During the early 19th century, Katy was known as “Cane Island” because it was named after a nearby creek that had an abundance of tall cane grass in the water. One of the first community settlements was in 1872. R. M. Cash, J.O. Thomas, and L.C. Luckel were responsible for planning the construction of the town 23 years later. The city’s name “Katy” originated from the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway (MKT).
People referred to this railway company as “the K-T”, which later evolved into “the Katy.” By 1945, the city was officially incorporated and many families were traveling by train to settle there. As more and more people began to establish themselves in Katy, the city became a huge hub for rice farming. Crops such cotton, peanuts, and corn agriculture were successfully grown there. After the opening of Interstate 10, the area rapidly expanded as the population increased with more traditional families.
Katy is a diverse and suburban city that is very family friendly. Residents of the area are dedicated to ensuring that their city stays clean and litter-free. Katy is known for its Keep Katy Beautiful initiative, which has been around for over 25 years. The people are focused on educating other about recycling, waste reduction, and tree planting.
As a family-oriented area, Katy has different celebrations and outdoor events for all to come together and have a great time. From festivals in the summertime to tree lighting ceremonies in the winter, Katy continues to celebrate its harvesting and farming origins.
The city of Katy has different schooling options for students in grades preschool through twelfth. Whether you want to enroll your students in traditional public school or desire to apply for private schools, this city has it all. While Katy only has one school district within the city limits, Katy Independent School District has over 60 primary and secondary schools. Also, the city has alternative schools within the school district that offer additional programs such as homeschooling support, behavioral and discipline, and subject specialty schools.
For families who wish to enroll their students in alternative schools not in Katy Independent School District, they can enroll them in private schools in the area. Many of these schools have school administrators and teachers who strive to foster open-mindedness and creativity among the students. The private schools in Katy have incredible college-preparatory curriculum with plenty of opportunities for interdisciplinary learning and enrichment programs.
The city of Katy has plenty of single-family homes, townhomes, and new construction in the area. Also, there are a few apartment complexes as well. As this area has predominantly single families living in the neighborhoods, there are many residential places with multiple rooms and plenty of space. The single-family homes ranges from three to seven bedrooms and from one to-three stories high. Most of the homes in Katy are either ranch style, traditional, or have a bungalow style.
The city also has quite a few traditional mansions and luxury homes on the market. Also, the area has townhomes for rent and to buy. The townhomes in Katy are more contemporary and luxurious with high ceilings and high-end appliances. Unfortunately, the city does not have any high rise condominiums because residential buildings like these are found in more urban areas. Plus, there are many new single-family homes being built.
While Katy has many types of residential options, the majority of the real estate is in homes for single families. These are the homes that most of the people desire to live in because they are in quiet neighborhoods and great places to raise families. The upscale single-family homes are more expensive and can be priced as high as $1.7 million. Homes like these have either have traditional or even Mediterranean architecture.
They have extraordinary amenities and features such as elaborate staircases, gourmet kitchens, game rooms, theater rooms, and multiple-car garages. The homes that are priced lower on the market can be as low as $220,000. These homes tend to be one-story high but can still have large bedrooms, a two-car garage, contemporary-style interior, stainless steel kitchen appliances, and multiple bathrooms. The luxurious community features are even more enticing. Some have swimming pools, fitness centers, and cafes for residents to enjoy.
Katy is full of family fun and exciting entertainment. Whether you have been living in the city for years or you just recently moved to the area, Katy has something for everyone. It has museums, restaurants, shopping malls, festivals, parks, classes, arcades, and more. Leave it to Katy Mills to supply some of the best name brand outlet stores for a shopping spree. Or eat some of your favorite Tex-Mex dishes at Alicia’s Mexican Grill.
If you and your friends are into golfing, games, and food, go to Topgolf for some real fun. The city has some much history attached to it. Take some time to go to The Johnny Nelson Katy Heritage Museum or the Katy Veterans Memorial Museum to learn about the history of Katy. The city has plenty of recreational parks all over with playgrounds, places for picnics and gatherings, and paved trails for walking and biking.