HOUSTONFACTS. Discover the Houston Region THE FACTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

Transcription

1 2015 HOUSTONFACTS GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP MEMBERS: $10 NONMEMBERS: $20 Discover the Houston Region THE FACTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. AUSTIN BRAZORIA CHAMBERS FORT BEND GALVESTON HARRIS LIBERTY MONTGOMERY SAN JACINTO WALKER WALLER

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3 Table of Contents The Houston Region: The Facts Speak for Themselves...4 Houston Region in Perspective... 5 Area... 5 People... 5 Economy... 5 Geography... 5 Geography... 6 Demographics... 6 Population... 6 Income...8 Per Capita Personal Income...8 Total Personal Income...8 Weekly Wage...8 Houston Economy... 9 Corporate Economy...10 International Business...11 Employment...11 Industries...12 Aerospace...12 Banking and Finance...12 Wholesale and Retail Trade...12 Construction and Real Estate...12 Energy Engineering Health Care...15 Texas Medical Center...15 Manufacturing...16 Technology...16 Government City of Houston Counties State Government United States Congress Council of Governments...18 Taxation...18 Public Safety...18 Education...19 Schools...19 Libraries...20 Colleges and Universities...20 Infrastructure...21 Public Utilities...21 Land Transportation...21 Seaports...22 Air Transportation...23 Communications Media Newspapers Broadcast Media Environment Water Clean Air Renewable Energy...25 Life in Houston...26 Cost of Living...26 Weather...26 Restaurants Convention and Sports Facilities Conventions and Major Events...28 Hotels and Motels...29 Golf...29 Racing...30 Biking and Hiking...30 Arts and Cultural Industry...30 Performance Arts Facilities...30 Performance Arts Houston Museum District Additional Houston-Area Museums Parks Forests Wildlife Refuges Houston Zoo Houston: The City With No Limits...35 History...36

4 The Houston Region: The Facts Speak for Themselves Houston Facts. The title says much about this publication. No spin. No frills. No hyperbole. Just page after page of straightforward information from more than 300 sources to answer questions most frequently asked about the Houston region. Downtown Skyline and the Rosemont Bridge overlooking Buffalo Bayou Houston Facts has presented unvarnished information about the Houston region since 1959, and its predecessor publications under different names, but with the same objective date to Over the decades, Houston Facts has grown well beyond its original four pages so that we could expand the range and depth of its coverage, bringing you more information about parks, museums, schools, living costs, the regional economy and a host of other topics. It s evolved into a concise almanac for the Houston region. Corporate planners, market analysts, students, relocation and site selection consultants, real estate professionals, government agencies and myriad others turn to it for authoritative information on this region. You may find in these pages facts that surprise you, tantalize you and perhaps alter your image of Houston. For example: If Houston were a country, it would rank as the 25th largest economy in the world exceeding Norway and Belgium s GDP. The Houston region has no racial or ethnic majority. The Port of Houston ranks first in U.S. foreign tonnage. Living costs in the Houston region are 19.2 percent below the average for major metropolitan areas. Parks represent 14.3 percent of the city s land area. Of course, we believe the Houston region is one of the nation s most attractive major metropolitan areas an outstanding place to live, work, and build a business. We d like you to share that view. But we won t try to persuade you. The facts need no embellishment. They speak for themselves. HERE THEY ARE. 4 Houston Facts 2015

5 Houston Region in Perspective Area The nine-county Houston-The Woodlands- Sugar Land Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) covers 9,432 square miles an area smaller than Maryland but larger than New Jersey. Harris County covers 1,778 square miles an area nearly half as large as Rhode Island. At 655 square miles, the city limits of Houston could contain the cities of New York, Washington, D.C., Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Minneapolis and Miami. People If the nine-county Houston MSA were a state, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, it would rank 18th in population. The Houston MSA s 6,490,180 residents as of July 1, 2014 would place it behind Tennessee (6,549,352) and ahead of Missouri (6,063,589) and Maryland (5,976,407). If Harris County were a state, it would rank 26th in population. Its 4,441,370 residents as of July 1, 2014 would place it behind Louisiana (4,649,676) and ahead of Kentucky (4,413,457) and Oklahoma (3,970,239). If the city of Houston were a state, it would rank 36th in population. The city s 2,239,558 residents in 2014 place it behind Nevada (2,839,099) and ahead of New Mexico (2,085,572). Among the nation s metropolitan areas, the Houston MSA in 2013 ranked fourth in number of Hispanics (2,279,622), seventh in number of blacks (1,063,017) and seventh in number of Asians (438,349), according to the Census Bureau s American Community Survey. Economy The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates the Houston MSA had a nominal GDP of $517.4 billion in Among the states, Houston would rank ninth, after New Jersey ($537.4 billion) and ahead of North Carolina ($467.1 billion). If the MSA were an independent nation, it would rank as the world s 25th largest economy, according to the International Monetary Fund behind Poland ($517.7 billion), but ahead of Norway ($512.6 billion) and Belgium ($508.3 billion). In June 2015, the Houston MSA had more jobs (2,987,000) than 35 states, including Wisconsin (2,931,800), Tennessee (2,903,200), and Minnesota (2,860,300). In 2014, the Houston Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service recorded closings on 91,261 properties (includes single-family homes, townhomes, condos, high rises, etc.) an average of one every 5.8 minutes. In 2014, Houston MSA automobile dealers sold 373,998 new cars, trucks and SUVs an average of one every 1.4 minutes. In 2014, the Houston Airport System handled 53,196,840 passengers an average of 6,073 passengers per hour around the clock. In 2014, the City of Houston issued building permits for construction valued at $8.67 billion an average of $275 per second. In 2014, contracts for the construction of new buildings in the Houston MSA totaled $30.5 billion an average of $58,029 per minute. Geography The city of Houston lies in three counties: Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery. Harris County contains the bulk of the city of Houston with small portions of the city lying in Fort Bend and Montgomery counties. Houston is the county seat, or administrative center, of Harris County. Harris County contains all or part of 34 incorporated cities. The Houston MSA includes 124 incorporated communities. HOUSTON.ORG 5

6 Geography HOUSTON MSA: 9,432 square miles Austin Waller Montgomery Harris Liberty TEXAS HARRIS COUNTY: 1,778 square miles Houston Chambers CITY OF HOUSTON: 655 square miles Fort Bend Brazoria Galveston Metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas (MSA) are geographic delineations defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for use by federal statistical agencies in collecting, tabulating, and publishing federal statistics. These geographic delineations change over time Delineation for the Houston region: Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) contains 10 counties: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, San Jacinto and Waller Delineation for the Houston region: Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) contains nine counties: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller. The longer titles are shortened to Houston MSA in Houston Facts. Demographics Population Houston, the fourth most populous U.S. city (estimated at 2,239,558 on July 1, 2014), is the largest city in the South and Southwest. The city of Houston had the second largest numeric increase (35,752) of any U.S. city from July 1, 2013 to July 1, Harris County (estimated at 4,441,370 on July 1, 2014) is the third most populous U.S. county. Among all U.S. counties, Harris County had the highest numeric population increase from July 1, 2013 to July 1, 2014 gaining 88,618 new residents. Geography Population As of July 1, 2013* Median Age (in Years)** Total Households** Average Persons per Household** Foreign-born Estimate** Percent of Total Population Foreign-born** Houston MSA 6,490, ,098, ,379, % Austin County 29, , , % Brazoria County 338, , , % Chambers County 38, , , % Fort Bend County 685, , , % Galveston County 314, , , % Harris County 4,441, ,452, ,064, % Liberty County 78, , , % Montgomery County 518, , , % Waller County 46, , , % Sources: *U.S. Bureau of the Census, Population Division, 2014 Population Estimates, **U.S. Bureau of the Census, American Community Survey, 3-Year Estimates 6 Houston Facts 2015

7 Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land MSA (estimated at 6,490,180 on July 1, 2014) ranks 5th in population among the nation s metropolitan areas. The Houston MSA had the largest numeric increase (156,371) in population of any U.S. metro from July 1, 2013 to July 1, 2014, a 2.5 percent increase. Of the Houston MSA s 1,379,111 foreign-born, 7.2 percent or 99,202 entered the U.S. since Top regions of birth for the Houston MSA s foreign-born are: Latin America 65.8 percent, Asia 24.0 percent, Europe 4.5 percent, Africa 4.3 percent, Northern America 1.2 percent and Oceania 0.2 percent. DECENNIAL CENSUS POPULATION TOTALS Year Houston MSA* Harris County City of Houston ,920,416 4,092,459 2,099, ,693,161 3,400,578 1,953, ,750,411 2,818,199 1,630, ,135,806 2,409,544 1,595, ,195,146 1,741,912 1,233, ,594,894 1,243, , ,083, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,693 78, ,438 63,786 44, ,800 37,249 27, ,053 27,985 16, ,866 17,375 9, ,317 9,070 4, ,984 4,668 2,396 *Includes the counties of: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller. Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census; Texas Almanac Educational Attainment: Houston MSA Total Population Over Age 25 3,984, % 20.1% 6.1% Graduate or Professional Degree Some College, No Degree Bachelor s Degree High School Graduate or GED Associate Degree 21.2% 23.8% 8.4% Less than 9th grade High School Graduate or Higher 9th to12th Grade, No Diploma 9.5% 82.0% 30.9% Bachelor s Degree or Higher Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2013 American Community Survey, 1-Year Estimates Age Distribution Houston MSA 1% 1.9% Race/Ethnicity Houston MSA 8.6% 11% 13.4% 14.3% 7.5% 22.3% 7% 15% Under 5 years 5 to 19 years 20 to 24 years 25 to 34 years 35 to 44 years 45 to 54 years 55 to 64 years 65 to 84 years 36.1% 6.9% 16.8% 38.3% Anglo Hispanic Black/ African American Asian Other 85 years & Over Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2013 American Community Survey, 1-Year Estimates Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2013 American Community Survey, 1-Year Estimates HOUSTON.ORG 7

8 Geography Income COMPONENTS OF POPULATION CHANGE from April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014 Population As of July 1, 2013* Net Domestic Migration Net International Migration Natural Increase Births Natural Increase Deaths Total Population Change Houston MSA 6,490, , , , , ,690 Austin County 29, ,477 1, Brazoria County 338, ,053 11,113 3,816 14,301 Chambers County 38,145 1, ,956 1,065 3,049 Fort Bend County 685,345 58,395 16,646 34,534 10, ,448 Galveston County 314,198 13,009 2,873 16,703 9,984 22,894 Harris County 4,441,370 63, , ,753 99, ,359 Liberty County 78, ,412 3,032 2,474 Montgomery County 518,947 40,967 6,384 27,488 13,171 63,183 Waller County 46,820 2, ,439 1,161 3,583 Note: In some cases, the natural increase and the increase due to in-migration won t sum to the change in population due to rounding errors and the bureau s use of residual values in generating the estimates. Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Population Division, 2014 Population Estimates, Release Date Race/Ethnicity Hispanic White 1,728, % Black 22, % American Indian/ Alaska Native 16, % Asian 2, % Native Hawaiian/ Other Pacific Islander RACE BY ETHNICITY HOUSTON MSA Race/Ethnicity Non-hispanic White 2,415, % Black 1,063, % American Indian/ Alaska Native 10, % Asian 438, % Native Hawaiian/ Other Pacific Islander 2, % Some Other Race 12, % Two or More Races 90, % TOTAL 4,033, % % Some Other Race 457, % Two or More Races 51, % TOTAL 2,279, % Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2013 American Community Survey, 1-Year Estimates Per Capita Personal Income U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data put the nine-county Houston MSA pretax per capita personal income (PCPI) in 2013 at $51,930. The Houston region s PCPI was 16.0 percent above the U.S. average in PCPI increased 1.1 percent in the Houston MSA from 2012 to Total Personal Income Total personal income (TPI) in the nine-county Houston MSA in 2013 was $327.8 billion, up 3.4 percent from Weekly Wage Average weekly wage in the Houston MSA in 2014 was $1, percent above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Self-employed persons were not included in the data.) TOTAL WAGES AND SALARIES 2014 Total (thousands) Houston MSA $182,562,351 Austin County $453,509 Brazoria County $5,139,060 Chambers County $650,801 Fort Bend County $8,442,785 Galveston County $4,586,378 Harris County $153,694,151 Liberty County $711,957 Montgomery County $8,158,105 Waller County $725,605 Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment & Wages 8 Houston Facts 2015

