West University Place, Texas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
West University Place, often called West University or West U for short, is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown Metropolitan Area and Harris County. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city population was 14,211.
West University Place is completely surrounded by the cities of Houston, Bellaire, and Southside Place. The street boundaries of West University Place are Bissonnet, Kirby, Holcombe/Bellaire and Community. The city is nicknamed "The Neighborhood City" as the city is mainly a bedroom community for middle and upper middle class families.
As of 2000, West University Place is the 9th wealthiest location in Texas by per capita income.
The United States Postal Service uses "Houston" for all West University Place addresses.
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[edit] History
The city was developed in 1917 by Ben Hooper, a former Tennessee governor. The name "West University Place" originated from its proximity to Rice Institute (now Rice University). The city incorporated in 1924 because Houston was reluctant to extend power lines that far from the city center. West University Place, unlike Houston Heights, did not consolidate into the City of Houston. In 1939, the municipality refused to consolidate, later adopting a formal city charter the following year.
On December 17, 1998, a child psychologist named Claudia Benton was murdered in her West University Place house by Ángel Maturino Reséndiz, a serial killer.
[edit] Geography
West University Place is located at (29.715929, -95.432992)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.2 km² (2.0 mi²), all land.
The city's boundaries are: Kirby Drive to the East, a Union Pacific railroad track to the West, Bellaire Boulevard to the South, and Bissonnet and Law Street to the North.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 14,211 people, 5,286 households, and 4,059 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,729.8/km² (7,068.6/mi²). There were 5,543 housing units at an average density of 1,064.8/km² (2,757.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.37% White, 0.50% African American, 0.07% Native American, 4.74% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.90% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.72% of the population.
There were 5,286 households out of which 43.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.0% were married couples living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.2% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.8% under the age of 18, 2.9% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 29.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $130,721, and the median income for a family was $157,312. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $65,739 for females. The per capita income for the city was $69,674. About 0.9% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.
West University Place is dominated by middle and upper-middle class families living in single-family housing. Originally West University Place had small cottages. Many of these cottages were torn down and replaced with large two story houses.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
The city council runs the city of West University Place. The council contains the mayor and four city council members. The city council, elected on a non-partisan basis, is elected during the first Saturday in the May of every odd-numbered year. Each member serves a term of two years. Members may serve for more than two successive terms in each office. The council enacts legislation, adopts budgets, establishes policies and appoints the city manager, city secretary, city municipal court judges, prosecutors, and clerks.
The current mayor is Burt Ballanfant. The four council members are Phyllis Cohen, Steven Segal, Mike Woods, and Dick Yehle.
The city manager carries out the operation of city activities. The city secretary manages the city council and maintains ordinances, resolutions, meeting minutes, and legally required publications. The city attorney gives the city council general counsel, litigation, contract review, and ordinance review.
The current (as of 2005) city manager is Michael Ross. Chris Peifer is the public works director and the assistant city manager. Kaylynn Holloway is the city secretary. Wendy Standorff is the human resources and risk manager. Dave Beach is the assistant to the city manager.
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
West University Place is in Texas's 7th congressional district [1].
[edit] Areas within West University Place
The "West U Downtown" is a small strip of businesses in the heart of West University Place. The strip has a small town feel since the area is not flooded with cars.
There are about 26 subdivisions in West University Place.
One is called "Rice Court", which is located north of University and east of Buffalo Speedway. Rice Court once was distinguished by blue tile markers; the markers began to disappear around the 1990's. [2]
"Pemberton" is an area south of University and east of Wakeforest. People living in the area were fond of restoration of older houses. [3]
There is another section called "Colonial Terrace" that is west of Weslayan and is near the railroad tracks. Originally it was the least developed part of West University Place. By 2000 this area was as built up and popular as other areas within West University Place. [4]
Subdivisions inside West University Place include Rice Court, Pemberton, Colonial Terrace, Sunset Terrace, Cunningham Terrace, Evanston, Matthews Place, Kent Place, Monticello, Virgina Court, Belle Court, College Court Place, Collegeview, Preston Place, Pershing Place, Academy, Quenby Court, Bissonnet Place, Fairhaven, College Park, and Krenzler Courts. Some sections are simply known as West University Place.
[edit] Retail
The city of West University Place contains some businesses in the "West U Downtown", along the Bellaire Boulevard corridor, and along Kirby Drive.
[edit] Transportation
West University Place is a member city of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO). The city is served by bus lines 2 (Bellaire), 17, 18 (Kirby Limited), 65 (Bissonnet), 68 (Brays Bayou Crosstown), 70 (Memorial), and 73 (Bellfort Crosstown).
West University Place residents commute to Downtown Houston via Highway 59 or via Main Street.
[edit] Parks
West University Place has the following parks [5]:
- Colonial Park
- Huffington Park
- Whitt Johnson Park
- Judson Park
- Rice Pocket Park
- Wier Park
[edit] Other community recreation facilities
- Liberty Hall
- Community Building
- West University Place Recreation Center (owned by the city of West University Place - at one time it housed the Weekley Family YMCA)
[edit] Education
[edit] Primary and secondary schools
The city's sole public school, West University Elementary School, is a part of Houston Independent School District. The school has a Houston address but is within the city limits of West University Place. West University Place is also served by Houston Community College System.
Pupils who live in West University Place are zoned to West University Elementary, Pershing Middle School in the Braeswood Place neighborhood of Houston, and Lamar High School, in the Upper Kirby district of Houston. All pupils zoned to Pershing may attend Pin Oak Middle School (in the city of Bellaire) instead.
West University Place is in close proximity to The Rice School, a kindergarten through 8th grade magnet school in Houston.
Two public early childhood centers, Gabriela Mistral Early Childhood Center, and Las Americas Early Childhood Development (both of which are in Houston's Gulfton neighborhood), are closest to the city of West University Place. Since only poor students, homeless students, or students who are not proficient in English may be enrolled in HISD preschools, most West University Place residents rely on private preschools. Beehive [7], a preschool located on the grounds of West University Elementary, serves many pupils from West University Place, Southside Place, and other communities. Students who are eligible for HISD's preschools may attend any Early Childhood Center in Houston ISD.
Several private schools such as St. Mark's Episcopal School, are located within West University Place. Other nearby parochial schools, include the School of St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church in Braeswood Place in Houston, St. John's School in Houston, Episcopal High School in Bellaire, and Post Oak Montessori School in Bellaire.
[edit] Public libraries
The Harris County Public Library system operates a branch in West University Place, and the Houston Public Library system operates the McGovern-Stella Link branch south of West University Place in a nearby area in Houston.
[edit] Gallery
[edit] Sister cities
West University Place is twinned with Saintes, France.
[edit] Community information
The closest mainstream movie theater to West University Place is the Edwards Theatres Grand Palace 24 in Upper Kirby.
The closest YMCA is the Weekley Family YMCA in Houston's Braeswood Place neighborhood. The Weekley Family YMCA used to be in a complex owned by West University Place. The complex is now the West University Place Recreation Center.
West University Place has a little league team called the "West University Little League".
[edit] Trivia
West University Place's sewage treatment plant and animal pound are located on a lot in the Braeswood Place neighborhood of Houston across from The Rice School. West University Place has two water towers. One is located north of West University Place in Houston, and one is located south of West University Place in Southside Place.
[edit] External links
- West University Place Website and City History
- Friends of West University Place Parks Fund, Inc.
- Newcomers and Neighbors Club
- West University Little League
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
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