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Welcome to Houston, Texas.
Houston is the largest city in the state of Texas and the fourth-largest in the United States. The city covers more than 600 square miles (1,600 kmē)
The city is at the heart of the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown metropolitan area, the largest cultural and economic center of the Gulf Coast region and the seventh-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. with a population of 5.3 million
Downtown Houston from Eleanor Tinsley Park. Photo by bigpinkcookie, July 2003
Houston is world-renowned for its energy (particularly oil) and aeronautics industries, and for its ship channel. The area is also the world's leading center for building oilfield equipment. The Port of Houston ranks first in the country in international commerce and is the sixth-largest port in the world. Second only to New York City in Fortune 500 headquarters, Houston is the seat of the internationally-renowned Texas Medical Center, which contains the world's largest concentration of research and healthcare institutions.
In the mid-1800s, two brothers - John Kirby Allen and Augustus Chapman Allen - who were New York real estate promoters sought a location where they could begin building "a great center of government and commerce." In August 1836, they purchased 6,642 acres (27 kmē) of land from T. F. L. Parrot, John Austin's widow. The Allen brothers named their town after Sam Houston.
Houston started out as a hamlet. Gail and Thomas H. Borden surveyed and mapped the town in typical grid fashion, with wide streets running parallel and perpendicular to the area's system of bayous. The city was granted incorporation on June 5, 1837 and James S. Holman became the first mayor. That same year, Houston also became the county seat of Harrisburg County, which was renamed Harris County in 1839. At this time, the Texas Legislature designated Houston as the temporary capital of the new Republic of Texas. The capital was later moved to Austin, then known as Waterloo on January 14, 1839.
Locations in Houston are generally classified as either being inside or outside Interstate 610, known as the "610 Loop" or "the Loop." Inside the loop encompasses the central business district and many residential neighborhoods that pre-date World War II. More recently, new higher-density residential development has resulted in an urban lifestyle and state of mind. The appellation "inner loop Houston" carries with it the expectations of cosmopolitan-style city life.
Officially, Houston is nicknamed the "Space City" as it is home to NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, where Mission Control Center is located. Because of this, "Houston" was the first word spoken on the moon. Many locals, however, prefer to call it the "Bayou City." Other nicknames include "H-Town," "Clutch City," and "Magnolia City".
There are many popular events held in the city celebrating cultures of Houstonians. The largest and longest running is the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo that is held over 20 days from late February through early March. The event begins with trail rides that originate from several points throughout the state, all of which convene at Reliant Park for a barbeque cook-off. The rodeo includes typical rodeo events, as well as concert performances from major artists and carnival rides. Another large celebration is the annual night-time Houston Pride Parade held at the end of June held along Westheimer Road in Neartown-home to many 1950s-style restaurants, vintage shops, tattoo parlors, bars, nightclubs, coffeehouses, and gay entertainment. Other events held annually include the Houston Greek festival, Art Car Parade, and Houston International Festival.
Known for the vibrancy of its visual and performing arts, Houston's Theater District is ranked second in the country (behind New York City) in the number of theatre seats in a concentrated downtown area with 12,948 seats for live performances and 1,480 movie seats.
The city has world-class visual and performing arts organizations, along with a dose of homegrown folk art such as art cars. Houston is widely recognized as the nation's third most important city for contemporary visual arts. The city is a prime stop for touring companies from Broadway, concerts, shows, and exhibitions for a variety of interests, ranging from the nation's largest quilting show to auto, boat, home, and gun shows.
Tourist attractions include the Galleria, Texas's largest shopping mall located in the Uptown District, Old Market Square, Tranquility Park, Sam Houston Historical Park, which contains restored homes (built between 1824 and 1868) and reconstructed buildings. The San Jacinto Battlefield is in the nearby city of Deer Park.
All public school systems in Texas are administered by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). There are many public school districts serving the city of Houston-the largest of which is the Houston Independent School District, which serves a large majority of the area within the city. There are 15 other school districts that also take students from the city limits. There are also many charter schools that are run separately from school districts, but are administered by the Texas Education Agency. In addition, public school districts-such as Houston ISD and Spring Branch ISD-also have their own charter schools. Houston has numerous private schools of all types.
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Local daily news in Houston:
Father dead, son hurt in Houston shooting
A dad was dead and a son wounded after a double shooting in Houston early Sunday morning.
Curator of Art Car Museum fatally struck by suspected drunk driver
The curator of the Art Car Museum was killed by a suspected drunk driver Sunday morning.
Church works to forgive teens accused of making skull bong
A pastor in Humble requested on Sunday that members of his church forgive the group of teens who allegedly dug up the corpse of a boy and used the skull to smoke pot.
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Places of interest:
West University Place, TX (4.7 miles), Southside Place, TX (5.1 miles), Bellaire, TX (6.9 miles), Hilshire Village, TX (7.5 miles), Hunters Creek Village, TX (8.1 miles), Spring Valley, TX (8.6 miles), Piney Point Village, TX (9.1 miles), Hedwig Village, TX (9.4 miles).
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Weather in Houston:
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Hotels in Houston
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The Westin Oaks
5011 WESTHEIMER - Houston, TX, US 77056
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Sheraton North Houston At Iah
15700 JFK BLVD - Houston, TX, US 77032
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Quality Inn Houston
904 E NASA RD - Houston, TX, US 77058
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Hyatt Regency Houston
1200 LOUISIANA STREET - Houston, TX, US 77002
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Doubletree Post Oak
2001 POST OAK BOULEVARD - Houston, TX, United States
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Houston Airport Marriott
18700 JOHN F. KENNEDY BLVD - Houston, TX, United States
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Marriott West Loop Galleria
1750 WEST LOOP SOUTH - Houston, TX, US 77027
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Sheraton Houston Brookhollow
3000 NORTH LOOP WEST - Houston, TX, US 77092
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Houston Marriott Greenspoint
255 N. SAM HOUSTON PARKWAY E. - Houston, TX, US 77060
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Red Roof Houston Hobby Airport
9005 AIRPORT BOULEVARD - Houston, TX, US 77061
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Phoenician Apartment Suites
2345 BERING DRIVE - Houston, TX, US 77056
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Holiday Inn Northwest
14996 NW FREEWAY - Houston, TX, US 77040
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Houston Marriott Hobby Airport
9100 GULF FREEWAY - Houston, TX, US 77017
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Houston Marriott Westchase
2900 BRIARPARK - Houston, TX, US 77042
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Days Inn Hobby Airport
1505 College Ave., Houston, TX 77587 US
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Sofitel
425 N. SAM HOUSTON PKWY EAST - Houston, TX, US 77064
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Quality Inn Intercontinental Airport
6115 WILL CLAYTON PARKWAY - Houston, TX, US 77205
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La Quinta Inn Houston Cy Fair
13290 FM 1960 ROAD WEST - Houston, TX, US 77065
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Hyatt Regency Houston Airport
15747 JOHN F. KENNEDY BLVD. - Houston, TX, US 77032
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Comfort Inn Westheimer
9041 WESTHEIMER RD - Houston, TX, US 77063
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