Greater Houston

Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown
Downtown Houston
From Galveston overlooking the Gulf
Sugar Land Town Square
Country	United States of America
State	Texas
Principal cities	- Houston  - Sugar Land  - Baytown  - Galveston  - Conroe
Area
- Urban	3,354.7 km2 (1,295.3 sq mi)
- Metro	26,061 km2 (10,062 sq mi)
Elevation	0 - 131 m (0 - 430 ft)
Population (2009 est.)[1]
- Density	243.4/km2 (630.3/sq mi)
- Urban	3,822,509(6th)
- MSA	5,867,489 (6th)
- CSA	5,968,586(9th)
	MSA/CSA = 2008, Urban = 2000
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)

Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown is a 10-county metropolitan area defined by the Office of Management and Budget. It is located along the Gulf Coast region in the U.S. state of Texas. The metropolitan area is colloquially referred to as "Greater Houston" and is situated in Southeast Texas, just west of the Golden Triangle.

Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown is the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the United States with a population of 5.7 million as of the 2008 U.S. Census estimate.^[2] The population of the metropolitan area is centered in the city of Houston—the largest economic and cultural center of the American South with a population of 2.2 million.^[3]

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.^[4] 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 million people.^[5] In 2009 Milken Institute/Greenstreet Real Estate Partners ranked Greater Houston as the 5th best performing metropolitan area; the Houston area had moved up 11 spaces from the previous year's ranking.^[6]

History

Geography

An image of the Greater Houston area taken on NASA's Landsat 7 satellite with Galveston Bay and Galveston Island visible towards the bottom of the picture.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area has a total area of 10,062 square miles (26,060 km²), 8,929 sq mi (23,130 km²). is land area, while 1,133 sq mi (2,930 km²). is water area.; slightly smaller than Massachusetts and slightly larger than New Jersey.^[7]

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 forested land, marshes, swamp, or prairie—all of which can still be seen in surrounding areas. Rolling hills can be found in northern portions of greater Houston.

Much of the Houston metropolitan area is very flat, making flooding a recurring problem for some areas.

Geology

Underpinning Houston's land surface are unconsolidated clays, clay shales, and poorly-cemented sands up to several miles deep. The region's geology developed from stream 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 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. 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 faults (some have estimated as many as 300 active faults)^[8] with an aggregate length of up to 310 miles (500 km),^[9][10] 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

Counties

Location of the Houston–Baytown–Huntsville CSA and its components:      Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown Metropolitan Statistical Area      Huntsville Micropolitan Statistical Area      Bay City Micropolitan Statistical Area

There are 10 counties in the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan statistical area (MSA) defined by the U.S. Census.^[11] They are listed below with population figures as of the 2008 U.S. Census estimates.^[12][13]

• Harris County – 3,984,349
• Fort Bend County – 532,141
• Montgomery County – 429,953
• Brazoria County – 301,044
• Galveston County – 288,239
• Liberty County – 75,333
• Waller County – 35,995
• Chambers County – 29,356
• Austin County – 26,851
• San Jacinto County – 24,882
• Total Metropolitan Statistical Area – 5,728,143

Combined statistical area

In addition to the 10 counties in the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown MSA, the U.S. Census Bureau defines a Combined Statistical Area, which adds two more counties to the area. These are:^[13]

• Matagorda County – 37,265
• Walker County – 64,212
• Total Combined Statistical Area – 5,829,620

This Combined Statistical Area encompasses 12,475 sq mi (32,310 km²). of area. 10,830 sq mi (28,000 km²). is land while 1,645 sq mi (4,260 km²). is water.

Cities and towns

There are five "principal" cities defined by the U.S. Census as of 2009.^[14] Population figures are within the city limits as of the 2008 U.S. Census estimates.^[15]

• Houston – 2,242,193
• Sugar Land – 80,704
• Baytown – 70,330
• Galveston – 57,086
• Conroe – 55,429

Economy

Among the ten most populous metropolitan areas in the U.S., Houston ranked first in employment growth rate and second in nominal employment growth.^[16] 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.^[17]

The Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown MSA's Gross Area Product (GAP) in 2005 was $308.7 billion, up 5.4 percent from 2004 in constant dollars—slightly larger than Austria's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). By 2009, the GAP rose to $403.2 billion, fourth in the nation.^[18] Only 28 nations other than the United States have a GDP exceeding Houston's GAP.^[5] 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.^[5]

The area's economic activity is centered in Houston, the county seat of Harris 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.

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 seaports located in this Greater Houston area.^[19] 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.^[20] The metropolitan area also comprises the largest petrochemical manufacturing area in the world, including for synthetic rubber, insecticides, and fertilizers.^[21] 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.^[22]

Much of metro area's success as a petrochemical complex is enabled by its busy man-made ship channel, the Houston Ship Channel.^[23] 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 gas 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, Pasadena/La Porte, and Texas City have some of the area's largest petroleum/petrochemical plants though major operations can be found in Houston, Anahuac, 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.^[24]

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.^[25] Galveston is home to one of only two national biocontainment laboratories in the United States.^[26]

Sugar Land is home to the second-largest economic activities and third-largest city in the metropolitan area. Sugar Land has the most important economic center in Fort Bend County. The city holds the Imperial Sugar (its namesake), Nalco/Exxon and Western Airways headquarters. Engineering firms and other related industries have managed to take the place as an economic engine.

