When I first moved to Katy Texas in the late 70's there was not much outsidewhat is called "Katy Proper", that is the area that lays within the city limits, the other part of Katy is actually large sections of Harris and Fort Bend unincorporated counties. Back then there was a much more distinct emphasis placed on Katy Proper vs. "the other people/areas" that lie outside the city limits. People were draw to Katy for its schools, the charm of a small town, and the developing West Houston's Energy Corridor making its way west on I-10 (aka Katy Freeway). The "Katy area" now comprises approximately 40,000 residents, with about 12,000 residing in Katy Proper. We all are part of the Katy Independent School District and nearly everyone in the area has a Katy postal address. KISD has around 55,000 students, 47 schools with six being high schools. I have experienced the enormous growth of the area since I opened one of the first Real Estate offices here in 1976. As a local Realtor it has been good for business but it came at a price. Back then there was hardly any traffic on Mason Rd. which was only two lanes and ended shortly south of I-10, no malls, no shopping centers, no restaurants, no grocery stores (outside Katy Proper or driving into Houston), no office buildings, no movie theaters, and hardly any noise outside the arrival of millions of migratory birds especially geese in the autumn. I have vivid memories of stunningly beautiful sunsets that seemed to last for hours. There was nothing to block the view, since the land is flat as a pancake and gives the illusion of endless horizons.
Thomas and Mary Robinson had 200 acres of land on the Cane Island branch of Buffalo Bayou (what Katy was called then),and had arrived in 1872. Around fifteen years later Peter Black and his wife Ophelia bought land and moved out from Addicks. These two families quietly farmed until 1895 when other fokes decided this was a good place to settle. The first settlers to Katy were Mr. William Pitt and his family who arrived on Christmas day in 1894. He came with his wife Lella and three children, moving here from the nearby town of Pattison, Texas. Many of our streets, schools, parks, etc. are named after those early settlers by the names of Peek, Stuart, Beckendorff, Cabiness, Thomas, Stockdick, Morton, Franz, and the Schilipf families to name a few of the very first. Mr. James Oliver Thomas had bought 320 acres of land and laid out the town site of Katy in 1895. In 1896 Katy was listed in Washington, D.C. as having a post office. It was then officially called Katy, Texas, with Mr. J.O. Thomas being the first postmaster. The post office was located in his general store. These families were drawn to the area for its farming land, and the fact that the Missouri-Kansas-Texas railroad was completed, so it was easy for people to get to the area, and also to get farm products to market. The land in Katy is rich and flat, making it prime farm land, and later prime rice fields. The prairie was thick with tall, flowing grasses and so tall a man on horseback could not be seen.
I've seen the change from just 32+ years of living and selling Real Estate in theKaty area, but its rich history goes far beyond that. Loving history and wishing I had been around in that era, its fun to read about it and see the pictures from "The Good Old Days", however growth happens things change, and for the most part in Katy we have seen a lot of good changes. There is still a small town feeling and atmosphere, certainly much more than the hustle and bustle of Houston, but within an easy, short commute for the sports, art, fine dining, world class shopping and all the things that come with being one of the largest cities in the US. In later years Katy became mostly a rice growing community. In downtown Katy the enormous rich storage tanks and dryers still remain, they line the no longer active rail road tracks that run parallel to I-10. Each October the big event is the Katy Rice Harvest Festival. It last for two days, with streets being blocked off so you can stroll through downtown Katy with miles of antiques, booths filled with handmade crafts, three stages with live entertainments, pageants, carnival rides, food booths serving corn on the cob, candied pecans, BBQ, cotton candy, and of course rice. Katy's slogan is "You'll Love Katy", and it's also known as "The City of Churches". I recently did a story on one of the first churches in Katy, now called First Baptist Church built November 20th, 1898. One thing that has remained constant is we are still the site of one of the most incredible natural spectacles in North America, as thousands, then million, of migratory birds arrive on our Katy Prairie in autumn. This is just after the crops are in and the land lies fallow, the skies are a thrilling spectacle of waterfowl. Much has been done to conserve this area to keep our invaluable resource for the benefit of its wildlife of the winter home for some and the year round home of other birds. The sunsets are also still a marvelous event on the Katy Prairie.
