Houston

Houston is the biggest city in the state of Texas and the fourth-most populous city in the United States. Over 2 million people live there, making it a very large and important place. Houston is close to the Gulf of Mexico and is the center of a wide area where many people live.

The city began in 1836 by two land investors. They named it after General Sam Houston, who helped Texas become independent. Over time, Houston grew because of its strong port, railroads, and later, the discovery of oil. Today, Houston is known for many things. It is home to the Texas Medical Center and NASA's Johnson Space Center.

Houston has people from many different places and cultures. The city is famous for its museums, theaters, and other cultural spots. It plays an important role in industries like energy, healthcare, and space exploration.

History

Main article: History of Houston

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Houston.

Present-day Houston sits on land that was once home to the Karankawa and Atakapa indigenous peoples for many years. The land stayed mostly empty until people began to settle there in the 1830s.

The Allen brothers—Augustus Chapman and John Kirby—explored areas near Buffalo Bayou and Galveston Bay. In 1836, they bought land and named the new town after Sam Houston. They convinced leaders to make Houston the temporary capital of the Republic of Texas Congress. By 1837, the town grew quickly and became the first county seat of Harris County.

In 1839, the capital moved to Austin. That year, a sickness affected many people, but Houston kept growing as a place for trade. Farmers brought their goods to Houston to reach the port at Galveston.

Many enslaved people lived near Houston before the American Civil War. Some worked on farms, while others had jobs in the city.

By 1860, Houston had become important for trading cotton and for railroads. During the Civil War, it helped the Confederate army. After the war, efforts began to improve waterways to help trade.

In 1900, a big storm hit Galveston, which made people want to develop Houston as a major port. In 1901, oil was discovered nearby, starting the oil industry in Texas. By 1914, the Port of Houston opened.

When World War II began, Houston’s port had less work, but the war brought new jobs. Factories made products for the war, and many people moved to Houston for these jobs. After the war, the city grew more, especially when air conditioning became common, attracting businesses.

In the late 1970s, many people moved to Houston for jobs in the oil industry. The city continued to grow in the 21st century, with many big oil companies based there. Healthcare also became very important, with the Texas Medical Center becoming one of the largest medical centers in the world.

Houston has faced serious flooding problems. In 2001, a big storm caused severe flooding and damage. In 2005, many people from New Orleans came to Houston after a hurricane. Later that year, another hurricane made many people leave Houston. In 2017, Hurricane Harvey caused extreme rain and flooding, leading to huge damage for the city. In May 2024, a strong storm caused widespread damage across Houston and surrounding areas.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Houston

Houston is 165 miles east of Austin, 88 miles west of the Louisiana border, and 250 miles south of Dallas. The city covers a large area, with mostly land and some water. Most of Houston is flat and was built on land that used to have forests, marshes, or swamps. This flat land and development can cause flooding. Downtown is a little higher than sea level, and the highest point is about 150 feet tall. Houston now gets its water from lakes like Lake Houston, Lake Conroe, and Lake Livingston instead of groundwater.

Houston has four major bayous that help with water. Buffalo Bayou goes through Downtown and the Houston Ship Channel, with smaller streams like White Oak Bayou, Brays Bayou, and Sims Bayou. The ship channel reaches all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.

Geology

Houston is a flat, marshy area with drainage systems. The ground has layers of clay, shale, and sand from old rivers. These layers contain oil and natural gas. There is also a layer of rock salt deep underground. Houston has many small faults, but they move very slowly and do not cause earthquakes.

Cityscape

Further information: Geographic areas of Houston and List of Houston neighborhoods

Houston became a city in 1837. People often describe locations as inside or outside the Interstate 610 loop. The "Inner Loop" has Downtown and older neighborhoods. Outside the loop, the city feels more like a suburb, with business areas like Uptown, Westchase, and the Energy Corridor. Houston is the largest U.S. city without formal zoning laws, but it has rules for development.

