Which city is the most populous in the U.S. state of Texas?

Houston is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas. Its city population is substantially larger than those of San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin, making it the state’s clear municipal population leader.

Houston was founded in 1836 and named for Sam Houston, the first president of the Republic of Texas. Its location near the Buffalo Bayou shipping channel helped it develop into a major port and commercial center. The Houston Ship Channel, opened in the early 20th century, connected the city more directly with the Gulf of Mexico and powered its growth.

The city’s modern economy is strongly associated with energy, petrochemicals, medicine, aerospace, and international trade. The Texas Medical Center is one of the world’s largest medical complexes, while NASA’s Johnson Space Center made Houston famous as a center of human spaceflight.

Population comparisons can be confusing because metropolitan Houston extends far beyond the city boundary. The municipal rankings in the question compare incorporated city populations, where Houston remains first. San Antonio is second, followed by Dallas and then Austin in the standard statewide ordering.