The city of Houston, Texas contains a large number of neighborhoods, ranging from planned communities to historic wards. There is no uniform standard for what constitutes an individual neighborhood within the city; however, the city of Houston does recognize a list of 88 super neighborhoods which encompass broadly recognized regions. According to the city, a super neighborhood is a "geographically designated area where residents, civic organizations, institutions and businesses work together to identify, plan, and set priorities to address the needs and concerns of their community."[1]
A list of the super neighborhoods, in numerical order as assigned by the city, is shown below:
| # | Name | Location relative to Downtown Houston | Approximate boundaries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Willowbrook | Northwest | Along Texas State Highway 249 northwest of Beltway 8 |
| 2 | Greater Greenspoint | North | Around the junction of Beltway 8 and Interstate 45 North |
| 3 | Carverdale | Northwest | South of the junction of Beltway 8 and U.S. Route 290 |
| 4 | Fairbanks / Northwest Crossing | Northwest | Along U.S. Route 290 between Interstate 610 and Beltway 8 |
| 5 | Greater Inwood | Northwest | North of Fairbanks / Northwest Crossing and east of Acres Home |
| 6 | Acres Home | Northwest | West of Interstate 45 North and south of State Highway 249 |
| 7 | Hidden Valley | North | In a triangular area between Veterans Memorial Drive, State Highway 249, and Interstate 45 North |
| 8 | Westbranch | West | Along Beltway 8 south of Jersey Village |
| 9 | Addicks / Park Ten | West | Includes the entirety of Addicks Reservoir and a small area between the reservoir and Interstate 10 west |
| 10 | Spring Branch West | West | North of Interstate 10 west between Addicks Reservoir and Blalock Road |
| 11 | Langwood | Northwest | Between Hempstead Highway and U.S. Route 290 midway between Interstate 610 and Beltway 8 |
| 12 | Central Northwest (formerly Near Northwest) | Northwest | East of U.S. Route 290 and north of Interstate 610 |
| 13 | Independence Heights | North | West of Interstate 45 north and north of Interstate 610 |
| 14 | Lazybrook / Timbergrove | Northwest | West of White Oak Bayou and south of Interstate 610 north |
| 15 | Greater Heights | Northwest | East of White Oak Bayou, south of Interstate 610, west of Interstate 45, and north of Interstate 10 |
| 16 | Memorial | West | East of Texas State Highway 6, south of Interstate 10 west, west of the Memorial Villages, and north of Buffalo Bayou |
| 17 | Eldridge / West Oaks | West | West of Dairy Ashford Road, north of Westpark Tollway, and south of Buffalo Bayou; includes Barker Reservoir |
| 18 | Briar Forest | West | East of Dairy Ashford Road, south of Buffalo Bayou, west of Gessner Road, and north of Westheimer Road |
| 19 | Westchase | West | East of West Houston Center Boulevard, south of Westheimer Road, west of Gessner Road, and north of Westpark Tollway |
| 20 | Mid-West (formerly Woodlake/Briarmeadow) | West | East of Gessner Road, south of Buffalo Bayou, west of Voss and Chimney Rock roads, and north of Westpark Tollway |
| 21 | Greater Uptown | West | West of Interstate 610 between Interstate 10 and Interstate 69 |
| 22 | Washington Avenue Coalition / Memorial Park | West | East of Interstate 610, south of Interstate 10, west of Interstate 45, and north of Buffalo Bayou |
| 23 | Afton Oaks / River Oaks | West | Straddles Buffalo Bayou east of Interstate 610 |
| 24 | Neartown / Montrose | Southwest | Straddles Montrose Boulevard east of Shepherd Drive |
| 25 | Alief | Southwest | West of Beltway 8 and south of Westpark Tollway |
| 26 | Sharpstown | Southwest | Trapezoidal area bound by Beltway 8 to the west, Westpark Tollway to the north, Interstate 69 to the east, and Brays Bayou to the south |
