Katy

First settled in 1872, Katy’s town square was laid out in 1895. The city was named for the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad. William Eule introduced rice farming to the dry-land farmers in 1901, and rice replaced cotton, peanuts, and corn.

Today, Katy is still renowned as a rail and rice farming center and is also known for one of the largest gas fields in the state. Katy’s city limits are in three counties,Harris, Waller, and Fort Bend. Its proximity to Houston provides the city with all the benefits inherent to a big city, yet allows residents to enjoy the community life of a small hometown. Numerous parks provide recreational opportunities throughout the city.

The Katy Heritage Society restored the old MKT Depot and is open by appointment only. Shoppers find bargains at Katy Mills mall and the Bass Pro shops at I-10 and Katy – Ft. Bend Rd. The area on the Katy Prairie is excellent for hunting, bird watching, and nature study.