Where is Houston, Texas?

Houston is located in the south-east of the Texas. Houston is the 4th largest city in the United States of America, and the largest city in Texas. Houston is located in Harris County, in the southeastern part of Texas, near the Gulf of Mexico, It lies 29.76 latitude and -95.36 longitude. Houston Known as the "Space City", it is home to NASA's Johnson Space Center. Houston is a major hub for the energy industry, particularly oil and natural gas, and is recognized for its cultural diversity.

Location Map of Houston, Texas

Where is Houston
About Map: Map showing location of Houston in the Texas.

Where is Houston Located, TX?

Houston is located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the seat of Harris County and the principal city of the Greater Houston metropolitan area. It comprising a total area of 637.4 square miles (1,651 km2), with an estimated population of 2,316,797 in 2020.

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Houston, Texas Quick Facts

CityHouston
CountyHarris County, Fort Bend County, Montgomery County
StateTexas
State CapitalAustin
US RegionSouth
Latitude29.7604° N
Longitude95.3698° W
Elevation80 ft (24 m)
Land Area (sq mi)640.44
Water Area (sq mi)39.10
Total Area (sq mi)679.54
Population (2020 Census)2,304,580
Population Density (per sq mi)3,598
ZIP Codes77002, 77003, 77004, 77005, 77006, 77007, 77008, 77009, 77010, 77011, 77012, 77013, 77014, 77015, 77016, 77017, 77018, 77019, 77020, 77021, 77022, 77023, 77024, 77025, 77026, 77027, 77028, 77029, 77030, 77031, 77032, 77033, 77034, 77035, 77036, 77037, 77038, 77039, 77040, 77041, 77042, 77043, 77044, 77045, 77046, 77047, 77048, 77049, 77050, 77051, 77053, 77054, 77055, 77056, 77057, 77058, 77059, 77060, 77061, 77062, 77063, 77064, 77065, 77066, 77067, 77068, 77069, 77070, 77071, 77072, 77073, 77074, 77075, 77076, 77077, 77078, 77079, 77080, 77081, 77082, 77083, 77084, 77085, 77086, 77087, 77088, 77089, 77090, 77091, 77092, 77093, 77094, 77095, 77096, 77098, 77099
Area Code281, 346, 713, 832
Time Zone StandardCentral Standard Time (UTC-6)
Time Zone DaylightCentral Daylight Time (UTC-5)
CurrencyUnited States Dollar (USD)
FIPS Code48-35000
Congressional DistrictTexas's 2nd, 7th, 9th, 18th, 22nd, 29th and 38th Congressional Districts

Nearby Cities to Houston, Texas

  • Pasadena, Texas - 12 mi Southeast
  • Sugar Land, Texas - 20 mi Southwest
  • Pearland, Texas - 17 mi South
  • Baytown, Texas - 25 mi East
  • Missouri City, Texas - 18 mi Southwest
  • Katy, Texas - 29 mi West
  • The Woodlands, Texas - 28 mi North
  • League City, Texas - 26 mi Southeast
  • Humble, Texas - 20 mi Northeast
  • Conroe, Texas - 40 mi North

Houston, Texas Climate and Weather Overview

MonthAvg High (°F)Avg Low (°F)Avg Rainfall (in)
January63433.6
April79603.5
July94763.8
October83635.7
Annual816249.8
Climate Classification (Köppen)Humid Subtropical (Cfa)
Annual Rainfall49.8 in
Annual Sunshine Days204
Hurricane/Tornado RiskModerate Hurricane Risk
Snowfall0.1 in

Driving Distances from Houston, Texas

CityStateDistance (mi)Approx. Drive Time
GalvestonTexas511 hr
BeaumontTexas851 hr 25 min
College StationTexas951 hr 40 min
VictoriaTexas1252 hr 10 min
AustinTexas1652 hr 45 min
San AntonioTexas1973 hr
Corpus ChristiTexas2103 hr 20 min
DallasTexas2393 hr 45 min
Fort WorthTexas2684 hr 10 min
ShreveportLouisiana2353 hr 45 min

