West University Place, Texas
From Freepedia
West University Place, often called West University or West U in short, is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown Metropolitan Area and Harris County. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city had a total population of 14,211.
West University Place is completely surrounded by the cities of Houston, Bellaire, and Southside Place.
On December 17, 1998, a child psychologist named Claudia Benton was murdered in her house by Ángel Maturino Reséndiz, a serial killer.
As of 2000, West University Place is the 9th wealthiest location in Texas by per capita income.
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History
The city was developed in 1917 by Ben Hooper, a former Tennessee governor. The name "West University Place" originated from its proximity to Rice Institute (now Rice University). The city incorporated in 1925 because Houston was reluctant to extend power lines that far from the city center.
Geography
West University Place is located at 29°42'57" North, 95°25'59" West (29.715929, -95.432992)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.2 km² (2.0 mi²). 5.2 km² (2.0 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.
The city's boundaries are: Kirby Drive to the East, Community Drive to the West, Bellaire Boulevard to the South, and Bissonnet and Law Street to the North.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 14,211 people, 5,286 households, and 4,059 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,729.8/km² (7,068.6/mi²). There are 5,543 housing units at an average density of 1,064.8/km² (2,757.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 92.37% White, 0.50% African American, 0.07% Native American, 4.74% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.90% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. 4.72% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 5,286 households out of which 43.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.0% are married couples living together, 6.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 23.2% are non-families. 19.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 6.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.69 and the average family size is 3.11.
In the city the population is spread out with 29.8% under the age of 18, 2.9% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 29.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $130,721, and the median income for a family is $157,312. Males have a median income of $100,000 versus $65,739 for females. The per capita income for the city is $69,674. 1.7% of the population and 0.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 1.2% of those under the age of 18 and 2.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Education
The city's sole public school, West University Elementary School, is a part of Houston Independent School District. The school has a Houston address but is within the city limits of West University Place. West University Place is also served by Houston Community College System. West University Elementary also serves parts of Houston that are inside the 610 Loop which are south of Westpark, east of Community, west of Kirby, and directly north of West University Place. West University Elementary also serves the portion of Southside Place north of Bellaire Boulevard, A preschool called Beehive is located on the grounds of West University Elementary.
Pupils who live in West University Place are zoned to West University Elementary, Pershing Middle School in the Braeswood Place neighborhood of Houston, and Lamar High School, in the Upper Kirby district of Houston. All pupils zoned to Pershing may attend Pin Oak Middle School (in the city of Bellaire) instead.
Several private schools such as St. Marks Episcopal Church and School, are located within West University Place. Other nearby parochial schools, such as the school of St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church in Braeswood Place in Houston, serve the city.
The Harris County Public Library system operates a branch in West University Place, and the Houston Public Library system operates the McGovern-Stella Link branch south of West University Place in a nearby area in Houston.
Trivia
West University Place's sewage treatment plant and animal pound are located on a lot in Houston near the Rice School.
West University, unlike Houston Heights, did not consolidate into the City of Houston. In 1939, the municipality refused to consolidate, later adopting a formal city charter the following year.
External links
- West University Place Website
- city history
- Friends of West University Place Parks Fund, Inc.
- Newcomers and Neighbors Club
- West U Rotary
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Local or Yahoo! Maps
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
- Satellite image from Google Local or Microsoft Virtual Earth
