Greater Katy
Encyclopedia
This article is in reference to the area around the City of Katy, Texas. For more information regarding the City itself, please go directly to Katy, Texas
.
Greater Katy is the term often used to refer to a suburban region on the west side of the Greater Houston
metropolitan area that has a Katy
address but not part of the city of Katy. This area includes the suburbs that surround the Katy city limits west to Pederson road, east to Fry road , north to FM 529 and south to FM 1093/ Westpark Tollway
Parkway. While these boundaries are not exact, it gives a rough outline of what most people consider Greater Katy. Most of Greater Katy is to the east of the city of Katy toward Houston and includes surrounding suburban areas and unincorporated areas that are not in the Houston city limits. The region includes parts of Harris County
, Fort Bend County, and Waller County much as the City of Katy does. Greater Katy is one of the fastest growing portions of the Houston metropolitan area and the state of Texas as a whole.
of the City of Houston the city of Katy cannot annex this area without express permission from the City of Houston. This has occurred on several occasions in regards to relatively small tracts of land. Most recently this came into play with development of the Katy Mills Mall, which sat mostly within the City of Katy but about half was in the Houston ETJ. The developer and city of Katy threatened to build just parking lot on the Houston area depriving Houston of any real property tax value. For 1 million dollars Katy bought the right to annex the area desired.
Katy, Texas
Katy is a city located in Harris, Fort Bend and Waller Counties in the U.S. state of Texas, within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area...
.
Greater Katy is the term often used to refer to a suburban region on the west side of the Greater Houston
Greater Houston
Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown is a 10-county metropolitan area defined by the Office of Management and Budget. It is located along the Gulf Coast region in the U.S. state of Texas...
metropolitan area that has a Katy
Katy, Texas
Katy is a city located in Harris, Fort Bend and Waller Counties in the U.S. state of Texas, within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area...
address but not part of the city of Katy. This area includes the suburbs that surround the Katy city limits west to Pederson road, east to Fry road , north to FM 529 and south to FM 1093/ Westpark Tollway
Westpark Tollway
The Westpark Tollway, also Fort Bend Westpark Tollway, is a limited-access toll road serving western Houston and Harris County, and northeastern Fort Bend County. Construction on the facility began in 2001 and portions of the road were opened to traffic in May 2004. Construction of the roadway...
Parkway. While these boundaries are not exact, it gives a rough outline of what most people consider Greater Katy. Most of Greater Katy is to the east of the city of Katy toward Houston and includes surrounding suburban areas and unincorporated areas that are not in the Houston city limits. The region includes parts of Harris County
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
, Fort Bend County, and Waller County much as the City of Katy does. Greater Katy is one of the fastest growing portions of the Houston metropolitan area and the state of Texas as a whole.
Greater Katy versus the City of Katy
The City of Katy is actually a very small area surrounded by Greater Katy. The City itself only had an estimated 13,000 residents as of 2004. Many people confuse Greater Katy with the City of Katy, however there is no city representation or services provided to people outside of the actual city limits of Katy. Some of this area is actually within the extraterritorial jurisdictionExtraterritorial jurisdiction
Extraterritorial jurisdiction is the legal ability of a government to exercise authority beyond its normal boundaries.Any authority can, of course, claim ETJ over any external territory they wish...
of the City of Houston the city of Katy cannot annex this area without express permission from the City of Houston. This has occurred on several occasions in regards to relatively small tracts of land. Most recently this came into play with development of the Katy Mills Mall, which sat mostly within the City of Katy but about half was in the Houston ETJ. The developer and city of Katy threatened to build just parking lot on the Houston area depriving Houston of any real property tax value. For 1 million dollars Katy bought the right to annex the area desired.
- Katy Visitor and Tourism Bureau. Under the umbrella of the KEDC to promote the modest yet growing convention and tourism sector of the Greater Katy economy.
North-South roads
(listed from west to east)- Pederson Road
- FM 1463
- Pin Oak Road
- Gaston Road
- Katy-Fort Bend County Road
- Grand Parkway (State Highway 99State Highway 99 (Texas)State Highway 99, also known as the Grand Parkway, is a Texas highway, which opened its first section in 1994. When State Highway 99 is complete, it will be the longest beltway in the world, and the third loop within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area, with Interstate 610 being...
