Timeline of historical events of

Houston, Texas Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...

, United States:

1800-1900

*August 26, 1836 - Elizabeth and T. F. L. Parrott sell the southern half of the eastern half of the John Austin Survey to the Allen brothers. *August 30, 1836 -

Augustus Chapman Allen Augustus Chapman Allen (July 4, 1806 – January 11, 1864), along with his younger brother, John Kirby Allen, founded the City of Houston in the U.S. state of Texas. He was born on July 4, 1806, in Canaseraga Village, New York (the present day h ...

and John Kirby Allen place their first advertisement for the proposed "Town of Houston". *December 15, 1836 - Congress selects Houston as the provisional capitol; President Houston signs the bill. ** The Allen Brothers, John Kirby, and Augustus Chapman co-found

Houston Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...

. ** First cemetery is established as "City Cemetery". It stills stands today as

Founders Memorial Cemetery Founders Memorial Cemetery, also known as Founders Memorial Park, is the oldest cemetery in Houston, Texas, United States. Founded in 1836, it was originally known as "City Cemetery", and opened in conjunction with the founding of the City of Hous ...

. *January 1, 1837 - Twelve people live in town, and there is a single log cabin. *Mid January, 1837 - ''

Laura Laura may refer to: People * Laura (given name) * Laura, the British code name for the World War I Belgian spy Marthe Cnockaert Places Australia * Laura, Queensland, a town on the Cape York Peninsula * Laura, South Australia * Laura Bay, a bay on ...

'' arrives, the first steamboat in Houston, sometime around January 21. *April 16, 1837 - Thomas William Ward begins construction on the capitol building. *April 26, 1837 -

Sam Houston Samuel Houston (, ; March 2, 1793 – July 26, 1863) was an American general and statesman who played an important role in the Texas Revolution. He served as the first and third president of the Republic of Texas and was one of the first two i ...

arrives at his namesake town. He estimates 1500 people and 100 houses were there when he arrived. *Late April, 1837 -

John James Audubon John James Audubon (born Jean-Jacques Rabin; April 26, 1785 – January 27, 1851) was an American self-trained artist, naturalist, and ornithologist. His combined interests in art and ornithology turned into a plan to make a complete pictoria ...

and his son John visit Houston. *May 1, 1837 - Legislature meets in Houston. *June 5, 1837 - The city gets a city charter from the Congress of the

Republic of Texas The Republic of Texas ( es, República de Tejas) was a sovereign state in North America that existed from March 2, 1836, to February 19, 1846, that bordered Mexico, the Republic of the Rio Grande in 1840 (another breakaway republic from Mex ...

and

James Holman James Holman FRS (15 October 1786 – 29 July 1857), known as the "Blind Traveller," was a British adventurer, author and social observer, best known for his writings on his extensive travels. Completely blind and experiencing pain and limi ...

becomes the first mayor of Houston. *August 28, 1837 - James Holman sworn in as mayor of Houston. *1839 - The capital of the Republic moves to

Austin Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous city ...

, causing a dispute over state records. *1839 - The City of Houston adopts a sidewalk ordinance.McComb (1981), p. 25. *1848 - Houston Lyceum incorporated. *January 1, 1853 -

Paul Bremond Paul Bremond (October 11, 1810 – May 8, 1885) was an American businessman. He was a hatter, doing business in New York City and Philadelphia, and from 1840, a commission merchant in Galveston, in the Republic of Texas. From the 1850s until ...

breaks ground on the

Houston and Texas Central Railway The Houston and Texas Central Railway (H&TC), was an 872-mile (1403-km) railway system chartered in Texas in 1848, with construction beginning in 1856. The line eventually stretched from Houston northward to Dallas and Denison, Texas. with branch ...

.McComb (1981), p. 27. *August, 1856 - Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado Railway completed from

Harrisburg, Texas Harrisburg is a community that is now (originally documented as Harrisburgh, then shortened to Harrisburg in 1892) located within the city of Houston, Texas, United States. The community is located east of downtown Houston, south of the Brays Bayo ...

to the

Brazos River The Brazos River ( , ), called the ''Río de los Brazos de Dios'' (translated as "The River of the Arms of God") by early Spanish explorers, is the 11th-longest river in the United States at from its headwater source at the head of Blackwater Dr ...

