Welcome to Houston....the 4th largest city in the US

Located on the coastal prairies of Southeast Texas, Houston is home to a diverse set of industries and cultures. Situated 50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, the climate is moderate and ideally suited for year round activities. Often referred to as "The Bayou City" and "The Space City," the landscape and climate have more in common with neighboring southern Louisiana than the arid western regions people usually associate with the state of Texas. Although the terrain may differ, the people in the City of Houston are 100 percent Texan in their approach to life and economic development!

Houston was named after Sam Houston, General of the Texas army who won independence from Mexico, and later President of the Republic of Texas.

Houston is the largest city in Texas and fourth largest in nation.   A small riverboat landing was established on Buffalo Bayou by the Allen brothers (Augustus C. and John K) in August 1836.  Since the invention of air-conditioning in 1950, Houston has experienced phenomenal growth. 

Houston was a "first" in many ways. Along with New York, Houston was one of the first U.S. cities to build electric power plants. The city was one of the first to buy automobiles for personal travel and one of the first to discover oil. The city gave birth to the state's first major highway, broadcast the first commercial TV program and aired the nation's first public broadcast TV station. Even the first word spoken from the moon's surface was "Houston."

The city's economic livelihood centers on the energy, health care, technology and chemical industries. Houston has more than 500 cultural, visual and performing arts organizations; 75 art galleries, five major museums; resident companies in opera, theater, symphony and ballet; and five sports franchises. Houston's beauty and spirit are reflected in its thousands of trees and gardens, in its cultural amenities and in its grand architecture -- but most importantly in its personality, as shown by the rich cultural diversity of its people.  It is one of nation's largest seaports, and headquarters of the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.

Institutions of higher learning include the University of Houston, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Baptist Univ., Rice Univ., South Texas College of Law, Texas Southern Univ., Univ. of St. Thomas and Univ. of Texas Health Science Center and the Art Institute of Houston.   Perhaps the most notable is the Houston Advanced Research Center.

Major annual events include the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in late Feb. and early Mar., the largest livestock exposition in the world state with championship cowboys and popular entertainers.

Professional sports are presented throughout the year. Teams include the Houston Astros, baseball; Houston Rockets and Comets, basketball; Houston Hotshots, indoor soccer; and the Houston Aeros, hockey.

The Texas Medical Center, the largest in the world, is located in Houston and is home to many distinguished research institutions.

The Houston International Festival each April celebrates the performing and visual arts with 10-day outdoor festival of multicultural music, dance, arts and crafts, and food.

...for more information...