) - Peek Road
- Mason Road
- Westgreen Boulevard
- Fry Road (Also an East/West road)
East-West roads
(listed from north to south)- FM 529
- Clay Road
- Morton (Ranch) Road
- Franz Road/Saums Road
- Colonial Parkway/Park Row
- Katy Freeway (Interstate 10)
- Kingsland Boulevard
- Highland Knolls Drive/Bay Hill Boulevard
- Cinco Ranch Boulevard
- Westheimer Parkway
- Fry Road (Also a North/South road)
- FM 1093/Westpark TollwayWestpark TollwayThe Westpark Tollway, also Fort Bend Westpark Tollway, is a limited-access toll road serving western Houston and Harris County, and northeastern Fort Bend County. Construction on the facility began in 2001 and portions of the road were opened to traffic in May 2004. Construction of the roadway...
Neighborhoods within Greater Katy
Greater Katy is, for the most part, subdivisions and master planned communities with retail centers. Some of the neighborhoods and subdivisions that are in Greater Katy:- West Memorial—The oldest development outside the City of Katy, now located in the center of the Greater Katy area. Most of the homes here were built in the late 1960s and early 1970s and the area has indeed matured out with large trees lining the streets and homes there. Generally considered an older middle-class neighborhood.
- Memorial Parkway—Neighborhood to the south and east of West Memorial. Both developments flank Mason Road. Memorial Parkway was built in the late 1970s and 1980.
- Cimarron—Also an older neighborhood in the core area of Greater Katy, similar to West Memorial.
- Nottingham CountryNottingham CountryNottingham Country is a master-planned community developed during the 1970s and 1980s in multiple phases by the Kickerillo Companies in Harris County, Texas, lying in unincorporated Harris County between the cities of Katy, Texas and Houston, Texas, with a population of approximately...
—Built in the 1970s and 1980s as an upscale development with large brick homes and an oversized community center and swimming pool. - Cinco RanchCinco Ranch, TexasCinco Ranch is a census-designated place and master-planned community located in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Houston within Fort Bend and Harris Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 11,196 at the 2000 census. It lies about 25 miles west of the Harris County seat of...
—This is a collection of developments that was built out during the late 1980s and 1990s and is still growing. Second only to the Woodlands in growth. Cinco Ranch was the first of the "ultra modern" master planned developments to be built in Greater Katy. The amenities were and still are one of a kind. Typical subdivisions include swimming pools, parks, numerous lakes and man-made beaches. Housing prices range from the 170's to multi million dollar homes. Today many of the new shopping outlets in Greater Katy are located in Cinco Ranch and the general vicinity. - Williamsburg—This was supposed to be a master-planned community. Built in the late 70's/early 80's, and really didn't take off, some say, because it is located north of I-10. Its neighborhoods includes: Williamsburg Settlement, Williamsburg Parish, Williamschase, Williamsburg Hamlet, and Williamsburg Colony.
- Grand LakesGrand LakesGrand Lakes, Texas is a "master planned community" located in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Houston within Fort Bend and Harris Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It lies about 25 miles west of Houston and 10 miles north of Richmond...
—A rather new neighborhood built between Cinco Ranch and the Westpark Tollway. The community does have a series of lakes. In May 2008, the last house in Grand Lakes was finished and the community is considered finished. - Falcon Point—A neighborhood built around The Club at Falcon Point, an 18 hole private golf club. Bay Hill Blvd comes to an end right in the middle of Falcon Point which is bordered by Roesner Rd and backs up to the Katy Mills Mall area.
- Firethorne—- A master-planned community built near just outside of Katy city limits. It is a sprawling 1500 acres (6.1 km²) and homes just started construction in early 2008.
- Seven Meadows--A smaller community located south of I-10 between Fry Road and FM 1093. It is very close to the Westpark Tollway allowing a quick commute to Houston. Avalon at Seven Meadows features lakefront custom and semi-custom homes as well as patio golf course homes.
Regional Organizations
While the City of Katy is the only area served by city fire, police, and emergency services, there are other cases where all of Greater Katy is served by one organization. Examples include:- Katy Independent School DistrictKaty Independent School DistrictThe Katy Independent School District is a public school district based in Katy, Texas, United States. The district enrolls over 60,000 students and is currently rated as Recognized by the Texas Education Agency...
. The Katy ISD serves the entire Greater Katy region as well as some parts of far west Houston. The KISD also extends into rural parts of the Cypress region.
- Greater Katy Chamber of Commerce. This business promotion organization services the entire Katy region as well as parts of Houston's Energy Corridor.
- Katy Economic Development Council. www.katyedc.org