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{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2011}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land
| settlement_type = [[List of Metropolitan Statistical Areas|Metropolitan Statistical Area]]
| image_skyline = Panoramic Houston skyline.jpg
| imagesize = 240px
| image_map = Woodlnds.jpg
| mapsize = 240px
| image_map1 = Sugarland Town Square.jpg
| mapsize1 = 240px
| image_caption = Houston
| map_caption = The Woodlands
| map_caption1 = Sugar Land
| pushpin_map = <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
| pushpin_label_position = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_map_caption =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = [[United States of America]]
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = [[Texas]]
| subdivision_type2 =
| subdivision_name2 =
| parts_type = Principal cities
| parts_style = list
| p1 = [[Houston]]
| p2 = [[The Woodlands, Texas|The Woodlands]]
| p3 = [[Sugar Land, Texas|Sugar Land]]
| p4 = [[Baytown, Texas|Baytown]]
| p5 = [[Conroe, Texas|Conroe]]
| subdivision_name4 =
| government_footnotes =
| government_type =
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| established_title = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date =
| area_magnitude =
| unit_pref = <!--Enter: Imperial, if Imperial (metric) is desired-->
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = <!-- ALL fields dealing with a measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion-->
| area_land_km2 = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on automatic unit conversion-->
| area_water_km2 =
| area_total_sq_mi =
| area_land_sq_mi =
| area_water_sq_mi =
| area_water_percent =
| area_urban_km2 = 3354.7
| area_urban_sq_km =
| area_metro_km2 = 26,061
| area_metro_sq_mi = 10,062
| area_blank1_title =
| area_blank1_ mi2 =
| area_blank2_title =
| area_blank2_sq_mi =
| population_as_of = 2010
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml |title=American FactFinder |publisher=Factfinder2.census.gov |date= |accessdate=2013-07-21}}</ref>
| population_note = MSA/CSA = 2010, Urban = 2000
| population_total =
| population_density_km2 = 243.4
| population_density_sq_mi = 630.3
| population_urban = 4,944,332([[List of United States urban areas|7th]])
| population_density_urban_km2 =
| population_density_urban_sq_mi =
| population_blank1_title = [[Metropolitan Statistical Area|MSA]]
| population_blank1 = 6,177,035 ([[List of United States metropolitan statistical areas|5th]])
| population_blank2_title = [[Combined statistical area|CSA]]
| population_blank2 = 6,371,677 ([[Table of United States Combined Statistical Areas|9th]])
| population_density_blank1_km2 =
| population_density_blank1_sq_mi =
| timezone = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|CST]]
| utc_offset = -6
| timezone_DST = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|CDT]]
| utc_offset_DST = -5
| coordinates =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_min_m = 0
| elevation_min_ft = 0
| elevation_max_m = 131
| elevation_max_ft = 430
}}
'''Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land''' is a nine-county [[metropolitan area]] defined by the [[Office of Management and Budget]]. It is located along the [[Gulf Coast of the United States|Gulf&nbsp;Coast]] region in the U.S. state of [[Texas]]. The metropolitan area is colloquially referred to as "'''Greater&nbsp;Houston'''" and is situated in {{nowrap|[[Southeast Texas]]}}.

Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the United&nbsp;States with a population of 6.18 million, as of U.S. Census Bureau's July 1, 2012 estimates.<ref name="USCensus04052012">{{cite web | last = U.S. Census Bureau | first = | title = Census Estimates Show New Patterns of Growth Nationwide | url = http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/population/cb12-55.html | publisher = | date = April 5, 2012 | accessdate = 5 April 2012 }}</ref> Population as of July 1, 2013: 6,313,158.<ref>{{cite web |title = Houston is the fifth largest metro area in the United States | url = http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8609118 | publisher = | date = April 5, 2012 | accessdate = 5 April 2012 }}</ref><ref name="www.census.gov">{{cite web | last = U.S. Census Bureau | first = | title = Population Estimates, Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas | url = http://www.census.gov/popest/data/metro/totals/2011/index.html | publisher = | date = April 5, 2012 | accessdate = 5 April 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2011/03/07/houston-5th-in-metro-population.html | first=G. Scott | last=Thomas | title=Houston 5th in metro population rankings, study shows | date=2011-03-07}}</ref>
The population of the metropolitan area is centered in the city of [[Houston]]—the largest economic and cultural center of the {{nowrap|[[Southern United States|American South]]}}, with a population of 2.1&nbsp;million.<ref>[http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2009-01.csv ]{{dead link|date=July 2013}}</ref>

Houston is among the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States. The area grew 25.2 percent between the 1990 and 2000 censuses—adding more than 950,000
people—while the nation's population increased 13.2 percent over the same period. From 2000 to 2007, the area grew by 912,994 people.<ref>[http://recenter.tamu.edu/data/popm00/pcbsa26420.html Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA) Population and Components of Change<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> From 2000 to 2030, the metropolitan area is projected by Woods & Poole Economics to rank fifth in the nation in population growth—adding 2.66&nbsp;million people.<ref name="houston.org">[http://www.houston.org/economic-development/facts-figures/index.aspx ]{{dead link|date=July 2013}}</ref> In 2009, Milken Institute/Greenstreet Real Estate Partners ranked the then named Houston–Sugar&nbsp;Land–Baytown MSA as the fifth-best performing metropolitan area; the Houston area had moved up 11 spaces from the previous year's ranking.<ref>"[http://houston.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2009/11/09/daily25.html Houston makes best-performing city list]." ''[[Houston Business Journal]]''. Wednesday November 11, 2009. Retrieved on November 11, 2009.</ref> It is a part of the [[Texas Triangle]] megapolitan area.
{{TOC left}}{{clear}}

==Geography==
[[File:Houston metro area.jpg|300px|right|thumb|An image of the Greater Houston area taken from [[NASA]]'s [[Space Shuttle]] during mission STS-55 (STS055-71-43) with [[Galveston Bay]] and [[Galveston Island]] visible towards the bottom of the picture.]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area has a total area of 10,062 square miles (26,060&nbsp;km²), {{convert|8929|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}} is land area, while {{convert|1133|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}} is water area, slightly smaller than [[Massachusetts]] and slightly larger than [[New Jersey]].<ref>[http://www.houstontx.gov/abouthouston/houstonfacts.html City of Houston eGovernment Center<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

The metropolitan area is located in the gulf coastal plains [[biome]], and its vegetation is classified as temperate grassland. Much of the metro area was built on [[forest|forested land]], [[marsh]]es, [[swamp]], or [[prairie]]—all of which can still be seen in surrounding areas.