9 OCCUPATIONS: HOUSTON MSA Employed Persons Age 16 and Over Total Civilian Employed Population 2,995,320 Management 298,755 Business and Financial Operations 165,789 Computer and Mathematical 74,152 Architecture and Engineering 91,302 Life, Physical, and Social Science 34,326 Community and Social Services 33,165 Legal 39,895 Education, Training, and Library 174,944 Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 47,858 Health Diagnosing and Treating 112,823 Health Technologists and Technicians 41,471 Healthcare Support 60,884 Protective Service 57,930 Food Preparation and Serving Related 160,594 Building and Grounds Maintenance 126,903 Personal Care and Service 84,408 Sales and Related 325,272 Office and Administrative Support 371,044 Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 5,349 Construction and Extraction 214,897 Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 106,361 Production 188,460 Transportation 107,916 Material Moving 70,822 Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2013 American Community Survey, 1-Year Estimates Commuting to Work Houston MSA Total Workers Age 16 and Over 3.7% 1.4% 0.5% 1.5% 2.4% 10.9% 79.7% Mean travel time to work (in minutes) 2,942,781 Drove Alone in Car, Truck or Van Carpooled in Car, Truck or Van Public Transportation Walked Bicycle Other Means Worked at Home 29.4 Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2013 American Community Survey, 1-Year Estimates Household Income in Most Recent 12 Months Houston MSA Total Households 2,158,139 Median income $57, % 6.4% $200,000 or more $150,000 to $199, % $100,000 to $149, % $75,000 to $99, % $50,000 to $74, % $35,000 to $49, % 10.5% $25,000 to $34,999 $15,000 to $24, % $10,000 to $14,999 Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2013 American Community Survey, 1-Year Estimates. Income is in 2013 inflation-adjusted dollars. 6.4% Less than $10,000 Houston Economy Population & Employment Forecast Metro Houston, Millions Population Employment Source: The Perryman Group Total Payroll Employment - Houston Metro Area* Jan 04 Jan 05 Jan 06 Jan 07 Jan 08 Jan 09 Jan 10 Jan 11 Jan 12 Jan 13 * Not Seasonally Adjusted Source: Texas Workforce Commission Jan 14 Jan 15 During the most recent national recession, the Houston Metro s lowest employment count bottomed-out at million in December However, Houston has since experienced a full recovery, reaching a record high of million employees in July HOUSTON.ORG 9

10 Corporate Economy Houston, a major corporate center, ranks third among U.S. metro areas in the number of corporate headquarters contained on the 2015 Fortune 500 list. Many other Fortune 500 firms maintain U.S. offices in Houston. Houston s corporate headquarters are represented on the following lists: Number of Houston-based companies 2015 Fortune Fortune Global Forbes Global EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY Houston MSA 2014 Annual Average Industry Jobs (000) % of total GOODS PRODUCING % Mining and Logging % Oil and Gas Extraction % Support Activities for Mining % Construction % Manufacturing % Durable Goods % Nondurable Goods % SERVICE PRODUCING % Wholesale Trade % Retail Trade % Transportation/ Warehousing/Utilities % Information % Finance and Insurance % Real Estate and Rental and Leasing % Professional and Business Services % Educational Services % Health Care and Social Assistance % Arts, Entertainment and Recreation % Accommodations and Food Services % Other Services % Government % TOTAL 2, % Of the world s 100 largest non-u.s.-based corporations, 70 have a presence in Houston. County Business Patterns shows that the Houston MSA in 2013 had 129,490 business establishments with payroll. These establishments fall into the below employment size categories. Employment Size 1, % % % , % , % , % , % , % 1-4 Number of Establishments Percent of Establishments 67, % Source: County Business Patterns, 2013 data released May 2015 NOMINAL GROSS AREA PRODUCT Houston MSA Industry $ Billions % of Total Agriculture Mining Construction Manufacturing Nondurable Goods Durable Goods Transportation/Warehousing/Utilities Trade (Wholesale and Retail) Information Finance/Insurance/Real Estate Services Government TOTAL $ Source: The Perryman Group, Winter 2014 (last available data) Sum of individual sectors may not equal the total due to rounding. Source: Texas Workforce Commission, Employment Estimates 10 Houston Facts 2015

11 International Business Houston, a major international city, consistently ranks among the top three U.S. cities in the number of foreign consulates. It is the base of operations for the international oil and gas exploration and production industry and for many of the nation s largest international engineering and construction firms. A key center for international finance, Houston leads the Southwest with 21 foreign banks from 9 nations. The Houston operations of these banks account for 12 of Texas 15 foreign bank representative offices and seven of Texas nine foreign bank agencies. Ninety-one nations have consular representation in the city, ranking Houston s consular corps third largest in the nation. Fourteen foreign governments maintain trade and commercial offices here, and the city has 32 active foreign chambers of commerce and trade associations. Consumers can search the Houston Association of Realtors properties database (HAR.com) in English, Spanish, Chinese, French, German, Italian and Vietnamese. The association s more than 5,600 multilingual realtors speak 94 languages. Houston has 17 sister-city relationships promoting business opportunities across five continents: Australia (1), Asia (6), Europe (7), Africa (1) and Americas (2). In May 2015, the Greater Houston Partnership s database listed 5,700 Houston area firms, foreign government offices and nonprofit organizations involved in international business. 430 Houston area companies report having offices abroad in 144 countries. More than 800 firms in Houston report foreign ownership. More than 150 foreign-owned firms invested in office expansions, new plants and expanded distribution facilities in Houston since the beginning of 11. At least $12.5 billion in capital investments made by foreign-owned firms in Houston since January 11. At least 2,800 local manufacturers engage in global commerce. Eleven of Houston s 32 skyscrapers (at least 150 meters tall) are owned, co-owned, or financed by foreign investors. Employment Total nonfarm employment in the Houston MSA stood at 2,987,000 in June 2015, up 55,700 from June From June 2014 to June 2015, local nonfarm employment in the Houston MSA rose 1.9 percent. Houston MSA unemployment in June 2015 was 4.5 percent, versus a national unemployment rate of 5.5 percent. The rates are not seasonally adjusted. Largest Houston-Area Employers Number of Local Employees Memorial Hermann Health System 19,500 The University of Texas MD Anderson 19,290 United Airlines 17,000 Exxon Mobil Corporation 13,191 Shell Oil Company 13,000 Houston Methodist 13,000 Kroger Company 12,000 National Oilwell Varco 10,000 Schlumberger Limited 10,000 BP America, Inc. 9,537 UTMB Health 9,318 Baylor College of Medicine 9,232 Chevron 9,000 ARAMARK Corp. 8,500 HCA 7,855 Hewlett-Packard 7,000 Macy s 7,000 AT&T 6,900 CHI St. Luke s Health 6,800 The Dow Chemical Company, Freeport 6,600 Jacobs 6,220 Halliburton 6,200 H.E.B. 6,000 Texas Children s Hospital 6,000 Baker Hughes 6,000 Fiesta Mart, Inc. 5,500 KBR 5,089 LyondellBasell Industries 5,080 JPMorgan Chase 5,000 CenterPoint Energy 5,000 Reliant, An NRG Company 4,900 Note: Ranked by number of employees. The list does not include casual dining establishments, municipalities, school districts, community colleges, public universities (except UTMB Health and The University of Texas MD Anderson) and governmental agencies. Source: Greater Houston Partnership Database, June 2015 HOUSTON.ORG 11

12 Industries Aerospace Home to NASA s Johnson Space Center (JSC), and a diverse network of research and education organizations with ties to aerospace technology, the Houston region is a worldwide leader in the aerospace industry. Economic Impact: The Johnson Space Center manages an annual budget of approximately $4.4 billion in contracts, grants, civil service payroll and procurements. Of that amount, about $1.7 billion is spent on salaries alone in the Houston region. Tourism: Space Center Houston is the official visitor s center for Johnson Space Center. Approximately 800,000 visitors each year come to learn about the past, present, and future of America s space program. Banking and Finance Employment: In 2014, the Houston MSA employed an average of 89,635 workers in the finance and insurance sector. Institutions and Deposits: As of June 30, 2014, the Houston MSA s 103 FDIC-insured institutions had 1,514 local offices and local deposits of $ billion. Commercial banks accounted for 94 institutions, 1,487 offices and $ billion in deposits; savings institutions numbered 9, with 27 offices and $1.571 billion in deposits. The Houston MSA in 2013 ranked 9th among U.S. MSAs in total deposits. Fourteen of the nation s 30 largest FDIC-insured banks, as measured by domestic deposits, operate full-service branches or commercial loan offices in the Houston region. These 14 include the four largest banks in the nation. According to the U.S. Census Bureau s 2013 County Business Patterns, the Houston MSA had 9,104 finance and insurance establishments with a total annual payroll of $8.723 billion. Wholesale and Retail Trade Employment: Wholesale trade employment in the Houston MSA averaged 159,076 in 2014, increasing 2.5 percent from the 150,378 employed in Retail trade employment in the Houston MSA averaged 291,887 in 2014, increasing 2.2 percent from the 283,321 employed in Establishments: In 2014, the Houston MSA averaged 10,824 wholesale trade establishments and 16,886 retail trade establishments. Retail: At the end of 2014, CBRE reported a retail base of million square feet (msf) for 3,325 Houston area regional malls, multi-tenant centers and single-tenant buildings over 20,000 square-feet. The vacancy rate was 6.6 percent, total net absorption for 2014 was 2.1 million square-feet and the average annual lease rate was $22.15 per square foot GROSS RETAIL SALES County Gross Retail Sales % Change from 2013 Houston MSA 122,931,240, % Austin 1,850,028, % Brazoria 3,796,943, % Chambers 1,680,062, % Fort Bend 7,937,204, % Galveston 3,763,784, % Harris 93,615,285, % Liberty 935,446, % Montgomery 8,761,164, % Waller 591,321, % Source: Texas Comptroller s Office Shopping: The Houston MSA is home to 25 shopping centers that encompass at least 500,000 square feet. The Galleria is the largest of the malls with 2.5 msf followed by Greenspoint Mall (1.6 msf), Willowbrook Mall (1.5 msf) and Baybrook Mall (1.4 msf). Construction and Real Estate Employment: Construction employment in the Houston MSA averaged 206,453 in 2014, increasing 6.4 percent from the 194,097 employed in Building Permits: In 2014, the City of Houston issued building permits valued at $8.7 billion, up 40.3 percent from $6.2 billion in Nonresidential permits rose 47.4 percent, from $3.8 billion in 2013 to $5.6 billion in Permits for residential construction totaled $3.0 billion in 2014, up 30.4 percent from $2.3 billion in According to McGraw Hill, more than $30.5 billion in construction contracts were awarded in the 10-county Houston metro area last year, up percent from the $12.4 billion awarded in Residential contracts totaled $9.8 billion in 2014, up 12 Houston Facts 2015

