Houston is the largest city in Texas. As of 2005, it had an estimated population of 2,016,582. Furthermore, the city of Houston lies within, and is part of, the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown metropolitan area, which is the 6th most populous metropolitan area in the United States, and is home to about 5 million people.
Houston was originally founded in 1836, and incorporated in 1837, by brothers, Augustus Chapman Allen and John Kirby Allen. The city is named after Sam Houston, who, at the time, was the President of the Republic of Texas. Sam Houston had previously commanded at the Battle of San Jacinto, in 1836 during the Texas revolution, the battle having taken place 25 miles (40 kilometers) to the East of the city's location.
Attractions in Houston include:
- Houston Museum of Natural Science (includes Burke Baker Planetarium)
- Houston Zoo
- Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Here is some more information about the area:
- Of all the cities in the United States, only New York City is home to more Fortune 500 headquarters than Houston. Some of the major companies headquartered in Houston include ConocoPhillips, Continental Airlines, Halliburton, Lyondell Chemical, Marathon Oil and Sysco.
- Perhaps the most famous educational institution in Houston is William Marsh Rice University, which is a private comprehensive research university that is particularly known for its strength in applied sciences.
- The main airport for Houston is George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
- Sports teams in Houston include the AHL ice hockey team, the Houston Aeros, the basketball team, the Houston Rockets, the Major League Baseball team, the Houston Astros, the MLS soccer team, Houston Dynamo, and the NFL American football team, the Houston Texans.
