The Boundaries of Houston Don't Match the Perception of Houston

According to Craig Hlavaty, there's an old joke about Houston that explains the sprawling nature of its geographic reaches: "Houston is an hour away from Houston."

Houston's metropolitan area is often confused with Houston proper, with residents of cities like Cypress, Baytown, or Alvin often heard saying they live in Houston.

The question, then: Where does Houston end and where does Houston begin? The Houston Chronicle recently offered an informal social media poll, which served to reinforce the confusion.