Fondly known as the Bayou City, although nowadays more frequently referred to as the Space City, Houston was founded in 1836 (by brothers Augustus and John Allen) on the banks of Buffalo Bayou (a creek). This southeast Texan city is named after General Sam Houston, of the Texas Army that won independence from Mexico.

Within a year of its foundation, Houston became the capital of the Republic of Texas until 1840, when that honour was transferred to Austin. However, this Republic was rather short-lived as Texas joined the Union in 1845. It kept itself an escape route, however – the right to secede whenever it wishes is written into the constitution.

Despite its high-rise skyline, Houston has an open feel with several lakes and waterways (such as the Buffalo Bayou) winding their way through the city, surrounded by lush green landscape.

The city has been a dynamic centre of business, particularly in oil, since ‘black gold’ was discovered at nearby Beaumont in 1901. It is also the leader in space technology – Houston is home to NASA and the Johnson Space Center, the base for Mission Control and the place where astronauts are trained. It was established in 1961, as NASA’s primary site for the design, development and testing of spacecraft for human flight.

The port area, which linked to the city by the Houston Ship Channel, an 80km (50-mile) inland waterway, is thriving and has developed into an important business district for the city. Other districts, such as Interstate 10’s Energy Corridor and the areas around the Galleria and the Texas Medical Center, are also pivotal points in Houston’s commercial concerns.

The city is the now the fourth largest in America, covering an area of 1600 sq km (618 sq miles).

In recent years, Houston’s Downtown has undergone a dramatic transformation into a dynamic area of the city, both as an entertainment and as a residential district, with many buildings being converted into loft apartments and selling at a premium.

The area is a magnet for people who wish to have dinner, see a movie or a show and walk along the historic waterfront in Sesquicentennial Park. Bayou Place, an entertainment complex in the Downtown Theater District, has been a great addition to the area, providing restaurants, live music and a multiplex cinema.

Lovers of theatre are well catered for year round, as Houston is one of a handful of American cities that has permanent ballet, orchestra, opera and theatre companies.

Uptown Houston is the major shopping district, while areas such as Montrose (where artists, actors and musicians gather) and Heights (with beautiful Victorian homes) all give a sense of the diversity of the city.

Houston has a temperate climate all year round, although the humidity in the height of summer can make the city feel warmer than the actual temperature. Such a climate means lush green gardens, fragrant flowers and towering trees.

Houston is alive and thriving and the attractions of such a vibrant city, as well as the mild climate and the many opportunities in industries like oil and gas, computers, aerospace and medicine, have turned it into a desirable place in which to live.