View source for Houston

{{Short description|Largest city in Texas, United States}}
{{other uses}}
{{Distinguish|Houston County, Texas|Heuston|Euston (disambiguation){{!}}Euston}}
{{protection padlock|small=yes}}
{{Duplicated citations|reason=[[User:Polygnotus/DuplicateReferences|DuplicateReferences]] detected:<br>
* https://www.census.gov/ (refs: 6, 327)
* https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/investigations/harvey-urban-planning/ (refs: 59, 113)
* https://archive.today/20200212043652/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=16000US4835000&-qr_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_DP1&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-_lang=en&-_sse=on (refs: 161, 171)
* http://www.h-gac.com/taq/plan/2040/docs/2040-RTP-revised-April-2016.pdf (refs: 336, 341)
|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Houston
| settlement_type    = [[List of municipalities in Texas|City]]
| official_name      = 
| nicknames           = <!--DO NOT CHANGE! -->Space City (official), <small>[[Nicknames of Houston|more&nbsp;...]]</small><!--Please list unofficial nicknames in Culture section. See discussion on talk page. Thank you. -->
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
  | border             = infobox
  | total_width        = 280
  | image_style        = border:1;
  | perrow             = 1/2/1/2
  | caption_align      = center
  | image1             = Downtown Houston, TX Skyline - 2018.jpg
  | caption1           = [[Downtown Houston]]
  | image3             = Hermann Park, Sam Houston monument, 2012.JPG
  | caption3           = [[Sam Houston Monument]]
  | image2             = Texas medical center.jpg
  | caption2           = [[Texas Medical Center]]
  | image4             = Uptown Houston North of Guilford Ct. and McCue Rd. Panoramic 2 - Dec 2013.jpg
  | caption4           = [[Uptown Houston]]
  | image5             = Replica Space Shuttle Orbiter “Independence” (40638280872).jpg
  | caption5           = [[Johnson Space Center]]
  | image6             = MFA houston.jpg
  | caption6           = [[Museum of Fine Arts, Houston|Museum of Fine Arts]]
}}
| image_flag         = Flag of Houston, Texas.svg
| flag_size          = 120px
| image_seal         = Seal of Houston, Texas.svg
| image_map          = {{maplink
  | frame              = yes
  | plain              = yes
  | frame-align        = center
  | frame-width        = 270
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  | frame-coord        = {{coord|qid=Q16555}}
  | zoom               = 9
  | type               = shape
  | marker             = city
  | stroke-width       = 2
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  | id2                = Q16555
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| map_caption        = Interactive map of Houston
| pushpin_map        = Texas#USA
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| pushpin_label      = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Texas##Location in the United States
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{USA}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|Texas}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Texas|Counties]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Harris County, Texas|Harris]], [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend]], [[Montgomery County, Texas|Montgomery]]
| government_type    = [[Strong Mayor|Strong mayor–council]]
| governing_body     = [[Houston City Council]]
| leader_title       = [[List of mayors of Houston|Mayor]]
| leader_name        = [[John Whitmire]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021">{{cite web|title=2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2021_Gazetteer/2021_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 28, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi   = 671.67
| area_total_km2     = 1740
| area_land_sq_mi    = 640.44
| area_land_km2      = 1658.73
| area_water_sq_mi   = 31.23
| area_water_km2     = 80.89
| population_footnotes = <ref name="QuickFacts">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts: Houston city, Texas |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/houstoncitytexas/PST045222 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 21, 2023}}</ref>
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_total   = 2304580<!-- OFFICIAL CENSUS FIGURES. DO NOT CHANGE UNTIL NEXT CENSUS! -->
| population_est     = 2314157
| pop_est_as_of      = 2023
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name="QuickFacts" />
| population_rank    = [[List of North American cities by population|6th]] in North America<br />[[List of United States cities by population|4th]] in the United States<br />[[List of municipalities in Texas|1st]] in Texas
| population_metro_footnotes = <ref name="2020Pop">{{cite web |title=2020 Population and Housing State Data |url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 22, 2023}}</ref>
| population_metro   = 7122240 (US: [[List of metropolitan statistical areas|5th]])
| population_note    = 
| population_density_sq_mi = 3613.38
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_urban   = 5853575 (US: [[List of United States urban areas|5th]])
| population_density_urban_km2 = 1289.5
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 3339.8
| population_urban_footnotes = <ref name="urban area">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/geography/guidance/geo-areas/urban-rural.html|title=List of 2020 Census Urban Areas|website=census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref>
| population_demonym = Houstonian
| demographics_type2 = GDP
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="fred">{{Cite web|title=Total Gross Domestic Product for Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX (MSA)|url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NGMP26420|website=Federal Reserve Economic Data}}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = [[Metropolitan area|Metro]]
| demographics2_info1 = $633.185 billion (2022)
| timezone           = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset         = −6
| timezone_DST       = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −5
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code        = 770xx, 772xx ([[Post-office box|P.O. Boxes]])
| area_codes         = [[Area codes 713, 281, 832, 346, and 621|713, 281, 832, 346, 621]]
| coordinates        = {{coord|29|45|46|N|95|22|59|W|region:US-TX_type:city(2,300,000)|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_m        = 32
| elevation_ft       = 80
| established_title  = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date   = {{Start date and age|1837|06|05}}
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 48-35000<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 1380948<ref name="GR3">{{cite web |url=http://geonames.usgs.gov |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=US Board on Geographic Names |publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]] |date=October 25, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204035720/http://geonames.usgs.gov/ |archive-date=February 4, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| website            = {{official URL}}
| footnotes          = 
| named_for          = [[Sam Houston]]
}}

'''Houston'''{{efn|{{IPAc-en|audio=En-us-Houston.ogg|ˈ|h|juː|s|t|ən}} {{respell|HEW|stən}}}} is the [[List of cities in Texas by population|most populous city]] in the U.S. state of [[Texas]] and the [[Southern United States]]. It is the [[List of United States cities by population|fourth-most populous city in the United States]], with a population of 2.3 million at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. The [[Greater Houston]] metropolitan area, at 7.8 million residents, is the [[Metropolitan statistical area|fifth-most populous metropolitan area]] in the nation and [[List of Texas metropolitan areas|second-most populous]] in Texas. Located in [[Southeast Texas]] near [[Galveston Bay]] and the [[Gulf of Mexico]], Houston is the [[county seat|seat]] of [[Harris County, Texas|Harris County]]. Covering a total area of {{convert|640.4|sqmi|km2|abbr=}},<ref name=":16">{{Cite web |title=Houston, Texas Geography Profile |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?q=Houston%20city,%20Texas&g=1600000US4835000 |access-date=May 8, 2019 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref> it is the [[List of United States cities by area|ninth largest city]] in the country and the largest whose municipal government is not consolidated with a county, parish, or borough. Although primarily located within Harris County, portions of the city extend into [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend]] and [[Montgomery County, Texas|Montgomery]] counties. Houston also functions as the southeastern anchor of the [[Texas Triangle]] megaregion.<ref>{{Cite news|date=October 6, 2020|title=The Texas Triangle Megaregion Nears 21 Million Residents|url=https://texasnewsexpress.com/10062020-1646/texas-triangle-megaregion-nears-21-million-residents|access-date=November 2, 2020|work=Texas News Express|archive-date=November 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129141417/https://www.texasnewsexpress.com/10062020-1646/texas-triangle-megaregion-nears-21-million-residents|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Houston was founded by land investors on August 30, 1836,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facts and Figures |url=https://www.houstontx.gov/abouthouston/houstonfacts.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221112147/https://www.houstontx.gov/abouthouston/houstonfacts.html |archive-date=February 21, 2019 |access-date=February 21, 2019 |website=City of Houston eGovernment Center}}</ref> at the confluence of [[Buffalo Bayou]] and [[White Oak Bayou]] (a point now known as [[Allen's Landing]]) and incorporated as a city on June 5, 1837.<ref name="Allen's Landing">{{Handbook of Texas | author=Kleiner, D.J. | name=Allen's Landing | id=hvabg| retrieved=2007-06-10|date=February 3, 2005}}</ref><ref name="HouHTO">{{cite web |access-date=June 1, 2008 |url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hdh03 |title=Houston, Texas |date=January 19, 2008 |author=McComb, David G. |work=Handbook of Texas Online |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110412053108/http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hdh03 |archive-date=April 12, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> The city is named after former General [[Sam Houston]], who was president of the [[Republic of Texas]] and had won [[Texas Revolution|Texas's independence from Mexico]] at the [[Battle of San Jacinto]] {{convert|25|mi|km}} east of Allen's Landing.<ref name="HouHTO" /> After briefly serving as the [[Capital city|capital]] of the Texas Republic in the late 1830s, Houston grew steadily into a regional trading center for the remainder of the 19th century.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/history/article/Promise-and-a-few-fibs-launched-this-city-s-7730948.php |title=Promise – and a few fibs – launched this city's destiny |last=Gray |first=Lisa |date=May 19, 2016 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=July 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704063541/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/history/article/Promise-and-a-few-fibs-launched-this-city-s-7730948.php |archive-date=July 4, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The 20th century brought a convergence of economic factors that fueled rapid growth in Houston, including a burgeoning port and railroad industry, the decline of [[Galveston, Texas|Galveston]] as Texas's primary port following [[1900 Galveston hurricane|a devastating 1900 hurricane]], the subsequent construction of the [[Houston Ship Channel]], and the [[Texas oil boom]].<ref name=":8" /> In the mid-20th century, Houston's economy diversified, as it became home to the [[Texas Medical Center]]—the world's largest concentration of healthcare and research institutions—and [[NASA]]'s [[Johnson Space Center]], home to the [[Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center|Mission Control Center]].

Since the late 19th century, [[Economy of Houston|Houston's economy]] has had a broad industrial base in [[Energy in Houston|energy]], [[Manufacturing in Houston|manufacturing]], aeronautics, and [[Transportation in Houston|transportation]]. Leading in healthcare sectors and building oilfield equipment, Houston has the second-most [[Fortune 500|''Fortune'' 500]] headquarters of any U.S. municipality within its city limits.<ref>[https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2011/cities/ ''Fortune'' 500 2010: Cities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824184919/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2011/cities/ |date=August 24, 2011 }} Accessed May 25, 2011</ref><ref name="kearney">{{cite web |title=A.T. Kearney Global Cities Index 2019 |url=http://www.atkearney.com/images/global/pdf/Urban_Elite-GCI_2010.pdf |url-status= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928025715/http://www.atkearney.com/images/global/pdf/Urban_Elite-GCI_2010.pdf |archive-date=September 28, 2011 |access-date=July 25, 2015 |work=A.T. Kearney}}</ref> The [[Port of Houston]] ranks first in the United States in international waterborne tonnage handled and second in total cargo tonnage handled.<ref name="port ranking">{{cite web |title=2010 Port Industry Statistics, American Association of Port Authorities |url=http://aapa.files.cms-plus.com/Statistics/2010%20U%2ES%2E%20PORT%20RANKINGS%20BY%20CARGO%20TONNAGE.pdf |access-date=November 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117025751/http://aapa.files.cms-plus.com/Statistics/2010%20U%2ES%2E%20PORT%20RANKINGS%20BY%20CARGO%20TONNAGE.pdf |archive-date=January 17, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Nicknamed the "Bayou City", "Space City", "H-Town", and "the [[713 area code|713]]", Houston has become a [[global city]], with strengths in culture, medicine, and research. The city's population comprises various ethnic and religious backgrounds, as well as a large and growing international community. Houston is the [[Demographics of Houston|most diverse metropolitan area]] in Texas and has been described as the most racially and ethnically diverse major city in the U.S.<ref name="Hu">{{cite web |last1=Hu |first1=Elise |title=In Houston, America's Diverse Future Has Already Arrived | website=npr.org |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2013/07/01/195909643/tx2020-houston-racial-ethnic-diversity-americas-future |access-date=June 21, 2025 |date=July 1, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Gates |first=Sara |date=March 5, 2012 |title=Houston Surpasses New York and Los Angeles as the 'Most Diverse in Nation' |work=Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/05/houston-most-diverse_n_1321089.html |url-status=live |access-date=April 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709170609/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/05/houston-most-diverse_n_1321089.html |archive-date=July 9, 2018}}</ref> It is home to many cultural institutions and exhibits, such as the [[Houston Museum District]] and the [[Houston Theater District]].<ref name="ikvngd">"{{cite web |url=http://www.houston.org/pdf/research/20AW005.pdf |title=Museums and Cultural Arts |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711230112/http://www.houston.org/pdf/research/20AW005.pdf |archive-date=July 11, 2010 |df=mdy-all}}&nbsp;{{small|(31.8&nbsp;KB)}}", Greater Houston Partnership. Retrieved on March 21, 2009.</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of Houston}}
{{For timeline|Timeline of Houston}}

Present-day Houston sits on land that was once occupied by the [[Karankawa people|Karankawa]] and the [[Atakapa]] indigenous peoples for at least 2,000 years before the first known settlers arrived.<ref>{{Cite web|last=LIPSCOMB|first=CAROL A.|date=June 15, 2010|title=Karankawa Indians|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/bmk05|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=tshaonline.org|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=COUSER|first=DOROTHY|date=June 9, 2010|title=ATAKAPA INDIANS|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/bma48|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=tshaonline.org|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Layman|first=George J.|date=December 31, 2019|title=Karankawas were among the First Texas Indians Encountered by Europeans|url=https://www.historynet.com/karankawas-were-among-the-first-texas-indians-encountered-by-europeans.htm|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=HistoryNet|language=en-US}}</ref> These tribes are almost nonexistent today; this was most likely caused by foreign disease, and competition with various settler groups in the 18th and 19th centuries.<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 31, 2013|title=Houston's Native American Heritage Runs Deep|url=https://houstonfamilymagazine.com/features/houstons-native-american-heritage-runs-deep/|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=Houston Family Magazine|language=en-US}}</ref> However, the land then remained largely [[uninhabited]] from the late 1700s until settlement in the 1830s.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 9, 2010|title=Austin, John|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fau09|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=tshaonline.org|language=en}}</ref>

=== Early settlement to the 20th century ===
The Allen brothers—[[Augustus Chapman Allen|Augustus Chapman]] and [[John Kirby Allen|John Kirby]]—explored town sites on Buffalo Bayou and [[Galveston Bay]]. According to historian David McComb, "[T]he brothers, on August 26, 1836, bought from Elizabeth E. Parrott, wife of T.F.L. Parrott and widow of John Austin, the south half of the lower league [{{convert|2214|acre|ha|adj=on}} tract] granted to her by her late husband. They paid $5,000 total, but only $1,000 of this in cash; notes made up the remainder."<ref>McComb (1981), p. 11.</ref>

The Allen brothers ran their first advertisement for Houston just four days later in the ''Telegraph and Texas Register'', naming the notional town in honor of [[Sam Houston]], who would become [[President of the Republic of Texas|President]] later that year.<ref name="HouHTO" /> They successfully lobbied the [[Congress of the Republic of Texas|Republic of Texas Congress]] to designate Houston as the temporary capital, agreeing to provide the new government with a state capitol building.<ref name="tsha_AC">{{cite web |title=Allen, Augustus Chapman |first=Amelia W. |last=Williams |publisher=Texas State Historical Association |series=Handbook of Texas Online |access-date=April 12, 2018 |date=August 24, 2016 |url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fal17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412212254/https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fal17 |archive-date=April 12, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> About a dozen persons resided in the town at the beginning of 1837, but that number grew to about 1,500 by the time the Texas Congress convened in Houston for the first time that May.<ref name="HouHTO" /> The Republic of Texas granted Houston incorporation on June 5, 1837, as [[James Sanders Holman|James S. Holman]] became its first mayor.<ref name="HouHTO" /> In the same year, Houston became the county seat of Harrisburg County (now Harris County).<ref name="SHQa4">{{cite journal |last=Looscan |first=Adele B. |title=Harris County, 1822–1845 |journal=Southwestern Historical Quarterly |volume=19 |pages=37–64 |year=1914 |url=http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101064/m1/201/ |access-date=March 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327054226/http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101064/m1/201/ |archive-date=March 27, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1839, the Republic of Texas relocated its capital to [[Austin, Texas|Austin]]. The town suffered another setback that year when a yellow fever epidemic claimed about one life for every eight residents, yet it persisted as a commercial center, forming a symbiosis with its Gulf Coast port, Galveston. Landlocked farmers brought their produce to Houston, using Buffalo Bayou to gain access to Galveston and the Gulf of Mexico. Houston merchants profited from selling staples to farmers and shipping the farmers' produce to Galveston.<ref name=HouHTO/>

The great majority of enslaved people in Texas came with their owners from the older slave states. Sizable numbers, however, came through the domestic slave trade. [[New Orleans]] was the center of this trade in the Deep South, but slave dealers were in Houston. Thousands of [[Slavery in the United States|enslaved]] black people lived near the city before the [[American Civil War]]. Many of them near the city worked on sugar and cotton plantations,<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 21, 2016|title=Blood and Sugar|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/sugar-land-slave-convict-labor-history/|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=Texas Monthly|language=en}}</ref> while most of those in the city limits had domestic and artisan jobs.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Texas History|url=http://www.brookelandisd.net/page/open/3151/0/Chapter%2017%20Section%204%20Reading.pdf}}</ref>

In 1840, the community established a chamber of commerce, in part to promote shipping and navigation at the newly created port on Buffalo Bayou.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.houstontx.gov/savvy/archives/sum06/sum06_heritage.htm |first=John |last=Perry |title=Born on the Bayou: city's murky start|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111218055155/http://www.houstontx.gov/savvy/archives/sum06/sum06_heritage.htm |archive-date=December 18, 2011 |work=City Savvy |edition=Online |date=Summer 2006 |publisher=City of Houston}}</ref>

[[File:Old map-Houston-1873.jpg|thumb|left|Houston, {{Circa|1873}}]]

By 1860, Houston had emerged as a commercial and [[Railroad|railroad hub]] for the export of cotton.<ref name="SHQa4" /> Railroad spurs from the Texas inland converged in Houston, where they met rail lines to the ports of Galveston and [[Beaumont, Texas|Beaumont]]. During the American Civil War, Houston served as a headquarters for Confederate Major General [[John B. Magruder]], who used the city as an organization point for the [[Battle of Galveston]].<ref name="Sabine">{{cite book |last=Cotham |first=Edward T. |title=Sabine Pass: The Confederacy's Thermopylae |year=2004 |publisher=[[University of Texas Press]] |location=Austin |isbn=978-0-292-70594-4}}</ref> After the Civil War, Houston businessmen initiated efforts to widen the city's extensive system of bayous so the city could accept more commerce between Downtown and the nearby port of Galveston. By 1890, Houston was the railroad center of Texas.<ref>{{cite news |title=Houston Was the Railroad Center of Texas {{!}} RBH |url=https://resurgencebehavioralhealth.com/blog/by-1890-houston-was-the-railroad-center-of-texas/ |access-date=January 16, 2022 |work=Resurgence Behavioral Health |date=December 13, 2021}}</ref>

In 1900, after Galveston was struck by a devastating [[Galveston Hurricane of 1900|hurricane]], efforts to make Houston into a viable deep-water port were accelerated.<ref>[http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/governors/rising/sayers-galv.html J.H.W. Stele to Sayers, September 11–12, 1900] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117083321/http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/governors/rising/sayers-galv.html |date=November 17, 2010 }}. ''Texas State Library & Archives Commission'', Retrieved on August 31, 2007</ref> The following year, the discovery of [[petroleum|oil]] at the [[Spindletop]] [[oil field]] near Beaumont prompted the development of the Texas petroleum industry.<ref>{{cite book |title=Oil in Texas: The Gusher Age, 1895–1945 |last=Olien |first=Diana Davids |author2=Olien, Roger M. |year=2002 |publisher=University of Texas Press |location=Austin |isbn=978-0-292-76056-1}}</ref> In 1902, President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] approved a $1 million improvement project for the Houston Ship Channel. By 1910, the city's population had reached 78,800, almost doubling from a decade before. African Americans formed a large part of the city's population, numbering 23,929 people, which was nearly one-third of Houston's residents.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.houstonhistory.com/decades/history5h.htm |title=Marvin Hurley, 1910–1920, Houston History |access-date=April 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080419095802/http://www.houstonhistory.com/decades/history5h.htm |archive-date=April 19, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>

President [[Woodrow Wilson]] opened the deep-water Port of Houston in 1914, seven years after digging began. By 1930, Houston had become Texas's most populous city and Harris County the most populous county.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gibson |first=Campbell |title=Population of the 100 Largest Cities and Other Urban Places in the United States: 1790 to 1990 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |date=June 1998 |url=https://www.census.gov/library/working-papers/1998/demo/POP-twps0027.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005195810/http://www.census.gov/library/working-papers/1998/demo/POP-twps0027.html |archive-date=October 5, 2018}}</ref> In 1940, the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]] reported Houston's population as 77.5% White and 22.4% black.<ref name="census1"/>

=== World War II to the late 20th century ===
When [[United States home front during World War II|World War II]] started, tonnage levels at the port decreased and shipping activities were suspended; however, the war did provide economic benefits for the city. Petrochemical refineries and manufacturing plants were constructed along the ship channel because of the demand for petroleum and synthetic rubber products by the defense industry during the war.<ref name="shipchannel">{{cite web |title=Houston Ship Channel |work=TSHA Handbook of Texas |url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/rhh11 |access-date=May 5, 2015 |date=June 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201105943/http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/rhh11 |archive-date=February 1, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Ellington Airport (Texas)|Ellington Field]], initially built during [[World War I]], was revitalized as an advanced training center for bombardiers and navigators.<ref>{{cite web |last=Carlson |first=Erik |title=Ellington Field: A Short History, 1917–1963 |work=National Aeronautics and Space Administration |date=February 1999 |url=http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/ellington/Ellington.pdf |access-date=February 18, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061102113204/http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/ellington/Ellington.pdf |archive-date=November 2, 2006 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Brown Shipbuilding Company]] was founded in 1942 to build ships for the [[U.S. Navy]] during World War II. Due to the boom in defense jobs, thousands of new workers migrated to the city, both black, and white people competing for the higher-paying jobs. President Roosevelt had established a policy of [[Anti-discrimination law|nondiscrimination]] for defense contractors, and black people gained some opportunities, especially in shipbuilding, although not without resistance from white people and increasing social tensions that erupted into occasional violence. Economic gains of black people who entered defense industries continued in the postwar years.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Race, Roosevelt, and Wartime Production: Fair Employment in World War II Labor Markets |first=William J. |last=Collins |journal=The American Economic Review |volume=91 |number=1 |date=March 2001 |pages=272–286 |publisher=American Economic Association |jstor=2677909 |doi=10.1257/aer.91.1.272 | issn=0002-8282}}</ref>

In 1945, the M.D. Anderson Foundation formed the [[Texas Medical Center]]. After the war, Houston's economy reverted to being primarily port-driven. In 1948, the city annexed several unincorporated areas, more than doubling its size. Houston proper began to spread across the region.<ref name=HouHTO/><ref>{{cite web |last=Streetman |first=Ashley |title=Houston Timeline |work=Houston Institute for Culture |url=http://www.houstonculture.org/resources/houstontime.html |access-date=February 6, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208185328/http://www.houstonculture.org/resources/houstontime.html |archive-date=December 8, 2006 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1950, the availability of air conditioning provided impetus for many companies to relocate to Houston, where wages were lower than those in [[Northern United States|the North]]; this resulted in an economic boom and produced a key shift in the city's economy toward the energy sector.<ref>[http://www.oldhouseweb.com/stories/Detailed/725.shtml "How Air Conditioning Changed America"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061213053143/http://www.oldhouseweb.com/stories/Detailed/725.shtml |date=December 13, 2006 }}, ''The Old House Web'', Retrieved on April 4, 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.hgs.org/en/articles/printview.asp?26 "A Short History"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216122901/http://www.hgs.org/en/articles/printview.asp?26 |date=February 16, 2007 }}, ''Houston Geological Auxiliary'', Retrieved on April 4, 2007</ref>

The increased production of the expanded shipbuilding industry during World War II spurred Houston's growth,<ref>{{cite web |title=Shipbuilding |work=TSHA Handbook of Texas |url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ets03 |access-date=February 18, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506030037/http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ets03 |archive-date=May 6, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> as did the establishment in 1961 of NASA's "Manned Spacecraft Center" (renamed the [[Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center]] in 1973). This was the stimulus for the development of the city's aerospace industry. The [[Astrodome]], nicknamed the "[[Eighth Wonder of the World]]",<ref>{{cite journal |last=Barks |first=Joseph V. |title=Powering the (New and Improved) "Eighth Wonder of the World" |journal=Electrical Apparatus |date=November 2001}}</ref> opened in 1965 as the world's first indoor domed sports stadium.

During the late 1970s, Houston had a population boom as people from the [[Rust Belt]] states moved to Texas in large numbers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://texasalmanac.com/topics/culture/polish/polish-texans |title=Polish-Texans |work=Texas Almanac 2004–2005 |access-date=July 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703162430/https://texasalmanac.com/topics/culture/polish/polish-texans |archive-date=July 3, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The new residents came for numerous employment opportunities in the petroleum industry, created as a result of the [[1973 oil crisis|Arab oil embargo]]. With the increase in professional jobs, Houston has become a destination for many college-educated persons, most recently including African Americans in a [[New Great Migration|reverse Great Migration]] from northern areas.

In 1997, Houstonians elected [[Lee P. Brown]] as the city's first African American mayor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/biography.asp?bioindex=937&category=politicalMakers |title=Lee P. Brown – Biography |work=TheHistoryMakers.com |access-date=January 22, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110215849/http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/biography.asp?bioindex=937&category=politicalMakers | archive-date=November 10, 2016 | url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Early 21st century ===
Houston has continued to grow into the 21st century, with the population increasing 15.7% from 2000 to 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Houston, Texas Population History {{!}} 1900 - 2022 |url=https://www.biggestuscities.com/city/houston-texas |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=www.biggestuscities.com}}{{unreliable source?|date=October 2023}}</ref>

Oil and gas have continued to fuel Houston's economic growth, with major oil companies including [[Phillips 66]], [[ConocoPhillips]], [[Occidental Petroleum]], [[Halliburton]], and [[ExxonMobil]] having their headquarters in the Houston area. In 2001, [[Enron Corporation]], a Houston company with $100 billion in revenue, became engulfed in an [[Enron scandal|accounting scandal]] which bankrupted the company in 2001.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Texas State Historical Association |title=Enron Corporation |author=Frontain, Michael |series=Handbook of Texas Online |date=February 9, 2017 |access-date=April 28, 2018 |url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/doe08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009052818/https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/doe08 |archive-date=October 9, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Healthcare had also emerged as a major industry in Houston. The [[Texas Medical Center]] is now the largest medical complex in the world and employs over 120,000 people.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.tmc.edu/about-tmc/ |website=Texas Medical Center |access-date=8 July 2023}}</ref>

In the first decade of the 21st century, three new sports stadiums opened downtown. In 2000, the [[Houston Astros]] opened their new baseball stadium, [[Daikin Park]], in downtown adjacent to the old [[Union Station (Houston)|Union Station]]. The [[Houston Texans]] were formed in 2002 as an [[NFL]] expansion team, replacing the [[Houston Oilers]], which had left the city in 1996. [[NRG Stadium]] opened the same year. In 2003, the [[Toyota Center]] opened as the home for the [[Houston Rockets]]. In 2005, the [[Houston Dynamo]] soccer team was formed. In [[2017 World Series|2017]], the Houston Astros won their first [[World Series]].

