Houston, the fourth-largest city in the United States, is the largest city in the state of Texas and the cultural, economic, and educational center of the region. It is known for its diverse population, thriving energy industry, and iconic landmarks such as the Johnson Space Center and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Houston was founded in 1836 by brothers Augustus and John Allen and was named after General Sam Houston, a hero of the Texas Revolution. The city quickly developed into a major transportation hub and center of the oil and gas industry, leading to its nickname as the "Energy Capital of the World."
Houston is also known for its diverse population, with a large number of immigrants from Mexico, Vietnam, and India, as well as African American and Hispanic communities. This diversity is reflected in the city's food, music, and art, making it a vibrant and exciting place to visit or live. The city is also home to the largest medical center in the world, the Texas Medical Center, making it a major center for healthcare and research.
47 Houston Trivia Questions Ranked From Easiest to Hardest (Updated for 2024)
- The Great (that is, devastating) Houston Flood in 1935 prompted the creation of the Flood Control District of what Texas County?
Answer: Harris
- Since 2000, what county in Texas has recorded the most number of tornados with 247? (Hint: Houston’s there)
Answer: Harris
- Intuitive Machines, a space tech company that became publicly traded in February 2023, is appropriately based in what Texas city that's associated with space?
Answer: Houston
- AstroTurf borrows its name from a sporting arena nicknamed "The Eighth Wonder of the World," located in what home city of Travis Scott and Beyoncé?
Answer: Houston
- Halliburton is one of the largest oil field service companies in the world. Although the company is technically American, it has dual headquarters in Houston and what city outside of the US?
Answer: Dubai
- A flood, brought on by 24 inches of rain in the Houston area over a two day period in April 2016, was named for what little-loved "holiday?"
Answer: Tax Day
- Whitney Houston recorded her own Billboard chart-topping cover version of Dolly Parton’s "I Will Always Love You" for what romantic 1992 film starring Kevin Costner as Houston’s hired protector in the movie?
Answer: “The Bodyguard”
- Dwalin, Smaug's Delight, and Thorin Oakenshield are sandwiches at a Houston cafe named for what 1937 novel?
Answer: The Hobbit (There and Back Again)
- Stephen F. Austin, the namesake of Texas's capital city, lost the 1836 Texas presidential election to what other famed Texan? Austin was later appointed secretary of state for the new republic.
Answer: Sam Houston
- What “S” solar energy company based out of Houston, TX is one of the top companies in the US for residential solar installations? Its name is a made up compound word, where the first half is the center of the solar system, and the second half is a star that shows a sudden increase in brightness.
Answer: Sunnova
- Their name sounds outta this world, but which Texas MLB team plays here on Earth at Minute Maid Park?
Answer: Houston Astros
- What university in Houston, Texas had its mascot, Sammy the Owl, named after an incident in which the large canvas owl was kidnapped (owl-napped?) by Texas A&M?
Answer: Rice
- Nicknamed "The Juice Box," home field for the Houston Astros is named for what juice brand owned by the healthy folks at Coca-Cola?
Answer: Minute Maid
- The American Board of Otolaryngology is based in what 4th-largest US city?
Answer: Houston
- Which of Houston's three airports has the International Air Transport Association Code "HOU"?
Answer: William P. Hobby Airport
- What Bay, in the western Gulf Of Mexico along the upper coast of Texas, is part of Houston’s borderline? It shares its name with an island Texas city that is home to Moody Gardens and its Pleasure Pier.
Answer: Galveston Bay
- in 2002, a “C” oil company based in Utah, and a “P” Petroleum Company based in Oklahoma merged to form what Houston oil conglomerate? The name is one word, the two former companies pressed together.
Answer: ConocoPhillips
- What “C” petroleum company, founded in 1950 in Houston, Texas, with Joe Gatto as its current president, uses a logo where its name is in big blue letters, with the word “petroleum” in little red letters underneath?
Answer: Callon
- A 1935 flood in what “H” Texas county, a part of the Houston area, drowned at least seven people and forced reforms in flood control in the area? The county’s name is the same as the last name of the actor who played Mission Control’s Gene Kranz in “Apollo 13.”
Answer: Harris County
- Named after a wealthy cotton industrialist, the prestigious MD Anderson Cancer Center has its flagship campus in what populous American city?
Answer: Houston
- Which Texas city, now the largest in the state, was originally the capital of The Republic of Texas, before Austin became the capital in 1839?
