.png){kind=logo}
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.
1. Tired of the extended power outages after Beryl, a Houstonian added "-less" to their I-10 graffiti criticizing what area energy provider?
Answer: CenterPoint
2. The Great (that is, devastating) Houston Flood in 1935 prompted the creation of the Flood Control District of what Texas County?
Answer: Harris
3. Since 2000, what county in Texas has recorded the most number of tornados with 247? (Hint: Houston’s there!)
Answer: Harris
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. The largest county in Texas by population, Harris, contains what major Texas city?
Answer: Houston
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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)
11. 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
12. Their name sounds outta this world, but which Texas MLB team plays here on Earth at Minute Maid Park?
Answer: Houston Astros
13. Sammy the Owl is the official mascot for the athletic teams of what private research university in Houston, Texas?
Answer: Rice University
14. Dora the Explorer, former Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo, and Salt-N-Pepa have all been part of ad campaigns for what insurance company?
Answer: GEICO
15. 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
16. 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
17. 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
18. The American Board of Otolaryngology is based in what 4th-largest US city?
Answer: Houston
19. Which of Houston's three airports has the International Air Transport Association Code "HOU"?
Answer: William P. Hobby Airport
20. 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
21. 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
22. 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
23. 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
24. Named after a wealthy cotton industrialist, the prestigious MD Anderson Cancer Center has its flagship campus in what populous American city?
Answer: Houston
25. 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
26. 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
27. In 1951, an ice storm hit what Texas city, home to MLB’s Astros franchise?
Answer: Houston
28. 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
29. 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
30. By which colorful nickname was Houston-born oil well firefighter Paul Neal Adair known?
Answer: Red
31. 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
32. 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
33. Founded in in Paris in 1926 and incorporated in Netherlands, Schlumberger’s headquarters today are in what U.S. state?
Answer: Texas
34. Which American energy company based in Houston, TX came about in 1987 when two oil tool companies merged their business and names? Today, it's led by CEO Lorenzo Simonelli.
Answer: Baker Hughes
35. What high-flying team did Hakeem Olajuwon lead to back-to-back NBA championships in between the Chicago Bulls' double three-peats in 1991-993 and 1996-1998?
Answer: The Houston Rockets
36. After gaining her master's degree in library science in 1973, what future First Lady was employed as a librarian at the Kashmere Gardens Branch of the Houston Public Library?
Answer: Laura Bush
37. 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
38. Premiering in March 2022, the 19th season of Bravo's competition reality series "Top Chef" took place in what Texas city, whose iconic restaurants include Brenner's steakhouse and the Barbecue Inn?
Answer: Houston
39. 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
40. 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
41. A museum in Houston is dedicated to the 10th Cavalry 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
42. What southern U.S. college had a basketball team nicknamed Phi Slamma Jamma?
Answer: Houston
43. On August 23, 1980, what major Texas city scored its record-highest temperature, 107 degrees F, during a heatwave when daily temps rose above 100 degrees F for 14 days in a row?
Answer: Houston
44. The coldest day in Houston was in 1930, where the temperature dropped to 5 degrees. In which month did this occur?
Answer: January
45. With regards to overall precipitation, on average, what is the wettest month of the year in Houston TX?
Answer: June
46. 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
Water Cooler Trivia is well-equipped to provide you with exciting and engaging trivia quizzes.
So, how does it work?
Each week, our team will deliver original trivia quizzes straight to your inbox.
All you have to do is pick the categories.
You can leave the rest of the heavy lifting to us.
Take Water Cooler Trivia for a test run with our four-week free trial.
We do everything we can to ensure that Water Cooler Trivia's questions are appropriate, relevant, and accurate. Our database has tens of thousands of questions, so we don't always get it right. If you see a question that needs editing, we would love if you let us know here or email quizmaster@watercoolertrivia.com.
.png)