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{{Infobox Settlement|official_name = City of Houston|settlement_type = City|image_map1 =|mapsize1 =|map_caption1 =|subdivision_type = [List of countries|subdivision_type1 = Political divisions of the United States|subdivision_type2 = List of counties in Texas|subdivision_name = United States|subdivision_name1 = Texas
[Fort Bend County, Texas
Montgomery County, Texas|government_type =|leader_title = List of mayors of Houston|leader_name = Bill White (mayor)|area_magnitude = 1 E8|area_total_sq_mi = 601.7|area_total_km2 = 1558|area_land_sq_mi = 579.4|area_land_km2 = 1501|area_water_sq_mi = 22.3|area_water_km2 = 57.7|population_as_of July 1, 2006 (http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2007/cb07-91table1.pdf)|population_as_of = 2006|population_footnotes = |population_total = 2,144,491|population_urban =|population_metro = 5539949|population_density_sq_mi = 3701|population_density_km2 = 1429|timezone = North American Central Time Zone|utc_offset = -6|timezone_DST = North American Central Time Zone|utc_offset_DST = -5|postal_code_type =|postal_code =|area_code =|latd = 29 |latm = 45 |lats = 46 |latNS = N|longd = 95 |longm = 22 |longs = 59 |longEW = W|elevation_m = 13|elevation_ft = 43|established_title = Municipal corporation|established_date = June 5, 1837|blank_name = Federal Information Processing Standard|blank_info = 48-35000|blank1_name = Geographic Names Information System feature ID|blank1_info = 1380948|footnotes =-->Houston (pronounced //) is the largest city in the state of Texas and the in the . As of the 2006 U.S. Census estimate, the city has a population of 2.14 million within an area of 600 square miles (1,600 km²). Houston is the county seat of Harris County, Texas and an economic center of the metropolitan area—the United States metropolitan area in the U.S. with a population of more than 5.5 million.. Houston Population Estimates, July 2006 2006. Retrieved on 2007-04-04.

Houston was founded on August 30, 1836 by brothers Augustus Chapman Allen and John Kirby Allen on land near the banks of . Houston was incorporated on June 5, 1837 and named after then-President of the Republic of Texas—former General Sam Houston—who had commanded at the Battle of San Jacinto, which took place 25 miles (40 km) east of where the city was established. The burgeoning port and railroad industry, combined with oil discovery in 1901, has induced continual surges in the city's population. In the mid-twentieth century, Houston became the home of the Texas Medical Center—the world's largest concentration of healthcare and research institutions—and NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, where Mission Control Center is located.

Houston's economy has a broad industrial base in the energy, manufacturing, aeronautics, and technology; only New York City is home to more Fortune 500 headquarters. The Port of Houston ranks first in the United States in international waterborne tonnage handled and second in total cargo tonnage handled. U.S. Port Ranking by Cargo Volume 2004. Port Industry Information, American Association of Port Authorities. 2004. Retrieved on 2007-01-15. The city has a multicultural population with a large and growing international community. As a global city, it is home to many cultural institutions and exhibits—attracting more than 7 million visitors a year to the Houston Museum District. Houston has an active visual and performing arts scene in the Houston Theater District and is one of five U.S. cities that offer year-round resident companies in all major performing arts."", Greater Houston Partnership. Retrieved on 2006-12-16.

History In August 1836, John Kirby Allen and Augustus Chapman Allen, two real estate entrepreneurs from New York City, purchased 6,642 acres (27 km²) of land along Buffalo Bayou with the intent of founding a city. The Allen brothers decided to name the city after Sam Houston, the popular general of the Texans at the Battle of San Jacinto, who was elected President of Texas in Semptember 1836.

Houston was granted incorporation on June 5 1837, with James Sanders Holman becoming its first mayor. Houston, Texas. Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved on 2007-01-10. In the same year, Houston became the county seat of Harrisburg County (now Harris County) and the temporary capital of the Republic of Texas. In 1840, the community established a Chamber of commerce in part to promote [shipping and waterborne business at the newly created port on Buffalo Bayou.[http://www.houstontx.gov/hr/savvypages/sum06/sum06_heritage.htm Born on the Bayou: city's murky start. John Perry, City Savvy Online Edition. Published Summer 2006. Retrieved on [2007-02-06 By 1860, Houston had emerged as a commercial and railroad hub for the export of cotton. Railroad spurs from the Texas inland converged in Houston, where they met rail lines to the ports of Galveston, Texas and Beaumont, Texas. During the American Civil War, Houston served as a headquarters for General John B. Magruder, who used the city as an organization point for the Battle of Galveston. After the Civil War, Houston businessmen initiated efforts to widen the city's extensive system of bayous so the city could accept more commerce between downtown and the nearby port of Galveston.