13 15.3 percent from $8.5 billion in Commercial contracts totaled $20.6 billion in 2014, five times more than the $3.8 billion in The large increase in commercial contracts is a result of several billiondollar chemical plants under construction in the Houston area. These atypical mega projects will skew contract data over the next several years. Office: At the close of 2014, CBRE reports that the Houston area the nation s sixth largest office market counted 1,247 general purpose office buildings containing million square feet (msf) of completed net rentable space (42.6 msf in the Central Business District, or CBD). Net absorption (net change in leased space in completed buildings) for all general purpose office space was 5.5 msf in The submarkets with the highest absorption rates were the Energy Corridor (1,776,482 sf), The Woodlands (967,068 sf) and North Houston (567,867 sf). The vacancy rate for the entire Houston market was 11.6 percent by the end of Average rent for the entire Class A office market was $36.13 per square foot ($45.30 for CBD Class A and $33.80 for suburban Class A). Both CBD and Suburban Class A average rent increased compared to year-end 2013 numbers. Industrial: Houston s msf of industrial space in buildings of 10,000 sf or more rank it as the sixth largest U.S. market. CBRE reported year-end 2014 occupancy remained tight at 95.0 percent. During 2014, construction of 12.0 msf was delivered and 8.1 msf was absorbed. Across the market, average asking rates increased from $0.63 per sf per month in 2013 to $0.67 per sf per month in Single-Family: According to the Houston Association of Realtors, MLS single family closings (largely resale homes) in the Houston area totaled 75,319 in 2014, up 2.8 percent from 73,266 in Median sales price for resale single-family detached homes was $199,000 in 2014, up 10.6 percent from $180,000 in The inventory of unsold homes at year-end decreased from 2.6 months in December 2013 to 2.5 months in December (Months of inventory is the number of months it will take to deplete current active inventory based on the prior 12 months of sales activity.) Multi-family: For the fourth quarter of 2014, CBRE reported that Houston area multi-family occupancy stood at 91.1 percent, with an inventory of 588,846 units in 2,553 complexes. Rental rates increased 8.1 percent in 2014 and averaged $1.05 per square foot in the fourth quarter of The Montrose/Museum District posted the highest rent, averaging $1.77 psf. Net absorption totaled 16,084 units in 2014, slightly down from 16,412 in Proposed construction as of the fourth quarter of 2014 totaled 18,781 units. Year HOUSTON AREA HOUSING STARS AND MULTI-FAMILY UNITS DELIVERED Single-Family Starts Multi-Family Units Added Total Units ,325 17,628 47, ,233 12,103 40, ,616 5,874 29, ,353 5,383 23, ,853 3,784 22, ,687 14,640 33, ,141 21,862 48, ,568 14,729 52, ,543 10,126 59, ,968 12,714 60, ,712 12,328 53, ,160 14,405 52,565 Source: Metrostudy and CBRE Photo courtesy of david a brown/ dabfoto creative HOUSTON.ORG 13

14 Energy Houston is the leading domestic and international center for virtually every segment of the energy industry exploration, production, transmission, marketing, service, supply, offshore drilling and technology. Employment: As of May 2015, the Houston MSA held 28.3 percent of the nation s jobs in oil and gas extraction (54,700 of 193,000), 17.1 percent of jobs in support activities for mining (52,900 of 308,400) and 16.7 percent of agriculture, construction and mining machinery manufacturing jobs (41,300 of 248,000). Top Employers: National Oilwell Varco Inc., Exxon Mobil Corp., Shell Oil Co., Cameron International Corp., BP Corporation North America Inc., Chevron Corp., Schlumberger Ltd., Halliburton Co., CenterPoint Energy Inc., and KBR Inc. Establishments: The Houston MSA has more than 3,700 energy-related establishments, both upstream and downstream. In the first quarter of 2015, there were 1,022 establishments in oil and gas extraction and 945 establishments in support activities for oil and gas operations. Houston is home to 40 of the nation s 134 publicly traded oil and gas exploration and production firms, including 10 of the top 25; nine more among the top 25 have subsidiaries, major divisions or other significant operations in Houston. The logistics for moving much of the nation s petroleum and natural gas across the country are controlled from Houston. Fifteen of the nation s 20 largest U.S. interstate oil pipeline companies have a presence in the Houston region that includes corporate or divisional headquarters or ownership interests. These 15 control 66,746 miles or 44 percent of all U.S. oil pipeline capacity. Thirteen of the nation s top 20 natural gas transmission companies have corporate or divisional headquarters in Houston, controlling 103,108 miles of U.S. pipeline, which is 52 percent of total U.S. gas pipeline capacity. Engineering Employment: Houston has more than 92,550 engineers, architects, drafters and technicians of all disciplines, the most numerous being: petroleum, civil, mechanical, industrial, chemical, and electrical. For every 100,000 workers in the Houston MSA, there are 3,255 engineers and architects. In comparison, for every 100,000 workers in the U.S., there are 1,789 engineers and architects. Civil & Structural Engineering Firms: According to the Houston Business Journal, Houston s 10 largest civil and structural engineering firms (ranked by local gross billings) include Burns & McDonnell, LJA Engineering Inc., Brown & Gay Engineers Inc., Furgo Consultants Inc., Aecom Technology Corp., Jones & Carter Inc., BEI Engineers, HNTB Corp., Cobb, Fendley & Associates Inc., and Walter P Moore. These 10 companies alone generated $541 million in local billings in 2013 and locally employed more than 2,300 people. Energy Engineering Firms: According to the Houston Business Journal, Houston s 10 largest energy engineering firms (ranked by local licensed engineers) include Jacobs Engineering, KBR Inc., Wood Group Mustang Inc., Flour Corp., CB&I, Technip USA Inc., S&B Engineers and Constructors Ltd., Gulf Interstate Engineering Co., UniversalPagasus International, and CDI Corp.. These 10 companies alone employed 3,587 licensed engineers and more than 18,000 local full-time employees. In Houston 100,000 Workers (Houston) 100,000 Workers (U.S.) Aerospace engineers 2, Biomedical engineers Chemical engineers 4, Civil engineers 10, Electrical engineers 4, Electronics engineers, except computer 3, Environmental engineers 1, Health and safety engineers 1, Industrial engineers 6, Marine engineers and naval architects 1, Materials engineers Mechanical engineers 9, Mining and geological engineers Petroleum engineers 11, All other engineers 2, Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, May Houston Facts 2015

15 Health Care Employment: The Houston MSA employs over 335,500 employees in the health care industry. The region has 16,070 physicians and 136 hospitals (123 general and special, 13 psychiatric) with 21,057 beds. Harris County, with 13,167 physicians, has 96 hospitals (86 general and special, 10 psychiatric) with 17,354 beds. Clinics, nursing homes and assisted-living facilities are plentiful. Virtually every medical specialty is represented in the region. Largest Hospitals: Houston Methodist Hospital (1,118 beds); Memorial Hermann Hospital (1,034 beds); CHI St. Luke s Health-Baylor St Luke s Medical Center (881 beds); St. Joseph Medical Center (744 beds) and Texas Children s Hospital (606 beds). Establishments: The Houston region is home to over 17,800 health care establishments. This includes 267 licensed emergency medical services firms (ambulance services), each required by law to have a physician medical director. The Houston MSA also has 56 registered first responder organizations. Texas Medical Center The Texas Medical Center is the world s largest medical complex by any measure number of hospitals, number of physicians, square footage, patient volume. The Texas Medical Center member institutions have been consistently recognized as some of the best hospitals and universities in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. Texas Medical Center institutions include: Six general hospitals: Ben Taub General Hospital; Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital; Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center; Houston Methodist Hospital; CHI St. Luke s Health; and The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Eleven specialized hospitals: Harris County Psychiatric Center; Quentin Mease Community Hospital; Shriners Hospitals for Children Houston and Galveston; Texas Children s Hospital; DePelchin Children s Center; The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR); The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; Children s Memorial Hermann Hospital; The Menninger Clinic; and the Michael E. DeBakey Veteran Affairs Medical Center Houston. Two specialized patient facilities: Texas Heart Institute; and Houston Hospice. Four medical schools: Baylor College of Medicine; Texas A&M University Health Science Center; The University of Texas Medical School; and The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Five schools of nursing: Prairie View A&M University College of Nursing; Texas Woman s University Institute of Health Sciences; The University of Texas School of Nursing; Houston Community College; and the University of Houston-Victoria School of Nursing. Two schools of pharmacy: Texas Southern University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; and University of Houston College of Pharmacy. A dental school: The University of Texas Health Science Center Dental School. Houston Community College focused on 19 health science fields. Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions. 56 Member Institutions 7.2 million Annual Patient Visits 16,000 Annual International Patient Visits 5,000 15, ,000 Employees 50,000 5,700 Physicians Nurses Researchers Life Science Students 17,500 Faculty 10,000 Volunteers 7,000 Patient Beds 25,000 Babies Delivered (annually) 171,000 Annual Surgeries 1,345 acres Total Size (all campuses) HOUSTON.ORG 15

16 Manufacturing Employment: Manufacturing employment in the Houston MSA stood at 249,000 jobs in May percent in durable goods and 32.5 percent in nondurables. Chemicals accounted for 15.0 percent of total manufacturing employment; fabricated metals and machinery, 47.7 percent. Value of Shipments: In 2012 (the most recent Census of Manufactures for which data are available), the Houston MSA recorded $290.3 billion in shipments, accounting for 41.3 percent of Texas 2012 total. Key Houston MSA industries in 2012 include petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, and fabricated metal products. Value added by manufacturers in the Houston MSA in 2012 totaled $81.7 billion, accounting for 36.4 percent of the Texas total. Leading Houston MSA industries in value added in 2012 are chemicals, petroleum products, machinery, and fabricated metal products. Value added per production worker in the Houston MSA in 2012 was $558,218; value added per production payroll dollar was $10.51, reflecting the high concentration of capital-intensive industries in the region. Capital expenditures in Houston MSA manufacturing totaled $5.7 billion in Chemicals ($3.0 billion) accounted for 52.4 percent of the total. Manufacturing in 2014 accounted for $109.5 billion, or 18.2 percent, of Houston MSA Gross Area Product according to The Perryman Group. Nondurable goods represented 69.6 percent of the manufacturing total. Petroleum Refining: The Spaghetti Bowl is a complex of several thousand miles of product pipeline connecting hundreds of chemical plants, refineries, salt domes and fractionation plants along Technology NASA s Johnson Space Center, the Texas Medical Center, the world s largest concentration of energy and petrochemical companies, and the region s major universities make Houston a focal point of U.S. research and development (R&D) activities. Aerospace: NASA s Johnson Space Center the Texas Gulf Coast. It gives the Houston area a unique economic advantage through convenient and low-cost transfer of feedstocks, fuel and chemical products among plants, storage terminals and transportation facilities. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration s Refinery Capacity Report issued January 2015, the Texas Gulf Coast had a crude operating capacity of 4.5 million barrels of refined petroleum products per calendar day 87 percent of the Texas total and 25 percent of the U.S. total. Chemicals/Petrochemicals: With more than 540 chemical manufacturing establishments and employment exceeding 36,800, the Houston MSA has 42.0 percent of the nation s base petrochemicals manufacturing capacity. According to IHS, the Houston MSA annual base petrochemicals production capacity in 2014 was: Million Metric Tons % of U.S. Total Benzene Butadiene Ethylene Propylene Toluene Xylenes Base petrochemicals are the raw materials for producing some of the more important plastics and resins. The Houston MSA dominates U.S. production of three major resins polyethylene, with 28.3 percent of U.S. capacity; polypropylene, with 31.2 percent; and polyvinyl chloride, with 34.4 percent. Health Care and Bioscience BioScience Research Collaborative Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling Pumps and Pipes, annual conference Alliance for NanoHealth Galveston National Laboratory Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Institute of Biosciences and Technology 16 Houston Facts 2015