You can't talk about Katy without mentioning football, and the Katy Tigers of Katy High School. The school had its first football team in 1939. Starting in 1959 Katy won its first state championship game, and the rest as they say is history. The Katy Tiger have won five state football titles, and the team has been particularly successful in recent years, winning championships again in 1997, 2000, 2003, and 2007 and we are consistently ranked in the top ten nationally. Under Coach Mike Johnston the Tigers beat powerhouse Southlake Carroll HS 16-15 in the 2003 5A Division 11 state final, giving Southlake its only loss in two years. The head coach now is Gary Joseph who was the former Katy defensive coordinator. You know when the Tigers are playing, because no one is anywhere in Katy, we are all at the game...GO TIGERS! We have an impressive new rodeo arena behind the high school. Academically Katy High was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 1997-98. It you want to see high school football at its finest come to one of our games, and get ready to hear the crowds roarJ.
Katy being historically an agricultural area with rice the major crop is also one of the US's largest gas fields since the early forties. Katy Mills Mall and many major hospitals have opened in the area lately. Katy is also home to the Igloo Corp. and Academy Sports and Outdoors. The Katy area has been among the fastest growing in the nation in terms of both residential and business growth. The major development in housing features many upscale quality master planned communities as well as the established neighborhood. Among the newer neighborhoods is Cinco Ranch with around 8,000 residents. Cinco Ranch was a working ranch when the land was originally acquired by the development company American General in the late 80's. The ranch belonged to five brothers, hence the name Cinco, which translates in Spanish to five. The oil bust and recession shortly thereafter caused development of Cinco Ranch not to begin until the mid-late 1990's, hard to believe but oil went down to $10 a barrel during that downswing in the economy. Cinco Ranch has grown rapidly since and has its very own private real sand beach club/swim lagoon, a world class water park, stocked lakes with 11+ lb. bass, miles of hike, bike & nature trails, and much more. Other first class home communities also offer major amenities, Grand Lakes, Green Trails, Kelliwood, Lakes of Buckingham, the elegant Woodcreek Reserve, Remington Trails, Seven Meadows, Firethorn and many more. Houston and Katy Texas have one of the lowest housing costs in the US, with the average home price of only $206,000. Combine this with our mild tropical temperatures, lush green land, sports, arts, top rated schools, safety, security, parks, golf courses galore, accessible health care, shopping, close-knit small town atmosphere, and a large church community.It's no wonder we say, "You'll Love Katy".
Call me, and I'll share more of my Katy Texas with you, and why I Love Katy and have lived and sold Real Estate here since 1976. You can reach me at http://www.lizcarter.com/, or 281-391-SOLD (7653). Liz Carter & Team Realty, 21949-D Katy Frwy. Katy, Texas 77450. My office is easy to find, right on the corner of I-10 @ Mason Road. Come visit me and Katy Texas, you might just fall in love too. Liz Carter
29 Comments on Historical Katy Texas, a look back in time, by Liz Carter local Realtor since 1976
Nice post Liz, Katy has had a lot of growth in the past 32 years and you've been there to be a part of it. I'm sure some of the growth has occurred becasue you were there! Good Realtors bring a lot to a community.
That was a great post!!! Liked the video & the information is very useful and complete & then to top it off the presentation is crisp and visually appealing! Makes me want to visit Katy...hmmmm
Liz, Wonderful post! I learned a lot about Katy. Several years ago I sold my cousins house in Katy Proper and that is what she called it. I didn't realize that was actually what it was called. I ususally don't go that far for a listing but my Mom would have rung my neck had I not (lol). I did find all the back roads from Tomball to get over there.
Hi Ricki, thanks...yea it has really changed. Like a lot, miss a lot. I think I'm going to make it to the BBQ, right now it is a go, yeah.
