Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States and the largest city in the state of Texas. Founded in 1836, Houston has fast made a name for itself as a key industrial city for energy, aeronautics and transportation and has a vast population of about 2.2. million people.
By the mid 1800s Houston had established itself as a commercial and railroad hub for the export of cotton and this, along with the increased production of the local shipbuilding industry after World War II, caused the city to swell in size.
The city is now recognised world-wide for its energy industry in addition to its biomedical research and aeronautics. Houston now boasts 5 out of the 6 major energy companies - ConocoPhillips, Exxon-Mobil, Shell Oil, Chevron and BP. The area is also popular for building oilfield equipment thanks to the Port of Houston. The port is the 10th largest port in the world and ranks first in the United States for international commerce.
Houston office space is favoured by many high profile companies - in fact, after New York City it has the most Fortune 500 companies based there. Key organisations in the Houston area include the Texas Medical Centre, the world's largest concentration of healthcare and research institutions, and NASA's Johnson Space Centre.
In addition to having high quality Houston office space, the area is also one of the best cities in America for jobs. Between 2007 and 2008 the Houston area added 42,500 private sector jobs to the US economy, registering the largest gain in private sector jobs across all US cities.
The city is a multicultural area due to its rich tapestry of academic institutions (17 school districts and more than 60 colleges serve the city) and industries. The metropolitan area is home to roughly 1.1 million residents with nearly two-thirds of the area's foreign-born population from the south of the US/Mexico border.
Houston is also a key area for culture. The downtown Theatre District is home to 9 major performing arts organisations and 6 performance halls. Houston is one of the only cities in the US with permanent, professional companies in all performing arts disciplines, including opera (Houston Grand Opera) and music (Houston Symphony Orchestra). The Bayou Bend facility of the Museum of Fine Arts boasts one of America's best collections of decorative arts, paintings and furniture, while The Alley Theatre plays host to Houston's professional theatre company.
Houston also has a very heavy sports influence and has a professional team for nearly every sport - only the NHL is not represented. The Minute Maid Park (home of the Astros) and the Reliant Astrodome are huge tourist attractions in Houston as are the Houston Zoo and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Rich in green space, Houston has the biggest total area of green space and parks out of the 10 most populated US cities. In total the area has over 200 green spaces, which includes the Williams Waterfall.
Rich in culture, jobs and creativity; Houston has a thriving, growing company which is ideal for any family looking for a new home. Perfect for sports-lovers and theatre fans alike; Houston really does have something for everyone, no matter what their tastes or likes.
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