Highlands is a census-designated place in unincorporated Harris County, Texas, situated on the east bank of the San Jacinto River in the Greater Houston metropolitan area. At the 2020 census, the community recorded a population of 8,612. It sits just north of Interstate 10, near Baytown and the industrial corridor of the Houston Ship Channel, giving it a strategic position within one of the nation's most important energy and shipping regions. The community takes its name from the high ground along the river's east bank, a feature that distinguished it in an otherwise low-lying coastal landscape. Highlands has long been tied to the surrounding waterways and industries, and its economy and character reflect that connection, with many residents employed in the petrochemical plants, refineries, and related businesses that line the channel. Highlands offers a suburban-rural mix, with established single-family neighborhoods, older river-area homes, and larger acreage parcels on its outskirts. Public education is provided by the Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District, which serves Highlands and Baytown and operates campuses including Highlands Elementary. The San Jacinto River provides recreational access, and the community's proximity to Interstate 10 makes Houston, Baytown, and the broader region easily reachable. Highlands has a long history as a small riverside community within a heavily industrialized region. It grew with the development of the Houston Ship Channel and the surrounding petrochemical complex, and its residential areas have long served workers in those industries. The community retains a distinct, close-knit identity, with churches, schools, and local businesses anchoring daily life, while the broader Houston economy provides employment and amenities. For residents, Highlands combines a semi-rural, community-oriented setting with direct access to the employment and infrastructure of the Houston area.