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'''Texas''' is a [[U.S. States|state]] in the [[United States]] located in [[North America]]. |
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{{otheruses}} |
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{{US state | |
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Name = Texas | |
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Fullname = State of Texas | |
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Flag = Texas state flag.png | |
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Seal = Texas state seal.png | |
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Map = Map of USA highlighting Texas.png | |
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Nickname = Lone Star State | |
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Capital = [[Austin, Texas|Austin]] | |
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LargestCity = [[Houston, Texas|Houston]] | |
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Governor = [[Rick Perry]] | |
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PostalAbbreviation = TX | |
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OfficialLang = ''None'' | |
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AreaRank = 2<sup>nd</sup> | |
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TotalArea = 696,241 | |
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LandArea = 678,907 | |
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WaterArea = 17,333 | |
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PCWater = 2.5 | |
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PopRank = 2<sup>nd</sup> | |
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2000Pop = 20,851,820 | |
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DensityRank = 28<sup>th</sup> | |
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2000Density = 30.75 | |
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AdmittanceOrder = 28<sup>th</sup> | |
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AdmittanceDate = [[December 29]], [[1845]] | |
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TimeZone = [[Central Standard Time Zone|Central]]: [[UTC]]-6/[[Daylight saving time|-5]]<br />[[Mountain Standard Time Zone|Mountain]]: [[UTC]]-7/[[Daylight saving time|-6]] <small>(part of west Texas)</small> | |
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Latitude = 25°50'N to 36°30'N | |
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Longitude = 93°31'W to 106°38'W | |
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Width = 1,065 | |
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Length = 1,270 | |
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HighestElev = 2,667 | |
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MeanElev = 520 | |
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LowestElev = 0 | |
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ISOCode = US-TX | |
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Website = www.state.tx.us |
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}} |
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'''Texas''' joined the [[United States|United States of America]] as its 28th member [[U.S. state|state]] in 1845. It has the [[U.S. Postal Service|postal abbreviation]] '''TX'''. |
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Bordered to the north by [[Oklahoma]], to the east by [[Louisiana]] and [[Arkansas]], to the south by [[Mexico]] and the [[Gulf of Mexico]], and the west by [[New Mexico]]. |
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The state name derives from a word in a [[Caddoan languages|Caddoan language]] of the [[Hasinai]], ''tejas'', meaning ''friends'' or ''allies''; [[Spain|Spanish]] explorers mistakenly applied the word to the people and their location. |
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Texas (area [[100000km2|690,000 km<sup>2</sup>]]) is the second largest state in size after [[Alaska]] and has historically been portrayed through larger than life [[Wild West]] [[cowboys]] and oil wells. |
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Major state designations and symbols include: |
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* [[state flower]] — the [[bluebonnet]] (Lupinus texensis) |
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* [[List of U.S. state mottos | state motto]] — "Friendship" |
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* [[List of U.S. state nicknames | state nickname]] — '''The Lone Star State''' (after the single star on the state flag) |
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* [[state tree]] — the [[pecan]] |
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* [[state bird]] — the [[Northern Mockingbird|mockingbird]] |
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* official [[state song]] — ''[[Texas Our Texas]]'' |
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Texas was largely rural before [[World War II]] |
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===Other state designations=== |
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with cattle, oil, and agriculture as its main industries. |
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*[[Air Force]] — [[Commemorative Air Force]] (formerly known as the ''[[Confederate Air Force]]''), based in [[Midland, Texas|Midland]] |
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*[[dinosaur]] — the Brachiosaur Sauropod, ''Pleurocoelus'' |
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*state dish — [[chili con carne]] |
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*state fiber and fabric — [[cotton]] |
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*[[List of U.S. state fish|state fish]] — [[Guadalupe bass]] |
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*state folk dance — [[square dance]] |
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*state fruit — Texas red [[grapefruit]] |
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*[[List of U.S. state minerals, rocks, stones and gemstones|state gem]] — Texas blue [[topaz]] |
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*state grass — [[Sideoats grama]] (''Bouteloua curtipendula'') |
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*[[List of U.S. state insects|state insect]] — [[monarch butterfly]] (''Danaus plexippus'') |
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*state mammals (three) |
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**small — [[armadillo]] |
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**large — [[Texas longhorn]] |
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**flying — [[Mexican free-tailed bat]] |
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*musical instrument — [[guitar]] |
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*state [[pepper]]s (two) |
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**native — [[chiltepin]] |
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**other — [[jalapeño]] |
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*state plant — [[prickly pear]] [[cactus]] |
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*[[List of U.S. state reptiles|state reptile]] — Texas [[horned lizard]] (''Phrynosoma cornutum''), commonly called the "horny toad" |
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*state shell — [[lightning whelk]] (''Busycon perversum pulleyi'') |
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*state ship — the [[Battleship]] ''[[USS Texas (BB-35)]]'' |
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*state shrub — [[crape myrtle]] (''Lagerstroemia indica'') |
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*state sport — [[rodeo]] |
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*[[List of U.S. state minerals, rocks, stones and gemstones|state stone]] — [[petrified palmwood]] |
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*state [[tartan]] — Texas Bluebonnet Tartan |
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*state vegetable — Texas sweet [[onion]] |
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After World War II, Texas has become increasingly industralized. |
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The pledge to the Texas Flag is: |
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Its economy (circa 2000) is largely based on information technology, with [[Dallas]] - [[Fort Worth]] Metroplex being the largest [[IT]] labor market in the [[United States]], oil and natural gas, energy exploration and energy trading, agriculture, and manufacturing. |
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<blockquote> |
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''Honor the Texas Flag''<br> |
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''I pledge allegiance to thee''<br> |
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''Texas, one, and indivisible'' |
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</blockquote> |
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It passed [[New York]] in the [[1990s]] to become the second largest state in population after [[California]] largely due to the availability of jobs, low cost of living, high living standard, lack of a state income tax, low taxation of business, limited government (the state legislature of Texas meets only once every two years), warm weather, and friendly people. |
