| Houston is a city in the eastern part of the state of Texas. With a population of 2,300,000, Houston ranks as the fourth largest city in the United States. The MSA area has nearly six million residents. The elevation of Houston is 40 feet. The city lies within Fort Bend County, Harris County, and Montgomery County, Texas. Houston lies within the Central Standard Time Zone. Houston area codes are 832, 713, and 281. Houston was established in 1836. Houston weather is warm and humid with winter lows of 39 degrees and summer high temperatures into the mid-90s. Houston things to do include the Houston Zoo, Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Station Museum of Contemporary Art, Sam Houston Park, Space Center Houston, and Discovery Green. Houston events and festivals include the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Houston Greek Festival, Houston Pride Parade, and the Houston International Festival. Houston entertainment and theater includes a wide variety from the Houston Theater District, Houston Symphony Orchestra, and Houston Grand Opera. Many large oil and gas companies and corporations have a presence in Houston including Exxon-Mobil, ConocoPhillips, Shell Oil Company, Chevron, Halliburton, Apache Corporation, Citgo, and Marathon Oil Company. Famous people from the area include Hilary Duff, Patrick Swayze, Clint Black, Kenny Rogers, and ZZ Top. Area attractions include Houston Zoo, Hermann Park, Space Center Houston, the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, and Sam Houston Race Park. Local sports team include baseball's Houston Astros, NFL football's Houston Texans, and NBA basketball's Houston Rockets. Houston is a leader in healthcare and home of Texas Medical Center, Methodist Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Higher educational facilities include University of Houston, Texas Southern University, Houston Community College System, and San Jacinto College. |
