Annexation History 1836-2023

Population: About two thousand.

Allen's Landing led to Main St. which was always an anthill of activity. Steamboats parted the bayou as they dock to deliver everything from steel pipes to fresh coffee. At the turn of the century, literally hundreds of Houston manufacturing facilities used the landing on Main St. Flush with newfound oil wealth, brought Houston's growth with goods that was brought in from all over the world and Houston's ambitious entrepreneurs made the most of them. Soon Main St. was buzzing of trolleys, automobiles, and pedestrians made for a busy thoroughfare. The area expanded. The city was granted incorporation by the state legislature on June 5, 1837 and was made as the temporary capital of Texas. On January 14, 1839, the capital had been moved to Austin. In 1840, the town was divided into four wards, each with different functions in the community. The wards are no longer political divisions, but their names are still used. Map Source: Annexation 1839 and 1840 (in red).

Population: 44,633 In 60 years, the city had grown to approximately 9 square miles and had a population of more than fourth-four thousand. Digging for a proposed Port of Houston began when Congress approved a move to dig out the Buffalo Bayou on January 9, 1842. German immigrants started arriving in Texas and Houston after the Revolutions of 1848 in the German states. Many were educated and arrived with capital to set up businesses or buy farms. The port in Houston was getting some shipping business, but the shallowness of the water hampered massive shipping. During the 1850s, the Houstonians decided to build a rail system to connect their port with rail links. The burgeoning port and railroad industry, combined with oil discovery in 1901, has induced continual surges in the city's population. The oil trade would transform Houston, the railroad hub of east Texas, from a smaller town into a large city. Map Source: Annexation 1903 (in red).

Population: 78,800 The population expanded to 77,000 and in 1913, in its first expansion beyond the central core, the city annexed area along the ship channel. This area includes 2,500 feet on either side of the ship channel for the purposes of controlling navigation and wharfage. The city also annexed the former municipality called The Heights -- named that because it stood more than 23 feet higher than the rest of Houston. With Houston's continued growth in 1836, it has become a major port at Buffalo Bayou and White Oak Bayou in downtown Houston. By the end of the 19th century Buffalo Bayou had become a major shipping channel and soon the Port of Houston grew, and it officially opened the port to traffic as the World Port of Houston and Buffalo Bayou on November 10, 1914. By 1912, Houston was home to twenty-five "tall buildings" ranging from six to sixteen stories. Ellington Airport, officially became a training facility for the First World War on May 21, 1917. It has since been integral in training military personnel for war, securing the airspace around nearby ports and refineries, practicing lunar landings, rescuing civilians from rough seas and welcoming U.S. presidents and foreign dignitaries on trips to Houston. Map Source: Annexation 1913, 1916, 1918, 1919 (in red).

Population: 138,276 Entering its first boom years, the city annexed more territory to serve the ship channel and the port. That included the former cities of Magnolia Park and Harrisburg, the birthplace of Texas. It also annexed the former city of Independence Heights - the first African American incorporated city in Texas. In 1927, the state highway to Houston was built which drove cars, bus and truck operations into swing. And, into Houston's growth. Map Source: Annexation 1922, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929 (in red).

Population: 292,352 During the 30s, the city didn't annex much land at all. Houston became the largest city in Texas in terms of population in 1939. Many immigrants and African-Americans from Louisiana and other parts of Texas moved to the city to find education or work. At its completion in 1939, Houston's City Hall was a significant downtown landmark. Map Source: Annexation 1931, 1937, 1938, 1939 (in red).

Population: 384,514 The 40s were a different story. This decade kicks off three decades of expansion through annexation. Within 25 years, the City will annex enough territory to double its size - twice! Including: • The Houston Municipal Airport • Pleasantville • Houston Gardens and Kashmere Gardens • Oak Forest and eastern Spring Branch. Houston became the home of the Texas Medical Center, established in 1945 in part with funds endowed to the M.D. Anderson Foundation which became the world's largest concentration of healthcare and research institutions. In 1947, voters overwhelmingly rejected a referendum for citywide land-use districts, aka "zoning". The population of Houston at the end of this decade is nearly 600,000. Map Source: Annexation 1940, 1941, 1942, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949 (in red).

Population: 596,163 And, in the 50s the City annexed and expanded the territory: • Sunnyside and Central Southwest • Northshore and East Houston • The rest of Spring Branch

In 1956, the city conducted its largest single annexation. That year, the city annexed 108 square miles - much of its city-owned property that would be flooded to create Lake Houston. By the end of the decade, Houston was 350 square miles with nearly 1 million residents. Map Source: Annexation 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1958 (in red).

