Crosby, Texas

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Crosby is a census-designated place (CDP) in Harris County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,714 at the 2000 census. On June 1, 2005, a drilling rig exploded in Crosby that was owned by Louisiana Oil and Gas Company.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Location of Crosby, Texas

Crosby is located at 29°54′38″N, 95°3′39″W (29.910577, -95.060882)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.9 km² (2.3 mi²), all land.

[edit] Historical development

The site North of Hwy 90 (according to some) was an encampment nicknamed “Lick Skillet” back in 1823 by Humphrey Jackson, one of the 300 original colonists to settle Texas.[1] The name “Lick Skillet” came from the phrase "The East Texas oxen team drivers sipped the spring sweet water and licked their skillets clean." Humphrey Jackson (1784-1833) [2] moved to Texas from Louisiana in September 1823 and built a log cabin outside Austin's colony on the San Jacinto River, a half mile west of the site of present Crosby. On August 16, 1824 the Baron de Bastrop,qv granted him title to a league and a labor of land, including the place where he had settled, in what is now Harris County. Jackson next petitioned the Mexican government to form the San Jacinto District under control of the Austin colony; he was elected alcaldeqv of the new district in 1824, 1825, and 1827, and served as ex officio militia captain of the San Jacinto area. Jackson was buried at Crosby. Jackson's Bayou in eastern Harris County is probably named for him. Near what is now the Southern Pacific Railroad, the town was named for G. J. Crosby, a railroad construction engineer. In 1861, the Sabine and Galveston Bay Railroad & Lumber Company (SGBR&L), installed tracks through this site.[3] The first general store was built in 1865 by Charlie Karcher , and thereafter the town would become a shipping and retail center for lumber and agricultural products. Several years later, the post office was established in 1877. In 1884 Crosby reported a population of fifty, a school, a Baptist church, and a general store. In 1905 it had one school with four teachers and 122 students. As of 1929, the population was about 600, but the Great Depression reduced this number by half.[4] World War II brought the population to over 900, and the population would continue to grow to the present.

The site South of Hwy 90 is historical Barrett Station [5]. Barrett Settlement was founded by Harrison Barrett (1845-1917) and has been registered in the Texas Family Land Heritage as Texas Century Farm. Born into slavery Harrison Barrett was the son of Simon and Lisa Barrett who came to Texas from Louisiana. He had 2 brothers and 2 sisters. Following the emancipation of Texas slaves in 1865 Harrison Barrett spent several years gathering his family together. He eventually found all of them except one sister, and they settled on land east of the San Jacinto River. He purchased this land in 1889 and began a community which later would be known as Barrett's Settlement. Beginning with 7 houses, the community grew to include additional homes, farms and businesses. Barrett established a school, church & cemetery. After a post station was opened here in 1947 the area became known as Barrett Station. Harrison Barret's homestead twice rebuilt by his descendants still stands on it's original location.

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 1,714 people, 666 households, and 464 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 292.8/km² (758.2/mi²). There were 743 housing units at an average density of 126.9/km² (328.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 74.15% White, 12.72% African American, 0.76% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 10.79% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.38% of the population.

There were 666 households out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $35,508, and the median income for a family was $41,458. Males had a median income of $37,244 versus $25,500 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $14,851. About 9.2% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 20.1% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Education

Crosby students attend school in the Crosby Independent School District.

Private school - Sacred Heart Catholic School [6]

Crosby is served by the Crosby Branch of Harris County Public Library.