In 1900, after Galveston was struck by a devastating Galveston Hurricane of 1900, efforts to make Houston into a viable deepwater port were accelerated. J.H.W. Stele to Sayers, September 11-12, 1900. Texas State Library & Archives Commission, Retrieved on August 31 2007 The following year, oil discovered at Spindletop, an oil field near Beaumont, prompted the development of the Texas petroleum industry. In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt approved a $1 million improvement project for the Houston Ship Channel. President Woodrow Wilson opened the Port of Houston in 1914, seven years after digging began. By 1930, Houston had become Texas' most populous city. When World War II started, tonnage levels at the port decreased and shipping activities were suspended; however, the war did provide economic benefits for the city. Petrochemical refinery and factory were constructed along the ship channel because of the demand for petroleum and synthetic rubber products during the war.{{cite web| title = Houston Ship Channel | work = TSHA Handbook of Texas | url = http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/HH/rhh11.html | accessdate = 2007-02-18--> [Ellington Field, initially built during [World War I, was revitalized as an advanced training center for bombardiers and navigators.{{cite web | last = Carlson | first = Erik | title = Ellington Field: A Short History, 1917–1963 | work = National Aeronautics and Space Administration | date = February, 1999 | url = http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/ellington/Ellington.pdf | accessdate = 2007-02-18--> The M. D. Anderson Foundation formed the [Texas Medical Center in 1945. After the war, Houston's economy reverted to being primarily port-driven. In 1948, several unincorporated areas were annexed into the city limits, which more than doubled the city's size, and Houston proper began to spread across the region.{{cite web | last = Streetman | first = Ashley | title = Houston Timeline | work = Houston Institute for Culture | url = http://www.houstonculture.org/resources/houstontime.html | accessdate = 2007-02-06-->

In 1950, the availability of air conditioning provided impetus for many companies to relocate to Houston, including ConocoPhillips, Prudential Financial, Mobil, Gulf Oil, Texaco, Tidewater Petroleum and Sunray MidContinent, resulting in an economic boom and producing a key shift in the city's economy toward the energy sector. How Air Conditioning Changed America. The Old House Web, Retrieved on April 4 2007 A Short History. Houston Geological Auxiliary, Retrieved on April 4 2007

The increased production of the local shipbuilding industry during World War II spurred Houston's growth,{{cite web| title = Shipbuilding | work = TSHA Handbook of Texas | url = http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/SS/ets3.html | accessdate = 2007-02-18--> as did the establishment in 1961 of NASA's "Manned Spacecraft Center" (renamed the [Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in 1973), which created the city's [aerospace industry. The [Reliant Astrodome, nicknamed the "[Eighth Wonder of the World,"{{cite news | last = Barks | first = Joseph V. | title = Powering the (New and Improved) "Eighth Wonder of the World" | work = Electrical Apparatus | date = November 2001 | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3726/is_200111/ai_n9011574 | accessdate = 2007-01-16 --> opened in 1965 as the world's first indoor domed sports stadium.

During the late 1970s, Houston experienced a population boom as people from Rust Belt states moved to Texas in large numbers. The new residents came for the numerous employment opportunities in the petroleum industry, created as a result of the 1973 oil crisis.

The population boom ended abruptly in the mid-1980s, as oil prices fell precipitously. The space industry also suffered in 1986 after the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster exploded shortly after launch. The late 1980s saw a recession affect the city's economy.

Since the 1990s, as a result of the recession, Houston has made efforts to diversify its economy by focusing on aerospace and biotechnology and by reducing its dependence on the petroleum industry. In 1997, Houstonians elected Lee P. Brown as the city's first African American mayor.

evacuationIn June 2001, Tropical Storm Allison dumped up to 37 inches of rain on parts of Houston, causing the worst flooding in the city's history; the storm cost billions of dollars in damage and killed 20 people in Texas. Many neighborhoods and communities have changed since the storm. By December of that same year, Houston-based energy company Enron collapsed into the second-largest ever U.S. bankruptcy during an investigation surrounding fabricated partnerships that were allegedly used to hide debt and inflate profits.

In August 2005, Houston became a shelter to more than 150,000 people from New Orleans, Louisiana who evacuated from Hurricane Katrina.{{cite news| title = Katrina's Human Legacy | work = Houston Chronicle | date = [2006-08-27 | url = http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2006_4178618 | accessdate = 2007-08-29--> One month later, approximately 2.5 million Houston area residents evacuated when [Hurricane Rita approached the [Gulf Coast of the United States, leaving little damage to the Houston area. This event marked the largest urban evacuation in the history of the United States.{{cite news | last = Flakus | first = Greg | title = Recovery Beginning in Areas Affected by Hurricane Rita | work = Voice of America News | date = [2005-09-25 | url = http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2005-09/2005-09-25-voa33.cfm | accessdate = 2007-01-10-->http://www.house.gov/brady/2007_appropriations.shtml 8th Congressional District of Texas 2007 Appropriations Project Requests. Congressman Kevin Brady, 8th District of Texas. Retrieved on [2007-01-10.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 601.7 square miles (1,558.4 km²); this comprises 579.4 square miles (1,500.7 km²) of land and 22.3 square miles (57.7 km²) of water.

Most of Houston is located on the Western Gulf coastal grasslands, and its vegetation is classified as temperate grassland and forest. Much of the city was built on forested land, marshes, swamp, or prairie, which are all still visible in surrounding areas. Flatness of the local terrain, when combined with urban sprawl, has made flooding a recurring problem for the city. Flood Forecasting for the Buffalo Bayou Using CRWR-PrePro and HEC-HMS. Center for Research in Water Resources, The University of Texas at Austin Retrieved on 2007-01-10. Downtown stands about 50 feet (15 m) above sea level, Downtown Houston, Texas. Topozone.com Retrieved on 2007-01-10. and the highest point in far northwest Houston is about 125 feet (38 m) in elevation. USGS Satsuma (TX) Topo Map. Topozone.com. 2006. Retrieved on 2007-01-11. Note: The boundaries of the City of Houston are shown as "HOUSTON CORP BDY" along the dotted line. Super Neighborhood# 1-Willowbrook. City of Houston. Retrieved on 2007-01-11. The city once relied on groundwater for its needs, but land subsidence forced the city to turn to ground-level water sources such as Lake Houston and Lake Conroe.. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved on 2007-01-11.

Houston has four major bayous passing through the city. Buffalo Bayou runs through downtown and the Houston Ship Channel, and has three tributaries: White Oak Bayou, which runs through the Houston Heights neighborhood and towards downtown; Braes Bayou, which runs along the Texas Medical Center; and Sims Bayou, which runs through the south of Houston and downtown Houston The ship channel continues past Galveston, Texas and then into the Gulf of Mexico.

Geology Underpinning Houston's land surface are Consolidation (geology) clays, clay shales, and poorly-cemented sands up to several miles deep. The region's geology developed from river deposits formed from the erosion of the Rocky Mountains. These sediments consist of a series of sands and clays deposited on decaying organic matter that, over time, transformed into oil and natural gas. Beneath the layers of sediment is a water-deposited layer of halite, a rock salt. The porous layers were compressed over time and forced upward. As it pushed upward, the salt dragged surrounding sediments into salt dome formations, often trapping oil and gas that seeped from the surrounding porous sands. The thick, rich, sometimes black, surface soil is suitable for rice farming in suburban outskirts where the city continues to grow. Harris County. Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved on 2007-01-10. RICE CULTURE. Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved on 2007-01-10.

Despite over 150 active surface geologic fault (estimated to be 300 active faults)Richard Engelkeimer, Shuhab Khan, Carl Norman. "", University of Houston. Retrieved on 2006-12-14. with an aggregate length of up to 310 miles (500 km)Earl R. Verbeek, Karl W. Ratzlaff, Uel S. Clanton. " Faults in Parts of North-Central and Western Houston Metropolitan Area, Texas", United States Geological Survey, 2005-09-16. Retrieved on 2006-12-14. Principal Active Faults. Houston Area, Texas, U.S. Department of Agriculture, May 1984. Retrieved on 2006-12-14. within the city of Houston alone, the region is generally earthquake-free. Land in some communities southeast of Houston is sinking because water has been pumped out from the ground for many years and may be associated with slip along faults. However, the slippage is slow and not considered an earthquake where stationary faults must slip suddenly enough to create seismic waves. Texas Earthquakes, University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, July 2001. Retrieved on 2007-08-29. These faults also tend to move at a smooth rate in what is termed "Aseismic creep," which further reduces the risk of an earthquake.

Climate after Tropical Storm Allison, June 2001Houston's climate is classified as humid subtropical climate (Cfa in Köppen climate classification#GROUP C: Temperate/mesothermal climates). Spring Supercell sometimes bring tornadoes to the area. Prevailing winds are from the south and southwest during most of the year, bringing heat across the continent from the deserts of Mexico and moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.

During the summer months, it is common for the temperature to reach over 90 °F (32 °C), with an average of 99 days per year above 90 °F (32 °C)." Monthly Averages for Houston, Texas", The Weather Channel (United States). Retrieved on 2006-12-14." National Climatic Data Center", National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce, 2004-06-23. Retrieved on 2006-12-14. However, the humidity results in a heat index higher than the actual temperature. Summer mornings average over 90 percent relative humidity and approximately 60 percent in the afternoon." Average Relative Humidity", Department of Meteorology at the University of Utah. Retrieved on 2006-12-14. Winds are often light in the summer and offer little relief, except near the immediate coast, WIND - AVERAGE SPEED (mph). Department of Meteorology, University of Utah. 1993. Retrieved on 2007-01-10 To cope with the heat, people use air conditioning in nearly every vehicle and building in the city; in fact, in 1980 Houston was described as the "most air-conditioned place on earth". A MOMENT IN BUILDING. BLUEPRINTS, Volume X, Number 3, Summer 1992. National Building Museum. Retrieved on 2007-01-11. Scattered afternoon thunderstorms are common in the summer. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Houston was 109 °F (43 °C) on September 4, 2000." History for Houston Intercontinental, Texas on Monday, September 4, 2000", Weather Underground (weather service), 2000-09-04. Retrieved on 2006-12-14.

Winters in Houston are fairly temperate. The average high in January, the coldest month, is 63 °F (17 °C), while the average low is 45 °F (7 °C). Snowfall is generally rare. The last snowstorm to hit Houston was on 2004 Christmas Eve Snowstorm. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Houston was 5 °F (−15 °C) on January 23, 1940. Houston Extremes Data and Annual Summaries. National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Published 2007-01-05. Retrieved on 2007-01-11.

Houston has excessive ozone levels and is ranked among the most ozone-polluted cities in the United States." State of the Air 2005, National and Regional Analysis ", American Lung Association, 2005-03-25. Retrieved on 2006-02-17. Ground-level ozone, or smog, is Houston’s predominate air pollution problem, with the American Lung Association rating the metropolitan area's ozone level as the 6th worst in the United States in 2006." State of the Air 2006, 25 Most Ozone-Polluted Cities ", American Lung Association. Retrieved on 2006-04-02. The industries located along the ship channel are a major cause of the city's air pollution." Summary of the Issues", Citizens League for Environmental Action Now , 2004-08-01. Retrieved on 2006-02-17.

{{Infobox Weather|single_line= Yes|location = Houston

|Jan_Hi_°F = 63 |Jan_REC_Hi_°F = 85|Feb_Hi_°F = 67 |Feb_REC_Hi_°F = 87|Mar_Hi_°F = 74 |Mar_REC_Hi_°F = 96|Apr_Hi_°F = 79 |Apr_REC_Hi_°F = 94|May_Hi_°F = 86 |May_REC_Hi_°F = 98|Jun_Hi_°F = 91 |Jun_REC_Hi_°F = 101|Jul_Hi_°F = 94 |Jul_REC_Hi_°F = 104|Aug_Hi_°F = 93 |Aug_REC_Hi_°F = 106|Sep_Hi_°F = 89 |Sep_REC_Hi_°F = 101|Oct_Hi_°F = 82 |Oct_REC_Hi_°F = 96|Nov_Hi_°F = 73 |Nov_REC_Hi_°F = 90|Dec_Hi_°F = 65 |Dec_REC_Hi_°F = 84|Year_Hi_°F = 80 |Year_REC_Hi_°F = 106|Jan_Hi_°C = 17 |Jan_REC_Hi_°C = 29|Feb_Hi_°C = 19 |Feb_REC_Hi_°C = 31|Mar_Hi_°C = 23 |Mar_REC_Hi_°C = 36|Apr_Hi_°C = 26 |Apr_REC_Hi_°C = 34|May_Hi_°C = 30 |May_REC_Hi_°C = 37|Jun_Hi_°C = 33 |Jun_REC_Hi_°C = 38|Jul_Hi_°C = 34 |Jul_REC_Hi_°C = 40|Aug_Hi_°C = 34 |Aug_REC_Hi_°C = 41|Sep_Hi_°C = 32 |Sep_REC_Hi_°C = 38|Oct_Hi_°C = 28 |Oct_REC_Hi_°C = 36|Nov_Hi_°C = 23 |Nov_REC_Hi_°C = 32|Dec_Hi_°C = 18 |Dec_REC_Hi_°C = 29|Year_Hi_°C = 27 |Year_REC_Hi_°C = 41|Jan_Lo_°F = 45 |Jan_REC_Lo_°F = 10|Feb_Lo_°F = 48 |Feb_REC_Lo_°F = 14|Mar_Lo_°F = 55 |Mar_REC_Lo_°F = 22|Apr_Lo_°F = 61 |Apr_REC_Lo_°F = 22|May_Lo_°F = 68 |May_REC_Lo_°F = 44|Jun_Lo_°F = 74 |Jun_REC_Lo_°F = 56|Jul_Lo_°F = 75 |Jul_REC_Lo_°F = 45|Aug_Lo_°F = 75 |Aug_REC_Lo_°F = 64|Sep_Lo_°F = 72 |Sep_REC_Lo_°F = 50|Oct_Lo_°F = 62 |Oct_REC_Lo_°F = 33|Nov_Lo_°F = 53 |Nov_REC_Lo_°F = 25|Dec_Lo_°F = 47 |Dec_REC_Lo_°F = 9|Year_Lo_°F = 61 |Year_REC_Lo_°F = 9