==== Flooding and storms ====
[[File:Harvey flooding (36527844190).jpg|thumb|[[Hurricane Harvey]] flooding]]
[[Flooding]] has been a recurring problem in the Houston area. In June 2001, [[Tropical Storm Allison]] dumped up to {{convert|40|in|mm}} of rain on parts of Houston, causing what was then the worst flooding in the city's history and billions of dollars in damage, and killed 20 people in Texas.<ref>{{cite news |title=Allison's Death Toll Hits 43 |last=Ward |first=Christina |url=http://www.redcross.org/news/ds/floods/010618houston.html |work=RedCross.org |date=June 18, 2001 |access-date=January 1, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061204040810/http://www.redcross.org/news/ds/floods/010618houston.html |archive-date=December 4, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In August 2005, Houston became a shelter to more than 150,000 people from New Orleans, who evacuated from [[Hurricane Katrina]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Katrina's Human Legacy |work=Houston Chronicle |date=August 27, 2006 |url=https://www.chron.com/opinion/editorials/article/katrina-s-legacy-hurricanes-routinely-reshape-1581243.php |access-date=June 23, 2025}}</ref> One month later, about 2.5 million Houston-area residents evacuated when [[Hurricane Rita]] approached the [[Gulf Coast of the United States|Gulf Coast]], leaving little damage to the Houston area. This was the largest urban evacuation in the history of the United States.<ref>{{cite news |last=Flakus |first=Greg |title=Recovery Beginning in Areas Affected by Hurricane Rita |work=Voice of America News |date=September 25, 2005 |url=http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2005-09/2005-09-25-voa33.cfm |access-date=January 10, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070110220637/http://voanews.com/english/archive/2005-09/2005-09-25-voa33.cfm |archive-date=January 10, 2007}}</ref><ref>[http://www.house.gov/brady/2007_appropriations.shtml 8th Congressional District of Texas 2007 Appropriations Project Requests] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070107112644/http://www.house.gov/brady/2007_appropriations.shtml |date=January 7, 2007 }}. Congressman Kevin Brady, 8th District of Texas. Retrieved on January 10, 2007.</ref>

In May 2015, seven people died after 12 inches of rain fell in 10 hours during what is known as the Memorial Day Flood. Eight people died in April 2016 during a storm that dropped 17 inches of rain.<ref name="wild west">{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/investigations/harvey-urban-planning/ |title=How Houston's 'Wild West' growth may have contributed to devastating flooding |last1=Boburg |first1=Shawn |last2=Reinhard |first2=Beth |date=August 29, 2017 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en |access-date=June 23, 2025}}</ref> The worst came in late August 2017, when [[Hurricane Harvey]] stalled over southeastern Texas, much like Tropical Storm Allison did sixteen years earlier, causing severe flooding in the Houston area, with some areas receiving over {{convert|50|in|mm}} of rain.<ref name="gallons">{{cite news |title=Texas flood disaster: Harvey has unloaded 9 trillion gallons of water |date=August 27, 2017 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2017/08/27/texas-flood-disaster-harvey-has-unloaded-9-trillion-tons-of-water/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=August 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827190700/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2017/08/27/texas-flood-disaster-harvey-has-unloaded-9-trillion-tons-of-water/ |archive-date=August 27, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The rainfall exceeded 50 inches in several areas locally, breaking the national record for rainfall. The damage for the Houston area was estimated at up to $125 billion [[U.S. dollars]],<ref>{{cite news |work=Texas Tribune |title=Hurricane Harvey was year's costliest U.S. disaster at $125 billion in damages |author=Mooney, Chris |date=January 8, 2018 |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2018/01/08/hurricane-harvey-was-years-costliest-us-disaster-125-billion-damages/ |access-date=January 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109213821/https://www.texastribune.org/2018/01/08/hurricane-harvey-was-years-costliest-us-disaster-125-billion-damages/ |archive-date=January 9, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> and was considered to be one of the worst [[List of natural disasters in the United States|natural disasters in the history of the United States]],<ref name="Hurricane Harvey">"{{cite web |last1=Isidore |first1=Chris |url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/08/30/news/economy/harvey-cost-most-expensive-disasters/index.html |title=Harvey certain to be one of the most expensive natural disasters ever |work=CNNMoney |df=mdy-all |date=August 30, 2017 |access-date=August 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830184752/http://money.cnn.com/2017/08/30/news/economy/harvey-cost-most-expensive-disasters/index.html |archive-date=August 30, 2017 |url-status=live }}&nbsp;{{small|(31.8&nbsp;KB)}}", ''CNN News''. Retrieved on August 25, 2017.</ref> with the death toll exceeding 70 people. Houston's lack of zoning laws allowed unregulated building of residential homes and other structures in flood-prone areas.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Aaron |last1=Davis |first2=Jack |last2=Gillum |first3=Andrew |last3=Tran |title=How Houston's 'Wild West' growth may have contributed to devastating flooding |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/investigations/harvey-urban-planning/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=September 10, 2018 |language=en |quote=Growth that is virtually unchecked, including in flood-prone areas, has diminished the land's already-limited natural ability to absorb water, according to environmentalists and experts in land use and natural disasters.&nbsp;... Since 2010, at least 7,000 residential buildings have been constructed in Harris County on properties that sit mostly on land the federal government has designated as a 100-year flood plain, according to a ''Washington Post'' review of areas at the greatest risk of flooding. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327084606/https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/investigations/harvey-urban-planning/ |archive-date=March 27, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, it also resulted in more concentrated development in already urban areas than in wetlands and suburbs.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gray |first1=Nolan |title=Houston's Zoning Wasn't the Problem |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-04/how-houston-s-zoning-can-help-hurricane-harvey-recovery |access-date=16 March 2024 |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |date=4 September 2017}}</ref> Mayor Sylvester Turner tweeted of Hurricane Harvey that "zoning wouldn't have changed anything. We would have been a city with zoning that flooded."<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=SylvesterTurner |number=902950965229301767 |title=city with zoning that flooded}}</ref>

On May 16, 2024, a strong [[derecho]] caused widespread damage across the city and surrounding metropolitan area.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Helsel |first1=Phil |title=7 dead in Houston area after storms, 100 mph winds |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/7-dead-texas-harris-county-storms-100-mph-winds-rcna152874 |publisher=[[NBC News]] |access-date=18 May 2024 |language=en |date=17 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=At least 7 dead after hurricane-force winds pound Houston as power outages persist amid rising temperatures |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/17/weather/flooding-south-storms-houston-friday/index.html |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=18 May 2024 |date=17 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Wulfeck |first1=Andrew |last2=Sistek |first2=Scott |date=May 16, 2024 |title=Houston metro rocked by 100 mph derecho that left 7 dead and over 1 million without power |url=https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/thunderstorm-damage-houston-texas |access-date=May 18, 2024 |work=[[Fox Weather]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Houston}}
[[File:Houston by Sentinel-2, 2020-09-30 (small version).jpg|thumb|Satellite image of Houston, 2020]]
Houston is {{convert|165|mi|km}} east of [[Austin, Texas|Austin]],<ref>Lomax, John Nova. [http://www.texasmonthly.com/story/texas "This Is Texas"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501062243/http://www.texasmonthly.com/story/texas |date=May 1, 2015}} ''[[Texas Monthly]]''. February 2013. Retrieved on April 30, 2013. "No, the rightful standard-bearer of our state—the city with the greatest number of people, of cultural happenings, of medical facilities, of gangbuster enterprises—is located 165 miles to the east of Texas's pink-granite dome." – The first part is discussing Houston. The "pink granite dome" is the [[Texas State Capitol]] in Austin.</ref> {{convert|88|mi|km}} west of the [[Louisiana]] border,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://check-distance.com/search?from=Houston,+TX,+USA&to=Walter+Umphrey+State+Park,+Martin+Luther+King+Junior+Drive,+Port+Arthur,+TX,+USA&flat=29.7604267&flon=-95.3698028&tlat=29.76301999999999&tlon=-93.89903800000002 |title=Distance from Houston, TX, USA to Walter Umphrey State Park, Martin Luther King Junior Drive, Port Arthur, TX, USA |language=en |access-date=December 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203010820/https://check-distance.com/search?from=Houston,+TX,+USA&to=Walter+Umphrey+State+Park,+Martin+Luther+King+Junior+Drive,+Port+Arthur,+TX,+USA&flat=29.7604267&flon=-95.3698028&tlat=29.76301999999999&tlon=-93.89903800000002 |archive-date=December 3, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> and {{convert|250|mi|km}} south of [[Dallas]].<ref>Martin, Roland. [http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/06/opinion/opinion-texas-football-roland-martin/index.html "Football power in Texas has shifted to Houston"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314085836/http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/06/opinion/opinion-texas-football-roland-martin/index.html |date=March 14, 2016 }} ''[[CNN]]''. January 6, 2012. Retrieved on January 7, 2012.</ref> The city has a total area of {{convert|637.4|sqmi|km2|abbr=}};<ref name=":16" /> this comprises over {{convert|599.59|sqmi|km2}} of land and {{convert|22.3|sqmi|km2}} covered by water.<ref>[http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48/4835000.html Houston (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220105716/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48/4835000.html |date=February 20, 2010 }}. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on February 28, 2009.</ref> Most of Houston is on the [[Western Gulf coastal grasslands|gulf coastal plain]], and its vegetation is classified as [[Western Gulf coastal grasslands]] while further north, it transitions into a subtropical jungle, the [[Big Thicket]].

Much of the city was built on forested land, marshes, or swamps, and all are still visible in surrounding areas.<ref>{{Cite news|date=May 31, 2016|title=The trouble with living in a swamp: Houston floods explained|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/explainer/article/The-trouble-with-living-in-a-swamp-Houston-7954514.php|access-date=July 30, 2020|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|language=en-US |last1=Baddour |first1=Dylan }}</ref> Flat terrain and extensive greenfield development have combined to worsen flooding.<ref>[http://www.crwr.utexas.edu/gis/gishyd98/class/trmproj/ahrens/prepro.htm Flood Forecasting for the Buffalo Bayou Using CRWR-PrePro and HEC-HMS] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070204065252/http://www.crwr.utexas.edu/gis/gishyd98/class/trmproj/ahrens/prepro.htm |date=February 4, 2007 }}. ''Center for Research in Water Resources, The University of Texas at Austin'' Retrieved on January 10, 2007.</ref> Downtown stands about {{convert|50|ft|m}} above sea level,<ref>[http://www.topoquest.com/map.asp?lat=29.75737&lon=-95.36387&size=m&u=4&datum=nad27&layer=DRG&s=100 Downtown Houston, Texas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530191738/https://www.topoquest.com/map.php?lat=29.75737&lon=-95.36387&datum=nad27&zoom=16 |date=May 30, 2020 }}. ''TopoQuest.com'' Retrieved on July 5, 2008.</ref> and the highest point in far northwest Houston is about {{convert|150|ft|m|abbr=}} in elevation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Topographic map of Houston, Texas |url=http://en-us.topographic-map.com/places/Houston-6818619/ |access-date=May 8, 2019 |website=topographic-map.com |language=en}}</ref> The city once relied on groundwater for its needs, but land [[subsidence]] forced the city to turn to ground-level water sources such as [[Lake Houston]], [[Lake Conroe]], and [[Lake Livingston]].<ref name="HouHTO" /><ref name="USGS_Subsidence_Fault_Creep">{{cite web |url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/circ1182/pdf/07Houston.pdf |title=Houston-Galveston, Texas Managing Coastal Subsidence |access-date=January 12, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070113025911/http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/circ1182/pdf/07Houston.pdf |archive-date=January 13, 2007 |url-status=live }}&nbsp;{{small|(5.89&nbsp;MB)}}. [[United States Geological Survey]]. Retrieved on January 11, 2007.</ref> The city owns surface water rights for {{convert|1.20|e9USgal|sp=us}} of water a day in addition to {{convert|150|e6USgal|sp=us}} a day of groundwater.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.publicworks.houstontx.gov/utilities/drinkingwater.html |title=Drinking Water Operations |publisher=Publicworks.houstontx.gov |access-date=October 12, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014130133/http://www.publicworks.houstontx.gov/utilities/drinkingwater.html |archive-date=October 14, 2013}}</ref>

Houston has four major [[bayou]]s passing through the city that accept water from the extensive drainage system. Buffalo Bayou runs through Downtown and the [[Houston Ship Channel]], and has three tributaries: White Oak Bayou, which runs through the Houston Heights community northwest of Downtown and then towards Downtown; [[Brays Bayou]], which runs along the Texas Medical Center;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asla.org/2009awards/196.html |title=2009 Professional Awards |work=asla.org |access-date=September 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923175333/http://www.asla.org/2009awards/196.html |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Sims Bayou]], which runs through the south of Houston and Downtown Houston. The ship channel continues past Galveston and then into the Gulf of Mexico.<ref name="shipchannel" />

===Geology===
[[File:Houston Texas 14Mar2018 SkySat.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of central Houston, showing Downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, March 2018]]
Houston is a flat, [[marshy]] area where an extensive drainage system has been built. The adjoining prairie land drains into the city, which is prone to flooding.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/explainer/article/The-trouble-with-living-in-a-swamp-Houston-7954514.php |title=The trouble with living in a swamp: Houston floods explained |newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]] |first=Dylan |last=Baddour |date=May 31, 2016 |access-date=August 31, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829232536/http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/explainer/article/The-trouble-with-living-in-a-swamp-Houston-7954514.php |archive-date=August 29, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Underpinning Houston's land surface are [[Consolidation (geology)|unconsolidated]] clays, clay shales, and poorly cemented sands up to several miles deep. The region's geology developed from river deposits formed from the erosion of the [[Rocky Mountains]]. These [[sediment]]s consist of a series of sands and clays deposited on decaying organic marine matter, that over time, transformed into oil and natural gas. Beneath the layers of sediment is a water-deposited layer of [[halite]], a rock salt. The porous layers were compressed over time and forced upward. As it pushed upward, the salt dragged surrounding sediments into [[salt dome]] formations, often trapping oil and gas that seeped from the surrounding porous sands. The thick, rich, sometimes black, surface soil is suitable for rice farming in suburban outskirts where the city continues to grow.<ref>[https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hch07 Harris County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203083934/https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hch07 |date=December 3, 2017 }}. ''[[Handbook of Texas]] Online.'' Retrieved on January 10, 2007.</ref><ref>[https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/afr01 Rice Culture] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203083049/https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/afr01 |date=December 3, 2017 }}. ''[[Handbook of Texas]] Online.'' Retrieved on January 10, 2007.</ref>

The Houston area has over 150 active [[Fault (geology)|faults]] (estimated to be 300 [[active fault]]s) with an aggregate length of up to {{convert|310|mi|km}},<ref>{{cite web |title=Mapping Active Faults in the Houston Area using LIDAR Data, #50034 (2006) |access-date=July 10, 2010 |first=R. |last=Engelkemeir |work=Online Journal for E&P Geoscientists |url=http://www.searchanddiscovery.net/documents/2006/06078engelkemeir/index.htm?q=%2Btext%3A%22active+faults+houston+area%22+-isMeetingAbstract%3Amtgabsyes}}</ref><ref>Earl R. Verbeek, Karl W. Ratzlaff, Uel S. Clanton. "[https://pubs.usgs.gov/mf-maps/mf1136/mf1136/ Faults in Parts of North-Central and Western Houston Metropolitan Area, Texas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060909202115/http://pubs.usgs.gov/mf-maps/mf1136/mf1136/ |date=September 9, 2006 }}", [[United States Geological Survey]], September 16, 2005. Retrieved on December 14, 2006.</ref><ref>Sachin D. Shah and Jennifer Lanning-Rush. [https://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/2005/2874/ Principal Faults in the Houston, Texas, Metropolitan Area] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025111836/http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/2005/2874/ |date=October 25, 2011 }}, ''U.S. Geological Survey''. Retrieved on February 23, 2012.</ref> including the [[Long Point–Eureka Heights fault system]] which runs through the center of the city. Land in some areas southeast of Houston is sinking because water has been pumped out of the ground for many years. It may be associated with slip along the faults; however, the slippage is slow and not considered an earthquake, where stationary faults must slip suddenly enough to create seismic waves.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070715065340/http://www.ig.utexas.edu/research/projects/eq/faq/tx.htm Texas Earthquakes], ''University of Texas Institute for Geophysics'', July 2001. Retrieved on August 29, 2007.</ref> These faults also tend to move at a smooth rate in what is termed "[[Aseismic creep|fault creep]]",<ref name="USGS_Subsidence_Fault_Creep" /> which further reduces the risk of an earthquake.

===Cityscape===
{{further|Geographic areas of Houston|List of Houston neighborhoods}}
[[File:Houston superneighborhoods.png|thumb|Houston's superneighborhoods]]

The city of Houston was incorporated in 1837 and adopted a [[Ward (politics)|ward system]] of representation shortly afterward, in 1840.<ref name="Trapp">{{Cite journal |last=Chapman |first=Betty Trapp |date=Fall 2010 |title=A System of Government Where Business Ruled |url=https://houstonhistorymagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/ward-system-of-government.pdf |journal=Houston History Magazine |volume=8 |pages=29–33 |access-date=March 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026054320/https://houstonhistorymagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/ward-system-of-government.pdf |archive-date=October 26, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The six original wards of Houston are the progenitors of the 11 modern-day geographically oriented [[Houston City Council]] districts, though the city abandoned the ward system in 1905 in favor of a [[City commission government|commission government]], and, later, the existing [[mayor–council government]].

[[File:MidtownHoustonscene001.jpg|thumb|Intersection of Bagby and McGowen streets in western Midtown, 2016]]

Locations in Houston are generally classified as either being inside or outside the [[Interstate 610 (Texas)|Interstate 610 loop]]. The "Inner Loop" encompasses a {{Convert|97|mi2|km2|adj=on}} area which includes Downtown, pre–World War II residential neighborhoods and [[streetcar suburb]]s, and newer high-density apartment and townhouse developments.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.houstontx.gov/planning/Demographics/Loop%20610%20Website/population.html |title=Houston's Loop 610: Population |date=2013 |website=City of Houston |publisher=City of Houston Planning and Development Department |access-date=March 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515111351/http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/Demographics/Loop%20610%20Website/population.html |archive-date=May 15, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Outside the loop, the city's typology is more [[Suburbanization|suburban]], though many major business districts—such as [[Uptown Houston|Uptown]], [[Westchase, Houston|Westchase]], and the [[Houston Energy Corridor|Energy Corridor]]—lie well outside the urban core. In addition to Interstate 610, two additional loop highways encircle the city: [[Texas State Highway Beltway 8|Beltway 8]], with a radius of approximately {{convert|10|mi|km}} from Downtown, and [[Texas State Highway 99|State Highway 99]] (the Grand Parkway), with a radius of {{Convert|25|mi|km}}. Approximately 470,000 people lived within the Interstate 610 loop, while 1.65 million lived between Interstate 610 and Beltway 8 and 2.25 million lived within Harris County outside Beltway 8 in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.harriscountytx.gov/CmpDocuments/74/Budget/FY16%20Population%20Study.pdf |title=Harris County Budget Management: Population Study |date=January 2015 |website=Harris County, Texas|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411074852/http://www.harriscountytx.gov/CmpDocuments/74/Budget/FY16%20Population%20Study.pdf|archive-date=April 11, 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=March 19, 2018}}</ref>

Though Houston is the largest city in the United States without formal [[zoning]] regulations, it has developed similarly to other [[Sun Belt]] cities because the city's land use regulations and [[Covenant (law)#In a legal context|legal covenants]] have played a similar role.<ref name="nytzoning">{{cite news |title=FOCUS: Houston; A Fresh Approach To Zoning |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=March 27, 2009 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/17/realestate/focus-houston-a-fresh-approach-to-zoning.html |first=Robert |last=Reinhold |date=August 17, 1986 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402043755/http://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/17/realestate/focus-houston-a-fresh-approach-to-zoning.html |archive-date=April 2, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="nozoning">{{cite web |title=Zoning Without Zoning |work=planetizen.com |access-date=March 27, 2009 |url=http://www.planetizen.com/node/109 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081016050640/http://www.planetizen.com/node/109 |archive-date=October 16, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> Regulations include mandatory lot size for single-family houses and requirements that parking be available to tenants and customers. In 1998, Houston relaxed its mandatory lot sizes from 5,000 square feet to 3,500 square feet, which spurred housing construction in the city dramatically.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-31 |title=Here's how cities across Texas changed their zoning to increase housing |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2024/01/31/heres-how-cities-across-texas-changed-their-zoning-to-increase-housing/ |website=Dallas News |language=en}}</ref>

Such restrictions have had mixed results. Though some have blamed the city's low density, [[urban sprawl]], and lack of pedestrian-friendliness on these policies, others have credited the city's land use patterns with providing significant affordable housing, sparing Houston the worst effects of the [[United States housing bubble|2008 real estate crisis]]. The city issued 42,697 building permits in 2008 and was ranked first in the list of healthiest housing markets for 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Healthiest Housing Markets for 2009 – Local Markets, Construction, Home Prices |work=Builder |date=February 27, 2009 |access-date=March 4, 2009 |url=http://www.builderonline.com/local-markets/the-healthiest-housing-markets-for-2009.aspx?page=15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090222175955/http://www.builderonline.com/local-markets/the-healthiest-housing-markets-for-2009.aspx?page=15 |archive-date=February 22, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, home sales reached a new record of $30 billion.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lescalleet|first=Cynthia|title=2019 Was A Record Year for Houston's Housing Market|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/cynthialescalleet/2020/01/08/2019-was-another-very-good-year-in-houstons-housing-market/|access-date=October 15, 2020|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref>

In referendums in 1948, 1962, and 1993, voters rejected efforts to establish separate residential and commercial land-use districts. Consequently, rather than a single central business district as the center of the city's employment, multiple districts and skylines have grown throughout the city in addition to [[Downtown Houston|Downtown]], which include Uptown, the [[Texas Medical Center]], [[Midtown, Houston, Texas|Midtown]], [[Greenway Plaza]], [[Memorial City]], the Energy Corridor, [[Westchase, Houston, Texas|Westchase]], and [[Greenspoint, Houston, Texas|Greenspoint]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hlavaty|first=Craig|date=October 23, 2018|title=How many skylines do you think Houston has?|url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Houston-skyline-s-13330138.php|access-date=October 21, 2020|website=Houston Chronicle|language=en-US}}</ref>
{{clear}}

{{wide image|Buildings-city-houston-skyline-1870617.jpg|1050px|align-cap=center|[[Downtown Houston]] skyline}}
{{wide image|Uptown Houston North of Guilford Ct. and McCue Rd. Panoramic 2 - Dec 2013.jpg|1050px|align-cap=center|[[Uptown Houston]] skyline in 2013}}
{{wide image|Skyline of the Texas Medical Center - Houston, TX - December 2019.jpg|1050px|align-cap=center|[[Texas Medical Center]] skyline in 2019}}

===Architecture===
{{Main|Architecture of Houston}}
{{See also|List of tallest buildings in Houston}}
Houston had the fifth-tallest skyline in North America (after New York City, [[Chicago]], [[Toronto]] and [[Miami]]) and 36th-tallest in the world in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tudl0867.home.xs4all.nl/skylines.html |title=The World's Best Skylines |website=tudl0867.home.xs4all.nl |access-date=October 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307023152/http://tudl0867.home.xs4all.nl/skylines.html |archive-date=March 7, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> A seven-mile (11&nbsp;km) [[Houston Downtown Tunnel System|system of tunnels and skywalks]] links Downtown buildings containing shops and restaurants, enabling pedestrians to avoid summer heat and rain while walking between buildings. In the 1960s, [[Downtown Houston]] consisted of a collection of mid-rise office structures. Downtown was on the threshold of an energy industry{{ndash}}led boom in 1970. A succession of skyscrapers was built throughout the 1970s—many by real estate developer [[Gerald D. Hines]]—culminating with Houston's tallest skyscraper, the 75-floor, {{convert|1002|ft|m|0|adj=on}}-tall [[JPMorgan Chase Tower (Houston)|JPMorgan Chase Tower]] (formerly the Texas Commerce Tower), completed in 1982. It is the tallest structure in Texas, [[List of tallest buildings in the United States|19th tallest]] building in the United States, and was previously [[List of tallest buildings in the world|85th-tallest]] skyscraper in the world, based on highest architectural feature. In 1983, the 71-floor, {{convert|992|ft|m|0|adj=on}}-tall [[Wells Fargo Plaza (Houston)|Wells Fargo Plaza]] (formerly Allied Bank Plaza) was completed, becoming the second-tallest building in Houston and Texas. Based on highest architectural feature, it is the 21st-tallest in the United States. In 2007, Downtown had over {{convert|43|e6ft2|m2}} of office space.<ref>[http://www.houstondowntown.com/Home/GeneralInfo/About/FastFacts1/ Fast Facts, Downtown Houston] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091205170813/http://www.houstondowntown.com/Home/GeneralInfo/About/FastFacts1/ |date=December 5, 2009 }}. ''Houstondowntown.com'' 2006. Retrieved on January 10, 2007.</ref>

