History and Development
- Houston was founded on August 30, 1836, at the confluence of Buffalo Bayou and White Oak Bayou.
- The city was named after former General Sam Houston, who won Texas's independence from Mexico.
- Houston served as the capital of the Texas Republic in the late 1830s.
- Houston emerged as a commercial and railroad hub for cotton export.
- Rail lines connected Houston to the ports of Galveston and Beaumont.
- Efforts were made to widen the city's bayous for increased commerce.
- Houston became the railroad center of Texas.
- The discovery of oil at Spindletop oil field accelerated Houston's development as a deep-water port.
- Tonnage levels at the port decreased during World War II, but the defense industry brought economic benefits.
- Ellington Field was revitalized as a training center for bombardiers and navigators.
- Brown Shipbuilding Company was founded to build ships for the U.S. Navy.
- Houston's economy reverted to being primarily port-driven after the war.
- Availability of air conditioning attracted companies to Houston, leading to an economic boom.
- Houston's population increased by 15.7% from 2000 to 2022.
- Oil and gas industry continued to fuel Houston's economic growth.
- The Texas Medical Center became the largest medical complex in the world.
- New sports stadiums, including Minute Maid Park and NRG Stadium, were opened.
- Houston faced recurring flooding issues, exacerbated by lack of zoning laws.
- Tropical Storm Allison caused severe flooding and billions of dollars in damage.
- Houston provided shelter to evacuees from Hurricane Katrina.
- Hurricane Rita led to the largest urban evacuation in U.S. history.
- Memorial Day Flood and April 2016 storm resulted in multiple fatalities.
- Hurricane Harvey caused severe flooding, with record-breaking rainfall and extensive damage.
Geography
- Houston is located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
- The city covers a land area of 640.4 square miles (1,659 km²), making it the ninth-most expansive city in the United States.
- Houston is primarily located in Harris County, but small portions extend into Fort Bend and Montgomery counties.
- The city is part of the Greater Houston metropolitan area, the fifth-most populous metropolitan statistical area in the United States.
- Houston is situated in the Texas Triangle, a megaregion known for its economic and population growth.
- Houston is located 165 miles east of Austin and 88 miles west of the Louisiana border.
- The city has a total area of 637.4 square miles, with over 599.59 square miles of land and 22.3 square miles covered by water.
- Houston is situated near Buffalo Bayou and has an extensive system of bayous.
- The city is located in the Gulf Coastal Plain.
- The terrain is flat and prone to flooding.
- Downtown Houston stands about 50 feet above sea level.
- Houston's land surface is composed of unconsolidated clays, clay shales, and poorly cemented sands.
- The region's geology developed from river deposits formed from the erosion of the Rocky Mountains.
- The sediments consist of sands and clays deposited on decaying organic marine matter.
- Salt dome formations are common, trapping oil and gas.
- The area has over 150 active faults, including the Long Point-Eureka Heights fault system.
- Houston has four major bayous and an extensive drainage system.
- The city owns surface water rights for 1.20 billion US gallons of water a day.
- Groundwater usage was reduced due to land subsidence.
- Water sources include Lake Houston, Lake Conroe, and Lake Livingston.
- Buffalo Bayou runs through Downtown and the Houston Ship Channel.
Population
- As of 2022, Houston has a population of 2,302,878, making it the most populous city in Texas.
- The city has a population density of 3,598.43/sqmi (1,389.36/km²).
- The Greater Houston metropolitan area has a population of 7,122,240, ranking it as the fifth-most populous metro area in the United States.
- Houston is known for its diverse population, with residents from various ethnic and religious backgrounds.
- The city has a large and growing international community.
Economy
- Houston has a broad industrial base, with key sectors including energy, manufacturing, aeronautics, and transportation.
- The city is home to the second-most Fortune 500 headquarters of any U.S. municipality.
- The Port of Houston ranks first in the United States in international waterborne tonnage handled.
- The Greater Houston area has a GDP of $633.2 billion as of 2022.
- Houston's economy has been fueled by factors such as its port and railroad industry, the Texas oil boom, and the presence of the Texas Medical Center and NASA's Johnson Space Center.
Culture and Attractions
- Houston is known as the 'Bayou City,' 'Space City,' 'H-Town,' and the '713.'
- The city has a vibrant cultural scene, with strengths in areas such as art, medicine, and research.
- Houston's Museum District attracts over seven million visitors each year, with nineteen museums, galleries, and community spaces.