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With an area of [[1 E11 m²|690,000]] [[square kilometre|km<sup>2</sup>]], Texas forms the second-largest US state in size after [[Alaska]] and the largest state in the contiguous 48 states. It has historically had a "larger than life" reputation, especially in [[Western Film|cowboy films]]. |
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It was the first state in the [[United States]] to be a sovereign nation before joining the [[United States]]. The other was the kingdom of [[Hawaii]]. |
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== Location == |
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Texas has borders on the west with [[New Mexico]], on the north with [[Oklahoma]] (across the [[Red River (Mississippi watershed) | Red River]]), and on the east with [[Louisiana]] (across the [[Sabine River]]) and with [[Arkansas]]. To the southwest, across the [[Rio Grande]], Texas borders the [[Mexico|Mexican]] states of [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]], [[Coahuila]], [[Nuevo León]], and [[Tamaulipas]]. To the southeast of Texas lies the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. |
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[[Austin]] is the state capital. |
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Texas lies in the south-central part of the United States of America. Depending on who you talk to (and which part of Texas they come from), Texas forms part of the [[U.S. Southern States|US South]] or part of the [[Southwest United States|US Southwest]]. Texas shares some cultural elements with both regions, with more similarities with the South, especially Arkansas and Louisiana, in [[East Texas]], and more similarities with the Southwest, especially Mexico and New Mexico, in [[West Texas]] and [[South Texas]]. |
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Texas is composed of 255 counties. |
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They are as follows: |
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Anderson, Andrews, Angelina, Aransas, Archer, Armstrong, Atascosa, Austin, Bailey, Bandera, Bastrop, Baylor, Bee, Bell, Bexar, Blanco,Borden, Bosque, Bowie, Brazoria, Brazos, Brewster, Briscoe, Brooks, Brown, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Calhoun, Callahan, Cameron,Camp, Carson, Cass, Castro, Chambers, Cherokee, Childress, Clay, Cochran,Coke,Coleman, Collin, Collingsworth, Colorado, Comal,Comanche, Concho, Cooke, Coryell, Cottle, Crane, Crockett, Crosby, Culberson, Dallam, Dallas, Dawson, Dewitt, Deaf Smith, Delta, Denton,Dickens, Dimmit, Donley, Duval, Eastland, Ector, Edwards, El Paso, Ellis, Erath, Falls, Fannin, Fayette, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Fort Bend, Franklin, Freestone, Frio, Gaines, Galveston, Garza, Gillespie, Glasscock, Goliad, Gonzales, Gray, Grayson, Gregg, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hale, Hall, Hamilton, Hansford, Hardeman, Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Hartley, Haskell, Hays, Hemphill, Henderson, Hidalgo,Hill,Hockley, Hood,Hopkins, Houston, Howard, Hudspeth, Hunt, Hutchinson, Irion, Jack, Jackson, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Johnson,Jones, Karnes, Kaufman, Kendall, Kenedy, Kent,Kerr,Kimble, King, Kinney, Kleberg, Knox, La Salle, Lamar, Lamb, Lampasas, Lavaca,Lee, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Lipscomb, Live Oak, Llano, Loving, Lubbock, Lynn, Madison, Marion, Martin, Mason, Matagorda, Maverick, [[McCulloch]], [[McLennan]], [[McMullen]], Medina, Menard, Midland, Milam, Mills, Mitchell, Montague, Montgomery, Moore, Morris, Motley,Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Nolan, Nueces, Ochiltree, Oldham, Orange, Palo Pinto, Panola, Parker, Parmer, Pecos, Polk, Potter, Presidio,Rains, Randall, Reagan, Real, Red River, Reeves, Refugio, Roberts, Robertson, Rockwall, Runnels, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, San Saba, Schleicher, Scurry, Shackelford, Shelby, Sherman, Smith, Somervell, Starr, Stephens, Sterling, Stonewall,Sutton, Swisher, Tarrant, Taylor, Terrell, Terry, Throckmorton, Titus, Tom Green, Travis, Trinity, Tyler, Upshur, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Van Zandt, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Ward, Washington, Webb, Wharton, Wheeler, Wichita, Wilbarger, Willacy, Williamson, Wilson,Winkler, Wise, Wood, Yoakum, Young, Zapata, Zavala |
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Austin, [[Dallas]], [[Fort Worth]], [[Houston, Texas]], and [[San Antonio]] are its largest cities. Other important cities include [[El Paso]], [[Eagle Pass]], and [[Laredo]]; these are very important because of their location at the borderline with Mexico, making them important trade points. |
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== History == |
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[[Native American]] inhabitants of present-day Texas include [[Apache Tribe|Apache]], [[Atakapan]], [[Bidai]], [[Caddo]], [[Comanche]], [[Karankawa]], [[Kiowa]], [[Tonkawa]], and [[Wichita (tribe)|Wichita]]. |
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Texas has a large Spanish speaking people some of whom have recently |
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On [[November 6]], [[1528]] shipwrecked Spanish conquistador [[Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca]] became the first known European to set foot on Texas. |
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immigrated from [[Mexico]], [[Central America]], and [[South America]] but includes others, known as [[Tejanos]] whose ancestors have lived in the Texas since before independence from Mexico. Unlike other United States states which border Mexico, the culture of Texas gradually merge into that of Mexico producing a vibrant border region. |
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Texas has been largely fortunate in avoiding the racial and ethnic problems found in many southern states and large cities of the northeast. Much of this is because Texas's immigrant population and cultural connections with [[Mexico]] are considered to have a highly positive influence on the areas economy. |
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Texas can claim that 'Six Flags' have flown over its soil: the [[Fleur-de-lis]] of [[France]], and the national flags of [[Spain]], [[Mexico]], the [[Republic of Texas]], the [[United States|United States of America]] and the [[Confederate States of America]]. |
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Texas formed part of the [[Spain|Spanish]] colony of [[New Spain]]; see [[Spanish Texas]] for details. |
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Wondering how to edit this State Entry?<br> |
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The [[WikiProject U.S. States]] standards might help. |
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After [[Mexico|Mexican]] independence in [[1821]] Texas became a part of Mexico. See [[Mexican Texas]]. |
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Also see [[Texas Revolution]]. |
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=== The [[Republic of Texas]] (1836-1845) === |
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Texas became the first, and to date, the only [[diplomatic recognition|internationally recognized]] independent state directly admitted to the United States as a constituent state of the union. ([[Vermont]], which declared itself an [[Vermont Republic|independent]] republic in [[1777]], and joined the union in [[1791]], had ''de facto'' autonomy but no international recognition. The U.S. annexed both the self-proclaimed [[California Republic]] and the internationally-recognized [[Republic of Hawaii|Republic (or Kingdom) of Hawaii]], but did not immediately admit them as states.) |
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The [[Republic of Texas]] included all the area now included in the state of Texas, although its self-proclaimed western and northwestern borders extended as far west as [[Santa Fe]] and as far northwest as present-day [[Wyoming]], respectively. |
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=== Important dates === |
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* [[1519]]: [[Alonso Alvarez de Pineda]], a [[Spain|Spanish]] explorer, became probably the first [[Europe]]an to map the Texas coast. |
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* [[1528]]–[[1534]]: [[Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca|Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca]], another Spanish explorer, spent six years visiting Texas for trade. |
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* [[February 18|18 February]] [[1685]]: [[René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de LaSalle]] established Fort St. Louis at [[Matagorda Bay]], thus establishing a [[France | French]] claim to Texan territory. |
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* [[1690]]: Alonso De León crosses the [[Rio Grande]] to establish [[San Francisco de los Tejas]] Mission in East Texas, effectively blazing the [[Old San Antonio Road]] portion of the [[Camino Real]] - one of the oldest continuously-used roadways in the [[United States]]. |
