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Coordinates: 29°45′46″N 95°22′59″W 29.76278, -95.38306

Houston

Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States of America and the largest city within the state of Texas. As of the 2008 U.S. Census estimate, the city has a population of 2.245 million within an area of 600 square miles (1,600 km). Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of the HoustonSugar LandBaytown metropolitan areathe sixth-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. with a population of 5.81 million.Houston was founded on August 30, 1836 by brothers Augustus Chapman Allen and John Kirby Allen on land near the banks of Buffalo Bayou. The city was incorporated on June 5, 1837 and named after then-President of the Republic of Texasformer General Sam Houstonwho 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 Centerthe world's largest concentration of healthcare and research institutionsand NASA's Johnson Space Center, where the Mission Control Center is located.Rated as a beta world city, Houston's economy has a broad industrial base in the energy, manufacturing, aeronautics, transportation, and health care sectors and is a leading center for building oilfield equipment only New York City is home to more Fortune 500 headquarters in the city limits. The Port of Houston ranks first in the United States in international waterborne tonnage handled and second in total cargo tonnage handled. The city has a multicultural population with a large and growing international community. It is home to many cultural institutions and exhibitsattracting more than 7 million visitors a year to the Houston Museum District. Houston has an active visual and performing arts scene in the Theater District and is one of few U.S. cities that offer year-round resident companies in all major performing arts.^[1]

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