Atascocita, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Atascocita, Texas
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The "Big A", with Lake Houston in the background
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Location in Harris County and the state of Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Harris |
| Area | |
| • Total | 25.4 sq mi (65.8 km2) |
| • Land | 25.3 sq mi (65.4 km2) |
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2) |
| Elevation | 72 ft (22 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 88,174 |
| • Density | 2,599/sq mi (1,003.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
77346
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| Area code(s) | 281 |
| FIPS code | 48-04462 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1877179 |
Atascocita is a community in Harris County, Texas, United States. It's part of the larger Houston area. In 2020, about 88,174 people lived there. Atascocita is located near Humble and is about 18 miles northeast of downtown Houston.
Contents
What is Atascocita Like?
Atascocita is located on the eastern side of Lake Houston. This lake is very large, covering about 12,000 acres. The community has many fun places like parks, country clubs, and golf courses. Some of these include the Atascocita Country Club and the Walden on Lake Houston Golf and Country Club. There's also Tour 18, which has golf holes designed to look like famous ones from across the United States.
U.S. News & World Report once called Atascocita one of the "Best Places to Retire." They mentioned how great Lake Houston is for boating and fishing, and how many golf courses are in the area.
A Look at Atascocita's History
How Did Atascocita Get Its Name?
The name Atascocita comes from an old Spanish military outpost and road built in 1756. This road, called the Atascocito Road, stretched from Spanish Louisiana in the east to San Antonio in the west. It connected eastern Texas to the rest of New Spain. In the 1820s and 1830s, many American settlers used this road to move to Texas. It's not clear exactly when the name changed from Atascocito to Atascocita.
When Did Atascocita Start Growing?
The city of Houston took over parts of what would become Atascocita in the 1960s. However, these parts were given back in the late 1970s. Building in the Atascocita area began in the 1970s. By the 1990s, Atascocita had 15 neighborhoods and was one of the fastest-growing areas around Greater Houston.
The U.S. Census Bureau first officially recognized Atascocita as a "census-designated place" (CDP) for the 2000 U.S. Census. After 2000, Houston took over some small parts of Atascocita, which made the CDP area a bit smaller.
In 2009, a group called Gadberry Group named Atascocita as one of the top "9 from 2009" high-growth areas in the United States. The population grew a lot, from 35,757 people in 2000 to 65,844 in 2010. By 2020, it had grown even more to 88,174 people.
Atascocita has its own local newspapers, The Tribune Newspaper and The Atascocita Observer.
Where is Atascocita Located?
Atascocita is located at coordinates 29°59′36″N 95°10′55″W.
The United States Census Bureau says that Atascocita covers a total area of about 65.8 square kilometers (25.4 square miles). Most of this area, about 65.4 square kilometers (25.3 square miles), is land. The rest, about 0.5 square kilometers (0.2 square miles), is water.
Some areas, like Atascocita Shores, are known for their nice homes near the lake.
Who Lives in Atascocita?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 88,174 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Atascocita is a diverse community. In 2020, there were 88,174 people living there. The community had 26,022 households and 20,636 families.
Many different groups of people live in Atascocita. In 2020, about 38.92% of the people were non-Hispanic White, 22.86% were Black or African American, and 30.37% were Hispanic or Latino. There were also people of Asian, Native American, Pacific Islander, and mixed racial backgrounds.
In 2010, about 30% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age was 32 years. This means half the people were younger than 32 and half were older.
Learning and Schools in Atascocita
Public Schools
Students in Atascocita attend schools in the Humble Independent School District.
There are several elementary schools within Atascocita, including Atascocita Springs, Eagle Springs, Oaks, Pine Forest, Timbers, and Whispering Pines. Other elementary schools nearby also serve parts of Atascocita.
Most middle school students go to Atascocita Middle School, Humble Middle School, Timberwood Middle School, or Wood Creek Middle School. Some students might go to Sterling Middle School, Creekwood Middle School, or Riverwood Middle School.
For high school, most students attend Atascocita High School. Other high schools serving parts of the area include Humble High School, Kingwood High School, and Summer Creek High School.
Atascocita High School opened in 2006 because the community was growing so fast. It's a large school, about 435,000 square feet, and cost $46.9 million to build. Its outside design looks like Thomas Jefferson's famous Monticello estate. Since it opened, Atascocita High School has been recognized for its strong academics. Students in the Humble Independent School District can also apply to attend Quest Early College High School, which is a special magnet high school in Atascocita.
Private Schools
The Holy Trinity Episcopal School, which teaches students from pre-kindergarten to 5th grade, is located close to Atascocita.
Colleges and Universities
Lone Star College opened its Atascocita Center in August 2011. This center offers classes for adults, including those who want to earn their GED or learn English. It also has college classes and programs for seniors. The University of Houston–Downtown also offers a bachelor's degree in business administration at the center in the evenings.
Public Libraries
Atascocita has its own public library called the Atascocita Branch Library. It is part of the Harris County Public Library system. The community worked hard to get this library, and it opened on May 5, 1996. A local resident and helper, Janette Dennis, played a big part in getting the library built. A group called "The Friends of the Atascocita Library" (FOAL) helps the library by donating money each year.
Fun Things to Do in Atascocita
Atascocita Park is a large 20-acre park that opened in June 2020. It cost $11.5 million to build. The park has a dog park, a boardwalk around a 2-acre pond, and a playground with skywalks.
Lake Houston is a major attraction in the Atascocita area. Many people think of Atascocita as a great place for golf, tennis, and other outdoor activities on Lake Houston.
Harris County also has the Lindsay/Lyons Park and Sports Complex, which is 136 acres. This complex has many features like barbecue grills, baseball fields, football fields, picnic tables, and playgrounds. One of the playgrounds is designed for children of all physical abilities. There are also softball fields, soccer fields, and walking trails.
Images for kids
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The "Big A", with Lake Houston in the background
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Location in Harris County and the state of Texas
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Atascocita High School
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Lone Star College - Atascocita Center
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Map of the Atascocita community in 2000
See also
In Spanish: Atascocita para niños