Answer: Houston
- In what month was the hottest day in Houston, Texas history? The event occurred in 2000, when Enron Field registered a temperature of 109 degrees.
Answer: September
- Despite catastrophic flooding to Houston from Hurricane Harvey, the Astros won the 2017 World Series. Inspired by their city's resilience in the aftermath of the devastation, the team wore a special patch during their games that had their team logo with what single six-letter word underneath?
Answer: Strong
- By which colorful nickname was Houston-born oil well firefighter Paul Neal Adair known?
Answer: Red
- What place in Texas probably does NOT have a problem being nicknamed Space City, since it's a big part of NASA history?
Answer: Houston
- What pitcher did the Houston Astros re-acquire at the 2023 trade deadline, after he had spent just a few months on the New York Mets?
Answer: Justin Verlander
- Founded in in Paris in 1926 and incorporated in Netherlands, Schlumberger’s headquarters today are in what U.S. state?
Answer: Texas
- With a name like an electric company and a huge heart, what former Texans defensive end raised over $37 million to rebuild Houston after Hurricane Harvey?
Answer: J.J. Watt
- As of August 2019, how many commercial gas stations can be found south of Houston St in Manhattan?
Answer: Zero
- Premiering in March 2022, the 19th season of Bravo's competition reality series "Top Chef" takes place in what Texas city, whose iconic restaurants include Brenner's steakhouse and the Barbecue Inn?
Answer: Houston
- Sporting the same name as the lady after Sandra in Lou Bega's "Mambo No. 5," what hurricane forced a Houston evacuation less than a month after Katrina?
Answer: Rita
- After Chicago, what is the most populous U.S. city in the Central Time Zone? Hint: They're about 1,000 miles apart from each other.
Answer: Houston
- What was the first tropical storm to have its name retired before reaching hurricane status? The storm hit Southeast Texas in June 2001, and was particularly damaging in the Houston area.
Answer: Allison
- In 1829, what former major general and governor of Tennessee left his wife of eleven weeks, resigned from the governorship, and ran away to the Arkansas territory to live with the Cherokees?
Answer: Sam Houston
- A museum in Houston is dedicated to the 10th Calvary Regiment, a group of Black American soldiers who were also stationed at Fort Davis in West Texas. What's the better known nickname of these soldiers?
Answer: Buffalo Soldiers
- What southern U.S. college had a basketball team nicknamed Phi Slamma Jamma?
Answer: Houston
- With regards to overall precipitation, on average, what is the wettest month of the year in Houston TX?
Answer: June
- Although technically not a hurricane, what is the name of the storm that struck the Houston area in 2001 and deposited more than 80% of the area's average rainfall in a period of a few days? The storm flooded nearly 100,000 cars and was responsible for 41 deaths and $5 billion in property damage.
Answer: Allison
- A Disney ride, given its current name in 1994, features futuristic vehicles “flying” around a central platform and is called “WHAT Orbiter.” Fill in the blank, also the singular of a baseball team in Houston, Texas.
Answer: Astro Orbiter
- A unit of electrical power equal to one joule per second was named after a Scottish inventor known for his work on the steam engine, not for a Houston Texans defensive end. What is this unit?
Answer: Watt
- What prestigious private research university in Houston is named, not for a staple grain grown in paddies, but for the businessman whose fortune was used to found the university?
Answer: Rice
- The largest county in Texas by population, Harris, contains what major Texas city?
Answer: Houston
- After leading the University of Wisconsin in tackles for loss and winning the Ronnie Lott award in 2010, what defensive player was drafted by the Houston Texans and became popular across the NFL? His name has electrical power.
Answer: J.J. Watt
- Texas was one of a few southern states to set weather records during the Great WHAT Coast Snowstorm of 1895. Parts of the state got more snowfall and colder temperatures than it had ever had before (supposedly 20 inches of snow fell in Houston!)
Answer: Gulf
- Sammy the Owl is the official mascot for the athletic teams of what private research university in Houston, Texas?
Answer: Rice University
- In 1951, an ice storm hit what Texas city, home to MLB’s Astros franchise?
Answer: Houston, Texas
- Which actress, known for playing Rory Gilmore as well as her roles in “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” and “The Handmaid’s Tale,” was born in Houston in 1981?
Answer: Alexis Bledel
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About the Author
Eli Robinson is the Chief Trivia Officer at Water Cooler Trivia. He was once in a Bruce Springsteen cover band called F Street Band.
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