Centered on Post Oak Boulevard and Westheimer Road, the [[Uptown Houston|Uptown District]] boomed during the 1970s and early 1980s when a collection of midrise office buildings, hotels, and retail developments appeared along I-610 West. Uptown became one of the most prominent instances of an [[edge city]]. The tallest building in Uptown is the 64-floor, {{convert|901|ft|m|0|adj=on}}-tall, [[Philip Johnson]] and [[John Burgee]] designed landmark [[Williams Tower]] (known as the Transco Tower until 1999). At the time of construction, it was believed to be the world's tallest skyscraper outside a central business district. The new 20-story Skanska building<ref>{{cite web |url=http://texas.construction.com/texas_construction_projects/2013/0904-houstons-galleria-area-gets-first-new-office-building-in-30-years.asp |title=Reports |date=February 8, 2017 |access-date=February 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228094113/http://texas.construction.com/texas_construction_projects/2013/0904-houstons-galleria-area-gets-first-new-office-building-in-30-years.asp |archive-date=February 28, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> and BBVA Compass Plaza<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2013/06/bbva-compass-plaza-opens-new-building-on-post-oak/#13191101=0 |title=BBVA Compass Plaza opens new building on Post Oak |work=Prime Property |date=June 13, 2013 |access-date=September 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912023711/http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2013/06/bbva-compass-plaza-opens-new-building-on-post-oak/#13191101=0 |archive-date=September 12, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> are the newest office buildings built in Uptown after 30 years. The Uptown District is also home to buildings designed by noted architects [[I. M. Pei]], [[César Pelli]], and Philip Johnson. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, a mini-boom of midrise and highrise [[Tower block|residential tower]] construction occurred, with several over 30 stories tall.<ref>[http://www.uptown-houston.com/economic/market/residential.html Residential Real Estate]. ''Uptown-houston.com'' Retrieved on January 11, 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201213217/http://www.uptown-houston.com/economic/market/residential.html |date=February 1, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Sarnoff |first=Nancy |title=Genesis Laying Down Plans for Newest Uptown Condo Highrise |work=Houston Business Journal |date=December 14, 2001 |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2001/12/17/newscolumn3.html |access-date=February 7, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311044243/http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2001/12/17/newscolumn3.html |archive-date=March 11, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Apte |first=Angela |title=Rising Land Costs Boost Houston's Mid-Rise Market |work=Houston Business Journal |date=October 26, 2001 |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2001/10/29/focus1.html |access-date=January 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070526002919/http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2001/10/29/focus1.html |archive-date=May 26, 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> Since 2000 over 30 skyscrapers have been developed in Houston; all told, 72 high-rises tower over the city, which adds up to about 8,300 units.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.houstoniamag.com/home-and-design/design/articles/living-the-high-life-september-2013 |website=HoustoniaMag.com |publisher=HoustoniaMag |access-date=September 10, 2014 |title=Living the High Life. Earthbound Houstonians consider something uplifting. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910195216/http://www.houstoniamag.com/home-and-design/design/articles/living-the-high-life-september-2013 |archive-date=September 10, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2002, Uptown had more than {{convert|23|e6ft2|m2}} of office space with {{convert|16|e6ft2|m2}} of [[class A office space]].<ref>[http://www.uptown-houston.com/economic/market/office.html Commercial Real Estate]. ''Uptown-houston.com'' Retrieved on January 10, 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201200302/http://www.uptown-houston.com/economic/market/office.html |date=February 1, 2015 }}</ref><gallery class="center" widths="170" heights="170">
File:Neils-Esperson Building Houston Texas.jpg|The Niels Esperson Building stood as the tallest building in Houston from 1927 to 1929.
File:JP Morgan Chase Tower in Houston - Dec 2013.JPG|The [[JPMorgan Chase Tower (Houston)|JPMorgan Chase Tower]] is the tallest building in Texas and the tallest 5-sided building in the world.
File:Williamstower.jpg|The [[Williams Tower]] is the tallest building in the US outside a central business district.
File:Bank of America Center Houston 1.jpg|The [[Bank of America Center (Houston)|Bank of America Center]] by [[Philip Johnson]] is an example of [[postmodern architecture]].
</gallery>

===Climate===
{{Main|Climate of Houston}}
[[File:Hurricane Harvey (36561871944).jpg|thumb|[[Buffalo Bayou]] after [[Hurricane Harvey]], August 2017]]
Houston's climate is classified as [[humid subtropical climate|humid subtropical]] (''Cfa'' in the [[Köppen climate classification system]]), typical of the [[Southern United States]]. While not in [[Tornado Alley]], like much of [[North Texas|Northern Texas]], spring [[Supercell|supercell thunderstorms]] sometimes bring tornadoes to the area.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2019/05/10/hammered-by-heavy-rain-huge-hail-thursday-night-houston-braces-more-downpours/ |title=Hammered by heavy rain and huge hail Thursday night, Houston braces for more downpours, flooding |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=June 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629020015/https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2019/05/10/hammered-by-heavy-rain-huge-hail-thursday-night-houston-braces-more-downpours/ |archive-date=June 29, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Prevailing winds are from the south and southeast during most of the year, which bring heat and tropical moisture from the nearby Gulf of Mexico and Galveston Bay.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visithoustontexas.com/media/statistics/Houston_Stats_Weather|title=Weather Stats|work=Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230150744/http://www.visithoustontexas.com/media/statistics/Houston_Stats_Weather|archive-date=December 30, 2008|access-date=October 11, 2008}}</ref>

During the summer, temperatures reach or exceed {{convert|90|°F|0}} an average of 106.5&nbsp;days per year, including a majority of days from June to September. Additionally, an average of 4.6 days per year reach or exceed {{convert|100|°F|1}}.<ref name = NOAA/> Houston's characteristic subtropical humidity often results in a higher [[apparent temperature]], and summer mornings average over 90% [[relative humidity]].<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20011101082154/http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/avgrh.html Average Relative Humidity (%)]", ''National Climatic Data Center''. Retrieved on February 23, 2012.</ref> [[Air conditioning]] is ubiquitous in Houston; in 1981, annual spending on electricity for interior cooling exceeded $600 million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|index=US|value=0.600|start_year=1981|r=2|fmt=c}} billion in {{Inflation-year|index=US}}), and by the late 1990s, approximately 90% of Houston homes featured air conditioning systems.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/07/02/us/houston-journal-broiling-on-the-outside-but-really-it-s-no-sweat.html |title=Houston Journal; Broiling on the Outside, But, Really, It's No Sweat |last=Rimer |first=Sara |date=July 2, 1998 |work=The New York Times |access-date=March 18, 2018 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319152645/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/07/02/us/houston-journal-broiling-on-the-outside-but-really-it-s-no-sweat.html |archive-date=March 19, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/08/06/garden/houston-s-lifeline-tons-of-cool-air.html |title=Houston's Lifeline: Tons of Cool Air |last=Crewdson|first=John M. |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 6, 1981 |access-date=March 18, 2018 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319091815/https://www.nytimes.com/1981/08/06/garden/houston-s-lifeline-tons-of-cool-air.html |archive-date=March 19, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The record highest temperature recorded in Houston is {{convert|109|°F|0}} at Bush Intercontinental Airport, on four occasions: September 4, 2000; August 27, 2011; and August 24 and August 27, 2023.<ref name=NOAA/>
[[File:Shuttle Replica Independence covered in snow.jpg|thumb|[[Space Shuttle Independence|Space Shuttle ''Independence'']] replica covered in snow, 2017]]
Houston has mild winters, with occasional cold spells. In January, the normal mean temperature at George Bush Intercontinental Airport is {{convert|53|°F|0}}, with an average of 13 days per year with a low at or below {{Convert|32|°F|0}}, occurring on average between December 3 and February 20, allowing for a growing season of 286 days.<ref name=NOAA/> Twenty-first century snow events in Houston include a storm on [[2004 Christmas Eve Snowstorm|December 24, 2004]], which saw {{convert|1|in|cm|0}} of snow accumulate in parts of the metro area,<ref>National Weather Service Forecast Office, Houston/Galveston, Texas.{{cite web |url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/projects/xmasevesnow04/pns_snowfalltotal.txt |title=Public Information Statement. |access-date=December 1, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061212134359/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/projects/xmasevesnow04/pns_snowfalltotal.txt |archive-date=December 12, 2006}}  Retrieved on December 1, 2006.</ref> and an event on December 7, 2017, which precipitated {{convert|0.7|in|cm|0}} of snowfall.<ref>Shayanian, Sara (December 8, 2017). "[https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2017/12/08/Texas-hit-with-snow-as-winter-weather-system-aims-for-Northeast/4591512735568/ Texas hit with snow as winter weather system aims for Northeast] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208170658/https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2017/12/08/Texas-hit-with-snow-as-winter-weather-system-aims-for-Northeast/4591512735568/ |date=December 8, 2017 }}". ''[[United Press International]]''.</ref><ref>Matthews, Blake (December 8, 2017). "[http://www.khou.com/news/local/record-snow-blankets-houston-and-texas/497922280 Record snow blankets Houston and Texas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213090827/http://www.khou.com/news/local/record-snow-blankets-houston-and-texas/497922280 |date=December 13, 2017 }}". ''[[KHOU-TV]]''.</ref> Snowfalls of at least {{convert|1|in|cm}} on both December 10, 2008, and December 4, 2009, marked the first time measurable snowfall had occurred in two consecutive years in the city's recorded history. Overall, Houston has seen measurable snowfall 38 times between 1895 and 2018. On February 14 and 15, 1895, Houston received {{convert|20|in|cm|0}} of snow, its largest snowfall from one storm on record.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abc13.com/post/when-did-it-snow-in-houston-winter-storm-southeast-texas-snow-record/2753082/ |title=Snow in Houston: It Happens More Than You Think |publisher=KTRK-TV |date=December 8, 2017 |access-date=March 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127030850/http://abc13.com/amp/weather/snow-in-houston----it-happens-more-than-you-think/2753082/ |archive-date=January 27, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The coldest temperature officially recorded in Houston was {{convert|5|°F|0}} on January 18, 1930.<ref name=NOAA/> The last time Houston saw single digit temperatures was on December 23, 1989. The temperature dropped to {{convert|7|°F|0}} at Bush Airport, marking the coldest temperature ever recorded there. 1.7 inches of snow fell at George Bush Intercontinental Airport the previous day.<ref>[https://www.click2houston.com/weather/2019/01/30/when-was-the-coldest-day-ever-in-houston/ KPRC]</ref>

Houston generally receives ample rainfall, averaging about {{convert|49.8|in|abbr=on}} annually based on records between 1981 and 2010. Many parts of the city have a high risk of localized flooding due to flat topography,<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/08/31/547575113/three-reasons-houston-was-a-sitting-duck-for-harvey-flooding |title=3 Reasons Houston Was A 'Sitting Duck' For Harvey Flooding |last=Schaper |first=David |date=August 31, 2017 |work=NPR |access-date=March 26, 2018 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327084359/https://www.npr.org/2017/08/31/547575113/three-reasons-houston-was-a-sitting-duck-for-harvey-flooding |archive-date=March 27, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> ubiquitous low-[[Permeability (earth sciences)|permeability]] clay-silt prairie soils,<ref>{{cite news |first1=Aaron |last1=Davis |first2=Jack |last2=Gillum |first3=Andrew |last3=Tran |title=How Houston's 'Wild West' growth may have contributed to devastating flooding |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/investigations/harvey-urban-planning/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=September 10, 2018 |language=en |quote=Growth that is virtually unchecked, including in flood-prone areas, has diminished the land's already-limited natural ability to absorb water, according to environmentalists and experts in land use and natural disasters.&nbsp;... Since 2010, at least 7,000 residential buildings have been constructed in Harris County on properties that sit mostly on land the federal government has designated as a 100-year flood plain, according to a ''Washington Post'' review of areas at the greatest risk of flooding. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327084606/https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/investigations/harvey-urban-planning/ |archive-date=March 27, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> and inadequate infrastructure.<ref name=":7" /> During the mid-2010s, Greater Houston experienced consecutive major flood events in 2015 ([[2015 Texas–Oklahoma flood and tornado outbreak|"Memorial Day"]]),<ref name="Ramirez">{{Cite news |url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-weather/article/Remembering-the-Memorial-Day-Flood-one-America-s-11176375.php |title=Remembering Houston's Memorial Day Flood, one of America's costliest floods |last=Ramirez |first=Fernando |date=May 26, 2017 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=March 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327212054/https://www.chron.com/news/houston-weather/article/Remembering-the-Memorial-Day-Flood-one-America-s-11176375.php |archive-date=March 27, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> 2016 ([[April 2016 North American storm complex|"Tax Day"]]),<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/tax-day-flood/article/Revisiting-Houston-s-Tax-Day-Floods-one-year-later-11077890.php |title=Revisiting Houston's Tax Day Floods one year later |last=Perera |first=John Henry |date=April 17, 2017 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=March 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327212021/https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/tax-day-flood/article/Revisiting-Houston-s-Tax-Day-Floods-one-year-later-11077890.php |archive-date=March 27, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> and 2017 ([[Hurricane Harvey]]).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2017/aug/26/hurricane-harvey-makes-landfall-in-texas-latest-updates |title=Hurricane Harvey makes landfall in Texas |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=August 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826024231/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2017/aug/26/hurricane-harvey-makes-landfall-in-texas-latest-updates |archive-date=August 26, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Overall, there have been more casualties and property loss from floods in Houston than in any other locality in the United States.<ref name="Dart">{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/16/texas-flooding-houston-climate-change-disaster |title=Houston fears climate change will cause catastrophic flooding: 'It's not if, it's when' |last=Dart |first=Tom |date=June 16, 2017 |website=The Guardian |language=en |access-date=March 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310105505/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/16/texas-flooding-houston-climate-change-disaster |archive-date=March 10, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The majority of rainfall occurs between April and October (the wet season of Southeast Texas), when the moisture from the Gulf of Mexico evaporates extensively over the city.<ref name="Ramirez"/><ref name="Dart"/>

Houston has excessive [[ozone]] levels and is routinely ranked among the most ozone-polluted cities in the United States.<ref>"[http://www.lung.org/assets/documents/publications/state-of-the-air/state-of-the-air-report-2005.pdf State of the Air 2005, National and Regional Analysis] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428171714/http://www.lung.org/assets/documents/publications/state-of-the-air/state-of-the-air-report-2005.pdf |date=April 28, 2012 }}", American Lung Association, page 26, March 25, 2005. Retrieved on February 17, 2006.</ref> Ground-level ozone, or smog, is Houston's predominant air pollution problem, with the [[American Lung Association]] rating the metropolitan area's ozone level twelfth on the "Most Polluted Cities by Ozone" in 2017, after major cities such as [[Los Angeles]], [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]], [[New York City]], and [[Denver]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lung.org/our-initiatives/healthy-air/sota/city-rankings/most-polluted-cities.html |title=How healthy is the air you breathe? |access-date=July 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728191912/http://www.lung.org/our-initiatives/healthy-air/sota/city-rankings/most-polluted-cities.html |archive-date=July 28, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The industries along the ship channel are a major cause of the city's air pollution.<ref name="cleanhouston">"[http://www.cleanhouston.org/air/index.htm Summary of the Issues] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060210193216/http://www.cleanhouston.org/air/index.htm |date=February 10, 2006 }}", Citizens League for Environmental Action Now, August 1, 2004. Retrieved on February 17, 2006.</ref> The rankings are in terms of peak-based standards, focusing strictly on the worst days of the year; the average ozone levels in Houston are lower than what is seen in most other areas of the country, as dominant winds ensure clean, marine air from the Gulf.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://theconversation.com/the-paradox-of-peak-based-ozone-air-pollution-standards-59300 |title=The paradox of peak-based ozone air pollution standards |last=Czader |first=Beata |date=May 20, 2016 |work=The Conversation |access-date=November 13, 2017 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031215252/http://theconversation.com/the-paradox-of-peak-based-ozone-air-pollution-standards-59300 |archive-date=October 31, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Excessive man-made emissions in the Houston area led to a persistent increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide over the city. Such an increase, often regarded as "CO<sub>2</sub> urban dome", is driven by a combination of strong emissions and stagnant atmospheric conditions. Moreover, Houston is the only metropolitan area with less than ten million citizens where such a CO<sub>2</sub> dome can be detected by satellites.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Labzovskii|first1=Lev|last2=Jeong|first2=Su-Jong|last3=Parazoo|first3=Nicholas C.|date=2019|title=Working towards confident spaceborne monitoring of carbon emissions from cities using Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2|journal=Remote Sensing of Environment|volume=233|at=111359|article-number=111359 |doi=10.1016/j.rse.2019.111359|bibcode=2019RSEnv.23311359L|s2cid=202176909}}</ref>

{{Houston weatherbox}}
{{Weather box
| location = Houston ([[William P. Hobby Airport]]), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1930–present
| collapsed = Y
| single line = Y

|Jan avg record high F = 78.2
|Feb avg record high F = 80.6
|Mar avg record high F = 84.3
|Apr avg record high F = 87.8
|May avg record high F = 92.5
|Jun avg record high F = 96.4
|Jul avg record high F = 98.1
|Aug avg record high F = 99.3
|Sep avg record high F = 96.1
|Oct avg record high F = 91.4
|Nov avg record high F = 84.7
|Dec avg record high F = 80.5
|year avg record high F = 100.2

| Jan high F = 63.8
| Feb high F = 67.6
| Mar high F = 73.4
| Apr high F = 79.3
| May high F = 85.9
| Jun high F = 91.0
| Jul high F = 92.9
| Aug high F = 93.5
| Sep high F = 89.3
| Oct high F = 82.1
| Nov high F = 72.6
| Dec high F = 65.7
| year high F = 79.8
| Jan mean F = 55.0
| Feb mean F = 58.9
| Mar mean F = 64.7
| Apr mean F = 70.6
| May mean F = 77.6
| Jun mean F = 83.0
| Jul mean F = 84.8
| Aug mean F = 85.1
| Sep mean F = 81.1
| Oct mean F = 73.0
| Nov mean F = 63.3
| Dec mean F = 56.9
| year mean F = 
| Jan low F = 46.1
| Feb low F = 50.1
| Mar low F = 55.9
| Apr low F = 61.8
| May low F = 69.3
| Jun low F = 74.9
| Jul low F = 76.6
| Aug low F = 76.7
| Sep low F = 72.9
| Oct low F = 63.9
| Nov low F = 54.0
| Dec low F = 48.0
| year low F = 62.5

|Jan avg record low F = 30.5
|Feb avg record low F = 34.5
|Mar avg record low F = 38.7
|Apr avg record low F = 46.5
|May avg record low F = 57.2
|Jun avg record low F = 68.7
|Jul avg record low F = 72.3
|Aug avg record low F = 72.0
|Sep avg record low F = 62.2
|Oct avg record low F = 47.2
|Nov avg record low F = 36.8
|Dec avg record low F = 32.8
|year avg record low F = 28.4

| Jan record high F = 92
| Feb record high F = 93
| Mar record high F = 96
| Apr record high F = 94
| May record high F = 100
| Jun record high F = 105
| Jul record high F = 104
| Aug record high F = 109
| Sep record high F = 108
| Oct record high F = 98
| Nov record high F = 95
| Dec record high F = 94
| Jan record low F = 10
| Feb record low F = 14
| Mar record low F = 22
| Apr record low F = 36
| May record low F = 44
| Jun record low F = 56
| Jul record low F = 64
| Aug record low F = 66
| Sep record low F = 50
| Oct record low F = 33
| Nov record low F = 25
| Dec record low F = 9
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 4.09
| Feb precipitation inch = 2.85
| Mar precipitation inch = 3.28
| Apr precipitation inch = 4.08
| May precipitation inch = 5.42
| Jun precipitation inch = 6.09
| Jul precipitation inch = 4.59
| Aug precipitation inch = 5.44
| Sep precipitation inch = 5.76
| Oct precipitation inch = 5.78
| Nov precipitation inch = 3.90
| Dec precipitation inch = 4.34
| year precipitation inch = 55.62

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 10.2
|Feb precipitation days = 8.9
|Mar precipitation days = 8.3
|Apr precipitation days = 8.0
|May precipitation days = 7.7
|Jun precipitation days = 10.4
|Jul precipitation days = 9.2
|Aug precipitation days = 9.6
|Sep precipitation days = 9.8
|Oct precipitation days = 7.2
|Nov precipitation days = 8.4
|Dec precipitation days = 9.5

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA2>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00012918&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Houston Hobby AP, TX
|access-date = November 30, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=hgx
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Houston
|access-date = November 30, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

[[File:Hurricane-Tropical Storm Harvey in Houston - August 27 2017 AM (36032737983).jpg|thumb|Flooded parking lot during Hurricane Harvey, August 2017]]
Because of Houston's [[wet season]] and proximity to the [[Gulf Coast of the United States|Gulf Coast]], the city is prone to flooding from heavy rains; the most notable flooding events include [[Tropical Storm Allison]] in 2001 and [[Hurricane Harvey]] in 2017, along with most recent [[Tropical Storm Imelda]] in 2019 and [[Tropical Storm Beta (2020)|Tropical Storm Beta]] in 2020. In response to Hurricane Harvey, Mayor Sylvester Turner of Houston initiated plans to require developers to build homes that will be less susceptible to flooding by raising them two feet above the [[100-year flood|500-year floodplain]]. Hurricane Harvey damaged hundreds of thousands of homes and dumped trillions of gallons of water into the city.<ref name="regulations">{{Cite web|last1=Cardenas|first1=Cat|last2=Formby|first2=Brandon|work=The Texas Tribune|date=April 4, 2018 |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2018/04/04/houston-city-council-approves-changes-floodplain-regulations-narrow-vo/ |title=Houston council approves changes to floodplain regulations in effort to reduce flood damage |access-date=January 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609023026/https://www.texastribune.org/2018/04/04/houston-city-council-approves-changes-floodplain-regulations-narrow-vo/ |archive-date=June 9, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> In places this led to feet of standing water that blocked streets and flooded homes. The Houston City Council passed this regulation in 2018 with a vote of 9–7. Had these floodplain development rules had been in place all along, it is estimated that 84% of homes in the 100-year and 500-year floodplains would have been spared damage.{{dubious|date=January 2020}}<ref name="regulations" />

In a recent case testing these regulations, near the Brickhouse Gulley, an old golf course that long served as a floodplain and reservoir for floodwaters, announced a change of heart toward intensifying development.<ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://slate.com/business/2018/08/houston-one-year-after-hurricane-harvey-is-at-a-crossroads.html |title=And the Waters Will Prevail |journal=Slate |date=August 30, 2018 |access-date=November 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106183516/https://slate.com/business/2018/08/houston-one-year-after-hurricane-harvey-is-at-a-crossroads.html |archive-date=November 6, 2019 |url-status=live |last1=Grabar |first1=Henry }}</ref> A nationwide developer, [[Meritage Homes]], bought the land and planned to develop the 500-year floodplain into 900 new residential homes. Their plan would bring in $360 million in revenue and boost city population and tax revenue. In order to meet the new floodplain regulations, the developers needed to elevate the lowest floors two feet above the 500-year floodplain, equivalent to five or six feet above the 100-year base flood elevation, and build a channel to direct stormwater runoff toward detention basins. Before Hurricane Harvey, the city had bought $10.7 million in houses in this area specifically to take them out of danger. In addition to developing new streets and single-family housing within a floodplain, a flowing flood-water stream termed a floodway runs through the development area, a most dangerous place to encounter during any future flooding event.<ref name="billion">{{Cite news |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/What-s-in-a-floodway-In-Houston-20-000-12409821.php |title=What's in Houston's worst flood zones? Development worth $13.5 billion |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |date=December 6, 2017 |access-date=November 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203071619/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/What-s-in-a-floodway-In-Houston-20-000-12409821.php |archive-date=February 3, 2019 |url-status=live |last1=Dempsey |first1=Mark Collette }}</ref> [[Harris County, Texas|Harris County]], like other more rural counties, cannot direct developers where to build or not build via land use controls such as a zoning ordinance by Texas law, and instead can only impose general floodplain regulations for enforcement during subdivision approvals and building permit approvals.<ref name="billion" />

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Houston|Religion in Houston}}
{{US Census population
| 1850 = 2396
| 1860 = 4845
| 1870 = 9382
| 1880 = 16513
| 1890 = 27557
| 1900 = 44633
| 1910 = 78800
| 1920 = 138276
| 1930 = 292352
| 1940 = 384514
| 1950 = 596163
| 1960 = 938219
| 1970 = 1232802
| 1980 = 1595138
| 1990 = 1630553
| 2000 = 1953631
| 2010 = 2099451
| 2020 = 2304580
| estyear = 2024
| estimate = 2390125
| estref = <ref>{{cite web | title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts | url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/houstoncitytexas/PST045224 }}</ref>
| align-fn = center
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br> 1850–1900<ref name=1900CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1900 Census of Population - Population of Texas By Counties And Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/49-population-tx.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1910<ref name=1910CensusTX>{{Cite web|title=1910 Census of Population - Supplement for Texas|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-tx-p1.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=November 29, 2024|archive-date=March 30, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250330000710/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-tx-p1.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><br> 1920<ref name=1920CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1920/bulletins/demographics/population-tx-number-of-inhabitants.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1930<ref name=1930CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1930 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1930/population-volume-1/03815512v1ch10.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1940<ref name=1940CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch09.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br>
1950<ref name=1950CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-1/vol-01-46.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1960<ref name=1960CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/33255142v1p45ch02.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1970<ref name=1970CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/00496492v1p45s1ch02.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 1980<ref name=1980CensusTX>{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1980/volume-1/texas/1980a_txab-01.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1990<ref name=1990CensusTX>{{Cite web|title=1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cph-2/cph-2-45.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 2000<ref name=2000CensusTX>{{Cite web|title=2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-45.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><br> 2010<ref name=2010CensusTX>{{Cite web|title=2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Texas |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-45.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
}}

[[File:Race and ethnicity 2010- Houston.png|thumb|Map of ethnic distribution in Houston, 2010 U.S. census. Each dot is 25 people: {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#ff0000|White}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#0000ff|Black}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#00ffaa|Asian}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#ffa600|Hispanic}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#ffff07|Other}}]]
The [[2020 United States census|2020 U.S. census]] determined Houston had a population of 2,304,580.<ref name="QuickFacts" /> In 2017, the census-estimated population was 2,312,717, and in 2018 it was 2,325,502.<ref name="QuickFacts" /> An estimated 600,000 [[Illegal immigration to the United States|undocumented immigrants]] resided in the Houston area in 2017,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Fearing-deportation-undocumented-immigrants-are-12450772.php |title=Fearing deportation, undocumented immigrants in Houston are avoiding hospitals and clinics |last1=Najarro |first1=Ilena |date=December 27, 2017 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=May 28, 2018 |last2=Deam |first2=Jenny |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529054311/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Fearing-deportation-undocumented-immigrants-are-12450772.php |archive-date=May 29, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> comprising nearly 9% of the city's metropolitan population.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/immigration/for-houstons-many-undocumented-immigrants-storm-is-just-the-latest-challenge/2017/08/28/210f5466-8c1d-11e7-84c0-02cc069f2c37_story.html |title=For Houston's many undocumented immigrants, storm is just the latest challenge |last=Sacchetti |first=Maria |date=August 28, 2017 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=May 28, 2018 |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529053842/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/immigration/for-houstons-many-undocumented-immigrants-storm-is-just-the-latest-challenge/2017/08/28/210f5466-8c1d-11e7-84c0-02cc069f2c37_story.html |archive-date=May 29, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> At the [[2010 United States census]], Houston had a population of 2,100,263 residents,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US4835000 |title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 |website=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=May 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213094355/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US4835000 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref> up from the city's 2,396 at the [[1850 United States census|1850 census]].

