Houston

The city of Houston was formed in 1836 by land investors, although it wasn't incorporated until 1837. The Allen brothers bought 6,642 acres along Buffalo Bayou for $1.40 an acre, and the city was named after President Sam Houston. The Allen brothers persuaded the Texas government to choose Houston as the interim capital, but in 1839, the capital was moved to Austin.

Some interesting facts about Houston:

• Greater Houston is the country's most ethnically diversified metropolitan area. Locals speak 145 languages, and 90 countries have consular representation in the city.
• The Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land MSA encompasses 9,444 square miles, slightly less than Massachusetts but significantly more than New Jersey.
• Houston is the largest city in the United States in terms of total parkland. Cullen Park with 9,270 acres, George Bush Park with 8,043 acres, Lake Houston Wilderness Park with 4,787 acres, and Bear Creek Pioneers Park with 3,067 acres are the four largest parks in the city of Houston.
• The first word spoken from the moon was "Houston" in 1969. The Apollo 11 mission cemented the city's place in history when astronaut Neil Armstrong delivered the now-famous remark, "Tranquility Base has arrived in Houston. The eagle has successfully landed."
• The Texas Medical Center does more cardiac surgery than any other hospital in the world.