- The city has a thriving visual and performing arts scene, with a Theater District and resident companies in all major performing arts.
- Houston is described as the most racially and ethnically diverse major city in the United States.
Houston (/ˈhjuːstən/ ⓘ; HEW-stən) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. It is the fourth-most populous city in the United States after New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago, and the seventh-most populous city in North America. With a population of 2,302,878 in 2022, Houston is located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico; it is the seat and largest city of Harris County and the principal city of the Greater Houston metropolitan area, which is the fifth-most populous metropolitan statistical area in the United States and the second-most populous in Texas after Dallas–Fort Worth. Houston is the southeast anchor of the greater megaregion known as the Texas Triangle.
Houston | |
|---|---|
City | |
| Nickname(s): Space City (official), more ... | |
 Interactive map of Houston | |
  Houston Location in Texas  Houston Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates: 29°45′46″N 95°22′59″W / 29.76278°N 95.38306°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| Counties | Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery |
| Incorporated | June 5, 1837 |
| Named for | Sam Houston |
| Government | |
| • Type | Strong Mayor-Council |
| • Body | Houston City Council |
| • Mayor | John Whitmire (D) |
| Area | |
| • City | 671.67 sq mi (1,740 km2) |
| • Land | 640.44 sq mi (1,658.73 km2) |
| • Water | 31.23 sq mi (80.89 km2) |
| Elevation | 80 ft (32 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • City | 2,301,572 |
| • Estimate (2022) | 2,302,878 |
| • Rank | 7th in North America 4th in the United States 1st in Texas |
| • Density | 3,598.43/sq mi (1,389.36/km2) |
| • Urban | 5,853,575 (US: 5th) |
| • Urban density | 3,339.8/sq mi (1,289.5/km2) |
| • Metro | 7,122,240 (US: 5th) |
| Demonym | Houstonian |
| GDP | |
| • Greater Houston | $633.2 billion (2022) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 770xx, 772xx (P.O. Boxes) |
| Area codes | 713, 281, 832, 346 |
| FIPS code | 48-35000 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1380948 |
| Website | www |
Comprising a land area of 640.4 square miles (1,659 km2), Houston is the ninth-most expansive city in the United States (including consolidated city-counties). It is the largest city in the United States by total area whose government is not consolidated with a county, parish, or borough. Though primarily in Harris County, small portions of the city extend into Fort Bend and Montgomery counties, bordering other principal communities of Greater Houston such as Sugar Land and The Woodlands.
Houston was founded by land investors on August 30, 1836, at the confluence of Buffalo Bayou and White Oak Bayou (a point now known as Allen's Landing) and incorporated as a city on June 5, 1837. The city is named after former General Sam Houston, who was president of the Republic of Texas and had won Texas's independence from Mexico at the Battle of San Jacinto 25 miles (40 km) east of Allen's Landing. After briefly serving as the capital of the Texas Republic in the late 1830s, Houston grew steadily into a regional trading center for the remainder of the 19th century.
The arrival of the 20th century brought a convergence of economic factors that fueled rapid growth in Houston, including a burgeoning port and railroad industry, the decline of Galveston as Texas's primary port following a devastating 1900 hurricane, the subsequent construction of the Houston Ship Channel, and the Texas oil boom. In the mid-20th century, Houston's economy diversified, as it became home to the Texas Medical Center—the world's largest concentration of healthcare and research institutions—and NASA's Johnson Space Center, home to the Mission Control Center.
Since the late 19th century Houston's economy has had a broad industrial base, in energy, manufacturing, aeronautics, and transportation. Leading in healthcare sectors and building oilfield equipment, Houston has the second-most Fortune 500 headquarters of any U.S. municipality within its city limits (after New York City). The Port of Houston ranks first in the United States in international waterborne tonnage handled and second in total cargo tonnage handled.
Nicknamed the "Bayou City", "Space City", "H-Town", and "the 713", Houston has become a global city, with strengths in culture, medicine, and research. The city has a population from various ethnic and religious backgrounds and a large and growing international community. Houston is the most diverse metropolitan area in Texas and has been described as the most racially and ethnically diverse major city in the U.S. It is home to many cultural institutions and exhibits, which attract more than seven million visitors a year to the Museum District. The Museum District is home to nineteen museums, galleries, and community spaces. Houston has an active visual and performing arts scene in the Theater District, and offers year-round resident companies in all major performing arts.
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