17 Energy Composites Engineering & Applications Center for Petroleum Exploration and Production Processes in Porous Media Consortium Offshore Technology Research Center Offshore Technology Conference University Research University of Houston spent $130.8 million in expenditures during the FY 2014 for research & development. Rice University spent $131 million in expenditures during the FY 2014 to support research & development. Technology Transfer Houston Technology Center (HTC) University of Houston Center for Industrial Partnerships Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship BioHouston Technology Transfer and Commercialization Office (TTO) at NASA s Johnson Space Center Nanotechnology The Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology Consortium for Nanomaterials for Aerospace Commerce and Technology Nanotech centers at the University of Houston include: The Nanosystems Manufacturing Center; The Center for Materials Chemistry; the nanoscience group at the Texas Center for Superconductivity; and The Center for Integrated Bio & Nano Systems Environment The Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC) Government City of Houston The City of Houston is a home rule municipality, which provides the city with inherent powers to manage their own affairs with minimal interference from the state. The city s elected officials, serving concurrent two-year terms, are: the Mayor, the City Controller and the 16 members of City Council. No elected city official may serve in one position for more than three terms. Eleven council members are elected from single-member districts and five are elected citywide or at-large. The city s adopted General Fund budget for fiscal year 2015 is $2,411,126,650. Counties Each county in Texas is run by a five-member Commissioners Court consisting of four commissioners elected from single-member districts, called commissioner precincts, and a county judge elected at-large or countywide. The county commissioners and county judge serve staggered four-year terms and are not term-limited. Texas has 254 counties with Harris County being the most populous county in the state and the third most populous in the nation. State Government The chief executive of the State of Texas is the governor. Other elected officials with executive responsibilities include the lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller of public accounts, commissioner of the General Land Office and commissioner of agriculture. All of these elected offices have a term of four years. The Texas Legislature has 181 members: 31 in the Senate, who are elected to four-year overlapping terms, and 150 in the House of Representatives, who are elected to two-year terms. Regular sessions of the state legislature convene on the second Tuesday of January in odd-numbered years. The Texas Constitution limits the regular session to 140 calendar days; however, the governor may call special sessions. Legislative districts partly or entirely within the Houston MSA: State Senate: 4, 6, 7, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18 State House of Representatives: 3, 15, 26-28, , United States Congress Legislative districts partly or entirely within the Houston MSA: U.S. House of Representatives: 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 18, 22, 29, 36 HOUSTON.ORG 17

18 Council of Governments The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) is a voluntary association of local governments in the 13-county Gulf Coast Planning Region. Organized in 1966, H-GAC is comprised of 35 elected officials that represent all 13 counties (Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller and Wharton), 107 cities and 11 school districts. H-GAC is not an additional level of government, a regulatory agency or a taxing authority. Its activities are financed by local government dues; state appropriations; and through grants and contracts with local, state and federal entities. The Council s mission is to serve as the instrument of local government cooperation, promoting the region s orderly development and the safety and welfare of its citizens. Taxation The maximum sales and use tax rate in the state of Texas is 8.25 percent (6.25 percent for the state and up to 2 percent for local jurisdictions); certain food and drug items are exempt. Ad valorem property tax is the primary source of local government revenue in the Houston region. The table below shows typical tax rates for property located within the city limits of Houston. The tax rates are expressed as dollars per $100 taxable value. State of Texas SAMPLE PROPERTY TAX RATES Tax Jurisdiction 2014 Tax Rate None City of Houston $0.63 Harris County $0.64 Houston Independent School District $1.20 Houston Community College $0.11 TOTAL TAX RATE $2.57 Houston ISD: City of Houston: Harris County: Full Market Value of Tax Roll 2014 $181,772,750,376 $246,385,503,374 $463,192,251,793 Source: Harris County Appraisal District Public Safety Houston Police Department (HPD): HPD s budget for FY 2015 is $758.4 million. The budget calls for 5,194.0 full-time-equivalent (FTE) police personnel, 1,158.9 FTE civilian personnel and FTE police cadets in training. HPD s 2014 estimated average response time was 4.97 minutes for priority one calls and 9.59 minutes for priority two calls. In 2014, HPD responded with 1,114,314 dispatched calls. Harris County Sheriff s Office (HCSO): HCSO is the largest sheriff s office in Texas and the third largest in the United States. HCSO s FY operating budget is $437.5million. The Harris County Sheriff s Office provides law enforcement protection in the unincorporated parts of the county, which constitutes some 1,700 square miles with 1.5 million residents and growing. HCSO employs more than 4,400 salaried personnel of those more than 2,200 are certified peace officers and nearly 1,400 are detention officers that work in the jails. Additionally, it has more than 200 volunteer reserve deputies. Houston Fire Department (HFD): HFD is the nation s third largest fire department with 93 fire stations equipped with 87 engine companies; 86 ambulances and advanced life support units; 11 boosters; 2 cascade units; 5 towers; 11 squads; and 18 evacuation and rescue boats. In 2014, HFD performed 254,228 fire responses with an average response time of 9.65 minutes and 316,220 emergency medical service responses with an average response time of 8.77 minutes. HFD s FY 2015 budget is $506.7 million and calls for 4,169.6 FTE employees, of whom are civilians. Harris County Fire Protection: In all, 54 fire departments operate in Harris County; 42 provide fire protection in unincorporated parts of the county, coordinated by the Harris County Fire Marshal. In addition, 31 Emergency Service Districts provide fire protection, emergency medical service or both to specific areas within the county. 18 Houston Facts 2015

19 Education Schools Houston Independent School District (HISD), with 2014 enrollment of 215,157 students, is the seventh-largest public school system in the nation and the largest in Texas. Encompassing 301 square miles within greater Houston, HISD has 283 campuses: 10 early childhood centers; 153 elementary schools; 37 middle schools; 40 high schools; and 43 combined/other campuses. The Houston MSA contains 62 school districts and 50 state-approved charter schools that reported 2013 enrollment of 1,252,660 students, of whom 868,475 were in the 19 districts and 45 charter schools largely or entirely in Harris County. SELECTED* HOUSTON-AREA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS School District Number of Campuses Fall 2014 Enrollment Students per Teacher Ratio Operating Expenditure per Student 1 County Aldine 76 67, $8,044 Harris Alief 46 46, $8,725 Harris Alvin 23 19, $7,875 Brazoria Barbers Hill 7 4, $10,268 Chambers Brazosport 20 12, $7,873 Brazoria Clear Creek 45 39, $7,369 Galveston Conroe 54 54, $6,862 Montgomery Cypress-Fairbanks , $6,795 Harris Dayton 9 5, $7,451 Liberty Deer Park 14 12, $13,633 Harris Fort Bend 73 70, $7,435 Fort Bend Galena Park 23 22, $8,488 Harris Goose Creek 27 22, $8,646 Harris Houston , $8,211 Harris Humble 42 38, $7,650 Harris Katy 59 67, $7,665 Harris Klein 47 48, $7,862 Harris Lamar 37 27, $7,544 Fort Bend Magnolia 16 12, $7,503 Montgomery New Caney 18 12, $8,215 Montgomery Pasadena 61 54, $8,519 Harris Pearland 24 19, $7,538 Brazoria Sealy 4 2, $8,592 Austin Spring 37 36, $7,741 Harris Spring Branch 46 35, $8,317 Harris Tomball 15 12, $7,921 Harris Waller 8 5, $8,392 Waller 1 Class of 2014 *The list includes all ISDs with enrollment greater than 10,000, plus the largest ISD in each Houston MSA county with no ISD as large as 10,000. Source: Texas Education Agency, 2014 Snapshot: School District Profiles HOUSTON.ORG 19

20 Libraries The Houston Public Library is comprised of 44 units with a 2014 total circulation of 4,195,878. Harris County Public Library is a system of 26 branch libraries with a 2014 total circulation of 9,758,250. Colleges and Universities The Houston region has approximately 380,000 students in more than 60 degree-granting colleges, universities and technical schools. Specialized schools exist for acupuncture, art, legal, health care, funeral, religious, and various other disciples. In addition, the region has some 100 trade, vocational and business schools. Texas A&M University 56,507 University of Houston 40,914 Sam Houston State University 19,573 University of Houston-Downtown 14,436 Universities* Total Enrollment 174,492 Texas Southern University 9,233 Prairie View A&M University 8,343 University of Houston-Clear Lake 8,665 Rice University 6,621 University of St. Thomas 3,420 Houston Baptist University 3,128 Texas A&M University at Galveston 2,305 Texas Woman s University-Houston 1,347 Note: Tier One Research Universities in the Houston region include: Rice University, University of Houston and Texas A&M University. Community Colleges* Total Enrollment 200,294 Lone Star College System 73,559 Houston Community College System 47,415 San Jacinto College District 31,967 Blinn College 18,769 Wharton County Junior College 7,152 Lee College 6,481 Alvin Community College 4,914 Medical Schools and Colleges* Total Enrollment 12,139 College of the Mainland 3,858 Brazosport College 4,131 Galveston College 2,048 University of Texas Health Science Center 4,556 University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston 3,211 Texas A&M University Health Science Center 2,487 Baylor College of Medicine 1,582 University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center 303 *Fall 2014 Enrollment, Sources: College Navigator; Texas Association of Community Colleges; Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board 20 Houston Facts 2015

21 Infrastructure Public Utilities Electricity and Natural Gas: Headquartered in Houston, CenterPoint Energy (CNP) is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission and distribution; natural gas distribution; competitive natural gas sales and services; interstate pipelines; and field services operations. CNP s assets total more than $23.2 billion and employs 7,400. In 2014, CNP delivered 82 million megawatt hours of electricity to 2,010,036 residential, 280,327 commercial, 767 municipal and 2,035 industrial customers in its 5,000 square mile service area in the Houston region. In 2014, CNP delivered 468 billion cubic feet of natural gas to 3,124,542 residential and 249,277 commercial/industrial customers. Telecommunications: Four overlaid area codes serve the Houston area: 281, 713, 832 and 346. Phone calls placed within or between these area codes are local calls, but must be placed with the full 10-digit phone number. The Public Utilities Commission of Texas (PUC) has certified 403 active Competitive Local Exchange Carriers to provide local phone service in the state. The Texas PUC has registered 350 active long distance Interexchange Carriers. More than a dozen cellular service providers offer mobile voice and data communications in the Houston MSA. Water: Water supply now available or under development will meet Houston s needs beyond The San Jacinto River Basin of Lakes Houston and Conroe provides the City an estimated 258 million gallons per day (mgd); wells add approximately 253 mgd. The City owns water rights to 914 mgd. The City of Houston has, on average, used approximately 220 mgd of industrial water and 450 mgd of treated water. Groundwater accounted for approximately 16 percent of treated water. Lake Livingston accounted for 72 percent of the surface water used by the City; Lake Houston supplies 15 percent; and the remaining 13 percent comes from different permitted sources. The City has three purification plants: East Water Plant, 350 mgd Southeast Water Plant, 200 mgd Northeast Water Plant 80 mgd Wastewater: The City of Houston operates 40 wastewater treatment plants; 13 biosolid processing units; three wet weather facilities; and 383 sanitary lift stations. It maintains 6,950 miles of sanitary sewer lines with more than 440,000 connections. Land Transportation Motor Freight Lines: 998 long-distance trucking establishments operate in the Houston MSA. Railroads: The Houston area is served by BNSF Railway Company, Kansas City Southern Railway Company, and Union Pacific Railroad Company. Businesses along the Houston ship channel are served by the Port Terminal Railroad Association. Fourteen mainline tracks radiate from Houston. Amtrak provides passenger service to the New Orleans-San Antonio-Los Angeles route. Intracoastal Waterway: 406 miles of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The main channel is 12 deep and 125 wide. The entire Gulf Intracoastal Waterway spans 1,300 miles from Brownsville, TX to St. Mark s, FL. In 2013, Texas portion of the Gulf Coast Intracoastal Waterway facilitated the transportation of 74,651,503 short tons of cargo. Freeways, Highways and Toll Roads: In the Houston MSA, 4, lane miles of freeways and expressways are in operation. High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes: Houston has more miles of HOV lanes than any other U.S. city. There are currently miles of HOV lanes on Houston freeways. HOUSTON.ORG 21