Much of the Houston metropolitan area is very flat, making flooding a recurring problem for some areas.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

===Geology===
Underpinning Houston's land surface are unconsolidated [[clay]]s, clay [[shale]]s, and poorly cemented [[sand]]s up to several miles deep. The region's geology developed from stream deposits formed from the erosion of the [[Rocky Mountains]]. These [[sediment]]s consist of a series of sands and clays deposited on decaying organic matter that, over time, transformed into oil and natural gas. Beneath these tiers 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 dome shapes, often trapping oil and gas that seeped from the surrounding porous sands. This thick rich soil also provides a good environment for rice farming in suburban outskirts that the city continues to grow into near [[Katy, Texas|Katy]]. Evidence of past rice farming is even still evident in developed areas as there is an abundance of rich dark loamy top soil.

The Houston region is generally earthquake-free. While the city of Houston contains over 150 active surface [[geologic fault|faults]] (some have estimated as many as 300 active faults)<ref>[http://www.gcags2006.com/ABSTRACTS/abstract.engelkemeir.et al.pdf Mapping Active Faults in the Houston area Using LIDAR]. ''Richard Engelkeimer, Shuhab Khan, Carl Norman. University of Houston.</ref> with an aggregate length of up to 310 miles (500&nbsp;km),<ref>[http://pubs.usgs.gov/mf-maps/mf1136/mf1136/ Faults in Parts of North-Central and Western Houston Metropolitan Area, Texas]. ''Earl R. Verbeek, Karl W. Ratzlaff, Uel S. Clanton. U.S. Geological Survey.''</ref><ref>[http://www.geotecheng.com/gd_geological_faults_enlarged_map.html Principal Active Faults. Houston Area, Texas]. ''U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1984.''</ref> the clay below the surface precludes the buildup of friction that produces ground shaking in earthquakes. These faults generally move at a smooth rate in what is termed "fault creep."
{{-}}

==Components of the metropolitan area==
[[File:Map of the USA highlighting Greater Houston.gif|thumb|Location in the U.S. (red)]]
As defined by the Office of Management and Budget, the metropolitan area of Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land encompasses nine counties in Texas. They are listed below with population figures as of the 2010 U.S. Census.<ref name="autogenerated2">[http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/CO-EST2007-popchg2000_2007.html U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 to 2007 Population Estimates]</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">[http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/files/CO-EST2008-POPCHG2000_2008-48.csv ]{{dead link|date=July 2013}}</ref>
* [[Harris County, Texas|Harris County]] – 4,092,459
* [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend County]] – 585,375
* [[Montgomery County, Texas|Montgomery County]] – 455,746
* [[Brazoria County, Texas|Brazoria County]] – 313,166
* [[Galveston County, Texas|Galveston County]] – 291,309
* [[Liberty County, Texas|Liberty County]] – 75,643
* [[Waller County, Texas|Waller County]] – 43,205
* [[Chambers County, Texas|Chambers County]] – 35,096
* [[Austin County, Texas|Austin County]] – 28,417

===Cities and towns===
{{Main|List of cities and towns in Greater Houston}}
Five "principal" cities are designated within Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area:
* [[Houston]] – 2,242,193
* [[The Woodlands, Texas|The Woodlands]] - 93,848
* [[Sugar Land, Texas|Sugar Land]] – 80,704
* [[Baytown, Texas|Baytown]] – 70,330
* [[Conroe, Texas|Conroe]] – 55,429

==Demographics==
As of 2011 Greater Houston has four of Texas's ten wealthiest communities, which include: the wealthiest community, [[Hunters Creek Village]], the fourth wealthiest community, [[Bunker Hill Village]], the fifth wealthiest community, [[West University Place]], and the sixth wealthiest community, [[Piney Point Village]].<ref>"[http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2011/09/13/houston-holds-some-of-texas-most.html Houston holds some of Texas’ most wealthy communities]." ''[[Houston Business Journal]]''. September 13, 2011. Retrieved on September 20, 2011.</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:Houston Ship Channel Galena.jpg|thumb|right|[[Houston Ship Channel]]]]
Among the ten most populous [[United States metropolitan area|metropolitan areas]] in the U.S., Houston ranked first in employment growth rate and second in nominal employment growth.<ref>[http://www.houston.org/economic-development/facts-figures/index.aspx Microsoft Word – 10A W001 Employment Comparisons.doc<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> 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]]''.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.forbes.com/2006/05/03/06bestplaces_best-places-for-business_land.html | work=Forbes | title=Best Places For Business And Careers | date=2006-05-04 | first=Kurt | last=Badenhausen}}</ref>

The Houston–The Woodlands-Sugar Land MSA's [[List of U.S. metropolitan areas by GDP|Gross Metropolitan Product (GMP)]] in 2005 was $308.7&nbsp;billion, up 5.4 percent from 2004 in constant dollars—slightly larger than [[Austria]]'s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). By 2012, the GMP has risen to $449&nbsp;billion, the fourth-largest of any metropolitan area in the United States.[http://www.bea.gov/iTable/drilldown.cfm?reqid=70&stepnum=11&AreaTypeKeyGdp=5&GeoFipsGdp=XX&ClassKeyGdp=naics&ComponentKey=200&IndustryKey=1&YearGdp=2012&YearGdpBegin=-1&YearGdpEnd=-1&UnitOfMeasureKeyGdp=Levels&RankKeyGdp=1&Drill=1&nRange=5] Only 26 nations other than the United States have a GDP exceeding Houston's GAP.<ref name="imf2011gdp-world-eu">{{cite web
|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2013/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=33&pr.y=11&sy=2012&ey=2012&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=001%2C998&s=NGDPD&grp=1&a=1
|title=Nominal 2012 GDP for the world and the European Union (EU).
|accessdate=2013-10-08
|work=[http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2013/02/weodata/index.aspx World Economic Outlook Database, October 2013]
|publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]]}}</ref> Mining, which in Houston is almost entirely oil and gas exploration and production, accounts for 11 percent of Houston's GAP—down from 21 percent as recently as 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]].<ref name="houston.org"/>

The area's economic activity is centered in [[Houston]], the county seat of [[Harris County, Texas|Harris&nbsp;County]]. Houston is second to New York City in ''[[Fortune 500]]'' headquarters. The city has attempted to build a banking industry, but the companies originally started in Houston have since merged with other companies nationwide. Banking, however, is still vital to the region.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