Hi Nathan,thanks so much, I love the history part too. This one took me many hours, I need to learn how to get faster on my post...I have no life outside the rain. Liz
Hi Melissa, thanks for your understanding, I have a few minor corrections to make, now that I have more time. I assume you will not be pulling them till right before the judging, right? Liz
Hi Don, yes indeed...you must have escaped the "big bust", it was bad, Liz
Hey Cousin Tommy,glad you stopped by! Thanks for the support, the family thinks I'm nuts, kinda like this kitty looks, and are threatening to take away my computers :). Love Liffy
Hey Partner, thanks for letting me know, I will try to get it fixed, got a little extra time. Thanks for your help last night too. Pretty sure I'm going to the BBQ, so will get a chance to spend some time with you in person. Liz
very informative blog...did YOU really write this?? :)
not to jump off topic, but doing 200+ transactions in a market where the population is only 44,000...that's insane!!!! there are people who can't do half of that production with 10x the amount of available people!!!! by the way, how many yearly transactions did the whole marketplace have while you were full-time??
Hey Superstar, YES I wrote it, and did a ton of research on it to. It took me several hours, but it was pretty detailed and wanted to make sure all my dates and information was right. I really enjoy writing, maybe I'll write a book next :). L
Hi Maureen, yes I finely got them. You also have 200 coming your way for entering the Texas Real Estate groups contest last month on the prettiest old church in Texas. They are letting us have them again this month too. So you get 200 for the regular post and another 200 just for entering the contest...yippee! Guess you'll have to fly down and take some pictures :). Texas highways are spectacular in April when the wildflowers are in bloom, they are everywhere, in every color. Liz Just took these on the way to the lake house, makes you smile :). Liz
Hey Annie Oakley, thanks for letting me know about it, I never read the official post, guess I should start. I went by and looked at yours too, so much nicer. I'm still working on mine, so it's not finished yet. Liz
Liz, your post is great! No wonder it took so long...I sure enjoyed getting to know you this weekend. We are lucky to have you on our team! We'll talk again soon! Later in the rain~Deb
Hey Deb, you need to go take a look at the post I did of our active rain gathering, I got a couple of great shots of you with Rhett! But you might not want remember that part of our party :) Liz
H Cristina, I can't remember what group if did this one for, I'm going to have to go look it up and se mh tough. I'm pooped, gotta get in bed, I'll come by and visit everyone tomorrow. Liz
Hi Ricki, thank you, it was nice meeting you, and really getting to know you. Enjoyed our talk tonight too, can't wait to see you. Liz
Hey Deb,I saw yours too, and you won 2nd place, deservedly so. Yours was brilliant, how long did yours take? If you tell me only an hour or so, I might shoot myself :). Liz
Congrats on your win, Liz! This is awesome. I always wondered where my local geese went for winter and now I know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's just one big party, huh?!
Hi Natalie, yep you get them 1/2 the year and I get them the other, it works out great. Before all the development it was truly amazing, still is, but you don't see them as much, there were millions it seems. Truly a spectacular sight. Liz
Liz, I am a little slow in reading this great post on "YOUR" Katy Area but what a lot of good information and very well put together. I love history and have been a member of The National Trust for Historic Preservation for twenty years and restoring some commercial buildings along the way. Ricki and I won first place in the commercial category from TAR back in the 1980's. No wonder you love the Katy area it makes you want to rent a UHAUL and hit the road.
Hello Liz - This is BWP - Ceil - I'm trying to learn my way around this maze of blogs on AR stopped by for a visit. Our favorite stopping off place in Katy is Bass Pro, at least it was until they built a Bass Pro in San Antonio. Really like the picture of your wildflowers.
fyi I did a little work this a.m. on Good Golly Miss Molly post, divided into Teams. Looks like Judi is up and running. Don't know about Ricki and Dale. I'm going fishing and won't be back until Saturday so you can make any decisions without my input. We'll see how these Party Planners will do on their own. Hopefully some volunteers will choose their team and get going on this import wedding of Tex and Miss Molly.
