Texas Southern University is the first state university in Houston, founded in 1927.[281]. [96] Prevailing winds are from the south and southeast during most of the year, which bring heat and moisture from the nearby Gulf of Mexico and Galveston Bay. Social Media. [155], Before the legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States the first marriage in Houston took place on October 5, 1972. The Houston area encompasses more than 300 private schools,[273][274][275] many of which are accredited by Texas Private School Accreditation Commission recognized agencies. [50] This has been exacerbated by a lack of zoning laws, which allowed unregulated building of residential homes and other structures in flood-prone areas. Employees Number more than 10,000. [151], Before the 1970s, the city's gay bars were spread around Downtown Houston and what is now Midtown Houston. Economic gains of blacks who entered defense industries continued in the postwar years. Other nicknames often used by locals include "Bayou City", "Clutch City", "Crush City", "Magnolia City", "H-Town", and "Culinary Capital of the South". [156] Houston elected the first openly lesbian mayor of a major city in 2009, and she served until 2016. In 1948, the city annexed several unincorporated areas, more than doubling its size. percent higher than USA median. [156][157] During her tenure she authorized the 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. The city of Houston was founded by land investors on August 30, 1836,[10] 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. 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 that all laws and ordinances are enforced.[253]. [168] The most prominent Eastern and Oriental Orthodox jurisdictions are the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America,[169] the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America,[170] the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria,[171] and Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.[172]. 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. Officials predicted there would be 323 homicides in 2016. (function() { Before Hurricane Harvey, the city had bought back $10.7 million in houses in this area specifically to take them out of danger. [137] Houston's diversity, historically fueled by large waves of Hispanic or Latino and Asian immigrants, has been attributed to its relatively low cost of living, strong job market, and role as a hub for refugee resettlement. Houston is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas, fourth most populous city in the United States, most populous city in the Southern United States, as well as the sixth most populous in North America, with an estimated 2019 population of 2,320,268. The University of Houston System owns and holds broadcasting licenses to KUHT and KUHF. العَرَبِيَّة   |   Français   |   Español   |   中文   |   Tiếng Việt, Mayor Turner's Statement on HUD Decision Granting GLO Control of the City's Harvey Housing Funds, Houston Health Department, Greater Houston Restaurant Association Launch Food Service Training To Help Protect Restaurant-Goers During Pandemic, Mayor Turner Named as Board of Directors Chair of Resilient Cities Network, City of Houston and Resilient Houston Recognized with Top Awards for Planning and Resilience, Houston Health Department, Partners Announce Free COVID-19 Testing Schedule For Week Of October 5, The City of Houston and Harris County Partner to Fund New COVID-19 Homeless Respite and Rehabilitation Center, Mayor Turner's Statement on the Governor's Decision to Force Harris County to Close Nearly All Mail Ballot Drop-off Sites, MOCA's First Demographic Review of Artists Will Help to Advance the City of Houston's Cultural Equity Goals, Mayor's Task Force on Policing Reform Releases Recommendations, Mayor Sylvester Turner Authorizes Cite and Release Program, Mayor's Office of Adult Literacy Celebrates One Year Anniversary with a Book Distribution, Mayor Turner Honoring Five Houstonians During Hispanic Heritage Month, HOUSTON MUNICIPAL COURTS EXTENDS COURT RESET PERIOD TO SPECIFIC SATURDAYS AT 1400 LUBBOCK AND ANNOUNCES THAT JURY TRIALS AND JURY DUTY WILL RESUME DECEMBER 1, 2020, EL DEPARTAMENTO DE LAS CORTES MUNICIPALES DE LA CIUDAD DE HOUSTON EXTIENDE EL PERÍODO DE RESTABLECIMIENTO DE CORTE A SÁBADOS ESPECIFICOS AL 1400 LUBBOCK, Y ANUNCIA QUE LOS JUICIOS POR JURADO Y SERVICIO DE JURADO REANUDARÁN EL 1 DE DICIEMBRE, 2020, Mayor Turner's Statement on Texas Central Partners, Mayor Turner's Statement on the Death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Mayor Turner's Statement on Governor Abbott's Plans to Reopen the State During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Mayor Turner Announces Citywide Anti-Litter Campaign, Encourages Houstonians to Properly Dispose of COVID-19 Face Masks, Gloves and Sanitizer Wipes, Mayor Turner Announces City Initiative to Improve Houston's Local Streets and Major Thoroughfares, Mayor Sylvester Turner Creates New Office of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence, City of Houston Releases Climate Impact Assessment Projecting Future Houston Climate Trends, Houston Climate Week Rescheduled to Sept. 14 - 18, Mayor Sylvester Turner's Statement on the Passing of Tony Vallone, Mayor Turner's Statement on the Firing of Four Houston Police Officers Involved in the Shooting Death of Nicolas Chavez, City of Houston Sending Last Load of Hurricane Laura Supplies to Lake Charles, LA, FEMA Awards Fourth Grant for Flood Mitigation Projects, Mayor Turner Announces the Return of a Limited Number of Special Events in the City of Houston, Mayor Turner and Houston City Council Approve $5 Million Infusion to Small Business Economic Relief Program, City of Houston Wins Award Honoring the Very Best in the Recycling Industry, The City of Houston Mourns the Death of HFD Captain Tommy Searcy, City of Houston "Paying It Forward" Volunteers Will Deliver Hurricane Laura Supplies Saturday Morning, Notice of SEPT 15 Public Hearing - HAS Refunding Bonds (.pdf), Mayor Sylvester Turner Proclaims Today 5th Ward TV Series Day, Houston's Fifth Ward Cultural District and the Historic Third Ward Awarded State Cultural District Designation, Mayor Turner Joins Sponsors and Volunteers at Hurricane Laura Donation Drop-Off Site and Encourages Houstonians to Donate Supplies for Storm Survivors, Trash Collection And Facility Schedule For Labor Day Holiday Week, City of Houston Announces Initiative to Fight COVID-19, Mayor Turner Recommends Caution as the State of Texas Prepares to Announce the Next Steps in Opening Businesses During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Houston's Creatives Respond to COVID-19 with Ingenuity and Commitment, City of Houston Partners with Local Businesses to Collect Supplies for Hurricane Laura Victims. The Sam Houston Tollway, which encompasses the mainlanes of Beltway 8 (as opposed to the frontage roads, which are untolled), is the longest tollway in the system, covering the entirety of the Beltway with the exception of a free section between Interstate 45 and Interstate 69 near George Bush Intercontinental Airport.