Houston was founded on August 30, 1836 by brothers Augustus Chapman Allen and John Kirby Allen on land near the banks of Buffalo Bayou. Houston is known as the Bayou City for its waterway system.

The Port of Houston, one of the region's greatest assets, ranks as the nation's largest port in international tonnage and second in total tonnage. The Port of Houston is located 50 miles inland and ranks first in the country in foreign tonnage.

Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the seat of Harris County. Houston's size is 665 square miles. Bush Intercontinental Airport offers non-stop service to more than 70  international destinations.

Houston is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas, fourth-most populous city in the United States, most populous city in the Southern United States, as well as the sixth-most populous in North America, with an estimated 2019 population of 2,320,268.

More than 145 different languages are spoken in Houston. That's the third largest number of languages spoken in a U.S. city behind New York (192) and LA (185). Ninety-one nations have consular representation in the city, ranking Houston’s consular corps third largest in the nation.

Of the 50 largest parks located within U.S. cities, the City of Houston contains four: Cullen Park (#12) with 9,270 acres, George Bush Park (#16) with 8,043 acres, Lake Houston Wilderness Park (#25) with 4,787 acres, and Bear Creek Pioneers Park (#48) with 3,067 acres. Located 50 miles southeast of Houston, Galveston is a barrier island on the Texas Gulf Coast that boasts miles of beaches, a lively amusement park pier and a state park.

Texas Medical Center (TMC) with 21 renowned hospitals—including M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the No. 1 cancer hospital in the country — 13 support organizations, eight academic and research institutions, six nursing programs, three public health organizations, three medical schools, two universities, two pharmacy schools and dental school—is the largest medical complex in the world.

The Greater Houston area has 14 major institutions of higher learning and more than 60 degree-granting colleges, universities and technical schools.  Houston (Rice University) is the birthplace of nanotechnology.

Houston is home to Johnson Space Center, the training base and home for our nation's astronauts and the site of Mission Control. Houston is home to Space Center Houston, the official visitor center of the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, which is NASA's center for spaceflight activities. Mission Control at NASA received the first words spoken from the moon -- "Houston, Tranquillity Base here.  The Eagle has landed."

Houston is one of only a few U.S. cities with resident professional companies in the four disciplines of the performing arts: ballet, opera, symphony and theater. Houston has more than 500 institutions devoted to the performing and visual arts, science and history in the Houston area.

The Houston Museum District is one of the country’s most visited and diverse cultural centers with 19 museums within close proximity. These museums provide rich experiences in art, history, culture, nature and science. One of the largest museum districts in the country with 20 museums and institutions within walking distance.

Houston thrives because it is a great place to work and a great place to live. As a major corporate center. Houston is home to 23 Fortune 500 companies. There are more than 10,000 restaurants in the Houston area with culinary choices that represent more than 70 countries and American regions. There are 198 golf courses within a 50-mile radius of downtown Houston.

Houston is a city that loves sports, from professional to college to interscholastic to personal. Year-round, the weather lends itself to sports, and Houstonians take advantage of it. In basketball there is the Houston Rockets, in soccer, we have there are the Houston Dynamo. In baseball there is the Houston Astros. Houston's NFL team is the Houston Texans.

Alive with energy and rich in diversity, Houston is a dynamic mix of imagination, talent and first-class attractions that makes it a world-class city. Home to a vibrant economy, beautiful surroundings and a population full of optimism and spirit, it's no wonder that Houston is a popular international destination.