Houston is a city in Houston County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 997 at the 2020 census. The community was named …Houston is a city in Houston County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 997 at the 2020 census. The community was named after Sam Houston, first president of the Republic of Texas. In 1852, William McSpadden platted the original site of the Village of Houston. McSpadden had served under Sam Houston in the Mexican–American War. Pioneers followed him into the area and by 1854 there were stores and a school among the approximately 40 buildings in the settlement.