|Jan_Precip_inch = 4.3|Feb_Precip_inch = 3.0|Mar_Precip_inch = 3.2|Apr_Precip_inch = 3.5|May_Precip_inch = 5.1|Jun_Precip_inch = 6.8|Jul_Precip_inch = 4.4|Aug_Precip_inch = 4.5|Sep_Precip_inch = 5.6|Oct_Precip_inch = 5.3|Nov_Precip_inch = 4.5|Dec_Precip_inch = 3.8|Year_Precip_inch = 54.0

|Jan_Lo_°C = 7 |Jan_REC_Lo_°C = -12|Feb_Lo_°C = 9 |Feb_REC_Lo_°C = -10|Mar_Lo_°C = 13 |Mar_REC_Lo_°C = -6|Apr_Lo_°C = 16 |Apr_REC_Lo_°C = -6|May_Lo_°C = 20 |May_REC_Lo_°C = 7|Jun_Lo_°C = 23 |Jun_REC_Lo_°C = 13|Jul_Lo_°C = 24 |Jul_REC_Lo_°C = 7|Aug_Lo_°C = 24 |Aug_REC_Lo_°C = 18|Sep_Lo_°C = 22 |Sep_REC_Lo_°C = 10|Oct_Lo_°C = 17 |Oct_REC_Lo_°C = 1|Nov_Lo_°C = 12 |Nov_REC_Lo_°C = -4|Dec_Lo_°C = 8 |Dec_REC_Lo_°C = -13|Year_Lo_°C = 16 |Year_REC_Lo_°C = -13

|Jan_Precip_cm = 10.8|Feb_Precip_cm = 7.6|Mar_Precip_cm = 8.1|Apr_Precip_cm = 8.8|May_Precip_cm = 13.0|Jun_Precip_cm = 17.4|Jul_Precip_cm = 11.1|Aug_Precip_cm = 11.5|Sep_Precip_cm = 14.3|Oct_Precip_cm = 13.4|Nov_Precip_cm = 11.5|Dec_Precip_cm = 9.6|Year_Precip_cm = 137.1|source =weather.com{{cite web| url =http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USTX0617?from=36hr_bottomnav_business | title =Weather.com: Weather Channel Historical Weather for Houston, Texas, United States of America | accessmonthday =Aug 3 | accessyear =2007| publisher = | language = -->|accessdate = Aug 2007|source2 =|accessdate2 =-->

Cityscape and Downtown HoustonHouston was incorporated in 1837 under the Ward (politics) system of representation. The ward designation is the progenitor of the nine current-day Houston City Council districts. Locations in Houston are generally classified as either being inside or outside the Interstate 610 (Texas). The inside encompasses the central business district and many residential neighborhoods that predate World War II. More recently, high-density residential areas have been developed within the loop. The city's outlying areas, suburbs and enclaves are located outside of the loop. Texas State Highway Beltway 8 encircles the city another 5 miles (8 km) farther out.

Houston, the largest city in the United States without zoning regulations, has expanded without land use planning. Houston. MSN Encarta. 2006. Retrieved on 2007-01-10. Voters rejected efforts to have separate residential and commercial land-use districts in 1948, 1962, and 1993.

Rather than a single central business district as the center of the city's employment, multiple districts have grown throughout the city in addition to Downtown Houston which include Uptown Houston, Texas Medical Center, Midtown, Houston, Texas, the Houston Energy Corridor, Greenway Plaza, Westchase, Houston, Texas, and Greenspoint, Houston, Texas.