See also: List of companies in Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown MSA

Culture

Houston's concentration of consular offices ranks third in the nation and first in the Southwest, with 90 countries represented.^[27]. Houston has a sizable Hispanic community, with the third-largest Hispanic and third-largest Mexican-American populations in the United States, Hispanics also have large population bases in a number of suburbs, most notably Pasadena and Rosenberg, whose Hispanic populations make up the majority of these cities. Greater Houston is also home to a large and growing Asian-American population, including the third largest Vietnamese-American community in the U.S. It also has a large Filipino-American community, the fifth largest in the nation.

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, southwest of Houston in 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. [1]^[28] Also making the 2006 list were League City (65th) in northern Galveston County and The Woodlands (73rd) in southern Montgomery County. In 2007, another Houston suburb, Friendswood made the list ranked 51st in the nation. It should be noted that the 2006 list only includes cities with at least 50,000 residents and that 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. 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." ^[29]

Transportation

Highways

Fred Hartman Bridge connecting Baytown and La Porte

Houston’s freeway system includes 575.5 miles (926.2 km) of freeways and expressways in the 10-county metro area.^[5] The State of Texas plans to spend $5.06 billion on Houston area highways between 2002 and 2007. Houston freeways are heavily traveled and often under construction to meet the demands of continuing growth.

The Greater Houston area has a hub-and-spoke freeway structure with multiple loops. The innermost is Interstate 610, forming approximately a 10-mile (20 km) 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 25 miles (40 km). A proposed highway project, State Highway 99 (The Grand Parkway), would form a third loop outside of Houston. Currently, the completed portion of State Highway 99 runs from just north of Interstate 10, west of Houston, to U.S. Highway 59 in Sugar Land, southwest of Houston, and was completed in 1994. The next portion to be constructed is from the current terminus at U.S. Highway 59 to State Highway 288 in Brazoria 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.

Mass transit

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 8 miles (13 km) from Downtown Houston to the Texas Medical Center and Reliant Park. Still the 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

Houston's largest airport (and Texas's second-largest), George Bush Intercontinental Airport, is located in north Houston. Continental Airlines is headquartered in Downtown 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 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, southwest of Houston, has the Sugar Land Regional Airport. Sugar Land Regional is the fourth-largest airport in the metropolitan area and the only general reliever airport in the southwest sector.

Intercity rail

Amtrak provides intercity rail service to the Houston station.

Intercity bus

Greyhound Bus Lines operates services from five bus stations in the City of Houston:

• Houston Greyhound Station at 2121 South Main Street^[30]
• Coach USA Inc. Dept. Casin (Houston Crosstimbers) at 4001 North Freeway^[31]
• The Box Store (Houston Northwest) at 1500 West Loop North Suite 117^[32]
• Americanos U.S. L.L.C. (Houston Southeast) at 7000 Harrisburg Street^[33]
• Agencia Autobuses (Houston Southwest) at 6590 Southwest Freeway

In addition, Greyhound operates services from two stops^[34]

• Houston Aau
• Houston (Amtrak station)

Greyhound also operates services to stops within other cities in the Greater Houston area, including:

• Alvin (Yellow Jacket Grocery-Citgo)^[35]
• Angleton (Ocampos Mexican Rest)^[36]
• Baytown (Baytown Travel Express)^[37]
• Conroe (Conroe Greyhound Station)^[38]
• Galveston (Galveston Bus Station)^[39]
• Katy (at Millers Exxon)^[40]
• Prairie View (at Unco Food Store)^[41]
• Rosenberg (at Shell-McDonalds)^[42]
• Sealy (at Mazac Muffler City-AC)^[43]
• Texas City (at McKown Air Conditioning, also serving La Marque)^[44]

Politics

Historically, politics in the Greater Houston area are divided between the Republican and Democratic parties.^[45]

The city of Houston itself has historically voted Democratic except for its affluent western and west-central portions, including the River Oaks, Westchase, Memorial and Uptown areas, as well as the Kingwood and Clear Lake City master-planned communities on Houston's far northeast and southeast sides, respectively. All these areas favor and are almost entirely represented both in 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 area, which is home to a large artist and LGBT community, and Alief, which houses a sizable Asian American population. In 2008, almost every county in the region voted for Republican John McCain; only Harris County was won by Democratic candidate Barack Obama, by a small margin (51%-49%).^[46] Galveston has long been a staunch Democratic stronghold, with the most active Democratic county establishment in the state.^[47]

Houston's suburbs, while mostly Republican, are also politically divided. Such examples:

• 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 and Jacinto City, which also have large Hispanic populations that favor Democrats.