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* [[1700]]–[[1799]]: Spain established Catholic missions in Texas throughout the [[18th century]]. |
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* 3 January [[1823]]: [[Stephen F. Austin]] began a colony of 300 families in the [[Brazos River]] region. This group became known as the "Old Three Hundred". |
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* [[June 26|26 June]] [[1832]]: The [[Battle of Velasco]] resulted in the first casualties of the developing Texas Revolution. |
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* [[1832]]–[[1833]]: The "Conventions" of 1832 and 1833 responded to rising unrest at the policies of the ruling [[Mexico|Mexican]] government. Policies that most irritated the [[Texian]]s included the Mexican ban on slavery, the forcible disarmament of Texian settlers, and the expulsion of illegal immigrants from the [[United States|United States of America]]. The example of the [[Centralista]] forces' suppression of dissidents in [[Zacatecas]] also inspired fear of the Mexican government. |
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* [[1835]]: The '''[[Texas Revolution]]''' began. Early in 1835 [[Stephen F. Austin]] announced that only war with Mexico could secure Texian freedom. |
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* [[October 2|2 October]] [[1835]]: Texians fought a Mexican cavalry detachment at the town of [[Battle of Gonzales|Gonzales]], which began the actual revolution. |
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* [[October 28|28 October]] [[1835]]: At the "[[Battle of Concepcion]]", 90 Texians defeated 450 Mexicans. |
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* [[March 2|2 March]] [[1836]]: The "Convention of 1836" signed the Texas "Declaration of Independence", making an attempt at a clear break from Mexican rule. |
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* [[March 6|6 March]] [[1836]]: A Mexican army (numbering 4,000 to 5,000) besieged approximately 190 Texians, led by [[William B. Travis]], at the [[Alamo]] in [[San Antonio, Texas | San Antonio]]. The thirteen-day siege resulted in the deaths of all of the defenders, including [[Davy Crockett]], [[Jim Bowie]] and Travis. |
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* [[March 27|27 March]] [[1836]]: By the order of General [[Antonio López de Santa Anna]], the Mexicans executed [[James Fannin]] and nearly 400 Texians in the Massacre at [[Goliad, Texas|Goliad]]. The place-names ''Goliad'', ''Alamo''. ''San Jacinto'', etc. line the rim of Rotunda of the Capitol in Austin. |
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* [[April 21|21 April]] [[1836]]: General Santa Anna, having defeated the Texas rebellion, while conducting mopping up operations advanced to [[San Jacinto]] in pursuit of the fleeing rebels. Led by [[Sam Houston]], the Texians won their independence in one of the most decisive battles in history when they defeated the Mexican forces of Santa Anna at the [[Battle of San Jacinto]]. Houston's army of 800 killed or captured the entire Mexican force of 1,600 men, themselves suffering only nine fatal casualties. [[Antonio López de Santa Anna|Santa Anna]] himself passed into captivity. |
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* [[May 14|14 May]] [[1836]]: Republic of Texas officials and General Santa Anna signed the treaty of Velasco. |
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* [[1836]]: Five cities ([[Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas|Washington-on-the-Brazos]], [[Galveston, Texas|Galveston]], [[Harrisburg, Texas|Harrisburg]], [[Velasco, Texas|Velasco]], and [[Columbia, Texas|Columbia]]) each served as temporary capitals of Texas before Sam Houston moved the capital to [[Houston, Texas|Houston]] in [[1837]]. |
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* [[March 5|5 March]] [[1842]]: A Mexican force of over 500 men, led by Rafael Vasquez, invaded Texas for the first time since the revolution. They soon headed back to the Rio Grande after briefly occupying San Antonio. |
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* [[September 11|11 September]] [[1842]]: 1,400 Mexican troops, led by Adrian Woll, captured San Antonio again. They retreated, as before, but with prisoners this time. |
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* [[December 29|29 December]] [[1845]]: President [[James K. Polk]] of the [[United States|United States of America]] followed through on a campaign platform promising to annex Texas, and signed legislation making Texas the 28th state of the United States. |
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* [[September 9|9 September]] [[1850]]: The [[Compromise of 1850]] stripped Texas of a third of its claimed territory (now parts of [[Colorado]], [[Kansas]], [[New Mexico]], [[Oklahoma]], and [[Wyoming]]) in return for the federal government assuming $10 million of Texas's pre-annexation debt. |
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* [[February 1|1 February]] [[1861]]: The "Secession Convention" met and voted 171 to 6 to submit an ordinance of secession to the people. |
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* [[February 23|1 February]] [[1861]]: In the statewide election on the secession ordinance, Texans voted to secede from the Union by a vote of 46,129 to 14,697 (a 76% majority). The Secession Convention immediately organized a new state government, replacing [[Sam Houston]] when he refused to take an oath of allegiance to the Confederacy. <!-- This and the last bullet point from "Historical Atlas of Texas", by A. Ray Stephens and William M. Holmes, ISBN 0806123079 --> |
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* [[June 19|19 June]] [[1865]]: Union troops landed in Galveston, Texas with news of the [[Emancipation Proclamation]], two-and-a-half years after [[Abraham Lincoln | Lincoln]] signed it. |
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* [[March 30|30 March]] [[1870]]: The United States Congress readmitted Texas into the Union. |
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== Government and politics == |
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=== Law and government === |
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[[Austin, Texas|Austin]] is the capital of Texas. The state [[Capitol]] resembles the federal [[United States Capitol|Capitol Building]] in [[Washington, DC]], but is faced in pink granite and is topped by a statue of the "Goddess of [[Liberty]]" holding aloft a five-point Texas [[pentagram | star]]. Like several other southern state capitols, it faces south instead of north. The capitol building is taller than the U.S. national capitol, but less massive. |
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Republican [[Rick Perry]] has served as [[List of Governors of Texas|Governor of Texas]] since December [[2000]]; two Republicans represent Texas in the U.S. Senate: [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]] (since [[1993]]) and [[John Cornyn]] (since [[2002]]) |
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The current Texas constitution, adopted in [[1876]], is the second longest in the nation. As with many state constitutions, it explicitly provides for the separation of powers and incorporates its bill of rights directly into the text of the constitution (as Article I). The bill of rights is considerably lengthier and more detailed than the federal [[United States Bill of Rights|Bill of Rights]], and includes some provisions unique to Texas. |
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The executive branch consists of the Governor, [[Lieutenant Governor of Texas|Lieutenant Governor]], Comptroller of Public Accounts, Land Commissioner, Attorney General, Agriculture Commissioner, the three-member Railroad Commission, the State Board of Education, and the Secretary of State. Except for the Secretary of States—who is appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate—each of these officials is elected. There are also a large number of state agencies and numerous boards and commissions. Partly because of the large number of elected officials, the Governor's powers are quite limited in comparison to other state governors or the U.S. President<!-- partial reference: Texas State Almanac 2001-02, p. 435-->. In popular lore and belief the Lieutenant Governor, who heads the State Senate and appoints its committees, has more [[power (sociology)|power]] than the Governor. The Governor commands the state militia and can veto bills passed by the Legislature and call special sessions of the Legislature. He also appoints members of various executive boards and fills judicial vacancies between elections. |
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The [[Legislature of Texas]], like the legislature of every other state except Nebraska, is bicameral (that is, has two chambers). The House of Representatives has 150 members, while the Senate has 31. The speaker of the house (currently Tom Craddick [[United States Republican Party|R]]-[[Midland, Texas|Midland]]) leads the House, and the Lieutenant Governor (currently Republican David Dewhurst) leads the State Senate. The Legislature meets in regular session only once every two years. |
