Editing South Houston, Texas

{{For|the southern part of Houston|Houston}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = South Houston, Texas
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = SouthHoustonTXScene.JPG
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = Marker for the city of South Houston
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map                = Harris County Texas incorporated and unincorporated areas South Houston highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 260px
| map_caption              = Location in [[Harris County, Texas|Harris County]] and the state of [[Texas]]

<!-- Location -->| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = {{Flagicon|USA}}[[United States]]
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{Flagicon|Texas}}[[Texas]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Texas|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Harris County, Texas|Harris]]

<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = [[Council-manager government|Council-Manager]]
| leader_title             = [[City Council]]
| leader_name              = [[Mayor]] Joe Soto <br/> Mary Castillo <br/> Willie Rios <br/> Cynthia Piña <br/> Mauro Barrera <br/> Louis Martinez
| leader_title1            = [[City Secretary]]
| leader_name1             = Lance Avant
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = 
| website                  = {{URL|www.southhoustontx.gov}}

<!-- Area -->| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_magnitude           = 
| area_total_km2           = 7.89
| area_land_km2            = 7.89
| area_water_km2           = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi         = 3.05
| area_land_sq_mi          = 3.05
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 16153
| population_density_km2   = 2210.20
| population_density_sq_mi = 5724.89

<!-- General information -->| timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset               = -6
| timezone_DST             = CDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -5
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 9
| elevation_ft             = 30
| coordinates              = {{coord|29|39|40|N|95|13|47|W|region:US-TX|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 77587
| area_codes               = [[Area codes 713, 281, 832, 346, and 621|713, 281, 832, 346, 621]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 48-69020<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 1347476<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
| footnotes                = 
}}
'''South Houston''' is a city in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Texas]], within [[Greater Houston|Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land]] metropolitan area and [[Harris County, Texas|Harris&nbsp;County]]. The population was 16,153 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=https://www.census.gov| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): South Houston city, Texas| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=June 26, 2012}}</ref> It is bordered by the cities of [[Houston]] and [[Pasadena, Texas|Pasadena]], and geographically located southeast of Houston.

==History==

C.S. Woods of the Western Land Company founded the settlement of '''Dumont''' in 1907. A post office appeared in 1910. In 1913 Dumont was incorporated as the city of South Houston.<ref name="Handbppl">{{Handbook of Texas|id=hes06|name=South Houston, Texas}}</ref> Because of the 1913 incorporation, Houston did not incorporate South Houston's territory into its city limits, while Houston annexed surrounding areas that were [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]].<!--Print version exclusively has the information cited; the information is ''not'' included in the online edition--><ref name="Annexbitter">{{Cite web |title=City History {{!}} South Houston, TX |url=https://southhoustontx.gov/188/City-History |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=southhoustontx.gov}}</ref> South Houston's initial industrial activity consisted of shipping produce along the [[Galveston, Houston and Henderson Railroad]]. The hurricane of 1915 destroyed many of the local industries. The establishment of the [[Houston Ship Channel]] resulted in the establishment of manufacturing industries inland, including in South Houston. Between the 1940s and the early 1960s South Houston found rapid population growth. The city had 7,523 inhabitants in 1960. In 1980, South Houston had 11,782 inhabitants and 303 businesses. In 1990, 14,207 inhabitants lived in South Houston.<ref name="Handbppl"/>

Legend has it, elephants belonging to former South Houston mayor George Christy, a circus owner, assisted the construction of the [[Spencer Highway (Texas)|Spencer Highway]].<ref name="Annexbitter"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Legend of how Spencer highway was built by circus elephants |url=https://abc13.com/abc13-plus-south-houston-spencer-parkway-circus-elephants/5733791/ |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=ABC13 Houston |language=en}}</ref>

From the 1980 census to the 1990 census, [[Hispanic]]s began to move into South Houston by an amount between 1,000 and 3,500 per square mile. Most Hispanics in South Houston<!--South Houston being one of the other areas--> were of [[Mexican American|Mexican descent]].<ref>Rodriguez, Lori. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20081216141935/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1991_768298 Census tracks rapid growth of suburbia]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Sunday March 10, 1991. Section A, Page 1.</ref>

