Sheldon is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) in northeastern Harris County, Texas, United States, located completely inside the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Houston. The Sheldon area is located along Beltway 8 and US Highway 90, approximately northeast of Downtown Houston.
Since the 1950s, the population growth of Sheldon has grown to extend past the statistical census-designated place (CDP) boundary originally delineated by the United States Census Bureau. The local understanding of the area is that it corresponds to that of boundary of the Sheldon Independent School District.
Residential and commercial development in Sheldon has increased since the 2000s, gradually transforming the once rural area into one of the Houston area's fast growing suburban communities by percentage.
The population for the area within the CDP was 2,361 at the 2020 census.
In a 10-year period before 2011, the population increased by 46%.
Geography
thumb|Map of Sheldon CDP
Sheldon is located at (29.860569, -95.133801) in northeastern Harris County.
The area is within the watersheds of Greens Bayou, Carpenters Bayou, and San Jacinto River. The boundary is unofficially known as corresponding to that of Sheldon Independent School District, which is geographically bound by Greens Bayou on the west and the San Jacinto River on the east. The northern border is the southern shore of Lake Houston and the southern boundary runs approximately one mile south of the Crosby Freeway (US Hwy 90).
Sheldon has a mostly wooded geographic profile, with some grassy prairies. The area is also home to Sheldon Lake State Park and Environmental Learning Center, which has a variety of land and water fauna.
The majority of Sheldon falls under the jurisdiction of Harris County Commissioner Precinct 1, with a small portion in Precinct 2.
Major arteries in the area include Beltway 8 and US Highway 90.