Founded in the 1920's as one of Houston's premier neighborhoods, River Oaks is now nationally recognized as a model for community planning. The area is centrally located just south of Downtown, and north of Uptown Houston.
The home of Houston's elite, River Oaks boasts of homeowners who are national celebrities, political and business leaders, and international figures. Homes in the area are not inexpensive, with the price for individual residences ranging from $1 million to well over $20 million. This compares with a median list price for a home in Houston of $299,000. In fact, Bloomberg Businessweek has ranked the area as the seventh most expensive neighborhood in the country.
The River Oaks community resides within the 77019 Zip Code, which includes residences outside what is considered the River Oaks enclave. The core population of the neighborhood is roughly 17,000, and is comprised of more than 86 percent Caucasian residents, evenly split between men and women.
As might be expected by its valuations, the more than 61 percent of the residents of River Oaks have a bachelors and/or advanced degree, and more than 45 percent of the population is age 40 or older. This older population results in only 12 percent of the homes in the community being occupied by married couples who still have children at home.
Houston in an increasingly international city, and River Oaks attracts many executives and other individuals from other nations. As a result, less than 50 percent of the homeowners are Texas-born, and more than 50 percent of the foreign-born residents are from the nation of Mexico. A number of homeowners in the area also claim residences around the country and the globe, and maintain a presence in River Oaks for business and celebrity reasons.
A large number of those who live in River Oaks are professionals (24%) and finance or real estate executives (12%). The two other main sources of employment for homeowners in the community are health and education (14%) and retail (13%).
From its inception, the River Oaks community has catered to the cultural tastes of its wealthy residents. Today, the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra is located there, and this highly recognized musical group attracts musicians and guest conductors from around the globe.
The Houston Ballet also got its start in this neighborhood, and kept its headquarters in River Oaks until recently.
Of course, the community is only moments away from downtown, where patrons of the arts have ensured that Houston has a world-class arts and theater center. Many residents of River Oaks serve on various boards and associations related to the arts, and there are many culture and arts-related events and fundraisers held along River Oaks Boulevard.
As a reminder of its early roots, the residents have worked to preserve a number of earlier structures and locations, including the River Oaks Theatre. Now considered the place to premier and show arthouse films, this is the last of the many fine theaters built in Houston during the dawn of the era of the cinema.
The roughly 1,600 homes in River Oaks are built and remodeled under a stringent concept of community planning first envisioned by its developers in the 1920's. The area comprises more than 1,100 acres, and some homes of an acre or more have extensive deed restrictions from their original construction.
Shopping has always been a key part of the life in River Oaks, and it has become more exclusive over the years. As early as 1927 the area was the location of one of the nation's first auto-centered shopping malls, the River Oaks Shopping Center. In fact, this was first known as the Community Center, and hosted a number of the local cultural schools and activities.
River Oaks District shopping area is filled with unique boutiques and exclusive shopping opportunities. While the world-renown Galleria Shopping Center is only a few miles to the north, the shops and stores in the River Oaks area cater to the exclusive needs and luxury items of the River Oaks clientele. If fact, it is not uncommon for shoppers to be entertained by such groups as the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra.
The area also attracts a number of high-end restaurants developed by famous chefs, and has attracted some of the best entrepreneurs in the culinary field.
For many residents, the true sign of having arrived in Houston society is gaining membership in the highly exclusive River Oaks Country Club. With a golf course designed by the legendary Donald Ross, the facility is host to many premier social events and weddings, and the waiting list to join is known for being years long. The club is also host to the annual River Oaks International Tennis Tournament.
The area is considered one of the most exclusive housing communities in the nation, and access to most homes is limited by large fences, gates, and other controls. These mansions are predominant along River Oaks Boulevard and Lazy Lane. Many celebrities and executives choose to live in the neighborhood just to ensure that River Oaks is their address.
During any election year you will also see any number of politicians heading to River Oaks for special hosted fund-raisers. The residents are known for giving millions to both parties during the election cycles, and often influence the results with more than donations.
The mere ability to own a home in the River Oaks neighborhood bespeaks of certain financial success, and residents seek to establish themselves on the basis of more than the size of their bank account. You'll find the list of current and past residents of River Oaks is an impressive list of well-known individuals, and it is sure to attract many new such power figures in the future.
