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97-521: As the principal river of Greater Houston , the Buffalo Bayou watershed is heavily urbanized. Its 102-square-mile (260 km) direct drainage area contains a population of over 440,000. Including tributaries, the bayou has a watershed area of approximately 500 square miles (1,300 km). The upper watershed of Buffalo Bayou is impounded by the Addicks and Barker reservoirs, which comprise

194-546: A greenway which connects Downtown to the Houston Heights , Oak Forest , Garden Oaks , and Inwood Forest . A large majority of White Oak Bayou's route travels through highly developed areas. The river's 111-square-mile (290 km ) watershed contains a population of over 430,000. White Oak Bayou drains areas throughout the northwest portions of Harris County as well as the City of Jersey Village and portions of

291-739: A "signature, verdant downtown gateway" by the Houston Chronicle , includes a dog park , broad lawns, gardens, restaurants, and an art space inside a historic disused cistern . In 2006 the Houston Cistern, managed by the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, started offering historical tours and immersive art exhibits. In August 2017, extensive rainfall from Hurricane Harvey brought the bayou to record high levels, shattering previous flood crests by several feet. Addicks and Barker reservoirs were filled to capacity, forcing

388-503: A 13.2% increase in the national population over the same period. Between 2000 and 2007, the area added over 910,000 people. The Greater Houston Partnership projected the metropolitan area would add between 4.1 and 8.3 million new residents between 2010 and 2050. Greater Houston has the seventh-highest metropolitan-area gross domestic product in the United States, valued at $ 490 billion in 2017. A major trade center anchored by

485-458: A major flood control system for the region. The reservoir system plays a crucial role in delaying and attenuating the peak outflow of the river during large rainfall events. Moving eastward, the Buffalo flows under State Highway 6 and into Terry Hershey Park , a linear park which follows the bayou for approximately 6 miles (9.7 km), culminating at Beltway 8 . The bayou meanders around

582-749: A population of 4,177,646. Another 2010 estimate determined the population increased to 5,920,487. Of the population an estimated 575,000 were undocumented immigrants according to 2014 estimates. In 2020, Greater Houston's racial makeup was 41% White ( non-Hispanic white 34%), 20% Black and African American , 8% Asian and 3% from two or more races ; additionally, 37% of the metropolitan population were Hispanic and Latino Americans of any race. Among its metropolitan population, roughly 23.4% were foreign-born. The largest foreign-born population came from Latin America , followed by Asia, Africa, Europe and other parts of North America. The metropolitan statistical area

679-611: A sizable Hispanic and Latin American community. CNN/Money and Money magazine have recognized cities in the Greater Houston area the past three years as part of its "100 Best Places to Live in the United States". In 2005, Sugar Land, southwest of Houston in northeast Fort Bend County, was ranked 46th in the nation, and one of only three Texas cities among the Top 100. In 2006, the magazine recognized Sugar Land again, this time as

776-531: A staunch Democratic stronghold, with the most active Democratic county establishment in the state. Houston's concentration of consular offices ranks third in the nation and first in the South, with 90 countries represented. The city of Houston is considered a major center of Black and African American political power, education, economic prosperity, and culture, often called the new black mecca after Atlanta , Georgia . Houston and its metropolitan area also has

873-486: Is a census-designated place ; the rest are cities. They are listed below: Other communities: Numerically, Greater Houston is the second fastest growing metropolitan area in the U.S. There were a total of 7,122,240 residents within the Greater Houston metropolitan area as of 2020, according to the United States Census Bureau . In 2010, Greater Houston had 5,920,416 residents and in 2000, it had

970-595: Is a 23-acre (9.3-hectare) recreation area with 1.4 miles (2.3 km) of hiking and biking trails extending from Sabine Street west of Downtown to Bagby Street in the Theater District. In 2015, the Partnership completed Buffalo Bayou Park immediately to the west of the Promenade, adding another 160 acres (65 hectares) of renovated parkland along a 2.3-mile (3.7 km) stretch. Buffalo Bayou Park, labeled

1067-557: Is considered the biggest pro-wrestling event of the year, seen as the Super Bowl of pro-wrestling. Houston was also considered a candidate for the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games . Five separate and distinct state universities are located within the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area. The University of Houston is a nationally recognized Tier One research university, and is the flagship institution of

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1164-504: Is generally kept clear of blockages by the Harris County Flood Control District; however, there are several gravel bar hazards to negotiate during normal water flows. The section from Briarbend Park to Woodway is similarly kept clear, although there may be trees across the waterway immediately after storms. As an urban waterway, Buffalo Bayou is especially vulnerable to low water quality. The condition of