| 27 | Gulfton | Southwest | North of the city of Bellaire and south of Interstate 69 |
| 28 | University Place | Southwest | East of Kirby Drive, south of Interstate 69, west of Main Street, and north of Brays Bayou |
| 29 | Westwood | Southwest | Triangular area between Beltway 8, Brays Bayou, and Interstate 69 |
| 30 | Braeburn | Southwest | Along north bank of Brays Bayou immediately east of Interstate 69 |
| 31 | Meyerland | Southwest | Along north bank of Brays Bayou immediately west of Interstate 610 west |
| 32 | Braeswood | Southwest | Along north bank of Brays Bayou immediately east of Interstate 610 west |
| 33 | Medical Center | South | South of Hermann Park between Main Street and Brays Bayou |
| 34 | Astrodome Area | South | South of Brays Bayou between State Highway 288 and Interstate 610 |
| 35 | South Main | South | Between Highway 90 Alternate (Main Street) and Holmes Road along Interstate 610 south |
| 36 | Brays Oaks (formerly Greater Fondren S.W.) | Southwest | Inside Beltway 8 between Highway 90 Alternate and Interstate 69 |
| 37 | Westbury | Southwest | North of Highway 90 Alternate and east of Post Oak Road |
| 38 | Willow Meadows / Willowbend | Southwest | Enclosed by Highway 90 Alternate, Post Oak Road, and Interstate 610 |
| 39 | Fondren Gardens | Southwest | Enclosed by Highway 90 Alternate, Beltway 8, and Fort Bend Parkway |
| 40 | Central Southwest | South | Large area enclosed by Beltway 8, Fort Bend Parkway, Highway 90 Alternate, Holmes Road, and State Highway 288 |
| 41 | Fort Bend / Houston | Southwest | South of Beltway 8 and east of Fort Bend Parkway in Fort Bend County |
| 42 | IAH Airport | North | North of Beltway 8 between Interstate 45 and Interstate 69 |
| 43 | Kingwood | Northeast | East of Interstate 69 and west of Lake Houston |
| 44 | Lake Houston | Northeast | East of Interstate 69 and Beltway 8 |
| 45 | Northside / Northline | North | North of Interstate 610 between Interstate 45 and Hardy Toll Road |
| 46 | Eastex - Jensen | Northeast | North of Interstate 610 between Hardy Toll Road and Hirsch Road |
| 47 | East Little York / Homestead | Northeast | North of Tidwell Road and east of Hirsch Road |
| 48 | Trinity / Houston Gardens | Northeast | North of Interstate 610 between Hirsch Road and Wayside Drive |
| 49 | East Houston | Northeast | North of Highway 90 Alternate and east of East Houston Road |
| 50 | Settegast | Northeast | North of Interstate 610 between Wayside Drive and East Houston Road |
| 51 | Northside Village | North | Enclosed by Interstate 10, Interstate 45, Interstate 610, and Elysian Street |
| 52 | Kashmere Gardens | Northeast | Inside Interstate 610 west of Elysian Street and north of Liberty Road |
| 53 | El Dorado / Oates Prairie | Northeast | East of Interstate 610 between Highway 90 Alternate and Highway 90 (Crosby Freeway) |
| 54 | Hunterwood | Northeast | West of Greens Bayou and east of Highway 90 |
| 55 | Greater Fifth Ward | Northeast | North of Buffalo Bayou, east of Elysian Street, south of Collingsworth Street, and west of Lockwood Drive |
| 56 | Denver Harbor / Port Houston | East | East of Lockwood Drive, south of Liberty Road, and north of Clinton Drive |
| 57 | Pleasantville Area | East | Along the western (inner) edge of Interstate 610 |
| 58 | Northshore | East | North of Interstate 10, west of Interstate 610, south of Wallisville Road, and west of Greens Bayou |
| 59 | Clinton Park / Tri-Community | East | Along the eastern (outer) edge of Interstate 610 north of Buffalo Bayou and south of Interstate 10 |
| 60 | Fourth Ward | West | East of Taft Street, south of Buffalo Bayou, and west of Interstate 45 |
