About Hempstead, TX
Hempstead is the county seat of Waller County, Texas and is located about fifty miles from Houston. Hempstead has a population of 4,691 according to the 2000 census. The town is known for its watermelons and until the 1940s it was the top shipper of watermelons in the U.S. Hemstead hosts an annual Watermelon Festival each July. Lillie E. Drennan, the town's most famous resident, became the first woman to hold a commercial driver's license in 1929 and ran the hauling company Drennan Truck Line. In February 2009 the Lawrence Marshall Car Dealership, Hempstead's largest employer, closed. Hempstead is currently attempting to lessen the economic impact of this closure by focusing on city improvement projects. Hempstead is a part of the Hempstead Independent School District.