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The judicial system of Texas has a reputation as one of the most complex in the United States—if not in the world—with many layers and many overlapping jurisdictions. Texas has two courts of last resort: the Texas Supreme Court—which hears civil cases—and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Except in the case of some municipal benches, partisan elections choose all of the judges at all levels of the judiciary—the Governor fills vacancies by appointment. |
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Texas has a total of 254 counties, each run by a county commissioners' court headed by a county judge (elected by the entire county). |
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=== Politics === |
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''Main article: [[Politics of Texas]]'' |
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Texas is currently totally dominated by the [[Republican Party]], which has strong majorities in the Texas Senate and House of Representatives. Every executive branch official elected statewide is Republican, as is every member of Texas' two courts of last resort; no Democrat has won a statewide election since [[1994]]. The majority of the state's delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives is Republican, as are both U.S. Senators. |
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Texas historically was a one-party state of the Democratic Party. The Democrats controlled a majority in the Texas House and in the state's Congressional delegation until the [[2002]] and [[2004]] elections, respectively. |
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== Geography == |
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[[Image:National-atlas-texas.png|thumb|400px|Texas map depicting rivers, roads and major cities]] |
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Texas has five major topographic regions: |
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# The Coastal Plain, from the Gulf of Mexico inland to about San Antonio and just southeast of Austin |
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# The Hill Country and [[Edwards Plateau]], a hilly rocky area in central Texas bordered on the east by the [[Balcones Fault]] zone and [[Blackland Prairie]]. |
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# The Great Plains region extends into northern Texas, including the [[Llano Estacado]] and the Panhandle high plains |
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# The North Central Plains |
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# The Trans Pecos Desert. |
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Articles on Texas regions: |
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*[[Central Texas]] |
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*[[East Texas]] |
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*[[North Texas]] |
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*[[Rio Grande Valley]] |
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*[[Texas Hill Country]] |
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*[[Llano Estacado]] |
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*[[West Texas]] |
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For the 254 [[county|counties]] of Texas, see: [[List of Texas counties]] |
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=== [[Interstate highway]]s === |
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*[[Interstate 10]] |
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*[[Interstate 20]] |
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*[[Interstate 25]] |
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*[[Interstate 27]] |
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*[[Interstate 30]] |
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*[[Interstate 35]] |
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*[[Interstate 37]] |
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*[[Interstate 40]] |
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*[[Interstate 44]] |
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*[[Interstate 45]] |
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*[[Interstate 69]] (proposed extension) |
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=== [[United States highway]]s === |
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<table> |
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<tr><td align=center>''North-south routes''</td><td align=center>''East-west routes''</td> |
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<tr><td valign=top> |
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*[[U.S. Highway 59]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 259]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 67]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 69]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 75]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 175]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 271]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 77]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 277]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 377]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 79]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 81]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 181]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 281]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 83]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 183]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 285]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 385]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 87]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 287]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 96]] (north-south despite number) |
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</td><td valign=top> |
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*[[U.S. Highway 54]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 57]] (east-west despite number) |
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*[[U.S. Highway 60]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 62]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 70]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 66]] (historic ''Route 66'') |
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*[[U.S. Highway 80]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 180]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 380]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 82]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 84]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 90]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 190]] |
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*[[U.S. Highway 290]] |
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</td></tr></table> |
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== Economy == |
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[[Image:Cotton harvest.jpg|thumb|Cotton harvesting in Texas.]] |
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Texas remained largely rural until [[World War II]], with [[ranching|cattle ranching]], oil, and [[farming|agriculture]] as its main industries. In [[1926]] [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]] had the largest population of any city in Texas with over 120,000 people. |
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After [[World War II]], Texas became increasingly industralized. Its economy (circa 2000) relies largely on information technology, oil and [[natural gas]], energy exploration and energy trading, agriculture, and manufacturing. Two major economic centers exist: the [[Houston Metropolitan Area]], centered in [[Houston]], and [[Dallas]]/[[Fort Worth]] [[Metroplex]], centered on those two cities. Houston stands at the center of the petrochemical and [[NASA]]/[[space exploration|space]] trades while Dallas functions as the center of the agricultural and [[information technology]] labor market in Texas. Other major cities include [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]], [[Austin, Texas|Austin]], [[Brownsville, Texas|Brownsville]], [[Lubbock, Texas|Lubbock]], [[Amarillo, Texas|Amarillo]], [[McAllen, Texas|McAllen]], [[Tyler, Texas|Tyler]], [[Odessa, Texas|Odessa]] and [[Midland, Texas|Midland]]. Other important cities include [[El Paso, Texas|El Paso]], [[Eagle Pass, Texas|Eagle Pass]], and [[Laredo, Texas|Laredo]]; these have particular significance due to their location on the border with Mexico, making them important trade points. |
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The state passed [[New York]] in the [[1990s]] to become the second-largest U.S. state in population (after [[California]]). In 2001 Texas had a [[gross domestic product|gross state product]] of $764 billion. Texas's growth allegedly stems largely from the availability of jobs, the low cost of living, the generally high [[standard of living | living-standard]], the lack of a state income tax, low taxation of [[business]], limited government (the state legislature of Texas meets only once every two years) and favorable climate. |
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== Demographics == |
