texas city southwest texas united_states metropolitan area city population surrounded cities houston west university place known city homes owing residential character offices loop city limits history founded president baldwin native iowa known vice president founded acres km2 ranch baldwin surveyed eastern acres km2 ranch small truck farms named farms farms baldwin started middle farms serve residential neighborhood agricultural trading center advertised farmers baldwin stated town named good air named ohio town served baldwin rail lines miles prairie zone houston originally town bounded sixth streets moved nursery missouri implement landscaping plans incorporated city general charter years founding population time incorporation houston incorporate territory city limits houston annexed surrounding areas unincorporated population reached rapid population explosion post world war building boom december city houston annexed land city stopping city land growth remained independent houston adopted home rule charter council manager government april city residents numbered high school established according resident quoted prior tax base city decreasing neighbor eased restrictions developers new houses constructed city gained larger tax base decided development restrictions allow new development growth building permit process according vice president sales manager prices land reached square foot area home buyers began consider average price square foot said comparable attributes independent fire police departments recreation facilities parks schools best houston president said bargain added affordable compared similar american neighborhoods proximity business districts excellent municipal services superior schools affluent families increasingly moved price average house increased city attempted acquire acres nursery oldest business oldest nursery park development company fought city attempt year owners sold acres rear property home developer owner said option buy remaining acres denied application sent june nursery filed lawsuit city commission lawsuit settled court hurricane evacuation bus filled residents nursing home caught fire exploded city september explosion killed people residents employees bus resulting lawsuit settled june march tour bus carrying singer crashed increasing number houses sold december police officers confronted son major_league_baseball player house block officers suspected unarmed stealing sports utility vehicle shot chest family owned vehicle hospitalized injuries lung liver incident sparked allegations racial members minority groups reported police racially people son baseball player stopped vehicle missing license plate arrested police spent night jail law enforcement told warrant arrest houston_chronicle said police decision arrest mistake january accused police racial mayor said unaware racial police announced city investigate racial hire independent consultant look traffic stop data local branch said established pact people report civil rights violations branch people wish contact branch provided city civil rights violations april grand jury indicted police officer aggravated assault public servant convicted cotton face life prison addition family sued police department police officer upcoming trial criminal charges cotton began january jury selection scheduled begin officer found guilty criminal trial nursery closed company president intended property redeveloped single family houses nursery business going new location december family bought property family planned donate community purposes property historic buildings handled negotiations family described lot largely undeveloped tract city frankly inner loop city houston people city mayor said thrilled able preserve historical property important piece history january announced oppose plan locate permanent privately funded houston stadium intersection near april announced stadium known built houston geography climate located according city total area square miles km2 land city surrounded houston west university place place housing lots feet feet allowing houses larger built typical feet feet lots lot accommodate house detached garage swimming pool typical lot accommodate newly constructed georgian house described lot inexpensive housing lots prompted area home consider original housing stock typically consisted bedroom bathroom post world war houses described attributes developers tear houses build new houses individuals chose houses instead having torn individuals houses decisions land value increased cases land value higher value structure lot subdivisions larger houses particularly subdivision south boulevard subdivision rice houses subdivisions built 1950s early 1960s acres lots vice president sales manager said houses attractive similar large homes smaller lots today money larger lots today money today money article journalist said parts downtown certain 1950s charm example boring stated article growth dominance houston municipal services including little neighborhoods streets holly maple pine named trees word means small grove forest trees community south developed developer south originally developed late 1940s bedroom houses houses marketed world war veterans houses times expensive today money wood houses subdivision named broad acres demographics census people households families residing city population density people square mile racial makeup city non hispanic white african american native american asian races hispanic latino people race comprised population households children age living married couples living children female husband present non families households individuals living years age older average household size average family size city population spread age years age older median age years females males government infrastructure local government currently city manager style government home rule government established april replacing general law form government city council mayor city council members elected large mayor elected year terms city council member elected year terms mayor serve terms position council members terms city council member types structures uses sections city mayor council members order position housed street fire station includes fire engines main engine volunteer backup engine units main unit backup unit shift commander vehicle vehicle chief assistant chief cascade unit hazardous materials trailer fire department operates fire life safety program citizens held saturdays old fire station demolished december demolition continuing monday december operations temporarily relocated building new fire station scheduled location previous fire station groundbreaking new station held december housed street chief police police department patrol division organization largest division includes patrol detention motorcycle bicycle units support services division includes court records communications divisions police department offers interested residents allow police check houses away vacation local politics land use controversies common history resulted recall mayor council members voted banning smoking bars restaurants monday january mayor council member voted ban members including voted ban asked consider adopting smoking ban city houston adopted similar ordinance december city voted ban