Houston Heights, Houston, Texas

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A sign at the entrance to the Houston Heights
A sign at the entrance to the Houston Heights
A Victorian house seen in the Heights
A Victorian house seen in the Heights

Houston Heights, often referred to simply as "The Heights," is a large community located in northwest-central Houston, Texas, United States.

Contents

[edit] History

When Houston Heights was founded in 1891, it was a streetcar suburb of Houston. It had its own municipality until the City of Houston annexed the Heights in 1919.

Much like its sister community, Montrose, it boasts a diverse population [1]. During the early 1990s, the Heights area was known as an artist community. At one time, it was home to the art car community although not every art car artist was a Heights-area resident.

Since the deed restriction enforcement is mandated in the Heights area, a majority of late-19th century homes still retain the Heights character, large gentrification efforts have taken place.

Famous former residents include Red Adair, oil fire-fighter; Dan Rather, anchorman

The old 7,000 square foot former fire station at 12th Street at Yale Street was constructed as Houston Heights' city hall and jail, and fire station in 1914. After annexation, it served as a city of Houston fire station from 1918 until 1995. The Houston Heights Association took a 30 year lease on the property from the city and refurbished the property [2].

[edit] Culture

[edit] Heights First Saturday

The Heights has had a long reputation as an artist community, an image that many residents continue to embrace at a monthly festival called the Heights First Saturday [1]. Many venues and shops in the area observe the festival, which comes around the first Saturday of every month. Shuttle transportation also assists shoppers and attendees all through the neighborhood.

[edit] Demographics

According to the 2000 census, the current population of the Super Neighborhood #15 Greater Heights, which includes the Houston Heights and several surrounding subdivisions [3] [4], is 41,486.[2]

[edit] Racial Breakdown

Race SN #15 Data[3]  % of Area Pop. Houston City Data[4]
American Indian 109 0.3% 3,234
Asian 312 0.8% 102,706
Black 1,456 3.5% 487,851
Hispanic 21,936 52.9% 730,865
Native Hawaiian 20 -% 680
White 17,254 41.6% 601,851
Two or More 360 0.9% 23,830
Other 39 -% 2,614

[edit] Age Breakdown

This is the age breakdown of Super Neighborhood #15 Greater Heights.

Age Group SN #15 Data[5]  % of Area Pop. Houston City Data[6]
Under 5 Years 2,962 7.1% 160,797
5 - 17 Years 6,469 14.6% 375,861
18 - 65 Years 28,137 67.8% 1,252,908
65 and Over 3,917 9.4% 164,065

[edit] Education

[edit] Public schools

Harvard Elementary School serves a section of the Houston Heights
Harvard Elementary School serves a section of the Houston Heights

The Heights is served by Houston Independent School District.[7]

Elementary schools that serve portions of the Houston Heights include:

Middle schools that serve portions of the Houston Heights include:

  • Hamilton[13]
    • Areas east of Yale and north of East 14th Street
    • Areas west of Yale and north of West 12th Street
  • Hogg[14]
    • Areas east of Yale and south of East 14th Street
    • Areas west of Yale and south of West 12th Street

High schools that serve portions of the Houston Heights include:

  • Reagan [15]- Almost all of the Heights (areas east of North Shepherd) is zoned to Reagan
  • Waltrip [16]- A small portion of the Heights (areas west of North Shepherd) is zoned to Waltrip

The following charter schools are located in the Heights:

[edit] Private schools

The New School in the Heights, a K-9 private school.

Houston Outdoor Learning Academy, a 6-12 private school which integrates academics with hands on outdoor learning, and international travel.

[edit] Public libraries

The Houston Public Library Heights Branch
The Houston Public Library Heights Branch

The Heights Branch of the Houston Public Library (built in 1924) is one of the oldest libraries in Houston (the blaxploitation film Sugar Hill (1974) depicted the library as the "Voodoo Museum of Natural History").

[edit] Public Services

[edit] References

[edit] See also

[edit] External links