Hockley, Texas facts for kids
Hockley is a small community located in Harris County, Texas. It's not a city with its own government, but it's a recognized place. You can find it near Texas State Highway 6 and U.S. Route 290. It's about 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Waller and 36 miles (58 km) northwest of downtown Houston.
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What is Hockley Like?
Hockley is an important place for trains! It acts as a main hub for railway traffic heading to cities like Houston and Austin, and other parts of Central Texas. The Union Pacific rail line, which used to be called Southern Pacific, is one of the biggest employers in the community.
Around Hockley, you'll see lots of farms growing grain and ranches where cattle are raised. The ZIP Code for Hockley is 77447.
A Look Back at Hockley's History
Hockley was founded in 1835 by a person named George Washington Hockley. Many years later, in 1906, something interesting was found near Hockley: a salt dome. This meant there was a lot of salt underground, which was then mined and used.
Hockley's Economy
In 2008, a big technology company called Hewlett-Packard bought a large piece of land near Hockley. They planned to build a facility there. This facility was going to be part of a larger industrial park. It was located near the Harris County-Waller County line, about 18 miles (29 km) from HP's main offices in the greater Houston area.
Fun and Recreation in Hockley
Harris County operates the Hockley Community Center for everyone to enjoy. It's located at 28515 Old Washington Road. The county bought the land for this center and a maintenance facility back in 1982.
With help from a government grant, the community center building was designed and built. Construction finished in 1986, giving the community a great place to gather.
Right next to the community center, you'll find Hockley Park. It's a nice outdoor space for people to relax and have fun.
Education in Hockley
Students in Hockley attend schools within the Waller Independent School District.
Here are some of the schools that serve the Hockley area:
- Waller High School (located in unincorporated Harris County)
- Waller Junior High School (located in Waller)
- Wayne C. Schultz Junior High (located in unincorporated Harris County)
- Roberts Road Elementary School (located in unincorporated Harris County)
A private school called Rosehill Christian School was first started in Hockley in 1989. It later moved to the Rose Hill area.
Famous People from Hockley
Hockley has been home to some notable people:
- Fred Whitfield is an amazing calf roper who has won eight world championships. He was also the first African-American to win the world championship and was named the PRCA All Around Champion in 1999.
- The legendary racecar driver A. J. Foyt also has a ranch located in Hockley.
