Meyerland, Houston facts for kids
Meyerland is a community located in the southwest part of Houston, Texas. It's just outside the main 610 Loop highway but inside the larger Beltway 8. This area gets its name from the Meyer family, who once owned a huge amount of land here – about 6,000 acres (24 square kilometers)!
Meyerland is a very important place for Houston's Jewish community. It's home to the Jewish Community Center, two large synagogues called Congregation Beth Israel and Congregation Beth Yeshurun, and several smaller ones. You'll also find Meyerland Plaza here, which is a big outdoor shopping center.
Because of its location, some parts of Meyerland are in a floodplain. This means houses can sometimes flood during very heavy rains. For example, during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Meyerland was heavily flooded, and many pictures and stories about it were shared in the news. To help with this, big projects like Project Brays are working to reduce flooding. This project, costing $400 million, aims to protect many Meyerland homes from future floods.
Around 2018, many new homes were being built in Meyerland. Some of these are luxury homes worth over $1 million, and they are built higher off the ground to protect them from floods.
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Meyerland's Early Days
Joseph F. Meyer Sr. first started buying land in this area around 1885. For many years, the land wasn't used much, though some parts were rented out to farmers and cattle ranchers. Joseph Meyer believed that one day, his land would become part of the growing city of Houston.
After Joseph Meyer Sr. passed away in 1933, his land was divided among his three sons. About 20 years later, in 1955, one of his sons, George Meyer, decided to develop his share of the land. He turned 1,200 acres (4.9 square kilometers) into the Meyerland neighborhood. Even the Vice President at the time, Richard Nixon, came to the opening ceremony! Meyerland was also one of the first communities in Houston to have "deed restrictions," which are rules about how properties can be used and maintained.
On Memorial Day, May 30, 1961, a special "Hero Tree" was planted. This tree and a stone marker near Meyerland Plaza on Beechnut Street honor Captain Gary L. Herod for his bravery.
In the mid-to-late 1980s, families moving into Meyerland and Bellaire started tearing down older homes to build new, modern ones.
In 2015, on Memorial Day, Meyerland experienced flooding from the Brays Bayou. This event highlighted the ongoing need for flood control improvements in the area.
What Meyerland Looks Like
In 2006, a writer named Mimi Swartz described the houses around Godwin Park as "cozy ranch houses from the fifties and sixties." She noted they came in different styles like Tudor, colonial, and contemporary. They were comfortable and well-kept, with beautiful gardens.
Who Lives in Meyerland?
In 2015, about 21,445 people lived in the Meyerland Super Neighborhood. Most residents (58%) were non-Hispanic white. There were also Hispanic (16%), non-Hispanic Asian (13%), non-Hispanic Black (11%), and other groups (2%) living in the community.
Meyerland's Culture and Community
The Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center is a hub for activities in Meyerland. As mentioned, Congregation Beth Israel, Congregation Beth Yeshurun, and other synagogues are also in the area. Many people feel that Meyerland is a place where the Jewish community can support each other and teach their children about religious traditions, family values, education, and community involvement. Every year, the Jewish Book and Arts Fair is held in Meyerland, celebrating books and arts.
Schools in Meyerland
In 2022, the Houston Chronicle newspaper said that the schools in Meyerland are "sought-after," meaning many families want to send their children there.
Public Schools in Meyerland
Meyerland is served by several schools in the Houston Independent School District (HISD). A real estate agent noted in 2010 that Meyerland is known for its excellent magnet schools, which offer special programs.
Depending on where they live, students in Meyerland go to different elementary schools:
- North of Brays Bayou: Lovett Elementary School.
- South of Brays Bayou: Kolter Elementary School.
- Western part (Section 10): Herod Elementary School.
Lovett Elementary was even named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2016, which is a big honor!
Most of Meyerland is zoned to Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School (which used to be called Johnston Middle School). A small part of the neighborhood goes to Pershing Middle School. Students zoned to these middle schools also have the option to apply to Pin Oak Middle School in the nearby city of Bellaire.