Galveston Bay and the [[Buffalo Bayou]] together form one of the most important shipping hubs in the world. The [[Port of Houston]], the [[Port of Texas City]], and the [[Port of Galveston]] are all major [[seaport]]s located in this Greater Houston area.<ref>{{Handbook of Texas | name=Ocean Shipping | id=OO/eto1 | retrieved=Jan 25, 2010}} Texas State Historical Association.</ref> The area is also one of the leading centers of the energy industry, particularly petroleum processing, and many companies have large operations in this region.<ref>{{Handbook of Texas | title=Oil and Gas Industry | id=OO/doogz | author=Olien, Roger M. | retrieved=Jan 25, 2010}} Texas State Historical Association.</ref> The metropolitan area also comprises the largest [[petrochemical]] manufacturing area in the world, including for [[synthetic rubber]], [[insecticide]]s, and [[fertilizer]]s.<ref>Weisman (2007), p. 132.</ref> The area is also the world's leading center for building [[oilfield]] equipment. The region is also a major center of [[biomedical]] research, aeronautics, and high-technology.<ref>{{Cite journal | url=http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/2009/090618/full/nj7249-1022a.html | title=Texas-sized challenge | author=Russo, Gene | work=Nature Magazine | volume=459 | date=June 18, 2009 | pages=1022–1023 | publisher=Nature Publishing Group (a division of Macmillan) | issue=7249 | doi=10.1038/nj7249-1022a}}<br />{{Handbook of Texas | id=AA/dnaul | title=Aeronautics and Aerospace Industry | retrieved=Jan 25, 2010}} Texas State Historical Association.<br />{{cite news | url=http://www.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2009/09/15/10-best-places-for-tech-jobs.html | title=10 Best Places for Tech Jobs | work=Houston Chronicle | author=Wolgemuth, Liz | date=September 15, 2009}}</ref>

Much of metro area's success as a [[petrochemical]] complex is enabled by its busy man-made ship channel, the [[Houston Ship Channel]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.portsl.com/pages/15_overview.html | title=Overview of the Port of South Louisiana | publisher=Port of South Louisiana | accessdate=January 25, 2010}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Because of these economic trades, many residents have moved to the Houston area from other U.S. states, as well as hundreds of countries worldwide. Unlike most places, where high fuel prices are seen as harmful to the economy, they are generally seen as beneficial for Houston as many are employed in the energy industry. [[Baytown, Texas|Baytown]], [[Pasadena, Texas|Pasadena]]/[[La Porte, Texas|La Porte]], and [[Texas City, Texas|Texas City]] have some of the area's largest petroleum/petrochemical plants though major operations can be found in Houston, [[Anahuac, Texas|Anahuac]], [[Clute, Texas|Clute]], and other communities. Galveston has the largest cruise ship terminal in Texas (and the 12th-largest in the world). The island as well the [[Clear Lake Area]] are major recreation and tourism areas in the region.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://bayareahouston.com/DATA/Home/DataCenter/RegionalStudies/BayAreaHoustonOverview/Bay%20Area%20Houston%20Overview.PDF | title=Bay Area Overview | publisher=Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership | accessdate=January 25, 2010}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

Houston is home to the [[Texas Medical Center]]—the largest medical center in the world. The majority of Houston area Medicare recipients are members of Texan Plus, a Medicare approved Medicare Advantage plan that contracts with the federal government.<ref>[http://www.houston.org/living-here/healthcare/index.aspx Houston Texas Medical Center | Greater Houston Partnership<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Galveston is home to one of only two national biocontainment laboratories in the United States.<ref>[http://www.utmb.edu/gnl/ University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston National Laboratory – Home Page ]</ref>

The [[University of Houston System]]'s annual impact on the Houston-area's economy equates to that of a major corporation: $1.1&nbsp;billion in new funds attracted annually to the Houston area, $3.13&nbsp;billion in total economic benefit, and 24,000 local jobs generated.<ref name="Economic Impact">{{cite news|title=Study suggests UH degrees are crucial economic factor|last=TRESAUGUE|first=Matthew|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/3868657.html|work=Houston Chronicle|date=2006-05-17|accessdate=2011-05-31}}</ref><ref name="UH System Economic Impact">{{cite web | title = The Economic Impact of Higher Education on Houston: A Case Study of the University of Houston System | work=University of Houston System | accessdate = 2011-05-14 | url = http://www.advancement.uh.edu/impact/download/PDF/EconomicImpactStudy.pdf|format=PDF}}</ref> This is in addition to the 12,500 new graduates the UH&nbsp;System produces every year who enter the workforce in Houston and throughout Texas. These degree-holders tend to stay in Houston. After five years, 80.5&nbsp;percent of graduates are still living and working in the region.<ref name="UH System Economic Impact"/>

[[Sugar Land, Texas|Sugar&nbsp;Land]] is home to the second-largest economic activities and third-largest city in the metropolitan area. Sugar&nbsp;Land has the most important economic center in [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort&nbsp;Bend&nbsp;County]]. The city holds the [[Imperial Sugar]] (its namesake), Nalco Champion and Western Airways headquarters. Engineering firms and other related industries have managed to take the place as an economic engine.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

{{See also|List of companies in Houston|l1=List of companies in Houston–The Woodlands-Sugar Land MSA}}

==Sports==

===Major professional teams===
{| class="wikitable"
!Club
!Sport
!Founded
!League
!Venue
|-
|[[Houston Astros]]
| Baseball
|1962
|[[Major League Baseball|MLB]]
|[[Minute Maid Park]]
|-
|[[Houston Rockets]]
|Basketball
|1967
|[[National Basketball Association|NBA]]
|[[Toyota Center (Houston)|Toyota Center]]
|-
|[[Houston Texans]]
|[[American Football|Football]]
|2002
|[[National Football League|NFL]]
|[[NRG Stadium]]
|-
|[[Houston Dash]]
| Women's Soccer
|2014
|[[National Women's Soccer League|NWSL]]
|[[BBVA Compass Stadium]]
|-
|[[Houston Dynamo]]
|Soccer
|2005
|[[Major League Soccer|MLS]]
|[[BBVA Compass Stadium]]
|}

===Minor league and semi-pro teams===
{| class="wikitable"
!Club
!Sport
!Founded
!League
!Venue
|-
|[[Sugar Land Skeeters]]
|Baseball
|2010
|[[Atlantic League of Professional Baseball|ALPB]]
|[[Constellation Field]]
|-
|[[Houston Energy]]
|[[American Football|Football]]
|2001
|[[Women's Professional Football League|WPFL]]
|[[Pearland High School|The Rig]]
|-
|[[Houston Red Storm]]
| Basketball
|2006
|[[American Basketball Association (2000–present)|ABA]]
|[[John H. Reagan High School (Houston, Texas)|John H. Reagan HS]]
|-
|[[Galveston Tidalwave]]
|[[American Football|Football]]
|2008
|[[Independent Indoor Football Alliance|IIFA]]
|[[Galveston Island Convention Center]]
|-
|[[Houston Aces]]
| Women's Soccer
|2012
|[[Women's Premier Soccer League|WPSL]]
|[[Carl Lewis Stadium]]
|-
|[[Houston Dutch Lions]]
| Soccer
|2011
|[[USL Premier Development League|PDL]]
|HDLFC Soccer Complex
|}

===College sports (Division I)===
Greater Houston is home to five [[Division I (NCAA)|NCAA Division I]] programs, with four located within Houston proper. The [[University of Houston]] and [[Rice University]] play in Division I (FBS).<ref name="deseretnews.com">http://www.deseretnews.com/article/695207634/H-E-L-P-Is-it-1-AA-FBS-FCS-or-LOL.html</ref> The University of Houston plays in the [[American Athletic Conference]] while Rice belongs to [[Conference USA]]. Both schools were once part of the [[Southwest Conference]]. [[Texas Southern University]], which is a member of the [[Southwestern Athletic Conference]], plays in Division I (FCS).<ref name="deseretnews.com"/> [[Houston Baptist University]] currently plays in Division I (FCS), mainly in the [[Southland Conference]].<ref>http://www.hbuhuskies.com/news/2011/11/21/GEN_1121110809.aspx</ref> Rice and Houston Baptist are widely noted for their student-athlete graduation rates, which number at 91% for Rice (tied for highest in the nation according to a 2002 Sports Illustrated issue on best college sports programs) and 80% for HBU.