[edit] Business & Community

Crosby/Huffman Chamber of Commerce [7]

Crosby Fair & Rodeo [8]

Local newspapers Star Courier [[1]] & The Lake Houston Sentinel [[2]]

Crosby Fire Department [9]

Crosby MUD 103 W Wahl St, Crosby, TX 77532

[edit] Sports & Recreation

Crosby Park is located at 419 Hare Road, Crosby, Texas 77532. It is a 46-acre facility with two lighted softball fields, three lighted soccer fields, two lighted tennis courts, one basketball pavilion, a playground, paved .726-mile trail, picnic tables, barbecue grills, a barbecue pavilion, and restrooms. Future Expansion at Crosby Park in 2007: two lighted football fields, one regulation size soccer field, one youth size soccer field, two additional lighted parking lots, a new double-sided concession, pavilion, and restroom facility. The fields are maintained by area sports associations. Crosby Sports Association [[3]] East Lake Houston Youth Soccer Association [[4]] Crosby Youth Football The Crosby Community Center is across from Crosby Park. [[5]]


Crosby Sports Complex is located at 8600 Miller-Wilson Road, Crosby, Texas 77532. It is a 12-acre facility with six lighted softball fields, picnic tables, and restrooms. Crosby Sports Complex softball fields are maintained by Crosby Sports Association.[[6]]


Riley Chambers Park & Community Center [[7]] is located at 808 Magnolia, Crosby, Texas 77532. Facilities include restrooms, picnic, playground, trails, open shelter, basketball, baseball, riding arena, and football fields. [[8]]


Texas Sports Ranch is located at Seaberg Rd, Crosby, Texas 77532. It is a 85,000 sq. ft. complex with a wide array of amenities: sports camps, after school program, gymnastics classes & junior Olympic pool with diving area. [[9]]


Indian Shores Golf Course [[10]]


Newport Golf Club is located at 16401 Country Club Dr, Crosby, Texas 77532. This 6,914 yard course maneuvers through an actual forest. [[11]]


Newport Swim Team is located at Newport Country Club, 16401 Country Club Dr, Crosby, TX 77532 [[12]], it's a member of Northwest Aquatic League [[13]]


Art Watson Model Airport of Prop-Nuts R/C Club is located at Wolcek Rd, Crosby, TX 77532 [[14]]

[edit] Police service

The community is served by the Harris County Sheriff's Office [15].

[edit] Black Hope Curse

The Newport subdivision at Crosby was the center of an Unsolved Mysteries feature story known as the Black Hope Curse.[10] According to the story, after a couple bought their home in 1982, they decided to have a pool installed in their backyard the following year. A stranger visited the homeowners to point out that there were human bodies buried in crude wooden coffins there. A contractor was able to confirm this with earth moving equipment. Wanting to give these humans a proper burial elsewhere, their search led to a former gravedigger who told them that their home and other nearby houses rested on top of the Black Hope cemetery, which contained mostly bodies of former slaves. As the couple could not locate the deceased living relatives to make re-burial arrangements elsewhere, they decided to leave the bodies where they were and they restored the topsoil. Paranormal activity followed which plagued the couple, along with strange activity occurring at a dozen other houses as well.[11] The foremost families of the story were the Haneys and Williams, who were affected in similar ways. Both families experienced health problems, and the Williams family lost a daughter due to a heart-attack. Exhausted of funds due to failed lawsuits, the Haneys lost their home. The Williams left their home as well. A short while later, this peculiar activity ceased for the remaining residents of Newport as no one else has reported anything strange since.


[edit] Celebrities

 Rodney Crowell      - Grammy award winning Country & Western Performer [[16]]

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.arkema-inc.com/index.cfm?pag=222
  2. ^ http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/JJ/fja8_print.html
  3. ^ http://www.hcp4.net/Parks/crosby/index.htm
  4. ^ http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/CC/hgc18.html
  5. ^ http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/BB/hgb3.html
  6. ^ http://home.houston.rr.com/sacredheartchurc
  7. ^ http://www.crosbyhuffmancc.org
  8. ^ http://www.crosbyfairandrodeo.net
  9. ^ http://www.crosbyvfd.org
  10. ^ http://www.lifetimetv.com/shows/unsolved/casefile/blackhope_curse.html
  11. ^ http://www.unsolved.com/0229-Blackhope.html

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[edit] External links

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