1261-745: Is home to five NCAA Division I programs, with four located within Houston proper. The University of Houston and Rice University play in Division I-A (FBS). The University of Houston plays in the Big 12 Conference , while Rice belongs to the American Athletic Conference . Both schools were once part of the Southwest Conference . Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M University , which are members of

1358-425: Is legal to access the bayou at all public roadway bridges, but legal parking spots may not exist near these bridges. On the east side of Loop 610, Buffalo Bayou passes along the south side of Memorial Park and the north side of River Oaks Country Club , and is accessible to the public along the entire Memorial Park frontage. Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens , the former estate of Houston philanthropist Ima Hogg ,

1455-417: Is located on the north bank of the bayou just east of Memorial Park. After passing under Shepherd Drive, the waterway enters Buffalo Bayou Park , which is bordered on the north by Memorial Drive and the south by Allen Parkway . The park continues for 2.3 miles (3.7 km) to Interstate 45 , where it enters Downtown Houston . The bayou flows past Allen's Landing and joins White Oak Bayou before exiting

1552-592: Is now downtown Houston by the University of Houston–Downtown . This area is called " Allen's Landing " and is the official birthplace of Houston, Texas . The landing is now designated as a historical city park. Near a bend in White Oak Bayou, where Houston's First and Sixth wards meet, lies Olivewood Cemetery , the historic 6-acre (24,000 m ) resting place for many freed slaves and some of Houston’s earliest black residents. Established in 1877, it

1649-475: Is one of the only bayous in Houston to retain its natural riparian ecosystem. Following the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972, Houston sought to address the untreated sewage that was being discharged into the bayous. The city has invested over $ 3 billion into new sewers, pumping stations , and sewage treatment plants across the metropolitan area, which has significantly improved water quality in

1746-725: Is or has been home to various nationally known sporting events. The most notable is the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo , which is the world's largest livestock exhibition and rodeo event. Other events of importance on greater Houston include the Shell Houston Open (a PGA Tour event), the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships ( ATP tour ), the Houston Marathon , and the Texas Bowl college football bowl game. From 1959 to 1987, Houston hosted

1843-538: Is still vital to the metropolitan region. Galveston Bay and the Buffalo Bayou together form one of the most important shipping hubs in the world. The Port of Houston , the Port of Texas City , and the Port of Galveston are all major seaports located in this Greater Houston area. The area is also one of the leading centers of the energy industry, particularly petroleum processing, and many companies have large operations in this region. The metropolitan area also comprises

1940-599: Is that city's primary newspaper and the oldest continuously printed newspaper in Texas. It currently serves as the newspaper of record for Galveston, as well as Galveston County. Radio station KGBC , on air since 1947, has also served as a local media outlet. Houston's freeway system includes 575.5 miles (926.2 km) of freeways and expressways in the 10-county metro area. The State of Texas plans to spend $ 65 billion on Houston area highways by 2025. Houston freeways are heavily traveled and often under construction to meet

2037-589: Is the Katy Prairie to the west, the Big Thicket to the northeast, and the Galveston Bay ecosystem to the south. Additionally, the metropolitan region is crossed by a number of creeks and bayous , which provide essential drainage during rainfall events; some of the most notable waterways include Buffalo Bayou (upon which Houston was founded), White Oak Bayou , Brays Bayou , Spring Creek , and

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2134-514: Is the oldest graveyard for African-Americans in the Houston area. In early June 2001, the Bayou caused at least three of 17 Houston-area deaths attributed to Tropical Storm Allison , when it raged out of its banks, as the maximum rainfall from Allison that fell on June 8 and 9 was shifted primarily over the White Oak Bayou watershed. Its tributary, Little White Oak Bayou, accounted for another two deaths. The West White Oak Bayou Trail runs along

2231-593: Is the only Catholic institution of higher education in Houston. Houston Christian University , located in the Sharpstown area, was founded in 1960. Rice University is one of the leading teaching and research universities of the United States and consistently ranks among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report . Three community college districts exist with campuses in and around Houston. The Houston Community College System serves most of Houston. The northwestern through northeastern parts of

2328-491: Is traveled by about 61,000 people daily, giving it the second-highest ridership per track mile in the nation. The Uptown Light Rail Line has been converted to a BRT Line and began construction in the late second quarter of 2016. The BRT Line will run between the former NW Mall (which is in the process of redevelopment) and the WestPark TC. METRO's various forms of public transportation still do not connect multiple suburbs to

