Houston is named after Samuel Houston, who won a decisive victory over General Santa Anna’s Army at the Battle of San Jacinto – a mere 18 minutes of fighting on April 21, 1836 that won Texas freedom from Mexico.
Houston is the fourth largest city in the nation, with a population of 2,325,502. The only un-zoned major US city, Houston sprawls over a 669 square mile area.
The Texas Medical Center has maintained its status as a medical center of excellence through many decades, with dozens of large research institutions and hospitals featured among its ranks.
Houston is home to 3 major league teams – the Houston Rockets, Astros and Texans – play downtown, which turns the area into one giant party place on game days.
The Annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which has grown to be the largest such show in the world, draws visitors in tens of thousands over a two plus week period every summer.
NASA’s Johnson Space Center was built in Clear Lake, south of Houston, on land granted by Rice University – shortly after President Kennedy made his famous commitment to win the “moon-race” in a speech at Rice.