. *April 7, 1856 - Construction begins on the seven-mile Houston Tap Road. *October, 1856 - The Houston Tap Road is finished to Pierce Junction. *July, 1858 - Main Street is paved with shells. *September, 1863 - Houston saloon keeper

Dick Dowling Richard Dowling (born 12 December 1938) is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency from 1982 to 1987. He also served as a Senator for the Labour Panel from May to November ...

leads 44 Houston dockworkers to a stunning victory over 5,000 troops at the battle of Sabine Pass. Dowling becomes the city's first nationally known person. *June 19, 1865 - Juneteenth is an American holiday that commemorates the June 19, 1865 announcement of the

abolition Abolition refers to the act of putting an end to something by law, and may refer to: * Abolitionism, abolition of slavery * Abolition of the death penalty, also called capital punishment * Abolition of monarchy *Abolition of nuclear weapons *Abol ...

slavery Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...

in the U.S. state of

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

. *1892 - First annual road race of the Magnolia Cycling Club was held on shelled roads in the

Houston Heights Houston Heights (often referred to simply as "The Heights") is a community in northwest-central Houston, Texas, United States. "The Heights" is often referred to colloquially to describe a larger collection of neighborhoods next to and including ...

. *Mid February, 1895 - Houston is slammed by its heaviest snowfall on record in mid-February. Over 20 inches buries the city and does not melt for days.

1900–1950

*1900s - Oil is discovered in Texas, from which a new industry will start. *1900 –

Population Population typically refers to the number of people in a single area, whether it be a city or town, region, country, continent, or the world. Governments typically quantify the size of the resident population within their jurisdiction using a ...

: 44,633. *1902 - President

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26t ...

approves a one-million dollar fund for the construction of the

Houston Ship Channel The Houston Ship Channel, in Houston, Texas, is part of the Port of Houston, one of the busiest seaports in the world. The channel is the conduit for ocean-going vessels between Houston-area terminals and the Gulf of Mexico, and it serves an incr ...

. *1904 - Houston Lyceum and Carnegie Library opens, later known as

Houston Public Library Houston Public Library is the public library system serving Houston, Texas, United States. History Houston Lyceum and the Carnegie Library The Houston Public Library system traces its founding to the creation of the second Houston Lyceum in 18 ...

. *1910 –

: 78,800. *1912 - J.J. Pastoriza introduces his Houston Single Tax Plan. *1912 - The Rice Institute opens, later known as

Rice University William Marsh Rice University (Rice University) is a Private university, private research university in Houston, Houston, Texas. It is on a 300-acre campus near the Houston Museum District and adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. Rice is ranke ...

. *April 1, 1914 - The first jaywalking ordinance goes into effect. *1914 - President

Woodrow Wilson Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921. A member of the Democratic Party, Wilson served as the president of ...

opens the

, part of the Port of Houston on November 10, 1914. *1920s - The Texas oil boom causes people to move into the city, causing its first growth spurt. *1920 –

: 138,276. *1925 - KPRC

radio Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmit ...

begins broadcasting. *1927 - Houston Junior College opens its doors as part of Houston Independent School District. *1930 –

: 292,352. *1934 - Houston Junior College becomes a four-year institution and changes its name to the

University of Houston The University of Houston (UH) is a Public university, public research university in Houston, Texas. Founded in 1927, UH is a member of the University of Houston System and the List of universities in Texas by enrollment, university in Texas ...

. *1935 - A massive flood inundates Houston, killing eight people; the

Harris County Flood Control District The Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) is a government agency that was established to reduce the effects of flooding in Harris County, Texas, United States. The flood control district has its headquarters in Houston. After destructive ...

is created in the aftermath. *1937 - Houston Municipal Airport, which would later become

William P. Hobby Airport William P. Hobby Airport (colloquially referred to as Hobby Airport, Houston Hobby, or simply Hobby) is an international airport in Houston, Texas, located from downtown Houston. Hobby is Houston's oldest commercial airport, and was its primar ...

, is opened. *1939 - The

moves to its permanent location, southeast of Downtown. *1940 - Houston dismantles the last of its streetcar system. *1940 -

: 384,514. *1942 -

Robertson Stadium John O'Quinn Field at Corbin J. Robertson Stadium (often referred to as simply Robertson Stadium) was a multi-purpose stadium in Houston, located on the campus of the University of Houston. It was the home of the Houston Cougars football and wome ...

opens as Houston Public School Stadium. *1945 - The

separates from HISD and becomes a private university. *1947 - Houston voters defeat the first-ever referendum for citywide

zoning Zoning is a method of urban planning in which a municipality or other tier of government divides land into areas called zones, each of which has a set of regulations for new development that differs from other zones. Zones may be defined for a si ...