2425-458: Is widely noted for its ethnic diversity and strong international community. In its 2010 publication "Urban Elite", A.T. Kearney added the city to their list of the 65 most important world cities and ranks Houston 35th, as "...a magnet for a diverse population and business services...". The Globalization and World Cities Study Group and Network ranks Houston as a Beta- World City, "an important world city instrumental to linking their region or state to

2522-751: The Houston Press named the West White Oak Bayou Trail the best bike path in the City of Houston . Connections to and from the West White Oak Bayou Trail include the Central Business District (CBD) Access On-street Bikeway, at 11th Street and at Ella Boulevard on the south; and the West Houston On-street Bikeway, at 34th Street, Du Barry Lane (to Wakefield Drive), 43rd Street, Carleen Road (to Bethlehem Street), and Pinemont Drive on

2619-635: The Bluebonnet Bowl . Houston has also played host to three Super Bowls ( VIII , XXXVIII , LI ), the 1968, 1986, and 2004 MLB All-Star Games , the 2022, 2021, 2019, 2017, 2005 World Series, and the 1989, 2006, 2013 NBA All-Star Games . Houston has also played host to various high school and college sporting events, including the Big 12 Championship Game and hosted the 2011 NCAA Men's Final Four , 2010 NCAA Men's Regional Finals , and 2010 MLS All-Star Game . Houston has held two WrestleMania events, WrestleMania X-Seven and WrestleMania XXV , which

2716-711: The Catholic Church is the largest single Christian denomination as of a 2014 study by the Pew Research Center . Catholics in Houston are primarily served by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston . Following, the body of Evangelical Protestantism was the second largest according to this study; Baptists dominated the Evangelical Protestant demographic. Mainline Protestantism , led by Methodists ,

2813-508: The Civil War , which bolstered the local economy, dredging became a more viable option. The Bayou Ship Channel Company began major dredging operations in 1870, and the city began receiving federal aid to complete the project. This first dredging of the Buffalo Bayou was completed in 1876. By the mid-20th century, the Port of Houston had established itself as the leading port in Texas, eclipsing

2910-476: The Gulf Coast . Its Port of Houston is the largest port in the United States and the 16th-largest in the world . Greater Houston has historically been among the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States; it was the fastest-growing in absolute terms during the 2013–2014 census year, adding 156,371 people. The area grew 25.2%, adding over 950,000 people, between 1990 and 2000 in comparison to

3007-586: 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 —a free alternative weekly with a weekly readership of more than 300,000. The Galveston County Daily News , founded in 1842,

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3104-495: The Memorial Villages between Beltway 8 and Loop 610 . The banks along this reach are mostly private property, however there is a public access point and official Texas Parks and Wildlife paddling trail canoe launch at Briarbend Park, which is located in a quiet neighborhood south of San Felipe and west of Voss Road. There is another official canoe launch and access point just outside of 610 on Woodway. Additionally, it

3201-487: The Republican and Democratic parties. Democrats are also stronger in the more liberal Neartown area, which is home to a large artist and LGBT community, and Alief , which houses a sizable Asian American population. In 2008, almost every county in the region voted for Republican John McCain ; only Harris County was won by Democratic candidate Barack Obama , by a small margin (51%–49%). Galveston has long been

3298-857: The San Jacinto River . The upper drainage basin of Buffalo Bayou is impounded by two large flood control reservoirs, Barker Reservoir and Addicks Reservoir , which provide a combined 400,000 acre-feet (490 million cubic meters ) of storage during large rainfall events and cover a total land area of 26,100 acres (106 km ). Greater Houston's flat topography, susceptibility to high-intensity rainfall events, high level of impervious surface , and inadequately-sized natural drainage channels make it particularly susceptible to catastrophic flooding events. Underpinning Greater Houston's land surface are unconsolidated clays , clay shales , and poorly cemented sands up to several miles deep. The region's geology developed from stream deposits formed from

3395-750: The Southwestern Athletic Conference , plays in Division I-AA (FCS). Houston Christian University (formerly Houston Baptist University) currently plays in Division I (FCS), mainly in the Southland Conference . Rice and Houston Christian are widely noted for their student-athlete graduation rates, which number at 91% for Rice (tied for highest in the nation according to a 2002 Sports Illustrated issue on best college sports programs) and 80% for HBU. Houston

3492-520: The USS Texas , a museum ship permanently moored near the mouth of the bayou. The bayou supports a significant population of catfish , sunfish , gars, and bass for recreational fishing . It includes a population of birds and hosts the popular Waugh Bat Bridge. Snakes and alligators have also been spotted along the bayou. Buffalo Bayou is legally navigable by paddle craft from its source in Katy to