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The people of Texas, historically often known as ''Texians'', now generally class as ''Texans''. |
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As of [[as of 2003|2003]], the state had a population of 22,118,509, nearly one-third of them [[Latino]]s, some of whom have recently immigrated from Mexico, [[Central America]], and [[South America]]. Others, known as [[Tejanos]], have ancestors who have lived in Texas since before Texan independence, or at least for several generations. |
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Other population groups in Texas also exhibit great diversity. Frontier Texas saw settlements of [[German-American|Germans]], particularly in [[Fredericksburg, Texas|Fredericksburg]] and [[New Braunfels, Texas|New Braunfels]]. After the European [[revolutions of 1848]], German, [[Polish-American|Polish]], [[Sweden|Swedish]], [[Norwegian-American|Norwegian]], [[Bohemia|Czech]] and [[France|French]] immigration grew, and continued until [[World War I]]. The influence of the diverse immigrants from Europe survives in the names of towns, in styles of architecture, in genres of music, in varieties of cuisine, and in many other ways. For example, the manager of the storied [[King Ranch]], Robert J. Kleberg, Sr., came from Germany, and eventually married into the owner's family. |
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In recent years the [[Asian American|Asian]] population in Texas has grown, especially in [[Houston]] and in [[Dallas]]. People from [[People's Republic of China|mainland China]], [[Vietnam]], [[India]], [[South Korea]], [[Japan]], [[Republic of China|Taiwan]], [[Pakistan]] and other countries have settled in Texas. |
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The racial makeup of Texas today comprises: |
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* 52.4% [[Whites|White Non-Hispanic]] |
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* 32% [[Hispanic American|Hispanic]] |
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* 11.5% [[African American|Black]] |
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* 2.7% [[Asian American|Asian]] |
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* 0.6% [[American Indian]] |
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* 2.5% mixed race |
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The most prominent ancestry groups in Texas include [[Mexico|Mexican]] (24.3%), [[African American]] (11.5%), [[German-American|German]] (9.9%), [[United States|American]] (7.2%), and [[Ireland|Irish]] (7.2%). |
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Census data reports 7.8% of Texas's population as under 5, 28.2% under 18, and 9.9% over 64 years. Females made up approximately 50.4% of the population. |
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===Religion=== |
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The religious affiliations of the citizens of Texas are: |
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*Protestant – 66% |
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*Roman Catholic – 23% |
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*Other Christian – 1% |
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*Other Religions – 1% |
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*Non-Religious – 6% |
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The three largest Protestant denominations in Texas are: [[Baptist]] (32% of the total state population), [[Methodist]] (9%), [[Pentecostal]] (3%). |
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== Important cities and towns== |
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''Main Article: [[List of cities in Texas]]''<br> |
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[[Population_of_Texas_cities_in_2000|List of cities by population (2000)]]<br> |
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[[List of metropolitan areas in Texas by population (2000)| List of metropolitan areas by population (2000)]]<br> |
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As of the [[United States 2000 Census | 2000 Census]] Texas had 22 Metropolitan Statistical Areas or MSAs and 2 Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas or CMSAs; for a total of 24 [[metropolitan area| metropolitan areas]]. |
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*[[Abilene, Texas|Abilene]] MSA |
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*[[Amarillo, Texas|Amarillo]] MSA |
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*[[Austin, Texas|Austin]]-[[San Marcos, Texas| San Marcos]] MSA |
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*[[Beaumont, Texas| Beaumont]]-[[Port Arthur, Texas| Port Arthur]] MSA |
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*[[Brownsville, Texas|Brownsville]]-[[Harlingen, Texas| Harlingen]]-[[San Benito, Texas| San Benito]] MSA |
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*[[Bryan, Texas| Bryan]]-[[College Station, Texas| College Station ]] MSA |
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*[[Corpus Christi, Texas|Corpus Christi]] MSA |
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*[[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]]-[[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]] CMSA |
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**[[Arlington, Texas|Arlington]] |
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**[[Carrollton, Texas|Carrollton]] |
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**[[Denton, Texas| Denton]] |
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**[[Garland, Texas|Garland]] |
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**[[Grand Prairie, Texas|Grand Prairie]] |
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**[[Irving, Texas|Irving]] |
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**[[Mesquite, Texas|Mesquite]] |
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**[[Plano, Texas|Plano]] |
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**[[Richardson, Texas|Richardson]] |
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*[[Eagle Pass, Texas| Eagle Pass]] |
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*[[El Paso, Texas|El Paso]] MSA |
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*[[Houston, Texas|Houston]]-[[Galveston, Texas|Galveston]]-[[Brazoria, Texas|Brazoria]] CMSA |
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**[[Baytown, Texas|Baytown]] |
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**[[Conroe, Texas|Conroe]] |
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**[[Pasadena, Texas|Pasadena]] |
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**[[Sugar Land, Texas|Sugar Land]] |
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**[[Texas City, Texas|Texas City]] |
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*[[Killeen, Texas|Killeen]]-[[Temple, Texas| Temple]] MSA |
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*[[Laredo, Texas|Laredo]] MSA |
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*[[Longview, Texas| Longview]]-[[Marshall, Texas| Marshall]] MSA |
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*[[Lubbock, Texas|Lubbock]] MSA |
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*[[McAllen, Texas|McAllen]]-[[Edinburg, Texas| Edinburg]]-[[Mission, Texas| Mission]] MSA |
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*[[Odessa, Texas|Odessa]]-[[Midland, Texas|Midland]] MSA |
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*[[San Angelo, Texas|San Angelo]] MSA |
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*[[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]] MSA |
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*[[Sherman, Texas| Sherman]]-[[Denison, Texas| Denison]] MSA |
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*[[Texarkana, Texas| Texarkana]] MSA |
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*[[Tyler, Texas|Tyler]] MSA |
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*[[Victoria, Texas| Victoria]] MSA |
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*[[Waco, Texas|Waco]] MSA |
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*[[Wichita Falls, Texas|Wichita Falls]] MSA |
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== Education == |
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=== Colleges and universities === |
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<table><tr><td valign=top> |
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*[[Abilene Christian University]] |
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*[[Amberton University]] |
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*[[Arlington Baptist College]] |
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*[[Art Institute of Dallas]] |
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*[[Austin College]] |
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*[[Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary]] |
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*[[Baylor College of Medicine]] |
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*[[Baylor University]] |
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*[[College of Saint Thomas More]] |
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*[[Concordia University, Austin]] |
