Deer Park, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Deer Park, Texas
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| Nickname(s):
"Birthplace of Texas"
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Location in Harris County in the state of Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Harris |
| Incorporated | 1948 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 10.57 sq mi (27.37 km2) |
| • Land | 10.51 sq mi (27.21 km2) |
| • Water | 0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2) |
| Elevation | 26 ft (8 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 34,495 |
| • Density | 3,186.18/sq mi (1,230.23/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
77536
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| Area codes | 713, 281, 832, 346 |
| FIPS code | 48-19624 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1334219 |
Deer Park is a city in Texas, located near the big city of Houston. It's in Harris County, which is in the southeastern part of Texas. In 2020, about 34,495 people lived in Deer Park.
Contents
Discovering Deer Park's Past
Deer Park was started in 1892 by a man named Simeon H. West. He was a farmer and an adventurer from Illinois. He named the town "Deer Park" because many deer used to roam the flat lands there. A train station opened in 1892, and a post office followed in 1893.
By 1896, Deer Park was a small community with about 40 people. It had a hotel, a general store, and three carpenters. However, by 1922, the town had become very small, with only a few houses and an old hotel.
Things started to change in 1928 when Shell Oil Company began building a new oil refinery. This brought more people and jobs to the area. By 1940, the population had grown to 100. After 1946, Deer Park really started to grow because more refineries and chemical plants were built.
Becoming an Official City
The people of Deer Park voted to become an official city on December 12, 1948. This meant they could have their own local government. Earl E. Dunn became the first mayor. The first city council meeting was held in February 1949.
By 1948, the population had grown to 700. By 1960, it reached 5,000, and the city had a fire station, city hall, parks, and its own water supply. A public library opened in 1962. The city continued to grow, reaching over 28,000 people by 2000. This growth was helped by the petrochemical industry and businesses along the Houston Ship Channel.
Today, Deer Park has many homes and residents. It has a school district with 14 schools, a city library, a community theater, and many parks.
The Birthplace of Texas
Deer Park is very close to the place where the Battle of San Jacinto happened. This battle, on April 21, 1836, is where Texas won its independence from Mexico. The first agreement to surrender after the battle was written in a cabin belonging to Dr. George Moffitt Patrick. Because of this, Deer Park calls itself the "Birthplace of Texas."
A copy of Dr. Patrick's cabin is now in front of the Theatre/Courts Building on Center Street.
Important Events in Deer Park
Shell Chemical Plant Incident
On June 22, 1997, there was an explosion at the Shell Chemical Company plant nearby. It was heard and felt far away. People living close to the plant were asked to stay inside their homes for safety.
Intercontinental Terminals Company Fire
On March 17, 2019, a large chemical fire started at the Intercontinental Terminals Company. The fire spread to many tanks and lasted for three days. The smoke could be seen for miles. People in Deer Park were asked to stay indoors during the fire. The chemicals involved included xylene and toluene.
Later, a group called the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board looked into what happened. They found that chemicals had leaked and gathered in a storage tank before catching fire. In 2024, the company agreed to pay $6.6 million to the state of Texas and the U.S. government for the damage caused by the fire.
2023 Tornado Hits Deer Park
On January 24, 2023, a strong tornado hit downtown Deer Park. It caused a lot of damage to buildings, including a nursing home and an animal shelter. Many areas lost power, and schools were affected. Luckily, no students or teachers were hurt. This tornado was so serious that the National Weather Service issued a special "tornado emergency" for the first time in the area.
Shell Refinery Incident in 2023
In May 2023, another incident happened at a Shell plant in Deer Park. This caused a fire that lasted three days and released harmful substances into the air and water. The Shell plant had a history of similar events, with many releases of toxic emissions between 2016 and 2022.
New Emergency Sirens
Deer Park's emergency warning sirens had problems after an upgrade in 2019. So, in August 2023, the city replaced all 10 sirens with new, more effective ones. These new sirens also have strobe lights, which are helpful for people who are hearing-impaired. A 17-year-old deaf citizen named William Stokes suggested adding the strobe lights. The emergency sirens are tested every Saturday at 12:00 PM.
Where is Deer Park Located?
Deer Park is in Southeastern Harris County. It covers about 10.5 square miles (27.25 square kilometers) of land and a small amount of water.
The city of La Porte is to the south and east of Deer Park. To the north is the Houston Ship Channel, which is a waterway dug out from Buffalo Bayou.
Who Lives in Deer Park?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1950 | 736 | — | |
| 1960 | 4,865 | 561.0% | |
| 1970 | 12,773 | 162.5% | |
| 1980 | 22,648 | 77.3% | |
| 1990 | 27,652 | 22.1% | |
| 2000 | 28,520 | 3.1% | |
| 2010 | 32,010 | 12.2% | |
| 2020 | 34,495 | 7.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (not Hispanic) | 19,238 | 55.77% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 758 | 2.2% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (not Hispanic) | 98 | 0.28% |
| Asian (not Hispanic) | 446 | 1.29% |
| Pacific Islander (not Hispanic) | 21 | 0.06% |
| Some Other Race (not Hispanic) | 165 | 0.48% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (not Hispanic) | 1,055 | 3.06% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 12,714 | 36.86% |
| Total | 34,495 |
In 2020, there were 34,495 people living in Deer Park. This included 11,637 households and 8,813 families.
In 2019, the average household income in Deer Park was about $80,592. The average rent was about $1,170 per month. About 7.3% of the people in Deer Park lived below the poverty line.
Learning in Deer Park
Schools for Kids and Teens
Most students in Deer Park go to schools in the Deer Park Independent School District.
Deer Park High School serves the older students. There are also four junior high schools: Deer Park Junior High, Bonnette Junior High, Deepwater Junior High, and Fairmont Junior High. The district also has seven elementary schools for younger students.
The Deer Park ISD has an "open enrollment" program. This means students who don't live within the district's boundaries can still attend its schools. The La Porte Independent School District also has two elementary schools in Deer Park: College Park Elementary and Heritage Elementary.
The Clyde Abshier Stadium, which can hold 10,000 people, is the home field for the Deer Park Deer sports teams.
Colleges and Libraries
Deer Park is also home to the Central Campus of the San Jacinto College District.
The city has its own public library, called the Deer Park Library. It is located at 3009 Center Street.
Famous People from Deer Park
- Briscoe Cain, a member of the Texas House of Representatives
- Zane Gonzalez, an NFL football kicker
- Charles Holcomb, a judge for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
- Andy Pettitte, a famous MLB baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros and New York Yankees
- Chelsi Smith, who was crowned Miss Texas USA 1995, Miss USA 1995, and Miss Universe 1995
- Ron White, a well-known comedian from the Blue Collar Comedy Tour
See also
In Spanish: Deer Park (Texas) para niños
