General Plan

Houston is a large, irregularly shaped city. Its great size has come about mainly through the annexation of neighboring communities and open land, with the result that the city has relatively few suburbs. There are, however, a number of incorporated cities, including Bellaire, West University Place, and Bunker Hill Village, that are completely surrounded by Houston. The largest outlying suburbs are the industrial cities of Pasadena and Baytown.

Downtown Houston is located near the junction of the Buffalo and White Oak bayous, largely between Smith and San Jacinto streets. Here are towering office buildings, some of which are headquarters of major petroleum companies. Underground is an extensive system of air-conditioned pedestrian tunnels lined with shops. Beyond the downtown area, to the west and southwest, are most of the city's major cultural and educational institutions, large shopping centers, and the wealthier residential areas.

Houston is linked to the Gulf of Mexico by the Houston Ship Channel, which is navigable by oceangoing ships. Two Interstate routes (10 and 45) and several other freeways converge on Houston. The principal air terminals are George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport.