25 Facts About Houston TX

1. Houston TX has more than 500 institutions devoted to the performing and visual arts, science and history in the Houston area.

2. Houston TX is one of only a few US cities with resident professional companies in the four disciplines of the performing arts: ballet, opera, symphony and theater.

3. Houston TX received approximately 17.5 million visitors in 2015, according to the most recent data available.

4. Houston TX rates first in total park acreage among US cities with more than one million residents.

5. Houston TX 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.

6. In 2015, downtown Houston TX added a cycle track on Lamar Street, running from Sam Houston Park to Discovery Green.

7. Houston TX has the largest number of bike commuters in Texas with over 160 miles of dedicated bikeways.

8. Houston TX is the seat of the internationally renowned Texas Medical Center, which contains the world's largest concentration of research and healthcare institutions.

9. Houston TX is served by the Houston TX Chronicle, its only major daily newspaper with wide distribution.

10. University of Houston TX, located in the Third Ward, is a tier-one public research university and the third-largest institution of higher education in Texas.

11. Houston TX hosts a number of graduate schools in law and healthcare.

12. The university in Texas, the University of Houston TX has nearly 44,000 students on its 667-acre campus in the Third Ward.

13. Houston TX is one of the country's largest hubs for human trafficking.

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

15. Houston TX is a home rule city and all municipal elections in the state of Texas are nonpartisan.

16. Houston TX has sports teams for every major professional league except the National Hockey League.

17. Houston TX attracts many touring Broadway acts, concerts, shows, and exhibitions for a variety of interests.

18. Houston TX is home to folk artists, art groups and various small progressive arts organizations.

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

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

21. Houston TX has the fifth-tallest skyline in North America and 36th-tallest in the world as of 2015.

22. Houston TX has excessive ozone levels and is routinely ranked among the most ozone-polluted cities in the United States.

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

24. Houston TX has four major bayous passing through the city that accept water from the extensive drainage system.

25. Houston TX was founded by land speculators on August 30, 1836, at the confluence of Buffalo Bayou and White Oak Bayou and incorporated as a city on June 5, 1837.