KATY, TEXAS

At the juncture of Harris, Waller, and Fort Bend county lines
Texas Gulf Coast

29° 47' 33" N, 95° 49' 21" W (29.7925, -95.8225)

Interstate 10 and Highway 90
25 miles W of Houston
Population: 17,116 Est. (2016)
14,102 (2010) 11,775 (2000) 8,005 (1990)

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"You'll Love Katy"
More Texas Murals
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, May 2013

History in a Pecan Shell

Named after the Katy (Missouri, Kansas and Texas) Railroad, or according to other sources, the wife of a local saloonkeeper, the town had first been called Cane Island.

Before 1890 the local depot was operated by the Texas Western Railroad, a narrow-gauge line running west to Pattison, Texas. The depot was a mile south of the platted town site of Katy.

The Katy Railroad built through in 1893, but it wasn't until 1895 when the first railroad agent took up duties. The depot was finished three years later. The Texas Western was abandoned.

Katy had five one-room schools encircling the town until 1919 when the Katy ISD was formed.

The Katy post office opened in 1896 and rice farming was introduced in 1901. It quickly replaced peanuts and corn and slowly replaced cotton.

The farming community supported several businesses: a drug store opened in 1904 when the town had 119 people. Katy soon had hotels, saloons, lumberyards, a meat market, two livery stables and a rice and peanut warehouse.

A gas field was drilled in 1934 leading to a doubling of Katy's population. From 1925 to 1942 the population was reported at 400, rising to 800 in 1943.

Katy, Texas Landmarks & Attractions

Kate TX - Restored 1898 MKT Depot in Katy Railroad Park

Restored 1898 MKT Depot in Katy Railroad Park
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, May 2013
More Texas Depots

MKT Caboose
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson , May 2013

Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson , May 2013
See Texas Railroads

Katy TX - Old Post Office in Katy Heritage Park

Katy Post Office in Katy Heritage Park
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson , May 2013

Katy TX - Old Post Office historical marker

Old Post Office historical marker
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, May 2013
More Texas Post Offices

Katy TX - Tradition Bank Bandstand in Katy Heritage Park

Tradition Bank Bandstand in Katy Heritage Park
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson , May 2013

Katy TX - Tradition Bank Bandstand historical marker

Tradition Bank Bandstand historical marker
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, May 2013
See Texas Banks

The Old First Baptist Church
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, May 2013
More Texas Churches

Grain Elevators in Katy
TE photos, 2003
See Texas Grain Elevators

Katy, Texas Area Towns:
Houston
See Harris, Waller, Fort Bend Counties

Texas Gulf Coast

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