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*[[Criswell College]] |
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*[[Dallas Baptist University]] |
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*[[Dallas Christian College]] |
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*[[Dallas Theological Seminary]] |
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*[[DeVry University, Dallas]] |
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*[[DeVry University, Houston]] |
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*[[East Texas Baptist University]] |
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*[[Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest]] |
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*[[Hardin-Simmons University]] |
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*[[Houston Baptist University]] |
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*[[Howard Payne University]] |
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*[[Huston-Tillotson College]] |
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*[[Institute for Christian Studies]] |
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*[[ICI University]] |
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*[[Jarvis Christian College]] |
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*[[LeTourneau University]] |
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*[[Lee College]] |
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*[[Lubbock Christian University]] |
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*[[McMurry University]] |
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*[[Midwestern State University]] |
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*[[Northwood University]] |
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*[[Our Lady of the Lake University]] |
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*[[Paul Quinn College]] |
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*[[Rice University]] |
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*[[St. Edward's University]] |
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*[[Saint Mary's University of San Antonio]] |
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*[[Schreiner College]] |
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*[[Southern Methodist University]] |
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*[[South Texas College of Law]] |
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*[[Southwestern Adventist University]] |
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*[[Southwestern Assemblies of God University]] |
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*[[Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary]] |
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*[[Southwestern Christian College]] |
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*[[Southwestern University]] |
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*[[Stephen F. Austin State University]] |
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*[[Texas A&M University System]] |
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**[[Baylor College of Dentistry]] |
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**[[Texas A&M University|Texas A&M University, College Station]] |
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**[[Texas A&M University, Commerce]] |
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**[[Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi]] |
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**[[Texas A&M University, Galveston]] |
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**[[Texas A&M University Health Science Center]] |
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**[[Texas A&M University - Kingsville]] |
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**[[Prairie View A&M University]] |
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**[[Tarleton State University]] |
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**[[Texas A&M University-Texarkana]] |
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**[[Texas A&M International University]] |
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**[[West Texas A&M University]] |
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</td><td valign=top> |
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*[[Texas Christian University]] |
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*[[Texas College]] |
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*[[Texas Lutheran University]] |
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*[[Texas Southern University]] |
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*[[Texas State Technical College System ]] |
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**[[Texas State Technical College- Harlingen ]] |
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**[[Texas State Technical College- Marshall ]] |
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**[[Texas State Technical College- Waco ]] |
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**[[Texas State Technical College- Sweetwater]] |
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*[[Texas State University System ]] |
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**[[Angelo State University]] |
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**[[Lamar University]] |
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**[[Lamar Institute of Technology]] |
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**[[Lamar State College - Orange]] |
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**[[Lamar State College - Port Arthur]] |
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**[[Sam Houston State University]] |
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**[[Sul Ross State University]] |
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**[[Sul Ross State University - Rio Grande College]] |
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**[[Texas State University-San Marcos ]] |
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*[[Texas Tech University]] |
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*[[Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center]] |
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*[[Texas Wesleyan University]] |
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*[[Texas Woman's University]] |
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*[[Trinity University (Texas)|Trinity University]] |
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*[[University of Central Texas]] |
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*[[University of Dallas]] |
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*[[University of Houston System]] |
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**[[University of Houston]] |
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**[[University of Houston Clear Lake]] |
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**[[University of Houston-Downtown]] |
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**[[University of Houston Victoria]] |
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*[[University of Mary Hardin-Baylor]] |
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*[[University of North Texas]] |
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*[[University of North Texas Health Science Center]] |
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*[[University of Saint Thomas (Texas)|University of Saint Thomas ]] |
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*[[University of Texas System]] |
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**[[University of Texas at Arlington]] |
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**[[University of Texas at Austin]] |
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**[[University of Texas at Brownsville]] |
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**[[University of Texas at Dallas]] |
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**[[University of Texas at El Paso]] |
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**[[University of Texas-Pan American]] |
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**[[University of Texas of the Permian Basin]] |
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**[[University of Texas at San Antonio]] |
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**[[University of Texas at Tyler]] |
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**[[University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston]] |
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**[[University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio]] |
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**[[University of Texas Health Center at Tyler]] |
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**[[University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center]] |
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**[[University of Texas Medical Branch|University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston]] |
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**[[University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas]] |
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*[[University of the Incarnate Word]] |