Per the 2019 [[American Community Survey]], Houston's age distribution was 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 median age of the city was 33.4.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |title=2019 ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Houston%20city,%20Texas&g=1600000US4835000&tid=ACSDP1Y2019.DP05 |access-date=April 5, 2021 |website=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref> At the 2014–2018 census estimates, Houston's age distribution was 486,083 under 15; 147,710 aged 15 to 19; 603,586 aged 20 to 34; 726,877 aged 35 to 59; and 357,834 aged 60 and older.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |title=2018 ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Houston%20city,%20Texas&g=1600000US4835000&table=DP05&tid=ACSDP1Y2018.DP05&layer=place&cid=DP05_0001E&vintage=2018&lastDisplayedRow=26 |access-date=January 26, 2020 |website=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref> The median age was 33.1, up from 32.9 in 2017 and down from 33.5 in 2014; the city's youthfulness has been attributed to an influx of an African American [[New Great Migration]], Hispanic and Latino American, and Asian immigrants into Texas.<ref>William&nbsp;H. Frey (May 2004). "[https://www.brookings.edu/research/the-new-great-migration-black-americans-return-to-the-south-1965-2000/ The New Great Migration: Black Americans' Return to the South, 1965-to the present] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080428042235/http://www.brookings.edu/urban/pubs/20040524_Frey.pdf |date=April 28, 2008 }}". [[Brookings Institution]]. brookings.edu. Retrieved July 10, 2017.</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Texans-are-3-years-younger-than-average-1692753.php|title=Texans are 3 1/2 years younger than average Americans|last=Kever|first=Jeannie|date=May 26, 2011|work=Houston Chronicle|access-date=May 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529130104/https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Texans-are-3-years-younger-than-average-1692753.php|archive-date=May 29, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.chron.com/discoverhouston/about-houston/article/Demographics-show-the-changing-face-of-Houston-5754937.php |title=Demographics show the changing face of Houston |last=Yard |first=Michelle |date=September 23, 2014 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=May 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529130247/https://www.chron.com/discoverhouston/about-houston/article/Demographics-show-the-changing-face-of-Houston-5754937.php |archive-date=May 29, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> For every 100 females, there were 98.5 males.<ref name=":13" />

There were 987,158 housing units in 2019 and 876,504 households.<ref name=":14" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=ACS 2019 Selected Social Characteristics |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Houston%20city,%20Texas%20households&g=1600000US4835000&tid=ACSDP1Y2019.DP02 |access-date=July 30, 2020 |website=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref> An estimated 42.3% of Houstonians owned housing units, with an average of 2.65 people per household.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Houston city, Texas 2018-2019 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/houstoncitytexas/PST040219 |access-date=July 30, 2020 |website=U.S. Census Bureau |language=en}}</ref> The median monthly owner costs with a mortgage were $1,646, and $536 without a mortgage. Houston's median gross rent from 2015 to 2019 was $1,041. The median household income in 2019 was $52,338 and 20.1% of Houstonians lived at or below the [[Poverty in the United States|poverty line]].

=== Race and ethnicity ===
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible"font-size: 90%;"
|-
! class="unsortable" | Historical racial and ethnic composition
!2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=2020 Race and Population Totals|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4835000&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=February 27, 2022 |website=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref>!! 2010<ref name="2010populationbyrace">{{cite web |publisher=Census Reporter |access-date=May 29, 2018 |title=Houston, Texas Population: Census 2010 and 2000 Interactive Map, Demographics, Statistics, Quick Facts |url=http://censusviewer.com/city/TX/Houston |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180530040111/http://censusviewer.com/city/TX/Houston |archive-date=May 30, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>!! 2000<ref name="census2000">{{cite web |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48/4835000.html |title=Houston (city), Texas |work=State & County QuickFacts |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220105716/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48/4835000.html |archive-date=February 20, 2010 }}</ref>!! 1990<ref name="census1" />!! 1970<ref name="census1" />
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race)
|47.0%|| 43.8% || 37.4%|| 27.6% || 11.3%<ref name="fifteen">From 15% sample</ref>
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic whites|Whites (Non-Hispanic)]]
|21.8% || 25.6%<ref>{{Cite web|title=Houston City Census 2010, Summary File 1|url=https://demographics.texas.gov//Resources/Decennial/2010/SF1/profiles/place//Houston_city_2010_SF1_Profile.pdf|page=21|access-date=October 29, 2021|archive-date=January 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124135158/https://demographics.texas.gov/Resources/Decennial/2010/SF1/profiles/place/Houston_city_2010_SF1_Profile.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>|| 30.8%<ref>{{cite web|title=Houston city, Texas – DP-1. Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=16000US4835000&-qr_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_DP1&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-_lang=en&-_sse=on|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212043652/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=16000US4835000&-qr_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_DP1&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-_lang=en&-_sse=on|archive-date=February 12, 2020|access-date=July 10, 2009|work=census.gov}}</ref>|| 40.6% || 62.4%<ref name="fifteen" />
|-
|[[African American|Black or African American]]
|24.9%|| 25.1% || 25.3%|| 28.1% || 25.7%
|-
|[[Asian American|Asian]]
|7.1%|| 6.0% || 5.3% || 4.1% || 0.4%
|}
Houston is a [[Majority minority in the United States|majority-minority]] city. The Rice University Kinder Institute for Urban Research, a [[think tank]], has described Greater Houston as "one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse metropolitan areas in the country".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://kinder.rice.edu/sites/g/files/bxs1676/f/documents/Kinder%20Houston%20Area%20Survey%202018.pdf |title=The 2018 Kinder Houston Area Survey |last=Klineberg |first=Stephen |date=April 2018 |website=Rice University Kinder Institute for Urban Research |access-date=May 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428045303/https://kinder.rice.edu/sites/g/files/bxs1676/f/documents/Kinder%20Houston%20Area%20Survey%202018.pdf |archive-date=April 28, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Houston's diversity, historically fueled by large waves of Hispanic and Latino Americans, and Asian immigrants, has been attributed to its relatively lower [[cost of living]] compared to most major cities, strong job market, and role as a hub for [[Third country resettlement|refugee resettlement]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-houston-diversity-2017-htmlstory.html |title=How Houston has become the most diverse place in America |last=Mejia |first=Brittny |date=May 9, 2017 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=May 28, 2018 |language=en-US |issn=0458-3035 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527192306/http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-houston-diversity-2017-htmlstory.html |archive-date=May 27, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Hu"/>

Houston has long been known as a popular destination for African Americans due to the city's well-established and influential African American community. Houston has become known as a [[black mecca]] akin to [[Atlanta]] because it is a major living destination for black professionals and entrepreneurs.<ref name="blackenterprise">{{cite web|url=https://www.blackenterprise.com/join-houston-americas-next-great-black-business-mecca/|title=Join Us in Houston, America's Next Great Black Business Mecca|last=Graves|first=Earl G. Sr.|date=December 8, 2016|website=Black Enterprise|access-date=September 6, 2019|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820172802/https://www.blackenterprise.com/join-houston-americas-next-great-black-business-mecca/|archive-date=August 20, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The Houston area is home to the [[List of U.S. cities with large African-American populations|largest African American community]] in Texas and [[List of largest cities west of the Mississippi River|west]] of the [[Mississippi River]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/01/16/685815783/meet-black-girl-magic-the-19-african-american-women-elected-as-judges-in-texas|title=Meet 'Black Girl Magic,' The 19 African-American Women Elected As Judges In Texas|newspaper=NPR.org}}</ref><ref name="blackenterprise" /><ref name="Haleyp412">{{cite journal|last=Haley|first= John H. |title = Reviewed Work: ''Black Dixie: Afro-Texan History and Culture in Houston'' by Howard Beeth, Cary D. Wintz |journal =[[The Georgia Historical Quarterly]]|date =Summer 1993|volume= 77|issue =2|pages= 412–413|jstor=40582726}} CITED: p. 412.</ref> A 2012 Kinder Institute report found that, based on the evenness of population distribution between the four major racial groups in the United States (non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, Hispanic or Latino, and Asian), Greater Houston was the most ethnically diverse metropolitan area in the United States, ahead of [[New York City]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2016/sep/23/sylvester-turner/sylvester-turner-calls-houston-nations-most-divers/ |title=Sylvester Turner mostly right; Houston is 'most diverse' |last=Rahman |first=Fauzeya |date=September 23, 2016 |work=Politifact |access-date=May 28, 2018 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529053906/http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2016/sep/23/sylvester-turner/sylvester-turner-calls-houston-nations-most-divers/ |archive-date=May 29, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2019, according to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], [[non-Hispanic whites]] made up 23.3% of the population of Houston proper, Hispanics and Latino Americans 45.8%, blacks or African Americans 22.4%, and Asian Americans 6.5%.<ref name=":14" /> In 2018, non-Hispanic whites made up 20.7% of the population, Hispanics or Latino Americans 44.9%, blacks or African Americans 30.3%, and Asian Americans 8.2%.<ref name=":13" /> The largest Hispanic or Latino American ethnic groups in the city were [[Mexican Americans]] (31.6%), [[Puerto Ricans]] (0.8%), and [[Cuban Americans]] (0.8%) in 2018.<ref name=":13" />

As documented, Houston has a higher proportion of minorities than non-Hispanic whites; in 2010, [[White Americans|whites]] (including Hispanic whites) made up 57.6% of the city of Houston's population; 24.6% of the total population was non-Hispanic white.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Houston city, Texas 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/houstoncitytexas/POP010210 |access-date=July 30, 2020 |website=U.S. Census Bureau |language=en}}</ref> Blacks or African Americans made up 22.5% of Houston's population, [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indians]] made up 0.3% of the population, Asians made up 6.9% (1.7% [[Vietnamese Americans|Vietnamese]], 1.3% [[Chinese Americans|Chinese]], 1.3% [[Indian Americans|Indian]], 0.9% [[Pakistani Americans|Pakistani]], 0.4% [[Filipino Americans|Filipino]], 0.3% [[Korean Americans|Korean]], 0.1% [[Japanese Americans|Japanese]]) and [[Pacific Islander]]s made up 0.1%. Individuals from some other race made up 15.69% of the city's population.<ref name="2010populationbyrace" /> Individuals from [[Multiracial Americans|two or more races]] made up 2.1% of the city.<ref name=":15" />

At the [[2000 United States census|2000 U.S. census]], the racial makeup of the city was 49.3% White, 25.3% black or African American, 5.3% Asian, 0.7% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 16.5% from some other race, and 3.1% from two or more races. In addition, Hispanics and Latinos of any race made up 37.4% of Houston's population in 2000, while non-Hispanic whites made up 30.8%.<ref>{{cite web |title=Houston city, Texas – DP-1. Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=16000US4835000&-qr_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_DP1&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-_lang=en&-_sse=on |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212043652/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=16000US4835000&-qr_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_DP1&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-_lang=en&-_sse=on |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |access-date=July 10, 2009 |work=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref> The proportion of non-Hispanic whites in Houston has decreased significantly since 1970, when it was 62.4%.<ref name="census1">{{cite web |title=Texas – Race and Hispanic Origin for Selected Cities and Other Places: Earliest Census to 1990 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |access-date=April 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812191959/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |archive-date=August 12, 2012}}</ref>

=== Sexual orientation and gender identity ===
{{Main|LGBT culture in Houston|LGBT rights in Texas|Houston Gay Pride Parade}}
[[File:LGBTbannersinMontrose.jpg|thumb|249x249px|LGBT banners in [[Montrose, Houston|Montrose]]]]
Houston is home to one of the largest [[LGBT community|LGBT communities]] and [[pride parade]]s in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Same Sex Couples Statistics by The Williams Institute|url=https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/visualization/lgbt-stats/?topic=SS&area=48201#economic|access-date=July 30, 2020|website=williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The World's Biggest Pride Parades|url=https://www.theactivetimes.com/travel/worlds-biggest-pride-parades/slide-13|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=The Active Times|date=January 10, 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Houston LGBTQ Community & Culture|url=https://www.mygayhouston.com/community/|access-date=July 30, 2020|website=My Gay Houston|language=en-us|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806123149/https://www.mygayhouston.com/community/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2018, the city scored a 70 out of 100 for LGBT friendliness.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Martin|first=Florian|date=October 12, 2018|title=Houston Lags Behind Other Major Texas Cities in LGBT-Friendliness|url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2018/10/12/307944/houston-lags-behind-other-major-texas-cities-in-lgbt-friendliness/|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=Houston Public Media|language=en-US}}</ref> Jordan Blum of the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' stated levels of LGBT acceptance and discrimination varied in 2016 due to some of the region's traditionally conservative culture.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Blum|first=Jordan|date=January 18, 2016|title=In energy sector, coming out 'can put you at risk'|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/In-energy-sector-coming-out-can-put-you-at-risk-6764343.php|access-date=July 29, 2020|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|language=en-US}}</ref>

Before the 1970s, the city's [[gay bar]]s were spread around Downtown Houston and what is now [[midtown Houston]]. LGBT Houstonians needed to have a place to socialize after the closing of the gay bars. They began going to Art Wren, a 24-hour restaurant in Montrose. LGBT community members were attracted to Montrose as a neighborhood after encountering it while patronizing Art Wren, and they began to [[Gentrification|gentrify]] the neighborhood and assist its native inhabitants with property maintenance. Within Montrose, new gay bars began to open.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Oaklander|first=Mandy|date=May 18, 2011|title=The Mayor of Montrose|url=https://www.houstonpress.com/news/the-mayor-of-montrose-6589627|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=Houston Press}}</ref> By 1985, the flavor and politics of the neighborhood were heavily influenced by the LGBT community, and in 1990, according to Hill, 19% of Montrose residents identified as LGBT. [[Murder of Paul Broussard|Paul Broussard]] was murdered in Montrose in 1991.<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 2, 2006|title=Anatomy Of A Gay Murder|url=http://www.aliciapatterson.org/APF2001/Bull/Bull.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061002211623/http://www.aliciapatterson.org/APF2001/Bull/Bull.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 2, 2006|access-date=July 29, 2020}}</ref>

Before the legalization of [[same-sex marriage in the United States]] the [[marriage of Billie Ert and Antonio Molina]], considered the first same-sex marriage in Texas history, took place on October 5, 1972.<ref name=":18">{{Cite web|title=Houston's LGBT History|url=https://www.mygayhouston.com/community/houstons-lgbt-history/|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=My Gay Houston|language=en-us|archive-date=June 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613205259/https://www.mygayhouston.com/community/houstons-lgbt-history/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Houston elected the [[Annise Parker|first openly lesbian mayor]] of a major city in 2009, and she served until 2016.<ref name=":18" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Bustillo|first=Miguel|date=December 13, 2009|title=Houston Election May Prove Historic|language=en-US|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB126057851102188215|access-date=July 29, 2020|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> During her tenure she authorized the [[2015 Houston, Texas Proposition 1|Houston Equal Rights Ordinance]] which was intended to improve anti-discrimination coverage based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the city, specifically in areas such as housing and occupation where no anti-discrimination policy existed.<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 4, 2014|title=Equal rights law opponents deliver signatures seeking repeal|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/houston/article/Equal-rights-law-opponents-deliver-signatures-5599272.php|access-date=July 30, 2020|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|language=en-US |last1=Morris |first1=By Mike }}</ref>

=== Religion ===
{{bar box|title=Religious affiliation (2020)|titlebar=#ccf|background-color=#f8f9fa|float=right|bars={{bar percent|[[Christianity|Christian]]|darkblue|72}}
{{bar percent|[[Protestant]]|mediumblue|40}}
{{bar percent|[[Catholic Church|Catholic]]|mediumblue|29}}
{{bar percent|Other Christian|mediumblue|3}}
{{bar percent|Unaffiliated|purple|21}}
{{bar percent|[[Muslim]]|lightgreen|2}}
{{bar percent|[[Jewish]]|lightgreen|1}}
{{bar percent|[[Buddhist]]|lightgreen|1}}
{{bar percent|[[Hindu]]|lightgreen|0.5}}
{{bar percent|Other faiths|lightgreen|1.5}}}}Houston and its metropolitan area are the third-most religious and Christian area by percentage of population in the United States, and second in Texas behind the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex.<ref name=":17" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=July 29, 2015|title=Dallas Has the Most Christians|url=https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2015/07/dallas-has-the-most-christians/|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=[[D Magazine]]|language=en}}</ref> Historically, Houston has been a center of [[Protestantism|Protestant Christianity]], being part of the [[Bible Belt]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VmlFCQAAQBAJ&pg=PP1 |title=A Call for Character Education and Prayer in the Schools |last=Jeynes |first=William H. |date=November 24, 2009 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-0313351044 |language=en |access-date=February 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527154605/https://books.google.com/books?id=VmlFCQAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PP1 |archive-date=May 27, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Other Christian groups including [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern]] and [[Oriental Orthodoxy|Oriental Orthodox]] Christianity, and non-Christian religions did not grow for much of the city's history because immigration was predominantly from [[Western Europe]] (which at the time was dominated by [[Western Christianity]] and favored by the quotas in federal immigration law). The [[Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965]] removed the quotas, allowing for the growth of other religions.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |url=https://www.chron.com/local/history/culture-scene/article/Temples-of-the-gods-Houston-s-religious-10098734.php |title=Temples of the gods: Houston's religious diversity reflects community |last=Barned-Smith |first=St John |date=October 22, 2016 |website=Houston Chronicle |access-date=February 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909024409/https://www.chron.com/local/history/culture-scene/article/Temples-of-the-gods-Houston-s-religious-10098734.php |archive-date=September 9, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to a 2014 study by the [[Pew Research Center]], 73% of the population of the Houston area identified themselves as [[Christianity|Christians]], about 50% of whom claimed Protestant affiliations and about 19% claimed [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] affiliations. Nationwide, about 71% of respondents identified as Christians. About 20% of Houston-area residents claimed [[Irreligion|no religious affiliation]], compared to about 23% nationwide.<ref name="pew">{{cite web |url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/07/29/major-u-s-metropolitan-areas-differ-in-their-religious-profiles |title=Major U.S. metropolitan areas differ in their religious profiles |author=Lipka, Michael |date=July 29, 2015 |publisher=Pew Research Center |access-date=April 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408022548/http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/07/29/major-u-s-metropolitan-areas-differ-in-their-religious-profiles/ |archive-date=April 8, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The same study says area residents who identify with other religions (including [[Judaism]], [[Buddhism]], [[Islam]], and [[Hinduism]]) collectively made up about 7% of the area population.<ref name="pew" />

In 2020, the [[Public Religion Research Institute]] estimated 40% were Protestant and 29% Catholic; overall, Christianity represented 72% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PRRI – American Values Atlas|url=http://ava.prri.org/#religious/2020/MetroAreas/religion/m/11|access-date=August 11, 2021|website=Public Religion Research Institute|archive-date=February 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221221714/http://ava.prri.org/#religious/2020/MetroAreas/religion/m/11|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2020, the [[Association of Religion Data Archives]] determined the Catholic Church numbered 1,299,901 for the metropolitan area; the second-largest single Christian denomination ([[Southern Baptists]]) numbered 800,688; following, [[Nondenominational Christianity|non-denominational Protestant churches]] represented the third-largest Christian cohort at 666,548.<ref name=":19">{{Cite web |title=Maps and data files for 2020 |url=https://www.usreligioncensus.org/index.php/node/1639 |access-date=March 4, 2023 |website=U.S. Religion Census}}</ref> Altogether, however, Baptists of the Southern Baptist Convention, the [[American Baptist Association]], [[American Baptist Churches USA]], [[Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship]], [[National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.|National Baptist Convention USA]] and [[National Baptist Convention of America International, Inc.|National Baptist Convention of America]], and the [[National Missionary Baptist Convention of America|National Missionary Baptist Convention]] numbered 926,554. Non-denominational Protestants, the [[Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)|Disciples of Christ]], [[Christian churches and churches of Christ|Christian Churches and Churches of Christ]], and the [[Churches of Christ]] numbered 723,603 altogether according to this study.

[[Lakewood Church]] in Houston, led by Pastor [[Joel Osteen]], is the largest church in the United States. A [[megachurch]], it had 44,800 weekly attendees in 2010, up from 11,000 weekly in 2000.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |url=https://blog.chron.com/believeitornot/2011/03/megachurches-getting-bigger-lakewood-quadruples-in-size-since-2000/ |title=Megachurches getting bigger; Lakewood quadruples in size since 2000 |first=Kate |last=Shellnutt |date=March 21, 2011 |department=Believe It or Not |language=en-US |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=February 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221165558/https://blog.chron.com/believeitornot/2011/03/megachurches-getting-bigger-lakewood-quadruples-in-size-since-2000/ |archive-date=February 21, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Since 2005, it has occupied the former Compaq Center sports stadium. In September 2010, ''[[Outreach (magazine)|Outreach]]'' magazine published a list of the 100 largest Christian churches in the United States, and on the list were the following Houston-area churches: Lakewood, [[Second Baptist Church Houston]], Woodlands Church, Church Without Walls, and First Baptist Church.<ref name=":10" /> According to the list, Houston and Dallas were tied as the second-most popular city for megachurches.<ref name=":10" />
[[File:Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral Houston 2018b.jpg|thumb|[[Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Houston)|Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart]]]]
The [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston|Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston]], the largest Catholic jurisdiction in Texas and fifth-largest in the United States, was established in 1847.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |url=https://www.archgh.org/about/about-us/ |title=Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston statistics |website=Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501182608/https://www.archgh.org/about/about-us/ |archive-date=May 1, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston claimed approximately 1.7 million Catholics within its boundaries as of 2019.<ref name=":11" /> Its [[co-cathedral]] is located within the Houston city limits, while the diocesan see is in Galveston. Other prominent Catholic jurisdictions include the [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Eastern Catholic]] [[Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church]] and [[Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church]] as well as the [[Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter]], [[Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham (Houston)|whose cathedral]] is also in Houston.<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 17, 2011|title=Parish Directory Map|url=https://www.archpitt.org/parish-directory-map/|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=Archeparchy of Pittsburgh|language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:EthiopianchurchHoustoncanemont.JPG|thumb|Debre Selam Medhanealem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church]]
A variety of Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches can be found in Houston. Immigrants from Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Ethiopia, India, and other areas have added to Houston's Eastern and Oriental Orthodox population. As of 2011 in the entire state, 32,000 people actively attended Orthodox churches.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/New-converts-flocking-to-ancient-church-in-Houston-1611237.php |title=New converts flocking to ancient church in Houston |last=Kever |first=Jeannie |date=January 9, 2011 |website=Houston Chronicle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221165600/https://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/New-converts-flocking-to-ancient-church-in-Houston-1611237.php |archive-date=February 21, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2013 Father John Whiteford, the pastor of St. Jonah Orthodox Church near [[Spring, Texas|Spring]], stated there were about 6,000-9,000 Eastern Orthodox Christians in Houston.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://blog.chron.com/sacredduty/2013/07/orthodox-christians-part-of-diverse-fabric-of-houston-faith/ |title=Orthodox Christians part of diverse fabric of Houston faith |first=Ken |last=Chitwood |date=July 23, 2013 |department=Sacred Duty |work=Houston Chronicle |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221165539/https://blog.chron.com/sacredduty/2013/07/orthodox-christians-part-of-diverse-fabric-of-houston-faith/ |archive-date=February 21, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Association of Religion Data Archives numbered 16,526 Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Houstonians in 2020.<ref name=":19" /> The most prominent Eastern and Oriental Orthodox jurisdictions are the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Parishes - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America|url=https://www.goarch.org/parishes|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=Goarch.org|language=en-US}}</ref> the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America|Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese|url=http://ww1.antiochian.org/parishes/statedirectory/Texas|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=1.antiochian.org|archive-date=April 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415093614/http://ww1.antiochian.org/parishes/statedirectory/Texas|url-status=dead}}</ref> the [[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria]],<ref>{{Cite news|last=Turner|first=Allan|date=October 12, 2015|title=Coptic pope in Houston on first U.S. visit|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Coptic-pope-in-Houston-on-first-U-S-visit-6565312.php|access-date=July 29, 2020|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|language=en-US}}</ref> and [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 15, 2003|title=Ethiopian believers find strength in Orthodox church|url=https://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/Ethiopian-believers-find-strength-in-Orthodox-2101478.php|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=Houston Chronicle}}</ref>

Houston's Jewish community, estimated at 47,000 in 2001, has been present in the city since the 1800s. Houstonian Jews have origins from throughout the United States, Israel, Mexico, Russia, and other places. As of 2016, over 40 synagogues were in Greater Houston.<ref name=":9" /> The largest synagogues are [[Congregation Beth Yeshurun (Houston, Texas)|Congregation Beth Yeshurun]], a [[Conservative Judaism|Conservative Jewish]] temple, and the [[Reform Judaism|Reform Jewish]] congregations [[Congregation Beth Israel (Houston)|Beth Israel]] and Emanu-El. According to a study in 2016 by [[Berman Jewish DataBank]], 51,000 Jews lived in the area, an increase of 4,000 since 2001.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jewish Data Bank 2016 Houston Study|url=https://www.jewishdatabank.org/databank/search-results/study/820|access-date=October 21, 2020|website=Jewishdatabank.org}}</ref>

Houston has a large and diverse Muslim community; it is the largest in Texas and the Southern United States, as of 2012.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |url=https://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/U-S-sees-rise-of-Islamic-centers-3392670.php |title=U.S. sees rise of Islamic centers |last=Shellnutt |first=Kate |date=March 8, 2012 |website=Houston Chronicle |access-date=February 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221112212/https://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/U-S-sees-rise-of-Islamic-centers-3392670.php |archive-date=February 21, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is estimated that Muslims made up 1.2% of Houston's population.<ref name=":12" /> As of 2016, Muslims in the Houston area included [[South Asian ethnic groups|South Asians]], [[Ethnic groups in the Middle East|Middle Easterners]], [[List of ethnic groups of Africa|Africans]], [[Turkic peoples|Turks]], and [[Indonesians]], as well as a growing population of Latino Muslim converts. In 2000 there were over 41 mosques and storefront religious centers, with the largest being the ''Al-Noor'' Mosque (Mosque of Light) of the [[Islamic Society of Greater Houston]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780742503908 |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780742503908/page/193 193] |title=Religion and the New Immigrants: Continuities and Adaptations in Immigrant Congregations |last1=Chafetz |first1=Janet Saltzman |last2=Ebaugh |first2=Helen Rose |date=October 18, 2000 |publisher=AltaMira Press |isbn=978-0759117129 |language=en}}</ref>