driving driving passed texas hours city voted ban feeding cats public property establish rule requiring permission owner piece private property order feed cats private property city received negative mail feedback locations including switzerland elected new mayor long time city manager retired replaced county state federal government serves commissioner constable heads constable located district represents district district texas 7th congressional district representative designated office boulevard received post office transportation member city texas metro city served bus lines located boulevard south rice avenue lines metro proposed build early history historic street car line connected houston street car line ran mile stretch central houston main street started construction line consisted railway track overhead electric wire waiting pavilion turnaround loop located terminus simultaneously constructed south end line eagle avenue street connect line service required transfer eagle avenue began december nicknamed september line abandoned replaced bus line frequent caused worn track advent automobile similar acquired portugal brought permanent display economy property light industrial commercial mixed use residential commercial uses high rise office buildings interstate houston area offices located operates houston area headquarters office building west loop south building absorbed previously greater southwest houston assists economy activity main offices previously located acre campus place headquarters business units prior merger facility belonged built square feet square foot facility corporate headquarters general sweden moved point general honduras houston located suite general located houston employed civilians census including females civilian workers private profit wage salary workers total civilian workforce employees corporations private non profit wage salary workers worked local governments state government workers federal workers self employed worked agriculture forestry fishing hunting unpaid family workers parks recreation parks city limits operated city acre park given current honor houston journalist originally named includes neighborhood pool tennis courts picnic area trail open playground includes meeting rooms acre consists entirely open green space acre includes neighborhood pool playground picnic area acre includes adult field playground tennis courts scout house acre includes play structure swings green space acre avenue holly street includes baseball fields youth soccer football fields ball field acre consists playground picnic area acre includes playground picnic area open play area officer dog park dog park acre consists open play area shaded picnic area acre consists open green space acre includes playground area picnic shelter youth baseball field tennis courts acre boulevard includes special event area acre loop includes baseball fields soccer american football field track basketball tennis courts acre includes playground area sheltered picnic area self guided nature trail dedication ceremony future park held june prohibits smoking public parks dogs non dog public parks year smoking public parks brings fine ordinance adopted vote holds annual fourth july annual snow park christmas celebrations baseball team entered team lost team venezuela little league team placed league team previously played separate leagues education primary secondary public schools city served live inside loop elementary school students outside loop houston addition pupils place neighborhood addition middle school called built located students choose attend pin oak instead students attend named opened chinese language school building chinese school future school area houston early childhood center closest public early childhood center city closest school tuition based early childhood program economically students homeless students students proficient english children active duty members military parent killed injured missing action active duty enrolled tuition free students eligible attend early childhood center houston free students eligible tuition based programs building new campus campus designed architects capacity students groundbreaking ceremony held november history school opened school moved new site addition opened addition opened school renamed horn opened opened high school opened opened current campus opened january current horn buildings scheduled open august horn houston cost million billion bond program approved voters boundary drew excess students apartments west houston relieve schools houston west opening gordon served neighborhood school closure gordon temporarily housed later served administrative offices opened relief school schools scheduled open september year april attendance boundary hearing committee residents small portion school houston block away city limits advocated facility mile away section white middle class student body hispanic board voted portion early 1990s portions west loop portions inside loop decade basic formed improve reputation improve area schools committee opened failed attempt acquire property relief school attempt buy land street newcastle drive school relieve failed officials parents living complained learned new school losing described prime property formation basic installed gifted talented school school board member author winning lessons houston described school unacceptable residents white added new program parents long going acceptable overwhelming hispanic presence proposal convert gordon small middle school school space students white popular residents particularly outside loop inside loop want lose access service middle school white attendance boundary committee met december march wrote committee war sides february persons argued purchase commercial building north long elementary school relieve schools wrote staff members superintendent liked idea unfortunately close examination building proved inadequate april board declared gordon campus continue elementary school wrote gordon supporters residents furious primary secondary private schools independent private schools including located opened fall campus previously housed congregation sisters word roman catholic school operated sisters word current campus opened school previously housed campus located south holy ghost school catholic private school located houston adjacent city limits private schools near areas houston include jesuit college preparatory francis episcopal day school texas thomas community colleges served community college district operates located drive area houston square foot campus building owned opened sold building dollars owned campus opened spring houston close proximity west loop campuses district public libraries city operates library street non profit organization established support media houston_chronicle area regional newspaper residents receive west river oaks local section oldest local paper currently published offices spruce street newspaper distributed free residents buzz monthly magazine people products services community free charge residents week month community web site surrounding neighborhoods online newspaper covering community community magazine delivered monthly homes city notable people gallery
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