Texas

Map of US with Texas highlighted

  • Just the Facts
  • Encyclopedias & Almanacs
  • State Links
  • Did You Know
  • State's Famous People
Abbreviation TX
Source: United States Postal Service - Abbreviations
Capital Austin
Population 25,145,561
Source: Resident Population Data - 2010 Census
Governor Rick Perry (Republican, to January 2015)
Entered the Union Dec. 29, 1845
as the 28th state
Motto Friendship
Nickname The Lone Star State
Flower Bluebonnet
Bird Mockingbird
Song Texas, Our Texas
Professional Sports Teams Houston Astros, Texas Rangers (Baseball); Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, (Basketball); San Antonio Silver Stars (Women's Basketball); Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans (Football); Dallas Stars (Hockey); Houston Dynamo, FC Dallas (Soccer)
(sports listing policy)
Origin of Name From a Native American word meaning friends
Historical Sites The Alamo in San Antonio
Points of Interest Gulf Coast resort area, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, State capital in Austin, and the Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains National Parks
Bordering States Texas borders New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
Flag Texas's flag

Follow these links to read articles about Texas from Encyclopedias and Almanacs:

Official State LinksLinks

Other State Links

  • 50states.com: Texas
    http://www.50states.com/texas.htm
    The site provides a wealth of information about Texas. It includes everything from the highest point to county profile to climate.
  • Things To Do in Texas
    http://www.thingstodo.com/states/TX/index.htm
    ThingsToDo.com is an online guide to information about entertainment, recreation, and travel in Texas, and includes the state's interesting facts, famous people, and special events.
  • Roadside America: Texas Attractions
    http://www.roadsideamerica.com/map/tx.html
    Roadside America describes itself as an online guide to offbeat attractions. This site offers reviews of "weird sites along the highway" in Texas.
  • The Cowboy Culture: Texas-Best.com
    http://www.texas-best.com/
    A must see! This site is loaded with interesting information on just about any Texas topic imaginable, including detailed sections on Texas animals and beverages and Cowboy culture. Take a look at Texas Rodeo Cowboys, learn about the Rodeo Events and discover who holds Rodeo Cowboy world records, study the Texas Rodeo Schedule, and uncover where to buy Texas-made jeans, hats, boots, saddles and tack.
  • FedStats: MapStat: United States: Texas
    http://www.fedstats.gov/qf/states/48000.html
    Fast access to statistics from more than 100 federal agencies on "economic and population trends, crime, education, health care, aviation safety, energy use, farm production and more" in Texas.
  • The first Europeans to come through the area were Spanish explorers such as Coronado, who traveled the region in the 16th and 17th centuries.
  • The Republic of Texas, with Sam Houston as president, was born In 1836 following the war between American settlers in Texas and the Mexican government which featured the well known battle of the Alamo.
  • Texas is the country's biggest producer of oil, cattle, sheep, minerals and cotton.
  • Tourists spend $20.6 billion a year visiting Texas.
  • Texas is second in size only to Alaska.
  • Presidents from Texas with links to ipl2's POTUS (Presidents of the United States) page:
    • Dwight David Eisenhower, the 34th president of the United States, was born in Denison on October 14th, 1890.
    • George Walker Bush, the 43rd president of the United States, was govenor of Texas from 1995-2000.
  • Sandra Day O'Connor, U.S. Supreme Court justice.
  • Dan Rather, TV newscaster and host of CBS Evening News.
  • Mary Kay Ash, cosmetics entrepreneur and founder of Mary Kay cosmetics.
  • Steven Fuller Austin, founding father of Texas and namesake of the state's capital.