Texas is the second-largest state by area in the USA and is located in the southern part of the nation. For more than a decade and a half of Texas is ranked as the second most populated state in the country. Texas has a common boundary with the states of Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Also, the state shares an international border with Mexico and has a water boundary formed by the Gulf of Mexico.
Austin is the state capital, while Houston is the largest city. Other major urban centers include San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, and Fort Worth. The state is divided into 254 counties – the largest number for any state in the US. The vastness of the state combined with the geographical variations bestows different parts with different climatic conditions.
The state is renowned world over for its cattle farming industry. However, petroleum and natural gas, banking and technology industries also have a noteworthy presence, with Tourism also being a significant contributor to the economy.
Austin is a musical hub with loads of entertainment and also home to the beautiful Lake Austin and the renowned University of Texas. Houston that houses Johnson Space Centre also holds the historic Herman Park covering 445 acres, with McGovern Lake, Lake Overlook, Hermann Park Japanese Garden, Houston Zoo and Miller Outdoor Theatre among others in its premises. Corpus Christi is the coastal city with impressive beaches, recreational opportunities and major state attractions such as the Texas State Aquarium. Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie is where some of the most attractive and well-bred horses participate in racing. The city of Dallas draws several thousands of tourists on a pleasure trip and boasts of world-class accommodations and resorts.
Historically Texas has been deeply influenced by the Spanish and Mexican cultures. A large chunk of the population has Hispanic roots. The famous town of San Antonio and the city with Mexican flavors El Paso are big draws. The numerous small towns in the state also have a beauty and history of their own.
History of Texas
Texas, situated in the South Central United States, was first inhabited by a number of Native American tribes, such as the Comanche, Caddo, and Apache. Other smaller American Indian tribes that settled in the area included the Cherokee, Tonkawa, Atakapan, Bidai, Kiowa, Wichita, Hueco, and the Karankawa of Galveston. The first European country to claim the territory of Texas was Spain. Other European and American immigrants started arriving in the area in the 1820s.
After Mexico declared its independence from Spain, the territory of Texas declared its independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836. It then existed as the independent Republic of Texas for almost ten years. Texas was added to the Union as the 28th U. S. State in the year 1845. In fact, Texas was one of the only four independent states that joined the US Federation. Annexation of Texas not only led to the Mexican-American War but also sowed seeds for the U.S. Civil War. The Mexican-American War led to the Mexican Cession. During the American Civil War, Texas joined the Confederate States of America and was the 7th U. S. State to do so.
In the 20th century, Texas observed an economic boom owing to the discovery of oil in the state. It soon became economically diversified, with an ever-growing base in high technology. In 1994, Texas was declared the second largest state of the U.S. in terms of population. Thus, the State of Texas has a dynamic history. ‘Six Flags’ have flown over its soil until date. These include the national flags of Spain, the Fleur-de-lis of France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America, and the United States of America. Even today, Texas is home to three major federally recognized Native American tribes, including the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, and the Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas.
