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Houston Hotels and Visitor Information
Region: Texas
State: Texas
Population: 1,953,631
Elevation: 55 ft
Area Code(s): 713 and 281
Information: Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau, 901 Bagby, 77002; phone 713/437-5200
Email: houtour@ghcvb.com Web: www.houston-guide.com
Area Description:
Although 50 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico, Houston is one of the major seaports in the United States. Before there was a Houston there was a Harrisburg, a maritime trading post founded in 1824 by John Harris. In 1829 Harris died, leaving his brothers to resolve the inheritance of the town.
With petroleum, Houston became a boomtown, ever growing, ever changing. In 1940 it ranked as the country's 27th most populous city; 20 years later it had soared to 4th. Because there are no zoning ordinances, Houston has experienced unrestricted development. This has resulted in the city having more than one skyline and being a proving ground for innovative architecture. The Astrodome, billed as the "eighth wonder of the world" when it opened in 1965, set a futuristic standard for stadium construction. Minute Maid Park and Reliant Stadium have ushered in a new generation of sports complexes.
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