Houston's spaceflight center under construction in 1963
Just shy of four months since JFK delivered his speech setting the goal to land humans on the moon and return safely to Earth, NASA announced September 19, 1961, its new spaceflight center would be located in Houston, Texas. More than twenty sites competed to host the center but Houston was chosen above the others because of its its all-weather commercial jet service, transportation by barge in ice-free water and its "mild climate." You'll have to follow the link to see for yourself. Yes, NASA said Houston's climate was MILD! LOL
Of course, the main reason Houston was chosen was because of politics. Powerful politicians in DC including then Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson campaigned heavily for the Texas site.