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Long known for its excellence in producing high school football championships and collegiate-level athletic talent, Katy has also blossomed into one of Houston's finest suburbs. About 55 minutes out on Interstate 10 at the intersection of Highway 90, this area was named for the original salon keeper's wife.
That seems ironic now, since Katy is one of the more family-oriented areas among H-Town's primary suburbs. Katy Independent School District (KISD) is one of only three "large" (greater than 25,000 students) districts in Texas to be honored as "Recognized" for four consecutive years. The district offers an Outdoor Learning Center and an Outdoor Education program, both unique within the local area, and several KISD schools have received "Exemplary Performance" awards from the Texas Education Agency.
The Rice Harvest Festival, held annually in October to celebrate the area's rich farming traditions, is a family favorite, as are the Katy Freedom Celebration every July 4th and the Folk Life Festival held every April, showcasing Texas prairie life from 100 years ago.
As would befit an area with a recognized Outdoor Learning Center, Katy has six local parks for residents to enjoy, as well as Katy Prairie Conservancy, where residents partake in hunting, bird watching and nature study.
Katy Mills Mall, the most visited shopping area in all of greater Houston, is a 1.3-million-square-foot shopping center featuring more than 200 retailers and a 20-screen movie theater. Katy Mills opens its doors to millions of shoppers each year, and is typically crowded on weekends; however, with a variety of off-price retailers as well, affordability is still a key component of the mall's success.
Home values typically begin in the low $100,000 range but move into the millions. The prices will only rise as Katy continues to grow and be recognized nationally; at the start of 2005, the "Keep Katy Beautiful" organization received a national award from President George W. Bush for its efforts in cleaning up the western Houston hamlet.
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—Katy writeup by Ted Bauer
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