Houston was first founded in 1836, and incorporated June 5, 1837. The President of the Republic of Texas during that time was General Sam Houston. The city of Houston was named after him. Houston was originally the temporary capital of the Republic of Texas. Due to its distant location from the rest of the Republic, however, the capital was moved to a more central location; Austin.

The city of Houston is home to a great business economy it has benefited from its strong energy base. This economic diversification includes growth in high-technology industries, medical research, health care and professional services. There are tons of opportunities that are waiting for you here.

The port, railroad, and oil industry were the economic bases and helped induce early growth. It was a hub for the exporting of cotton. Houston is not only a major city in the United States; it is a major global city. The economy base is all encompassing; energy, manufacturing, aeronautics, and transportation. Houston has it all! It is also expanding is economic base in renewable every sources such as wind and solar. Houston has more Fortune 500 headquarter than any other city in the United States other than New York City.

Houston is home to the world’s largest concentration of healthcare and research institutions – Texas Medical Center.

Some of the ranked top publicly traded companies in 2011 were ConocoPhillips, Marathon Oil, Sysco, Enterprise Products Partners, and Plains All American Pipeline. Of the top 22 of these publicly traded companies, 19 of them are energy and/or oil companies.

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Like all real estate markets, the Houston Texas Real Estate market has seen its ups and downs over the last decade, but has been much more stable than real estate markets in most other big metro areas. Homes in Houston TX are among the most affordable of any big city. The median home price is only around $81,000. The median home cost is less than $100,000.

Because of its global presence as a major city, Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the United States. One of the most famous annual events in Houston is the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. This is the largest and longest running event in Houston, and it is the largest annual Livestock Show and Rodeo in the world. Other events include the Pride Parade, the Houston Greek Festival, Art Car Parade, the Bayou City Art Festival, the Auto Show, and the Houston International Festival.

The presence of the NASA’s Johnson Space Center has earned Houston the official nickname of "Space City". The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center is where the Mission Control Center is located. Houston has one of the largest Museum Districts, attracting more than 7 million visitors each year. The Astrodome opened in 1965. It was the world’s first indoor domed sports stadium.

There is recreation for every type in Houston. Recreation in Houston definitely lives up to the phrase "bigger and better" that many Texans love to use when referring to Texas, and everything about it.

If you love live performances in the arts, the Theater District, Houston Verizon Wireless Theater, and several outdoor theaters are for you! If you love space then Space Center Houston will help you reach for the stars.

There is also Old Market Square, the Houston Zoo, Downtown Aquarium, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Sam Houston Race Park, SplashTown, the Galleria, and 337 parks to entertain you.

If you get bored in Houston, then it's your fault!

There are many educational opportunities in Houston, Texas, this really influenced the quality of life in this city. The city is known to be rich with distinguished school districts and prominent colleges and universities, education won't be a problem if you are going to live in this city. Colleges and Universities in Houston include The University of Houston, Texas Southern University, Rice University, the Houston Community College System, and the Lone Star College System.

Seventeen school districts make up Houston's public school education system. One of those, the Houston Independent School District, is the seventh-largest school district in the United States. Houston also has many charter schools, and over 300 private schools.

Houston is 43 feet above sea level. Its climate is classified as humid subtropical. Houston is not in direct line of most hurricanes that hit the Gulf Coast, or a part of "Tornado Alley", however storms like these do sometimes make an appearance in Houston. It has some of the most beautiful thunderstorms I have ever seen. It averages about 50 inches of rainfall a year. Winters are mild.

Typical winter mornings will have frost on windows and windshields, but the afternoons warm up with average high during these months in the 60's. Snowfall is very rare, but like other weather occurrences, Houston has seen its own snow.

Pools are essential and a common feature to many homes and communities. Summers are hot and humid, but afternoon rains help cool the Houston heat. Practically every home and vehicle in Houston is well equipped with air conditioning.

-If Houston were it's own independent nation, it would rank as the world's 30th largest economy.

-Houston is known internationally as the home of one of the best medical communities in the world, the Texas Medical Center is the biggest medical center in the world. The city itself is providing good quality health care to all the residents.

-Houston has many fun and unique nicknames. Some of these are: Clutch City, Capital of the Sunbelt, H-Town, and a more recent nickname of The Big Heart. It received this nickname from its assistance with victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and 2006.

-92 countries have consular offices in Houston, the third highest in the nation