Greater Houston Region

Located along Texas' Gulf Coast in the state's central southeast corner, the Greater Houston region (Houston-Baytown–Sugar Land SMSA) boasts:

• The 2nd highest concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters in the country.
• Recognized as the most prominent international trade center in the South and Southwest.
• Over 5.5 million people with the City of Houston as its geographical and activity center.
• Excellent proximity to other major markets within Texas: Dallas-Ft. Worth-250 miles; Austin-160 miles; San Antonio-200 miles.
• Crossroads of a major highway system that to the north and south links Mexico (300 miles) and the Chicago/Great Lakes region via the US 59/proposed IH 69 NAFTA Highway.
• Mid-point of IH 10, the main southern east-west route across the U.S. which links Jacksonville, Florida to San Diego, California.
• Three modern deepwater seaports (Houston, Galveston and Freeport), two bustling major airports (Bush and Hobby), and a very comprehensive rail and highway system. The Port of Houston ranks 6th in the world in total tonnage, 1st in the United States for foreign tonnage, and 2nd in the United States for total tonnage.
• Energy Capital of the World.
• The largest collection of advanced medical facilities in the world at the Texas Medical Center, which is also the 2nd largest concentration of medical R&D funding in the world.
• NASA's Johnson Manned Spacecraft Center ('Houston, we have landed.')
• These three economic anchors create a triangle of convergence linking energy, life sciences, and advanced technology.
• A full academic and cultural presence in its abundant and varied museums, ethnic events and celebrations, performing and visual art venues, and its many local colleges and universities (which includes the Harvard of the South, Rice University).

For more detailed information on all of the Greater Houston Region, visit: http://www.houston.org.