| The
final three decades of the 20th century in Houston wrought an
epic tale of boom, bust and recovery. In the 1970s, the city's
economy soared with oil prices, generating go-go business activity
and construction of architectural landmarks that still draw acclaim.
By the mid-1980s, though, oil prices plummeted, and so did Houston's
spirit and economy. And, as if to punctuate the disaster in Space
City, manned space travel was shut down for almost three years
after the shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986, killing seven astronauts.
The 1990s brought a diversified and improved economy, and the
city faces the new century enjoying a healthy economic maturity,
with little of the wild exuberance of its younger days. |
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| 1971:
Leonel Castillo became the first Hispanic voted into citywide
office when he was elected city controller. He served almost six
years, then resigned during his third term to become director
of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service in the Carter
administration. |
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1977:
The drowning of Joe Campos Torres, a drunken Hispanic man who was
beaten by police officers and thrown into Buffalo Bayou, focused
national attention on incidents of police brutality in Houston.
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Police clash with protesters as a commemoration of the first anniversary
of Torres' death ends in a bloody riot at Moody Park in 1978. |
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1981:
City Controller Kathy Whitmire was elected Houston's first female
mayor. |
1982:
A slump that began in the oil industry, then decimated the real estate
market, set off a recession in the area that lasted through most of
the 1980s.
|
A sign discourages job-seekers at a downtown construction site during
the economic downturn of the 1980s. |
Windows are blown out of downtown skyscrapers by Hurricane Alica
in 1983. |
1935, 1961, 1983:
A massive flood in downtown Houston in 1935 and hurricanes Carla
in 1961 and Alicia in 1983 were a few of many weather disasters
in the century.
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| Skyscrapers
sprouted downtown in the 1970s and 1980s. Some are considered architectural
masterpieces, and they give Houston one of the nation's most distinctive
skylines. |
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1992:
Republicans renominated President Bush during their national convention
at the Astrodome, the first such event in Houston since the Democrats
convened in 1928.
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The Rockets
ride firetrucks through downtown after winning the NBA championship
in 1994, bringing Houston its first national sports title.
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1997:
Former Police Chief Lee Brown was elected Houston's first black
mayor. |
| The scene:
People line the sidewalks of Main Street in 1992. A vibrant downtown
scene emerged in the 1990s. |
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|
The Great Flood of 2001
Floodwaters block the interchange
between interstate 45 and Interstate 10 north of downtown Houston,
Saturday, June 9, 2001. Twenty two people died after the remnants
of Tropical Storm Allison dumped an estimated 28 inches of water
on the area. Damage is estimated at $4.88 billion.
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