3589-748: The United States Office of Management and Budget as Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land , is the fifth-most populous metropolitan statistical area in the United States, encompassing nine counties along the Gulf Coast in Southeast Texas . With a population of 7,510,253 in 2023, Greater Houston is the second-most populous metropolitan area in Texas after the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex . The region of approximately 10,000 square-miles (26,000 km2) centers on Harris County ,

3686-545: The University of Houston System . The third-largest university in Texas, the University of Houston has nearly 43,000 students on its 667-acre campus in southeast Houston. The University of Houston–Clear Lake and the University of Houston–Downtown are standalone universities; they are not branch campuses of the University of Houston. The metropolitan area is home to the two largest historically black institutions in

3783-580: The third-most populous county in the U.S. , which contains the city of Houston , the economic and cultural center of the South with a population of more than 2.3 million as of 2010. Greater Houston is part of the Texas Triangle megaregion along with the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, Greater Austin , and Greater San Antonio . Greater Houston also serves as a major anchor and economic hub for

3880-409: The 10 most populous metropolitan areas in the U.S., Greater Houston ranked first in employment growth rate and second in nominal employment growth. In 2006, the Greater Houston metropolitan area ranked first in Texas and third in the U.S. within the category of "Best Places for Business and Careers" by Forbes . The Houston–The Woodlands-Sugar Land area's gross metropolitan product (GMP) in 2005

3977-538: The 2020 study. Within the Eastern Christian tradition, there were 3,617 Coptic Orthodox Christians , 1,746 Eritrean Orthodox and 850 Ethiopian Orthodox , 6,209 Greek Orthodox , 2,405 Malankara Orthodox Syrians , 641 American Orthodox , and 1,058 Serbian Orthodox in the metropolis. According to the Pew Research Center's 2014 study, non-Christian religions collectively made up 7% of

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4074-418: The Buffalo Bayou watershed are the Addicks and Barker reservoirs in western Harris County, which provide a combined 26,000 acres (11,000 hectares) of open land for runoff storage. In recent years, extensive suburban development upstream of the reservoirs has stressed this flood control infrastructure. Since 2015, Buffalo Bayou has experienced three major flooding events, including Hurricane Harvey in 2017,

4171-447: The City of Houston. Its watershed covers 111 square miles (290 km ) and includes three primary streams: White Oak Bayou, Little White Oak Bayou and Cole Creek. In addition, Vogel Creek and Brickhouse Gully are among the major tributaries in the watershed. In all, there are about 151 miles (243 km) of open streams in the White Oak Bayou watershed, including the primary and tributary channels. Wildlife habitat exists on much of

4268-481: The Houston area from other U.S. states, as well as hundreds of countries worldwide. Unlike most places, where high fuel prices are seen as harmful to the economy, they are generally seen as beneficial for Houston, as many are employed in the energy industry. Baytown , Pasadena , La Porte , and Texas City have some of the area's largest petroleum/petrochemical plants, though major operations can be found in Houston, Anahuac , Clute , and other communities. Galveston has

4365-581: 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. This is in addition to the 12,500 new graduates the UH 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

4462-634: The Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolis with four micropolitan statistical areas ( Bay City , Brenham , El Campo , and Huntsville ) to form the Houston–The Woodlands, TX combined statistical area. The metropolitan area is located in the Gulf Coastal Plains biome , and its vegetation is classified as temperate grassland. Much of the urbanized area was built on forested land, marshes, swamp, or prairie , remnants of which can still be seen in surrounding areas. Of particular note

4559-600: The Mainland and Galveston College . Portions of Brazoria County are served by Alvin Community College and Brazosport College . Blinn College serves portions of Austin County. The Houston Community College and Lone Star College systems are within the 10 largest institutions of higher learning in the United States. Politically, the Greater Houston area has historically been divided between areas of strength of

4656-537: The Melcher Center for Public Broadcasting, located on the campus of the University of Houston. The metropolitan area is also served by ABC13 Houston (KTRK-TV) and Fox 26 Houston (KRIV-TV) , owned-and-operated stations of ABC and Fox News , and NBC and CBS -affiliates KPRC 2 Houston and KHOU 11 . The Houston area is served by the Houston Chronicle , its only major daily newspaper with wide distribution. The Hearst Corporation , which owns and operates