The Hindu, [[Sikhism|Sikh]], and Buddhist communities form a growing sector of the religious demographic after Judaism and Islam. Large [[Hindu temple]]s in the metropolitan area include the [[BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Houston]], affiliated with the [[Swaminarayan Sampradaya]] denomination in [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend County]], near the suburb of [[Stafford, Texas|Stafford]] as well as the [[South India]]n-[[Dravidian architecture|style]] [[Sri Meenakshi Temple (Pearland, Texas)|Sri Meenakshi Temple]] in suburban [[Pearland, Texas|Pearland]], in [[Brazoria County, Texas|Brazoria County]], which is the oldest Hindu temple in Texas and [[List of Hindu temples in the United States|third-oldest Hindu temple]] in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.visithoustontexas.com/listings/sri-meenakshi-temple-society/20860/|website = Visit Houston|title = Sri Meenakshi Temple Society|access-date = July 1, 2022|archive-date = December 11, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211211033519/https://www.visithoustontexas.com/listings/sri-meenakshi-temple-society/20860/|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web|url = https://www.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?m=31124&i=514388&p=2&ver=html5|title = Sri Meenakshi Temple Self-Guided Tour|access-date = July 1, 2022|archive-date = July 1, 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220701200930/https://www.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?m=31124&i=514388&p=2&ver=html5|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{cite web|url = https://menonlifetimethoughts.com/2020/12/19/sri-meenakshi-temple-pearland-the-40-year-history/|website = Menon Lifetime Thoughts|title = Sri Meenakshi Temple, Pearland – The 40-year History.| date=December 19, 2020 |access-date = July 1, 2022|archive-date = March 2, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210302075439/https://menonlifetimethoughts.com/2020/12/19/sri-meenakshi-temple-pearland-the-40-year-history/|url-status = live}}</ref>

Of the irreligious community 16% practiced nothing in particular, 3% were [[Agnosticism|agnostic]], and 2% were [[Atheism|atheist]] in 2014.<ref name=":17">{{Cite web|title=Religion in America: U.S. Religious Data, Demographics and Statistics|url=https://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Economy==

{{Main|Economy of Houston}}
{{further|List of companies in Houston}}
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:75%; text-align:center; margin:1em;"
|-
| colspan="3" style="background:#9BDDFF;"|'''[[Fortune 500]] companies based in Houston'''<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://fortune.com/fortune500/search/?hqcity=Houston | title=Fortune 500 | magazine=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]}}</ref>
|-
! Rank !! Company
|-
| 27 || style="background:#afa;"|[[Phillips 66]]
|-
| 56 || [[Sysco]]
|-
| 93 || style="background:#afa;"|[[ConocoPhillips]]
|-
| 98 || style="background:#afa;"|[[Plains GP Holdings]]
|-
| 101 || style="background:#afa;"|[[Enterprise Products Partners]]
|-
| 129 || style="background:#afa;"|[[Baker Hughes]]
|-
| 142 || style="background:#afa;"|[[Halliburton]]
|-
| 148 || style="background:#afa;"|[[Occidental Petroleum]]
|-
| 186 || style="background:#afa;"|[[EOG Resources]]
|-
| 207 || [[Waste Management (corporation)|Waste Management]]
|-
| 242 || style="background:#afa;"|[[Kinder Morgan]]
|-
| 260 || style="background:#afa;"|[[CenterPoint Energy]]
|-
| 261 || [[Quanta Services]]
|-
| 264 || [[Group 1 Automotive]]
|-
| 319 || style="background:#afa;"|[[Calpine]]
|-
| 329 || style="background:#afa;"|[[Cheniere Energy]]
|-
| 365 || style="background:#afa;"|[[Targa Resources]]
|-
| 374 || style="background:#afa;"|[[NOV Inc.]]
|-
| 391 || [[Westlake Chemical]]
|-
| 465 || style="background:#afa;"|[[APA Corporation]]
|-
| 496 || [[Crown Castle]]
|-
| 501 || [[KBR (company)|KBR]]
|-
| colspan="3" style="background:#afa;"|''<small>Companies in the [[petroleum industry]]</small>''
|}

Houston is recognized worldwide for its energy industry—particularly for oil and natural gas—as well as for biomedical research and aeronautics. Renewable energy sources—wind and solar—are also growing economic bases in the city,<ref>{{cite web |title=Energy |work=Greater Houston Partnership |access-date=November 15, 2019 |url=https://www.houston.org/why-houston/industries/energy |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190330055503/https://www.houston.org/why-houston/industries/energy |archive-date=March 30, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Alternative Energy in the Houston Region |work=Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau |access-date=April 20, 2009 |url=http://www.visithoustontexas.com/visitors/green/Alternative_Energy_Industry_in_Houston |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090412074148/http://www.visithoustontexas.com/visitors/green/Alternative_Energy_Industry_in_Houston |archive-date=April 12, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> and the City Government purchases 90% of its annual 1 [[Watt-hour|TWh]] power mostly from wind, and some from solar.<ref>{{cite web |title=Houston Ranks No. 1 in America in Renewable Energy Use — No, Really |url=https://www.papercitymag.com/culture/houston-no-1-renewable-energy-power-oil-gas-world/ |website=PaperCity |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210309232837/https://www.papercitymag.com/culture/houston-no-1-renewable-energy-power-oil-gas-world/ |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |date=July 3, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=National Top 100 |url=https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-06/documents/top100_april2021.pdf |publisher=[[EPA]] |date=April 26, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404103922/https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-06/documents/top100_april2021.pdf |archive-date= Apr 4, 2023 }}</ref> Since the 2020s Houston has become a growing hub for technology startup firms and is the fastest growing sector of the city's economy.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Houston named the no. 2 fastest growing tech hubs amid the pandemic|url=https://houston.culturemap.com/news/innovation/05-12-21-houston-deemed-no-2-fastest-growing-tech-hubs-amid-the-pandemic-report-shows/ |first1= John |last1=Egan |date=May 12, 2021 |access-date=August 1, 2022|website=Culturemap|language=en}}</ref> Major technology and software companies within Greater Houston include [[Crown Castle]], [[KBR (company)|KBR]], [[FlightAware]], [[Cybersoft]], Houston Wire & Cable, and [[HostGator]]. [[Aylo]], [[Go Daddy]], and [[ByteDance]] have offices in the Houston area. On April 4, 2022, [[Hewlett Packard Enterprise]] relocated its global headquarters from California to the Greater Houston area.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Neri |first=Antonio |date=April 4, 2022|title=HPE celebrates grand opening of Houston headquarters|url=https://www.hpe.com/us/en/newsroom/blog-post/2022/04/hpe-celebrates-grand-opening-of-houston-headquarters.html |access-date=August 1, 2022|website=HPE|language=en}}</ref> The [[Houston Ship Channel]] is also a large part of Houston's economic base.

Because of these strengths, Houston is designated as a [[global city]] by the [[Globalization and World Cities Research Network|Globalization and World Cities Study Group and Network]] and global management consulting firm A.T. Kearney.<ref name="kearney" /> The Houston area is the top U.S. market for exports, surpassing New York City in 2013, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration. In 2012, the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land area recorded $110.3 billion in merchandise exports.<ref>{{cite web |url-status=live |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2013/07/11/houston-surpasses-new-york-as-top-us.html |title=Houston surpasses New York as top U.S. export market |website=Houston Business Journal |first1=Molly |last1=Ryan |date=Jul 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130803022057/http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2013/07/11/houston-surpasses-new-york-as-top-us.html |archive-date=August 3, 2013 |access-date=July 21, 2013}}</ref> Petroleum products, chemicals, and oil and gas extraction equipment accounted for roughly two-thirds of the metropolitan area's exports last year. The top three destinations for exports were Mexico, Canada, and Brazil.<ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://app1.kuhf.org/articles/1373562479-Houston-Passes-New-York-to-Become-Nations-Top-Exporting-Metro-Area.html |title=Houston Passes New York to Become Nation's Top Exporting Metro Area |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130716154311/http://app1.kuhf.org/articles/1373562479-Houston-Passes-New-York-to-Become-Nations-Top-Exporting-Metro-Area.html |archive-date=July 16, 2013 |website=kuhf news for houston |date=July 12, 2013 |access-date=July 21, 2013 |first1=Andrew |last1=Schneider }}</ref>

The Houston area is a leading center for building oilfield equipment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.houston.org/pdf/research/16BW010.pdf |title=Energy Industry Overview |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100422032347/http://www.houston.org/pdf/research/16BW010.pdf |archive-date=April 22, 2010 |df=mdy-all |publisher=Greater Houston Partnership |access-date=March 21, 2009}}</ref> Much of its success as a petrochemical complex is due to its busy ship channel, the [[Port of Houston]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portofhouston.com/pdf/pubaffairs/POHA-firsts.pdf |title=The Port of Houston Delivers First and Foremost from the Very Beginning |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614043355/http://www.portofhouston.com/pdf/pubaffairs/POHA-firsts.pdf |archive-date=June 14, 2007 |publisher=The Port of Houston Authority |date=May 15, 2007 |access-date=May 27, 2007}}</ref> In the United States, the port ranks first in international commerce and 16th among the largest ports in the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=Port Rankings |url=http://aapa.files.cms-plus.com/Statistics/WORLD%20PORT%20RANKINGS%202016.xlsx |website=Aapa-ports.org |publisher=American Association of Port Authorities |access-date=December 20, 2019}}</ref> Unlike most places, high oil and gasoline prices are beneficial for Houston's economy, as many of its residents are employed in the energy industry.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bustillo |first=Miguel |title=Houston is Feeling Energized |work=Los Angeles Times |date=December 28, 2006 |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/columnone/la-na-houston28dec28,1,6780480.story?page=1&coll=la-headlines-columnone |access-date=February 6, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621065935/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/columnone/la-na-houston28dec28%2C1%2C6780480.story?page=1&coll=la-headlines-columnone |archive-date=June 21, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Houston is the beginning or end point of numerous oil, gas, and products pipelines.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://theodora.com/pipelines/united_states_pipelines.html |title=United States Pipelines map – Crude Oil (petroleum) pipelines – Natural Gas pipelines – Products pipelines |access-date=April 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140211010635/http://www.theodora.com/pipelines/united_states_pipelines.html |archive-date=February 11, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metro area's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022 was $633&nbsp;billion, making it the seventh-largest of any metropolitan area in the United States and larger than [[Iran]]'s, [[Colombia]]'s, or the [[United Arab Emirates]]' GDP.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NGMP26420 |website=U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) |title=Regional Economic Accounts GDP & Personal Income |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916202312/https://apps.bea.gov/iTable/drilldown.cfm?reqid=70&stepnum=11&AreaTypeKeyGdp=2&GeoFipsGdp=XX&ClassKeyGdp=NAICS&ComponentKey=200&IndustryKey=1&YearGdp=2016&YearGdpBegin=-1&YearGdpEnd=-1&UnitOfMeasureKeyGdp=Levels&RankKeyGdp=1&Drill=1&nRange=5 |archive-date=September 16, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Only 27 countries other than the United States have a gross domestic product exceeding Houston's regional gross area product (GAP).<ref name="imf2016gdp-report">{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2013/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2016&ey=2016&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&pr1.x=55&pr1.y=16&c=512%2C668%2C914%2C672%2C612%2C946%2C614%2C137%2C311%2C962%2C213%2C674%2C911%2C676%2C193%2C548%2C122%2C556%2C912%2C678%2C313%2C181%2C419%2C867%2C513%2C682%2C316%2C684%2C913%2C273%2C124%2C868%2C339%2C921%2C638%2C948%2C514%2C943%2C218%2C686%2C963%2C688%2C616%2C518%2C223%2C728%2C516%2C558%2C918%2C138%2C748%2C196%2C618%2C278%2C522%2C692%2C622%2C694%2C156%2C142%2C624%2C449%2C626%2C564%2C628%2C565%2C228%2C283%2C924%2C853%2C233%2C288%2C632%2C293%2C636%2C566%2C634%2C964%2C238%2C182%2C662%2C453%2C960%2C968%2C423%2C922%2C935%2C714%2C128%2C862%2C611%2C135%2C321%2C716%2C243%2C456%2C248%2C722%2C469%2C942%2C253%2C718%2C642%2C724%2C643%2C576%2C939%2C936%2C644%2C961%2C819%2C813%2C172%2C199%2C132%2C733%2C646%2C184%2C648%2C524%2C915%2C361%2C134%2C362%2C652%2C364%2C174%2C732%2C328%2C366%2C258%2C734%2C656%2C144%2C654%2C146%2C336%2C463%2C263%2C528%2C268%2C923%2C532%2C738%2C944%2C578%2C176%2C537%2C534%2C742%2C536%2C866%2C429%2C369%2C433%2C744%2C178%2C186%2C436%2C925%2C136%2C869%2C343%2C746%2C158%2C926%2C439%2C466%2C916%2C112%2C664%2C111%2C826%2C298%2C542%2C927%2C967%2C846%2C443%2C299%2C917%2C582%2C544%2C474%2C941%2C754%2C446%2C698%2C666&s=NGDPD&grp=0 |title=Report for selected countries and subjects: Gross domestic product, current prices (USD) |access-date=September 16, 2018 |work=World Economic Outlook Database, September 2018 |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916202555/https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2013/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2016&ey=2016&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&pr1.x=55&pr1.y=16&c=512%2C668%2C914%2C672%2C612%2C946%2C614%2C137%2C311%2C962%2C213%2C674%2C911%2C676%2C193%2C548%2C122%2C556%2C912%2C678%2C313%2C181%2C419%2C867%2C513%2C682%2C316%2C684%2C913%2C273%2C124%2C868%2C339%2C921%2C638%2C948%2C514%2C943%2C218%2C686%2C963%2C688%2C616%2C518%2C223%2C728%2C516%2C558%2C918%2C138%2C748%2C196%2C618%2C278%2C522%2C692%2C622%2C694%2C156%2C142%2C624%2C449%2C626%2C564%2C628%2C565%2C228%2C283%2C924%2C853%2C233%2C288%2C632%2C293%2C636%2C566%2C634%2C964%2C238%2C182%2C662%2C453%2C960%2C968%2C423%2C922%2C935%2C714%2C128%2C862%2C611%2C135%2C321%2C716%2C243%2C456%2C248%2C722%2C469%2C942%2C253%2C718%2C642%2C724%2C643%2C576%2C939%2C936%2C644%2C961%2C819%2C813%2C172%2C199%2C132%2C733%2C646%2C184%2C648%2C524%2C915%2C361%2C134%2C362%2C652%2C364%2C174%2C732%2C328%2C366%2C258%2C734%2C656%2C144%2C654%2C146%2C336%2C463%2C263%2C528%2C268%2C923%2C532%2C738%2C944%2C578%2C176%2C537%2C534%2C742%2C536%2C866%2C429%2C369%2C433%2C744%2C178%2C186%2C436%2C925%2C136%2C869%2C343%2C746%2C158%2C926%2C439%2C466%2C916%2C112%2C664%2C111%2C826%2C298%2C542%2C927%2C967%2C846%2C443%2C299%2C917%2C582%2C544%2C474%2C941%2C754%2C446%2C698%2C666&s=NGDPD&grp=0 |archive-date=September 16, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2010, mining (which consists almost entirely of exploration and production of oil and gas in Houston) accounted for 26.3% of Houston's GAP up sharply in response to high energy prices and a decreased worldwide surplus of oil production capacity, followed by engineering services, health services, and manufacturing.<ref>"{{cite web |url=http://www.houston.org/pdf/research/15AW001.pdf |title=Gross Area Product by Industry |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711235908/http://www.houston.org/pdf/research/15AW001.pdf |archive-date=July 11, 2010 |df=mdy-all}}&nbsp;{{small|(28.3&nbsp;KB)}}", ''Greater Houston Partnership''. Retrieved on March 21, 2009.</ref>

The [[University of Houston System]]'s annual impact on the Houston area's economy equates to that of a major corporation: $1.1 billion in new funds attracted annually to the Houston area, $3.13 billion in total economic benefit, and 24,000 local jobs generated.<ref name="Economic Impact">{{cite news |title=Study suggests UH degrees are crucial economic factor |last=TRESAUGUE |first=Matthew |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/3868657.html |work=Houston Chronicle |date=May 17, 2006 |access-date=May 31, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021121736/http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Study-suggests-UH-degrees-are-crucial-economic-1898752.php |archive-date=October 21, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="UH System Economic Impact">{{cite web |title=The Economic Impact of Higher Education on Houston: A Case Study of the University of Houston System |work=University of Houston System |access-date=May 14, 2011 |url=http://www.advancement.uh.edu/impact/download/PDF/EconomicImpactStudy.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720084907/http://www.advancement.uh.edu/impact/download/PDF/EconomicImpactStudy.pdf |archive-date=July 20, 2011}}</ref> This is in addition to the 12,500 new graduates the U.H. System produces every year who enter the workforce in Houston and throughout Texas. These degree-holders tend to stay in Houston. After five years, 80.5% of graduates are still living and working in the region.<ref name="UH System Economic Impact"/>

Ninety-one foreign governments have established consular offices in Houston's metropolitan area, the third-highest in the nation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.visithoustontexas.com/about-houston/facts-and-figures/ |title=Houston Facts & Figures |publisher=Houston First Corporation |website=Visit Houston |access-date=November 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120125644/https://www.visithoustontexas.com/about-houston/facts-and-figures/ |archive-date=November 20, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Forty foreign governments maintain trade and commercial offices here with 23 active foreign chambers of commerce and trade associations.<ref name="consulate">"{{cite web |url=http://www.houston.org/pdf/research/18AW001.pdf |title=Houston Foreign Consulate Representation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711235924/http://www.houston.org/pdf/research/18AW001.pdf |archive-date=July 11, 2010 |df=mdy-all}}&nbsp;{{small|(30.2&nbsp;KB)}}", ''Greater Houston Partnership''. Retrieved on March 21, 2009.</ref> Twenty-five foreign banks representing 13 nations operate in Houston, providing financial assistance to the international community.<ref>{{cite web |title=International Banks in the Houston Area |work=Greater Houston Partnership |access-date=March 21, 2009 |url=http://www.houston.org/pdf/research/18HW010_001.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712001229/http://www.houston.org/pdf/research/18HW010_001.pdf |archive-date=July 12, 2010}}</ref>

In 2013, Houston was identified as the number one U.S. city for job creation by the U.S. Bureau of Statistics after it was not only the first major city to regain all the jobs lost in the preceding economic downturn, but also after the crash, more than two jobs were added for every one lost. Economist and vice president of research at the Greater Houston Partnership Patrick Jankowski attributed Houston's success to the ability of the region's real estate and energy industries to learn from historical mistakes. Furthermore, Jankowski stated that "more than 100 foreign-owned companies relocated, expanded or started new businesses in Houston" between 2008 and 2010, and this openness to external business boosted job creation during a period when domestic demand was problematically low.<ref name="One">{{cite web |title=Houston Is Unstoppable: Why Texas' Juggernaut Is America's #1 Job Creator |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/05/houston-is-unstoppable-why-texas-juggernaut-is-americas-1-job-creator/275927/ |work=The Atlantic |publisher=The Atlantic Monthly Group |access-date=May 29, 2013 |last=Thompson |first=Derek |date=May 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531125233/http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/05/houston-is-unstoppable-why-texas-juggernaut-is-americas-1-job-creator/275927/ |archive-date=May 31, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Culture==
{{Main|Culture of Houston}}
{{wide image|Reliant Stadium Houston Rodeo.jpg|700px|align-cap=center|The annual [[Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo]] held inside the [[NRG Stadium]], 2006}}
[[File:Art Car Parade.jpg|right|thumb|[[Houston Art Car Parade]]]]
[[File:Aerial View of the Johnson Space Center - GPN-2000-001112.jpg|right|thumb|[[Johnson Space Center]], 1989]]
[[File:Downtown Houston Aquarium in 2012.jpg|thumb|Fountain of the [[Downtown Aquarium, Houston]], in 2012]]
Located in the [[Southern United States|American South]], Houston is a diverse city with a large and growing international community.<ref>{{cite web |title=Components of Population Change |work=houston.org |url=http://www.houston.org/pdf/research/09AW001.pdf |access-date=March 21, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711225746/http://www.houston.org/pdf/research/09AW001.pdf |archive-date=July 11, 2010}}</ref> The Greater Houston metropolitan area is home to an estimated 1.1&nbsp;million (21.4 percent) residents who were born outside the United States, with nearly two-thirds of the area's foreign-born population from south of the [[Mexico–United States border|United States–Mexico border]] since 2009.<ref name="ytlzpc">{{cite web |title=Foreign Born Population |work=houston.org |url=http://www.houston.org/pdf/research/09GW025.pdf |access-date=March 21, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711225904/http://www.houston.org/pdf/research/09GW025.pdf |archive-date=July 11, 2010}}</ref> Additionally, more than one in five foreign-born residents are from Asia.<ref name = "ytlzpc"/> The city is home to the nation's third-largest concentration of consular offices, representing 92 countries.<ref name="consulate" />

Many annual events celebrate the diverse cultures of Houston. The largest and longest-running is the annual [[Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo]], held over 20&nbsp;days from early to late March, and is the largest annual livestock show and rodeo in the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=About the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo |work=hlsr.com |access-date=September 28, 2009 |url=http://www.hlsr.com/m/downloads/08PurposeBrochure.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126191930/http://hlsr.com/m/downloads/08PurposeBrochure.pdf |archive-date=January 26, 2009}}</ref> Another large celebration is the annual night-time [[Houston Gay Pride Parade]], held at the end of June.<ref>{{cite web |title=Houston Pride Parade |work=PrideHouston.com |access-date=May 15, 2012 |url=https://www.pridehouston.org/about/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730015315/https://www.pridehouston.org/about/ |archive-date=July 30, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Other notable annual events include the [[Houston Greek Festival]],<ref>[http://www.greekfestival.org/ The Original Greek Festival, Houston, Texas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070824030257/http://www.greekfestival.org/ |date=August 24, 2007 }}. 2006. Retrieved on January 10, 2007. '''''Warning:''''' ''Automatic sound file.''</ref> [[Houston Art Car Parade|Art Car Parade]], the [[Houston Auto Show]], the Houston International Festival,<ref>[http://www.ifest.org/ The Houston International Festival] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725221757/http://www.ifest.org/ |date=July 25, 2010 }}. 2007. Retrieved on January 10, 2007.</ref> and the [[Bayou City Art Festival]], which is considered to be one of the top five art festivals in the United States.<ref name=AmericanStyle2004>{{cite web |access-date=April 26, 2007 |url=http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/Buffalo/Top_25_Fairs_Festivals.cfm.html |title=The 2004 Top 25 Fairs & Festivals |work=[[AmericanStyle]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070413041504/http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/Buffalo/Top_25_Fairs_Festivals.cfm.html |archive-date=April 13, 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=AmericanStyle2005>{{cite web |access-date=April 28, 2007 |title=AmericanStyle Magazine Readers Name 2005 Top 10 Art Fairs and Festivals |url=http://www.paradisecityarts.com/public/pdfs/2005top10.pdf |date=October 25, 2005 |work=AmericanStyle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807185624/http://www.paradisecityarts.com/public/pdfs/2005top10.pdf |archive-date=August 7, 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Houston is highly regarded for its diverse food and restaurant culture.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Nickerson | first1=Ryan | title=Houston is ranked one of the top food cities in the country by Travel + Leisure | work=Houston Chronicle | url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/trending/article/best-us-food-cities-foodies-houston-restaurants-17853424.php }}</ref> Houston received the official nickname of "Space City" in 1967 because it is the location of NASA's [[Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center]]. [[Nicknames of Houston|Other nicknames]] often used by locals include "Bayou City", "[[Clutch City]]", "Crush City", "Magnolia City", "H-Town", and "Culinary Capital of the South".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.visithoustontexas.com/culinary-tours/ |title=Houston: the Culinary Capital of the South |access-date=September 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814200851/https://www.visithoustontexas.com/culinary-tours/ |archive-date=August 14, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/food/ford-fusion/ |title=Ford Fusion |work=Texas Monthly |date=November 18, 2015 |access-date=September 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901174421/https://www.texasmonthly.com/food/ford-fusion/ |archive-date=September 1, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/10/travel/houston-restaurants-where-to-eat.html |title=Houston's Culinary Bragging Rights |website=The New York Times |date=April 7, 2016 |access-date=May 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527135821/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/10/travel/houston-restaurants-where-to-eat.html |archive-date=May 27, 2019 |url-status=live |last1=Draper |first1=Robert }}</ref>

===Arts and theater===
[[File:Hobbycenter.jpg|thumb|[[Hobby Center for the Performing Arts]]]]
[[File:MFA houston.jpg|thumb|[[Museum of Fine Arts, Houston]]]]
The [[Houston Theater District]], in Downtown, is home to nine major performing arts organizations and six performance halls. It is the second-largest concentration of theater seats in a Downtown area in the United States.<ref>Ramsey, Cody. "[http://www.texasmonthly.com/content/texas-tidbits-19 In a state of big, Houston is at the top] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140628150540/http://www.texasmonthly.com/content/texas-tidbits-19 |date=June 28, 2014 }}", ''Texas Monthly'', September 2002. Retrieved February 16, 2014.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Houston Arts and Museums |publisher=City of Houston eGovernment Center |url=http://www.houstontx.gov/abouthouston/artsandmuseums.html |access-date=February 7, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515172725/http://www.houstontx.gov/abouthouston/artsandmuseums.html |archive-date=May 15, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20061209083929/http://www.houstontheaterdistrict.org/en/cms/?68 About Houston Theater District]", ''Houston Theater District''. Retrieved on December 16, 2006. Archived at the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.</ref>

Houston is one of the few United States cities with permanent, professional, resident companies in all major performing arts disciplines: opera ([[Houston Grand Opera]]), ballet ([[Houston Ballet]]), music ([[Houston Symphony|Houston Symphony Orchestra]]), and theater ([[The Alley Theatre]], [[Theatre Under The Stars (Houston)|Theatre Under the Stars]]).<ref name="ikvngd" /><ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20061212043351/http://www.houstontheaterdistrict.org/en/cms/?12 Performing Arts Venues]", ''Houston Theater District''. Retrieved on December 16, 2006. Archived at the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.</ref> Houston is also home to [[folk art]]ists, [[art groups]] and various small progressive arts organizations.<ref>"[http://www.artcarmuseum.com/History/history.htm A Brief History of the Art Car Museum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928161618/http://www.artcarmuseum.com/History/history.htm |date=September 28, 2007 }}", ''ArtCar Museum of Houston''. Retrieved on December 16, 2006.</ref>

Houston attracts many touring Broadway acts, concerts, shows, and exhibitions for a variety of interests.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20061230024248/http://www.quilts.com/home/news/index.php 2006 fall edition of International Quilt Festival attracts 53,546 to Houston]. ''Quilts., Inc.'' Press release published November 30, 2006. Retrieved on January 12, 2007.</ref> Facilities in the Theater District include the [[Jones Hall]]—home of the [[Houston Symphony Orchestra]] and Society for the Performing Arts—and the [[Hobby Center for the Performing Arts]].

