27 Facts About Houston Texas

1. City of Houston Texas was founded by land investors on August 30, 1836, at the confluence of Buffalo Bayou and White Oak Bayou and incorporated as a city on June 5, 1837.

2. In 1839, the Republic of Houston Texas relocated its capital to Austin.

3. Landlocked farmers brought their produce to Houston Texas, using Buffalo Bayou to gain access to Galveston and the Gulf of Mexico.

4. Great majority of enslaved people in Houston Texas came with their owners from the older slave states.

5. Locations in Houston Texas are generally classified as either being inside or outside the Interstate 610 loop.

6. On February 14 and 15, 1895, Houston Texas received 20 inches of snow, its largest snowfall from one storm on record.

7. The last time Houston Texas saw single digit temperatures was on December 23, 1989.

8. The rankings are in terms of peak-based standards, focusing strictly on the worst days of the year; the average ozone levels in Houston Texas are lower than what is seen in most other areas of the country, as dominant winds ensure clean, marine air from the Gulf.

9. Houston Texas is home to one of the largest LGBT communities and pride parades in the United States.

10. Houston Texas elected the first openly lesbian mayor of a major city in 2009, and she served until 2016.

11. Lakewood Church in Houston Texas, led by Pastor Joel Osteen, is the largest church in the United States.

12. Houston Texas is recognized worldwide for its energy industry—particularly for oil and natural gas—as well as for biomedical research and aeronautics.

13. Houston Texas is the beginning or end point of numerous oil, gas, and products pipelines.

14. Twenty-five foreign banks representing 13 nations operate in Houston Texas, providing financial assistance to the international community.

15. In 2008, Houston Texas received top ranking on Kiplinger's Personal Finance "Best Cities of 2008" list, which ranks cities on their local economy, employment opportunities, reasonable living costs, and quality of life.

16. In 2012, the city was ranked number one for paycheck worth by Forbes and in late May 2013, Houston Texas was identified as America's top city for employment creation.

17. Houston Texas is highly regarded for its diverse food and restaurant culture.

18. Houston Texas is one of the first cities in the world to have a major esports team represent it, in the form of the Houston Texas Outlaws.

19. In 2009, Houston Texas became the first US city with a population over 1 million citizens to elect a gay mayor, by electing Annise Parker.

20. Houston Texas is a significant hub for trafficking of cocaine, cannabis, heroin, MDMA, and methamphetamine due to its size and proximity to major illegal drug exporting nations.

21. The University of Houston Texas is a research university and the flagship institution of the University of Houston Texas System.

22. Suburban northern and western parts of the metropolitan area are served by various campuses of the Lone Star College System, while the southeastern portion of Houston Texas is served by San Jacinto College, and a northeastern portion is served by Lee College.

23. La Voz de Houston Texas is the Houston Texas Chronicle's Spanish-language newspaper and the largest in the area.

24. Houston Texas averaged 1.59 cars per household in 2016, compared to a national average of 1.8.

25. Major freeways in Greater Houston Texas are often referred to by either the cardinal direction or geographic location they travel towards.

26. In 2015, Downtown Houston Texas added a cycle track on Lamar Street, running from Sam Houston Texas Park to Discovery Green.

27. Houston Texas was the headquarters of Continental Airlines until its 2010 merger with United Airlines with headquarters in Chicago; regulatory approval for the merger was granted in October of that year.