Huffman, Texas facts for kids

Huffman is a small community located in the northeastern part of Harris County, Texas, United States. It's part of the larger Greater Houston area. Even though it's not officially a city, it's a lively place where people live and work.

Where is Huffman?

Huffman is about 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Downtown Houston. It's nestled in the piney woods of southeastern Texas. The community is mainly found around two important roads: Farm to Market Road 2100 and Farm to Market Road 1960.

A man named David Huffman, who came from Louisiana, helped settle this area. He even fought in the Texas Revolution!

History and Growth

Long ago, Huffman's economy was mostly about farming. People grew crops like cotton, rice, and corn. They also raised animals and cut down trees for wood.

In 1888, Huffman got its own post office. By 1892, there were two shops where people could get metal items made or repaired. In the early 1900s, a train track from the Beaumont, Sour Lake and Western Railway came through the community, which helped it grow. By 1914, Huffman had two general stores and about 250 people living there.

In 1921, a pump station for Sinclair Oil was built, which added more jobs and helped the local economy. A map from 1936 showed that Huffman had a church and a cemetery.

A big change happened in 1953 when Lake Houston was created. This lake provides water for the City of Houston. Today, it's also a popular spot for fun activities like boating, water skiing, fishing, and sailing.

Huffman covers about 39 square miles (101 km²) and is home to around 12,000 people. It has many neighborhoods, some farms, apartments, and small businesses.

Local News

Huffman has its own community newspapers where you can read about local events. These include The Tribune and The Lake Houston Observer. For bigger news, people read the Houston Chronicle, which covers the whole Houston area.

Schools and Learning

Public Schools

The Huffman Independent School District serves the students in the area. It's named after the community itself! Over the years, the schools have grown and changed. As of 2007, the district had five schools:

• Huffman Elementary School
• Falcon Ridge Elementary School
• Huffman Middle School
• Willie J. Hargrave High School

Libraries and Colleges

For public library services, residents can visit the nearby Atascocita Library, which is part of the Harris County Public Library system.

If students want to continue their education after high school, they can attend Lee College, a community college that serves the Huffman area.

Parks and Fun Activities

Huffman has a great place for outdoor fun called I.T. May Park. This park is huge, covering about 69 acres (279,000 m²)! It has lots of facilities for sports and relaxation:

• Eight lighted baseball fields
• Two lighted American football fields
• Places to buy snacks and drinks
• Barbecue pits and picnic areas
• Two playgrounds for kids
• A paved quarter-mile walking trail
• Restrooms

The park also has the May Community Center, which is a great spot for community events and activities.

Historic Tree

Huffman is home to a very old and special tree called the Heritage Live Oak. This amazing tree was determined to be 314 years old in 1989! That means it has stood witness to hundreds of years of Texas history.

In 1989, the Huffman Heritage Live Oak was about 75 feet (23 meters) tall. Its branches spread out an incredible 135 feet (41 meters) wide! This made it bigger than the Texas State Forestry Champion Live Oak at Goose Island State Park in two out of three ways. It's a true natural wonder!