. *1947 - The predecessor to

Texas Southern University Texas Southern University (Texas Southern or TSU) is a public historically black university in Houston, Texas. The university is one of the largest and most comprehensive historically black college or universities in the USA with nearly 10,000 ...

, Texas State College for Negroes, a

historically black college Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the intention of primarily serving the African-American community. Mo ...

(HBCU) is the first state university in the Houston area. Its name was changed in 1951. *1948 - The Gulf Freeway, Texas' first freeway, opens as

U.S. Highway 75 U.S. Route 75 is a major north–south U.S. Highway that extends in the central United States. The highway's northern terminus is in Noyes, Minnesota, at the Canadian border, where it once continued as Manitoba Highway 75 on the other sid ...

, signalling the beginning of freeway construction in the city.

1950–2000

*1950 -

KPRC-TV KPRC-TV (channel 2) is a television station in Houston, Houston, Texas, United States, affiliated with NBC and owned by Graham Media Group. Its studios are located on Southwest Freeway (Interstate 69 in Texas, I-69/U.S. Route 59 in Texas#Inters ...

(

television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertisin ...

) begins broadcasting. *1958 - Zapata Petroleum in business. *1961 - NASA selects Houston for the location for its Manned Spacecraft Center. *September 14, 1961 -

Sharpstown Mall PlazAmericas, formerly known as Sharpstown Mall and earlier Sharpstown Center, is a shopping mall located in the Sharpstown development in Greater Sharpstown, Houston, Texas. The mall is located on the northwest corner of Interstate 69/ U.S. Ro ...

opens and is the first indoor air-conditioned mall in the world. *1962 - Houston voters defeat a referendum for

for a second time. *1963 - The

ends its status as a private institution and becomes a state university. It enters the Texas State System of Higher Education, after a long battle with opponents from other state universities blocking the change. *1963 - The Manned Spacecraft Center, which would become the

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) is NASA's center for human spaceflight (originally named the Manned Spacecraft Center), where human spaceflight training, research, and flight control are conducted. It was renamed in honor of the late U ...

, opens on land donated by

. *1963 - The Humble Building is completed, then the tallest building west of the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it f ...

. *April 9, 1965 - The Astrodome opens. At the same time, the Houston Colt .45s are rechristened as the Houston Astros. *1969 - Houston Intercontinental Airport, now named George Bush Intercontinental Airport, is opened to the public. *July 20, 1969 - "Houston" becomes the first word spoken from the moon, by astronaut

Neil Armstrong Neil Alden Armstrong (August 5, 1930 – August 25, 2012) was an American astronaut and aeronautical engineer who became the first person to walk on the Moon in 1969. He was also a naval aviator, test pilot, and university professor. ...

of the

Apollo 11 Apollo 11 (July 16–24, 1969) was the American spaceflight that first landed humans on the Moon. Commander Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin landed the Apollo Lunar Module ''Eagle'' on July 20, 1969, at 20:17 UTC, an ...

mission. *1970s - The

Arab Oil Embargo The 1973 oil crisis or first oil crisis began in October 1973 when the members of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), led by Saudi Arabia, proclaimed an oil embargo. The embargo was targeted at nations that had supp ...

causes demand for Texas oil to boom. People from the "

Rust Belt The Rust Belt is a region of the United States that experienced industrial decline starting in the 1950s. The U.S. manufacturing sector as a percentage of the U.S. GDP peaked in 1953 and has been in decline since, impacting certain regions and ...

" states such as

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

and

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

migrate to Houston for jobs. *1972 - Leonel Castillo is elected City Comptroller. First minority to hold a position in city government. *1976 - Houston Metropolitan Research Center is established. *May 11, 1976 - A tanker truck of ammonia crashes at Interstate 610 and U.S. Highway 59 in the Galleria area, resulting in the deaths of 7 people. *1977 - Houston Area Women's Center founded. **

National Women's Conference The National Women's Conference of 1977 was a four-day event during November 18–21, 1977, as organized by the National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year. The conference drew around, 2,000 delegates along with 15,000-20,0 ...

held in city. ** The

celebrates its 50th anniversary as the Texas Legislature establishes the University of Houston System—a state system of higher education that includes and governs four universities. *1978 - The headquarters of

Continental Airlines Continental Airlines, simply known as Continental, was a major United States airline founded in 1934 and eventually headquartered in Houston, Texas. It had ownership interests and brand partnerships with several carriers. Continental started o ...

moves to Houston after buying out

Texas International Texas International Airlines Inc. was a United States airline, known from 1940 until 1947 as Aviation Enterprises, until 1969 as Trans-Texas Airways (TTa), and as Texas International Airlines until 1982, when it merged with Continental Airlines ...