The [[Houston Museum District|Museum District]]'s cultural institutions and exhibits attract more than 7 million visitors a year.<ref>[http://www.visithoustontexas.com/visitors/listing.details.php?id=23096 Houston Museum District] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211044458/http://www.visithoustontexas.com/visitors/listing.details.php?id=23096 |date=February 11, 2007 }}. Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved on February 18, 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite news |access-date=May 22, 2007 |url=http://www.austin360.com/arts/content/arts/stories/2006/04/1austin.html |title=Central Austin has the makings of a museum district |publisher=Austin360.com |first=Jeanne Claire |last=van Ryzin |date=April 1, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070502011750/http://www.austin360.com/arts/content/arts/stories/2006/04/1austin.html |archive-date=May 2, 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> Notable facilities include [[The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston|The Museum of Fine Arts]], the [[Houston Museum of Natural Science]], the [[Contemporary Arts Museum Houston]], the [[Station Museum of Contemporary Art]], the [[Holocaust Museum Houston]], the [[Children's Museum of Houston]], and the [[Houston Zoo]].<ref>[http://www.texasmonthly.com/promotions/cadillac/breakthroughs2/museums/ Houston Museum District Day] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061129050103/http://www.texasmonthly.com/promotions/cadillac/breakthroughs2/museums/ |date=November 29, 2006 }}. Texas Monthly. 2006. Retrieved on January 10, 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.camh.org/ Home Page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070112080338/http://www.camh.org/ |date=January 12, 2007 }}. Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. Retrieved on January 10, 2007.</ref><ref>
[http://www.visithoustontexas.com/visitors/parks_and_outdoors/listing.details.php?id=23096 Houston Museum District] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211044810/http://www.visithoustontexas.com/visitors/parks_and_outdoors/listing.details.php?id=23096 |date=February 11, 2007 }}. Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved on January 10, 2007.</ref>

Located near the Museum District are [[Menil Collection|The Menil Collection]], [[Rothko Chapel]], the Moody Center for the Arts and the [[Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum]].

[[Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens|Bayou Bend]] is a {{convert|14|acre|adj=on}} facility of the Museum of Fine Arts that houses one of America's most prominent collections of decorative art, paintings, and furniture. Bayou Bend is the former home of Houston philanthropist [[Ima Hogg]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Bayou Bend Collections and Gardens, Houston, Texas |access-date=March 23, 2008 |url=http://www.museumsusa.org/museums/info/1167540 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424055638/http://www.museumsusa.org/museums/info/1167540 |archive-date=April 24, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The National Museum of Funeral History is in Houston near the [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport]]. The museum houses the original [[Popemobile]] used by [[Pope John Paul II]] in the 1980s along with numerous hearses, embalming displays, and information on famous funerals.

Venues across Houston regularly host local and touring rock, blues, country, dubstep, and Tejano musical acts. While Houston has never been widely known for its music scene,<ref>{{cite news |last=Lomax |first=John Nova |title=Nobody Gets Out of Here Alive – The Houston Rock Scene and the Cultural Cringe |work=The Houston Press |date=February 1, 2007}}</ref> [[Houston hip hop]] has become a significant, independent music scene that is influential nationwide. Houston is the birthplace of the chopped and screwed remixing-technique in hip-hop which was pioneered by [[DJ Screw]] from the city. Some other notable hip-hop artists from the area include [[Destiny's Child]], [[Don Toliver]], [[Slim Thug]], [[Paul Wall]], [[Mike Jones (rapper)|Mike Jones]], [[Bun B]], [[Geto Boys]], [[Trae tha Truth]], [[Kirko Bangz]], [[Z-Ro]], [[South Park Mexican]], [[Travis Scott]] and [[Megan Thee Stallion]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Frere-Jones |first=Sasha |title=A Place in the Sun – Houston Hip-Hop Takes Over |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |date=November 14, 2005 |url=http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/11/14/051114crmu_music |access-date=February 6, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070816085538/http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/11/14/051114crmu_music |archive-date=August 16, 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Tourism and recreation===
The [[Houston Theater District|Theater District]] is a 17-block area in the center of Downtown Houston that is home to the [[Bayou Place]] entertainment complex, restaurants, movies, plazas, and parks. Bayou Place is a large multilevel building containing full-service restaurants, bars, live music, billiards, and [[Sundance Cinema]]. The [[Bayou Music Center]] stages live concerts, stage plays, and stand-up comedy.

[[Space Center Houston]] is the official visitors' center of NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. The Space Center has many interactive exhibits including [[Moon rocks]], a [[Space Shuttle]] simulator, and presentations about the history of NASA's crewed space flight program. Other tourist attractions include the [[The Galleria (Houston)|Galleria]] (Texas's [[List of largest shopping malls in the United States|largest]] shopping mall, in the Uptown District), Old Market Square, the [[Downtown Aquarium, Houston|Downtown Aquarium]], and [[Sam Houston Race Park]].

Houston's [[Chinatown, Houston|current Chinatown]] and the [[Mahatma Gandhi District]] are two major [[ethnic enclaves]], reflecting Houston's multicultural makeup. Restaurants, bakeries, traditional-clothing boutiques, and specialty shops can be found in both areas.

Houston is home to 337 parks, including [[Hermann Park]], [[Terry Hershey Park]], [[Lake Houston|Lake Houston Park]], [[Memorial Park, Houston, Texas|Memorial Park]], [[Tranquility Park]], [[Sesquicentennial Park]], [[Discovery Green]], [[Buffalo Bayou Park]] and [[Sam Houston Park]]. Within Hermann Park are the [[Houston Zoo]] and the [[Houston Museum of Natural Science]]. Sam Houston Park contains restored and reconstructed homes which were originally built between 1823 and 1905.<ref>[http://www.heritagesociety.org/ths.html The Heritage Society: Walk into Houston's Past] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610115218/http://www.heritagesociety.org/ths.html |date=June 10, 2007 }}. ''The Heritage Society.'' Retrieved on January 10, 2007.</ref>

Of the 10 most populous U.S. cities, Houston has the largest total area of parks and green space, {{convert|56405|acre|km2|0}}.<ref>''Continental Magazine'', March 2008. p.67.</ref> The city also has over 200 additional green spaces—totaling over {{convert|19600|acre|km2|0}} that are managed by the city—including the [[Houston Arboretum and Nature Center]]. The [[Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark]] is a public [[skatepark]] owned and operated by the city of Houston, and is one of the largest skateparks in Texas consisting of a {{convert|30,000|ft2|m2|abbr=on|adj=on}} in-ground facility.

The [[Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park]] in the Uptown District of the city serves as a popular tourist attraction and for weddings and various celebrations. A 2011 study by Walk Score ranked Houston the 23rd most walkable of the 50 largest cities in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.walkscore.com/rankings/cities/ |title=2011 City and Neighborhood Rankings |publisher=Walk Score |year=2011 |access-date=August 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120919182522/http://www.walkscore.com/rankings/cities/ |archive-date=September 19, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Sports ===
{{Main|Sports in Houston}}{{see also|Soccer in Houston}}
[[File:Toyota Center Game 7 2018 playoffs.jpg|thumb|[[Toyota Center]] is home of the [[Houston Rockets]].|alt=]]Houston has sports teams for every major professional league except the [[National Hockey League]]. The [[Houston Astros]] are a [[Major League Baseball]] <!-- (MLB) --> [[expansion team]] formed in 1962 (known as the "Colt .45s" until 1965) that have won the [[World Series]] in [[2017 World Series|2017]] and [[2022 World Series|2022]] and appeared in it in [[2005 World Series|2005]], [[2019 World Series|2019]], and [[2021 World Series|2021]]. It is the only MLB team to have won pennants in both modern leagues.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nl/houastros/astros.html |title=Houston Astros: Historical Moments |publisher=sportsecyclopedia.com |date=October 18, 2013 |access-date=December 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331032659/http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nl/houastros/astros.html |archive-date=March 31, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Houston Rockets]] are a [[National Basketball Association]] <!-- (NBA) --> franchise based in the city since [[1971–72 NBA season|1971]]. They have won two [[List of NBA champions|NBA Championships]], one in [[1994 NBA Finals|1994]] and another in [[1995 NBA Finals|1995]], under star players [[Hakeem Olajuwon]], [[Otis Thorpe]], [[Clyde Drexler]], [[Vernon Maxwell]], and [[Kenny Smith]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/houston/rockets.html |title=Houston Rockets: History |work=Sports Ecyclopedia |publisher=sportsecyclopedia.com |date=May 2, 2013 |access-date=December 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513214630/http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/houston/rockets.html |archive-date=May 13, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Houston Texans]] are a [[National Football League]] <!-- (NFL) --> expansion team formed in [[2002 NFL season|2002]]. The [[Houston Dynamo]] is a [[Major League Soccer]] <!-- (MLS) --> franchise that has been based in Houston since [[2006 Major League Soccer season|2006]], winning two [[List of MLS Cup finals|MLS Cup]] titles in [[2006 MLS Cup|2006]] and [[2007 MLS Cup|2007]]. The [[Houston Dash]] team plays in the [[National Women's Soccer League]], who won their first title in 2020.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/houston-dash-first-expansion-team-232531252--sow.html |title=Houston Dash first expansion team in NWSL |agency=AP |date=December 12, 2013 |access-date=December 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222093306/http://sports.yahoo.com/news/houston-dash-first-expansion-team-232531252--sow.html |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=2020-07-26 |title=Houston Beats Chicago to Win N.W.S.L. Title |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/26/sports/soccer/houston-dash-nwsl.html |access-date=2023-09-07 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The [[Houston SaberCats]] are a [[Rugby union|rugby]] team that plays in [[Major League Rugby]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://abc13.com/sports/plans-to-bring-rugby-franchise-stadium-to-houston/1815266/ |title=All eyes on Houston: New plans to bring rugby franchise, stadium to the Bayou City |date=March 23, 2017 |work=abc13.com |access-date=March 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324225153/http://abc13.com/sports/plans-to-bring-rugby-franchise-stadium-to-houston/1815266/ |archive-date=March 24, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Houston Gamblers (2020s)|Houston Gamblers]] are a [[United Football League (2024)|UFL]] team that began play in 2024. They were previously in the [[XFL (2020)|XFL]] before it was announced they were moving to the UFL in 2024.[[File:Reliantstadium.jpg|thumb|[[NRG Stadium]] is the home of the [[Houston Texans]].|alt=]]

[[Daikin Park]] (home of the Astros) and [[Toyota Center (Houston)|Toyota&nbsp;Center]] (home of the Rockets), are in Downtown Houston. Houston has the NFL's first retractable-roof stadium with natural grass, [[NRG Stadium]] (home of the Texans).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uni-systems.com/en/projects/featured-projects/reliant-stadium |title=Reliant Stadium |publisher=UniSystems LLC |date=March 28, 2012 |access-date=December 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213052639/http://www.uni-systems.com/en/projects/featured-projects/reliant-stadium |archive-date=December 13, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Daikin Park is also a retractable-roof stadium. Toyota Center also has the largest screen for an indoor arena in the United States built to coincide with the arena's hosting of the [[2013 NBA All-Star Game]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/start-something-big |title=The Start of Something Big: Toyota Center upgrades to Include New Concourse HD TVs, Wi-Fi and Concessions Systems |publisher=NBA |date=March 28, 2012 |access-date=June 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212002744/http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/start-something-big |archive-date=December 12, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Shell Energy Stadium]] is a [[soccer-specific stadium]] for the Houston Dynamo, Houston Gamblers, the [[Texas Southern Tigers football]] team, and Houston Dash, in East Downtown. [[Aveva Stadium]] (home of the [[Houston SaberCats|SaberCats]]) is in south Houston. In addition, [[Reliant Astrodome|NRG Astrodome]] was the first indoor stadium in the world, built in 1965.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.savingplaces.org/treasures/astrodome |title=Discover: The Astrodome |publisher=National Trust for Historic Preservation |date=March 28, 2013 |access-date=December 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127074833/http://savingplaces.org/treasures/astrodome |archive-date=November 27, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Other sports facilities include [[Hofheinz Pavilion]] (Houston Cougars basketball), [[Rice Stadium (Rice University)|Rice Stadium]] ([[Rice Owls]] football), and [[NRG Arena]]. [[TDECU Stadium]] is where the [[University of Houston]]'s [[Houston Cougars|Cougars]] football team plays.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121912aaa.html |title=Houston Unveils New Football Stadium Renderings |publisher=University of Houston Cougars |date=March 28, 2013 |access-date=December 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114055426/http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121912aaa.html |archive-date=November 14, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Houston has hosted several major sports events: the [[1968 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1968]], [[1986 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1986]] and [[2004 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2004]] [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game]]s; the [[1989 NBA All-Star Game|1989]], [[2006 NBA All-Star Game|2006]] and [[2013 NBA All-Star Game|2013]] [[NBA All-Star Game]]s; [[Super Bowl VIII]], [[Super Bowl XXXVIII]], and [[Super Bowl LI]], as well as hosting the [[1981 NBA Finals|1981]], [[1986 NBA Finals|1986]], [[1994 NBA Finals|1994]] and [[1995 NBA Finals]], winning the latter two, and hosting the [[2005 World Series]], [[2017 World Series]], [[2019 World Series]], [[2021 World Series]] and [[2022 World Series]]. The city won its first baseball championship during the 2017 event and won again 5 years later. NRG Stadium hosted [[Super Bowl LI]] on February 5, 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.housuperbowl.com/docs/PRESSRELEASE_HoustonAwardedSuperBowlLIAnnouncement.pdf |title=Houston to Host Super Bowl LI in 2017 |publisher=Houston Super Bowl LI Committee |date=March 28, 2013 |access-date=December 12, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216071213/http://www.housuperbowl.com/docs/PRESSRELEASE_HoustonAwardedSuperBowlLIAnnouncement.pdf |archive-date=December 16, 2013}}</ref> Houston will host multiple matches during the [[2026 FIFA World Cup]].

The city has hosted several major professional and college sporting events, including the annual [[Shell Houston Open|Houston Open]] golf tournament. Houston hosts the annual [[Houston College Classic]] baseball tournament every February, and the [[Texas Kickoff]] and [[Texas Bowl|Bowl]] in September and December, respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/hou/ticketing/college_classic.jsp |title=2014 Houston College Classic |work=MLB.com |date=March 28, 2014 |access-date=December 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114102156/http://mlb.mlb.com/hou/ticketing/college_classic.jsp |archive-date=January 14, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Grand Prix of Houston]], an annual auto race on the [[IndyCar Series]] circuit was held on a 1.7-mile temporary street circuit in [[NRG Park]]. The October 2013 event was held using a tweaked version of the 2006–2007 course.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indycar.com/News/2012/March/3-28-Houston-added-to-2013-schedule |title=Houston, we have liftoff for October 2013 event |first=Dave |last=Lewandowski |work=[[IndyCar Series]] |publisher=[[IndyCar]] |date=March 28, 2012 |access-date=March 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401185554/http://www.indycar.com/News/2012/March/3-28-Houston-added-to-2013-schedule |archive-date=April 1, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> The event had a five-year race contract through 2017 with IndyCar.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chron.com/sports/article/IndyCar-s-coming-to-town-Houston-race-slated-for-3442320.php |title=IndyCar's coming to town: Houston race slated for 2013 – Houston Chronicle |publisher=Chron.com |date=March 28, 2012 |access-date=June 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120085134/http://www.chron.com/sports/article/IndyCar-s-coming-to-town-Houston-race-slated-for-3442320.php |archive-date=January 20, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> In motorcycling, the Astrodome hosted an [[AMA Supercross Championship]] round from 1974 to 2003 and the NRG Stadium since 2003.

Houston is also one of the first cities in the world to have a major [[esports]] team represent it, in the form of the [[Houston Outlaws]]. The Outlaws play in the [[Overwatch League]] and are one of two Texan teams, the other being the [[Dallas Fuel]].

==Government==

{{Main|Politics of Houston}}
[[File:Houston City Hall in January 2012.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Houston City Hall]]]]
[[File:Harris County Family Law Center.jpg|thumb|Harris County Family Law Center]]The city of Houston has a [[mayor–council government|strong mayoral]] form of municipal government.<ref name="home rule">{{cite web |title=Office of the Controller, City of Houston |work=Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |access-date=March 27, 2009 |url=http://www.houstontx.gov/controller/cafr/cafr2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212225110/http://www.houstontx.gov/controller/cafr/cafr2.html |archive-date=February 12, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Houston is a [[Home rule in the United States|home rule]] city and all municipal elections in Texas are [[Non-partisan democracy|nonpartisan]].<ref name="home rule"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Local Government in Texas: Cities, Towns, Counties, and Special Districts |work=Politics in America, Sixth Edition |first=Thomas R. |last=Dye |access-date=March 27, 2009 |url=http://wps.prenhall.com/hss_dye_politics_6/27/7116/1821883.cw/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506115644/http://wps.prenhall.com/hss_dye_politics_6/27/7116/1821883.cw/index.html |archive-date=May 6, 2009}}</ref> The city's elected officials are the mayor, city controller and 16 members of the [[Houston City Council]].<ref name="Houston City Council">{{cite web |title=City Council |work=City of Houston eGovernment Center |access-date=March 27, 2009 |url=http://www.houstontx.gov/council/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402042639/http://www.houstontx.gov/council/index.html |archive-date=April 2, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> The current mayor of Houston is [[John Whitmire]], a Democrat elected on a nonpartisan ballot. Houston's mayor serves as the city's chief administrator, executive officer, and official representative, and is responsible for the general management of the city and for seeing all laws and ordinances are enforced.<ref name="Houston Mayor's Office">{{cite web |title=Mayor's Office |work=City of Houston eGovernment Center |access-date=March 27, 2009 |url=http://www.houstontx.gov/mayor/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327030617/http://www.houstontx.gov/mayor/index.html |archive-date=March 27, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The original city council line-up of 14 members (nine district-based and five at-large positions) was based on a U.S. Justice Department mandate which took effect in 1979.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Strong Currents of Change |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=November 19, 1979 |access-date=March 27, 2009 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,948775,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505135403/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,948775,00.html |archive-date=May 5, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> At-large council members represent the entire city.<ref name="Houston City Council"/> Under the city charter, once the population in the city limits exceeded 2.1 million residents, two additional districts were to be added.<ref>{{cite web |title=City Council may grow by two seats, Houston Chronicle |last=Stiles |first=Matt |work=Houston Chronicle |date=August 10, 2006 |access-date=March 27, 2009 |url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2006_4168311 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712175750/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2006_4168311 |archive-date=July 12, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> The city of Houston's official 2010 census count was 600 shy of the required number; however, as the city was expected to grow beyond 2.1 million shortly thereafter, the two additional districts were added for, and the positions filled during, the August 2011 elections.

The city [[comptroller|controller]] is elected independently of the mayor and council. The controller's duties are to certify available funds prior to committing such funds and processing disbursements. The city's fiscal year begins on July 1 and ends on June 30. Chris Brown is the city controller, serving his first term {{as of|2016|January|lc=y}}.

As the result of a 2015 referendum in Houston, a mayor is elected for a four-year term and can be elected to as many as two consecutive terms.<ref>Houston voters lengthen term limits for city officials "[http://www.chron.com/politics/election/local/article/Voters-lengthen-term-limits-for-city-officials-6609018.php] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151214014257/http://www.chron.com/politics/election/local/article/Voters-lengthen-term-limits-for-city-officials-6609018.php|date=December 14, 2015}}''. Retrieved on January 10, 2015.''</ref> The term limits were spearheaded in 1991 by conservative political activist [[Clymer Wright]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7397637.html |title=Aimee Buras, "Clymer Wright, force for Houston term limits, found dead", January 25, 2011 |work=Houston Chronicle |date=January 25, 2011 |access-date=January 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110129015703/http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7397637.html |archive-date=January 29, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> During 1991–2015, the city controller and city council members were subjected to a two-year, three-term limitation–the 2015 referendum amended term limits to two four-year terms. {{as of|2017}} some council members who served two terms and won a final term will have served eight years in office, whereas a freshman council member who won a position in 2013 can serve up to two additional terms under the previous term limit law–a select few will have at least 10 years of incumbency once their term expires.

Houston is considered to be a politically divided city whose balance of power often sways between [[Republican Party of Texas|Republicans]] and [[Democratic Party of Texas|Democrats]]. According to the 2005 Houston Area Survey, 68&nbsp;percent of non-Hispanic whites in Harris County are declared or favor Republicans while 89 percent of non-Hispanic blacks in the area are declared or favor Democrats. About 62&nbsp;percent of Hispanics (of any nationality) in the area are declared or favor Democrats.<ref name="Houston Area Survey 1982–2005">Klineberg, Stephen. [https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20090227010353/http://cohesion.rice.edu/CentersAndInst/HAS/emplibrary/REPORT-2005.pdf Houston Area Survey 1982–2005], Page 40.</ref> The city has often been known to be the most politically diverse city in Texas, a state known for being generally conservative.<ref name="Houston Area Survey 1982–2005"/> As a result, the city is often a contested area in statewide elections.<ref name="Houston Area Survey 1982–2005"/> In 2009, Houston became the first U.S. city with a population over 1 million citizens to elect a gay mayor, by electing [[Annise Parker]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/us/politics/13houston.html |title=Houston Is Largest City to Elect Openly Gay Mayor |last=McKinley |first=James C. Jr. |date=December 12, 2009 |work=The New York Times |access-date=September 6, 2019 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126023232/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/us/politics/13houston.html?_r=1 |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Texas has banned [[Sanctuary city|sanctuary cities]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/09/politics/sanctuary-city-bans-states/index.html |title=Florida is about to ban sanctuary cities. At least 11 other states have, too |first=Catherine E. |last=Shoichet |website=CNN |date=May 9, 2019 |access-date=September 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616132746/https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/09/politics/sanctuary-city-bans-states/index.html |archive-date=June 16, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> but Houston Mayor [[Sylvester Turner]] said Houston will not assist [[U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement|ICE]] agents with immigration raids.<ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. Cities Prepare For Planned ICE Raids |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/07/13/741118939/u-s-cities-prepare-for-planned-ice-raids-on-sunday?t=1567683134930 |publisher=NPR |date=July 13, 2019 |access-date=September 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905113848/https://www.npr.org/2019/07/13/741118939/u-s-cities-prepare-for-planned-ice-raids-on-sunday%3Ft%3D1567683134930 |archive-date=September 5, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Crime===
{{main|Crime in Houston}}
[[File:HoustonPoliceDeptHQ.JPG|thumb|Houston Police Department headquarters]]
Houston's crime rate is one of the top three in Texas and notably higher than the national average.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://cw33.com/news/local/these-are-the-11-most-dangerous-cities-in-texas-dallas-and-houston-listed/ | title=These are the 11 most dangerous cities in Texas— Dallas and Houston listed | date=April 14, 2023 | access-date=February 20, 2024 | archive-date=February 20, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220143026/https://cw33.com/news/local/these-are-the-11-most-dangerous-cities-in-texas-dallas-and-houston-listed/ | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://realestate.usnews.com/places/texas/houston/crime |title=Houston, TexasCrime Rate & Safety |work=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=April 3, 2024}}</ref> Houston's murder rate jumped significantly since 2020. In 2021, nearly 500 people were murdered in the city which was almost double the murdered count in 2019.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/increased-gang-activity-leads-to-spike-of-violent-crime-in-dallas/285-442103737 | title=Increased gang activity leads to spike of violent crime in Dallas | date=May 23, 2017 }}</ref> Rising gang activity is blamed for the increased crime rates in the city.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/freemoney-gang-arrests/285-6e0126aa-f607-4cdb-9b04-fd5e5c04724e | title=Houston crime crackdown leads to bust of 'very violent' Freemoney gang members | date=October 24, 2022 }}</ref> Houston leaders are continually discussing and implementing strategies to combat crime in the city.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://abc13.com/houston-safety-crime-mayor-john-whitmire-police/14272959/ | title=Mayor Whitmire meets with Houston leaders in law enforcement in collaboration to tackle crime | date=January 4, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/criminal-justice/2022/08/17/430995/county-leaders-unveil-150-million-public-safety-initiative-to-reduce-violent-crime-across-the-region/ | title=Harris County leaders unveil $150 million public safety initiative to reduce violent crime across region | date=August 17, 2022 }}</ref>

Houston is a significant hub for trafficking of [[cocaine]], [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]], heroin, [[MDMA]], and [[methamphetamine]] due to its size and proximity to major illegal drug exporting nations.<ref>[http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs32/32771/distribution.htm "Distribution – Houston High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Drug Market Analysis 2009"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725040338/http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs32/32771/distribution.htm |date=July 25, 2009 }} ''[[U.S. Department of Justice]]''. Retrieved on August 11, 2009.</ref>

In the early 1970s, Houston, [[Pasadena, Texas|Pasadena]] and several coastal towns were the site of the [[Dean Corll|Houston mass murders]], which at the time were the deadliest case of [[serial killing]] in American history.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Crime: The Houston Horrors |magazine=Time |date=August 20, 1973 |access-date=May 2, 2010 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,907718-1,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924032209/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,907718-1,00.html |archive-date=September 24, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Residents of Houston Curbing Murder Talk |work=[[Beaver County Times]] |date=August 16, 1973 |access-date=May 2, 2010 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=D4MkAAAAIBAJ&pg=4597,220911 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}</ref>

In 1853, the first execution in Houston took place in public at Founder's Cemetery in the [[Fourth Ward, Houston|Fourth Ward]]; initially, the cemetery was the execution site, but post-1868 executions took place in the jail facilities.<ref>{{cite web |author=Pando, Patricia |url=https://houstonhistorymagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/pando-fourh-ward.pdf |title=Two Worlds a Mile Apart: A Brief History of the Fourth Ward |publisher=Houston History Magazine |volume=8 |issue=2 |pages=37–41 |access-date=August 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906103452/http://houstonhistorymagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/pando-fourh-ward.pdf |archive-date=September 6, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2023, the city of Houston made enforcement of an anti-food sharing ordinance a priority. This has resulted in volunteers receiving over 80 tickets, and a federal lawsuit to be filed against the city of Houston.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pitcher |first=Michelle |date=2023-08-31 |title=A Courtroom Drama About Feeding Unhoused Houstonians |url=https://www.texasobserver.org/houston-food-not-bombs-trial/ |website=The Texas Observer |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240114171044/https://www.texasobserver.org/houston-food-not-bombs-trial/ |archive-date= January 14, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-01 |title='It's not fair': Group feeding the homeless outside Houston Public Library hit with 29 citations |url=https://abc13.com/food-not-bombs-houston-homeless-volunteer-group-cited-city-of-public-library-for/13325575/ |first1=Mycah |last1=Hatfield |website=ABC13 Houston |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240222021041/https://abc13.com/food-not-bombs-houston-homeless-volunteer-group-cited-city-of-public-library-for/13325575/ |archive-date= Feb 22, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/06/us/houston-food-not-bombs-fined-feeding-homeless.html|title=Houston Volunteers Fight Tickets for Serving Meals to Homeless People|work=The New York Times |date=August 6, 2023 |url-access=subscription |first1=Amanda |last1=Holpuch |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104134638/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/06/us/houston-food-not-bombs-fined-feeding-homeless.html |archive-date= Jan 4, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/04/texas-volunteers-fined-feeding-homeless-heat|title=Houston volunteers face thousands in fines for feeding homeless|website=The Guardian |date=August 4, 2023 |last1=Sainato |first1=Michael |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240214104152/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/04/texas-volunteers-fined-feeding-homeless-heat |archive-date= February 14, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Garcia |first=Evan |date=May 11, 2023 |title=In Houston, homelessness volunteers are in a stand-off with city authorities |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/houston-homelessness-volunteers-are-stand-off-with-city-authorities-2023-05-11/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230511225105/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/houston-homelessness-volunteers-are-stand-off-with-city-authorities-2023-05-11/ |archive-date=11 May 2023 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>

== Politics ==
[[File:Houston 2024 Prectint by Prectint map.svg|thumb|Houston 2024 Presidential Election Results]]
Houston City Presidential Election Results
{| class="wikitable"  style="float:right; margin:1em; font-size:95%;"
|+ Houston city vote<br /> by party in Presidential elections<ref>{{Cite web |title=DRA 2020 |url=https://davesredistricting.org/maps#viewmap::9d874739-bcce-4923-86ec-adf9d4eebfa4 |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=Daves Redistricting}}</ref>
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Year
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Third party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2024 United States presidential election in Texas|2024]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''61.2%''' ''429,362''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|37.1% ''260,227''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.7% ''12,185''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2020 United States presidential election in Texas|2020]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''65.2%''' ''500,079''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|33.4% ''256,339''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.3% ''10,244''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2016 United States presidential election in Texas|2016]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''63.9%''' ''414,033''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|31.6% ''204,761''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|4.5% ''28,884''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2012 United States presidential election in Texas|2012]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''59.8%''' ''371,345''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|40.2% ''249,270''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2008 United States presidential election in Texas|2008]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''61.2%''' ''364,639''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|38.3% ''228,167''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.4% ''2,561''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2004 United States presidential election in Texas|2004]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''55.8%''' ''312,444''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|44.2% ''247,616''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2000 United States presidential election in Texas|2000]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''54.4%''' ''285,390''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|45.6% ''239,434''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1996 United States presidential election in Texas|1996]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''54.6%''' ''266,333''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|41.3% ''201,534''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|4.1% ''20,104''
|}

==Education==
{{Main|Education in Houston}}
[[File:HoustonISDWhiteHQ.jpg|thumb|The first Hattie Mae White Administration Building; it has been sold and demolished.]]
[[List of school districts in Houston|Nineteen school districts]] exist within the city of Houston. The [[Houston Independent School District]] (HISD) is the seventh-largest school district in the United States and the largest in Texas.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eschoolnews.com/2006/02/21/houston-isd-automates-lunch/ |title=Houston ISD automates lunch |website=eSchool News online |date=February 21, 2006 |access-date= December 16, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807170255/https://www.eschoolnews.com/2006/02/21/houston-isd-automates-lunch/ |archive-date= Aug 7, 2022 }}</ref> HISD has over [[List of Houston Independent School District schools|100 campuses]] that serve as magnet or vanguard schools—specializing in such disciplines as health professions, visual and performing arts, and the sciences. There are also many charter schools that are run separately from school districts. In addition, some public school districts also have their own charter schools.

