The 7 biggest misconceptions about Houston, according to a local
Think Houston is all cowboys and tumbleweeds? A longtime Houstonian debunks seven major myths about America’s 4th largest city, from its cuisine to its climate.
As a travel writer, I venture out of state a couple times each month, and no matter who I meet or where I am, there’s always a reaction when I tell people I’m from Houston, Texas.
We’re all gun-toting cowboys and cowgirls, apparently. We ride horses and speak with very strong accents. We wear cowboy hats and we’re pretty much all alike. Those myths might vary slightly from person to person, but they’re pretty consistent… and they’re wrong.
As someone who has lived in this fine city for 13 years, who has canoodled with everyone from city folk to ranch hands, and who has gotten an insider’s look at what makes Houston such a tourist hotspot, I’m here to reveal what this city is really like.
So if you’re contemplating a move to H-Town or you’re just coming for a visit, here’s your guide to understanding Houston and the people who live here. I guarantee you, it will debunk all the myths.
Misconception #1—Houston is just another city.
Maybe it’s because Texas is so dang big that this city in the far southeast corner of the state gets lost in its vastness. Austin and Dallas might be more centrally located—and therefore attract more notice—but Houston is the real powerhouse in this state.
Did you know that Houston is the fourth biggest city in the nation? It’s nipping at the heels of #3 Chicago, and just behind New York and Los Angeles. Its population of over 2.3 million people is growing so fast it’s hard to keep up with the number. There’s been a huge influx of transplants in recent years, particularly from California, which may give this city the edge over Chicago sooner rather than later.
At 599.6 square miles, Houston is larger than New York City, Boston, and San Francisco combined, so yes, everything really is bigger in Texas. And this city is extremely spread out, which makes for a whole lot of cars on the road and a bustling cityscape.
Misconception #2—Houston is all about brisket and BBQ.
I will concede that Tex-Mex, brisket, and BBQ are indeed Houston dining staples. But let’s be clear: Houston is far from a one-note wonder when it comes to city dining.
In fact, H-Town has established itself as an impressive foodie town, with several Michelin Guide awards under its belt. In this prestigious organization’s first inclusion of Texas, 26 restaurants were recognized for cuisine that ranged from Vietnamese to French to contemporary and creative.
There’s a whole lot of good cooking here that spans every culture and taste and more than 1,000 restaurants to choose from.
Misconception #3—NASA is this city’s biggest claim to fame.
Even though it’s a bit outside of the city, NASA has still had a huge impact on Houston’s name recognition around the globe. I mean, how cool is it that when astronauts call from space, they use a Houston phone number?
But there’s so much more to this city than NASA, so let’s break down what else is noteworthy.
The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo is a huge deal, takes place over a month’s time in March, features A-list concerts every night, and is generally considered the largest rodeo in the world. During the other ten months, the World Series-winning Houston Astros bring much attention to the city, along with Texans football and Rockets basketball.
And let’s not forget the greenspace here, used year-round thanks to Houston’s temperate climate. Memorial Park is centrally located in the city and at 1,500 acres is twice the size of New York’s Central Park! That’s just one of several greenspaces throughout Houston, so this city’s attributes go well beyond NASA.
Misconception #4—Everyone in Houston dresses like a cowboy or cowgirl.
If it’s March and a Houstonian is heading to the rodeo, you better believe they’ll be dressed from head to toe like a Texan. Otherwise? Not so much.
Houston is a big city not unlike other big cities when it comes to dress. Global fashion trends are reflected here, with most people going out for dinner with a view or an evening soiree in business casual clothes that are stylish and attractive.
You’ll know you’re in Houston when you notice the heat and the concessions the locals make for it—lightweight clothing versus the jeans, flannels, and big belt buckles you might expect. High-end boutiques are everywhere, so there’s plenty of non-western bling on display here.
Here is the one caveat: Cowboy boots are always in style, with dresses, suits, shorts and even tuxes (It’s called a Texas Tux, thank y’all very much).
Misconception #5—Houston is hot and dry like the rest of Texas (and it has tumbleweeds).
I can’t tell you how many people assume that Houston is a desert complete with tumbleweeds and scrub brush. And the reality couldn’t be further from that assumption.
Houston is hot and humid during the summer and has a tropical climate pretty much year-round. It’s not uncommon to see backyard pools surrounded by queen palms, island flowers, and tumbling bougainvillea, similar to what you will see in Florida.
Houston’s waterways like Buffalo Bayou and Oyster Creek, and its many lakes and ponds, make up some of the most Instagrammable spots in Houston. They are filled with water birds like egrets, roseate spoonbills, herons, ducks, and geese. And they’re also filled with alligators that love to sun themselves on the banks.
Would an alligator hang out in a desert? Neither would a Houstonian.
Misconception #6—Houston is filled with oil barons and cowboys riding horses down the streets.
You may have seen TikTok videos of cowboys wrangling runaway steer on the sides of Houston’s highways, but I promise, that’s an anomaly. Most of the time, you’ll see the same cars you see everywhere else, and okay, a lot of trucks.
And while oil and gas is a huge industry in this Texas city, you might be surprised to learn that Houston is a hub for some other big players. For one, our Energy Corridor District is filled with every segment of the industry including renewable energy like wind turbines. So it’s not always, “Drill, baby, drill,” as everyone thinks.
In addition, Houston is home to the world’s largest medical center complex, Texas Medical Center, with over 50 hospitals and healthcare facilities. A staggering 10 million patients visit this complex each year, and that’s on top of the patients who fly from around the nation to be treated at what’s considered the best cancer center in the U.S.—MD Anderson. That’s because Houston is also a leader in medical research, so treatments are cutting edge and innovative.
Finally, this city is home to 21 Fortune 500 companies that design, manufacture, or trade in a variety of industries, making it fourth in the country for major business headquarters.
Misconception #7—Houston has no diversity.
Shows like “Dallas” in the 1980s and the modern-day “The Hunting Wives” present Texans in a highly stereotypical light. It’s one of the biggest myths about Houston that it has no diversity, and I’m here to dispel it.
Are you ready? Houston—not LA or New York or San Francisco—is the most diverse city in the nation. Over 145 languages are spoken here, with English, Spanish, and Vietnamese being the most prominent. So many races and cultures intermingle in this city that Houston’s diversity is mentioned in almost every article or social media post.
And the demographics here run surprisingly young. Excellent schools like U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges-ranked Rice University draw students from around the world. Even more surprising is that the largest population is between the ages of 5-19, signaling that further growth is on the horizon.
Now that we’ve cleared up some of the misconceptions surrounding the great city of Houston, Texas, it’s time for a visit. Come see for yourself what makes Texas one of the top-ranked cities to live in America.
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