==Geography==

[[File:SouthHoustonMap.gif|thumb|left|Map of South Houston]]
South Houston is located at {{Coord|29|39|40|N|95|13|47|W|type:city}} (29.660980, –95.229787).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 7.8&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, all land.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1930= 612
|1940= 982
|1950= 4126
|1960= 7532
|1970= 11527
|1980= 13293
|1990= 14207
|2000= 15833
|2010= 16983
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
|2020=16153}}
[[Image:SouthHoustonPoliceDepartmentRearEntranceTexas.JPG|thumb|South Houston police station/Robert A. Anderson Police Administration Building (rear entrance)]]
[[Image:SouthHoustonFireStation1.JPG|thumb|South Houston fire station]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+South Houston racial composition as of 2020<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4869020&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><br /> (NH = Non-Hispanic){{efn|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.<ref>https://www.census.gov/ {{nonspecific|date=August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>}}
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|1,128
|6.98%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|330
|2.04%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|18
|0.11%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|99
|0.61%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|2
|0.01%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|32
|0.2%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|93
|0.58%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|14,451
|89.46%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''16,153'''
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 16,153 people, 5,221 households, and 4,107 families residing in the city.

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2010, there were 16,983 people from 4,617 households residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 1.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.80% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.70% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.00% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.74% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 89.4% of the population.

There were 4,593 households, out of which 47.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.5% were non-families. 15.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.45 and the average family size was 3.86.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 34.1% under the age of 18, 11.7% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 16.5% from 45 to 64, and 6.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $44,607 [in 2017 dollars]. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $15,611. About 24% of the population was below the [[poverty line]], including 25.8% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.

==Government and infrastructure==

===Local government===
[[Image:SouthHoustonTexasCityHall.JPG|thumb|left|South Houston City Hall]]
The South Houston City Council establishes city policies, considering resolutions and ordinances, appointing South Houston residents to positions on municipal committees and boards, and establishing the annual budgets. City council meets during the first and third Tuesdays of each month in the South Houston Municipal Court; meetings begin at 7:30 PM; it is open to members of the public. As of 2024 the mayor is Joe Soto. The council members are Mary Castillo, Willie Rios, Cynthia Piña, Mauro Barrera, and Louis Martinez.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mayor & City Council {{!}} South Houston, TX |url=https://www.southhoustontx.gov/171/Mayor-City-Council |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=www.southhoustontx.gov}}</ref>

The South Houston Fire Department serves the city. The South Houston Police Department is headquartered at 1101 West Dallas Street. As of 2008 Herbert Gilbert is the chief of police.<ref>"[http://www.southhoustonpolice.org/ Foreword by Chief of Police - Herbert Gilbert] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070608224414/http://www.southhoustonpolice.org/ |date=2007-06-08 }}." ''South Houston Police Department''. Retrieved on November 29, 2008.</ref>

===County, state, and federal representation===
South Houston is located within Harris County Commissioner Precinct 2; as of 2020 Adrian Garcia heads Precinct 2.<ref>[http://www.regionalgis.hctx.net/website/comm2/viewer.htm Precinct 2 Map] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011122342/http://www.regionalgis.hctx.net/website/comm2/viewer.htm |date=2008-10-11 }}." ''Harris County''. Accessed October 13, 2008.</ref>

South Houston is located in [[Texas House of Representatives, District 145|District 145]] of the [[Texas House of Representatives]]. As of 2019, [[Christina Morales]] represents the district.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Texas House of Representatives District 145 |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_House_of_Representatives_District_145 |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref> South Houston is within [[Texas Senate, District 6|District 6]] of the [[Texas Senate]]; as of 2018 [[Carol Alvarado]] is the representative.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Texas State Senate District 6 |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_State_Senate_District_6 |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref>

