Katy, TX

Located 30 miles from downtown Houston, Katy is uniquely situated in three different counties: Waller, Harris and Fort Bend. While "Old Katy" is a small town with a population of just under 14,000, the "Katy area," which includes unincorporated land on the outskirts of town, has an estimated population of several hundred thousand.

The town takes its name from the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, or "K-T Railroad." It was formerly known as Cane Island after the Cane Island Creek that runs through the area. Although Houston's growth has slowed in recent years, Katy continues to expand at a rapid pace.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Katy started out as an agricultural community. Rice was its major crop, with soybeans becoming an important source of farm revenue in the late 1950s.

Today, the city's economy has diversified. Farming continues, but the city is becoming increasingly professional. Approximately 34 percent of the city's workers are employed in managerial or professional positions, and 38 percent are employed in technical, sales or administrative support positions. Katy has a very low unemployment rate compared to the surrounding area.

Several major companies, including the Igloo Corp. and Academy Sports and Outdoors, have their national headquarters in Katy. The global engineering and construction firm KBR is opening a new headquarters in the Katy area as well. Katy is also home to one of the largest gas fields in the United States.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Katy offers a wide range of housing, including apartment communities and luxury homes. It is not uncommon to see large estates with enough acreage to keep horses in the area. Many of Katy's oldest homes were designated with historical markers by the Texas Sesquicentennial Committee in 1986.

There are approximately 220 active subdivisions in the area. Many of the Katy's neighborhoods are master-planned communities, complete with swimming pools, tennis courts and shopping centers. As the population expands, more and more apartment buildings are springing up in the area.

BEST BETS

• Katy Mills: Katy Mills is Katy's premier shopping destination. This 1.3 million-square-foot shopping center features hundreds of premium outlet stores, a food court, a 20-screen movie theater, restaurants, and family entertainment venues. It attracts shoppers from around the state and beyond.
• Katy Heritage Museum: The Katy Heritage Museum is a 9,600-square-foot facility located in the VFW Park and displaying artifacts from Katy's pioneer days. Exhibits include early farm equipment, old photographs and antiques.
• Katy Veterans Memorial Museum: Also known as the "G.I. Joe Museum," the Katy Veterans Memorial Museum exhibits artifacts from all of the armed conflicts U.S. soldiers have participated in.
• MKT Depot and Caboose: The MKT Depot and Caboose are historic buildings from Katy's days as a railway hub. The Katy Heritage Society was formed in 1979 to preserve and restore these buildings, which are located in Railroad Park.

FAMILY FUN

• Mary Jo Peckham Park: Mary Jo Peckham Park is a unique park designed for children with disabilities, but is open for everyone in the community to enjoy. The handicapped-accessible facility offers a playground, miniature golf, a picnic area, fishing, a jogging trail and an indoor pool.
• Katy City Park: Katy City Park offers a jogging trail, a basketball pavilion, a playground, tennis courts and a picnic area.
• The Golf Club at Cinco Ranch: Located in the master-planned Cinco Ranch community just outside of Katy proper, the Golf Club at Cinco Ranch is a public course designed by architect Carlton Gipson. In addition to its 18-hole, par-71 course, the club also offers clinics and banquet facilities. The course was named to Golf Digest's list of "Places to Play" in 2004.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• Katy Visual and Performing Arts Center: The Katy Visual and Performing Arts Center stages performances and offers classes. The center is also engaged in community outreach programs that work to bring art experiences to underprivileged groups.

EVENTS

• Katy Holiday Fun Festival: The Katy Holiday Fun Festival is a new December tradition that includes carnival rides, a live nativity scene, a petting zoo, a 10-foot snow slide, pictures with Santa Claus, donkey and camel rides, live music and local vendors.
• Katy Rice Harvest Festival: Since 1978, The Katy Rice Harvest Festival has been a community tradition. The festival, which pays homage to the community's rice farming roots, is held in downtown Katy each October. It features two stages with live entertainment, food and crafts. The festival draws 40,000 to 50,000 visitors annually.
• Jazz at LaCenterra: During the summer, LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch hosts outdoor jazz concerts every Thursday evening.

LOCAL MEDIA

Katy is served by the Katy Times and the Katy Sun.

EDUCATION

Houston Community College has a branch in Katy, as does the University of Houston.

SPORTS TEAMS

Katy is less than a 30-minute drive from Houston's professional sports teams, including:

• Houston Aeros Hockey
• Houston Astros Baseball
• Houston Hotshots Indoor Soccer
• Houston Rockets Basketball
• Houston Texans Football