Highlands is a census-designated place (CDP) located along the Union Pacific Railroad, north of Interstate 10 and west of Farm to Market Road 2100, in an industrialized area of unincorporated Harris County, Texas, United States.

[4] The community was named Highlands because the east bank of the San Jacinto River, where Highlands is located, has a higher elevation than the west bank of the river.

By 1908, Highlands became a station on the Beaumont, Sour Lake and Western Railway.

The 1936 Harris County highway map indicated two churches, a factory, a school, and a sawmill in Highlands.

In 1965, W. O. Hutson built the Double Trouble Youth Rodeo Arena.

[6] Highlands is located on the banks of the San Jacinto River and the Houston Ship Channel.

[16] As of the 2020 United States census, there were 8,612 people, 2,547 households, and 1,766 families residing in the CDP.

19.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

[23] The United States Postal Service operates the Highlands Post Office at 608 Main Street.

[24] Harris Health System (formerly Harris County Hospital District) designated Baytown Health Center in Baytown for ZIP code 77562.

[33] Highland Junior High's current 186,000-square-foot (17,300 m2) campus was funded by a 2005 bond.

A woman named Anna Stratford donated the property that the library sits on.

[39][40] Highlands Park includes a picnic area, a playground, a lighted walking trail, an open shelter, a lighted basketball pavilion, a lighted tennis court, a covered barbecue pit, an exercise station, a spray park, and toilets.

[42] The park includes a picnic area, a playground, an open shelter, a lighted baseball field, and toilets.