| 61 | Downtown | — | Enclosed by Interstate 45 to the south and west, Interstate 10 to the north, Interstate 69 to the east |
| 62 | Midtown | South | South of Interstate 45; north and west of Interstate 69 |
| 63 | Second Ward | East | North of Harrisburg Boulevard, east of BNSF line, south of Buffalo Bayou, and west of Union Pacific line |
| 64 | Greater Eastwood | Southeast | Between Interstate 45 and Harrisburg Boulevard east of Velasco Street and west of Union Pacific line |
| 65 | Harrisburg / Manchester | Southeast | Between Brays Bayou to the west, Buffalo Bayou to the north, Sims Bayou to the east, and Texas State Highway 225 to the south |
| 66 | Museum Park (formerly Binz) | South | Between Interstate 69 and State Highway 288 north of Hermnan Park |
| 67 | Greater Third Ward | South | South of Interstate 45 and east of Interstate 69 |
| 68 | Greater OST / South Union | Southeast | North of Interstate 610, east of State Highway 288, south of Old Spanish Trail, and west of BNSF line |
| 69 | Gulfgate Riverview / Pine Valley | Southeast | Triangular area bound by Interstate 45, Interstate 610, and Texas State Highway 35 |
| 70 | Pecan Park | Southeast | Bound by Interstate 610 to the southeast, Interstate 45 to the southwest, Griggs Road to the northwest, and Lawndale Street to the northeast |
| 71 | Sunnyside | South | East of State Highway 288 and south of Interstate 610 |
| 72 | South Park | South | South of Interstate 610 and west of Mykawa Road |
| 73 | Golfcrest / Bellfort / Reveille | Southeast | Between Interstate 610 and Sims Bayou east of Mykawa Road and west of Interstate 45 |
| 74 | Park Place | Southeast | Bound by Sims Bayou, Interstate 45, Interstate 610, and State Highway 225 |
| 75 | Meadowbrook / Allendale | Southeast | West of South Houston and Pasadena, south of State Highway 225, east of Sims Bayou, north of Interstate 45 |
| 76 | South Acres / Crestmont Park | South | East of State Highway 288 and south of Sims Bayou |
| 77 | Minnetex | South | West of Mykawa Road and north of Beltway 8 |
| 78 | Greater Hobby Area | Southeast | South of Sims Bayou, east of Mykawa Road, north of Beltway 8 and Almeda Genoa Road, and west of Interstate 45 |
| 79 | Edgebrook | Southeast | South of South Houston, west of Interstate 45, north and east of Shaver Street |
| 80 | South Belt / Ellington | Southeast | Large area straddling the southeastern corner of Beltway 8 south of Almeda Genoa Road and Shaver Street |
| 81 | Clear Lake | Southeast | West of Interstate 45, south of Ellington Airport, and northwest of Clear Lake |
| 82 | Magnolia Park | East | East of Union Pacific line, south and west of Buffalo Bayou, and north of Union Pacific line to Galveston |
| 83 | MacGregor | Southeast | Along Brays Bayou south of Blodgett Street, east of Almeda Road, north of Old Spanish Trail, and west of State Highway 35 |
| 84 | Spring Branch North | Northwest | East of Beltway 8, south of Clay Road, west of Campbell Road, and north of Hammerly Boulevard |
| 85 | Spring Branch Central | Northwest | Between Blalock Road and Bingle Road north of Interstate 10 and south of Clay Road |
| 86 | Spring Branch East | Northwest | Enclosed by Blalock Road, Highway 290, Interstate 610, and Interstate 10 |
| 87 | Greenway / Upper Kirby | Southwest | Along Interstate 69 between Bissonnet Road and Westheimer Road |
| 88 | Lawndale / Wayside | Southeast | Northeast of Interstate 45 along Brays Bayou between Union Pacific line and Griggs Road |
Surface water
Rivers
Houston, often popularly referred to as the Bayou City,[2] is crossed by a number of slow-moving, swampy rivers, which are essential to draining the region's broad floodplains. The city was founded at the convergence of Buffalo Bayou and White Oak Bayou, a point today known as Allen's Landing.