I'm trying to recruit a Master Chef to help us with the menu. His name is Jimmy and knows some great exotic non-beef recipes. He is also a friend of Judi and Dale; so maybe with their help we can get him to come over and give us some recipes to choose from.
Should be back in time for Saturday night Party at your house.
Chuck - Oh it will, just wait, you will have a blast...please let me know when you put up a post on it, would love to see all the fun. L
Don - Good to hear from you. You and Richi amaze me, you have accomplished so much with so many different things. Since you are an expert I really appreciate your kind words.
BWP - So Carl gone fishing...and your on his computer, Love It. While the cat's away...L
Chuck - Oh it will, just wait, you will have a blast...please let me know when you put up a post on it, would love to see all the fun. L
Don - Good to hear from you. You and Richi amaze me, you have accomplished so much with so many different things. Since you are an expert I really appreciate your kind words.
BWP - So Carl gone fishing...and your on his computer, Love It. While the cat's away...L
Liz, I missed this post when you first wrote it. Really enjoyed reading and learning more about Katy. I've always been curious about it, since I go thru there (or by there) to go home to Lake Charles. The next time we go, I'm going to suggest to Don we get off the highway and drive around Katy's neighborhoods.
Liz Carter,Broker/Owner of Liz Carter & Team Realty, Katy TX (Houston) Katy, TX More about me…
Liz Carter & Team Realty-Top Realtor in Katy & Houston Texas
Office Phone: (281) 391-7653
Cell Phone: (713) 824-9044
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Liz Carter,Broker/Owner of Liz Carter & Team Realty, Katy TX (Houston)
When I first moved to Katy Texas in the late 70's there was not much outside what is called "Katy Proper", that is the area that lays within the city limits, the other part of Katy is actually large sections of Harris and Fort Bend unincorporated counties. Back then there was a much more distinct emphasis placed on Katy Proper vs. "the other people/areas" that lie outside the city limits. People were draw to Katy for its schools, the charm of a small town, and the developing West Houston's Energy Corridor making its way west on I-10 (aka Katy Freeway). The "Katy area" now comprises approximately 40,000 residents, with about 12,000 residing in Katy Proper. We all are part of the Katy Independent School District and nearly everyone in the area has a Katy postal address. KISD has around 55,000 students, 47 schools with six being high schools. I have experienced the enormous growth of the area since I opened one of the first Real Estate offices here in 1976. As a local Realtor it has been good for business but it came at a price. Back then there was hardly any traffic on Mason Rd. which was only two lanes and ended shortly south of I-10, no malls, no shopping centers, no restaurants, no grocery stores (outside Katy Proper or driving into Houston), no office buildings, no movie theaters, and hardly any noise outside the arrival of millions of migratory birds especially geese in the autumn. I have vivid memories of stunningly beautiful sunsets that seemed to last for hours. There was nothing to block the view, since the land is flat as a pancake and gives the illusion of endless horizons.
fifteen years later Peter Black and his wife Ophelia bought land and moved out from Addicks. These two families quietly farmed until 1895 when other fokes decided this was a good place to settle. The first settlers to Katy were Mr. William Pitt and his family who arrived on Christmas day in 1894. He came with his wife Lella and three children, moving here from the nearby town of Pattison, Texas. Many of our streets, schools, parks, etc. are named after those early settlers by the names of Peek, Stuart, Beckendorff, Cabiness, Thomas, Stockdick, Morton, Franz, and the Schilipf families to name a few of the very first. Mr. James Oliver Thomas had bought 320 acres of land and laid out the town site of Katy in 1895. In 1896 Katy was listed in Washington, D.C. as having a post office. It was then officially called Katy, Texas, with Mr. J.O. Thomas being the first postmaster. The post office was located in his general store. These families were drawn to the area for its farming land, and the fact that the Missouri-Kansas-Texas railroad was completed, so it was easy for people to get to the area, and also to get farm products to market. The land in Katy is rich and flat, making it prime farm land, and later prime rice fields. The prairie was thick with tall, flowing grasses and so tall a man on horseback could not be seen.