South Houston is within [[Texas's 29th congressional district]]; as of 2019. [[Sylvia Garcia]] is the representative.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Texas' 29th Congressional District |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Texas%27_29th_Congressional_District |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref> The [[United States Postal Service]] operates the South Houston Post Office at 315 North Allen Genoa Road.<ref>"[http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/63405?p=1&s=TX&service_name=post_office&z=south+houston Post Office Location - SOUTH HOUSTON]." ''[[United States Postal Service]]''. Retrieved on November 29, 2008.</ref>

The nearest public health center of the [[Harris Health System]] (formerly Harris County Health System) is Strawberry Health Clinic in [[Pasadena, Texas|Pasadena]]. The nearest public hospital is [[Ben Taub General Hospital]] in the [[Texas Medical Center]], Houston.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tmc.edu/hchd/LOCATE.HTM|title=Clinic/Emergency/Registration Center Directory By ZIP Code|publisher=[[Harris County Hospital District]]|date=2001-11-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011119141023/http://www.tmc.edu/hchd/LOCATE.HTM|accessdate=2021-04-08|archive-date=2001-11-19}} - See ZIP code 77587. [https://www.harrishealth.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/community-assessment/pregnancy-birth-data/2012/infant-mortality-rate-2012.pdf See this map for relevant ZIP codes].</ref>

==Economy==
The [[Lewis Food Town]] grocery store chain is based in South Houston.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20121009080808/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=5970101&privcapId=4752640&previousCapId=4752640&previousTitle=Lewis%20Food%20Town,%20Inc. Lewis Food Town, Inc.]" [[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]] [[BusinessWeek]]. Retrieved on January 13, 2011. "CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 3316 South Shaver Street South Houston, Texas 77587"</ref>

In 2006 [[H-E-B]] opened the "Mi Tienda" ("My Store") Hispanic-themed store in South Houston.<ref name=Morenotryout>{{cite news|author=Moreno, Jenalia|url=http://www.chron.com/business/article/Wal-Mart-gives-Supermercado-concept-a-local-tryout-1724512.php|title=Wal-Mart gives Supermercado concept a local tryout|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=2009-04-30|access-date=2017-06-28}}</ref> As of 2007 all of its employees spoke Spanish.<ref>{{cite news|author=Walsh, Robb|author-link=Robb Walsh|url=http://www.houstonpress.com/restaurants/the-carnicera-connoisseur-hebs-mi-tienda-in-pasadena-6424504|title=The Carnicería Connoisseur: HEB's Mi Tienda in Pasadena|newspaper=[[Houston Press]]|date=2007-11-15|access-date=2017-06-28}}</ref>

==Education==

===Primary and secondary schools===

====Public schools====

[[Image:SouthHoustonHighSchoolTexas.JPG|thumb|[[South Houston High School]]]]
South Houston is served by the [[Pasadena Independent School District]].

The following elementary schools serve sections of South Houston:<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20140707135412/http://www.pasadenaisd.org/pages/Elementary.pdf Elementary Schools]." [[Pasadena Independent School District]]. July 7, 2014. Retrieved on July 15, 2017.</ref>
* Pearl Hall Elementary School (South Houston)
* Walter Matthys Elementary School (South Houston)
** It opened in August 1992. {{As of|1998}} it had 775 students.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19980213034909/http://pasadena.isd.tenet.edu:80/matthys/default.html Home]. Matthys Elementary School. February 13, 1998. Retrieved on September 20, 2018.</ref>
* L.F. Smith Elementary School (South Houston)
* South Houston Elementary School (South Houston)
As of 2000 South Houston Elementary had computers and computer equipment in all of its classrooms as well as a broadcasting studio operated by students. In the period 1999–2000 South Houston Elementary, despite the low socio-economic backgrounds of its students, received "recognized" scores from the [[Texas Education Agency]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Hollis, Matt|url=http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/article/Principals-from-other-Texas-districts-to-visit-9918708.php|title=Principals from other Texas districts to visit SoHo Elementary during TEPSA conference|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=2000-11-08|access-date=2017-03-02}}</ref>