Government and politics The city of Houston has a strong mayoral form of municipal government. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. Office of the Controller, City of Houston. Retrieved on 2007-01-10. Houston is a devolution city and all municipal elections in the state of Texas are nonpartisan. 6.2 Run for Party Nomination to Public Office. Texas Politcs, Liberal Arts Technology Instruction Services, University of Texas. 2005. Retrieved on 2007-01-10. The City's elected officials are the mayor, city Comptroller and 14 members of the city council. City Council. City of Houston. 2007. Retrieved on 2007-01-10. As of 2007, the mayor of Houston is Bill White (mayor), a Democratic Party (United States) elected on a nonpartisan ballot who is serving his second term. Houston's mayor serves as the city's chief administrator, executive officer, and official representative. He is responsible for the general management of the city and for seeing that all laws and local ordinances are enforced. Mayor's Office. 2007. Retrieved on 2007-01-10. As the result of a 1991 referendum in Houston, a mayor is elected for a two-year term, and can be elected to as many as three consecutive terms.

The current city council line-up of nine district based and five at large positions was based on a U.S. Justice Department mandate which took effect in 1979 Strong Currents of Change. Time Magazine. Published 1979-11-19. Retrieved on 2007-01-10. At-large council members represent the entire city. Under the current city charter, if the population in the city limits goes past 2.1 million residents, the current nine-member city council districts will be expanded with the addition of two city council districts. City Council may grow by two seats. Houston Chronicle.

Criminal Law is enforced by the Houston Police Department. Houston's murder rate ranked 18th of U.S. cities with a population over 250,000 in 2005."", Morgan Quitno. Retrieved on November 29, 2006. Despite the rise in homicides of 23.5 percent, nonviolent crime in the city dropped by 2 percent in 2005 compared to 2004. Since 2005, Houston has been experiencing a spike in crime, which is due in part to an influx of people from New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.{{cite news| last = Leahy | first = Jennifer | title = Homicide rate on track to be worst in a decade - Evacuees play large role in the rise, police say | work = Houston Chronicle | date = [2006-10-21 | url = http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hurricane/4277375.html | accessdate = 2007-02-06--> After Katrina, Houston's murder rate increased 70 percent in November and December 2005 compared to levels in 2004. The city recorded 336 murders in 2005,Villafranca, Armando. "http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2006_4235150 Houston violent crime to be studied", ''Houston Chronicle'', November 23, 2006, p. 3. Retrieved [2006-12-17. compared to 272 in 2004."{{PDFlink|193 [Kibibyte-->", [Texas Department of Public Safety, 2004. Retrieved [2006-12-17.

Houston's homicide rate per 100,000 residents increased from 16.33 in 2005 to 17.24 in 2006. O'Hare, Peggy. "", Houston Chronicle, 2007-01-01. Retrieved on January 1, 2007 The number of murders in the city increased to 379 in 2006, although this increase was smaller than in 2005; Houston, like other cities, faces crime related to gang activities: in 1996, there were about 380 gangs with 8,000 members, of which 2,500 were juveniles.Teachey, Lisa. " Houston's gang-related crime show decrease, according to survey", Houston Chronicle, 1996-06-20. Retrieved on 2006-12-15.

Economy Houston's energy industry is recognized worldwide—particularly for oil—and Health science research, aeronautics, and the ship channel are also large parts of its economic base. The area is a leading center for building Oil field equipment."", Greater Houston Partnership. Retrieved on 2007-10-14. Much of Houston's success as a petrochemical complex is due to its busy man-made ship channel, the Port of Houston."", The Port of Houston Authority, 2007-05-15. Retrieved on 2007-05-27. The port ranks first in the United States in international commerce, and is the tenth-largest port in the world." General Information", The Port of Houston Authority, 2007-05-15. Retrieved on 2007-05-27. Unlike most places, where high Petroleum and gasoline prices are seen as harmful to the economy, they are generally seen as beneficial for Houston as many are employed in the energy industry.{{cite news| last = Bustillo | first = Miguel | title = Houston is Feeling Energized | work = Los Angeles Times | date = [2006-12-28 | url = http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/columnone/la-na-houston28dec28,1,6780480.story?page=1&coll=la-headlines-columnone | accessdate = 2007-02-06-->

The Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown MSA's Gross Area Product (GAP) in 2006 was $325.5 billion,"", Greater Houston Partnership. Retrieved on 2007-05-27. slightly larger than Austria’s, Poland’s or Saudi Arabia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). When comparing Houston's economy to a national economy, only 21 countries other than the United States have a gross domestic product exceeding Houston's regional gross area product."", Greater Houston Partnership. Retrieved on 2007-05-27. Mining, which in Houston is almost entirely exploration and production of oil and gas, accounts for 11% of Houston's GAP; this is down from 21% in 1985. The reduced role of oil and gas in Houston's GAP reflects the rapid growth of other sectors, such as engineering services, health services, and manufacturing."", Greater Houston Partnership. Retrieved on 2006-12-15.

