Fulshear-Katy Community Guide & Directory 2023-24

OUR HISTORY

HISTORY OF FULSHEAR AND KATY

F ueled by the growth of new master planned communities, high-tech industrial warehouses and state of-the-art retail and lifestyle centers, it’s often hard to imagine the humble origins of the Fulshear and Katy communities. The history of the Fulshear and Katy community is woven from a common thread as both communities were originally deeply rooted in agriculture. However, the growth of both communities was ultimately fueled by the railroads. Established in 1824 by Churchill Fulshear, Jr. as part of a land grant from the Mexican government, what is

was recently widened to an average of 26 lanes. Fulshear’s growth can be tied largely to the expansion of FM 1093 and the development of the Westpark Tollway. While developers and business owners continue to flock to both the Katy and Fulshear communities in search of new opportunities, including new master planned communities, office buildings and retail centers, as well as a booming new market for industrial and distribution centers, area stakeholders work tirelessly to embrace the growth while ensuring that they are able to preserve the history and culture that makes these communities unique.

originally centered around the cotton gin and flour mill, quickly added a number of new businesses, including several shops and stores, a saloon, and even a hotel. The Katy community, initially known as Cane Island, was based around the MKT rail line. The name was often shortened to “K-T” and thus the town of Katy was born. The Katy economy was originally built around rice farming, however, residents were forced to rebuild after the Great Hurricane of 1900 destroyed nearly all of the homes in the area. Perseverance paid off and within a few years, infrastructure was rebuilt adding numerous local businesses, which also

included a hotel and saloon. The little town began to grow around the railroad stop as more and more families began moving to the area with dreams of prosperity on the Katy prairie. The City of Katy was incorporated in 1945 with C.L. Baird as its first Mayor. Fulshear ultimately incorporated as a general law city in 1977 and was later converted to a home-rule city in 2016. Ironically, the development and expansion of transportation infrastructure has once again fueled the rapid growth of both communities. For Katy, this growth was originally tied to the expansion of I-10, which

now known as Fulshear developed into a “boom town” when the Aransas Pass Railroad decided to run its rail line through the town in 1888. The rail brought an influx of immigrants to the area, and the town, which

photos courtesy of Terry Crockett

18 FULSHEAR-KATY COMMUNITY GUIDE & DIRECTORY 2023-24 ISSUE