Houston is the largest City in the state of Texas and the fourth-larges in the United States. Houston is the county seat of Harris County and part of the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown metropolitan area; the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. Houston is located in eastern Texas, 10 miles from Galveston Bay and 25 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. The city is serviced by I-45, I-10, and several US routes and state highways, and two major airports, so you will have no trouble getting here.

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.

What do you get when you combine southern hospitality, Old West charm, and nearly 2 million people from all over the world? Well, the city of Houston, of course! The nation's fourth-largest city is not shy when it comes to welcoming visitors, tourists and new residents. In fact, nearly 40 million people per year use Houston's two major airports. The city is indeed an active one, and the strength of the economy is simply one indicator of its lively character.

Currently, there are eighteen Fortune 500 companies that call Houston home, and with an unusually high number of energy firms per capita the city has been called the "Energy Capital of the World". New and growing businesses are blessed with a strong infrastructure, a highly skilled work force, many of which come from the area's forty local institutions of higher learning, and a quality of life that isn't spoiled by Houston's size.

Light Rail System Houston, Texas, USA: the 7½-mile line runs from the Reliant football stadium to Downtown, linking the theatre and museum mile, the Zoo and Hermann Park - one of Houston's major tourist attractions, which draws 5½ million visitors a year.

Houston is a multicultural city with a large and growing international community. The Museum District is home to many cultural institutions and exhibits, attracting more than 7 million visitors a year. Houston has an active visual and performing arts scene as one of five U.S. cities that offer year-round resident companies in all major performing arts.

Looking for fun? Houston is full of things to enjoy and can bring fun to the whole family. Kids especially can enjoy attractions like Kids Museum, get an out-of-this-world experience at Space Center Houston and visit theme parks like Water world, Six Flags and Splash Town. Work or play, this tropical destination is ideal for families and groups alike. Just a short hour's drive from downtown is Galveston Beach-home to the exceptional theme attraction, Moody Gardens.

Housing Cost

Houston has the second-lowest cost of living among major metropolitan cities in the country. The average home price is $165,521. While prices range from $20,500 to $1,449,000.

Demographics

Estimated population in July 2005: 2,016,582. Houston covers 579.4 square miles. It sits at an elevation of 46 feet above sea level.

Climate

Houston, TX climate is hot during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 80's and cool during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 50's.

The warmest month of the year is August with an average maximum temperature of 91.90 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 43.70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Temperature variations between night and day tend to be fairly limited during summer with a difference that can reach 18 degrees Fahrenheit, and fairly limited during winter with an average difference of 19 degrees Fahrenheit.

The annual average precipitation at Houston is 57.24 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is September with an average rainfall of 7.49 Inches.

Information provided by idcide.com and city data.com