Transportation and Connectivity in Houston, Texas

Airport NameGeorge Bush Intercontinental Airport / William P. Hobby Airport
IATA CodeIAH / HOU
PortPort of Houston
Major HighwaysI-10, I-45, I-69, I-610, Beltway 8
Train/Amtrak ServiceAvailable via Houston Amtrak Station
Local Bus/Transit ServiceMETRO Bus, Light Rail, and Park & Ride
  • Interstate 10 - Major east-west corridor connecting Houston with San Antonio, Louisiana, and beyond.
  • Interstate 45 - Links Houston with Dallas and Galveston.
  • Interstate 69 - Serves as a major regional and interstate transportation route.
  • Interstate 610 - Loop highway surrounding central Houston.
  • Beltway 8 - Major outer loop connecting suburban communities and business centers.

Key Landmarks and Places to Visit in Houston, Texas

Landmark NameType
Space Center HoustonScience Attraction
Houston Museum of Natural ScienceMuseum
Museum of Fine Arts, HoustonMuseum
Houston ZooZoo
Discovery GreenUrban Park
Buffalo Bayou ParkUrban Park
Minute Maid ParkSports Venue
NRG StadiumSports Venue
The GalleriaShopping District
San Jacinto MonumentHistoric Landmark

Economy and Major Employers in Houston, Texas

SectorMajor Employer or IndustryNotes
EnergyOil and Gas IndustryHouston is a global energy capital.
HealthcareTexas Medical CenterLargest medical complex in the world.
AerospaceNASA Johnson Space CenterMajor aerospace and research employer.
Port OperationsPort of HoustonSupports international trade and logistics.
Higher EducationUniversity of HoustonMajor research institution and employer.
ManufacturingPetrochemical and Industrial ManufacturingImportant economic sector.
FinanceBanking and Professional ServicesSupports regional business growth.
TechnologyTechnology and Innovation CompaniesRapidly expanding industry segment.

Colleges and Universities in Houston, Texas

Institution NameType (Public/Private)LevelNotable For
University of HoustonPublicUniversityResearch, engineering, and business programs
Rice UniversityPrivateUniversityElite research and science education
Texas Southern UniversityPublicUniversityHistorically Black university
University of St. ThomasPrivateUniversityLiberal arts and professional studies
Houston Community CollegePublicCommunity CollegeWorkforce and transfer education
University of Houston-DowntownPublicUniversityUrban higher education programs
Baylor College of MedicinePrivateUniversityMedical education and research
Texas A&M University Health Science Center - HoustonPublicUniversityHealthcare and medical sciences

Waterbodies in Houston, Texas

Buffalo Bayou, Galveston Bay, Lake Houston, Clear Lake, San Jacinto River, White Oak Bayou, Brays Bayou, Sims Bayou, Addicks Reservoir, Barker Reservoir

Golf Courses in Houston, Texas

Memorial Park Golf Course, Golf Club of Houston, River Oaks Country Club, Houston Country Club, Wildcat Golf Club, Hermann Park Golf Course, Tour 18 Houston, BlackHorse Golf Club, Champions Golf Club, Meadowbrook Farms Golf Club

Houston, Texas - Key Historical Facts

  • Houston was founded in 1836 shortly after Texas gained independence from Mexico.
  • The city was named in honor of Sam Houston, the first president of the Republic of Texas.
  • Houston briefly served as the capital of the Republic of Texas between 1837 and 1839.
  • The discovery of oil at Spindletop in 1901 helped transform Houston into a major energy center.
  • The opening of the Houston Ship Channel in 1914 established the city as a leading international port.
  • Today Houston is recognized worldwide for energy, healthcare, aerospace, international trade, and cultural diversity.

Written and fact-checked by | Last Updated: January 11, 2025, 11:50 PM ET