Barrett, Texas

Barrett, also named Barrett Station, is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Harris County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,223 at the 2020 census. It was founded in 1889 by Harrison Barrett, a former slave.

History
Located south of Crosby and the present-day Highway 90, Barrett's 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, Barrett was the son of Simon and Lisa Barrett, who came to Texas from Louisiana. Following the emancipation of Texas slaves in 1865, 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 that later would be known as Barrett's Settlement. Beginning with seven houses, the community grew to include additional homes, farms, and businesses. Barrett established a school, church, and cemetery. After a post office station was opened there in 1947, the area became known as Barrett Station. Harrison Barrett's homestead, twice rebuilt by his descendants, stands on its original location.

Geography
Barrett is located in eastern Harris County at 29.87194°N, -95.06194°W (29.871849, -95.062065). U.S. Route 90 (Crosby Freeway) passes through the northwestern part of the community, with access from two exits. US 90 leads southwest 22 mi to downtown Houston and northeast 16 mi to Dayton.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 17.1 km2, of which 16.6 km2 are land and 0.6 km2, or 3.42%, are water. The CDP boundary extends west to the San Jacinto River, one of the main tributaries of Galveston Bay.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,223 people, 1,251 households, and 900 families residing in the CDP.

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,872 people, 946 households, and 741 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 442.8 PD/sqmi. There were 1,034 housing units at an average density of 159.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 86.56% African American, 8.64% White, 2.89% from other races, and 1.57% from two or more races, 0.35% Native American. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.16% of the population.

There were 946 households, out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 25.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.6% were non-families. 18.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.46.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 29.8% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $31,343, and the median income for a family was $35,074. Males had a median income of $32,250 versus $20,781 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $12,333. About 23.1% of families and 23.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 33.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Barrett residents are zoned to the Crosby Independent School District.

The CDP is divided between the attendance boundaries of Barrett Elementary School and Drew Elementary School.

Public schools serving all of Crosby ISD include Crosby Kindergarten Center, Drew Intermediate, Crosby Middle School, and Crosby High School.