| Founded in 1836, Houston is the largest city of State of | | | | ranks first in the United States in international |
| Texas and fourth largest in all of USA with an | | | | waterborne tonnage handled and second in total cargo |
| estimated population of 2.2 million. The greater Houston, | | | | tonnage handled. The city has a multicultural population |
| that includes Sugarland and Bay Town, is the 6th | | | | with a large and growing international community. |
| largest metroplex in USA with a total population of 5.6 | | | | Houston Theater District is located downtown and is |
| million. Houston is also the seat of Harris county which | | | | home to nine major performing arts organizations and |
| is one of the largest counties in USA in terms of land | | | | six performance halls. It is the second-largest |
| size. Houston climate is considered subtropical with | | | | concentration of theater seats in a downtown area in |
| temperatures commonly seen in the 90s during | | | | the United States. Houston has a permanent, |
| summer months. | | | | professional, resident companies in all major performing |
| Houston is called the energy capital of the world | | | | arts disciplines: opera (Houston Grand Opera), ballet |
| because of the presence of large number of oil & gas | | | | (Houston Ballet), music (Houston Symphony Orchestra), |
| companies including ExxonMobile, Chevron and Shell | | | | and theater (The Alley Theatre). Houston attracts |
| North America. The city faced considerable economic | | | | many touring Broadway acts, concerts, shows, and |
| hardships during the oil crisis of 1973 and the economic | | | | exhibitions for a variety of interests. |
| crisis in 1987. In the decades of the 1990s the city | | | | Houston is home to the largest and longest running |
| administration decided to diversify the city economy by | | | | annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, held over |
| reducing its reliance on oil & gas sector. Since then the | | | | 20 days from late February to early March. Another |
| Houston economy has acquired a broad economic | | | | large celebration is the annual night-time Houston Pride |
| base with presence of retail, health care, energy, | | | | Parade, held at the end of June. Houston holds the |
| aeronautics and manufacturing companies. Houston | | | | Bayou City Art Festival, which is considered to be one |
| has the proud distinction of home to more Fortune 500 | | | | of the top five art festivals in the United States. |
| companies behind New York. The Port of Houston | | | | |