4753-575: The Mexico–US border, go through the Greater Houston area, and continue on to Michigan at the Canada–US border. All of I-69 has been completed in the Greater Houston area and is co-signed with U.S. Highway 59. Interstate 45, which starts at State Highway 75 in Dallas provides transport from Houston to Dallas. The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas , or METRO, provides public transportation in

4850-434: The Port of Houston, Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land has the highest trade export value of all metropolitan areas, at over $ 120 billion in 2018, accounting for 42% of the total exports of Texas. As of 2021, Greater Houston is home to the headquarters of 24 Fortune 500 companies, ranking third among all metropolitan statistical areas. The Greater Houston metropolitan area was ranked the fourth-most diverse metropolitan area in

4947-832: The Southern Baptist Convention, the American Baptist Association , American Baptist Churches USA , Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship , National Baptist Convention USA and National Baptist Convention of America , and the National Missionary Baptist Convention numbered 926,554. Non-denominational Protestants, the Disciples of Christ , Christian Churches and Churches of Christ , and the Churches of Christ numbered 723,603 altogether according to

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5044-707: The Tax Day floods of 2016, and a flood on May 26, 2015. Buffalo Bayou is home to numerous urban parks , including George Bush Park (located entirely within Barker Reservoir), Terry Hershey Park , Memorial Park , Buffalo Bayou Park, and Tony Marron Park in the East End . San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site , the site of the Battle of San Jacinto which ended the Texas Revolution , includes

5141-459: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to initiate controlled releases of 16,000 cubic feet per second (450 m/s) to prevent catastrophic uncontrolled releases and protect the structural integrity of the dams. Despite these efforts, uncontrolled releases did occur around the spillway at the northern end of Addicks Reservoir for the first time in the structure's history. The reservoir releases caused extensive flooding of neighborhoods and roadways along

5238-528: The US 90 Commuter line which will service the Fort Bend County and southwest Harris County suburban region. Prior to the 2004 opening of METRORail, Houston was the largest major city in the United States without a rail transit system. Following a successful referendum held locally in 2004, METRO is currently in the beginning design phases of a 10-year expansion plan to add five more sections to connect to

5335-490: The United States in 2012. According to the United States Census Bureau , the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan statistical area has a total area of 10,062 square miles (26,060 km ), of which 8,929 sq mi (23,130 km ) are land and 1,133 sq mi (2,930 km ) are covered by water. The region is slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Massachusetts and slightly larger than New Jersey . The U.S. Office of Management and Budget combines

5432-457: The banks of the bayou, parallel to T. C. Jester Boulevard, from 11th Street to Antoine St, providing bicyclists and pedestrians a 7.4-mile (11.9 km) long mostly concrete and asphalt trail (the portion just South of Little York to Antoine has been repaved and extended, and White Oak Bayou Village trail head sits on this portion of the trail. Passing through several parks, the trail is lighted and includes protective railings in some areas. In 2006,

5529-431: The bayou centered on a series of linear parks through central Houston. The project goals include the rehabilitation of formerly industrial land, habitat restoration, canoeing and kayaking facilities, hike-and-bike trails, cultural programming, flood control management, and mixed-use urban development. The Partnership has leveraged over $ 150 million to implement these projects. The Buffalo Bayou Promenade, opened in 2006,

5626-570: The bayou has extensive natural floodplains, as do most Gulf coastal rivers and streams. Urbanization of the watershed has placed thousands of people in vulnerable areas and has affected the frequency and intensity of flood events. In response to the disastrous flood of 1935, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in association with the Harris County Flood Control District, began an extensive program of reservoir construction, removal of stream-bank vegetation, and channelization to reduce Houston's flooding risk. The two most prominent flood control features in

5723-489: The bayou via the nearby Hobby Airport . Preservation websites 29°45′50″N 95°04′54″W  /  29.7638°N 95.0816°W  / 29.7638; -95.0816 See also: List of companies in Houston See: List of colleges and universities in Houston [REDACTED] Category [REDACTED] Texas portal Greater Houston Greater Houston , designated by

5820-402: The bayou's waters has long been a topic of concern in Houston. During the 19th century, the river essentially functioned as both an open sanitary sewer and a source of drinking water . Industrial and agricultural discharge into the water was a common practice, and the bayou took on a reputation as a "cesspool" with an "unbearable stench." It was not until the early 20th century that the city had

5917-556: The beginning of the 19th century, including Lynchburg , Harrisburg , and Rightor's Point (modern Morgan's Point ) in the 1820s. The bayou became important in Texas history when the final battle of the Texas Revolution was fought along its banks where it merges with the San Jacinto River . In the 1830s, new communities such as Houston were established along the shoreline. A local entrepreneur named Samuel Allen (unrelated to