. *1978-1980 - Traffic signals at major intersections were improved. Houston is the first in the nation to modernize their signage, which is still done to this present day. *1979 - a portion of the master-planned community of "Clear Lake City" that is in Houston's

extraterritorial jurisdiction Extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) is the legal ability of a government to exercise authority beyond its normal boundaries. Any authority can claim ETJ over any external territory they wish. However, for the claim to be effective in the externa ...

(ETJ) and an area east of Missouri City in Fort Bend County are annexed into the corporate limits of Houston. *1980s - The end of the Embargo causes the Houston growth bubble to burst. *1981 - Kathryn J. Whitmire is elected as the first woman mayor. She would appoint

Lee P. Brown Lee Patrick Brown (born October 4, 1937) is an American politician, criminologist and businessman; in 1997 he was the first African-American to be elected mayor of Houston, Texas. He was re-elected twice to serve the maximum of three terms from ...

as the first African-American police chief. *1982 - Texas Commerce Bank Tower is completed in Downtown Houston, making it the tallest building west of the Mississippi until the late 1980s. It is the tallest five-sided building in the world. *August 1983 - The

changes its name to "University of Houston–University Park" to separate its identity and rectify confusions with other universities in the University of Houston System. *April 5, 1986 - City takes part in celebration of Texas'

Sesquicentennial An anniversary is the date on which an event took place or an institution was founded in a previous year, and may also refer to the commemoration or celebration of that event. The word was first used for Catholic feasts to commemorate saints. ...

, 25th Anniversary of

NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research. NASA was established in 1958, succeeding t ...

, and the Houston International Festival with Rendez-vous Houston concert. At the time it is the largest outdoor concert in history and is entered into the Guinness Book of World Records. *June 1, 1987 - The former Shamrock Hilton hotel is demolished as part of the Texas Medical Center expansion efforts despite protests from historical preservationists. *1989 ''-'' Outer Belt Drive (a major thoroughfare that serves Hermann Park and

Ben Taub Hospital Ben Taub Hospital is a public hospital located in Houston, Texas within the Texas Medical Center. Having opened in May 1963, the hospital is owned and operated by the Harris Health System and is staffed by the faculty, residents, and students fro ...

in the

Texas Medical Center The Texas Medical Center (TMC) is a medical district and neighborhood in south-central Houston, Texas, United States, immediately south of the Museum District and west of Texas State Highway 288. Over 60 medical institutions, largely concentrate ...

) is renamed North MacGregor Way; a section of North MacGregor between Outer Belt and Holcombe Boulevard is renamed North Braeswood. In 2014, the section of Outer Belt Drive was renamed Cambridge Boulevard right after a viaduct was completed over Brays Bayou connecting the southern section of Cambridge Blvd to the Texas Medical Center. **'' Houston Press'' newspaper begins publication. *1990 -

: 1,630,553. *July 9–11, 1990 - Houston hosts the 16th G7 Summit. *August 1991 - The University of Houston–University Park reverts to its original name "University of Houston" after controversy and resistance within the university community regarding the name change. *November 1991 - Elected positions within the City of Houston (the mayor, city council, and controller) were given term limits, which passed by a referendum vote. The term-limit referendum amended the current city charter. *April 1993 - The Westheimer Colony Art Festival is held on a stretch of Calhoun Road (now St. Joseph Parkway) in Downtown Houston; it was the first time the art festival was not held in Montrose. After 1996, the festival was renamed the

Bayou City Art Festival The Bayou City Art Festival (formerly the Westheimer Colony Art Festival) is an arts festival held biannually by the Art Colony Association in Houston, Texas. The festival is held in Memorial Park in the spring and in Downtown Houston in the fall ...

. *November 1993 - Houston voters defeated a

referendum for the third time in almost 50 years. *October 1994 - Great Flood of 1994, highest waters recorded for the San Jacinto Watershed (higher levels than the later Allison storm), a 100-year flood from the remnants of Hurricane Rosa. *1994 - Houston Rockets win the

NBA Championship The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern and Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven game series to determine the league champion. The team that wins the series is awa ...

