Houston: Southern City of Space and Industry

Overview Houston is the largest city in Texas and the fourth-largest in the U.S., with 2.3 million people recorded in 2020. It serves as the seat of Harris County and stretches into neighboring Fort Bend and Montgomery counties.

Getting there & around Houston's metropolitan area serves 7.8 million people, ranking as the nation's fifth-largest metro region and second-largest in Texas. Situated in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it anchors the Texas Triangle megaregion.

Living & working While primarily within Harris County, Houston's vast footprint reflects its status as the largest U.S. city with an unconglomerated municipal government. The city functions as a major hub for aerospace exploration, with NASA's Johnson Space Center located in the area.

Markets & shopping The city's extensive size, covering 640.4 square miles, supports diverse commercial activity across its multiple county jurisdictions.

Food & leisure As the Southern U.S.'s most populous city, Houston's cultural landscape reflects its diverse population and economic significance within Texas and the nation.

Good to know Houston's strategic location near the Gulf Coast and its role in the Texas Triangle megaregion underscore its importance to regional economic networks.