States, a distinction it held until the 1940s. That agricultural identity earned Hempstead the title "Watermelon Capital of Texas," and farming and ranching remain part of the Waller County landscape. Today Hempstead's character is defined by the intersection of its rural past and its position in a fast-growing exurban corridor. Prairie View A&M University, one of the oldest historically Black colleges and universities in the country, sits in the adjacent community of Prairie View and brings students, faculty, and staff to the area. Waller County has been among the region's fastest-growing counties as Houston-area families and commuters push outward along U.S. 290, drawn by more space and lower costs. For homebuyers, Hempstead offers a genuine small-town core with gridded streets and mature oaks, expanding subdivisions, and surrounding acreage. It appeals to families, university-affiliated residents, and Houston commuters who want a rural pace without severing ties to the metro's employment centers.

Population 7,194

County Waller

Active Listings 411

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Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Hempstead, Texas in?

Hempstead is the county seat of Waller County, Texas, in the southeastern part of the state. It sits at the junction of U.S. Highway 290 and State Highways 6 and 159, about 50 miles northwest of downtown Houston.

How far is Hempstead from Houston?

Hempstead is about 50 miles northwest of downtown Houston along U.S. Highway 290, the Northwest Freeway corridor. The highway also connects the city westward toward Brenham and Austin, making it a practical base for commuters who work in the Houston area.

What is Hempstead, Texas known for?

Hempstead is historically known as the Watermelon Capital of Texas. The city grew as a Southern Pacific railroad town and was once the largest shipper of watermelons in the United States, a distinction it held until the 1940s.

What school district serves Hempstead?

Hempstead is served by Hempstead Independent School District, whose administrative offices are in the city and which covers Hempstead and unincorporated areas such as Monaville. Other parts of Waller County fall within Waller ISD, and Prairie View A&M University is located in the adjacent community of Prairie View.

What university is near Hempstead?

Hempstead is located next to Prairie View, home of Prairie View A&M University, one of the oldest historically Black colleges and universities in the United States. Founded in 1876 as part of the Texas A&M University System, the university brings students, faculty, and staff to the surrounding area.

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