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6014-413: The central business district at Interstate 69 . The bayou widens considerably as it travels through the East End , culminating at the Houston Ship Channel . Along with Galveston Island and Galveston Bay itself, Buffalo Bayou was one of the focal points for early Anglo-American settlement in early Texas, first part of the Spanish Empire and then part of Mexico . Early communities began to appear at

6111-417: The clay below the surface precludes the buildup of friction that produces ground-shaking in earthquakes. These faults generally move at a smooth rate in what is termed "fault creep". Greater Houston has a humid subtropical climate typical of the Southern United States . It is rainy most of the year. Prevailing winds come from the south and southeast during most of the year, which bring heat and moisture from

6208-579: The current rail system. An 8.3-mile (13.4-km) expansion has been approved to run the service from Uptown through Texas Southern University, ending at the University of Houston campus. White Oak Bayou White Oak Bayou is a slow-moving river in Houston , Texas . A major tributary of the city's principal waterway, Buffalo Bayou , White Oak originates near the intersection of Texas State Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 290 (the Northwest Freeway) and meanders southeast for 25 miles (40 km) until it joins Buffalo Bayou in Downtown . The river serves as

6305-412: The demands of continuing growth. The Greater Houston area has a hub-and-spoke freeway structure with multiple loops. The innermost is Interstate 610 , forming a roughly 42-mile (70 km)-circumference loop around downtown. The nearly square Loop 610 is quartered into "North Loop", "South Loop", "West Loop", and "East Loop". The roads of Beltway 8 and their freeway core, the Sam Houston Tollway, are

6402-444: The erosion of the Rocky Mountains . These sediments consist of a series of sands and clays deposited on decaying organic matter that, over time, transformed into oil and natural gas. Beneath these tiers 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 dome shapes, often trapping oil and gas that seeped from

6499-429: The federal government from lining the straightened sections of the bayou with concrete. In 1966, Hershey and a number of other homeowners in the Memorial area formed the Buffalo Bayou Preservation Association, which later expanded its mission and became the Bayou Preservation Association. In 1989, Terry Hershey Park , which runs parallel to the bayou between Beltway 8 and Highway 6, was dedicated to her efforts. The bayou

6596-436: The fifth-wealthiest community, West University Place , and the sixth-wealthiest community, Piney Point Village . Greater Houston's religious community is predominantly Christian and the second-largest metropolitan area that identifies with the religion in Texas after Dallas–Fort Worth (73%). In 2012, the city of Houston proper ranked the ninth most religious city in the U.S. Within the Greater Houston metropolitan area,

6693-416: The foot of Main Street at the confluence of Buffalo Bayou and White Oak Bayou . The first wharves were opened in 1840, and the Port of Houston was established in 1841. This was the most westerly location a small trading schooner could turn around; without extensive dredging , only small vessels could access the city. This site is now a public park adjacent to the University of Houston–Downtown . After

6790-406: The form of buses, trolleys, and lift vans. METRO began running light rail service ( METRORail ) on January 1, 2004. Currently, the track is rather short — about 22.7 miles (20.6 km) from Northline Transit Center Station through downtown Houston to the Texas Medical Center and Reliant Park , and lines from downtown to the East End and the University of Houston/Lower 3rd Ward. Still, the system

6887-506: The founders of Houston) established a large ranch, later known as the Allen Ranch , between Harrisburg and Galveston Bay. Docks at Harrisburg, Houston, and the Allen Ranch gradually became the foundations of what would become the modern Port of Houston . Harrisburg served as the region's major trade center until the 1870s, when a large fire destroyed its railroad facilities, which were subsequently rebuilt in Houston. Houston's original docks, today known as Allen's Landing , were established at

6984-418: The inner city (defined by the 610 loop), causing Houstonians to rely on the automobile as a primary source of transportation. The problem is one due to the lack of a central metropolitan area transportation authority, primarily due to a few suburban counties refusing to cooperate with METRO. For example, there are multiple coach bus services that run into downtown Houston. METRO is in the late planning stages of

7081-491: The largest petrochemical manufacturing area in the world, including for synthetic rubber , insecticides , and fertilizers . The area is also the world's leading center for building oilfield equipment. Greater Houston is also a major center of biomedical research, aeronautics, and high technology. Much of the metro area's success as a petrochemical complex is enabled by its busy man-made Houston Ship Channel . Because of these economic trades, many residents have moved to