, and won 58 games, setting a franchise record. *1995 - Houston Rockets win the NBA Championship again, back-to-back. *1995 - City website online (approximate date). *1996 - The master-planned community of Kingwood is annexed by the city of Houston. *November 1997 - Former Houston Police Chief Lee P. Brown is elected as Houston's first African-American mayor; at the same time, Annise Parker is the first openly gay or lesbian city council member. *May 6-May 7, 2000 - After 27 years of holding the Westheimer Street Festival in Montrose, the festival was held in Eleanor Tinsley Park west of Downtown Houston. Promoters of the festival were denied a street closure permit back in January 2000 under a revised festival ordinance in which public hearings are held. Attendance figures declined.

2000s-present

2000s

*June 5-June 9, 2001 - Tropical Storm Allison devastates the Houston area. It floods much of the city, including the Central Business District, several cultural institutions, and major hospitals and research facilities in the Texas Medical Center. The storm is called a 500-year event. *November 2001 -

Enron Enron Corporation was an American energy, commodities, and services company based in Houston, Texas. It was founded by Kenneth Lay in 1985 as a merger between Lay's Houston Natural Gas and InterNorth, both relatively small regional companies. ...

is found to have accounting scandals. The company goes bankrupt. *2002 -

celebrates its 75th anniversary with an enrollment of 34,443 that fall semester. At the same time, the University of Houston System celebrates its 25th anniversary with an enrollment of over 54,000. **

Baitus Samee Mosque, Houston Baitus Samee Mosque is a prominent Ahmadiyya, Ahmadi Muslim mosque in Houston, in the U.S. state of Texas. It was developed in stages during 1998 to 2004; its doors opened in 2001 or 2002. It was conceived in the 1980s by Mirza Tahir Ahmad, fourt ...

built. *November 5, 2002 - Houston City Controller Sylvia R. Garcia (in her third term) successfully campaigns for Harris County Commissioner Precinct 2. She becomes the first Hispanic female to hold office in the Harris County Commissioners Court. After Garcia's victory, the Houston City Council appoints Judy Gray Johnson to fill her unexpired term until the November 2003 elections. *May 2003 - For the first time, the

Houston Art Car Parade The Houston Art Car Parade is an annual event in Houston, Texas, featuring a display of all types of rolling art. The first and largest Art Car parade in the world, at any given parade spectators will see cars, bicycles, motorcycles, roller- ...

is not held on the same weekend as the Houston International Festival. *June 28-June 29, 2003 - The Westheimer Street Festival staged their homecoming on Westheimer during Gay Pride Weekend after promoters decided to move the festival back to Montrose because of declining attendance at another location. *Fall 2003 - Halliburton's headquarters move from

Dallas Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...

to Houston. *December 6, 2003 - Annise Parker defeats fellow council member Bruce Tatro to become Houston's first openly lesbian city controller. Both Parker and Tatro are term-limited in their current seats. At the same time,

Pakistani-American Pakistani Americans ( ur, ) are Americans who originate from Pakistan. The term may also refer to people who also hold a dual Pakistani and U.S. citizenship. Educational attainment level and household income are much higher in the Pakistani-Am ...

realtor Masur Javed "M.J." Khan is elected as a district councilmember in District F. This encompasses most of West and parts of Southwest Houston in the Sharpstown area, where incumbent Mark Ellis won his final term as an at-large member of the Houston City Council. *January 1, 2004 - METRORail is opened to the public at 1 p.m. CST - this marks the reintroduction of rail service, the city's first since June 1940. *July 30, 2004 - The Houston City Council unanimously votes for a change in the curbside parking ordinance where Saturday metered parking is enforced. The original proposal for paid curbside parking between 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. was not popular with Downtown-area restaurant owners. (Before the 1980s, metered parking was enforced 24 hours a day - seven days a week, including holidays.) The ordinance took effect on October 22, 2004. *2004 - Houston hosts the

Super Bowl The Super Bowl is the annual final playoff game of the National Football League (NFL) to determine the league champion. It has served as the final game of every NFL season since 1966, replacing the NFL Championship Game. Since 2022, the game ...

as well as the MLB All-Star Game. *2004 -

Citgo Citgo Petroleum Corporation (or Citgo, stylized as CITGO) is a United States–based refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. Headquartered in the Energy Corridor area o ...

's headquarters move from

Tulsa Tulsa () is the second-largest city in the U.S. state, state of Oklahoma and List of United States cities by population, 47th-most populous city in the United States. The population was 413,066 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. ...

to Houston. *December 24, 2004 - Freak snowstorm hits, causing record Christmas snowfall in the region. *2005 - The Parking Management division of the City of Houston Municipal Courts Administration is incorporated into the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau. *Spring 2005 - Friday Nights Brights filmed on Houston City. *September 1, 2005 - Houston welcomes more than 125,000 displaced residents of

Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...

