West University Place, Texas
West University Place is a city of 14,982 people in Harris County, Texas, founded in 1917.
Why visit West University Place
Townapedia lists 33 museums and landmarks, 35 parks and trails, 164 places to eat, 6 places to stay and 11 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Main Street Theater, Playland Park, Almeda Road Bridge over Brays Bayou and Astrodome.
Weather in West University Place
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About West University Place
West University Place, often called West University or West U for short, is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston metropolitan area and southwestern Harris County. At the 2020 U.S. census, the population of the city was 14,955. It is nicknamed "The Neighborhood City" and is mainly a bedroom community for upper-class families.
From the Wikipedia article West University Place, Texas (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do11
Playland Park
Monument and historic site · 2.3 mi
Former amusement park in San Antonio, Texas
Miller Outdoor Theatre
Cinema and theater · 2.6 mi
Open-air theater in Houston, Texas, United States
Rice University
School · 1.7 mi
Private university in Houston, Texas, USA
Six Flags AstroWorld
Monument and historic site · 3.1 mi
Amusement park
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
School · 2.1 mi
Hospital in Texas, United States
University of St. Thomas
School · 2.9 mi
University in Houston, Texas
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
School · 1.9 mi
Academic health center in Houston, Texas, United States
Museums and landmarks33
Almeda Road Bridge over Brays Bayou
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
Structure in Houston (vicinity), Harris County, Texas
Astrodome
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
Historic place in Houston, Harris County, Texas
Aviary at the Houston Zoo
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
Structure in Houston (vicinity), Harris County, Texas
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens
Museum · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
Building in Houston, Harris County, Texas
Courtlandt Place Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Historic district in Houston, Harris County, Texas
Isabella Court
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Building in Houston, Harris County, Texas
James L. Autry House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
Building in Houston, Harris County, Texas
Link–Lee House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Historic place in Houston, Harris County, Texas
Logue House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
Building in Houston, Harris County, Texas
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River Oaks Garden Club Forum of Civics
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Historic place in Houston, Harris County, Texas
Rothko Chapel
Museum · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
Building in Houston, Harris County, Texas
Simon and Mamie Minchen House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Historic place in Houston, Harris County, Texas
21 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds35
Cullen Sculpture Garden
Park · 2.6 mi
Sculpture garden of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston
23 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes164
Capone's Pizza Oven & Bar
Bar and pub · Pizza, Italian · 1.6 mi
Pizza house and grill known for the HAHA Pizza.
2303 Richmond Avenue, Houston
Mo-Tu,Su 11:00-24:00; We-Sa 11:00-02:00
Hobbit Cafe
Restaurant · American, Burger · 1.6 mi
Themed after Lord of the Rings franchise.
2243 Richmond Avenue, Houston
Mo-Th 11:00-21:30; Fr 11:00-22:30; Sa 10:30-22:30; Su 10:30-21:00
Azuma Sushi And Robata Bar
Restaurant · Japanese · 0.9 mi
5600 Kirby Drive, Houston
Mo-Th 11:30-14:30,17:00-22:30; Fr 11:30-14:30,17:00-23:00; Sa...
Blue Nile
Restaurant · Ethiopian · 1.6 mi
3030 Audley Street, Houston
Mo-Th,Su 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
El Meson
Restaurant · Spanish, Latin American · 0.9 mi
2425 University Boulevard, Houston
Mo-Sa 11:30-21:00; Su 12:00-21:00
El Tiempo Cantina
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.4 mi
3130 Richmond Avenue, Houston
Mo-Fr 11:00-21:00; Sa 10:00-22:00; Su 09:30-21:00
Ella Coffee at M&Co
Cafe · Coffee Shop, Italian, Pastry, Sandwich, Breakfast, Juice
3642 University Boulevard, West University Place
Mo-Su 07:00-18:00
Island Grill
Restaurant · American, Mediterranean · 1.1 mi
2365 Rice Boulevard, Houston
Mo-Sa 07:00-21:00; Su 08:00-16:30
152 more on the map.
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 known as Rice University. The first lots in the community were sold in 1917. Portions of West University were previously within the Harris County Poor farm, which extended from an area between Bellaire Boulevard and Bissonnet Street, eastward to an area near the "poor farm ditch."
In the 1920s, Lillian "Lilly" Nicholson, a Rice University English major, lived with a friend whose father was a city planner. The city planner asked Nicholson and her friend to name the streets of West University Place. Nicholson took names from her English literature book and gave them to the streets in West University Place. As a result, many West University streets are named after authors. Cydney Mackey, a family friend of Nicholson, said in a Houston Chronicle article, "Aunt Lilly had always said she wanted to be an architect, unknown for women in that era, and this was her way of making a small but lasting mark on our city's landscape." One street, Weslayan Road, is a misspelling of "Wesleyan."