that. Loving history and wishing I had been around in that era, its fun to read about it and see the pictures from "The Good Old Days", however growth happens things change, and for the most part in Katy we have seen a lot of good changes. There is still a small town feeling and atmosphere, certainly much more than the hustle and bustle of Houston, but within an easy, short commute for the sports, art, fine dining, world class shopping and all the things that come with being one of the largest cities in the US. In later years Katy became mostly a rice growing community. In downtown Katy the enormous rich storage tanks and dryers still remain, they line the no longer active rail road tracks that run parallel to I-10. Each October the big event is the Katy Rice Harvest Festival. It last for two days, with streets being blocked off so you can stroll through downtown Katy with miles of antiques, booths filled with handmade crafts, three stages with live entertainments, pageants, carnival rides, food booths serving corn on the cob, candied pecans, BBQ, cotton candy, and of course rice. Katy's slogan is "You'll Love Katy", and it's also known as "The City of Churches". I recently did a story on one of the first churches in Katy, now called First Baptist Church built November 20th, 1898. One thing that has remained constant is we are still the site of one of the most incredible natural spectacles in North America, as thousands, then million, of migratory birds arrive on our Katy Prairie in autumn. This is just after the crops are in and the land lies fallow, the skies are a thrilling spectacle of waterfowl. Much has been done to conserve this area to keep our invaluable resource for the benefit of its wildlife of the winter home for some and the year round home of other birds. The sunsets are also still a marvelous event on the Katy Prairie.
state championship game, and the rest as they say is history. The Katy Tiger have won five state football titles, and the team has been particularly successful in recent years, winning championships again in 1997, 2000, 2003, and 2007 and we are consistently ranked in the top ten nationally. Under Coach Mike Johnston the Tigers beat powerhouse Southlake Carroll HS 16-15 in the 2003 5A Division 11 state final, giving Southlake its only loss in two years. The head coach now is Gary Joseph who was the former Katy defensive coordinator. You know when the Tigers are playing, because no one is anywhere in Katy, we are all at the game...GO TIGERS! We have an impressive new rodeo arena behind the high school. Academically Katy High was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 1997-98. It you want to see high school football at its finest come to one of our games, and get ready to hear the crowds roarJ.
argest gas fields since the early forties. Katy Mills Mall and many major hospitals have opened in the area lately. Katy is also home to the Igloo Corp. and Academy Sports and Outdoors. The Katy area has been among the fastest growing in the nation in terms of both residential and business growth. The major development in housing features many upscale quality master planned communities as well as the established neighborhood. Among the newer neighborhoods is Cinco Ranch with around 8,000 residents. Cinco Ranch was a working ranch when the land was originally acquired by the development company American General in the late 80's. The ranch belonged to five brothers, hence the name Cinco, which translates in Spanish to five. The oil bust and recession shortly thereafter caused development of Cinco Ranch not to begin until the mid-late 1990's, hard to believe but oil went down to $10 a barrel during that downswing in the economy. Cinco Ranch has grown rapidly since and has its very own private real sand beach club/swim lagoon, a world class water park, stocked lakes with 11+ lb. bass, miles of hike, bike & nature trails, and much more. Other first class home communities also offer major amenities, Grand Lakes, Green Trails, Kelliwood, Lakes of Buckingham, the elegant Woodcreek Reserve, Remington Trails, Seven Meadows, Firethorn and many more. Houston and Katy Texas have one of the lowest housing costs in the US, with the average home price of only $206,000. Combine this with our mild tropical temperatures, lush green land, sports, arts, top rated schools, safety, security, parks, golf courses galore, accessible health care, shopping, close-knit small town atmosphere, and a large church community. It's no wonder we say, "You'll Love Katy".
Call me, and I'll share more of my Katy Texas with you, and why I Love Katy and have lived and sold Real Estate here since 1976. You can reach me at 
. Liz
Just took these on the way to the lake house, makes you smile :). Liz
;)
;)
Nice post Liz, Katy has had a lot of growth in the past 32 years and you've been there to be a part of it. I'm sure some of the growth has occurred becasue you were there! Good Realtors bring a lot to a community.