Area description continued:
Houston was just a dream to two New York real estate promoters, J. K. and A. C. Allen who searched the south for "a great center of government and commerce."?In August of 1836, they bought 6,642 acres of raw land from Mrs. T. F. L. Parrot, the widow of John Austin, near the tidewater on Buffalo Bayou for $9,428. Here the brothers set up a trading post on the bayou that now meanders through the heart of the city.?In anticipation of San Houston's election as the first President of the Republic of Texas, they named their dream city, Houston, hoping their city would be selected as the Capital of Texas. Just one week before Houston's election, they also advertised that "Nature seems to have designated this place for the future seat of government, however Austin was named the capital and Houston remained a small trading post. The Houston Chamber of Commerce recognized the importance of railroads to the Port of Houston. They were instrumental in initiating the first railroad as well as the first telegraph line in Texas.
Population
Metropolitan Houston: 4,290,277, Houston 1,953,631