Kingwood, Houston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kingwood
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community of Houston and Master planned area
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The old "KINGWOOD" sign on Kingwood Drive entering Kingwood (2007)
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| Nickname(s):
The Livable Forest
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 Kingwood
Location in Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Harris and Montgomery |
| Elevation | 48 ft (15 m) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 81,696 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
77325, 77339, 77345, 77346
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| Area code(s) | 281, 713, 832 |
| FIPS code | 48-39376 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1385469 |
Kingwood is a large, planned community in northeast Houston, Texas. It covers about 14,000 acres (57 square kilometers). Most of Kingwood is in Harris County. A smaller part is in Montgomery County.
Kingwood is known as "The Livable Forest." It is the biggest planned community in Harris County. It's also the second-largest in the wider Houston metropolitan area. The community is located on the east fork of the San Jacinto River. Kingwood was started in 1971. It was a partnership between the Friendswood Development Company and King Ranch. Its name comes from combining parts of these two names.
Contents
Kingwood's Story: How it Grew
The land that became Kingwood was first owned by the Foster Lumber Company around 1892. In 1967, this land was sold to a partnership. This partnership was between King Ranch and Friendswood Development Company. Friendswood Development is part of Exxon.
John Bruton Jr. was hired to manage the project. He planned and built Kingwood. The plans included many green spaces, shopping areas, schools, and churches. There were also places for fun, like trails for riding and hiking. A boat ramp was added for access to Lake Houston.
Kingwood was officially founded in 1970. The first neighborhood, called a "village," opened in 1971. From the start, Kingwood used the slogan "The Livable Forest." In 1976, only a few thousand people lived there. By 1990, the population had grown to 19,443 residents. There were also 204 businesses. By 1992, the number of people living in Kingwood reached 37,397. In 2005, about 65,000 people lived in Kingwood.
Becoming Part of Houston: The Annexation Story
In 1994, the City of Houston began a process called annexation. This means a city takes over an area nearby. At that time, Texas law allowed a city to annex an area without the residents' permission. This was allowed if the area was close to the city's borders.
Bob Lanier, who was the Mayor of Houston, thought annexing Kingwood would help the city financially. He believed it would add about $4 million each year to Houston's tax money. On August 21, 1996, the Houston City Council asked for plans to provide services to Kingwood. Houston officially annexed Kingwood on December 31, 1996. This added about 15,000 acres (6,100 hectares) to the city.
Many Kingwood residents were not happy about this. They tried to stop the annexation. They even offered to pay Houston $4 million not to be annexed. They also filed a lawsuit, saying the city was taxing them without their say. Residents worried that Houston would not provide the same services to Kingwood as it did to other parts of the city.
After the annexation, Kingwood residents worked to change state laws. In 1999, new laws were passed. These laws require cities to plan services for areas they want to annex. Cities also have to allow public comments for three years before an annexation. This new law helps communities have more say. It also allows them to use arbitration if cities don't follow their service plans.
In 2017, Kingwood experienced severe flooding. This happened after Hurricane Harvey. The flooding was made worse when the San Jacinto River Authority opened floodgates.
Who Lives in Kingwood?
Kingwood was first counted as a "census-designated place" in 1980. This means it was a special area for counting people. It became part of Houston before the 2000 census.
In 2015, the Kingwood area had about 62,067 residents. Most residents (79%) were non-Hispanic white. About 12% were Hispanic. Other groups included non-Hispanic blacks and Asians. The average age of people in Kingwood is about 37 years old.
Kingwood uses several ZIP codes: 77325, 77339, 77345, and part of 77346. About 81,692 people live in these areas. The population density is about 2,006 people per square mile (775 people per square kilometer). Many adults in Kingwood are married. The average household has about 2.71 people.
What Kingwood Looks Like
Kingwood covers over 15,000 acres (6,100 hectares). It is a new suburban area with many trees. It has more than 15,000 acres of nature preserves and parks. Kingwood is often compared to The Woodlands because of its many forests, parks, and trails.
Kingwood is about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northeast of Downtown Houston. It is located in the piney woods of southeastern Texas. The community is divided into smaller areas called "villages." Most villages have their own pool and playground for residents. They also have an elementary school. Many villages have their own special services. In the summer, many villages have youth swimming teams.
Trailwood is the oldest village in Kingwood. Its first homes were built in 1971. While most of Kingwood is already built, some new homes are still being constructed in Royal Shores and Woodridge Forest.
Kingwood has many villages, including Barrington, Bear Branch, Elm Grove, and Trailwood. There are also nearby developments like Forest Cove and Oakhurst at Kingwood.
Kingwood is home to the Kingwood Country Club. This is the largest private club in Houston. It has over 3,300 members. The golf courses and clubhouses were used to film the 1996 movie, "Tin Cup" starring Kevin Costner.
News and Media in Kingwood
The main newspaper for the whole city is the Houston Chronicle. Kingwood also has its own local newspapers. These include The Tribune Newspaper and The Kingwood Observer.
Kingwood's Economy
The company Insperity has its main office in Kingwood. Insperity helps other businesses with their human resources needs.