Sections of South Houston west of Old Galveston Road are served by Rick Schneider Middle School (Houston, Grades 5–6). Parts of South Houston are zoned to Carter Lomax Middle School (Pasadena, Grades 5–6). Parts of South Houston are not served by any "middle school" and instead are served by elementary schools, intermediate schools, and high schools.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20140707131633/http://www.pasadenaisd.org/pages/MiddleSchools.pdf 5th Grade Centers & Middle Schools]." [[Pasadena Independent School District]]. July 7, 2014. Retrieved on July 15, 2017.</ref>

Sections of South Houston west of Old Galveston Road are served by South Houston Intermediate School (South Houston, Grades 7–8). Parts east of Old Galveston Road are served by Queens Intermediate School (Pasadena, Grades 6–8).<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20090227010001/http://www.pasadenaisd.org/pages/IntermediateSchools.pdf Intermediate Schools]." [[Pasadena Independent School District]]. February 27, 2009. Retrieved on July 15, 2017.</ref> South Houston Intermediate opened on property acquired by PISD in 1947; it previously housed the Asgard College for Girls, a prison for delinquent boys, a psychiatric hospital, a transit house for the federal government, and a [[National Youth Association]] Camp.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/19980213040521/http://pasadena.isd.tenet.edu:80/shis/history.htm The History of South Houston Intermediate]." South Houston Intermediate School. February 13, 1998. Retrieved on September 20, 2018.</ref>

All of South Houston is served by [[South Houston High School]].<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20140707150750/http://www.pasadenaisd.org/pages/HighSchools.pdf High Schools]." [[Pasadena Independent School District]]. July 7, 2014. Retrieved on July 15, 2017.</ref>

===Public libraries===

[[Image:SouthHoustonLibraryTexas.JPG|thumb|South Houston Library]]
South Houston is served by the South Houston Branch of [[Harris County Public Library]] at 607 Avenue A. The first South Houston library opened in 1927. In 1937 money was raised to build a structure to house the library; this structure stands in a park next to the current library. In the 1950s the library moved into a building with a welfare office and a clinic. In 1967 the city purchased land and a barracks building from [[Ellington Field]]; the city then moved the library there, where it remained until 1991. The current {{convert|5800|sqft|sqm}} branch opened in May 1991.<ref>"[http://www.hcpl.net/branchinfo/sho/shoinfo.htm South Houston Branch Library]." ''[[Harris County Public Library]]''. Retrieved on November 29, 2008.</ref>

===Colleges and universities===

Residents of Pasadena ISD (and therefore South Houston) are zoned to [[San Jacinto College]].<ref>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.197.  SAN JACINTO COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.].</ref>

===Gallery of schools===

<gallery>
Image:SouthHoustonElementarySchooltexas.JPG|South Houston Elementary School
Image:MatthysElementarySouthHoustonTexas.JPG|Walter Matthys Elementary School
Image:LFSmithElementarySchoolSouthHoustonTexas.JPG|L. F. Smith Elementary School
Image:PearlHallElementarySchoolSouthHoustonTexas.JPG|Pearl Hall Elementary School
Image:SouthHoustonIntermediateSchoolTexas.JPG|South Houston Intermediate School
</gallery>

==Transportation==
[[Harris County Transit]] serves South Houston.<ref>"[http://www.harriscountytransit.com/routes.html Routes / Maps]." [[Harris County Transit]]. Retrieved on January 15, 2010.</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:SouthHoustonPDFrontEntranceTexas.JPG|South Houston Police Department front entrance
Image:SouthHoustonMunicipalCourtTexas.JPG|South Houston Municipal Court
</gallery>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
*''A Short History of South Houston'' (South Houston Chamber of Commerce, 1982).
*''News Citizen'' ([[Pasadena, Texas]]), April 9, 1970.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Portal|Texas}}
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060710135254/http://www.southhoustontx.org/ City of South Houston official website]}}
*[http://www.southhoustonchamber.org/ South Houston Chamber of Congress]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.southhoustonpolice.org/ South Houston Police Department] (Archive)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20030325072618/http://www.pasadenaisd.org/sohohs/default1.htm South Houston High School]
*{{Handbook of Texas|id=hes06|name=South Houston, Texas}}

{{Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown MSA}}
{{Harris County, Texas}}
{{Texas}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Harris County, Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Greater Houston]]