The Houston area encompasses more than 300 private schools,<ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://www.houston-texas-online.com/privateschools.html |title=Private Schools |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070127220155/http://www.houston-texas-online.com/privateschools.html |archive-date=January 27, 2007 |website=Houston-Texas-Online |access-date=January 10, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.houstonareaweb.com/private_schools/ |title=Houston Private Schools |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070110231722/http://www.houstonareaweb.com/private_schools/ |archive-date=January 10, 2007 |website= HoustonAreaWeb.com |access-date= January 10, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20080101054600/http://www.hlsr.com/ed/sa/sa_p.aspx School Art Participation]". ''[[Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo]]''. Retrieved on January 10, 2007. Archived at the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.</ref> many of which are accredited by Texas Private School Accreditation Commission recognized agencies. The Greater Houston metropolitan area's independent schools offer education from a variety of different religious as well as secular viewpoints.<ref>[http://houstonprivateschools.org/index.cfm?CFID=15996033&CFTOKEN=41756059&MenuItemID=96&MenuGroup=Home%20New About HAIS] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070328010101/http://houstonprivateschools.org/index.cfm?CFID=15996033&CFTOKEN=41756059&MenuItemID=96&MenuGroup=Home+New |date=March 28, 2007 }}. ''Houston Area independent schools''. 2007. Retrieved on March 27, 2007.</ref> The Greater Houston area's Catholic schools are operated by the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston]].

===Colleges and universities===
{{further|List of colleges and universities in Houston}}

Houston has four state universities. The [[University of Houston]] (UH) is a [[List of research universities in the United States#Universities classified as "R1: Doctoral Universities – Highest Research Activity"|research university]] and the flagship institution of the [[University of Houston System]].<ref name="Tier One Research">{{cite web |url=http://www.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2011articles/Jan2011/011811CarnegieTierOne.php |title=Carnegie Foundation Gives University of Houston its Highest Classification for Research Success, Elevating UH to Tier One Status |author=Bonnin, Richard |publisher=University of Houston |access-date=February 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920083350/http://www.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2011articles/Jan2011/011811CarnegieTierOne.php |archive-date=September 20, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Tier One Research 2">{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/2011/01/21/uh-achieves-tier-one-status-in-research.html |title=UH achieves Tier One status in research |work=Houston Business Journal |access-date=July 6, 2011 |date=January 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102234709/http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/2011/01/21/uh-achieves-tier-one-status-in-research.html |archive-date=November 2, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Tier One Research 3">{{cite web |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7386162.html |title=UH takes big step up to Tier One status |work=Houston Chronicle |date=January 18, 2011 |access-date=July 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021171030/http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/UH-takes-big-step-up-to-Tier-One-status-1685940.php |archive-date=October 21, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> The {{nowrap|third-largest}} university in Texas, the University of Houston has nearly 44,000 students on its {{Convert|667|acre|hectare|adj=on}} campus in the [[Third Ward, Houston|Third Ward]].<ref name="State of the University: Fall 2011">{{cite web |url=http://www.uh.edu/president/communications/university-community/fall-address-highlights/Fall_Address_Slides_10-3-2011.pdf |title=State of the University: Fall 2011 |publisher=University of Houston |date=October 4, 2011 |access-date=October 5, 2011 |author=Khator, Renu |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027101812/http://uh.edu/president/communications/university-community/fall-address-highlights/Fall_Address_Slides_10-3-2011.pdf |archive-date=October 27, 2011}}</ref> The [[University of Houston–Clear Lake]] and the [[University of Houston–Downtown]] are {{nowrap|stand-alone}} universities within the University of Houston System; they are not branch campuses of the University of Houston. Slightly west of the University of Houston is [[Texas Southern University]] (TSU), one of the largest [[Historically black colleges and universities|historically black universities]] in the United States with approximately 10,000 students. Texas Southern University is the first state university in Houston, founded in 1927.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chron.com/local/history/major-stories-events/article/Houston-s-public-higher-education-history-a-9175498.php |title=Histories of TSU and UH marked by segregation |website=Chron.com |date=August 21, 2016 |access-date=February 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021184202/http://www.chron.com/local/history/major-stories-events/article/Houston-s-public-higher-education-history-a-9175498.php |archive-date=October 21, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Several private institutions of higher learning are within the city. [[Rice University]], the most selective university in Texas and one of the most selective in the United States,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/education/article/The-25-hardest-universities-to-get-into-in-Texas-11081467.php |title=Rice tops the list of 25 hardest colleges to get into in Texas |last=Ramirez |first=Fernando |date=April 19, 2017 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=March 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327084245/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/education/article/The-25-hardest-universities-to-get-into-in-Texas-11081467.php |archive-date=March 27, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> is a private, secular institution with a high level of research activity.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rice University, Best Colleges 2009 |work=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=March 27, 2009 |url=http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/items/3604 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216191034/http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/items/3604 |archive-date=February 16, 2009}}</ref> Founded in 1912, Rice's historic, heavily wooded {{Convert|300|acre|hectare|adj=on}} [[Campus of Rice University|campus]], adjacent to [[Hermann Park]] and the [[Texas Medical Center]], hosts approximately 4,000 undergraduate and 3,000 post-graduate students. To the north in [[Neartown Houston|Neartown]], the [[University of St. Thomas (Texas)|University of St. Thomas]], founded in 1947, is Houston's only Catholic university. St. Thomas provides a [[Liberal arts education|liberal arts]] curriculum for roughly 3,000 students at its historic 19-block campus along Montrose Boulevard. In southwest Houston, [[Houston Christian University]] (formerly Houston Baptist University), founded in 1960, offers bachelor's and graduate degrees at its [[Sharpstown, Houston|Sharpstown]] campus. The school is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas and has a student population of approximately 3,000.

Three community college districts have campuses in and around Houston. The [[Houston Community College|Houston Community College System]] (HCC) serves most of Houston proper; its main campus and headquarters are in [[Midtown, Houston|Midtown]]. Suburban northern and western parts of the metropolitan area are served by various campuses of the [[Lone Star College System]], while the southeastern portion of Houston is served by [[San Jacinto College]], and a northeastern portion is served by [[Lee College]].<!--Huffman ISD--><ref>[http://www.lee.edu/about/ "About Lee College"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429094735/http://www.lee.edu/about/ |date=April 29, 2013 }} [[Lee College]]. Retrieved on May 6, 2013.</ref> The Houston Community College and Lone Star College systems are among the [[List of United States colleges and universities by enrollment#US Department of Education Ranking|10 largest institutions of higher learning]] in the United States.

Houston also hosts a number of graduate schools in law and healthcare. The [[University of Houston Law Center]] and [[Thurgood Marshall School of Law]] at Texas Southern University are public, [[American Bar Association|ABA-accredited]] law schools, while the [[South Texas College of Law]], in Downtown, serves as a private, independent alternative. The [[Texas Medical Center]] is home to a high density of health professions schools, including two [[medical school]]s: [[McGovern Medical School]], part of [[The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston]], and [[Baylor College of Medicine]], a highly selective private institution. [[Prairie View A&M University]]'s nursing school is in the Texas Medical Center. Additionally, both Texas Southern University and the University of Houston have [[pharmacy school]]s, and the University of Houston hosts [[University of Houston College of Medicine|a medical school]] and a college of [[optometry]].
<gallery class="center" heights="110" widths="160">
File:New library 35.jpg|[[Texas Southern University]], in the [[Third Ward, Houston|Third Ward]], is the first public institution of higher education in Houston and the most comprehensive [[HBCU]] in Texas.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hbculifestyle.com/largest-hbcu-by-enrollment/#:~:text=Nestled%20on%20a%20sprawling%20150,diverse%20institutions%20in%20the%20state. |title=Largest HBCU In The Nation: Top 10 Black Colleges By Enrollment |website=hbculifestyle.com |date=August 25, 2018 |access-date=August 17, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://abc13.com/barbara-jordan-mickey-leland-michael-strahan-yolanda-adams/6001128/ |title=4 Texas Southern University graduates turned black history trailblazers |work=ABC13.com |date=March 12, 2020 |access-date=August 17, 2021 }}</ref>
File:University of Houston-Downtown Commerce Building.jpg|The [[University of Houston–Downtown]], in [[downtown Houston|Downtown]], is the second-largest institution of higher education in Houston.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uhd.edu/finishuhdstrong/Pages/default.aspx |title=Finish UHD Strong |publisher=University of Houston Downtown |access-date=August 17, 2021 |archive-date=August 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814203327/https://www.uhd.edu/finishuhdstrong/Pages/default.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>
File:Roy Gustav Cullen Building.JPG|The [[University of Houston]], in the Third Ward, is a public research university and the third-largest institution of higher education in Texas.<ref>{{cite web |title=University of Houston |url=https://uhsystem.edu/uh-system/uh/ |access-date=August 17, 2021 |publisher=University of Houston System |archive-date=November 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211103005717/https://uhsystem.edu/uh-system/uh/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
File:Lovett Hall.jpg|[[Rice University]], near the [[Houston Museum District|Museum District]] and [[Texas Medical Center]], is the most selective private institution in Texas.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://oir.rice.edu/rankings |title=What They're Saying About Rice |publisher=Rice University |access-date=August 17, 2021 }}</ref>
</gallery>

==Media==
{{further|List of newspapers in Houston|List of television stations in Texas|List of radio stations in Texas|Magazines in Houston|List of films featured in Houston}}
[[File:HoustonPostHQ.JPG|thumb|The current ''Houston Chronicle'' headquarters, formerly the ''Houston Post'' headquarters]]
The primary network-affiliated television stations are [[KPRC-TV]] channel 2 ([[NBC]]), [[KHOU]] channel 11 ([[CBS]]), [[KTRK-TV]] channel 13 ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]), [[KTXH]] channel 20 ([[MyNetworkTV]]), [[KRIV (TV)|KRIV]] channel 26 ([[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]), [[KIAH]] channel 39 ([[The CW]]), [[KXLN-DT]] channel 45 ([[Univision]]), [[KTMD-TV]] channel 47 ([[Telemundo]]), [[KPXB-TV]] channel 49 ([[Ion Television]]), [[KYAZ]] channel 51 ([[MeTV]]) and [[KFTH-DT]] channel 67 ([[UniMás]]). KTRK-TV, KTXH, KRIV, KIAH, KXLN-DT, KTMD-TV, KPXB-TV, KYAZ and KFTH-DT operate as [[owned-and-operated station]]s of their networks.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nbcunow.com/local-media/telemundo-station-group |title=Telemundo Station Group, part of the NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations division }}{{dead link|date=April 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

The Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area is served by one public television station and two public radio stations. [[KUHT]] channel 8 (''Houston Public Media'') is a [[PBS]] member station and is the first public television station in the United States. Houston Public Radio is listener-funded and comprises one [[NPR]] member station, [[KUHF]] (''News 88.7''). The University of Houston System owns and holds broadcasting licenses to KUHT and KUHF. The stations broadcast from the Melcher Center for Public Broadcasting on the campus of the University of Houston. Houston additionally is served by the [[Pacifica Foundation]] public radio station [[KPFT]]. Commercial radio stations include [[KKBQ]] (92.9 FM), [[KILT (AM)|KILT]] (610 AM), [[KILT-FM]] (100.3 FM), [[KKHH]] (95.7 FM), [[KTRH]] (740 AM), [[KROI]] (92.1 FM), [[KODA]] (99.1 FM), [[KMJQ]] (102.1 FM), and [[KBXX]] (97.9 FM).

Houston and its metropolitan area are served by the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'', its only major daily newspaper with wide distribution. [[Hearst Communications]], which owns and operates the ''Houston Chronicle'', bought the assets of the ''[[Houston Post]]''—its long-time rival and main competition—when ''Houston Post'' ceased operations in 1995. The ''Houston Post'' was owned by the family of former Lieutenant Governor [[Bill Hobby]] of Houston. The only other major publication to serve the city is the ''[[Houston Press]]''—which was a free alternative weekly newspaper before the destruction caused by [[Hurricane Harvey]] resulted in the publication switching to an online-only format on November 2, 2017.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.houstonpress.com/news/the-houston-press-shutters-its-print-operation-9931298 |title=Houston Press Shutters Its Print Operation |newspaper=Houston Press |access-date=March 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313005143/http://www.houstonpress.com/news/the-houston-press-shutters-its-print-operation-9931298 |archive-date=March 13, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Other notable publications include ''[[Houston Forward Times]]'', ''[[OutSmart]]'', and ''[[La Voz de Houston]]''. ''Houston Forward Times'' is one of the largest [[African-American newspapers|black-owned newspapers]] in the metropolitan area and owned by Forward Times Publishing Company.<ref>Allen, Carol M. "What Came Before" (Chapter 1). In: Allen, Carol M. (editor). ''Ending Racial Preferences: The Michigan Story'' (Lexington Studies in Political Communication). [[Lexington Books]], February 5, 2009. {{ISBN|0739138294}}, 9780739138298, p. 23.</ref> ''La Voz de Houston'' is the ''Houston Chronicle''<nowiki/>'s Spanish-language newspaper and the largest in the area.

==Infrastructure==

===Healthcare===
{{See also|List of hospitals in Houston|List of hospitals in Texas|Texas Medical Center}}
[[File:UTMDA1.JPG|thumb|right|[[MD Anderson Cancer Center]]]]
Houston is the seat of the Texas Medical Center, which is the largest medical center in the world,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newsweek.com/texas-medical-center-largest-medical-complex-world-reaches-98-percent-icu-capacity-1526180 | title=Texas Medical Center, largest medical complex in the world, reaches 98 percent ICU capacity | website=[[Newsweek]] | date=August 19, 2020 }}</ref> and which describes itself as containing the world's largest concentration of research and healthcare institutions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Texas Medical Center – Largest Medical Center (Video HD (English)) |work=Texas Medical Center |access-date=March 28, 2009 |url=http://www.texmedctr.tmc.edu/root/en/GetToKnow/TMCVideo/Largest+Medical+Center+Video+%28HD-English%29.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100623134855/http://www.texmedctr.tmc.edu/root/en/GetToKnow/TMCVideo/Largest%2BMedical%2BCenter%2BVideo%2B%28HD-English%29.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 23, 2010}}</ref> All 49 member institutions of the Texas Medical Center are non-profit organizations. They provide patient and preventive care, research, education, and local, national, and international community well-being. Employing more than 73,600 people, institutions at the medical center include 13 hospitals and two specialty institutions, two medical schools, four nursing schools, and schools of dentistry, public health, pharmacy, and virtually all health-related careers. It is where one of the first—and still the largest—air emergency service, [[Memorial Hermann Life Flight|Life Flight]], was created, and an inter-institutional transplant program was developed.{{Citation needed|date=March 2019}} Around 2007, more heart surgeries were performed at the Texas Medical Center than anywhere else in the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=Texas Medical Center |website=Visithoustontexas.com |url=http://www.visithoustontexas.com/media/statistics/Houston_Stats_Texas_Medical_Center |access-date=February 6, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208100707/http://www.visithoustontexas.com/media/statistics/Houston_Stats_Texas_Medical_Center |archive-date=February 8, 2007}}</ref>

Some of the academic and research health institutions at the center include [[University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center|MD Anderson Cancer Center]], [[Baylor College of Medicine]], [[University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston|UT Health Science Center]], [[Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center|Memorial Hermann Hospital]], [[Houston Methodist Hospital]], [[Texas Children's Hospital]], and [[University of Houston College of Pharmacy]].

The [[Menninger Clinic]], a psychiatric treatment center, is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine and the Houston Methodist Hospital System.<ref>{{cite web |title=Quick Facts About The Menninger Clinic |work=menningerclinic.com, The Menninger Clinic |access-date=March 27, 2009 |url=http://www.menningerclinic.com/about/facts.htm}}</ref> With hospital locations nationwide and headquarters in Houston, the Triumph Healthcare hospital system was the third largest long term acute care provider nationally in 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ta.com/news/news_detail.asp?id=102 |title=TA Associates – News |publisher=Ta.com |date=September 1, 2005 |access-date=November 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011022123/http://ta.com/news/news_detail.asp?id=102 |archive-date=October 11, 2011}}</ref>

[[Harris Health System]] (formerly Harris County Hospital District), the hospital district for Harris County, operates public hospitals ([[Ben Taub General Hospital]] and Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital) and public clinics. The City of Houston Health Department also operates four clinics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://houstontx.gov/health/HealthCenters/index.html|title=Health Centers|publisher=City of Houston|access-date=April 9, 2021|archive-date=April 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410210013/http://www.houstontx.gov/health/HealthCenters/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> {{As of|2011}} the dental centers of Harris Health System take patients of ages 16 and up with patients under that age referred to the City of Houston's dental clinics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hchdonline.com/about/facilities/dental.htm|title=HCHD Dental Program|publisher=Harris County Hospital District|date=October 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011233437/http://www.hchdonline.com/about/facilities/dental.htm|access-date=April 6, 2021|archive-date=October 11, 2011}}</ref> Montgomery County Hospital District (MCHD) serves as the hospital district for Houstonians living in Montgomery County. Fort Bend County, in which a portion of Houston resides, does not have a hospital district. OakBend Medical Center serves as the county's charity hospital which the county contracts with.<ref>{{cite web|last=Knipp|first=Bethany|url=https://communityimpact.com/news/2016/11/02/fort-bend-county-lacks-hospital-district/|title=Fort Bend County lacks hospital district|newspaper=[[Community Impact Newspaper]]|date=November 2, 2016|access-date=October 18, 2021|quote=Despite being the fastest-growing county in the state, Fort Bend County&nbsp;... Harris and Montgomery counties have hospital districts, which provide a medical home}}</ref>

== Transportation ==
{{Main|Transportation in Houston}}
Houston is considered an [[Automobile dependency|automobile-dependent]] city, with an estimated 77.2% of commuters driving alone to work in 2016,<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |series=American Fact Finder |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=October 31, 2017 |title=2016 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates: Commuting Characteristics by Sex }}</ref> up from 71.7% in 1990<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/1/gen/pio/cay961a2.pdf |title=Census and You |publisher=US Census Bureau |page=12 |date=January 1996 |access-date=February 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061215160852/http://www.census.gov/prod/1/gen/pio/cay961a2.pdf |archive-date=December 15, 2006 |url-status=live }}</ref> and 75.6% in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |last=Freemark |first=Yonah |url=https://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2010/10/13/transit-mode-share-trends-looking-steady-rail-appears-to-encourage-non-automobile-commutes/ |access-date=October 31, 2017 |date=October 13, 2010 |title=Transit Mode Share Trends Looking Steady; Rail Appears to Encourage Non-Automobile Commutes |website=Transport Politic |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116171634/https://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2010/10/13/transit-mode-share-trends-looking-steady-rail-appears-to-encourage-non-automobile-commutes/ |archive-date=January 16, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2016, another 11.4% of Houstonians [[carpool]]ed to work, while 3.6% used public transit, 2.1% walked, and 0.5% bicycled.<ref name="auto1"/> A commuting study estimated the median length of commute in the region was {{Convert|12.2|mi|km}} in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Srvy_JobsProximity.pdf |title=The growing distance between people and jobs in metropolitan America |last1=Kneebone |first1=Elizabeth |last2=Holmes |first2=Natalie |date=March 2015 |website=Brookings Institution |access-date=March 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516163110/https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Srvy_JobsProximity.pdf |archive-date=May 16, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the 2013 American Community Survey, the average work commute in Houston (city) takes 26.3 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/112057/103196.pdf?sequence |title=Commuting to Work in the Largest 30 U.S. Cities |last=Sivak |first=Michael |date=May 2015 |website=University of Michigan |access-date=March 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412071925/https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/112057/103196.pdf?sequence |archive-date=April 12, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> A 1999 [[Murdoch University]] study found Houston had both the lengthiest commute and lowest [[urban density]] of 13 large American cities surveyed.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kenworthy |first=Jeffery R. |date=1999 |title=Patterns of automobile dependence in cities: an international overview of key physical and economic dimensions with some implications for urban policy |url=http://web.mit.edu/11.951/oldstuff/albacete/Course%20Reader/Transportation/High-Speed%20Tranist%20Literature%20Review/Kenworthy%20and%20Laube%201999.pdf |journal=Transportation Research Part A |volume=33 |issue=7 |pages=691–723 |doi=10.1016/S0965-8564(99)00006-3 |bibcode=1999TRPA...33..691K |via=Massachusetts Institute of Technology |access-date=March 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809101714/http://web.mit.edu/11.951/oldstuff/albacete/Course%20Reader/Transportation/High-Speed%20Tranist%20Literature%20Review/Kenworthy%20and%20Laube%201999.pdf |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Harris County is one of the largest consumers of [[gasoline]] in the United States, ranking second (behind [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles County]]) in 2013.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2012/09/four-texas-counties-among-nations-top-ten-for-gasoline-consumption/ |title=Four Texas counties rank among nation's top ten for gasoline consumption |last=Kasperkevic |first=Jana |date=September 28, 2012 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=March 19, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320043811/https://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2012/09/four-texas-counties-among-nations-top-ten-for-gasoline-consumption/ |archive-date=March 20, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Despite the region's high rate of automobile usage, attitudes towards transportation among Houstonians indicate a growing preference for [[walkability]]. A 2017 study by the [[Rice University]] Kinder Institute for Urban Research found 56% of Harris County residents have a preference for dense housing in a mixed-use, walkable setting as opposed to single-family housing in a low-density area.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://kinder.rice.edu/uploadedFiles/Kinder_Institute_for_Urban_Research/HAS/2017%20Kinder%20Houston%20Area%20Survey%20FINAL.pdf |title=The Kinder Houston Area Survey: Thirty-Six Years of Measuring Responses to a Changing America |last=Klineberg |first=Stephen L. |date=May 2017 |website=Kinder Institute for Urban Research, Rice University|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013234123/http://kinder.rice.edu/uploadedFiles/Kinder_Institute_for_Urban_Research/HAS/2017%20Kinder%20Houston%20Area%20Survey%20FINAL.pdf|archive-date=October 13, 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=March 19, 2018}}</ref> A plurality of survey respondents also indicated traffic congestion was the most significant problem facing the metropolitan area.<ref name=":0" /> In addition, many households in the city of Houston have no car. In 2015, 8.3 percent of Houston households lacked a car, which was virtually unchanged in 2016 (8.1 percent). The national average was 8.7 percent in 2016. Houston averaged 1.59 cars per household in 2016, compared to a national average of 1.8.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Car Ownership in U.S. Cities Data and Map |journal=Governing |url=http://www.governing.com/gov-data/car-ownership-numbers-of-vehicles-by-city-map.html |access-date=May 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511162014/http://www.governing.com/gov-data/car-ownership-numbers-of-vehicles-by-city-map.html |archive-date=May 11, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Roadways===

[[File:45intoI-10 2.jpg|thumb|The [[Interstate 10 in Texas|Interstate 10]]/[[U.S. Highway 90 (Texas)|U.S. Route 90]] and [[Interstate 45]] [[stack interchange]] northwest of Downtown Houston|alt=]]
The eight-county Greater Houston metropolitan area contains over {{Convert|25000|mi|km}} of roadway, of which 10%, or approximately {{Convert|2500|mi|km}}, is [[Limited-access road|limited-access highway]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.h-gac.com/taq/plan/2040/docs/2040-RTP-revised-April-2016.pdf |title=2040 Regional Transportation Plan |date=March 30, 2016 |website=Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC) |access-date=March 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908161824/http://www.h-gac.com/taq/plan/2040/docs/2040-RTP-revised-April-2016.pdf |archive-date=September 8, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Houston region's extensive freeway system handles over 40% of the regional [[Units of transportation measurement|daily vehicle miles traveled]] (VMT).<ref name=":1" /> [[Arterial road]]s handle an additional 40% of daily VMT, while [[toll road]]s, of which Greater Houston has {{Convert|180|mi|km}}, handle nearly 10%.<ref name=":1" />

