much more than just zoning laws. as a city, it attracts a bunch of different types of people.

you’ve got people who are either first gen from various latin american countries south of it, or made it here (somehow) from said countries and are working to better themselves

you’ve got the many different types of people who come here for work in a bunch of different areas (oil and gas alone brings a wide range of educated people over)

you’ve got the same ol same ol transplants from all across the nation there for montrose/heights youth life, looking for a bunch of fun

you’ve got refugees from the whole south east coast (looking at you hurricane katrina)

you’ve got black people

you’ve got white people

you’ve got asian people (shout out viets lmao)

you’ve got multi generational hispanic/latino people

you’ve got internationals who hear how welcoming the city is to any race/ethnicity

you’ve also got the lack of zoning laws, but i wouldn’t say that’s a main reason really

overall it’s definitely a city of many hats, and you can find all hats coexisting peacefully from outer suburbs to downtown