Founded in 1892 by Simon West, the town was named for a privately owned area park for deer. The railroad station was started in 1892, and a post office was established in 1893. The population of 100 in 1940 grew—largely from the establishment of industry along the Houston Ship Channel—to 736 in 1950 and 12,773 in 1970.

The Battleground at Deer Park golf course offers a challenging 18-hole championship course, driving range and three practice holes. Each hole along the course is named for a portion of Texas history, drawing on Deer Park's title as "The Birthplace of Texas." A historic bridge purchased from the Texas Department of Transportation links the clubhouse with the course.