{| class="wikitable"
!School
!Founded
!Nickname
!Conference
|-
| [[University of Houston]]
| 1927
| [[Houston Cougars]]
| [[American Athletic Conference]]
|-
| [[Houston Baptist University]]
| 1960
| [[Houston Baptist Huskies]]
| [[Southland Conference]]
|-
| [[Prairie View A&M University]]
| 1876
| [[Prairie View A&M Panthers]]
| [[Southwestern Athletic Conference]]
|-
| [[Rice University]]
| 1912
| [[Rice Owls]]
| [[Conference USA]]
|-
| [[Texas Southern University]]
| 1927
| [[Texas Southern Tigers]]
| [[Southwestern Athletic Conference]]
|}

===Events===
Houston is or has been home to various nationally known sporting events. The most notable is the [[Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo]], which is the world's largest [[livestock|livestock exhibition]] and [[rodeo]] event. Other events of importance on greater Houston include the [[Shell Houston Open]] (a [[PGA Tour]] event), the [[U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships]] ([[ATP tour]]) the [[Houston Marathon]], and the [[Texas Bowl]] college football bowl game. Houston has also played host to two [[Super Bowl]]s ([[Super Bowl VIII|VIII]]) and ([[Super Bowl XXXVIII|XXXVIII]]), the 1968, 1986 [[2004 MLB All-Star Game]], the [[2005 World Series]], and the 1989 [[2006 NBA All-Star Game]]. Houston has also played host to various high school and college sporting events, including the [[Big 12 Football Championship Game|Big 12 Championship Game]] and hosted the [[2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|2011 NCAA Men's Final Four]], [[2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|2010 NCAA Men's Regional Finals]], and [[2010 MLS All-Star Game]]. Houston was also considered a candidate for the [[2012 Olympic Games|2012]] and [[2016 Olympic Games]].

==Culture==
Houston's concentration of consular offices ranks third in the nation and first in the South, with 90 countries represented.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.visithoustontexas.com/about/protocol/consular_corps_section | title=Houston International Protocol Alliance | accessdate=Jun 22, 2010}}</ref> Houston has a sizable Hispanic community, with the third-largest cities. Greater \CNN/Money and ''Money'' magazine have recognized cities in the Greater Houston area the past three years as part of its 100 Best Places to Live in the United States. In 2005, [[Sugar Land, Texas|Sugar Land]], southwest of Houston in [[Fort Bend County, Texas|northeast Fort Bend County]], was ranked 46th in the nation, and one of only three Texas cities among the Top 100. In 2006, the magazine recognized Sugar Land again, this time as the third best city on its list.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2006/index.html |publisher=CNN | accessdate=May 4, 2010 | title=Best Places to Live 2006}}</ref> Also making the 2006 list were [[League City, Texas|League City]] (65th) in [[Galveston County, Texas|northern Galveston County]] and [[The Woodlands, Texas|The Woodlands]] (73rd) in [[Montgomery County, Texas|southern Montgomery County]]. In 2007, another Houston suburb, [[Friendswood, Texas|Friendswood]] made the list ranked 51st in the nation. The 2006 list only includes cities with at least 50,000 residents, and the 2007 list contains only cities with less than 50,000 residents.

Greater Houston is widely noted for its ethnic diversity and strong international community. In its 2010 publication "Urban Elite",<ref>http://www.atkearney.com/images/global/pdf/Urban_Elite-GCI_2010.pdf</ref> A.T. Kearney added the city to their list of the 65 most important world cities and ranks Houston 35th, as "...a magnet for a diverse population and business services...". The Globalization and World Cities Study Group and Network ranks Houston as a Beta- World City, "an important world city instrumental to linking their region or state to the world economy."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/world2008t.html |title=GaWC - The World According to GaWC 2008 |publisher=Lboro.ac.uk |date=2010-04-13 |accessdate=2013-07-21}}</ref>

===Media===
[[File:Melcher Center for Public Broadcasting.jpg|thumb|left|Melcher Center for Public Broadcasting at the University of Houston]]
Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area is served by a public television station and two public radio stations. [[KUHT]] (''HoustonPBS'') is a [[Public Broadcast Service|PBS]] member station and is the first public television station in the United&nbsp;States. Houston Public Radio is listener-funded radio and comprises two [[NPR]] member stations: [[KUHF]] (''KUHF News'') and [[KUHA]] (''Classical 91.7''). KUHF is news/talk radio and KUHA is a classical music station. The [[University of Houston System]] owns and holds broadcasting licenses to KUHT, KUHF, and KUHA. The stations broadcast from the Melcher Center for Public Broadcasting, located on the campus of the [[University of Houston]].

The Houston area is served by the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'', its only major daily newspaper with wide distribution. The [[Hearst Corporation]], which owns and operates the ''Houston Chronicle'', bought the assets of the ''[[Houston Post]]''—its long-time rival and main competition—when ''Houston Post'' ceased operations in 1995. The ''Houston Post'' was owned by the family of former Lieutenant Governor [[Bill Hobby]] of Houston. The only other major publication to serve the city is the ''[[Houston Press]]''—a free [[alternative weekly]] with a weekly readership of more than 300,000.<ref name="About">{{cite web|url=http://www.houstonpress.com/about/|title=Houston Press: About Us|publisher=Houston Press |accessdate=2007-01-26}}</ref>

The ''[[Galveston County Daily News]]'', founded in 1842, is that city's primary newspaper and the oldest continuously printed newspaper in Texas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://galvestondailynews.com/history.lasso |title=The Galveston County Daily News |publisher=Galvestondailynews.com |date= |accessdate=2008-10-28}}</ref> It currently serves as the [[newspaper of record]] for Galveston as well as [[Galveston County]]. Radio station [[KGBC]], on air since 1947, has also served as a local media outlet.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Island radio station making a comeback | work = The Galveston County Daily News | author = Leigh Jones | date = 2009-03-10 | accessdate = 2009-10-04 | url = http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=f78adc7f6fda4a10}}</ref>
{{-}}

