Deer Park, Texas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Deer Park is a city in Harris County, Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown Metropolitan Area and is situated in Southeast Texas. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city population was 28,520.
History
Deer Park was founded in 1892 by Simon West. The town was named for a park of privately owned deer who lived in the area. A railroad station opened later that year and a post office followed in 1893.
The subdivision was established in 1893 and was the site of a Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway station by about 1894. A Deer Park post office was established in 1893, discontinued in 1919, and reestablished in 1930. In 1896, the community, with a population of forty, had a hotel, a general store, and three resident carpenters. In the 1930s, an independent school district was established. By 1940, the population had fallen to twenty-five. By 1946, however, the area began to flourish as Deer Park became the site of refineries and toluol plants for the production of TNT. The population grew to 736 in 1950, to 12,773 in 1970, and is now approaching 30,000 residents. This growth has been fueled by the growth of the petrochemical industry as well as the growth of business along the Houston Ship Channel.
Deer Park is the site of the San Jacinto Battlefield, the location of the April 21, 1836 battle which ensured independence for the Republic of Texas. This has earned Deer Park the moniker of the "Birthplace of Texas."
Geography
Deer Park is located at 29°41′31″N, 95°7′5″W (29.692003, -95.118108)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.8 km² (10.4 mi²), all land.
Famous residents
Two-time all-star baseball pitcher Andy Pettitte (current Houston Astros, former New York Yankees) grew up in Deer Park and currently lives there. Andy's career highlights (through 2004) include a stellar .654 winning percentage (155-82), 13 post-season victories and being runner-up in 1996 for the Cy Young Award.
Chelsi Smith, Miss USA and Miss Universe 1995.
Ron White, the famous comedian, was raised and once arrested in Deer Park