All Meyerland residents attend Bellaire High School, which is located right next to Meyerland in Bellaire. This means families can live in Meyerland and send their children to Bellaire High without paying the higher housing prices or property taxes of Bellaire itself.
History of Meyerland's Public Schools
When Meyerland first opened in 1955, students went to Horn Elementary in Bellaire. Bellaire High School opened the same year. Then, Lovett Elementary opened in 1958, Johnston Junior High in 1959, Kolter Elementary in 1960, and Herod Elementary in 1961.
In the early 1990s, there was a discussion about possibly changing the school zone for Meyerland students to Westbury High School. However, the HISD board decided in 1992 that the Bellaire High School zone would not be changed, which was good news for Meyerland residents.
New buildings for Herod Elementary opened in 2011, and Lovett Elementary also got a new building in 2011. These rebuilds were part of a large bond program approved by HISD voters. After Hurricane Harvey damaged Kolter Elementary in 2017, it was rebuilt and reopened for students in 2020.
Gallery of Public Schools in Meyerland
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Lovett Elementary School serves parts of Meyerland north of the Brays Bayou.
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Kolter Elementary School serves parts of Meyerland south of the Brays Bayou.
Private Schools in Meyerland
There are several private schools in and near Meyerland. Highlands Latin School, a private Christian school for grades K-12, is located in Meyerland. Other nearby private schools include St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School, Corpus Christi Catholic School, St. Thomas' Episcopal School, and Beth Yeshurun Day School. The Robert M. Beren Academy, Episcopal High School, Westbury Christian School, and Emery/Weiner School are also close by.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in Texas, more students started attending Beth Yeshurun Day School and The Shlenker School. This was partly because some families preferred in-person learning during that time.
Public Libraries for Meyerland
Since 2023, the Dr. Shannon Walker Neighborhood Library, located in Westbury, serves as the main library for Meyerland residents. It's named after astronaut Shannon Walker.
The Houston Public Library (HPL) used to operate the George B. Meyer, Sr. Neighborhood Library, which opened in 1962. This library was damaged during Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and was later closed. A new library is being built in Westbury to replace it, offering more space and parking.
Getting Around Meyerland
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) provides public transportation services in the area.
Around 1988, METRO planned to make Beechnut Street wider. However, residents from Meyerland and nearby communities protested, saying it would cause too much traffic. Because of their concerns, METRO decided not to go ahead with the widening plans.
Police Services
The Houston Police Department's Southwest Patrol Division covers Meyerland. The homeowners association also hires the Harris County Precinct 5 Constable for extra local security.
Parks and Fun in Meyerland
Meyerland has two city-run parks. Meyerland Park, located on Jason Street, is a neighborhood park.
Herbert Godwin Park, on Rutherglen, is a larger community park. It has the Godwin Community Center, an outdoor pavilion, a playground, and lighted sports fields for baseball, soccer, and basketball. Godwin Park is next to Kolter Elementary and is a popular place for families to gather, especially on weekends. It's known for its green grass, well-kept playground, and shady oak trees.
In the early days of Meyerland, eight different garden clubs were formed! Little league baseball started in Meyerland in 1957, with games played at Meyerland Park. The Meyerland Teen Club and the Meyerland Civic Club also opened in 1958. The Meyerland Club, which had a swim team, opened in 1958 but closed in 1996. It was then sold to the Jewish Community Center and became the Merfish Teen Center.
The Weekley YMCA also serves the Meyerland area, offering various programs and facilities.
News and Media in Meyerland
The Houston Chronicle is the main regional newspaper for the area. On Thursdays, residents receive a special local section that covers news for Bellaire, West University Place, River Oaks, and Meyerland.
Other local newspapers distributed in the community include the Bellaire Examiner and the Village News and Southwest News. There's also the Meyerland Journal, which is a weekly paper that covers local politics in Meyerland and Bellaire.
Famous People from Meyerland
- Chris Bell