Mississippi Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...

, and

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...

in the wake of

Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina was a destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that caused over 1,800 fatalities and $125 billion in damage in late August 2005, especially in the city of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. It was at the time the cost ...

. The Reliant Astrodome was converted to provide food and shelter. The

Governor of Texas The governor of Texas heads the state government of Texas. The governor is the leader of the executive and legislative branch of the state government and is the commander in chief of the Texas Military. The current governor is Greg Abbott, who ...

reaffirmed his state's commitment to provide basic needs and education for victims of Katrina. *December 10, 2005 -

Sue Lovell Sue Lovell is a local Houston politician who served on the Houston City Council, holding the at-large position 2 from 2006 to 2012.Berger, Eric"Councilwoman Jones re-elected narrowly"''The Houston Chronicle'', 13 Dec 2009. Lovell was a candidate fo ...

is elected as an at-large member of the Houston City Council, replacing term-limited councilmember

Gordon Quan Gordon Quan () is a Chinese-American immigration lawyer, and former Houston City Council member. He was the second Asian American ever elected to Houston City Council.Luo, Michael.Athlete increases profile for Asian-Americans" ''Associated Press'' ...

. This marks the second time an open lesbian is elected to the Houston City Council. Houston is the only major city to have two elected officials who are openly lesbian. *June 19, 2006 - Major flooding in Southeast

causes homes and roads to fill up with water. This was the most rain since Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 *September 1, 2006 -

Red light cameras A red light camera (short for red light running camera ) is a type of traffic enforcement camera that photographs a vehicle that has entered an intersection after the traffic signal controlling the intersection has turned red. By automatically phot ...

ten major intersections within the Houston City Limits (three of the first ten intersections are located in the Downtown/Midtown area). The red-light camera measure passed by a majority vote on the Houston City Council in December 2004. Motorists who run a red light face $75 civil fines ($150 for subsequent violations) instead of a $220 moving violation when cited by a police officer.Clear Lake spot sees most violators
''Houston Chronicle. September 8, 2006. Last accessed September 13, 2006.'' *Spring 2009 - Friday Nights Brights 2 filmed on Houston City. *December 12, 2009 - Annise Parker wins the runoff election to become Houston's 61st mayor, and the first woman since

Kathy Whitmire Kathryn Jean Whitmire (née Niederhofer; born August 15, 1946) is an American politician, businesswoman, and accountant best known as the first woman to serve as Mayor of Houston The following is a list of people who have served as mayor of t ...

to hold the office in 1991. With this election, Houston became the largest American city with an openly gay mayor. At-large councilmember Ronald C. Green is also elected as Houston's first African American city controller alongside Aloysius Hoang, the first Vietnamese American elected to the Houston City Council.

2010s

*2010 - Population: city 2,100,263; megaregion 19,728,244. *Spring 2015 - Friday Nights Brights 3 filmed on Houston City. *2015 - Ted Cruz presidential campaign, 2016 headquartered in Houston. *2017 - The

Houston Astros The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after ...

win the World Series.

Disasters

*September, 1900 - The Great Galveston Storm kills 6,000-8,000 citizens, causing widespread flooding throughout Harris County. *1907 - Major storm floods much of

. *December, 1913 - A major Brazos River storm spread to Harris County, causing entire area to flood. *August, 1915 - The

1915 Galveston hurricane The 1915 Galveston hurricane was a tropical cyclone that caused extensive damage in the Galveston area in August 1915. Widespread damage was also documented throughout its path across the Caribbean Sea and the interior United States. Due t ...

causes major damages throughout Harris County, which experienced heavy flooding. *April, 1929 - An enormous gulf storm lasts 14 hours over Harris County, floods nearly all of

. *May, 1929 - As the area is still recovering, another major storm hits Harris County, causing major flooding. San Jacinto River reported to be 30 feet higher than usual. *May, 1930 - A large rainstorm remains stationary over Harris County for 3 days. Rainfall amounts reach as high as 12.5 inches. *August, 1932 -

1932 Freeport hurricane The 1932 Freeport hurricane was an intense tropical cyclone that primarily affected areas of the Texas coast in August of the 1932 Atlantic hurricane season. It was the second storm and first hurricane of the season, developing just off the Yucat ...

