Houston Facts
Founded in 1836, Houston is the fourth most populous city in the United States. With a population of 5.54 million, ranking sixth nationally.
In 1969, “Houston” was the first word spoken from the moon
Located 23 miles south of Houston, NASA/Johnson Space Center (named for Lyndon B. Johnson) is the training facility for all of America’s astronauts.
• Texas Medical Center (TMC) with 46 member institutions is the largest medical complex in the world.
• Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo- Houston is home to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The largest rodeo in the world, it attracts more than 1.8 million visitors each year.
• Theaters -With more than 14,000 theater seats in a concentrated Theater District, Houston offers a variety of options for theater-goers. •
• Sports - Houston has sports fever 12 months out of the year. The city boasts nearly every major professional sports team including:
- Houston Astros - MLB - Minute Maid Park
- Houston Rockets- NBA – Toyota Center
- Houston Aeros- AHL (hockey) –Toyota Center
- Houston Comets- WNBA – Toyota Center
- Houston Dynamo - MLS (Soccer) – Robertson Stadium
- Houston Texans- NFL – Reliant Stadium
• Museums - Explore a world of art, history and nature in the fourth largest Museum District in the United States, featuring 18 world-class museums.
• Shopping - While many hear Houston and think oil, space and sports, those in the loop know shopping is Houston's real main attraction. Houston is a city that turns casual shoppers into shopaholics who never want to leave. And why should they? Houston is a shopper's paradise.
• Houston Airport System - Consists of three airports: George Bush Intercontinental Airport; William P. Hobby Airport and Ellington Field
• Port of Houston - Despite being 50 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico, the is a world center of waterborne commerce
• Weather - Houston’s temperate climate sustains tropical vegetation and allows the city’s residents and visitors an enviable outdoor lifestyle.