From the History section of West University Place, Texas on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay6
Crowne Plaza Houston River Oaks
Motel and hotel · 1.3 mi
2712 Southwest Freeway, Houston
Churches and places of worship28
Edward Albert Palmer Memorial Chapel and Autry House
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
Lakewood Church Central Campus
Church · Nondenominational · 1.1 mi
3700 Southwest Freeway, Houston
Saint Andrews Presbyterian Church
Church · Presbyterian · 0.7 mi
5308 Buffalo Speedway, West University Place
Shopping18
Gas and EV charging16
Schools, colleges and libraries60
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Children's Place
School · Presbyterian · 0.7 mi
3303 Bissonnet Street, West University Place
Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions
School · 1.6 mi
2545 Pressler Street, Houston
Pershing Middle School
School · 1.0 mi
3838 Blue Bonnet Boulevard, Houston
Healthcare22
Baylor Saint Luke’s Emergency Center–Holcombe
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.0 mi
2727 West Holcombe Boulevard, Houston
Spencer R. Berthelsen, M.D., Main Campus
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.9 mi
2727 West Holcombe Boulevard, Houston
Map of West University Place
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Harris County has had 26 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2024-07-09: Hurricane Beryl (Hurricane)
- 2024-05-17: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2021-02-19: Severe Winter Storms (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2021-02-14: Severe Winter Storm (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2020-08-24: Tropical Storms Marco And Laura (Hurricane)
- 2020-07-26: Hurricane Hanna (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 11 miles away.
- Bellaire 2 mi southwest, about 3 min by car
- Houston 5 mi northeast, about 9 min by car
- Stafford 10 mi southwest, about 17 min by car
- Missouri City 12 mi southwest, about 20 min by car
- Fresno 12 mi south, about 20 min by car
- Galena Park 12 mi east, about 19 min by car
- Pearland 13 mi southeast, about 21 min by car
- South Houston 13 mi east, about 21 min by car
- Mission Bend 14 mi west, about 23 min by car
- Sugar Land 15 mi southwest, about 23 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- West University Place, Texas government buildings C, WhisperToMe, CC0
- BayouBendPorch, Postoak at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- Reliant Astrodome in January 2014, EricEnfermero, CC BY-SA 3.0
- IsabellaCourtHouston, WhisperToMe, Public domain
- St Paul's United Methodist Church from Binz, i_am_jim, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Forum of Civics of River Oaks Garden Club, Houston, Jim Evans, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Link-Lee House (HDR), Ed Uthman , Houston, Texas, USA, CC BY 3.0
- Autry House - Jujutacular, Jujutacular, CC BY-SA 4.0
- James L Autry House on Courtlandt Place in Houston, Texas, i_am_jim, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Logue House 1101 Milford, Ed Uthman , Houston, Texas, USA, CC BY 3.0
- Almeda Road Bridge over Brays Bayou, Patrick Feller, CC BY 2.0
- RiceSchoolhouston, WhisperToMe, Public domain
- Southside Place city hall, WhisperToMe, CC0
- Southside Place City Hall A, WhisperToMe, CC0
- Southside Place fire station, WhisperToMe, CC0
- West University Elementary School C, WhisperToMe, CC0
- West University Elementary School B, WhisperToMe, CC0
- West University Elementary School A, WhisperToMe, CC0
- West University Elementary School 0, WhisperToMe, CC0
- West University Elementary School, WhisperToMe, CC0
- West University Elementary School 1, WhisperToMe, CC0
- WESTUScene2, WhisperToMe, CC0
- West University government buildings B, WhisperToMe, CC0
- WestUGov, WhisperToMe, Public domain
- WestUScene0, WhisperToMe, CC0
- West U police station, WhisperToMe, CC0
- Fire Truck Park (33622), EvanCarroll, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fire Truck Park, EvanCarroll, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fire Truck Park, Southside Place, WhisperToMe, CC0
- Harvey aftermath Neighborly Help (36784379681), Chabad Lubavitch, CC BY 2.0
- Fire Truck Park (23925), EvanCarroll, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fire Truck Park (54341), EvanCarroll, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fire Truck Park (71852), EvanCarroll, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fire Truck Park (95048), EvanCarroll, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fire Truck Park (61320), EvanCarroll, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fire Truck Park (50727), EvanCarroll, CC BY-SA 4.0
- WestUUtilities, WhisperToMe, CC0
- WesTUHuffingtonPark1, WhisperToMe, CC0
- WesTUHuffingtonPark0, WhisperToMe, CC0
- WestUsign2016, WhisperToMe, CC0
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