Learning in Kingwood: Schools and Libraries
By 1999, about 90% of young people from Kingwood went on to colleges and universities.
Public Schools in Kingwood
Students in Kingwood who live in Harris County go to schools in the Humble Independent School District. The main high schools are Kingwood High School (6A) and Kingwood Park High School (5A). Students can also choose to attend Quest High School, which is a special magnet school in Atascocita.
When Kingwood became part of Houston in 1996, the school district boundaries did not change. Students living in the Montgomery County part of Kingwood go to schools in the New Caney Independent School District. They attend Porter High School (5A). Before 2010, they went to New Caney High School.
Kingwood has three middle schools in Humble ISD: Kingwood Middle School, Creekwood Middle School, and Riverwood Middle School. Students from Kingwood Middle go to Kingwood Park High. Students from Creekwood and Riverwood go to Kingwood High. Middle school students in New Caney ISD attend Woodridge Middle School.
There are also nine Humble ISD elementary schools in Kingwood. These include Foster Elementary, Woodland Hills Elementary, and Elm Grove Elementary. Kings Manor Elementary School serves students in the New Caney ISD part of Kingwood.
Private Schools in Kingwood
Kingwood has several private schools. These include The Covenant Preparatory School (PreK-12th grade), St. Martha Catholic School (PreK-8th grade), and Kingwood Montessori School (PreK-6th grade). Pines Montessori School and Christian Life Center Academy are also in Kingwood.
Frassati Catholic High School is a Catholic high school nearby. It serves the Kingwood area. St. Thomas High School, an all-boys school in Houston, has a bus service from St. Martha Catholic School.
Colleges and Universities in Kingwood
Lone Star College-Kingwood is a two-year community college in the area. It is part of the Lone Star College System. This college serves students from both Humble ISD and New Caney ISD.
Public Libraries in Kingwood
The Kingwood Branch of the Harris County Public Library opened in 1983. It had over 112,000 books. In 2010, a new, larger library opened. It is a partnership between the county and the Houston Public Library. The old library building was replaced by a new community center.
Besides the public library, there is also the Kingwood Community College library. Students, high schoolers, and adults living in the area can use this library.
Fun and Games: Parks and Recreation
Kingwood has more than 500 acres (200 hectares) of nature preserves and parks. It also has over 75 miles (120 kilometers) of trails for hiking and biking. The Kingwood community owns these parks and trails.
The greenbelt trails are maintained by the trail association in each village. There are over 75 miles of these greenbelts. Each village also has a park and a swimming pool for its residents.
Kingwood also has Kingwood Park, run by the City of Houston. East End Park is owned and run by the Kingwood Service Association. Creekwood Nature Area is a 50-acre (20-hectare) nature site with hiking trails. It is owned and run by the Kingwood Service Association.
Northpark Recreation area is a 19-acre (7.7-hectare) park. It has soccer fields and softball fields. It is used by sports groups like the Kingwood Alliance Soccer Club. Deer Ridge is a 63-acre (25-hectare) park and recreation center. It has tennis courts, a basketball court, a sand volleyball court, and a playground. It also has sports fields for soccer and baseball.
River Grove is a 74-acre (30-hectare) park. It has an 18-hole disc golf course and a boat ramp to Lake Houston. You can also go fishing and have picnics there. It has fields for lacrosse and soccer.
The Kingwood Skate Park opened in 2004. It is a 5,402 square foot (501.9 square meter) facility. It has ramps, rails, and benches for skaters. It was the first public skate park built by the City of Houston. A public dog park, covering 2.25 acres (0.91 hectares), opened in 2007. The City of Houston also runs the Dylan Duncan Memorial Park, which has a picnic area and a skate facility.
Community Events in Kingwood
Kingwood residents enjoy many community events throughout the year:
- Mardi Gras: Held in February at Town Center Park. It features a parade, a vendor fair, and an outdoor concert.
- Picnic on the Park: Held the day before Easter at Town Center Park. It includes an Easter Egg hunt for children. There are also game booths, a vendor fair, and performances by local groups.
- Auto Shows: Held in spring and fall, usually April and October, at Town Center Park. These shows often feature up to 200 different vehicles.
- Fourth of July: Features a parade between Creekwood Middle School and Kingwood High School. Festivities take place at Town Center Park. There is also a fireworks display with an outdoor concert and vendor fair.
- Christmas in the Park: Held at Town Center Park. It is a vendor fair with live performances from local groups. The day ends with a tree lighting ceremony.
- Holocaust March of Remembrance: Held each year to teach people about the Holocaust. The first march in the Houston area was held in Kingwood in 2012.
Famous People from Kingwood
- George Foreman: A famous boxer who lived in Kingwood for many years. He still owns a house in the Foster's Mill neighborhood.
- Phil Garner: A former baseball player and manager for the Houston Astros.
- Charlie Sifford: A golfer who was the first African American to play on the PGA Tour.
- Masyn Winn: An MLB player for the St. Louis Cardinals.
- Allie DeBerry: An actress and model who appeared in the Disney Channel sitcom A.N.T. Farm.