==Education==

===Colleges and universities===
{{see also|List of colleges and universities in Houston}}
[[File:Ezekiel W. Cullen Building (Alternate).JPG|thumb|right|[[University of Houston]]]]
Five separate and distinct state universities are located within Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area. The [[University of Houston]] is a nationally recognized Tier&nbsp;One research university, and is the flagship institution of the [[University of Houston System|University of Houston&nbsp;System]].<ref name="Tier One Research">{{cite web |url=http://www.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2011articles/Jan2011/011811CarnegieTierOne.php|title=Carnegie Foundation Gives University of Houston its Highest Classification for Research Success, Elevating UH to Tier One Status|author=Bonnin, Richard|publisher=University of Houston |accessdate=2011-02-08}}</ref><ref name="Tier One Research 2">{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/print-edition/2011/01/21/uh-achieves-tier-one-status-in-research.html|title=UH achieves Tier One status in research|work=Houston Business Journal |accessdate=2011-07-06|date=January 21, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Tier One Research 3">{{cite web |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7386162.html|title=UH takes big step up to Tier One status|work=Houston Chronicle |accessdate=2011-07-06}}</ref> The {{nowrap|third-largest}} university in Texas, the University of Houston has nearly 40,000 students on its 667 acre campus in southeast Houston.<ref name="State of the University: Fall 2011">{{cite web | url=http://www.uh.edu/president/communications/university-community/fall-address-highlights/Fall_Address_Slides_10-3-2011.pdf | title=State of the University: Fall 2011 | publisher=University of Houston | date=October 4, 2011 | accessdate=October 5, 2011 | author=Khator, Renu}}</ref> The [[University of Houston–Clear Lake|University of Houston–Clear&nbsp;Lake]] and the [[University of Houston–Downtown]] are {{nowrap|stand-alone}} universities; they are not branch campuses of the University of Houston. The metropolitan area is home to two historically black colleges and universities: [[Texas Southern University]] and [[Prairie View A&M University]]. The [[University of Texas Medical Branch]] (UTMB) and [[Texas A&M University at Galveston]], a branch campus of [[Texas A&M University]], are located in Galveston.

Several private institutions of higher learning—ranging from liberal arts colleges to a nationally recognized research university—are located within the metropolitan area. The University of St. Thomas is a Catholic institution known for small classes (an average of 14 students per class). [[Rice University|Rice&nbsp;University]] is one of the leading teaching and research universities of the United&nbsp;States and ranked the nation's 17th best overall university by ''U.S. News & World Report''.<ref>{{cite web | title = Rice University, Best Colleges 2009 | work=U.S. News & World Report | accessdate = 2009-03-27 | url = http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/items/3604}}</ref>

Three community college districts exist with campuses in and around Houston. The [[Houston Community College System]] serves most of Houston. The northwestern through northeastern parts of the metropolitan area are served by various campuses of the [[Lone Star College System]], while the southeastern portion of the city and some surrounding areas are served by [[San Jacinto College]]. Eastern portions of the area and small sections of the city<!--Huffman ISD--> are served by [[Lee College]]. Portions of Fort Bend County are served by [[Wharton County Junior College]]. Portions of Galveston County are served by [[College of the Mainland]] and [[Galveston College]]. Portions of Brazoria County are served by [[Alvin Community College]] and [[Brazosport College]]. [[Blinn College]] serves portions of Austin County. The Houston Community College and Lone Star College systems are within the [[List of United States colleges and universities by enrollment#US Department of Education Ranking|10 largest institutions of higher learning]] in the United&nbsp;States.
{{-}}

==Transportation==

===Highways===
[[File:RF - Houston West Loop South.1.jpeg|thumb|right|[[Interstate 610 (Texas)|Interstate 610]] in [[Uptown Houston]]]]
Houston’s freeway system includes {{convert|575.5|mi|km|1}} of freeways and expressways in the 10-county metro area.<ref name="houston.org"/> The State of Texas plans to spend $65&nbsp;billion on Houston area highways by 2025. Houston freeways are heavily traveled and often under construction to meet the demands of continuing growth.

The Greater Houston area has a [[Spoke-hub distribution paradigm|hub-and-spoke]] freeway structure with multiple loops. The innermost is [[Interstate 610 (Texas)|Interstate 610]], forming approximately a {{convert|10|mi|km|-1|sing=on}} diameter loop around downtown. The roughly square "Loop 610" is quartered into "North Loop," "South Loop," "West Loop," and "East Loop." The roads of [[Beltway 8]] and their freeway core, the Sam Houston Tollway, are the next loop, at a diameter of roughly {{convert|25|mi|km|0}}. A proposed highway project, [[State Highway 99 (Texas)|State Highway 99]] (The Grand Parkway), would form a third loop outside of Houston. Currently, the completed portion of State Highway 99 runs from [[US 290|U.S. Highway 290]], northwest of Houston, to [[U.S. Highway 59 (Texas)|U.S. Highway 59]] in [[Sugar Land, Texas|Sugar&nbsp;Land]], southwest of Houston, and was completed in 2013. The next portion to be constructed is from the current terminus at U.S. Highway 290 to [[U.S. Highway 59 (Texas)|U.S. Highway 59]] in [[Montgomery County, Texas|Montgomery County]]. Freeways also include the Westpark Tollway, which runs from U.S. Hwy 59 to Texas Hwy 99 and the Fort Bend Parkway, which runs from U.S. Hwy 90-A to Texas Hwy 6 in Missouri City. A new interstate is also being added to the Greater Houston area. [[Interstate 69]] will start at the Mexican Border, go through the Greater Houston area, and continue on to Michigan at the Canadian Border. About 35 miles of [[Interstate 69 in Texas]] have been completed in the Greater Houston area.

{{Further2|[[List of Houston highways|List of highways in Houston–The Woodlands-Sugar Land MSA]]}}

===Mass transit===
[[File:METRORail 4.jpg|thumb|left|[[METRORail]] in [[Downtown Houston]]]]
The [[Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas]], or METRO, provides public transportation in the form of buses, trolleys, and lift vans.

METRO began running light rail service ([[METRORail]]) on January 1, 2004. Currently the track is rather short—it runs about 12.8 miles (20.6 km) from Northline Transit Center Station through Downtown Houston to the [[Texas Medical Center]] and [[Reliant Park]]. Still the [[Template:Redline|Red Line]] is traveled by about 45,000 people daily, giving it the second highest ridership per track mile in the nation. METRO's various forms of public transportation still do not connect many of the suburbs to the greater city, causing Houstonians to rely on the automobile as a primary source of transportation. Prior to the opening of METRORail, Houston was the largest city in the United States devoid of a rail transit system by a very large margin.