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*[[Wayland Baptist University]] |
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*[[Wiley College]] |
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</td></tr></table> |
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== Professional sports teams == |
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<table><tr><td valign=top> |
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*[[National Football League]] |
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**[[Dallas Cowboys]] |
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**[[Houston Texans]] |
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*[[Arena Football League]] |
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**[[Austin Wranglers]] |
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**[[Dallas Desperados]] |
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*[[Women's Professional Football League]], [[Women's American football]] |
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**[[Dallas Diamonds]] |
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**[[Houston Energy]] |
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*[[Independent Women's Football League]] |
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**[[Dallas Revolution]] |
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*[[National Basketball Association]] |
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**[[Dallas Mavericks]] |
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**[[Houston Rockets]] |
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**[[San Antonio Spurs]] |
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*[[Women's National Basketball Association]] |
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**[[Houston Comets]] |
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**[[San Antonio Silver Stars]] |
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*[[National Hockey League]] |
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**[[Dallas Stars]] |
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*[[American Hockey League]] |
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**[[Houston Aeros]] |
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**[[San Antonio Rampage]] |
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*[[Central Hockey League]] |
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**[[Austin Ice Bats]] |
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**[[Lubbock Cotton Kings]] |
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</td><td valign=top> |
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*[[Major League Baseball]] |
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**[[Texas Rangers]] |
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**[[Houston Astros]] |
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*[[Pacific Coast League]], [[minor league baseball|Minor League Baseball]] |
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**[[Round Rock Express]] |
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*[[Texas League]], [[minor league baseball|Minor League Baseball]] |
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**[[Corpus Christi Hooks]] |
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**[[Frisco RoughRiders]] |
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**[[San Antonio Missions]] |
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**[[Midland RockHounds]] |
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*[[Central Baseball League]], [[minor league baseball|Minor League Baseball]] |
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**[[Amarillo Dillas]] |
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**[[Edinburg Roadrunners]] |
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**[[Fort Worth Cats]] |
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**[[Rio Grande Valley White Wings]] |
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**[[San Angelo Colts]] |
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*[[Major League Soccer]] |
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**[[F.C. Dallas]] |
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*[[Major Indoor Soccer League]] |
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**[[Dallas Sidekicks]] (now defunct) |
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</td></tr></table> |
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The Houston Oilers, formerly based in Texas, moved to [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]] and later to [[Nashville, Tennessee]], and became the [[Tennessee Titans]]. Houston also formerly had the [[Arena Football League]] team [[Houston Thunderbears]], and the Minor League Soccer team [[Houston Hotshots]]. |
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Through 2004, El Paso had a minor-league baseball team in the Texas League, the El Paso Diablos, but the club moved to [[Springfield, Missouri]] after that season and became known as the [[Springfield Cardinals]]. |
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== Miscellaneous information == |
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*A number of ships of the [[United States Navy]] have borne the name [[USS Texas|USS ''Texas'']] in honor of the state. |
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*Famous for their role in the history of Texas law enforcement, the [[Texas Rangers (law enforcement)|Texas Rangers]] continue today to provide special law enforcement services to the state. |
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* One state holiday, [[Juneteenth]] (from "June" + "Nineteenth", its date), commemorates the day in [[1865]] that the slaves in Texas learned of the [[Emancipation Proclamation]]. |
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==See also== |
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* [[List of Texas-related topics]] |
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* [[Don't mess with Texas]] |
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* [[List of Texans]] |
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* [[List of Texas county name etymologies]] |
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* [[List of Texas county seat name etymologies]] |
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* [[wikitravel:Texas|Wikitravel Entry]] |
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== References == |
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===Further reading=== |
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*<cite>Imperial Texas: An Interpretive Essay in Cultural Geography,</cite> D. W. Meinig, University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas, 1969, hardback, 145 pages. |
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*<cite>Great River, The Rio Grande in North American History,</cite> [[Paul Horgan]], Holt, Rinehart and Winston, reprint, 1977, in one hardback volume, ISBN 0-03-029305-7 |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.thestoryoftexas.com/ The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum website] |
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*[http://www.tx.gov/ Texas Online] - ''The Texas Government web portal.'' |
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*[http://www.HavenWorks.com/texas Texas News] - ''A collection of news clippings and links related to Texas.'' |
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*[http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/ The Handbook of Texas Online], published by the Texas State Historical Association |
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*[http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/director_staff/texas_rangers/ State Department of Public Safety, Texas Ranger Division] |
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*[http://www.texasranger.org/ Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum] |
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*[http://www.statehousegirls.net/tx/symbols/names/ Origin of state name and nickname] |
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*[http://www.lsjunction.com/ ''Lone Star Junction,'' a Texas history resource] |
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{{Texas}} |
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{{United_States}} |
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[[Category:U.S. states]] |
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[[Category:States of the American West]] |
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[[Category:Texas| ]] |
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[[bg:Тексас]] |
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[[da:Texas]] |
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[[de:Texas]] |
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[[el:Τέξας]] |
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[[es:Texas]] |
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[[eo:Teksaso]] |
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[[fr:Texas]] |
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[[id:Texas]] |
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Revision as of 04:45, 15 January 2005
Texas is a state in the United States located in North America.
