Houston

Houston is the biggest city in the state of Texas and the fourth-most populous city in the United States. With over 2 million people living there, it is a very large and important place. Houston is located near the Gulf of Mexico and is the center of a huge area with many people living around it.

The city was started in 1836 by two land investors and was named after General Sam Houston, who helped Texas gain its independence. Over the years, Houston grew because of its strong port, railroads, and later, the discovery of oil. Today, Houston is known for many things, including being home to the Texas Medical Center and NASA's Johnson Space Center.

Houston has a very mix of people from many different places and cultures. It is famous for its museums, theaters, and other cultural places. The city plays a big role in many industries, such as 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 before settlers arrived. The land stayed mostly empty from the late 1700s 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 advertised a new town they named after Sam Houston. They convinced leaders to make Houston the temporary capital of the Republic of Texas Congress. By 1837, the town grew from about a dozen people to around 1,500. That same year, Houston became the first county seat of what is now Harris County.

In 1839, the capital moved to Austin. That year, a yellow fever 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 and many difficulties 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 637.4 square miles, with over 599 square miles of land and 22 square miles of water. Most of Houston sits on the gulf coastal plain, with vegetation that changes from grasslands to a subtropical jungle further north.

The city was built on forested land, marshes, or swamps, which can still be seen nearby. Flat land and development have made flooding a problem. Downtown is about 50 feet above sea level, and the highest point in northwest Houston is about 150 feet high. Houston used to rely on groundwater, but land sinking forced the city to use water from lakes like Lake Houston, Lake Conroe, and Lake Livingston.

Houston has four major bayous that help manage water. Buffalo Bayou runs through Downtown and the Houston Ship Channel, with tributaries like White Oak Bayou, Brays Bayou, and Sims Bayou. The ship channel continues past Galveston and into the Gulf of Mexico.

Geology

Houston is a flat, marshy area with built drainage systems. The land around Houston drains into the city and is prone to flooding. The ground consists of clays, shales, and sands up to several miles deep, formed from river deposits from the Rocky Mountains. These sediments include sands and clays from decaying organic matter, which turned into oil and natural gas over time. There is a layer of rock salt beneath these sediments, which has pushed up to form salt dome structures, sometimes trapping oil and gas.

Houston has over 150 active faults, with the Long Point–Eureka Heights fault system running through the city center. Land southeast of Houston is sinking due to water being pumped out, but the movement along faults is slow and not strong enough to cause earthquakes.

Cityscape

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

The city of Houston was incorporated in 1837 and adopted a ward system in 1840. The original six wards became the basis for the 11 modern Houston City Council districts, though the ward system was replaced by a commission government in 1905 and later a mayor–council government.

Locations in Houston are often described as inside or outside the Interstate 610 loop. The "Inner Loop" covers 97 square miles and includes Downtown, older neighborhoods, and newer apartment buildings. Outside the loop, the city has a more suburban feel, with major business areas like Uptown, Westchase, and the Energy Corridor. Houston is the largest U.S. city without formal zoning laws, but land use rules have guided development similarly to other cities. These rules include required lot sizes and parking availability.

Houston has multiple business districts beyond 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 had the fifth-tallest skyline in North America in 2015. A system of tunnels and skywalks connects Downtown buildings, helping people stay out of the heat and rain. In the 1970s, many skyscrapers were built, including Houston's tallest building, the 1,002-foot JPMorgan Chase Tower, completed in 1982. Other tall buildings include the 992-foot Wells Fargo Plaza, completed in 1983.

The Uptown District grew in the 1970s and 1980s, with midrise and highrise buildings. The tallest building there is the 901-foot Williams Tower, designed by architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee. Since 2000, over 30 skyscrapers have been developed in Houston.

Climate

Main article: Climate of Houston

Houston has a humid subtropical climate, typical of the Southern United States. Spring thunderstorms sometimes bring tornadoes, though Houston is not in Tornado Alley like Northern Texas. Summers are hot and humid, with temperatures often reaching 90°F or higher. Winters are mild, with occasional cold spells. Houston receives plenty of rain, especially from April to October, but flat land and clay soils make flooding a risk.

