The city of Katy is approximately centered at the tripoint of Harris, Fort Bend, and Waller counties.

Katy obtained its name when the MKT Railroad dropped its Missouri waypoint and the junction became known as the KT stop.

Beginning in the 1960s, the rapid growth of Houston moved westward along the new Interstate 10 corridor, bringing Katy into its environs.

[10] Over the next 250 years the area was trafficked by French and Spanish European colonists seeking land and trade opportunities.

In the early 1800s Katy came be to be known as "Cane Island",[8] named for the creek that runs through the area, a branch of Buffalo Bayou.

The hot summers and thick clay soil made it difficult to attract settlers to the area.

[11] Freed slaves and their families including Thomas (Mary) Robinson and Milto McGinnis, along with Mr. Crawford, Peter Black, and John Sills were the only recorded residents of Cane Island in 1875.

The name "Katy" was derived from the MKT Railroad Company, which was commonly referred to as "the K-T" (also its stock exchange symbol).

The anticipations of prosperity would bring growth to the new town which was developed around the original train stop and railroad tracks.

The farming community well supported local businesses as several hotels, stores, livery stables and saloons were prospering.

Today, what was Humble Oil is now Exxon which continues to operate and oversee the expansive underground pipeline network in the region.

Large sections of the K-T railway are removed to allow for the I-10 expansion, officially marking the end of passenger rail through the region.

Its boundaries, as defined by the Katy Independent School Divisions zoning, run just south of Kingsland Blvd, stretching across Interstate 10 to Morton Road.

Old Towne Katy's new residential communities include Pin Oak Village, The Falls at Green Meadows, Cane Island and The Enclave.

Large developments underway have included new residential communities boarding the east border of Mary Joe Peckham Park and the Katy Boardwalk.

[25] Places of worship in the modern-day Katy area represent non-denominations as well as the denominations of Catholicism, Islam, Latter-Day Saints, Judaism, Hinduism, and Protestantism.

[27] Academy Sports and Outdoors has its corporate offices and product distribution center in unincorporated western Harris County.

[28] BP America is headquartered in the Houston Energy Corridor and is the area's largest employer, with 5,500 employees on its Westlake campus as of 2009.

[30] With the economy improving after 2009, retail centers were developed throughout Katy to accommodate the rapid residential growth.

This multicultural dining, shopping and residential area is anchored by Asian grocer, HMart and Japanese book retailer Kinokuniya.

Cultural activities held in Katy Asian Town include Chinese New Year with lion dancing performances, as well as open market art and comics events outside Kinokuniya.

Since its inception, the Katy Area EDC has grown to over 210 members, has a budget of $900,000 and has assisted in the creation of over 16,200 jobs and more than $2.5 billion in capital investment.

[49] HCC Northwest College operates the Katy Campus in an unincorporated section of Harris County.

[citation needed] The University of Houston purchased the Verde Park Development site, with plans to break ground on a Katy Campus at I10 and 99.

METRO opened a six-story garage Park And Ride Bus Depot at the intersection of I-10 west and the Grand Parkway to service commuters.