Houston ranks second in employment growth rate and fourth in nominal employment growth among the 10 most populous metro areas in the U.S."", Greater Houston Partnership. Retrieved on 2006-12-15. In 2006, the Houston metropolitan area ranked first in Texas and third in the U.S. within the category of "Best Places for Business and Careers" by Forbes magazine.Badenhausen, Kurt. " 2006 Best Places for Business and Careers", Forbes, 2006-05-04. Retrieved on 2006-12-15. Forty foreign governments maintain international trade and commercial offices here and the city has 23 active foreign chambers of commerce and trade associations."", Greater Houston Partnership. Retrieved on 2006-12-15. Twenty foreign banks representing 10 nations operate in Houston, providing financial assistance to the international community.

Demographics Houston is a diverse and international city, in part because of its many academic institutions and strong industries. Over 90 languages are spoken in the city." Houston Facts and Figures", City of Houston. Retrieved on 2006-12-15. Houston has among the youngest populations in the nation,. East-West Gateway Council of Governments. 2006. Retrieved on 2007-01-11. Page 25 in PDF File, labeled as page 21. Houston city, Texas. 2005 American Community Survey Data Profile Highlights, United States Census Bureau. 2005. Retrieved on 2007-01-12. United States and States R0101. Median Age of the Total Population: 2005. 2005 American Community Survey, United States Census Bureau. 2005. Retrieved on 2007-01-12. partly due to an influx of immigrants into Texas. The Face of Texas Jobs, People, Business, Change. D'Ann Petersen and Laila Assanie, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. October 2005. Retrieved on 2007-01-11. The city has the third-largest Hispanic and third-largest Mexican population in the United States. An estimated 400,000 illegal immigrants reside in Houston.

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,953,631 people and the population density was 3,371.7 people per square mile (1,301.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 49.27 percent White (U.S. Census), 25.31 percent African American (U.S. Census), 0.44 percent Native American (U.S. Census), 5.31 percent Asian (U.S. Census), 0.06 percent Pacific Islander (U.S. Census), 16.46 percent from Race (United States Census), and 3.15 percent from Multiracial. Persons of Hispanic origin, regardless of race, accounted for 37 percent of the population in 2000.

Houston has a large population of Immigration from Asia, including the largest Vietnamese American population in Texas and third-largest in the United States.Kiely, Kathy. "", USA Today, 2002-03-08. Retrieved on 2006-12-15. Some parts of the city with high populations of Vietnamese and Chinese residents have Chinese language and Vietnamese language street signs, in addition to English ones. Houston has two Chinatowns: the original located in Downtown, and the more recent one north of Bellaire Boulevard in the southwest area of the city. The city has a Little Saigon in Midtown, Houston, Texas and Vietnamese businesses located in the southwest Houston Chinatown.

Houston has a large gay community concentrated primarily in the Montrose, Houston, Texas area. It is estimated that the Houston United States metropolitan area has the twelfth largest number of lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals in the United States. Gary J. Gates . The Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy, UCLA School of Law October, 2006. Retrieved April 20, 2007.

Culture Houston is a multicultural city with a large and growing international community. The Houston Greater Houston is home to an estimated 1.1 million (21.4 percent) residents that were born outside the United States, with nearly two-thirds of the Houston MSA foreign-born population are from south of the US-Mexico border. More than one in five foreign born Houstonians are from Asia. The city is home to the nation’s third largest concentration of consular offices representing 86 nations. Houston is designated as a global city by the Globalization and World Cities Study Group and Network." Inventory of World Cities", Globalization and World Cities Study Group & Network. Retrieved on 2006-12-16. Houston received the official nickname of "Space City" in 1967 because it is home to NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. Other nicknames include "H-Town," "Screwston," "The Big Heart," "Bayou City," "Clutch City," "Hustletown," and "Magnolia City." The city is home to Lakewood Church, the megachurch in America with over 50,000 members attending each week.