Bordered to the north by Oklahoma, to the east by Louisiana and Arkansas, to the south by Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico, and the west by New Mexico.
Texas (area 690,000 km2) is the second largest state in size after Alaska and has historically been portrayed through larger than life Wild West cowboys and oil wells.
Texas was largely rural before World War II with cattle, oil, and agriculture as its main industries.
After World War II, Texas has become increasingly industralized. Its economy (circa 2000) is largely based on information technology, with Dallas - Fort Worth Metroplex being the largest IT labor market in the United States, oil and natural gas, energy exploration and energy trading, agriculture, and manufacturing.
It passed New York in the 1990s to become the second largest state in population after California largely due to the availability of jobs, low cost of living, high living standard, lack of a state income tax, low taxation of business, limited government (the state legislature of Texas meets only once every two years), warm weather, and friendly people.
It was the first state in the United States to be a sovereign nation before joining the United States. The other was the kingdom of Hawaii.
Austin is the state capital. Texas is composed of 255 counties. They are as follows: Anderson, Andrews, Angelina, Aransas, Archer, Armstrong, Atascosa, Austin, Bailey, Bandera, Bastrop, Baylor, Bee, Bell, Bexar, Blanco,Borden, Bosque, Bowie, Brazoria, Brazos, Brewster, Briscoe, Brooks, Brown, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Calhoun, Callahan, Cameron,Camp, Carson, Cass, Castro, Chambers, Cherokee, Childress, Clay, Cochran,Coke,Coleman, Collin, Collingsworth, Colorado, Comal,Comanche, Concho, Cooke, Coryell, Cottle, Crane, Crockett, Crosby, Culberson, Dallam, Dallas, Dawson, Dewitt, Deaf Smith, Delta, Denton,Dickens, Dimmit, Donley, Duval, Eastland, Ector, Edwards, El Paso, Ellis, Erath, Falls, Fannin, Fayette, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Fort Bend, Franklin, Freestone, Frio, Gaines, Galveston, Garza, Gillespie, Glasscock, Goliad, Gonzales, Gray, Grayson, Gregg, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hale, Hall, Hamilton, Hansford, Hardeman, Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Hartley, Haskell, Hays, Hemphill, Henderson, Hidalgo,Hill,Hockley, Hood,Hopkins, Houston, Howard, Hudspeth, Hunt, Hutchinson, Irion, Jack, Jackson, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Johnson,Jones, Karnes, Kaufman, Kendall, Kenedy, Kent,Kerr,Kimble, King, Kinney, Kleberg, Knox, La Salle, Lamar, Lamb, Lampasas, Lavaca,Lee, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Lipscomb, Live Oak, Llano, Loving, Lubbock, Lynn, Madison, Marion, Martin, Mason, Matagorda, Maverick, McCulloch, McLennan, McMullen, Medina, Menard, Midland, Milam, Mills, Mitchell, Montague, Montgomery, Moore, Morris, Motley,Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Nolan, Nueces, Ochiltree, Oldham, Orange, Palo Pinto, Panola, Parker, Parmer, Pecos, Polk, Potter, Presidio,Rains, Randall, Reagan, Real, Red River, Reeves, Refugio, Roberts, Robertson, Rockwall, Runnels, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, San Saba, Schleicher, Scurry, Shackelford, Shelby, Sherman, Smith, Somervell, Starr, Stephens, Sterling, Stonewall,Sutton, Swisher, Tarrant, Taylor, Terrell, Terry, Throckmorton, Titus, Tom Green, Travis, Trinity, Tyler, Upshur, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Van Zandt, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Ward, Washington, Webb, Wharton, Wheeler, Wichita, Wilbarger, Willacy, Williamson, Wilson,Winkler, Wise, Wood, Yoakum, Young, Zapata, Zavala
Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Texas, and San Antonio are its largest cities. Other important cities include El Paso, Eagle Pass, and Laredo; these are very important because of their location at the borderline with Mexico, making them important trade points.
Texas has a large Spanish speaking people some of whom have recently immigrated from Mexico, Central America, and South America but includes others, known as Tejanos whose ancestors have lived in the Texas since before independence from Mexico. Unlike other United States states which border Mexico, the culture of Texas gradually merge into that of Mexico producing a vibrant border region.
Texas has been largely fortunate in avoiding the racial and ethnic problems found in many southern states and large cities of the northeast. Much of this is because Texas's immigrant population and cultural connections with Mexico are considered to have a highly positive influence on the areas economy.
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