Houston has many business areas besides Downtown, such as Uptown, the Texas Medical Center, Midtown, Greenway Plaza, Memorial City, the Energy Corridor, Westchase, and Greenspoint.

Architecture

Main article: Architecture of Houston

See also: List of tallest buildings in Houston

Houston has many tall buildings. A system of tunnels and skywalks connects Downtown buildings. In the 1970s, many skyscrapers were built, including Houston's tallest building, the JPMorgan Chase Tower. Other tall buildings include the Wells Fargo Plaza.

The Uptown District grew in the 1970s and 1980s, with many midrise and highrise buildings. The tallest building there is the Williams Tower. Since 2000, many new skyscrapers have been built in Houston.

Climate

Main article: Climate of Houston

Houston has hot, humid summers and mild winters. The city gets a lot of rain, especially from April to October, but flat land can cause flooding. Houston has had big floods, like Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 and Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The city now requires new homes to be built higher to help prevent flood damage. Houston also has air pollution problems, especially ozone levels, from industries along the ship channel.

Demographics

Main articles: Demographics of Houston and Religion in Houston

The 2020 U.S. census showed Houston had a population of over 2 million people. Many people live in the area, including some who are from other countries.

There are many homes and families in Houston. Most people rent their homes, but some own them. Many families live together, and some people do not have enough money for their needs.

Race and ethnicity

Houston is a city where many different kinds of people live. It is known for having many Hispanic and Latino Americans, as well as Asian immigrants. This is because Houston has more jobs and is easier to live in than bigger cities.

Houston is also a special place for African Americans. It is often called a black mecca like Atlanta because it is an important home for black professionals and business people. The Houston area has the largest African American community in Texas and west of the Mississippi River.

In 2019, most people in Houston were Hispanic or Latino, with many also being black or African American, and some being Asian Americans.

Religion

See also: Christianity in Houston

Many people in Houston follow Christianity. The city has been a center for Protestant Christianity, part of the Bible Belt. Other Christian groups and non-Christian religions grew after the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 made it easier for people to move to the United States.

Houston has many different religious groups. There are many Protestant churches, with Lakewood Church being one of the biggest in the United States. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is also very large. There are also Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist communities in the city.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Houston

Further information: List of companies in Houston

Houston is well known for its energy industry, especially oil and natural gas. It is also known for biomedical research and aeronautics. Renewable energy like wind and solar power are becoming more important, and the city gets most of its electricity from these sources. Since the 2020s, Houston has become a popular place for new technology companies to start.

Big technology firms such as Crown Castle, KBR, FlightAware, Cybersoft, HostGator, Aylo, Go Daddy, and ByteDance have offices in the area. In April 2022, Hewlett Packard Enterprise moved its global headquarters to the Greater Houston area.

Houston is also a major hub for exports. The city’s strong points include petroleum products, chemicals, and oil and gas equipment. The Houston Ship Channel helps support the city's economy. Houston’s large port is one of the biggest in the world.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Houston

Houston is a city in the American South where people from many countries live. The city has many events that celebrate different cultures. The biggest event is the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which happens every March for 20 days. Houston is famous for its many restaurants with foods from around the world.

Arts and theater

The Houston Theater District has many places to watch plays and shows. Houston has special groups for opera, ballet, music, and theater. The Museum District has many museums and art places that many people visit each year.

Tourism and recreation

Houston has many places to visit, such as the Space Center Houston, big shopping malls, parks, and special neighborhoods like current Chinatown and the Mahatma Gandhi District. The city has many parks, including Hermann Park and Memorial Park.

Sports

Main article: Sports in Houston

See also: Soccer in Houston

Houston has teams for baseball, basketball, football, and soccer. The Houston Astros play baseball and have won big championships. The Houston Rockets play basketball and have also won big championships. The Houston Texans play football, and the Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash play soccer. Houston has many places to watch these games, including big stadiums. The city has hosted many important sports events over the years.

