Neartown Houston facts for kids
Montrose is a lively area in west-central Houston, Texas, USA. It's known as one of Houston's main cultural spots. This area is about 7.5 square miles (19.4 square kilometers) and has many neighborhoods like Cherryhurst, Courtlandt Place, and Hyde Park. Montrose is also sometimes called Neartown.
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Montrose History
Neartown is home to some of Houston's oldest neighborhoods. The Neartown Association, a community group, started in 1963. In the 1990s, Houston saw a big growth in its city areas. This change made homes in Neartown much more valuable.
Over time, Montrose has changed a lot. It used to be a place with many artists and musicians. But as rents became higher, more professionals like lawyers and teachers moved in.
Montrose Culture and Fun
The River Oaks Shopping Center is in Neartown. It was Houston's very first shopping center, built in 1927. This center was special because it was designed for people arriving by car. It became a model for how future shopping areas would be built.
Today, the River Oaks Theatre is still open in the center. It's an "arthouse" theater, which means it shows unique and independent films. It's the last historic movie theater in Houston that still looks and works as it did when it first opened.
Exploring Montrose Cityscape
In 1973, Montrose was described as having all kinds of old buildings. You can find European-style restaurants and outdoor cafes along Westheimer Road. Many of these places are in old houses that have been fixed up. The area around Van Buren Street was even called the "Best Hidden Neighborhood" by the Houston Press in 2002.
Montrose Population Facts
In 2015, about 31,037 people lived in the Neartown/Montrose area. Most residents were non-Hispanic white (71%). Other groups included Hispanic (18%), non-Hispanic Asians (6%), and non-Hispanic blacks (4%).
Interesting Places in Montrose
Montrose has many cool places to visit:
Museums to Visit
- Menil Collection (an art museum)
- Rothko Chapel (a quiet place for art and reflection)
- Houston Center for Photography
- Byzantine Fresco Chapel Museum
- Museo Guadalupe Aztlan
- Museum of Printing History
Important Offices
- Consulate-General of Norway (an office for the country of Norway)
Local Radio Station
- KPFT 90.1 FM, a Pacifica Radio station, is located on Lovett Boulevard.
Community Centers
- Houston GLBT Community Center
- Pride Committee of Houston
Fun Festivals and Parades
- Houston Greek Festival: This festival usually happens in October at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral.
- Houston Art Car Parade: A parade with cars decorated as amazing art pieces.
- Houston Gay Pride Parade: A parade to remember the Stonewall Riots.
Churches and Cathedrals
- Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral
- Chapel of St. Basil at the University of St. Thomas (Texas) (designed by famous architect Philip Johnson)
Montrose Economy and Businesses
Many important companies have offices in Montrose. The main office for Baker Hughes is in the America Tower. Service Corporation International also has its main office here.
From 1983 to 1998, Continental Airlines had its main office in the America Tower. Later, they moved to a new building in Downtown Houston.
Education in Montrose
Montrose offers many choices for learning, from colleges to local schools.
Colleges and Universities
The University of Saint Thomas is located right in Neartown.
Montrose is also close to other big universities. These include Rice University, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, the University of Houston, and Texas Southern University. Houston Community College Central and University of Houston–Downtown are also nearby.
Local Schools for Kids
Students in Neartown attend schools in the Houston Independent School District.
Public Elementary Schools
Several elementary schools serve different parts of Neartown:
- Baker Montessori School (formerly Wilson Montessori School)
- Gregory-Lincoln Education Center
- MacGregor Elementary School
- Poe Elementary School
- Wharton Elementary School
Public Middle Schools
Students in Neartown go to one of three middle schools:
- Lanier Middle School
- Cullen Middle School
- Gregory-Lincoln Education Center
Public High Schools
All high school students from Neartown attend Lamar High School.
School History Notes
Many of the schools in Montrose have been around for a long time. Wilson Montessori opened in 1925, and Lanier Middle School opened in 1926. Lamar High School opened in 1937. In 2019, the Arabic Immersion Magnet School moved into the old building of the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.
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Ella J. Baker Montessori School -
Wharton Dual Language Academy
Private Schools
Montrose is also home to private schools. These include the Annunciation Orthodox School, which teaches students from kindergarten to 8th grade. The Harris School is also in the area.
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Annunciation Orthodox School
Public Libraries
The main offices for the Houston Public Library are in the Marston Building in Neartown. The city spent a lot of money to fix up this building for the library staff.
The Eleanor K. Freed-Montrose Neighborhood Library is also in the area. It's located at 4100 Montrose Boulevard.
Montrose News and Media
The Houston Chronicle is the main newspaper for the Houston area. The River Oaks Examiner is a local newspaper that is given out in the community.
Parks and Recreation in Montrose
Montrose has great parks for playing and relaxing.
Ervan Chew Park is a popular spot. It's a fenced park about 9,000 square feet (836 square meters) in size. The park was named after Ervan Chew, a local Chinese-American Eagle Scout who grew up in the area.
Chew Park has a basketball court, a small soccer field, a dog park, and a baseball diamond. The Neartown Little League plays its games here. Chew Park was the first park in Houston to have a special area where dogs could run without leashes.
Famous People from Montrose
Many well-known people have lived in Montrose, including:
- Denton Cooley (a famous heart surgeon)
- Walter Cronkite (a well-known news anchor)
- Clark Gable (a famous actor)
- Howard Hughes (a business magnate and film producer)
- Lyndon B. Johnson (a former U.S. President)
- Mirabeau B. Lamar (a former President of the Republic of Texas)
Images for kids
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The America Tower where Baker Hughes has its headquarters.
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Four of the towers of the American General Complex.