Population: 938,219 Several important annexations took place in the 1960s. • a new international airport north of town (IAH) • Ellington Air Force Base south of town (EFD) And, to protect the water supply, it annexed land around Lake Houston -- including much of the new Kingwood and Atascocita developments. Area that it would dis-annex less than 15 years later (and then re-annex Kingwood in the 1990s.)

In the mid-20th century, Houston became the home of the Texas Medical Center -- the world's largest concentration of healthcare and research institutions. NASA's Johnson Space Center (officially opened its doors in September, 1963), where the Mission Control Center (1965) is located. Map Source: Annexation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1969 (in red).

Population: 1,233,505 In the 70s, the city annexed:

• Addicks and Barker reservoirs • Alief • The Clear Lake area As Houston entered the 1980s, the population exceeded 1.5 million and its size was 557 sq. miles. List of 10 tallest buildings in Houston, Texas: No. 9 - Center Point Energy Tower, 1111 Louisiana St, 77002, 1973 (Stories: 53) For the other buildings: (see, Annexation History, "1980's" timeline) Map Source: Annexation 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978 (in red).

Population: 1,595,138 Throughout the 80s, annexation was considerably more limited than it had been in the past. That didn't stop people from moving here. By the 1990 Census, the city's population had grown to 1.6 million residents.

However, Houston's massive population boom was reversed when oil prices fell in 1986, leading to several years of recession for the Houston economy. Before the occurrence of the recession, there were 11 buildings over 600 feet tall built or completed during the 1980s period. List of 10 tallest buildings in Houston, Texas: 1. JPMorgan Chase Tower. 600 Travis Street, 77002, 1981 (Stories: 75) 2. Wells Fargo Bank Plaza, 1000 Louisiana St, 77002, 1983 (Stories: 71) 3. Willians Tower, 2800 Post Oak Blvd., 77056, 1983 (Stories: 64) 4. TC Energy Center, 700 Louisiana St, 77002, 1983 (Stories: 56) 5. Heritage Plaza, 1111 Bagby St, 77002, 1987 (Stories: 53) 6. Enterprise Plaza, 1100 Louisiana St, 77002, 1980 (Stories: 55) 7. 609 Main at Texas, 609 Main St, 77002, 2017 (see, Annexation History, "2010's" timeline; Stories: 48) 8. Texas Tower, 845 Texas Ave, 77002, 2021 (see, Annexation History, "2010's" timeline; Stories: 47) 9. Center Point Energy Tower, 1111 Louisiana St, 77002, 1973 (see, Annexation History, "1970's" timeline; Stories: 53) 10. 1600 Smith Street Building, 1600 Smith St, 77002, 1984 (Stories: 52) Map Source: Annexation 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986 (in red).

Population: 2,100,263 In 2011, the city created two new districts because under the current city charter, when the population in the city limits went past 2.1 million residents, the previous nine-member city council districts would be expanded with the addition of two city council districts. Since the threshold was passed, the city created two new districts. Today, Houston City Council are sixteen members, 11 elected from council districts and five at-large.

List of 10 tallest buildings in Houston, Texas: 7. 609 Main at Texas, 609 Main St, 77002, 2017 (Stories: 48) 8. Texas Tower, 845 Texas Ave, 77002, 2021 (Stories: 47) 9. Center Point Energy Tower, 1111 Louisiana St, 77002, 1973 (Stories: 53)

Most of the other tallest buildings were built in the 1980s. Map Source: Annexation 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 (in red).

Population: 2,304,580 January 2025 Updates For the years 2016-2023, the City of Houston does not propose to annex any territory for general purposes. However, it will consider the annexation of territory if requested by property owners. The City will continue to consider SPAs with utility districts for the purpose of limited purpose annexation within the City's ETJ. List of 10 tallest buildings in Houston, Texas: 8. Texas Tower, 845 Texas Ave, 77002, 2022 (Stories: 47) • Most of the other tallest buildings were built in the 1980s. • Center Point Energy Tower (1973) is the No. 9 tallest building in 2022. Map Source: Annexation 2020, 2021, 2023 (in red).

What started in 1836 as a small settlement on the banks of Buffalo Bayou, today, the City of Houston's 671 square miles of land -- highway loops extend to I-610 (610 Loop), Sam Houston Tollway (Beltway 8), Highway 6 (H-6), SH 99/Toll (Grand Parkway), and growing. The next census will be conducted in 2030. Population growth could mean having to grow outwards in the surrounding areas or upwards (in skyscrapers). With the growth requires an agreement with the utility districts to provide water and sewer service in serving those territories. Where will be the next leap in territory expansion? For now, we'll just have to wait and see. Map Source: The Houston Transportations Map