22 Highway Spending: In FY 2015, the Texas Department of Transportation - Houston District has $1.0 billion in planned projects to let, versus $818.2 million in planned projects during FY Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT): According to TxDOT, in FY 2013, a total of 136,731,505 vehicle miles were traveled per day in the Houston region. The average daily VMT per vehicle was miles based on the 4,746,244 vehicles registered in the region during FY Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO): Created and funded with a one-cent sales tax in a 1978 voter referendum, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County began operations in January METRO serves an area of 1,303 square miles with 2,663 route miles; 20 transit centers; 9,816 bus stops; and 28 Park & Ride lots that offer 32,802 parking spaces. In FY 2014, METRO s fleet includes 1,416 buses and 118 paratransit vans, and 70 light-rail train cars. At weekday peak, 1,034 buses operate on 126 routes. FY 2013 total system ridership, including fixed route buses and METRORail, METROLift, METROVan and HOV vanpools/carpools, was 110 million, up 3.5 percent from FY Passenger boardings in FY 2013 averaged 9.1 million per month. Daily fixed-route weekday ridership in FY 2013 averaged 269,144 boardings. All 126 bus routes and the METRORail are fully accessible to disabled patrons. METROLift offers prescheduled curb-to-curb service for physically or mentally disabled patrons who cannot use METRO s fixed-route service. Seaports The Houston region contains four seaports. U.S. Rank Port Total Trade in Metric Tons 1 Houston 147,846, Texas City 25,126, Freeport 11,372, Galveston 7,228,700 PORT OF HOUSTON - FOREIGN TRADE 2014 LEADING EXPORT COMMODITIES By Value ($000) Petroleum/petroleum products $33,547,895,973 Machinery $15,100,645,705 Organic chemicals $12,230,465,772 Plastics $6,318,050,509 Electric Machinery $3,176,598,121 By Weight (Short Tons) Petroleum/petroleum products 56,115,603 Organic chemicals 9,834,567 Cereals 7,283,137 Plastics 4,060,053 Inorganic Chemicals 1,108,285 LEADING IMPORT COMMODITIES By Value ($000) Petroleum/petroleum products $30,442,287 Articles of iron and steel $8,139,477 Machinery $6,046,271 Organic chemicals $4,983,888 Iron and Steel $3,250,090 By Weight (Short Tons) Petroleum/petroleum products 46,743,142 Articles of iron and steel 6,276,910 Organic chemicals 5,385,138 Natural Stone 4,779,176 Iron and Steel 4,304,984 LEADING TRADING PARTNERS (COMBINED IMPORTS AND EXPORTS) By Value ($000) Mexico $20,618,337 Brazil $12,333,476 China $9,149,890 Germany $7,690,470 Colombia $7,060,331 By Weight (Short Tons) Mexico 33,045,302 Brazil 13,830,779 Colombia 8,182,807 China 7,462,869 South Korea 6,391,008 Source: Adapted from WISERTrade: International Trade Database, WISER LLC, Copyright No Claim to Original United States Government Works. All Rights Reserved. 22 Houston Facts 2015

23 Port of Houston In 2014, the Port of Houston ranked 1st in foreign tonnage among U.S. ports for 18 consecutive years, 1st in import tonnage for 23 consecutive years, and 2nd in total tonnage for 23 consecutive years. Total foreign shipments in 2014 were million short tons that were valued at $167.0 billion. Foreign imports were 76.6 million short tons, valued at $75.0 billion and foreign exports were 86.5 million short tons, valued at $92.0 billion. The Port s Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ-84) ranks number one in the nation in total shipments through a zone. In 2013, FTZ-84 value of shipments into the U.S. market were over $60.0 billion; exports out of the US market topped $2.6 billion; and domestic and foreign shipments were valued at $62.7 billion. Since 2012 companies operating within FTZ-84 have increased from 36 to 50, an increase of 56.3 percent. Container service was initiated in Houston in 1956, and today, the Port of Houston is the largest Gulf Coast container port handling 67 percent of U.S. Gulf Coast container traffic and 95 percent of the Texas container traffic. In 2014, the Port of Houston Authority recorded the highest volume of container TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) and the largest amount of container tonnage in its history, at 19.4 million tons and more than 1.9 million TEUs. The Port of Houston ranked as the 6th largest U.S. container port in The Bayport Cruise Terminal, a 96,000-squarefoot facility located on the western shores of Galveston Bay, provides access to passenger cruise lines. Houston Ship Channel: The Houston Ship Channel, a 52-mile inland waterway, connects Houston with the sea lanes of the world. Its turning basin is eight miles east of Houston s central business district. A majority of the channel has a minimum width of 530 feet and a depth at mean low tide of 45 feet. Houston has more than 100 wharves in operation, including private terminals for the industrial complexes that line both sides of the channel. The Houston region contains one of the world s largest petrochemical complexes, with the majority being in close proximity to the ship channel and the region s sea ports. Each year, more than 200 million tons of cargo move through the Houston Ship Channel, carried by more than 8,000 vessels and 200,000 barge calls. Air Transportation Houston is the international air gateway to the south central United States. Scheduled passenger aircraft fly to some 124 domestic and 74 international destinations from Houston airports; 32 airlines provide scheduled passenger service for the Houston Airport System (HAS). Air Carriers Serving the Houston Airport System Bush (IAH) 7 U.S. Carriers Alaska Airlines, American Airlines* (also serves HOU), Delta Air Lines (also serves HOU), Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines, Wings of Alaska *US Airways is counted with American Airlines as the merger has been approved. 22 International Carriers AeroMexico, Air Canada, Air China, Air France, Air New Zealand, Atlas Air (scheduled charter to Luanda, Angola, Africa), ANA (All Nippan Airways), AVIANCA, British Airways, Emirates, EVA Air, Interjet, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, SAS (Scandinavian Airlines), Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, VivaAerobus, Volaris, Westjet 11 Dedicated Cargo Freighters Air France Cargo (France), Cargolux (Luxemburg), Cathay Pacific Cargo (Hong Kong), China Airlines Cargo (Taiwan), DHL (Germany), Emirates Sky Cargo (United Arab Emirates), Etihad Cargo (United Arab Emirates), Federal Express (U.S.), Lufthansa (Germany), Qatar Cargo (Qatar), United Parcel Service (U.S.) Hobby International Airport (HOU) 5 Domestic Passenger Airlines American Airlines (also serves IAH), Branson Air Express, Delta Air Lines (also serves IAH), JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines Ellington Airport (EFD) Added to the Houston Airport System in 1984, Ellington serves commercial, general and military aviation. EFD received FAA approval to be a licensed commercial spaceport. (Source: Houston Airport System, July 2015) PASSENGER NON-STOP SERVICE DESTINATIONS IAH HOU HAS TOTAL* Domestic Destinations International Destinations TOTAL *The HAS totals represent the number of unique destinations served by the airport system and is not cumulative. (Source: Houston Airport System, July 2015) HOUSTON.ORG 23

24 Houston Airport System (HAS) Aviation Statistics: In 2014, HAS served 53,196,840 passengers, up 4.5 percent from International traffic increased 9.2 percent to 9,812,287 passengers in 2014, setting a new record. Domestic passengers in 2014 totaled 43,384,553, a 3.5 percent increase over At IAH, domestic passengers numbered 31.4 million, up 2.0 percent from HOU passenger traffic (all domestic) increased 7.5 percent to 11.9 million passengers in EFD had no commercial passenger traffic. In July 15, the City of Houston received a launch site license from the FAA to enable EFD to establish itself as a launch site for Reusable Launch Vehicles, making it the 10th commercial spaceport in the United Sates. The Houston Airport System handled a total of 474,210 metric tons of air freight in 2014, excluding airmail. Domestic cargo accounted for 46.7 percent of total air freight, while international cargo accounted for 53.3 percent. General Aviation: Houston offers excellent general aviation facilities for corporate aircraft. In addition to IAH, HOU and EFD, the FAA lists 36 Houston MSA public-use airports: Austin County (1), Brazoria (8), Chambers (3), Fort Bend (7), Galveston (3), Harris (9), Liberty (2), Montgomery (2), and Waller (1). Communications Media Newspapers Houston s major daily newspaper is the Houston Chronicle. Average paid circulation (according to Alliance for Audited Media, during the six-month period ending March 31, 2013): Daily - 360,251 (13th highest among U.S. city papers); Sunday - 1,042,389 (2nd highest among U.S. city papers). Environment Water The City of Houston s drinking water system maintains a Superior rating, the highest rating for water quality issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The City of Houston owns a 70 percent share of Lake Livingston, a 70 percent share of Lake Conroe, a 100 percent share of Lake Houston and a 70 percent share of the future Allens Creek Reservoir. Clean Air Under the Clean Air Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established National Houston has many weekly and specialty publications including the Houston Business Journal, which provides weekly business coverage. Broadcast Media Houston MSA Radio Stations: 26 AM stations; 33 FM stations Digital TV stations: 17 Comcast Xfinity provides cable service for most of the Houston area. Ambient Air Quality Standards for six major air pollutants: particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, lead and groundlevel ozone. Houston is currently in attainment for all criteria pollutants, except for ozone. Houston s population is growing; however, air quality is improving year over year. On Air: Houston, an initiative of the Greater Houston Partnership, launched a new website in The site offers information about Houston s significant progress in improving regional air quality through the decades. According to Houston Regional Monitoring (HRM), in 2014 there was one day when the one-hour ozone standard was exceeded at one monitoring station. For comparison, in 1987 there were 66 days when the standard was exceeded at one or more stations. 24 Houston Facts 2015

25 City of Houston s Green Transportation Initiative: The City of Houston has the third largest municipal hybrid fleet in the nation, and the second largest electric vehicle municipal fleet. In August 2012, the City of Houston launched a municipal electric vehicle green fleet sharing program, called Houston Fleet Share. Greenlink buses provide free transportation downtown through a partnership among the Downtown District, BG Group and Houston First Corporation. The route spans 2.5 miles with 18 stops. B-cycle, a program of Houston Bike Share allows members to pick up a bike at any B-station and return it to that same station or any other B-station. A total of 29 stations and 225 bikes are currently available for use. The Wave, a Houston jitney shuttle service, can be acquired Downtown by calling, ing, or app requesting a pick-up anywhere on the City approved downtown route. Zipcar Houston is a car sharing program which helps keep fewer cars on the road and less nasty stuff in the air. There are 8 convenient locations in downtown Houston alone and many more across the city. Renewable Energy The City of Houston signed an agreement in June 2013 to purchase more than 140 MW of renewable power over a two-year period. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) named the City of Houston as one of 25 U.S. cities as Solar America Cities. DOE recognizes Solar America Cities as partners highly committed to solar technology adoption at the local level. The awards are intended to accelerate solar adoption in cities by supporting cities with financial and technical assistance. The City of Houston received a 2008 Green Power Leadership Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The annual awards recognize the country s leading green power purchasers for their commitment and contribution in helping advance the development of the nation s green power market. In June 2013, the City of Houston, Texas, signed a two-year agreement to purchase more than 620 million kilowatt-hours (kwh) of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) annually. This purchase accounts for half of the city s municipal power needs, and makes Houston the largest municipal purchaser of renewable power in the Green Power Partnership as of July The city also has on-site solar arrays that generate more than 125,000 kwh at municipal buildings, and actively supports the development of new solar technologies through funding from the U.S. Department of Energy s SunShot Initiative. The city has also installed 17 mobile solar-powered shipping containers/generators at city fire stations, parks, neighborhood centers, and schools. When measured by square footage of Energy Star certified buildings, the Houston metro area ranks fifth in the nation with 82.6 million square feet. The B-Cycle program allows users to rent bicycles by the hour. HOUSTON.ORG 25