Arts and theatre of DowntownHouston has an active visual arts and performing arts scene. The Houston Theater District is located downtown and is home to nine major performing arts organizations and six performance halls. It is the second largest concentration of theater seats in a downtown area in the United States.Ramsey, Cody. " In a state of big, Houston is at the top", Texas Monthly, September 2002. Retrieved December 10, 2002." About Houston Theater District", Houston Theater District. Retrieved on 2006-12-16. Houston is one of only five United States cities with permanent, professional, resident companies in all major performing arts disciplines: opera (Houston Grand Opera), ballet (Houston Ballet), music (Houston Symphony Orchestra), and theater (The Alley Theatre)."", Greater Houston Partnership. Retrieved on 2006-12-16." Performing Arts Venues", Houston Theater District. Retrieved on 2006-12-16. Houston is also home to many local folk artists, art groups and various smaller progressive arts organizations." A Brief History of the Art Car Museum", ArtCar Museum of Houston. Retrieved on 2006-12-16. Houston attracts many touring Broadway acts, concerts, shows, and exhibitions for a variety of interests. 2006 fall edition of International Quilt Festival attracts 53,546 to Houston. Quilts., Inc. Press release published 2006-11-30. Retrieved on 2007-01-12.

Houston is home to the Bayou City Art Festival, which is considered to be one of the top five art festivals in the United States. {{cite web], 2005 is home to many popular cultural institutions and exhibits, attracting more than 7 million visitors a year. Houston Museum District. Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved on [2007-02-18. Notable facilities located in the district include The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, Holocaust Museum Houston, and the Houston Zoo. Houston Museum District Day. Texas Monthly. 2006. Retrieved on 2007-01-10. Museum District. Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. Retrieved on 2007-01-10. Houston Museum District. Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved on 2007-01-10. Located in the nearby Montrose, Houston, Texas area are Menil Collection and Rothko Chapel.

Many venues scattered across Houston regularly host local and touring rock and roll, blues, country music, hip hop and Tejano music musical acts. Unfortunately, there has never been a widely renowned music scene in Houston. Artists seem to relocate to other parts of the United States once attaining some level of success. A notable exception to the rule is Houston hip hop, which celebrates the unique southern flavor and attitude of its roots. This has given rise to a strong, independent Houston hip hop music scene, influencing and influenced by the larger Southern hip hop and gangsta rap communities. Many Houstonian hip-hop artists have attained commercial success.

Events Many annual events celebrate the diverse cultures of Houston. The largest and longest running is the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, held over 20 days from late February to early March. Another large celebration is the annual night-time Gay pride parade, held at the end of June. Other annual events include the Houston Greek Festival, The Original Greek Festival, Houston, Texas. 2006. Retrieved on 2007-01-10. Warning: Automatic sound file. Houston Art Car Parade, the Houston Auto Show and the Houston International Festival. The Houston International Festival. 2007. Retrieved on 2007-01-10.

Tourism and recreation Space Center Houston is the official visitors’ center of NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. Here one will find many interactive exhibits including moon rocks, a shuttle simulator, and presentations about the history of NASA's manned space flight program.

The Houston Theater District is a 17-block area in the center of downtown Houston that is home to the Bayou Place entertainment complex, restaurants, movies, plazas, and parks. Bayou Place is a large multilevel building containing full-service restaurants, bars, live music, billiards, and art house films. The Houston Verizon Wireless Theater stages live concerts, stage plays, and stand-up comedy; and the Angelika Film Center presents the latest in art and foreign and independent films. Angelika Houston. Angelika Film Center. Retrieved on 2007-01-10.

Houston is home to many parks including Hermann Park, which houses the Houston Zoo and the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Lake Houston Park, Memorial Park, Houston, Texas, Tranquility Park, Sesquicentennial Park and Sam Houston Park, Houston, Texas which contains restored and reconstructed homes which were originally built between 1823 and 1905). The Heritage Society: Walk into Houston's Past. The Heritage Society. Retrieved on 2007-01-10. The city has 337 city parks and over 200 green spaces—totaling over that are managed by the city—including the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center. The Houston Civic Center was replaced by the George R. Brown Convention Center—one of the nation's largest—and the Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, home of the Houston Symphony Orchestra and Society for the Performing Arts. The Sam Houston Coliseum and Music Hall have been replaced by the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.

Other tourism attractions include Houston Galleria (Texas's List of largest shopping malls in the United States shopping mall located in the Uptown District), Old Market Square, the Downtown Aquarium, SplashTown Waterpark Houston and Sam Houston Race Park. The San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site where the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution was fought is located on the Houston Ship channel east of the city; the park is also the location of the museum battleship USS Texas (BB-35).

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