Hockley, Texas facts for kids
Hockley is a small community in Harris County, Texas, United States. It's not a city with its own government, which is why it's called an unincorporated community. You can find Hockley along Texas State Highway 6 and U.S. Route 290. It is about 8 kilometers (5 miles) southeast of Waller and about 58 kilometers (36 miles) northwest of downtown Houston.
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About Hockley
Hockley is an important center for railway traffic. Trains from Hockley travel to big cities like Houston and Austin, and to many other places in Central Texas. The Southern Pacific railway, which is now part of Union Pacific, is a major employer here. This means many people in Hockley work for the railway. Around Hockley, you will see many farms growing grain and large ranches where cattle are raised. The postal code for Hockley is 77447.
A Look at Hockley's Past
Hockley was founded in 1835 by a person named George Washington Hockley. Many years later, in 1906, something interesting was found nearby: a salt dome. A salt dome is a large underground deposit of salt. People started mining this salt, which means they dug it out of the ground to use it.
What Keeps Hockley Going?
Hockley's economy has grown over the years. In September 2008, the technology company Hewlett-Packard (HP) bought about 39 hectares (97 acres) of land near Hockley. This land was part of a larger industrial park, which is an area set aside for businesses and factories. HP planned and later built a large facility there. This facility, which cost about $250 million, is located near Betka Road and U.S. Highway 290. It is also close to the border between Harris County and Waller County, and about 29 kilometers (18 miles) from HP's main offices in the greater Houston area.
Local Government and Services
Hockley is part of Harris County Precinct 4. A precinct is like a local district within the county. As of 2023, Lesley Briones is the commissioner for this precinct. A commissioner helps manage local services and projects. The United States Postal Service has a post office in Hockley. It is located at 17210 Warren Ranch Road, where people can send and receive mail.
Fun and Recreation in Hockley
Hockley offers places for fun and community activities. The county runs the Hockley Community Center at 28515 Old Washington Road. This center is a place where people can gather for events and activities. The county bought about 9.7 hectares (24 acres) of land in 1982 to build this center and a maintenance facility. With help from a grant, the construction of the community center was finished in 1986. Right next to the community center, you'll find Hockley Park, which is also managed by the county.
Learning in Hockley
Students in Hockley attend schools within the Waller Independent School District. This district provides education for children in the area. Some of the schools that serve Hockley include:
- Waller High School, located in unincorporated Harris County.
- Waller Junior High School in Waller and Wayne C. Schultz Junior High in unincorporated Harris County. These two schools serve middle school students from different parts of the district.
- Elementary schools with Hockley addresses, such as Roberts Road Elementary School and Evelyn Turlington Elementary School. These schools teach younger students.
For higher education, parts of Harris County within the Waller ISD are connected to Blinn College. Blinn College has a campus called the Waller-Harris County Campus. Also, Rosehill Christian School, which is now in the Rose Hill area, was first started in Hockley in 1989.
Famous People from Hockley
Hockley has been home to some well-known people:
- Fred Whitfield is a famous calf roper. He won the world championship eight times! He was also the first African American to win this world championship and was named the PRCA All-Around Champion in 1999.
- Racing legend A. J. Foyt has a ranch in Hockley. He is a very famous race car driver, being the first person to win the Indy 500 four times. He also won the Daytona 500.
- A. J. Foyt IV, who is also a race car driver and an NFL Scout for the Indianapolis Colts, also lives in Hockley. He has started in the Indianapolis 500 six times.