Houston has experienced major floods, including Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 and Hurricane Harvey in 2017. After Hurricane Harvey, Houston began requiring new homes to be built higher to reduce flood damage. The city also faces air pollution problems, particularly ozone levels, due to 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 2,304,580 people. In 2017, estimates said there were 2,312,717 people, and in 2018, 2,325,502. About 600,000 undocumented immigrants lived in the Houston area in 2017, making up nearly 9% of the city's bigger area population. In the 2010 United States census, Houston had 2,100,263 people, up from just 2,396 at the 1850 census.

In 2019, Houston's age groups were: 482,402 under 15; 144,196 aged 15 to 19; 594,477 aged 20 to 34; 591,561 aged 35 to 54; 402,804 aged 55 to 74; and 101,357 aged 75 and older. The city's median age was 33.4 years.

There were 987,158 housing units in 2019 and 876,504 households. About 42.3% of people in Houston owned their homes, with an average of 2.65 people per household. The median monthly cost for owning a home with a mortgage was $1,646, and $536 without a mortgage. The median monthly rent was $1,041. The median household income in 2019 was $52,338 and 20.1% of people lived below the poverty line.

Race and ethnicity

Houston is a city where many different groups of people live together. It is known for its variety, with many Hispanic and Latino Americans, and Asian immigrants making it their home. This variety comes from the city's lower cost of living compared to bigger cities, lots of job chances, and its role in helping people from other countries start new lives here.

Houston is a popular place for African Americans, with a big and important community. It is often called a black mecca like Atlanta because it is a main 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, non-Hispanic whites were 23.3% of Houston's population, Hispanics and Latino Americans were 45.8%, blacks or African Americans were 22.4%, and Asian Americans were 6.5%.

Religion

See also: Christianity in Houston

Houston and its area are very religious places, with many people following Christianity. The city has been a center for Protestant Christianity, part of the Bible Belt. Other Christian groups and non-Christian religions grew more after the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 changed rules about who could move to the United States.

In 2014, a study found 73% of people in the Houston area said they were Christians, with about half saying they were Protestant and about 19% saying they were Roman Catholic. About 20% of people said they did not follow any religion.

Houston has many different religious groups. There are many Protestant churches, with Lakewood Church being 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 famous around the world 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 growing in importance, and the city buys most of its electricity from these sources. Since the 2020s, Houston has become a popular place for new technology companies to start, making it one of the fastest-growing parts of the city's economy. 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, surpassing New York City in 2013. The city’s strong points include petroleum products, chemicals, and oil and gas equipment. The Houston Ship Channel plays a big role in supporting the city's economy. Houston’s large port ranks first in the U.S. for international trade and is among the biggest ports in the world. The area’s economy benefits from high oil and gasoline prices because many people work in energy-related jobs. The region’s economy was worth $633 billion in 2022, making it the seventh-largest metropolitan area economy in the United States.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Houston

Located in the American South, Houston is a diverse city with many people from different countries living there. Many events celebrate this mix of cultures. The biggest is the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, held every March for 20 days. Houston is also known for its many restaurants and 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 get lots of visitors each year.

Tourism and recreation

Houston has many places to visit, like 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 originally had 14 members, but grew to 16 when the city's population passed a certain number. The controller handles the city's money. Mayors serve four-year terms and can serve up to two terms in a row. Houston is known for having a mix of political views, with different groups supporting different leaders.

Crime

Main article: Crime in Houston

Houston has higher crime rates than many other U.S. cities. The number of murders in the city increased a lot after 2020. Leaders in Houston are working on plans to help reduce crime. The city is also sometimes a place where illegal drugs are moved around.

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 with almost 44,000 students. 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, among others. These stations show different types of shows and news.

The city also has several radio stations, both public and commercial. One public station is KUHT, which is part of PBS and 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 is home to the Texas Medical Center, the world's largest medical center. It brings together many hospitals, schools, and research groups all working to help people stay healthy. These groups work on caring for patients, finding new ways to treat diseases, and teaching future doctors and nurses. The Texas Medical Center has created important programs like one of the first air emergency services, called Life Flight, and has performed many heart surgeries.

Some of the 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 for everyone.

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Houston

Houston is a city where many people drive to work. In 2016, about 77% of people drove alone, while 11% shared a ride. Only a small part of people used public buses, walking, or biking. The city has many roads and highways that 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 cars that can only be used by 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 throughout history. Some well-known individuals grew up there or lived there for a time. Many of them have made important contributions in areas like music, sports, and entertainment.

International relations

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

• 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)