How many hurricanes have hit Houston?

Since 1886, the first year that data is available, 41 storms classified as hurricanes have passed within 75 miles of the Houston/Galveston county warning area as of 2014. According to climatecentral.org, a hurricane strength storm is expected strike the Texas coast once every 9 to 16 years.

In 2008, Hurricane Ike heavily impacted the Texas coast as a Category 2 storm, killing 20 people and causing $27.8 billion in damage. The National Weather Service explains that the neighboring towns of Crystal Beach, Gilchrist and High Island were almost completely destroyed by the large storm surge and high winds. Ike was the last storm of hurricane strength to strike the Houston area directly.