Greater Houston possesses a [[Spoke–hub distribution paradigm|hub-and-spoke]] limited-access highway system, in which a number of freeways radiate outward from Downtown, with [[ring road]]s providing connections between these radial highways at intermediate distances from the city center. The city is crossed by three [[Interstate Highway System|Interstate highways]], [[Interstate 10 in Texas|I-10]], [[Interstate 45|I-45]], and [[Interstate 69 in Texas|I-69]] (commonly known as [[U.S. Route 59 in Texas|US 59]]), as well as a number of other [[United States Numbered Highway System|United States routes]] and [[Texas state highway system|state highways]]. Major freeways in Greater Houston are often referred to by either the cardinal direction or geographic location they travel towards. Highways that follow the cardinal convention include [[U.S. Route 290|US 290]] (''Northwest Freeway''), I-45 north of Downtown (''North Freeway''), I-10 east of Downtown ''(East Freeway''), [[Texas State Highway 288|SH 288]] (''South'' ''Freeway''), and I-69 south of Downtown (''Southwest Freeway''). Highways that follow the location convention include Interstate 10 west of Downtown (''[[Katy, Texas|Katy]] Freeway''), Interstate 69 north of Downtown (''[[East Texas|Eastex]] Freeway''), I-45 south of Downtown (''[[Gulf of Mexico|Gulf]] Freeway''), and [[Texas State Highway 225|SH 225]] (''[[Pasadena, Texas|Pasadena]] Freeway'').{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}

Three loop freeways provide north–south and east–west connectivity between Greater Houston's radial highways. The innermost loop is [[Interstate 610 (Texas)|I-610]], commonly known as the ''Inner Loop'', which encircles Downtown, the [[Texas Medical Center]], [[Greenway Plaza]], the cities of [[West University Place, Texas|West University Place]] and [[Southside Place, Texas|Southside Place]], and many core neighborhoods. The {{Convert|88|mi|km|adj=on}} [[Texas State Highway Beltway 8|Beltway&nbsp;8]], often referred to as ''the Beltway'', forms the middle loop at a radius of roughly {{Convert|10|mi|km}}. A third, {{Convert|180|mi|km|adj=on}} loop with a radius of approximately {{Convert|25|mi|km}}, [[Texas State Highway 99|SH&nbsp;99]] (the ''Grand Parkway''), is currently under construction, with eight of eleven segments completed {{as of|2018|lc=y}}.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |url=https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/projects/studies/houston/sh99-grand-parkway.html |title=SH 99 / Grand Parkway Project |date=2022 |website=Texas Department of Transportation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304020957/https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/projects/studies/houston/sh99-grand-parkway.html|archive-date=March 4, 2018|access-date=May 25, 2022}}</ref> Completed segments D through I-2 provide a continuous {{Convert|123|mi|km|adj=on}} limited-access tollway connection between [[Sugar Land, Texas|Sugar Land]], [[Richmond, Texas|Richmond]], [[Katy, Texas|Katy]], [[Cypress, Texas|Cypress]], [[Spring, Texas|Spring]], [[Porter, Texas|Porter]], [[New Caney, Texas|New Caney]], [[Cleveland, Texas|Cleveland]], [[Dayton, Texas|Dayton]], [[Mont Belvieu, Texas|Mont Belvieu]], and [[Baytown, Texas|Baytown]] .<ref name=":3" />

A system of toll roads, operated by the [[Harris County Toll Road Authority]] and [[Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority]], provides additional options for regional commuters. The Sam Houston Tollway, which encompasses the mainlanes of Beltway 8 (as opposed to the [[frontage road]]s, which are untolled), is the longest tollway in the system, covering the entirety of the Beltway with the exception of a free section between I-45 and I-69 near George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The region is serviced by four spoke tollways: a set of [[managed lane]]s on the Katy Freeway; the [[Hardy Toll Road]], which parallels I-45 north of Downtown up to [[Spring, Texas|Spring]]; the [[Westpark Tollway]], which services Houston's western suburbs out to [[Fulshear, Texas|Fulshear]]; and [[Fort Bend Parkway]], which connects to [[Sienna Plantation, Texas|Sienna Plantation]]. Westpark Tollway and Fort Bend Parkway are operated conjunctly with the Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority.

Greater Houston's freeway system is monitored by Houston TranStar, a partnership of four government agencies which is responsible for providing transportation and [[emergency management]] services to the region.<ref>[http://www.houstontranstar.org/about_transtar/ About Houston TranStar] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205224259/http://www.houstontranstar.org/about_transtar/ |date=February 5, 2012 }}. ''Houston TranStar.'' 2008. Retrieved on February 17, 2008.</ref>

Greater Houston's [[arterial road]] network is established at the municipal level, with the City of Houston exercising planning control over both its [[Municipal corporation|incorporated]] area and [[extraterritorial jurisdiction]]. Therefore, Houston exercises transportation planning authority over a {{Convert|2000|mi2|km2|adj=on}} area over five counties, many times larger than its corporate area.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |url=http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/transportation/docs_pdfs/2015_PolicyStatement.pdf |title=Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan Policy Statement |date=March 2015 |website=City of Houston |access-date=March 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321063323/http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/transportation/docs_pdfs/2015_PolicyStatement.pdf |archive-date=March 21, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The ''Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan'', updated annually, establishes the city's [[street hierarchy]], identifies roadways in need of widening, and proposes new roadways in unserved areas. Arterial roads are organized into four categories, in decreasing order of intensity: ''major thoroughfares'', ''transit corridor streets'', ''collector streets'', and ''local streets''.<ref name=":2" /> Roadway classification affects anticipated traffic volumes, roadway design, and [[Right-of-way (property access)|right of way]] breadth. Ultimately, the system is designed to ferry traffic from neighborhood streets to major thoroughfares, which connect into the limited-access highway system.<ref name=":2" /> Notable arterial roads in the region include [[Westheimer Road]], [[Memorial Drive (Houston)|Memorial Drive]], [[Texas State Highway 6|SH 6]], [[Farm to Market Road 1960|FM 1960]], [[Bellaire Boulevard]], and [[Telephone Road]].

===Transit===

[[File:METRO Light Rail3.jpg|thumb|right|[[METRORail]] light rail]]
The [[Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County]] (METRO) provides [[public transport]]ation in the form of buses, [[light rail]], [[High-occupancy vehicle lane|high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes]], and [[paratransit]] to fifteen municipalities throughout the Greater Houston area and parts of unincorporated Harris County. METRO's service area covers {{Convert|1303|mi2|km2}} containing a population of 3.6 million.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |url=http://www.h-gac.com/taq/regionally-coordinated-transportation-plan/documents/Appendix-D-Transportation-Resource-Inventory.pdf |title=Gulf Coast Regionally Coordinated Transportation Plan – 2016 Transportation Resource Inventory Update |date=2016 |website=Houston–Galveston Area Council |page=62 |access-date=March 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321192527/http://www.h-gac.com/taq/regionally-coordinated-transportation-plan/documents/Appendix-D-Transportation-Resource-Inventory.pdf |archive-date=March 21, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

METRO's local bus network services approximately 275,000 riders daily with a fleet of over 1,200 buses.<ref name=":4" /> The agency's 75 local routes contain nearly 8,900 stops and saw nearly 67 million boardings during the 2016 fiscal year.<ref name=":4" /> A [[park and ride]] system provides commuter bus service from 34 transit centers scattered throughout the region's suburban areas; these express buses operate independently of the local bus network and utilize the region's extensive system of HOV lanes.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |url=http://www.h-gac.com/taq/plan/2040/docs/2040-RTP-revised-April-2016.pdf |title=2040 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) |date=March 2016 |website=Houston–Galveston Area Council |access-date=March 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908161824/http://www.h-gac.com/taq/plan/2040/docs/2040-RTP-revised-April-2016.pdf |archive-date=September 8, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Downtown and the Texas Medical Center have the highest rates of transit use in the region, largely due to the park and ride system, with nearly 60% of commuters in each district utilizing public transit to get to work.<ref name=":5" />

METRO began light rail service in 2004 with the opening of the {{convert|8|mi|km|adj=on}} north-south [[METRORail Red Line|Red Line]] connecting Downtown, Midtown, the Museum District, the Texas Medical Center, and [[NRG Park]]. In the early 2010s, two additional lines—the [[METRORail Green Line|Green Line]], servicing the [[East End, Houston|East End]], and the [[METRORail Purple Line|Purple Line]], servicing the [[Third Ward, Houston|Third Ward]]—opened, and the Red Line was extended northward to [[Northline, Houston|Northline]], bringing the total length of the system to {{Convert|22.7|mi|km}}. Two light rail lines outlined in a five-line system approved by voters in a 2003 referendum have yet to be constructed.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.chron.com/opinion/outlook/article/Vote-against-Metro-referendum-could-mean-more-rail-3923747.php |title=Vote against Metro referendum could mean more rail |last=Smalley |first=George F. |date=October 5, 2012 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=March 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321130407/https://www.chron.com/opinion/outlook/article/Vote-against-Metro-referendum-could-mean-more-rail-3923747.php |archive-date=March 21, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[METRORail Uptown Line|Uptown Line]], which runs along Post Oak Boulevard in [[Uptown Houston|Uptown]],<ref>{{Cite news|date=August 23, 2020|title=Metro's Silver Line starts, first of many bus rapid transit planned in region in lieu of rail|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/transportation/article/Metro-s-Silver-Line-starts-first-of-many-bus-15508912.php|access-date=October 21, 2020|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|language=en-US |last1=Begley |first1=By Dug }}</ref> was under construction as a [[bus rapid transit]] line—the city's first—while the [[METRORail University Line|University Line]] has been postponed indefinitely.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/University-Line-federal-funding-pledge-pulled-7846885.php |title=Federal funding pulled for light rail line construction along Richmond Avenue |last=Begley |first=Dug |date=May 24, 2016 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=March 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321130304/https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/University-Line-federal-funding-pledge-pulled-7846885.php |archive-date=March 21, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The light rail system saw approximately 16.8 million boardings in fiscal year 2016.<ref name=":4" />

[[Amtrak]]'s thrice-weekly Los Angeles–New Orleans {{line link|Amtrak|Sunset Limited}} serves Houston at a [[Houston station (Texas)|station]] northwest of Downtown. There were 14,891 boardings and alightings in FY2008,<ref>{{cite web |title=Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2008, State of Texas |work=amtrak.com, Amtrak |access-date=March 28, 2009 |url=http://www.amtrak.com/pdf/factsheets/TEXAS08.pdf | url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227012831/http://www.amtrak.com/pdf/factsheets/TEXAS08.pdf |archive-date=February 27, 2009 }}</ref> 20,327 in FY2012,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/morning_call/2013/02/brookings-institution-study-amtrak.html |title=Amtrak ridership up in Houston area, Brookings Institution reports |newspaper=[[Houston Business Journal]] |access-date=November 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111022338/http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/morning_call/2013/02/brookings-institution-study-amtrak.html |archive-date=November 11, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> and 20,205 in FY2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=State of Texas Fact Sheet FY2018 |url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/statefactsheets/TEXAS18.pdf |publisher=National Passenger Railroad Corporation (Amtrak) |date=June 2019}}</ref> A daily [[Amtrak Thruway]] connects Houston with Amtrak's Chicago–San Antonio {{line link|Amtrak|Texas Eagle}} at [[Longview, Texas|Longview]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Texas Eagle Thruway Motorcoach Schedules |url=http://texaseagle.com/thruway.php}}</ref>

===Cycling===
Houston has the largest number of bike commuters in Texas with over 160 miles of dedicated bikeways.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://houstonbikeways.org/index.php/home/ |title=Home |publisher=Houstonbikeways.org |access-date=June 28, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725004319/http://houstonbikeways.org/index.php/home/ |archive-date=July 25, 2013}}</ref> In 2015, Downtown Houston added a cycle track on Lamar Street, running from [[Sam Houston Park]] to [[Discovery Green]].<ref name=lamar>{{cite web |publisher=City of Houston |title=Lamar Cycle Track Page |access-date=May 4, 2018 |url=https://www.houstonbikeways.org/lamar-cycle-track-page |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124020057/https://www.houstonbikeways.org/lamar-cycle-track-page |archive-date=November 24, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Houston City Council approved the Houston Bike Plan in March 2017, at that time entering the plan into the Houston Code of Ordinances.<ref name=bikeways>{{cite web |publisher=City of Houston |access-date=May 4, 2018 |title=Houston Bikeways Program |url=https://www.houstonbikeways.org/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413164708/https://www.houstonbikeways.org/ |archive-date=April 13, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> In August 2017, Houston City Council approved spending for construction of 13 additional miles of bike trails.<ref>{{cite news |author=Elliot, Rebecca |title=Hike and bike trail extensions coming to four bayous |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |date=August 23, 2017 |access-date=May 4, 2018 |url=https://www.chron.com/news/politics/houston/article/Hike-and-bike-trail-extensions-coming-to-four-11953077.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505070019/https://www.chron.com/news/politics/houston/article/Hike-and-bike-trail-extensions-coming-to-four-11953077.php |archive-date=May 5, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Houston had a [[bicycle sharing system]] until June 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brady |first1=Michael |title=Bike-sharing's future in Houston is uncertain after system shutdown |url=https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/bikesharing-houston-shutdown-future-uncertain/721436/ |website=SmartCitiesDive |access-date=23 November 2024}}</ref> [[Houston Bcycle]] (also known as B-Cycle), a local non-profit, ran the subscription program, supplying bicycles and docking stations, while partnering with other companies to maintain the system.<ref name=bikelaunch>{{cite news |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |author=Turner, Allan |title=Houston saddles up for downtown bike share program |date=May 2, 2012 |access-date=May 4, 2018 |url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Houston-saddles-up-for-downtown-bike-share-program-3526047.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417105805/https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Houston-saddles-up-for-downtown-bike-share-program-3526047.php |archive-date=April 17, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The network expanded to 29 stations and 225 bicycles in 2014, registering over 43,000 checkouts of equipment during the first half of the same year.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://houston.bcycle.com/News.aspx?itemid=634 |title=Houston bikesharing program enjoys robust growth |access-date=August 24, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826113924/https://houston.bcycle.com/News.aspx?itemid=634 |archive-date=August 26, 2014 |author=Begley, Dug |newspaper=Houston Chronicle}}</ref> In 2017, Bcycle logged over 142,000 check outs while expanding to 56 docking stations.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |title=Houston Bike Share names new executive director |date=March 27, 2018 |access-date=May 4, 2018 |url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bellaire/events/article/Houson-Bike-Share-named-new-executive-director-12784587.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505070304/https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bellaire/events/article/Houson-Bike-Share-named-new-executive-director-12784587.php |archive-date=May 5, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Airports===

[[File:New C North at IAH (37103365490).jpg|thumb|upright|Newest part of [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport#Terminals|Terminal C]], used exclusively by [[United Airlines]], at George Bush Intercontinental Airport|alt=]]
The [[Houston Airport System]], a branch of the municipal government, oversees the operation of three major public airports in the city. Two of these airports, [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport]] and [[William P. Hobby Airport]], offer [[commercial aviation]] service to a variety of domestic and international destinations and served 55 million passengers in 2016. The third, [[Ellington Airport (Texas)|Ellington Airport]], is home to the [[Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base]]. The [[Federal Aviation Administration]] and the state of Texas selected the Houston Airport System as "Airport of the Year" in 2005, largely due to the implementation of a $3.1 billion airport improvement program for both major airports in Houston.<ref>{{cite press release |title=FAA selects the HAS as 2005 Airport of the Year |publisher=Houston Airport System |date=March 24, 2006 |url=http://www.fly2houston.com/0/8343/0/1906D1940/ |access-date=December 16, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928091537/http://www.fly2houston.com/0/8343/0/1906D1940/ |archive-date=September 28, 2007}}</ref>

[[George Bush Intercontinental Airport]] (IAH), {{Convert|23|mi|km}} north of Downtown Houston between Interstates 45 and 69, is the eighth busiest commercial airport in the United States (by total passengers and aircraft movements) and forty-third busiest globally.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |url=http://www.fly2houston.com/newsroom/media-kit/fact-sheets/ |title=Fact Sheets |date=2017 |website=Houston Airport System |access-date=March 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325232222/http://www.fly2houston.com/newsroom/media-kit/fact-sheets/ |archive-date=March 25, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://d14ik00wldmhq.cloudfront.net/media/filer_public/26/8c/268cc811-12d8-4e5a-bf7e-1e8ef23f1594/iah-fact_sheet-3-1-18.pdf |title=George Bush Intercontinental Airport Fact Sheet |date=March 1, 2018 |website=Houston Airport System |access-date=March 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325105823/https://d14ik00wldmhq.cloudfront.net/media/filer_public/26/8c/268cc811-12d8-4e5a-bf7e-1e8ef23f1594/iah-fact_sheet-3-1-18.pdf |archive-date=March 25, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The five-terminal, five-runway, {{Convert|11000|acre|hectare|adj=on}} airport served 40 million passengers in 2016, including 10 million international travelers.<ref name=":6" /> In 2006, the [[United States Department of Transportation]] named IAH the fastest-growing of the top ten airports in the United States.<ref>{{cite press release |title=2005 Total Airline System Passenger Traffic Up 4.6% From 2004 |publisher=[[Bureau of Transportation Statistics]] |date=April 27, 2006 |url=http://www.bts.gov/press_releases/2006/bts020_06/html/bts020_06.html |access-date=December 16, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060922202239/http://www.bts.gov/press_releases/2006/bts020_06/html/bts020_06.html |archive-date=September 22, 2006}}</ref> The [[Houston Air Route Traffic Control Center]] is at Bush Intercontinental.

Houston was the headquarters of [[Continental Airlines]] until its 2010 merger with [[United Airlines]] with headquarters in Chicago; regulatory approval for the merger was granted in October of that year. Bush Intercontinental is currently United Airlines' second largest [[airline hub|hub]], behind [[O'Hare International Airport]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/united-continental-planning-houston-flight-resumption-1504124008 |title=United Continental Planning Houston Flight Resumption |last=Carey |first=Susan |date=August 30, 2017 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |access-date=March 25, 2018 |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325171259/https://www.wsj.com/articles/united-continental-planning-houston-flight-resumption-1504124008 |archive-date=March 25, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> United Airlines' share of the Houston Airport System's commercial aviation market was nearly 60% in 2017 with 16 million enplaned passengers.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://d14ik00wldmhq.cloudfront.net/media/filer_public/21/50/2150fc6c-beba-4f96-ad3a-003c008aae76/fy17_report_11.pdf |title=Houston Airport System Statistical Report: 2017 Fiscal Year Summary |date=2017 |website=Houston Airport System |publisher=City of Houston |access-date=March 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302044742/https://d14ik00wldmhq.cloudfront.net/media/filer_public/21/50/2150fc6c-beba-4f96-ad3a-003c008aae76/fy17_report_11.pdf |archive-date=March 2, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> In early 2007, Bush Intercontinental Airport was named a model "port of entry" for international travelers by [[U.S. Customs and Border Protection]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Airport designated 'model port of entry' |first=Bill Jr. |last=Hensel |date=April 5, 2007 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=June 21, 2008 |url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2007_4319002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712130946/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2007_4319002 |archive-date=July 12, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[William P. Hobby Airport]] (HOU), known as Houston International Airport until 1967, operates primarily short- to medium-haul domestic and international flights to 60 destinations.<ref name=":6" /> The four-runway, {{Convert|1304|acre|hectare|adj=on}} facility is approximately {{Convert|7|mi|km}} southeast of Downtown Houston. In 2015, [[Southwest Airlines]] launched service from a new international terminal at Hobby to several destinations in Mexico, Central America, and [[the Caribbean]]. These were the first international flights flown from Hobby since the opening of Bush Intercontinental in 1969.<ref>{{cite web |title=Southwest launches new international service at Houston Hobby Airport today |work=Dallas Morning News |date=October 15, 2015 |access-date=December 18, 2015 |url=http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2015/10/southwest-launches-new-international-service-at-houston-hobby-airport-today.html/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151219000710/http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2015/10/southwest-launches-new-international-service-at-houston-hobby-airport-today.html/ |archive-date=December 19, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Houston's aviation history is showcased in the [[1940 Air Terminal Museum]] in the old terminal building on the west side of the airport. In 2009, Hobby Airport was recognized with two awards for being one of the top five performing airports globally and for customer service by [[Airports Council International]].<ref>{{cite web |title=William P. Hobby Airport Rated Among Top Five Performing Airports Worldwide |work=Houston Airport System |date=March 10, 2009 |access-date=March 28, 2009 |url=http://www.fly2houston.com/0/1650213/0/1906/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090314202933/http://www.fly2houston.com/0/1650213/0/1906/ |archive-date=March 14, 2009}}</ref> In 2022 Hobby Airport was certified as the first 5-Star Airport in North America by Skytrax. It became the first Airport in North America to do so and just the 16th airport worldwide to receive the accomplishment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Plaisted |first=James |date=January 7, 2022 |title=Houston William P. Hobby Airport is the first 5-Star Airport in North America |url=https://skytraxratings.com/houston-hobby-airport-becomes-the-first-5-star-airport-in-north-america |access-date=August 4, 2022 |website=Skytrax |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Houston's third municipal airport is [[Ellington Airport (Texas)|Ellington Airport]], used by the military, government (including [[NASA]]) and general aviation sectors.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Ellington Airport |work=Houston Airport System |access-date=March 28, 2009 |url=http://www.fly2houston.com/EllingtonAbout |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302010555/http://www.fly2houston.com/EllingtonAbout |archive-date=March 2, 2007}}</ref>

{{Clear}}

==Notable people==
{{main|List of people from Houston}}

==International relations==
Houston's sister cities are:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.houstontx.gov/abouthouston/sistercities.html |title=Sister Cities |publisher=houstontx.gov |access-date=January 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919143424/http://www.houstontx.gov/abouthouston/sistercities.html |archive-date=September 19, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Div col}}
* {{flagicon|UAE}} [[Abu Dhabi]], United Arab Emirates (2001)
* {{flagicon|Azerbaijan}} [[Baku]], Azerbaijan (1976)
* {{flagicon|Iraq}} [[Basra]]h, Iraq (2015)
* {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Chiba (city)|Chiba]], Japan (1972)
* {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Grampian|Grampian Region]], Aberdeen, Scotland (1979)
* {{flagicon|Ecuador}} [[Guayaquil]], Ecuador (1987)
* {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Huelva]], Spain (1969)
* {{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Istanbul]], Turkey (1988)
* {{flagicon|Pakistan}} [[Karachi]], Pakistan (2009)
* {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Leipzig]], Germany (1992)
* {{flagicon|Angola}} [[Luanda]], Angola (2003)
* {{flagicon|France}} [[Nice]], France (1973)
* {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Perth]], Australia (1984)
* {{flagicon|China}} [[Shenzhen]], China (1986)
* {{flagicon|Norway}} [[Stavanger]], Norway (1988)
* {{flagicon|Taiwan}} [[Taipei]], Taiwan (1961)
* {{flagicon|Mexico}} [[Tampico]], Mexico (2003)
* {{flagicon|Russia}} [[Tyumen]], Russia (1995)
* {{flagicon|South Korea}} [[Ulsan]], South Korea (2021)
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[List of diplomatic missions in Houston]]
* [[List of people from Houston]]
* [[List of U.S. cities with large Hispanic populations]]
* [[USS Houston|USS ''Houston'']], 4 ships

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{cite book |title=Houston: A History |first=David G. |last=McComb |publisher=University of Texas Press |location=Austin |year=1981 |edition=2nd}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
* [http://www.houstonhistory.com/ 174 Years of Historic Houston] ''Houstonhistory.com''. 2007. Retrieved on 2007-01-13.
* {{cite book |last=Allen |first=O. Fisher |title=City of Houston from Wilderness to Wonder |publisher=Self Published |year=1936 |id=NA}}.
* {{cite book |last=Johnston |first=Marguerite |title=Houston, The Unknown City, 1836–1946 |publisher=Texas A&M University Press |year=1991 |isbn=978-0-89096-476-7}}
* {{cite web |series=Handbook of Texas Online |title=Houston, Texas |author=McComb, David G. |publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=June 29, 2018 |date=February 15, 2017 |url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/HDH03}}
* {{cite book |last=Miller |first=Ray |title=Ray Miller's Houston |publisher=Gulf Publishing Company |year=1984 |isbn=978-0-88415-081-7 |author-link=Ray Miller (Texas journalist)}}
* Phelps, Wesley G. ''A People's War on Poverty: Urban Politics and Grassroots Activists in Houston.'' Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press, 2014.
* Pruitt, Bernadette. ''The Other Great Migration: The Movement of Rural African-Americans to Houston, 1900–1941.'' College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2013.
* {{cite book |last=Slotboom |first=Oscar F. "Erik" |title=Houston Freeways |url=http://www.houstonfreeways.com/ |publisher=Oscar F. Slotboom |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-9741605-3-5}}
* {{cite book |last=Wilson |first=Ann Quin |title=Native Houstonian – A Collective Portrait |publisher=The Donning Company – Houston Baptist University Press |year=1982 |id=80-27644}}
* {{cite book |url=http://texashistory.unt.edu/permalink/meta-pth-24649%3A1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011192033/http://texashistory.unt.edu/permalink/meta-pth-24649%3A1|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 11, 2007 |title=A thumb-nail history of the city of Houston, Texas, from its founding in 1836 to the year 1912 |year=1912 |author=Young, S.O. |location=Houston |publisher=Rein and Sons}} Digital republication by the Portal to Texas History [http://texashistory.unt.edu/ Portal to Texas History]. Reprinted in 2007 by Copano Bay Press.
* {{cite book |title=True stories of old Houston and Houstonians: historical and personal sketches |author=Young, S. O. |year=1913 |location=Galveston |publisher=Oscar Springer |url=https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth24646/m1/1/}} Digital republication by the Portal to Texas History. Reprinted in 2007 by Copano Bay Press.
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|collapsible=yes|voy=Houston}}
* {{Official website}} <!--Note old URLs in comments: http://ci.houston.tx.us and http://www.cityofhouston.gov/ -- they are important for doing historical research intot he city; hte current URL and these old URLs are also saved on Wikidata (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16555). -->
* [http://www.visithoustontexas.com/ Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau]
* [http://www.houston.org/ Greater Houston Partnership (GHP) Houston Chamber]
* [http://www.houstontranstar.org/ Greater Houston Transportation and Emergency Management Center]

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