takes 40 lives and floods Harris County *December 6–9, 1935 - A massive flood inundates Houston, killing eight people; this leads to the creation of the

in 1937. *November, 1940 - Heavy rains last 5 days in northeast Harris County. *July, 1943 -

1943 Surprise Hurricane The 1943 Surprise Hurricane was the first hurricane to be entered by a reconnaissance aircraft. The first tracked tropical cyclone of the 1943 Atlantic hurricane season, this system developed as a tropical storm while situated over the northeast ...

creates extensive flooding in Harris County *August, 1945 -

1945 Texas hurricane The 1945 Texas hurricane was a slow-moving tropical cyclone which paralleled the Texas, Texas Gulf Coast, causing extensive damage in late-August 1945. The fifth tropical storm and second hurricane of the 1945 Atlantic hurricane season, annu ...

produces more than 15 inches of rainfall in 24 hours. Flooding reported on all bayous. *February, 1950 - A thunderstorm preceding a cold front floods Greens Bayou. *May, 1955 - Major thunderstorm floods northern Harris County *June, 1957 - Hurricane Audrey crosses the Louisiana/Texas coast, flooding Harris County *October, 1959 - A thunderstorm floods more than 100 structures throughout Harris County *June, 1960 - A thunderstorm inundates many areas throughout Harris County. *September 11, 1961 - Hurricane Carla struck the Texas Coast to the east of Port Lavaca, Texas, bringing heavy rainfall and wind damage to the Houston area. *February, 1969 - A thunderstorm preceding a cold front floods more than 250 structures. *March, 1972 - A thunderstorm preceding a cold front floods most of northern Harris County *June, 1973 - A major storm brings 10-15 inches of rain to Harris County, 10 lives are lost. *July, 1979 -

Tropical Storm Claudette The name Claudette has been used for eight tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean and for one in the South-West Indian Ocean. In the Atlantic Ocean: *Tropical Storm Claudette (1979), traversed the Greater Antilles and made its final landfall near ...

causes record amounts of rainfall to the area, reaching 43 inches of rain in 24 hours in Alvin *May, 1983 - A large thunderstorm floods several areas along bayous. *August 18, 1983 - Hurricane Alicia hits Houston and Galveston. *September, 1983 - Nine inches of rain flood the southern Downtown Houston *October, 1984 - A thunderstorm in north Harris County floods over 200 structures. *August 1–October 18, 1989 - Hurricane Chantal and Hurricane Jerry make landfall within a short time-span *March, 1992 - A major storm floods more than 1,500 structures. Most of

I-10 Interstate 10 (I-10) is the southernmost cross-country highway in the American Interstate Highway System. I-10 is the fourth-longest Interstate in the United States at , following I-90, I-80, and I-40. This freeway is part of the originally pl ...

is flooded. *October 15–19, 1994 - The Great Flood of '94,

Hurricane Rosa (1994) Hurricane Rosa was the only Pacific hurricane to make landfall during the above-average 1994 Pacific hurricane season. It killed at least 4 people in Mexico. Moisture from the hurricane was a factor in widespread flooding in the U.S. state of Tex ...

leaves a stalled tropical depression over north Houston for a week. With over 30 inches of rain recorded in some places of Harris County, 20 inches in a number of hours, and maximum recorded stream flow volume at all recorded stations in the history of the San Jacinto River. The result was the highest flood levels of the San Jacinto basin to the present day, devastating the north side of Houston and killing 22 people in Texas. Petroleum lines bursting and setting aflame injured another 540 people. *September, 1998 - Tropical Storm Frances causes extensive flooding along the White Oak Bayou, floods over 1,300 structures. *October–November, 1998 - Two major storms flood northern Harris County *June 5–9, 2001 - Tropical Storm Allison devastates the Houston area flooding much of the city including the Central Business District, several cultural institutions and major hospitals and research facilities in the Texas Medical Center. The storm is called a 500-year event. *June 19, 2006 - Major flooding in Southeast Houston causes homes and roads to fill up with water. This was the most rain since Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 *September 13, 2008 -

Hurricane Ike Hurricane Ike () was a powerful tropical cyclone that swept through portions of the Greater Antilles and Northern America in September 2008, wreaking havoc on infrastructure and agriculture, particularly in Cuba and Texas. Ike took a sim ...