Buffalo Bayou is the longest and largest of the bayous which flow through Houston, following a 53-mile (85 km)[3] route from Katy through Memorial, Rice Military, Downtown, the East End, Denver Harbor, and Channelview before meeting the San Jacinto River at Galveston Bay. The broad eastern stretch of the river, known as the Houston Ship Channel, plays an essential role in the Port of Houston and is home to one of the largest petrochemical refining complexes in the United States.[4] Buffalo Bayou's environs are also home to significant amounts of parkland, including linear parks such as Terry Hershey Park and Buffalo Bayou Park which serve as pedestrian and bicyclist corridors.
White Oak Bayou, a major tributary of the Buffalo, has its source in Jersey Village and travels 25 miles (40 km)[5] southeast, through Inwood Forest, Oak Forest, and the Houston Heights. Brays Bayou, another major tributary to the south, originates near Mission Bend and travels 31 miles (50 km)[6] through Alief, Sharpstown, Meyerland, Braeswood Place, the Texas Medical Center, Riverside Terrace, and the East End before meeting Buffalo Bayou at Harrisburg.
Two more significant tributaries of Buffalo Bayou flow through parts of Houston outside the Interstate 610 loop. Greens Bayou, which originates in far northwest Houston near Willowbrook, flows for 43 miles (69 km)[7] through Greenspoint and undeveloped areas of northeastern Harris County. Sims Bayou, which has its source near Missouri City southwest of Houston, flows for 23 miles (37 km)[8] past Almeda, Sunnyside, South Park, and Manchester.
Houston's topography is further defined by a large number of creeks and ditches. Overall, this intricate system of waterways is essential to flood control; Houston is well known as one of the most flood-prone cities in the United States.[9] Since the mid-20th century, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, in cooperation with the city and Harris County Flood Control District, has channelized, paved, widened, and deepened extensive sections of all of the five major bayous specified above, with the notable exception of some parts of the Buffalo near Memorial. The Buffalo Bayou watershed also features two flood control reservoirs, Addicks Reservoir and Barker Reservoir, which retain large amounts of water after extreme rainfall events.
Water bodies
Houston contains few naturally-formed lakes. Lake Houston, a 11,854-acre (4,797-hectare) reservoir located approximately 15 miles (24 km) northeast of Downtown, was created by damming the San Jacinto River in the 1950s to create a dependable, long-term supply of drinking water.[10] The lake is owned and operated by the City of Houston. Besides supplying water to the city, the lake is also a central feature of the Kingwood community and serves as a recreational destination.
Galveston Bay is a central feature of the Greater Houston metropolitan area. The bay serves an essential economic role as home of the Houston Ship Channel and a large fishing industry, and is also an important destination for recreation and coastal wildlife. The estuary extends 30 miles (48 km) inland from the coast and has a maximum width of 17 miles (27 km). Important regional communities, including Galveston and Texas City, are located along the bay. While the City of Houston proper does not adjoin the bay, its limits do extend southward to encompass the NASA Johnson Space Center and the community of Clear Lake.
Clear Lake, which gives the aforementioned community its name, is a tidal lake[11] with brackish water located on the western side of Galveston Bay. Covering about 2,000 acres (810 hectares), the lake is fed by Clear Creek and inflow from the bay.[11] Ultimately, the Clear Creek watershed covers an area of 250 square miles (650 km2) encompassing seventeen tributaries.[11]