Prairie View
City
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyWaller
Mayorno incumbent[1]
Unit prefImperial
Area total19.03 km²
Area land19.03 km²
Area water0.00 km²
Area total7.35 sq mi
Area land7.35 sq mi
Area water0.00 sq mi
Population as of2020
Population total8184
Population density365.34 km²
Time zoneCentral (CST) (UTC-6)
Time zone (DST)CDT (UTC-5)
Elevation82 m
Elevation269 ft
Coordinates30°4′56″N 95°59′30″W
ZIP code77446
Area code936
FIPS code48-59336[2]
GNIS feature ID1344521[3]
Websitewww.prairieviewtexas.gov
Population density946.24 sq mi

Prairie View is a city in Waller County, Texas, United States, situated on the northwestern edge of the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area. The population was 8,184 at the 2020 census.

Prairie View A&M University, the second-oldest public university in Texas, is based in the city.

Geography

Prairie View is located at 30°4′56″N 95°59′30″W (30.082131, –95.991788).[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.2 square miles (18.7 km2), all land. The city is bisected by US 290 and is neighbored by Hempstead to the west, Waller to the east, and Pine Island to the south.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Prairie View had a population of 8,184 people, a median age of 20.3 years, 7.5% of residents were under the age of 18, and 4.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older; for every 100 females there were 56.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 55.1 males age 18 and over.[5] The census counted 918 households, including 353 families, residing in the city.[5]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[6]

Of those households, 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 28.8% were married-couple households, 29.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, 38.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present, about 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[5]

There were 1,307 housing units, of which 29.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 27.5%.[5]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[7]
RaceNumberPercent
White2893.5%
Black or African American6,72282.1%
American Indian and Alaska Native610.7%
Asian180.2%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander10.0%
Some other race82010.0%
Two or more races2733.3%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)1,07013.1%

2000 census

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 4,410 people, 694 households, and 360 families residing in the city. The population density was 611.0 inhabitants per square mile (235.9 /km2). There were 834 housing units at an average density of 115.6 inhabitants per square mile (44.6 /km2). The racial makeup of the city was 3.47% White, 93.51% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 1.36% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.65% of the population.

There were 694 households, out of which 21.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.1% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.0% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 9.1% under the age of 18, 68.2% from 18 to 24, 10.3% from 25 to 44, 6.5% from 45 to 64, and 5.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 21 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,805, and the median income for a family was $36,071. Males had a median income of $25,882 versus $21,161 for females. The per capita income for the city was $8,219. About 13.2% of families and 24.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.2% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

The City of Prairie View was established in 1969 with the motto: "Productive, United, Indomitable." The city is operated by a mayor-council government of the strong-mayor format. The format functions with the Mayor serving as both Chair of the City Council and Chief Executive of the city's administration.

As of October 2025 there is no mayor listed, and an acting city manager listed on the city website.[1] The city practices zoning to control land use and improve quality of life. The city has hired Butler Planning Services (BPS) to develop a Geographic Information System (GIS) which will aid the city staff in mapping the community. The city is also considering a partnership with BPS and another planning firm, IPS Group, to develop a new Comprehensive Plan.

County, state, and federal representation

The United States Postal Service Prairie View Post Office is located at 21212 Farm to Market Road 1098 Loop.[8]

Education

Colleges and universities

Prairie View is home to Prairie View A&M University. The university was established in 1876 as a historically black college under the Morill Land-Grant Acts, making it the first public institution of higher learning in Texas to educate African-Americans. Prairie View A&M grants both graduate and undergraduate degrees in more than 50 majors and is classified as a Doctoral/Research University by the Carnegie Foundation. As of fall 2022, Prairie View A&M is the largest HBCU in the state and one of the largest in the country with nearly 9,500 students, approximately 83% Black/African-American.[9]

Blinn College is the designated community college for residents of the Waller Independent School District.[10] Blinn operates the Waller-Harris County Campus.[11]

Primary and secondary schools

The City of Prairie View is served by the Waller Independent School District.[12]

Schools serving Prairie View include:

Transportation

Greyhound Bus Lines serves the Prairie View Station at Unco Food Store.[15]

Parks and recreation

In September 2018 a cricket complex in Prairie View was scheduled to open. It was established by Pakistani American Tanweer Ahmed.[16]

Sister cities

Prairie View's sister cities are:[17]

References

  1. ^ "City Departments". October 24, 2025. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  2. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ^
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  6. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  7. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  8. ^ "Post Office Location - PRAIRIE VIEW." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
  9. ^ "Are there any HBCUs in Texas? 8 Things About HBCU in Texas - AnanUniversity". 5 October 2022.
  10. ^ Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.168. BLINN JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA..
  11. ^ "Waller-Harris County". Blinn College. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  12. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Waller County, TX". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2024-09-09. - Text list
  13. ^ "Junior High Schools Attendance Zone Map". Waller Independent School District. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  14. ^ "2024-2025 Elementary School Attendance Zones Map (Detail View)". Waller Independent School District. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  15. ^ "Prairie View, Texas." Greyhound Lines. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
  16. ^ Collette, Mark (2018-07-18). "Major cricket complex in Prairie View is Houston man's field of dreams". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
  17. ^ "Sister Cities". City of Prairie View. Retrieved 2020-12-21.