Government

Main article: Politics of Houston

Houston has a strong mayoral form of government. The city is led by a mayor, a city controller, and 16 members of the Houston City Council. The mayor manages the city and ensures laws are followed.

The city council used to have 14 members, but it grew to 16 as the city's population increased. The controller handles the city's money. Mayors serve four-year terms and can serve up to two terms in a row. Houston has a mix of political views, with different groups supporting different leaders.

Crime

Main article: Crime in Houston

Houston has more crime than many other cities in the U.S. After 2020, the number of murders in the city went up. Leaders in Houston are trying to find ways to make the city safer. The city is also sometimes a place where illegal drugs are moved.

Politics

Education

Main article: Education in Houston

Houston has many schools! There are nineteen school districts in the city. The biggest one is the Houston Independent School District (HISD). It is the largest school district in Texas and has special schools for things like health, arts, and science.

There are also many private schools in the Houston area. Some of these schools have religious backgrounds, while others do not.

Houston is home to four state universities. The University of Houston is a big research university. Other universities include the University of Houston–Clear Lake, University of Houston–Downtown, and Texas Southern University. There are also private universities like Rice University and the University of St. Thomas.

There are community colleges too, such as Houston Community College and Lone Star College. These schools help students learn many different subjects.

Further information: List of colleges and universities in Houston

Media

Further information: List of newspapers in Houston, List of television stations in Texas, List of radio stations in Texas, Magazines in Houston, and List of films featured in Houston

Houston has many television stations. Some of the main ones are KPRC-TV on channel 2, KHOU on channel 11, KTRK-TV on channel 13, and KRIV on channel 26. These stations show different shows and news.

The city also has many radio stations. One public station is KUHT, which was the first public television station in the United States. Houston’s main newspaper is the Houston Chronicle. There are also other newspapers like Houston Forward Times and La Voz de Houston.

Infrastructure

Healthcare

See also: List of hospitals in Houston, List of hospitals in Texas, and Texas Medical Center

Houston has the Texas Medical Center, the world's largest medical center. It has many hospitals, schools, and research groups. They work to help people stay healthy by caring for patients, finding new treatments, and teaching future doctors and nurses. The Texas Medical Center started important programs like one of the first air emergency services, called Life Flight.

Well-known health institutions there include MD Anderson Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Children's Hospital, and University of Houston College of Pharmacy. These places work together to improve health care.

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Houston

Houston is a city where many people drive to work. Most people drive alone, and some share a ride. Only a few people use public buses, walking, or biking. The city has many roads and highways to help people travel around.

Houston has many big roads and highways. Some important roads go from the city center to the outside areas. There are also circle roads that connect these main roads. The city has special roads for certain vehicles, and there are roads where drivers can pay extra to drive faster.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Houston

Houston has been home to many famous people. Some of them grew up there or lived there for a time. Many have helped make important things happen in music, sports, and entertainment.

International relations

Houston has many sister cities around the world. These cities work together to share ideas and help each other. Some of Houston’s sister cities are:

• Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (since 2001)
• Baku, Azerbaijan (since 1976)
• Basrah, Iraq (since 2015)
• Chiba, Japan (since 1972)
• Aberdeen, Grampian Region, Scotland (since 1979)
• Guayaquil, Ecuador (since 1987)
• Huelva, Spain (since 1969)
• Istanbul, Turkey (since 1988)
• Karachi, Pakistan (since 2009)
• Leipzig, Germany (since 1992)
• Luanda, Angola (since 2003)
• Nice, France (since 1973)
• Perth, Australia (since 1984)
• Shenzhen, China (since 1986)
• Stavanger, Norway (since 1988)
• Taipei, Taiwan (since 1961)
• Tampico, Mexico (since 2003)
• Tyumen, Russia (since 1995)
• Ulsan, South Korea (since 2021)