26 Life in Houston Cost of Living The C2ER Cost of Living Index for the first quarter of 2015 shows that Houston s overall after-taxes living costs are 6.1 percent below the nationwide average. In the context of the 20 most populous metropolitan areas, Houston s cost-of-living advantage is even more pronounced. Houston s housing costs are 33.4 percent below the average for the large metro areas, and its overall costs are 19.2 percent below the average for this group. COST OF LIVING INDEX: 20 MOST POPULOUS METROPOLITAN AREAS FIRST QUARTER 2015 DATA (AVERAGE FOR 265 URBAN AREAS = 100) Metropolitan Statistic Area All Items Grocery Items Housing Utilities Transportation Health Care Misc Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA* Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH* Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI* Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX* Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX* Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA* Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL* Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI* New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA* Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD* Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ* San Diego-Carlsbad, CA San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA* Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA* St. Louis, MO-IL Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL* Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV* * Data are unweighted averages for two or more reporting places within the MSA. Note: Riverside, CA is a 20 most populous metro, but did not submit data for the Q survey. Source: Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Survey, First quarter 2015, published in May 2015 Weather Temperature: Normal daily maximum temperatures: January 62.9 F; April 79.6 F; July 93.7 F; October 82.0 F Normal daily minimum temperatures: January 43.2 F; April 59.4 F; July 75.1 F; October 60.9 F Record extremes: 109 F on August 27, 2011; 5 F on January 18, The Houston MSA lies in a zone with frost-free days per year. Precipitation: Annual average precipitation: inches. Thunderstorms occur, on average, 65.1 days per year. Record monthly rainfall: inches in June Highest daily total: inches fell on June 26, Houston has had 15 measurable snowfalls since Record monthly snowfall: 2.8 inches in February Houston Facts 2015

27 Record daily snowfall: 2.0 inches in January Annual average relative humidity: 86 percent at midnight; 90 percent at 6:00 a.m.; 60 percent at noon; 65 percent at 6:00 p.m. Sunshine: Houston averages 59 percent of possible sunshine annually, ranging from 45 percent in January to 70 percent in July. Related annual averages: Clear on 90.3 days, concentrated in October and November. Partly cloudy on days, typical of June through September. Cloudy on days, common in December through May. Fog limiting visibility to a quarter of a mile or less occurs on average 26.3 days per year. Wind: Prevailing wind in Houston is south-southeasterly at a mean speed of 7.5 miles per hour. Restaurants WEATHER DATA 2014* Average High Temperature F Average Low Temperature F Total Precipitation Inches January February March April May June July August September October November December Year *As recorded at George Bush Intercontinental Airport s weather station. Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Houston restaurants feature outstanding regional and traditional American dishes as well as diverse international cuisine. In the first quarter of 2015, the Houston MSA was home to 10,104 food services and drinking establishments and employed more than 234,000. These establishments included: 4,030 full-service restaurants; 3,821 limited-service eating places; and 636 drinking establishments. In 2007 (the most recent Economic Census data available), the 8,863 Houston MSA food services and drinking establishments had sales of $8,425,427,000. In 2014, Yelp.com listed Houston restaurants as having more than 70 national categories. Happycom.com, in August 2015, listed over 170 vegan friendly restaurants, more than 30 farm to table restaurants and over 150 food trucks in Houston. Convention and Sports Facilities George R. Brown (GRB) Convention Center, opened in 1987 and expanded in 2003, offers 1.2 million square feet of exhibition, registration and meeting space; seven exhibit halls; retractable seating for 6,500; a 31,500 square foot grand ballroom; and a 3,600-seat tiered amphitheater. Adjacent to the GRB is the 12-acre Discovery Green park and the 1,200-room Hilton Americas hotel. In April 2013, the City of Houston finalized an agreement to construct a second convention hotel that will be a 1,000-room Marriott Marquis with completion targeted for spring NRG Park, which occupies 350 acres and offers 26,000 parking spaces, is among the most versatile meeting complexes in the United States. NRG Park includes the following venues: NRG Stadium, a $453-million, 71,500- seat football stadium with a retractable roof, opened in It is home to the NFL Houston Texans and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. NRG Center, a $150-million convention center, opened in It has 1.4 million square feet, which includes 706,213 square feet of contiguous exposition space and 72 meeting rooms. NRG Arena has 325,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 5,800-seat arena and a 1,700-seat pavilion. HOUSTON.ORG 27

28 Professional Teams in the Houston MSA Houston Astros Major League Baseball s American League Minute Maid Park Houston Rockets Western Conference in the National Basketball Association Toyota Center Houston Texans American Football Conference in the National Football League NRG Stadium Houston Dynamo Major League Soccer s Eastern Conference BBVA Compass Stadium Houston Dash National Women s Soccer League BBVA Compass Stadium Houston Energy Independent Women s Football League Pearland High South Houston Red Storm American Basketball Association League America Sports Complex Houston Roller Derby Women s Flat Track Derby Association Bayou Place Sugar Land Skeeters Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Constellation Field Texas City Rangers American Basketball Association La Marque High School Toyota Center, a $235-million sports arena/ entertainment center located downtown, seats 18,300 for basketball and as many as 19,000 for concerts. Opened in 2003, it has covered parking for 2,500 vehicles. Minute Maid Park, the Houston Astros retractable-roof downtown baseball stadium with seating for 40,950, opened in BBVA Compass Stadium, the state-of-the-art, open-air stadium designed to host Dynamo matches, as well as additional sporting and concert events, opened in May The 22,000-seat stadium is the first soccer-specific stadium in Major League Soccer located in a city s downtown district. Constellation Field, opened in 2012, is located in Sugar Land, Texas. The stadium hosts sporting events as well as concerts. It has a capacity of 7,500 spectators for baseball games and 9,500 for concerts. TEDCU Stadium, opened in August 2014, is located on the campus of the University of Houston in the Third Ward. It cost $120 million to build. The stadium features 40,000 seats including 5,000 in club and suite areas. Sun and shade studies were also conducted to improve the best level of comfort for Houston fans and not affect student-athletes. Rice Stadium, opened in 1950, is located in the historic museum district. It seats up to 70,000 fans. It is the location where President John F. Kennedy made his famous challenge to America to place a man on the moon. Conventions and Major Events With more than 4.44 million sq. ft. of convention space, metropolitan Houston ranks at the top of American cities when comparing convention venues. According to the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau, in 2014, Houston hosted 364 conventions, events and shows that drew 774,152 attendees to Houston, translating into an economic impact of $485 million, based on attendance. Houston has served as host to the following major conventions and events: 2002 World Space Congress; 2008 Latin Grammy Awards ceremony; 2013 American Association for Clinical Chemistry; and the 2013 National Rifle Association. In 2017, Houston will host its second Super Bowl (Super Bowl L). The first time Houston hosted a super bowl (Super Bowl XXXVIII) was in George R. Brown Convention Center 28 Houston Facts 2015

29 Hotels and Motels The Houston MSA in Spring 2015, according to PKF Consulting, had: 798 major hotels and motels, totaling 76,721 rooms. Room occupancy averaged 71.8 percent with an average room rate of $ Houston s Central Business District has eight hotels planned to open before the Super Bowl comes to town in Golf In 2015, PGA.com lists 175 golf courses within a 50-mile radius of downtown Houston. The City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department maintains seven municipal golf parks. The Houston area has three Top Golf locations Selected Recurring Events and Festivals January Black Heritage Society s Annual Original MLK Birthday Parade Chevron Houston Marathon Martin Luther King Jr. Grande Parade February Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Mardi Gras! Galveston March Azalea Trail Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Buffalo Bayou Regatta Houston s Children s Festival Shell Houston Open South West International Boat Show April BP MS 150 Houston Barbecue Festival Japan Festival Art Car Parade WorldFest: Houston International Film Festival May Art Car Parade and Festival Carnival Houston Show + Parade Cinco de Mayo Parade and Celebration Dragon Boat Festival Pasadena Strawberry Festival June Caribbean Heritage Month Festival Houston Beer Fest Juneteenth Freedom Festival Pride Houston July Freedom Over Texas Festival Star-Spangled Salute Houston International Jazz Festival August Houston Black Heritage Music and Arts Festival Houston Shakespeare Festival White Linen Nights in the Heights September Fiestas Patrias Houston Fine Arts Fair October Bayou City Art Festival Downtown Festa Italiana International Quilt Festival Texas Renaissance Festival The Original Greek Festival Turkish Festival Wings Over Houston Airshow November Day of the Dead Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at Rothko Chapel Texas Championship Native American Pow Wow The Nutcracker Market Uptown Houston Lighting Zoo Lights December Candlelight Tour in the Park Dickens on the Strand Fiesta Guadalupana The Mayor s Official Downtown Houston Holiday Celebration HOUSTON.ORG 29

30 Racing Racing facilities include: Alkek Velodrome concrete bicycle racing track, one of 29 velodromes in the United States Galveston Bay Cruising Association an all volunteer non-profit sailboat racing club Gulf Greyhound Park dog racing Houston Motorsports Park NASCAR speedway and National Hot Rod Association drag strip Houston Raceway Park dragstrip complex Sam Houston Race Park Thoroughbred and American Quarter horse racing Biking and Hiking Biking options are found throughout the region and include paved and unpaved paths, mountain-bike trails, and shared-road lanes. The City of Houston offers a more than 300- mile interconnected bikeway network spread over 500 square miles. The network includes bike lanes, bike routes, signed-shared lanes and shared-use paths. The City of Houston also offers more than 128 miles of hike and bike trails that loop within its parks or are linear and run along bayous and outside park boundaries. Harris County offers 45 hike and bike trails totaling miles. Arts and Cultural Industry More than 500 institutions are devoted to the performing and visual arts, science and history in the Houston area. Houston s nonprofit arts and culture industry is on the rise with annual expenditures of $579 million according to the Arts & Cultural Heritage Community Indicator Report 2014, a study by the Center for Houston s Future. Arts and culture industry expenditures in Houston grew twice as fast as the area s population from 2000 to The sector employs more than 16,000 according to Arts & Economic Prosperity IV, a study conducted by the Houston Arts Alliance and Americans for the Arts. Of the 16.2 million arts and culture patrons in 2011, 2.2 million were from outside of the Houston region. Performance Arts Facilities Theater District: Houston s Theater District, located in downtown Houston, features nine renowned performing arts organizations, and many smaller ones, in four venues Jones Hall, Wortham Theater Center, Alley Theatre and Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Houston Ballet s Center of Dance is also located in the heart of the Theater District. Alley Theatre, home to Houston s leading repertory company, offers two stages the 824- seat Hubbard Stage and the 310-seat Neuhaus Stage. A wide-ranging repertoire of 11 productions is presented each season. Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, opened in 2002, is home to Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS), Broadway Across America, the Humphreys School of Musical Theatre and Uniquely Houston. Its two stages have seating for 2,650 and 500. Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, home to the Houston Symphony and the Society for the Performing Arts, seats 2,912. Wortham Theater Center, built entirely with private funds and opened in 1987, is home to the opera and ballet companies. Its two halls seat 2,405 and 1,100. Houston Ballet s Center for Dance, opened in April 2011, is a 115,000-square-foot, $47-million, six-story structure. Outside the Theater District: Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park offers free performances by Houston s performing arts organizations. The city-owned theatre is located on approximately 7.5 acres of land in Hermann Park, site of the Houston Zoo and the Garden Center. Seating is provided for 1,700 patrons under the covered pavilion, plus a sloping lawn that accommodates approximately 4,500 more on blankets or lawn chairs. Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, located in The Woodlands, offers outdoor performance space and accommodates 16,267. Established in 1990, it presents an eclectic range of programs featuring nationally and internationally recognized artists. The Grand 1894 Opera House, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, presents more than 25 productions annually. The Romanesque Revival style theater is located in Galveston and has seating for 1,000. Stafford Centre, located in Stafford, Texas, 30 Houston Facts 2015