7178-548: The largest cruise-ship terminal in Texas (and the 12th-largest in the world). The island, as well the Clear Lake area , are major recreation and tourism areas in the region. Houston is home to the Texas Medical Center —the largest medical center in the world. Galveston is home to one of only two national biocontainment laboratories in the United States. The University of Houston System 's annual impact on

7275-492: The metropolitan area are served by various campuses of the Lone Star College System , while the southeastern portion of the city and some surrounding areas are served by San Jacinto College . Eastern portions of the area and small sections of the city are served by Lee College . Portions of Fort Bend County are served by Wharton County Junior College . Portions of Galveston County are served by College of

7372-487: The natural harbors at Galveston and Texas City . The Turning Basin terminal in Harrisburg (now part of Houston) became the port's largest shipping point. The Texas oil boom of the early 20th century spurred further industrial development. Extreme floods in the first half of the 20th century, especially in 1929 and 1935, devastated Downtown Houston and resulted in a number of federally-funded flood control projects in

7469-500: The nearby Gulf of Mexico and Galveston Bay area . A number of tropical storms and hurricanes have hit the metropolitan area, including: As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget , the metropolitan area of Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land encompasses nine counties in Southeast Texas. They are listed below: Eight principal communities are designated within the Greater Houston metropolitan area. The Woodlands

7566-597: The next loop, at a diameter around 83 miles (134 km). A planned highway project, State Highway 99 (the Grand Parkway), will form the third loop outside of Houston. Currently, a completed portion of State Highway 99 runs clockwise from I-69 / US 59 in Sugar Land, southwest of Houston to State Highway 146 in Baytown, east of Houston and was completed in 2022. When completed in the future, I-69 will start at

7663-484: The north. Just north of downtown Houston , around White Oak Park, the banks of White Oak Bayou have been cleaned and a swampy area restored where birdwatching can be enjoyed. Yellow-crowned night heron and green heron nest there, and a number of eastern woodland birds also reside in and around the park. In addition, the White Oak Bayou Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to

7760-508: The rapid growth of other sectors—such as engineering services, health services, retail, and manufacturing . The area's economic activity is centered in the city of Houston , the county seat of Harris County . Houston is second to New York City in Fortune 500 headquarters. The city has attempted to build a banking industry , but the companies originally started in Houston have since merged with other companies nationwide. Banking, however,

7857-472: The region. Sugar Land is home to the second-largest economic activities and fifth-largest city in the metropolitan area. It has the most important economic center in Fort Bend County. The city holds the Imperial Sugar (its namesake), Nalco Champion, and Western Airways headquarters. Engineering firms and other related industries have managed to take the place as an economic engine. Greater Houston

7954-406: The region. According to the 2019 American Community Survey , the median household income was $ 69,193 and the per capita income was $ 35,190. Roughly 13% of the metropolis lived at or below the poverty line. As of 2011, Greater Houston has four of Texas's 10 wealthiest communities, which include the wealthiest community, Hunters Creek Village , the fourth-wealthiest community, Bunker Hill Village ,

8051-474: The region. In 1977, Barbours Cut Terminal was opened at Morgan's Point, shifting shipping traffic away from the Turning Basin. In 1986, the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, a nonprofit organization , was founded to leverage public and private financing towards renovating and expanding park space along the river. The Partnership's 2002 Buffalo Bayou Master Plan established a 20-year, $ 5.6 billion vision for

8148-471: The religious metropolitan population. The largest non-Christian religion was Judaism . According to the study, 20% of Greater Houston was irreligious and 2% were atheist . The Association of Religion Data Archives 2020 study determined there were 7,061 Conservative Jews and 3,050 Orthodox Jews ; there were 11,481 Reform Jews throughout the area. There were an estimated 123,256 Muslims, 51,567 Hindus and Yoga practitioners, and 20,281 Buddhists . Among

8245-436: The resources to construct sewerage and sewage treatment plants. However, environmental progress was slow, and Buffalo Bayou was still heavily polluted through the late 1940s. Today, the bayou still faces significant environmental challenges, including elevated levels of indicator bacteria , low oxygen saturation , and heavy nutrient pollution . In February 2019, it was reported that 64,000 gallons of jet fuel leaked into

8342-506: The state: Texas Southern University and Prairie View A&M University . The University of Texas Medical Branch and Texas A&M University at Galveston , a branch campus of Texas A&M University , are located in Galveston. Several private institutions of higher learning—ranging from liberal arts colleges to a nationally recognized Tier One research university—are located within the metropolitan area. The University of St. Thomas

