Texas
Lone Star State · Capital: Austin · South (Plains)
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Bordering states: New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana.
About Texas
Texas is the second largest state by area, bordered by New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, with the Rio Grande forming about 1,250 miles of border with Mexico. Rainfall drops sharply from east to west: Orange in the southeast averages close to sixty inches a year and El Paso under nine, so the vegetation shifts from bald cypress swamp to prairie and creosote desert. The Balcones Escarpment, a fault zone through San Antonio and Austin, brings the Edwards Aquifer to the surface as large springs. To the northwest lies the flat Llano Estacado, and in the far west Guadalupe Peak, built from an ancient reef, rises to 8,751 feet.
The name comes from a Caddo word for friend or ally, written by the Spanish as tejas. Spain built missions after La Salle planted a French colony on Matagorda Bay in 1685, among them Mission San Antonio de Valero, later called the Alamo, in 1718. Under Mexico, Stephen F. Austin settled the Old Three Hundred. Texas declared independence on March 2, 1836, lost the Alamo four days later and won at San Jacinto on April 21. After nine years as a republic it became the 28th state on December 29, 1845. On June 19, 1865, an order read at Galveston freed enslaved Texans, the origin of Juneteenth.
The 2020 census counted 29,145,505 Texans, up 15.9 percent since 2010 and the second largest population of any state, and Texas gained two House seats for a total of 38. Austin is the capital and Houston the largest city. Oil has driven the economy since the 1901 Spindletop gusher near Beaumont, and Texas leads all states in crude oil and wind power. Jack Kilby demonstrated the integrated circuit in Dallas in 1958, and NASA chose Houston for its spaceflight center in 1961. Dwight Eisenhower and Lyndon Johnson were born in Texas, as were Buddy Holly, Willie Nelson and Beyonce.
4 fun facts about Texas
- Texas was an independent republic for nine years, from 1836 to 1845, before joining the US.
- The Texas State Capitol in Austin is taller than the US Capitol in Washington.
- NASA's Mission Control in Houston guided every crewed Apollo mission, and "Houston, we've had a problem" came from Apollo 13.
- Texas produces about 40% of US crude oil, and its economy would rank among the world's ten largest if it were a country.
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Frequently asked questions about Texas
Is Texas a US state?
Yes, Texas is one of the 50 US states. It was admitted to the Union in 1845, making it the 28th state. Its capital is Austin and its largest city is Houston.
What is the capital of Texas?
The capital of Texas is Austin. Note that the largest city in Texas is Houston, not the capital, a common point of confusion.
When did Texas become a state?
Texas became a US state in 1845. It is the 28th state admitted to the Union.
What is the abbreviation for Texas?
The 2-letter USPS abbreviation for Texas is TX.
How big is Texas?
Texas ranks #2 of 50 US states by area. With 111.6 residents per square mile in 2020, it was the 24th most densely populated state.
What is the population of Texas?
Texas had 29,145,505 residents at the 2020 census, the 2nd largest population of the 50 states, up 15.9% since 2010. That count gives it 38 seats in the US House of Representatives.
What region is Texas in?
Texas is in the South region of the United States, per the US Census Bureau.
What time zone is Texas in?
Texas observes Central Time (the state spans multiple time zones).
Learn more
How to learn the 50 states (full guide)
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