Uptown Houston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Uptown Houston
The Galleria area
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Uptown Houston Skyline
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Texas |
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| County | Harris County | |
| City | Houston | |
| Website | uptown-houston.com | |
Uptown, also known as The Galleria Area, is a busy part of Houston, Texas. It's about 6 miles (10 km) west of Downtown. This area is famous for its tall buildings, shops, and restaurants.
Uptown is mainly located around Post Oak Boulevard and Westheimer Road. It covers about 1,010 acres (410 hectares). It is bordered by Woodway Drive to the north, I-610 (West Loop) to the east, Richmond Avenue to the south, and Yorktown Street to the west.
This district has a huge amount of office space, making it one of the largest business areas in the United States. Many companies have their offices here, showing how important Uptown is to Houston's economy.
Contents
Exploring Uptown's Past
In 1948, the area we now call Uptown was outside Houston's city limits. The roads were not well-maintained. Things started to change in the 1960s when people like Gerald D. Hines began to develop new buildings.
By 1987, Uptown had more hotels and shopping centers than Downtown Houston. It also had more office space than the downtown areas of cities like Atlanta and Denver. This shows how quickly Uptown grew into a major hub.
What Makes Uptown Special?
Uptown Houston is a big center for high-end shopping and fashion. It has about 5 million square feet (500,000 m2) of retail space. You can find many trendy shops, places to eat, and fun entertainment spots here.
The area is home to many fancy boutiques and local fashion designers. Uptown also has some of Houston's largest hotels. These hotels welcome around 20 million visitors every year.
The Galleria: A Shopping Paradise
A huge part of Uptown is The Galleria. It is the biggest shopping mall in Texas and one of the largest in America. The Galleria has many upscale stores, as well as popular chain stores. It also features several great restaurants and a large indoor ice skating rink.
Uptown's Look and Feel
The Uptown District is surrounded by several neighborhoods. These include Afton Oaks, Briarcroft, Briargrove, Broad Oaks, Briarmeadow, Del Monte, Larchmont, St. George Place, Tanglewood, and Westhaven Estates.
Uptown's Economy and Jobs
Uptown is a major business district, ranking 17th in size in the U.S. It has a lot of office space, making up 11% of all office space in Houston. Many big companies have offices here, including Air Liquide, Apache Corporation, BBVA Compass, BHP, Bechtel Corporation, Dow Chemical, Duke Energy, and General Electric. About 2,000 companies operate in Uptown.
Many radio studios are also located in Uptown. Major English and Spanish-language radio stations have their studios here. This makes Uptown a hub for media and communication.
Many international hotel chains also have hotels in Uptown.
Global Connections: Diplomatic Missions
Uptown is home to several consulates-general. These are like small embassies for different countries. They help their citizens and promote their country's interests.
Countries with consulates in Uptown include Angola, Australia, Argentina, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Italy, Peru, Qatar, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, Vietnam, and the Netherlands.
Amazing Buildings in Uptown
Uptown grew a lot in the 1970s and early 1980s. Many mid-rise office buildings were built along the I-610 West Loop. One of the most famous buildings is the Williams Tower, which is 901 feet (275 meters) tall. It was designed by Philip Johnson and was once thought to be the tallest skyscraper outside a city's main downtown area.
The Williams Waterwall is a large, beautiful fountain next to the Williams Tower. It was also designed by Philip Johnson and finished in 1983. The fountain is 64 feet (20 meters) tall and has 118 Texas Live Oak trees around it. About 11,000 gallons (41,600 liters) of water flow over the wall every minute.
Other famous architects like I. M. Pei and César Pelli also designed buildings in Uptown. For example, Pelli designed the Four Oaks Place complex. In the late 1990s, many tall residential buildings, about 30 stories high, were built. Uptown now has many high-rise homes.
The Four Leaf Towers are two 40-story residential buildings built in 1982, also designed by César Pelli. Saint Martin's Episcopal Church, completed in 2004, is another notable building with spires reaching 188 feet (57 meters) high.
Parks and Fun in Uptown
The City of Houston bought the Williams Tower Park and Fountain in 2008. This means the public can enjoy this popular park and its famous waterwall fountain. The city and Hines (the original developer) share the costs of keeping the park nice.
The City of Houston also manages Post Oak Park, located near Post Oak Drive and the 610 Loop. Another park, Hidalgo Park, was opened in 2006. This 3-acre (1.2-hectare) park has many trees and shrubs, and a pond with a lighted fountain.
Getting Around Uptown
Bus Services
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO) provides public bus service in Uptown. Many bus routes serve the area, helping people get around easily.
Future Rapid Transit
METRORail plans include the Uptown/Gold Line. This line will run along Post Oak Boulevard. While it was initially planned as a light rail, it will start as a bus rapid transit (BRT) line. This BRT line could be ready as early as 2017, with the possibility of becoming a light rail in the future.
Learning in Uptown: Schools and Libraries
Public Schools
Children living in Uptown go to schools in the Houston Independent School District.
- Elementary school students north of Westheimer Road attend Briargrove Elementary School.
- Students south of Westheimer Road attend St. George Place Elementary School.
- Students in the Briargrove area can also apply to the Briarmeadow Charter School.
- Mark White Elementary School opened in August 2016.
For middle and high school, students in Uptown are zoned to Tanglewood Middle School (formerly Grady Middle School) and Margaret Long Wisdom High School (formerly Robert E. Lee High School). Students in the Wisdom High School area can also choose to attend Lamar High School or Westside High School.
Private Schools
Uptown also has private schools:
- St. Michael School is a K-8 Catholic school.
- Al-Hadi School of Accelerative Learning is a private K–12 Islamic school.
Other private schools nearby include Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, Saint Agnes Academy, The Awty International School, St. John's School, and The Kinkaid School.
Public Libraries
The Houston Public Library operates the Jungman Neighborhood Library at 5830 Westheimer Road. This library offers books, computers, and programs for everyone in the community.
Colleges and Universities
The Houston Community College System (HCC) serves the Houston ISD area, including Uptown. This provides opportunities for higher education close to home.
