Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States of America and the largest city within the state of Texas. As of the 2006 U.S. Census estimate, the city has a population of 2.2 million.
Harrisburg (now part of Houston) was settled in 1823, and Houston itself, founded in 1836 by John and Augustus Allen and named for Sam Houston, was promoted as a rival to Harrisburg and soon served as capital of the Texas republic. In the course of the 19th century Houston grew from a muddy town on Buffalo Bayou to a prosperous railroad center. However, its phenomenal expansion came after the digging of a ship channel on Buffalo Bayou and Galveston Bay, linking it to the Gulf and making it a deepwater port. The development of the coastal oil fields poured quick wealth into the city; the natural gas, sulfur, salt, and limestone deposits also in the area laid the basis for its great chemical production.
In 1961 NASA Manned Spacecraft Center came in city, then the Mission Control Center was set Houston in 1965 and focused a world spotlight on this city for sustained periods during manned flights in space.
Houston has a humid subtropical climate, prevailing winds bringing in the heat from the deserts of Mexico and moisture from the Gulf of Mexico during most of the year. Summers are swelteringly hot and humid, making air-conditioning a necessity rather than a luxury. Summers are characterised by afternoon thunderstorms, which bring rain most days, and sometimes tornadoes. Winters, by contrast, are cool and temperate, with no snow but some rain. The coolest month is January.
Houston has numerous space and science research firms, giant oil refineries, electronics plants, high-tech and computer-technology industries, one of the world's greatest concentrations of petrochemical works, steel and paper mills, shipyards, meatpacking houses, breweries, and factories manufacturing oil-drilling equipment, glass, clothing, and seismic instruments. More recently, Houston has become a major center of finance with a large number of banks, many of them foreign. The Texas Medical Center is the world's largest hospital complex and a leading medical research facility.
Houston boasts more than 40 colleges, university and institutions offering higher education options to suit all interests. The oldest is Rice University, while the largest is the University of Houston, with three campuses in the immediate Houston area. Other major educational centers include Texas Southern University, University of St. Thomas, and Houston Baptist University. The city also has three law schools and abundant medical training, including the Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center. The Houston Community College System is one of the city's largest, enrolling 33,821 students in 2002.
The City of Houston's Traffic and Transportation Division publishes street and road closings, bus route cancellations, train route additions, and also posts online applications for parades, street functions and special events. Probably the best way of exploring Houston is by hiring a car. One of the main reasons why Houston transportation is so good is its road system. Logical street plans and good freeway access around the city mean that getting from A to B is simple. If you take advantage of Houston’s nightlife, then it is a good idea to arrange for a cab to pick you up at a specific time and place rather than leave it to chance. If you absolutely must use the buses through Houston you will find that they are frequent, clean, and excellent value.
Houston is one the few cities with permanent ballet, opera, symphony and theater companies. There are more than 30 museums, 500 parks, 100 golf courses, 60 movie theaters and over 11,000 restaurants. Houston has professional teams representing every major sport.
Many annual events celebrate the diverse cultures of Houston. The largest and longest running is the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, held over 20 days from late February to early March. Another large celebration is the annual night-time Houston Pride Parade, held at the end of June. Other annual events include the Houston Greek Festival, Art Car Parade, the Houston Auto Show and the Houston International Festival.
Houston is a vibrant international city that heartily enjoys its tradition of being a place of firsts. General Sam Houston, the city’s heroic namesake, was the first president of the Republic of Texas. Houston, the city, was the first word spoken from the surface of the moon and the first to build an air-conditioned sports stadium.