31 includes a performing arts theater with seating for 1,154 and more than 24 acres of outdoor festival green space. Berry Center, located in Cypress, Texas, includes an 11,000-seat athletic stadium, a conference center, an 8,300-seat arena and a 456- seat theater. Performance Arts Houston is one of the few U.S. cities with resident companies in drama, ballet, opera and orchestra. Music: Houston is a haven for classical music, with the Houston Symphony and Houston Grand Opera at the fore. Houston Symphony, founded in 1913, has an annual budget of more than $30.7 million and maintains an internationally acclaimed orchestra of nearly 90 full-time musicians. Some 300,000 attend its season of more than 280 classical, pops, educational and family concerts. The symphony s free summer concerts at Miller Outdoor Theatre have been a tradition since The symphony s long tradition of touring in recent years has included Europe, Japan, Singapore and many U.S. cities. The symphony devotes approximately $1 million per year to educational outreach programs, most of which are offered for free or at a nominal cost. Houston Grand Opera performs October through May each year at the Wortham Theater Center downtown. Founded in 1955, the company is known worldwide and enjoys a reputation for commissioning and presenting new works by important contemporary composers, including 50 world premieres. Its tours have included the U.S., Japan, Italy, Egypt, Scotland and France. Houston Grand Opera is the only opera company to have won a Tony Award, two Grammy Awards and two Emmy Awards. In 2014, the Houston Grand Opera fund raised $12.9 million to help support the company s operations and endowment. Dance: Houston has an active dance community that includes diverse styles and genres. Houston Ballet, founded in 1955 and established as a professional company in 1969, is the nation s fifth largest ballet company, with annual operating expenses of more than $27 million and 55 dancers, many of whom have won medals at major international competitions. Houston Ballet has toured to critical praise in Europe, the United Kingdom, Canada, Asia (including the People s Republic of China) and cities throughout the United States. The company presents more than 75 performances during eight months per year. Theater: Houston is one of the nation s foremost centers of live dramatic and musical theater. Alley Acting Company was founded in 1947 and is one of the few American theater companies that support a company of actors, designers, artisans and craftspeople throughout the year. The company has toured U.S. cities and abroad. The Alley is also home to educational programs for students and teachers, including the Young Performers Studio, From Stage to Page, HYPE (Houston Young Playwrights Exchange) and Playwright 360. Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) offers lavish musical theater productions, both new works and revivals, in a winter subscription season and in popular free summer productions at Hermann Park s Miller Outdoor Theatre. It also operates the Humphreys School of Musical Theatre. Main Street Theater enjoys growing critical acclaim for dramatic and musical productions. In 35 years, its MainStage program has presented over 30 world premieres. MST s Youth Theater produces plays directed to young audiences. Its Kids On Stage classes emphasize theatrical traditions from cultures worldwide. Ensemble Theatre, located in midtown Houston and established in 1976, is the only professional theater in the Southwest devoted to the African- American experience. This theatre offers two stages and a full season of productions. Stages Repertory Theatre offers southwestern and world premieres; experimental productions of classic works; and revivals of American masterpieces. Houston Museum District The Houston Museum District is one of the most visited and diverse cultural centers with 19 member organizations within close proximity. These museums provide rich experiences in art, history, culture, nature and science. Asia Society Texas Center (1370 Southmore Blvd.) opened in 2012, this facility houses an art gallery along with a theater. HOUSTON.ORG 31

32 Buffalo Soldiers National Museum (3816 Caroline St.) founded in 2000, is dedicated primarily to preserving the legacy and honor of the African- American soldiers that served on behalf of the United States of America. Children s Museum of Houston (1500 Binz) founded in 1980, the museum, which receives more than 850,000 visits annually, has hands-on galleries and offers a multitude of exhibits and programs for children through age 12. Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (5216 Montrose) founded in 1948, is a non-collecting museum presenting regional, national and international art of the past 40 years through exhibitions accompanied by publications and educational programming. Czech Center Museum Houston (4920 San Jacinto) established in 1995, was created to celebrate, share and promote the rich culture of a major Slavic ethnic group and their history. Holocaust Museum Houston (5401 Caroline) opened in 1996, educates the public about the dangers of prejudice and hatred in society. Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (4848 Main) a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to advancing education about the process, product and history of craft. Houston Center for Photography (1441 W. Alabama) founded in 1981, brings together a community of people interested in photography and lens-based work. The center is home to an on-site library housing more than 3,000 books on photography. Houston Museum of Natural Science (5555 Hermann Park Drive) established in 1909, the museum includes four floors of permanent exhibit halls; the Wortham IMAX 3D Theatre; Cockrell Butterfly Center; Burke Baker Planetarium; the George Observatory in Fort Bend County; a satellite facility in Sugar Land; and world-class touring exhibitions. Houston Zoo, Inc. (6200 Hermann Park Dr.) provides a fun, unique, and inspirational experience fostering appreciation, knowledge, and care for the natural world. Currently there are over 6,000 permanent residents (animals) attracting over 2 million guests each year. Health Museum (1515 Hermann Drive) founded in 1996, this museum is a member institution of the world-renowned Texas Medical Center. The museum currently serves more than 180,000 visitors annually. Jung Center of Houston (5200 Montrose Blvd.) founded in 1958 in honor of Carl Gustav Jung, the revolutionary psychologist. The center displays new exhibits each month. Much of the featured artwork is generated by local and regional artists. Lawndale Art Center (4912 Main) founded in 1979, the center is one of the only institutions in Houston that is dedicated to the presentation of contemporary art with an emphasis on work by regional artists. Menil Collection (1515 Sul Ross) opened in 1987, features a highly acclaimed collection of some 17,000 works of art concentrated in four areas: antiquities; Byzantine and medieval treasures; worldwide tribal art; paintings and sculpture. The museum includes the Cy Twombly Gallery (1501 Branard) and Richmond Hall (1500 Richmond). Museum of African American Culture (4807 Caroline) exhibits the material and intellectual culture of Africans and African Americans in Houston, the state of Texas, the southwest and the African Diaspora. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) (1001 Bissonnet) the first art museum in Texas, opened in Today, it houses nearly 65,000 works from antiquity to the present and ranks as the largest art museum in the Southwest. MFAH includes: The Caroline Wiess Law Building; Cullinan Hall; Brown Pavilion; and the Audrey Jones Beck Building. Other MFAH facilities include: Glassell School of Art; the Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden; Blaffer Memorial Wing; Rienzi; Central Administration and Junior School Building and Bayou Bend. Beginning in summer 2015, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston will start a new master planned campus transformation. Rice University Art Gallery (6100 Main Street) the only university art museum in the nation dedicated to site-specific installation art, presents temporary, large-scale environments that visitors can enter and explore. Rothko Chapel (3900 Yupon) founded in 1971, it is an intimate sanctuary welcoming over 80,000 visitors each year. Additional Houston-Area Museums Alliance Gallery (3201 Allen Parkway) managed by the Houston Arts Alliance, showcases recent work by contemporary Houston artists. Blaffer Art Museum, University of Houston (4800 Calhoun Road) furthers the understanding of contemporary art. 32 Houston Facts 2015

33 Bryan Museum ( st St. Galveston TX) opened in 2013, this facility is home to the world s largest collection of historical artifacts, documents, and artwork relating to the Southwestern United States. Harris County Heritage Society (1100 Bagby) has restored and furnished ten early Houston homes and a church that are on display in Sam Houston Park. Its Museum of Houston Heritage chronicles Texas history since O Kane Gallery, University of Houston- Downtown (One Main Street) is a conduit for the visual arts and contemporary culture. Orange Show Center for Visionary Art (2402 Munger) a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1980 to promote the legacy of folk art and traditional visual artists. San Jacinto Monument and Museum of History located at San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, features a wealth of artifacts and documents covering four centuries of Texas history. This 1,200-acre site is also a National Historic Landmark and consists of the San Jacinto battleground, monument with observation floor, museum of history and Battleship Texas. Space Center Houston the $75-million, Disneydesigned visitors center for Johnson Space Center, opened in 1992 and attracts more than 800,000 visitors per year. It features an IMAX theater, Kids Space Place, live demonstrations, Apollo, Mercury and Gemini capsules, a space suit collection, and the world s largest collection of moon rocks. University Museum at Texas Southern University (3100 Cleburne Ave.) presents art created by African and African American artists. Parks Parks within the city limits of Houston: Houston contains 52,915 acres of parks managed by five different entities, according to The Trust for Public Land s 2015 City Park Facts. Parks represent 14.3 percent of the city s land area, ranking in the top ten of U.S. cities with similar density. There are 24.1 acres of total parkland per 1,000 residents well above the median of 12.8 acres per 1,000 residents for cities of similar density monitored by The Trust for Public Land. Of the 55 largest parks located within cities, the city of Houston contains three: #10 Cullen Park with 9,270 acres; #15 George Bush Park with 7,800 acres; and #55 Bear Creek Pioneers Park with 2,163 acres inside the city limits of Houston. George Bush Park is the largest countymaintained park in the United States. Hermann Park attracts more than 5.4 million visitors annually. City of Houston parks: Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) oversees 366 developed municipal parks and more than 220 green-spaces, which together encompass approximately 37,851 acres. HPARD owns and operates 60 community centers across the city, along with the Metropolitan Multi- Service Center. Major City of Houston parks: Buffalo Bayou Park (160 acres) Cullen Park (9,270 acres) Cullinan/Oyster Creek Park ( acres) Eisenhower Park (682.5 acres) Herman Brown Park ( acres) Hermann Park (445 acres) Keith-Wiess Park ( acres) Lake Houston Wilderness Park (Approximately 5,000 acres) Law Park ( acres) MacGregor Park (82.79 acres) Memorial Park (1, acres) Metropolitan Multi-Service Center provides access to year-round activities for children and adults with disabilities. Major downtown parks: Allen s Landing Memorial Park, located on the banks of Buffalo Bayou. Discovery Green, a 12-acre park adjoining the George R. Brown Convention Center, opened in Eleanor Tinsley Park, a 124-acre linear park along Buffalo Bayou immediately west of downtown. Market Square, bounded by Preston, Milam, Travis, and Congress streets, was donated to the city in 1854 by Augustus Allen. Martha Hermann Square Park is located at the front steps of City Hall. HOUSTON.ORG 33

34 Sam Houston Park, the city s first park, was acquired in The park s 19.7 acres contain nine restored historic buildings. Sesquicentennial Park, is a 22.5 acre urban oasis in the heart of Houston s downtown theater district. Tranquility Park, between Walker and Rusk Streets, was officially dedicated on the 10th anniversary of the first lunar landing. Harris County parks: The Harris County Park System consists of four separate park departments that maintain a total of 179 parks totaling 25,126 acres. Major Harris County parks: Alexander Deussen Park (309 acres) Armand Bayou Nature Center (2,500 acres) Arthur Storey Park (175 acres) Bear Creek Pioneers Park (2,153 acres) Challenger Seven Memorial Park (326 acres) Congressman Bill Archer Park (926 acres) Cypress Creek Parks (2,700 acres) Gene Green Beltway 8 Park (230 acres) George Bush Park (7,800 acres) Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center (300 acres) Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens (300 acres) Roy Campbell Burroughs Park (320 acres) Terry Hershey Park (500 acres) Tom Bass Regional Park (more than 300 acres) Forests Sam Houston National Forest, one of four national forests in Texas, is 50 miles north of Houston. The forest contains 161,508 acres in Montgomery, San Jacinto and Walker counties. W.G. Jones State Forest, a largely native loblolly pine forest covering 1,722 acres, is located 40 miles north of Houston near The Woodlands in Montgomery County. The forest is owned and administered by the Texas A&M Forest Service. Wildlife Refuges Houston, situated on two of the four major North American bird and butterfly flyways, offers a bounty of avian species. According to the Houston Audubon Society, the Houston region has more than 400 species of birds as of Texas National Wildlife Refuges in the Houston MSA include the Anahuac and Moody National Wildlife Refuges in Chambers County; the Brazoria, San Bernard and Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuges in Brazoria County; and the 23,000-acre Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge in Liberty County. Houston Audubon, one of the largest chapters of the National Audubon Society, is headquartered at the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary in West Houston. Prominent among its several other sanctuary locations are Bolivar Flats and High Island. Houston Zoo Founded in 1922, the Houston Zoo serves more than 2.38 million visitors annually, ranking in the top 10 nationwide in attendance. Occupying 55 acres in Hermann Park, it is home to more than 6,000 exotic animals, representing more than 900 species. The Houston Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Since 2002, the non-profit corporation, Houston Zoo, Inc. has operated the zoo and invested more than $100 million in an extensive renewal and upgrading of its facilities. African Forest at the Houston Zoo 34 Houston Facts 2015