Following a successful [[referendum]] held locally in 2004, METRO is currently in the beginning design phases of a 10-year expansion plan to add five more sections to connect to the current rail system. An 8.3-mile (13.4-km) expansion has been approved to run the service from Uptown through [[Texas Southern University]], ending at the [[University of Houston]] campus.
{{-}}

===Airports===
{{Main|Transportation in Houston#Airports}}
Houston's largest airport (and Texas's second-largest), [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport]], is located in north Houston. [[Continental Airlines]] was headquartered in [[Downtown Houston|Downtown&nbsp;Houston]]. The southeast of Houston has [[William P. Hobby Airport]], the second-largest commercial passenger airport. Houston's third-largest airport is [[Ellington Field]], which houses several [[United States National Guard|National Guard]] and [[Air National Guard]] units, as well as a [[United States Coast Guard]] air station and the [[Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center]]'s fleet of jets that are used to train astronauts. [[Sugar Land, Texas|Sugar&nbsp;Land]], southwest of Houston, has the [[Sugar Land Regional Airport|Sugar&nbsp;Land Regional Airport]]. Sugar&nbsp;Land Regional is the fourth-largest airport in the metropolitan area. Both Sugar Land Regional and Ellington Field serve as reliever airports for the Houston Airport System.

===Intercity rail===
[[Amtrak]] provides intercity rail service to the [[Houston (Amtrak station)|Houston]] station.<ref>[http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=am/am2Station/Station_Page&code=HOS Houston Amtrak Station]</ref>

===Intercity bus===
[[Greyhound Bus Lines]] operates services from three bus stations in the City of Houston:
* Houston Greyhound Station at 2121 South Main Street<ref>[http://www.greyhound.com/en/locations/terminal.aspx?city=681440 Houston Greyhound Station]</ref>
* Americanos U.S. L.L.C. (Houston Southeast) at 7218 Harrisburg Blvd.<ref>[http://www.greyhound.com/en/locations/terminal.aspx?city=680098 Houston Southeast Greyhound Station]</ref>
* Agencia Autobuses (Houston Southwest) at 6590 [[U.S. Highway 59 (Texas)|Southwest Freeway]]<ref>[http://www.greyhound.com/en/locations/terminal.aspx?city=682792 Houston Southwest Greyhound Station]</ref>
In addition, Greyhound operates services from two stops<ref>http://www.greyhound.com/scripts/en/TicketCenter/locations.asp?state=tx</ref>
* Houston Aau
* [[Houston (Amtrak station)|Houston]] ([[Amtrak]] station)
Greyhound also operates services to stops within other cities in the Greater Houston area, including:
* [[Angleton, Texas|Angleton]] (at Save Step Food Mart)<ref>[http://www.greyhound.com/en/locations/terminal.aspx?city=683540 Angleton Greyhound Station]</ref>
* [[Baytown, Texas|Baytown]] (at Baytown Travel Express)<ref>[http://www.greyhound.com/en/locations/terminal.aspx?city=688567 Baytown Greyhound Station]</ref>
* [[Conroe, Texas|Conroe]] (at [[Royal Dutch Shell|Shell]])<ref>[http://www.greyhound.com/en/locations/terminal.aspx?city=680669 Conroe Greyhound Station]</ref>
* [[Katy, Texas|Katy]] (at Sunmart [[Texaco]])<ref>[http://www.greyhound.com/en/locations/terminal.aspx?city=681550 Katy Greyhound Station]</ref>
* [[Prairie View, Texas|Prairie View]] (at Unco Food Store)<ref>[http://www.greyhound.com/en/locations/terminal.aspx?city=682363 Prairie View Greyhound Station]</ref>
* [[Rosenberg, Texas|Rosenberg]] (at Shell-[[McDonalds]])<ref>[http://www.greyhound.com/en/locations/terminal.aspx?city=682495 Rosenberg Greyhound Station]</ref>

Three [[Megabus (North America)|Megabus]] stations additionally serve the Houston area:
* Downtown - A parking lot located at 815 Pierce St across the street from [[Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County|METRO]]'s Downtown Transit Center
* Northwest Houston - A Shell gas station located at 13250 FM 1960.
* Katy Mills Mall - Located at Entrance 5, 5000 Katy Mills Circle.

==Politics==
{{update|date=May 2013}}
Politically, the Greater Houston area has historically been divided between areas of strength of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] and [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] parties.<ref>[http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/ Election result maps<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

The city of Houston itself has historically voted Democratic except for its affluent western and west-central portions, including the [[River Oaks, Houston|River Oaks]], [[Westchase, Houston|Westchase]], [[Memorial, Houston, Texas|Memorial]] and [[Uptown Houston|Uptown]] areas, as well as the [[Kingwood, Houston|Kingwood]] and [[Clear Lake City (Greater Houston)|Clear Lake City]] master-planned communities on Houston's far northeast and southeast sides, respectively. All these areas, comprised mostly of wealthy WASPS, favor and are almost entirely represented both in [[United States Congress|Congress]] and in the [[Texas Legislature]] by Republicans. Democrats' strongest areas are within Loop 610, and also in the largely poor and minority northern, eastern and southern portions of Houston. Most of these areas have sizable Hispanic populations, though some northern and southern parts of the city have notable African-American communities. Democrats are also stronger in the more liberal [[Neartown Houston|Neartown]] area, which is home to a large artist and [[LGBT]] community, and [[Alief, Houston|Alief]], which houses a sizable Asian American population.{{citation needed|date=August 2012}} In 2008, almost every county in the region voted for Republican [[John McCain]]; only [[Harris County, Texas|Harris County]] was won by Democratic candidate [[Barack Obama]], by a small margin (51%–49%).<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/county/#val=TXP00map |publisher=CNN | title=County Results - Election Center 2008 - Elections & Politics from CNN.com | accessdate=May 4, 2010}}</ref> [[Galveston, Texas|Galveston]] has long been a staunch Democratic stronghold, with the most active Democratic county establishment in the state.<ref>[http://www.galvestoncountydemocraticparty.com :: The Galveston County Democratic Party Online – www.DemocratsWin.com ::<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Houston's suburbs are also politically divided. Such examples:
* [[Pasadena, Texas|Pasadena]], which went for [[Barack Obama]], is heavily Hispanic and lower-middle class on its north side, which favors Democrats, and slightly more affluent on its south side, which favors Republicans. A northwestern section of the city is represented by Democrat Ana Hernandez (District 143), while the city's central core, which contains most of its population, is represented by Republican Robert Talton (District 144). A small, largely unincorporated southeastern section of the city is represented by Republican John Davis (District 129), who also represents the [[NASA]] [[Johnson Space Center]]. Hernandez's district is also home to [[Galena Park, Texas|Galena Park]] and [[Jacinto City, Texas|Jacinto City]], which also have large Hispanic populations that favor Democrats.{{citation needed|date=August 2012}}

* In [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend County]], southwest of Houston, Democrats are strongest in northern [[Missouri City, Texas|Missouri City]] and older sections of [[Rosenberg, Texas|Rosenberg]], which are home to large numbers of African-American and Hispanic voters, while more affluent and white areas of the county, such as [[Sugar Land, Texas|Sugar Land]], [[Katy, Texas|Katy]], and [[Sienna Plantation]], are heavily Republican. These areas house sizable Asian-American populations, many but not the majority are largely pro-business and favor Republicans, though a sizable community of Democratic business owners does exist among the area's Asian caucuses. In the 2008 election, John McCain won the county by 51% to 49%. Republicans control every county-wide elected office.{{citation needed|date=August 2012}}. Most Asian Republicans do not represent the radical Evangelical vote predominant in the white community.