8439-503: The surrounding porous sands. This thick, rich soil also provides a good environment for rice farming in suburban outskirts into which the city of Houston continues to grow near Katy . Evidence of past rice farming is even still evident in developed areas as an abundance of rich, dark, loamy topsoil exists. The Greater Houston region is generally earthquake-free. While the city of Houston contains over 150 to 300 active surface faults with an aggregate length of up to 310 miles (500 km),

8536-420: The third-best city on its list. Also making the 2006 list were League City (65th) in northern Galveston County and The Woodlands (73rd) in southern Montgomery County . In 2007, another Houston suburb, Friendswood , made the list ranked 51st in the nation. The 2006 list only includes cities with at least 50,000 residents, and the 2007 list contains only cities with less than 50,000 residents. Greater Houston

8633-522: The undeveloped tracts scattered throughout the watershed and has been preserved and/or created in several of the large regional stormwater detention basins constructed by the Harris County Flood Control. However, only a little undisturbed wildlife habitat exists along the urban channels of White Oak Bayou and its tributaries. The original Port of Houston was located at the confluence of White Oak Bayou and Buffalo Bayou in what

8730-870: The upper reaches of the watershed. The Texas Legislature created the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) in 1937, and by the end of the 1930s, over $ 35 million ($ 767 million in 2016 dollars) of federal, state, and county funds had been earmarked for an extensive drainage program. In then-rural western Harris County, the United States Army Corps of Engineers constructed Barker Reservoir , completed in 1945, and Addicks Reservoir , completed in 1948. Combined, these reservoirs provide 410,000 acre-feet (510 million cubic meters ) of runoff storage, which has largely prevented downstream flood events. Six miles of Buffalo Bayou between present-day Highway 6 and Beltway 8

8827-512: The western end of the Ship Channel upstream of Wayside Drive. A majority of paddle trips generally take place between Highway 6 and Shepherd Drive section, with main focus on the section from Briarbend Park to Woodway and to Downtown Houston, generally because of ease of access and length of the trail. The section from Highway 6 to Beltway 8 is known for downed trees, which require frequent portages. The section from Beltway 8 to Briarbend Park

8924-472: The western stretch of Buffalo Bayou between Barker Reservoir and Downtown; the Memorial area was heavily damaged. The bayou was projected to remain at a major flood stage for up to two weeks after the storm in order to drain the reservoirs as much as possible. The Buffalo Bayou watershed is central to the drainage of Houston and Harris County. Lying over relatively impervious soils and very flat topography ,

9021-479: The world economy." Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area is served by a public television station and one public radio station. KUHT (HoustonPBS) is a PBS member station and is the first public television station in the United States. Houston Public Radio is listener-funded radio and comprises one NPR member station, KUHF (KUHF News). The University of Houston System owns and holds broadcasting licenses to KUHT and KUHF. The stations broadcast from

9118-584: Was $ 308.7 billion, up 5.4% from 2004 in constant dollars—slightly larger than Austria's gross domestic product. By 2012, the GMP had risen to $ 449 billion, the fourth-largest of any metropolitan area in the United States. Only 26 countries other than the United States had a GDP exceeding Greater Houston's GAP. Mining, which in the area is almost entirely oil and gas exploration and production, accounted for 11% of Greater Houston's GAP—down from 21% as recently as 1985. The reduced role of oil and gas in Houston's GAP reflects

9215-562: Was channelized during the construction of the reservoirs. Later, between 1953 and 1958, the stretch between Shepherd Drive and Sabine Street west of Downtown was also straightened. The length of bayou between these two channelized sections, which largely runs through the Memorial Villages, has remained in its natural, meandering state. In the 1960s, local resident and conservationist Terry Hershey, working with local congressman (and eventual President ) George H.W. Bush , prevented

9312-440: Was classified as one of the largest regions where the three largest minority groups were highly represented. In 2018, its racial makeup had an estimated 35.5% Anglo American , 20% Black and African American, 7.6% Asian American and 2.1% other races; approximately 37.6% were Hispanic or Latino American of any race. Nearly one in four Greater Houstonians were foreign-born in 2018 and a quarter of all refugees settled in Texas lived in

9409-551: Was the third largest Christian group. In a separate study by the Association of Religion Data Archives in 2020, the Catholic Church numbered 1,299,901 for the metropolitan area; by 2020, the second-largest single Christian denomination ( Southern Baptists ) numbered 800,688; following, non-denominational Protestant churches represented the third-largest Christian cohort at 666,548. Altogether, however, Baptists of

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