By Elsa Maxey

Photo shown taken in Sienna Plantation. Missouri City ranks as #21 on this year’s list of best places to live.

The list is out and already in the August edition of Money Magazine. You’ll find Missouri City for the second time in the national list of 100 best small cities, 50,000 – 300,000 population, featured as one of America’s best places to live. As part of the annual selection, Fort Bend County is ranked #5 on the list of counties nationwide with the most job growth over the past nine years, according to CNN/Money Magazine. The county, one notch up from last year’s #6 ranking, showed 55 percent job growth from 2000-2009.

“People want to come to Fort Bend County and that speaks volumes of the quality of life,” a condition that Fort Bend County Judge Bob Hebert says will impact Fort Bend’s continuing job growth.

As for the county’s ranking, “Well it’s like getting a report card with a big A plus on it,” he said and “it confirms my belief that all the things that we are doing from the government and private sector are moving in the right direction.”

Low on both tax and regulatory burdens in Texas, these are what Greater Fort Bend EDC President Jeff Wiley says benefits Fort Bend. He cites new urban centers like Sugar Land Town Square, Rosenberg’s Brazos Town Center, Cinco Ranch’s La Centerra and in the future, Katy Main Street. “It is gratifying that we are now receiving the national attention this community so richly deserves,” said Wiley.

Missouri City ranks #21 on this year’s “100 Best Places to Live” for its affordable homes, low taxes and low crime rate. It previously it earned a #56 listing in 2008. Making it to the number one spot as the nation’s best city this year is Eden Prairie, Minnesota, population -- 64,000. Its acclaim—being family friendly and having a dynamic economy with 50,000 jobs, including the practice facility and front office of the Minnesota Vikings.

Back home, Missouri City’s was cited for a job growth increase of 25.19 percent between 2000 and 2009, compared to the best places job growth average of 15.71 percent. “Those of us living here know what a special place we have,” said Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen. “I can’t credit our residents enough for their interest in keeping our city an attractive and a safe place to raise their families.”

Mayor Owen also said that the city’s high credit rating allowed it to continue to build its infrastructure and attract businesses. According to a city news release, low crime rate contributed to the quality of life high marks, noting that at 16 per 1,000 individuals, it was lower than the best places average of 24.

Missouri City is one of four Texas cities on the list of 100, all in the top quarter, and the only community in the Houston area. Also ranked were McKinney (#5), Allen (#15) and Rowlett (#24), located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

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