* [[Montgomery County, Texas|Montgomery County]], north of Houston, is a Republican stronghold, supported by voters in affluent communities on [[Lake Conroe]] and in [[The Woodlands, Texas|The Woodlands]]. Rural residents of the county, though primarily lower- and middle-class, tend to be very socially conservative and also have a substantial Republican following. However, the city of [[Conroe, Texas|Conroe]] proper, the [[county seat]], tends to lean Democratic. Although The Woodlands is home to many corporate transplants from Europe, Japan, Canada, and Australia, who tend to be of a more liberal persuasion, most of these people are not U.S. citizens and thus have little impact on the voting trends of the county.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

* The mainland areas of [[Galveston County, Texas|Galveston County]], north of [[Galveston Island]], have also become increasingly divided on political issues. Democrats have a presence in [[La Marque, Texas|La Marque]] and [[Texas City, Texas|Texas City]], both of which are home to large numbers of unionized refinery workers and African Americans, a traditionally Democratic voting bloc. However, Democrats' strength in this area is increasingly being superseded by newer developments in the northern areas of the county around [[Friendswood, Texas|Friendswood]] and [[League City, Texas|League City]] that favor Republicans.

* [[Brazoria County, Texas|Brazoria County]], south of Houston, is heavily Republican, especially in rural areas and in central portions of the county, such as [[Manvel, Texas|Manvel]], [[Alvin, Texas|Alvin]], and [[Angleton, Texas|Angleton]]. However, Democrats perform strongly in southern portions of the county such as [[Lake Jackson, Texas|Lake Jackson]], [[Clute, Texas|Clute]], and [[Freeport, Texas|Freeport]] due to its large Hispanic population as well as its large base of unionized refinery workers. Additionally, the northern areas of the county around fast-growing [[Pearland, Texas|Pearland]] have recently become more moderate and even Democratic compared to the rest of the county due to its ethnic diversity as well as large numbers of [[Northern United States|Northern]] and [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]] transplants.{{citation needed|date=August 2012}}

* In [[Liberty County, Texas|Liberty County]], east of Houston, Republicans are represented at the state and federal levels, and the county went strongly for John McCain in 2008. However, Democrats hold a near-monopoly in county politics, though in 2006 it elected a countywide Republican (the County Treasurer position) for the first time since Reconstruction.{{citation needed|date=August 2012}}

* [[Chambers County, Texas|Chambers County]], between Harris and Jefferson counties, is one of the most Republican counties in the area. According to the Office of the Secretary of State, in 2008, Republicans carried all of the candidates except for one Democratic judge, who ran unopposed. The county went 75% for John McCain over Barack Obama. The same held true in 2010 when Republicans won all county wide elections ranging from 71% to 91%.{{citation needed|date=August 2012}}

===United States Congress===
{| class=wikitable
|-
! colspan=2 style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Senators'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Name'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Party'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''First Elected'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Level'''
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| Senate Class 1
| [[Ted Cruz]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2012
| Junior Senator
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| Senate Class 2
| [[John Cornyn]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2002
| Senior Senator
|-
! colspan=2 style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Representatives'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Name'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Party'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''First Elected'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Area(s) of Greater Houston Represented'''
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| District 2
| [[Ted Poe]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2004
| Kingwood portion of Houston, Spring, northeast Harris County (including Baytown, Humble and La Porte), western and southern Liberty County
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| District 7
| [[John Culberson]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2000
| West Houston, Memorial Villages, Bellaire, West University Place, west and northwest Harris County
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| District 8
| [[Kevin Brady]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 1996
| Montgomery and San Jacinto counties; northern Liberty County
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| District 9
| [[Al Green (politician)|Al Green]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2004
| Alief, Southwest Houston, Houston’s Southside, portions of Fort Bend County (Mission Bend, eastern portion of Stafford, northern and eastern portions of Missouri City, county’s entire share of Houston)
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| District 10
| [[Michael McCaul]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2004
| Northwest Harris County; Austin and Waller counties; most of the Greater Katy area
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| District 14
| [[Ron Paul]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 1996 (also served 1976–1977 and 1979–1985)
| Galveston, most of Brazoria County (except Pearland), far northern and western Fort Bend County (including the Greater Katy portion in Fort Bend), Chambers County, portions of Galveston County (League City, most of Texas City), Wharton County, and Matagorda County
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| District 18
| [[Sheila Jackson Lee]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 1994
| Downtown Houston, Bush IAH, northwest and northeast Houston, inner portions of Houston’s Southside
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| District 22
| [[Pete Olson]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2008
| most of Fort Bend County (Sugar Land, Rosenberg, the southern portion of Greater Katy, plus western and southern portions of Missouri City), northern Brazoria County (including Pearland), portions of Galveston County (La Marque), southeastern Harris County (Clear Lake City Area, NASA Johnson Space Center, Ellington Field, southern and central Pasadena, Deer Park)
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| District 29
| [[Gene Green]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 1992
| East Houston, northern Pasadena, Galena Park, Channelview (all Harris County)
|}

===Texas Legislature===

====Texas Senate====
{| class=wikitable
|-
! colspan=2 style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''District'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Name'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Party'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''First Elected'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Area(s) of Greater Houston Represented'''
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 3
| [[Robert Nichols (Texas politician)|Robert Nichols]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2006
| Northern and western Montgomery County (including Conroe), San Jacinto County
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 4
| [[Tommy Williams (politician)|Tommy Williams]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2003
| Southern Montgomery County (including The Woodlands), Kingwood, Liberty County, Chambers County, far eastern portions of Baytown
|-
| style="background:gray;"|&nbsp;
| 6
| Vacant<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Gallegos-champion-for-Hispanics-in-state-Senate-3953814.php |title=Mario Gallegos, Senate champion for Hispanics, dies at 62 - Houston Chronicle |publisher=Chron.com |date=2012-10-16 |accessdate=2013-07-21}}</ref>
|
|
| Houston Ship Channel, eastern portions of Houston, Jacinto City, Galena Park, northern Pasadena, western portion of Baytown
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 7
| [[Dan Patrick (politics)|Dan Patrick]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2007
| Memorial Villages, Memorial/Spring Branch area, Addicks Reservoir, Northwest Harris County
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 11
| [[Mike Jackson (Texas politician)|Mike Jackson]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 1999
| Northern and central Brazoria County, southeastern portions of Houston and Harris County, the Galveston County mainland, and all areas roughly north of [[Texas State Highway 87|SH 87]] on Galveston Island.
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 13
| [[Rodney Ellis]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 1990
| Downtown Houston, Texas Medical Center, southwest and northeast Houston, Houston’s Southside, northern portions of Missouri City, Stafford
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 15
| [[John Whitmire]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 1983
| Northwest Houston, Bush IAH, southern portion of Humble, eastern Harris County
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 17
| [[Joan Huffman]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2008
| Meyerland, Bellaire, West University Place, much of Katy area, far west Houston, Barker Reservoir, portions of Fort Bend County (Sugar Land and southern Missouri City) southern Brazoria County, the area of Galveston Island south of [[Texas State Highway 87|SH 87]], entire Bolivar Peninsula, and Port Arthur.
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 18
| [[Glenn Hegar]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2006
| Austin, Waller and Wharton counties; western Fort Bend County
|}