35 Houston: The City With No Limits In order to attract new businesses and the best and brightest talent to the area, the Partnership launched the Houston Image Coalition to coordinate the implementation of the Houston: The City With No Limits campaign. The plan positions Houston as not just a city with an innovative and growing business community, but a dynamic cultural and livable city with a great quality of life. 1 2 NO.1 DESTINATION CITY LIMITLESS LIVING IN HOUSTON 10 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW -According to U-HAUL INTERNATIONAL MOST DIVERSE REGION 22% of Houston Region Residents are foreign born 13% OF U.S. RESIDENTS ARE FOREIGN BORN MORE THAN 100+ LANGUAGES SPOKEN 62,900+ TOTAL ACRES OF PARK SPACE 5 th POPULOUS MSA in U.S. WITH 6.5 MILLION 26 FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES 3RD IN THE NATION 7 TOP 10 GLOBAL DESTINATION FOR - According to The New York Times 4 ONE OF THE LEAST EXPENSIVE CITIES TO LIVE IN THE U.S. LOWER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE BEST CITIES FOR YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS -ACCORDING TO CreditDonkey MOST 9 FOOD & CULTURE 350+ MILES OF HIKE & BIKE TRAILS TOP CITY FOR NEW GRADUATES -According to msnnow INFINITE POSSIBILITIES HOUSTON: THE CITY WITH NO LIMITS From the moment Houston was founded, the limits of what s possible here were forever defined. The first domed stadium, the first word heard from the moon, the first artificial heart transplant all were achieved from that spirit of endless possibilities. Today, that spirit is alive and well, and there s no limit to what Houston has to offer for those who want the American dream and are willing to work hard for it. WHAT IS HOUSTON? There are 6.5 million Houstonians with 6.5 million versions of Houston. The attributes that follow, however, remain constant and are the foundation of a city with infinite possibilities - Houston. CONFIDENT Regardless of inevitable changes and challenges, Houstonians have always believed that Houston s best days are ahead. AMBITIOUS Even when others lag, we dream big and have the staying power to see our dreams through. SUPPORTIVE Houstonians love to see each other succeed and are willing to get involved to make it happen. HARMONIOUS Houston is not only the most diverse U.S. city, it is also a city where people of all backgrounds live side by side and are embraced according to their attitudes and actions. OPEN Houstonians readily enjoy the benefits of living in a global metropolis because the perks are well within reach. FORWARD LOOKING Houstonians would much rather hear about your plans for the future than stories from your past. Even our finest historical moments were forward looking in their time. GET TO KNOW HOUSTON Facebook.com/HoustonNoLimits Twitter.com/HoustonNoLimits Brand Central Password: limitless 04/21/2015 V3 TheCityWithNoLimits.com #HoustonNoLimits 04/21/2015 V3 For more information, visit: TheCityWithNoLimits.com HOUSTON.ORG 35

36 History 1830s 1836 On April 21, General Sam Houston s army wins Texas independence from Mexico in the Battle of San Jacinto Houston founded on Aug. 30 by brothers Augustus C. and John K. Allen, who pay just over $1.40 per acre for 6,642 acres near headwaters of Buffalo Bayou Allen Brothers call on Gail Borden (publisher, surveyor, originator of condensed milk) and Thomas H. Borden to survey the site. Gail Borden lays out the town s streets 80 wide, with the principal east-west street (Texas Ave.) 100 wide General Sam Houston, first president of the Republic of Texas, signs an act authorizing Houston to incorporate. Houston is capital of the Republic from The Laura is the first steamship to visit Houston A bucket brigade, Protection Fire Company No. 1, is formed to fight fires. 1840s 1840 On April 4, seven Houston businessmen form the Houston Chamber of Commerce Houston Police Department is formed Texas oldest newspaper, The Galveston County Daily News, is first published Texas becomes the 28th state. 1850s 1850 First census after Texas joins the United States counts 2,396 Houstonians. Galveston, with 4,117 residents, is the state s largest city Houston s first railroad the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos & Colorado Railroad begins operations Texas Legislature appropriates $4,000 for Buffalo Bayou improvements Three competing firefighting companies combined into the Houston Volunteer Fire Department. 1860s 1861 Houston and Harris County vote to secede from the Union. During the Civil War, the closest fighting is at Galveston Houston s first bank, First National Bank, is founded Houston Stonewalls defeat Galveston Robert E. Lees 35-2 in first recorded baseball game in Houston Houston s first trolley cars (muledrawn) appear Houston s first gaslights are installed. 1870s 1870 Texas readmitted to the Union Census shows Houston s population up to 9,332. Harris County s has reached 17,375, ranking it second in the state Congress designates Houston a port; first survey of Houston s proposed ship channel is conducted Congress makes its first appropriation $10,000 for ship channel improvements Houston Board of Trade and Cotton Exchange are organized First grain elevator is built on the Houston Ship Channel Houston s first free public schools is established. 1880s 1880 Houston s first telephone exchange is created Houston Electric Light Co. is organized. Houston and New York are the first cities to build electric power plants Houston gets its first arc light Sisters of Charity open Houston s first general hospital. 1890s 1891 Houston is first Texas city with electric streetcars Houston Business League is founded (became Houston Chamber of Commerce in 1910) Houston Fire Department replaces Houston Volunteer Fire Department Automobile first appears in Houston as an advertising gimmick Houston s first asphalt street paving is laid on Franklin St Galveston Country Club opens with Texas first recorded professionally designed golf course First Houston city park opens. (This site, now Sam Houston Park, contains several of Houston s earliest buildings.) 1900s 1900 A Category 4 hurricane strikes Galveston, claiming more than 6,000 lives and causing property damage exceeding $30 million ($846 million in 2012 dollars) Houston Left Hand Fishing Club purchases the city s first automobile from Olds Motor Works of Detroit Oil discovered at Spindletop. Spindletop, and later discoveries at Humble in 1905 and Goose Creek in 1906, put Houston in the center of new oil and oilfield equipment development Congress appropriates $1 million for work on the Houston Ship Channel Houston city council sets speed limit of 8 mph Houston Museum and Scientific Society, Inc., predecessor of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, is organized Houston police begin using motorcycles to enforce speed limits Houston Country Club opens with Houston s first professionally-designed 18-hole golf course. 1910s 1910 Congress accepts, from a group of Houston businessmen headed by the Houston Chamber of Commerce, a novel plan to split ship channel development costs between Houston and the federal government Rice Institute (now Rice University) begins classes Houston Symphony is established George Hermann donates 285 acres to the city for a public park near Rice Institute The 25 foot-deep Houston Ship Channel is completed and formally dedicated First deepwater vessel, the S.S. Satilla, calls at Houston. 1920s 1920s-1930s Oil refineries proliferate along the Ship Channel, taking advantage of inexpensive waterborne shipping. 36 Houston Facts 2015

37 1921 Houston adopts ordinance dedicating tax monies to its library system Second National Bank becomes Houston s first air-conditioned building Houston Museum of Fine Arts, the first fine arts museum in Texas, opens Natural gas first piped into Houston Houston Colored Junior College, the forerunner of Texas Southern University, established Houston Junior College (now the University of Houston) is established National Democratic Convention is held in Houston Municipal airport opened; air mail service to Houston begins City Planning Commission recommends that Houston adopt a zoning ordinance but finds scant support. 1930s 1930 Census ranks Houston as state s most populous city at 292, First Houston Fat Stock Show & Rodeo (now Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo ) held Intracoastal Canal links Houston to Mississippi River navigation system Braniff International inaugurates first scheduled air passenger service to Houston. 1940s 1940s Petrochemical complex develops, taking feedstocks from nearby refineries New master plan for Houston thoroughfares emphasizes a loop system Texas Medical Center is founded Houston Golf Assn. hosts its first PGA Tour event now the Shell Houston Open, 10th oldest event on the PGA schedule Houston College for Negroes acquired by Texas Legislature; established as Texas State University for Negroes (now Texas Southern University) Alley Theatre established Engineering begins on the Gulf Freeway, Texas first freeway Dec. 31 annexation expands Houston s area from 74.4 to 216 square-miles Port of Houston ranks second nationally in total tonnage KLEE-TV broadcasts first Houston commercial TV program. 1950s 1953 KUHT-TV, the nation s first public broadcast TV station, goes on the air Houston Grand Opera Association and Houston Ballet founded Houston metro area population reaches 1,000, s 1962 NASA s Manned Spacecraft Center moves to Houston First event held in the Astrodome Houston Intercontinental Airport begins operations Houston is the first word spoken from the lunar surface. 1970s 1970 The Galleria opens Leonel Castillo becomes Controller, first Hispanic elected to city office Shell Oil Co. relocates corporate headquarters to Houston. More than 200 major firms move headquarters, subsidiaries and divisions here in the 1970s Arab oil embargo quadruples oil prices in 90 days, fueling Houston s economic boom Voters approve and fund Metropolitan Transit Authority. 1980s 1982 Employment peaks at 1,583,400 in March before onset of recession office buildings completed in 12 months Voters approve creation of Harris County Toll Road Authority Trough of recession in January; net recession loss of 221,900 jobs Wortham Center, home to Houston Ballet and Houston Grand Opera, and the George R. Brown Convention Center opens Houston Chamber of Commerce, Houston Economic Development Council and Houston World Trade Association combine to form Greater Houston Partnership. 1990s 1990 Houston economic recovery complete; April job count above March 1982 level Houston hosts 16th annual Economic Summit of Industrialized Nations Houston City Council mandates first zoning regulations Republican National Convention held in Houston The Houston Rockets bring Houston its first national sports title after winning the NBA Championship Former Police Chief Lee Brown elected City of Houston s first black mayor. 2000s 2000 Census finds Houston MSA has no racial or ethnic majority Minute Maid Park, home of Major League Baseball s Houston Astros, opens Tropical Storm Allison inundates Houston June 5-9, claiming 22 lives and inflicting $4.9 billion in property damage, with storm precipitation as high as inches NRG Stadium, home of the National Football League s Houston Texans, opens Hobby Center for the Performing Arts opens Toyota Center, home of the National Basketball Association s Houston Rockets, opens 2004 Houston s first modern light rail line 7.5-miles long begins operations Houston hosts NFL Superbowl XXXVIII 2005 More than 100,000 evacuees flee to Houston from southern Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Ike makes landfall Sept. 13 at Galveston as a Category 2 storm, claiming at least 70 lives and causing some $27 billion in property damage along the Texas Gulf Coast, ranking it third most costly among U.S. hurricanes Houston elects Annise Parker, one of the first openly gay mayors of a major U.S. city 2010s 2011 By November, Houston returns to 2008 pre-recession employment levels; first major metro to do so BBVA Compass Stadium, home of Major League Soccer s Houston Dynamo, opens Metro Houston employment reached an all-time high of million in December HOUSTON.ORG 37

38 2015 HOUSTONFACTS 1200 SMITH, SUITE 700 HOUSTON, TX Houston Facts 2015