Houston is the "the energy capital of the world" and the fourth-largest city in the United States. But there is still an exclusive, small town atmosphere that discerns many of its neighborhoods and communities. Many smaller cities and master-planned communities situated all the way through the area foster a community spirit and link that makes them in the middle of the most pleasing places to live in the nation.
Up till now Houston can proffer such "big city" characteristics as world class arts as well as culture and an international business center. For its size, Houston is a remarkably inexpensive place to live.
Houston is abode to the world's largest radio and livestock show that magnetize 1.5 million visitors from all over the world each year. Many of the nation's top country and western musicians have Houston roots. Many artists that have come from Houston include the pop and R&B girl group Destiny's Child, hard Southern rock band ZZ Top, Red Krayola, folk-country singer/songwriter Lyle Lovett, pop singer Hilary Duff, singer and actor Patrick Swayze, and indie-piano rock band Blue October.
A committed following in Houston have urbanized by live dramatic as well as musical theater. The Alley Theater is one of the countries three oldest resident theaters with Stages Repertory Theater offers Southwestern and world premieres, experimental productions of classic works and revivals of American Masterpieces. Museums with rare and unique collections abound in Houston, including the Museum of Fine Arts that displays more than 27,000 works from antiquity to the present.
Houston has nicknames like "Space City", "Bayou City," "Magnolia City," "Clutch City," and "H-Town."