====Texas House of Representatives====
{| class=wikitable
|-
! colspan=2 style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''District'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Name'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Party'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''First Elected'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Area(s) of Greater Houston Represented'''
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 12
| [[Jim McReynolds]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 1996
| San Jacinto County
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 13
| [[Lois W. Kolkhorst|Lois Kolkhorst]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2000
| Austin County
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 15
| [[Steve Toth]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2012
| The Woodlands, southern Montgomery County
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 16
| [[C. Brandon Creighton]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2006
| Northern and central Montgomery County (including Conroe)
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 18
| [[John Otto (politician)|John Otto]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2004
| Liberty County, southeastern Montgomery County
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 23
| [[Craig Eiland]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 1994
| Galveston, Texas City, Bolivar Peninsula, Chambers County
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 24
| [[Larry Taylor (Texas politician)|Larry Taylor]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2002
| Hitchcock, La Marque, Santa Fe, Dickinson, League City, Friendswood (all in Galveston County)
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 25
| [[Dennis Bonnen]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 1996
| Southern Brazoria County (Lake Jackson, Angleton, Freeport)
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 26
| [[Charles F. Howard|Charlie Howard]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 1994
| Sugar Land
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 27
| [[Ron Reynolds (politician)|Ron Reynolds]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2010
| Eastern Fort Bend County (including Rosenberg, most of Missouri City, county’s share of Houston)
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 28
| [[John Zerwas]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2006
| Wharton and Waller counties, western Fort Bend County
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 29
| [[Michael O'Day|Mike O'Day]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2007
| Matagorda County, part of Brazoria County (Pearland, Alvin)
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 126
| [[Patricia Harless]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2006
| Champions/FM 1960
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 127
| [[Dan Huberty]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2011
| Kingwood, Lake Houston, Crosby, Wallisville
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 128
| [[Wayne Smith (Texas politician)|Wayne Smith]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2002
| East Harris County (Baytown, Deer Park, La Porte)
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 129
| [[John E. Davis (Texas politician)|John Davis]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 1998
| Southeast Harris County (Clear Lake City Area, NASA Johnson Space Center)
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 130
| [[Corbin Van Arsdale]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2002
| Northwest Harris County (including Tomball and Cypress-Fairbanks areas)
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 131
| [[Alma A. Allen|Alma Allen]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2004
| Outer portions of Houston’s Southside
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 132
| [[Bill Callegari]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2000
| West Harris County (including county’s share of Katy and unincorporated western parts of the Katy area)
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 133
| [[Jim Murphy (Texas politician)|Jim Murphy]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2006
| West Houston, western portion of Memorial/Spring Branch, part of the Energy Corridor
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 134
| [[Ellen Cohen]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2006
| Inner western portions of Houston (including Meyerland, River Oaks and Memorial Park), Texas Medical Center, West University Place, Bellaire, Southside Place
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 135
| [[Gary Elkins]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 1994
| Parts of northwest Harris County (including Jersey Village) and southeastern segments of the Champions/FM 1960 area
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 136
| [[Beverly Woolley]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 1994
| Memorial Villages and surrounding areas
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 137
| [[Scott Hochberg]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 1992
| Southwest Houston (including Sharpstown, Westwood and Fondren Southwest)
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 138
| [[Dwayne Bohac]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2002
| Northwest Houston and parts of the Memorial/Spring Branch area north of I-10, Addicks Reservoir
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 139
| [[Sylvester Turner]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 1988
| North Houston and Aldine west of I-45
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 140
| [[Armando Walle]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2008
| North Houston and Aldine east of I-45
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 141
| [[Senfronia Thompson]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 1972
| Northeast Houston, Bush IAH, Greenspoint, southern portion of Humble
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 142
| [[Harold V. Dutton, Jr.|Harold Dutton, Jr.]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 1984
| East Houston, Northshore
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 143
| [[Ana Hernandez]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2006
| East Houston within Loop 610, Houston Ship Channel, Galena Park, Jacinto City, northern Pasadena
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 144
| [[Robert E. Talton|Robert Talton]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 1992
| Southern Pasadena, far southeast Houston
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 145
| [[Richard Noriega|Rick Noriega]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 1998
| Inner southeastern portions of Houston (mainly east of I-45), South Houston (not part of the city of Houston)
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 146
| [[Borris Miles]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2006
| Inner portions of Houston’s Southside
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 147
| [[Garnet Coleman]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 1990
| Downtown Houston, inner southeastern portions of Houston (mainly west of I-45)
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 148
| [[Jessica Farrar]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 1994
| Northwest Houston mainly within Loop 610 (including Houston Heights)
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 149
| [[Hubert Vo]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2004
| Far west Houston, Alief, unincorporated portions of Katy area east of Fry Rd, Barker Reservoir
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 150
| [[Debbie Riddle]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2002
| Northern Harris County (Spring, Klein, northern Humble)
|}

==See also==
{{Subject bar|portal1=Houston|portal2=Texas|portal3=United States}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book | title=The world without us | author=Weisman, Alan | publisher=Macmillan | location=New York | year=2007 | isbn=978-0-312-34729-1 | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=bOBB-veGda8C}}
* "[http://www.h-gac.com/community/socioeconomic/forecasts/archive/documents/2035_regional_growth_forecast.pdf Regional Growth Forecast 2035]." ([http://www.webcitation.org/6MYPbo53r Archive]) Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC). August 2006.

==External links==
*[http://www.houston.org/index.html Greater Houston Partnership]
*[http://www.centerforhoustonsfuture.org/ The Center for Houston's Future]

{{Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown MSA}}
{{Texas}}
{{USLargestMetros}}

{{coord missing|Texas}}

[[Category:Greater Houston]]
[[Category:Geography of Houston, Texas]]
[[Category:Geography of Harris County, Texas]]
[[Category:Geography of Fort Bend County, Texas]]
[[Category:Geography of Montgomery County, Texas]]
[[Category:Geography of Galveston County, Texas]]
[[Category:Regions of Texas]]
[[Category:Metropolitan areas of Texas]]

Revision as of 18:12, 7 October 2014

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