• In Fort Bend County, southwest of Houston, Democrats are strongest in northern Missouri City and older sections of Rosenberg, which are home to large numbers of African-American and Hispanic voters, while more affluent areas of the county, such as Sugar Land, Katy, and Sienna Plantation, are heavily Republican. While these areas house sizable Asian-American populations, many of them are largely pro-business and generally favor Republicans, though a sizable community of Democratic business owners does exist among the area's Asian caucuses. However the divide made a slight difference in the 2008 election, in which John McCain won the county in a small margin from 51% to 49%. Republicans control every county-wide elected office.

• Montgomery County, north of Houston, is a Republican stronghold, supported by voters in affluent communities on Lake Conroe and in 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 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.

• The mainland areas of Galveston County, north of Galveston Island, has also become increasingly divided on political issues. Democrats have a presence in La Marque and 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 and League City that favor Republicans.

• Brazoria County, south of Houston, is heavily Republican, especially in rural areas and in central portions of the county, such as Manvel, Alvin, and Angleton. However, Democrats perform strongly in southern portions of the county such as Lake Jackson, Clute, and 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 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 and West Coast transplants.

• In Liberty County, east of Houston, Republicans are represented at the state and federal levels in this county which went strongly for John McCain in 2008, but Democrats hold a near-monopoly in county politics, however in 2006 it elected a countywide Republican (the County Treasurer position) for the first time since Reconstruction.

Houston's two most notable congressional districts are the 7th congressional district, which comprises much of west Houston, and the 18th congressional district, which includes downtown Houston.

• The 7th, one of the most heavily affluent and Republican in the state (among the first in Texas to elect a post-Reconstruction Republican), was previously represented by George H.W. Bush, who would eventually go on to become the 41st President of the United States. Its current representative is John Culberson, a conservative Republican who has continued the conservative record of George Bush's successor, Bill Archer.
• The 18th is represented by Sheila Jackson Lee, a liberal African-American Democrat whose role model, Barbara Jordan, previously represented the same district. Jackson Lee's district is overwhelmingly African-American , even though her 1994 victory in the primary (against the district's previous representative, Craig Washington) was largely funded by Republican businessmen who opposed Washington's stances on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and NASA. Washington's predecessor, Mickey Leland, whom succeeded Jordan, was widely noted as a spokesperson for the poor.

United States Congress

Texas Legislature

Texas Senate

Texas House of Representatives

Sports teams

Listing of sports teams in the Greater Houston area:

Professional teams

Major Professional Sports Teams

Other Professional Teams

College and university sports

Houston is home to four NCAA Division I programs. The University of Houston and Rice University play in Division I-A and both belong to Conference USA. Both schools were also once part of the Southwest Conference. Texas Southern University, which is a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, plays in Division I-AA. Houston Baptist University currently plays in NCAA Division 1 as an independent in its first probationary year as part of their readmission into Division 1. 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.

NCAA Division I college athletics

Events

Greater Houston plays home to various sporting events. The most notable is the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which is the world's largest livestock exhibition and rodeo event. Other events of importance to Greater Houston include the Shell Houston Open (PGA Tour), 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 Bowls (VIII) and (XXXVIII), the 2004 MLB All-Star Game, the 2005 World Series, and the 2006 NBA All-Star Game. Houston has also played host to various high school and college sporting events, including the Big 12 Championship Game and will host the 2011 NCAA Men's Final Four, 2010 NCAA Men's Regional Finals, and 2010 MLS All-Star Game. Houston was also considered a candidate for the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games and is currently a host candidate in the United States' bid for future FIFA World Cups.

See also

References

• Weisman, Alan (2007). The world without us. New York: Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-34729-1. http://books.google.com/books?id=bOBB-veGda8C. 

External links

• Greater Houston Partnership
• The Center for Houston's Future

Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown Counties Austin • Brazoria • Chambers • Fort Bend • Galveston • Harris • Liberty • Montgomery • San Jacinto • Waller "Principal" cities Houston  •  Sugar Land  •  Baytown  •  Galveston  •  Conroe Other cities Alvin • Angleton • Bellaire • Clute • Deer Park • Dickinson • Freeport • Friendswood • Galena Park • Humble • Jacinto City • Katy • Lake Jackson • La Marque • La Porte • League City • Missouri City • Pasadena • Pearland • Richmond • Rosenberg • South Houston • Stafford • Texas City • West University Place For a complete listing, see list of cities and towns in Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown MSA Unincorporated areas Atascocita • Channelview • Cloverleaf • Crosby • Cypress • Fresno • Hockley • Klein • Port Bolivar • Spring • The Woodlands Bodies of water Buffalo Bayou • Galveston Bay • Gulf Intracoastal Waterway • Houston Ship Channel • San Jacinto River • Trinity River • Lake Houston • Lake Conroe

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