passes through city causing flooding, wind damage and widespread power failures. *April 17–28, 2009 - Major flooding in West Houston, HCFCD Records one-hour rainfall of 6.9 inches at Clear Creek *July 9, 2012 - Flooding in northern Harris County, flooding more than 70 structures. *August, 2014 - Slow-moving rain causes flooding from 3.5 to 4.5 inches in Harris County *May 13–14, 2015 - Clear Lake Area May 13, pre-Memorial Day Flood Devastating storms floods the south sector of the city. Within a nine-hour span from the night of May 13, 2015, to the morning of May 14, numerous homes in the region flooded and one man died. *May 25–26, 2015 - Houston Memorial Day Flood Devastating storms floods most of the city. Within a nine-hour span from the night of May 25, 2015, to the morning of May 26, as much as 11 inches of rain fell on parts of the region. A local man died when his car was flooded. Numerous home flooded due to improper drainage system. https://abc13.com/flood-flooding-clear-lake-hospital-webster/720147/ *April 17–18, 2016 - The Houston Tax Day Flood took place in nine counties near the city, unleashing 12 to 16 inches of rain. *August 2017 -

Hurricane Harvey Hurricane Harvey was a devastating Category 4 hurricane that made landfall on Texas and Louisiana in August 2017, causing catastrophic flooding and more than 100 deaths. It is tied with 2005's Hurricane Katrina as the costliest t ...

devastates the city, flooding homes and roads with over 50 inches of rain over 4 days, equivalent to 19 trillion gallons of water. *July 4, 2018 - Heavy rain caused surface flooding on 4 July 2018, dampening Fourth of July celebrations in the city. At least 18 locations in Harris County recorded more than 7 inches of rain in 24 hours. *September 19, 2019 - Remnants of

Tropical Storm Imelda Tropical Storm Imelda was a tropical cyclone which was the fourth-wettest storm on record in the U.S. state of Texas, causing devastating and record-breaking floods in southeast Texas. The eleventh tropical cyclone and ninth named storm of the ...

dumped over 9 inches of rain on parts of Houston, the wettest September day ever recorded in Houston. *February 14, 2021 - The February 13–17, 2021 North American winter storm resulted in widespread power outages and water supply interruptions for several days. *November 5, 2021 - The

Astroworld Festival crowd crush On November 5, 2021, a fatal Crowd collapses and crushes, crowd crush occurred during the first night of the 2021 Astroworld Festival, a music event founded by American musician Travis Scott that was held at NRG Park in Houston, Texas. Eight p ...

kills at least eight people.

Murders

*September 25, 1970 - August 8, 1973 - " Houston Mass Murders" occur. 27 boys are killed by 3 men. *July 1978 - Race

riots A riot is a form of civil disorder commonly characterized by a group lashing out in a violent public disturbance against authority, property, or people. Riots typically involve destruction of property, public or private. The property targeted ...

occur in the Moody Park section of the city (in response to the drowning of Jose Campos Torres by two Houston Police officers, and are documented by

, whose reporters are attacked and injured during their report. *June 24, 1993 - Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena, two teenagers were murdered at T.C. Jester Park during a gang initiation. Their murders changed laws in Texas, as family members of the victims were now allowed to make a victim's impact statement in court. In addition, the family members of the victims could view executions of the killers. *April 16, 1997 -

Doris Angleton Doris Elizabeth Angleton (''née'' McGown; (also Beck) April 11, 1951 – April 16, 1997) was an American socialite and murder victim. Her husband, Robert Angleton, had been accused of planning the crime. His brother, Roger Nicholas Angleton, wa ...

is murdered in her River Oaks home. Her husband,

Robert The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

, and his brother,

Roger Roger is a given name, usually masculine, and a surname. The given name is derived from the Old French personal names ' and '. These names are of Germanic origin, derived from the elements ', ''χrōþi'' ("fame", "renown", "honour") and ', ' ( ...

, would be suspected for the crime. *June 4, 1999 - Noemi Dominguez is shot dead in her home by

Angel Maturino Resendiz In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God. Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles include ...

, a serial killer. Before June 4 he had killed Claudia Benton in

West University Place 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 metropolitan area and southwestern Harris County. At the 2020 U.S. census, the population of the city was 14,955. ...

, an adjacent city. *June 20, 2001 -

Andrea Yates Andrea Pia Yates ( Kennedy; born July 2, 1964) is an American woman from Houston, Texas, who confessed to drowning her five children in their bathtub on June 20, 2001. She had severe postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis, and schizophrenia ...

drowns her five children in a bathtub. She was found to be suffering from postpartum depression.

References

External links

174 Years of Historic Houston
* Digital Public Library of America
Items related to Houston
various dates * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Historical Events Of Houston *

houston Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...