Texas became the 28th state to join the United States on December 29, 1845, after spending nine years as an independent republic.
Texas (U.S. State)
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Facts About Texas (U.S. State)
Austin is the capital city of Texas, named after Stephen F. Austin who is known as the “Father of Texas.”
The official name of Texas is “The State of Texas,” but it was once called “The Republic of Texas” when it was its own country from 1836 to 1845.
As of 2024, Texas had a population of over 30 million people, making it the second most populated state in the United States after California.
Texas is located in the southern part of the United States and shares a 1,254-mile (1,997 kilometers) border with Mexico.
Texas is nicknamed “The Lone Star State” because it has a single star on its flag, representing its time as an independent republic.
The official state motto of Texas is “Friendship,” which comes from the state’s name that originated from a Native American word “tejas” meaning “friends” or “allies.”
The Texas state flag has three colors: blue representing loyalty, white symbolizing purity, and red standing for bravery.
The mockingbird is the official state bird of Texas, known for its ability to mimic the songs of other birds.
The bluebonnet is the official state flower of Texas, and every spring these beautiful blue flowers cover fields across the state.
The pecan tree is the official state tree of Texas, and pecans are used to make delicious pies that many Texans enjoy during holidays.
Texas is the second largest state in the United States (after Alaska), covering 268,596 square miles (695,662 square kilometers) — that’s larger than many countries in the world!
If Texas were its own country, it would be the 39th largest country in the world, bigger than most countries in Europe!
“Texas, Our Texas” is the official state song, which was adopted in 1929 and includes lyrics praising the state’s vastness and beauty.
Texas borders four U.S. states: New Mexico to the west, Oklahoma to the north, Arkansas to the northeast, and Louisiana to the east.
The highest point in Texas is Guadalupe Peak, standing 8,751 feet (2.67 kilometers) tall—that’s about as high as 583 kids standing on each other’s shoulders!
The lowest point in Texas is at sea level along the Gulf of Mexico, where you can find 367 miles of beautiful coastline.
The Rio Grande forms part of the border between Texas and Mexico, stretching for about 1,254 miles (2,018 km) — that’s like driving from New York City to Miami!
Texas has over 3,700 named streams and 15 major rivers, including the Rio Grande, Brazos, Colorado, and Pecos rivers.
Caddo Lake in East Texas is one of the few natural lakes in the state, but it’s not the only one — most big lakes in Texas were made by building dams!
Big Bend National Park covers over 800,000 acres in West Texas and features mountains, deserts, and the Rio Grande river cutting through massive canyons.
Texas has 88 state parks where families can camp, hike, fish, and observe wildlife in natural habitats.
The Palo Duro Canyon, located near Amarillo, is the second-largest canyon in the United States after the Grand Canyon, stretching 120 miles (193 km) long and up to 20 miles (32 km) wide.
Texas has four different climate regions — from the humid east to the desert-like west — which means weather can be completely different in different parts of the state.
Dinosaurs once roamed through Texas, and you can still see their footprints preserved in fossilized mud at Dinosaur Valley State Park.
The nine-banded armadillo is Texas’s official small mammal. It has a tough shell for protection and can hold its breath underwater for up to six minutes when crossing streams.
Texas has more species of bats than any other state, with the largest urban bat colony in the world living under the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin.
Texas produces more wind energy than any other state, with giant wind turbines that can be as tall as 10-story buildings.
Texas leads the United States in oil production, with oil wells that have pumped billions of barrels since the first major oil discovery at Spindletop in 1901.
Natural Bridge Caverns near San Antonio is the largest commercial cave in Texas, with passages that extend for more than 10,000 feet (3 kilometers) underground.
Native American tribes, including the Caddo, Apache, and Comanche, lived in Texas for thousands of years before European explorers arrived.
The first European to reach Texas was Spanish explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, who shipwrecked near Galveston Island in 1528.
Spanish missionaries built missions across Texas in the 1700s, including the Alamo, which later became famous during the Texas Revolution.
The Battle of the Alamo in 1836 lasted 13 days and ended with Mexican forces defeating the Texan defenders, but inspired the famous battle cry “Remember the Alamo!”
Texas won its independence from Mexico at the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, when Sam Houston’s army defeated Mexican General Santa Anna in just 18 minutes.
Texas was its own country called the Republic of Texas for nine years (1836-1845) before joining the United States.
During its time as a republic, Texas had its own president, money, postal service, and even sent ambassadors to other countries like the United States and France.
Stephen F. Austin brought the first 300 American families to settle in Texas in the 1820s when it was still part of Mexico, and these settlers became known as the “Old Three Hundred.”
Texas briefly seceded from the United States during the Civil War (1861-1865) and joined the Confederate States of America.
The King Ranch in South Texas was established in 1853 and grew to be larger than the state of Rhode Island, making it one of the largest ranches in the world.
Juneteenth, now a national holiday, originated in Texas and celebrates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston finally learned they were free — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
The cattle drives of the late 1800s moved millions of Texas longhorn cattle north along trails like the Chisholm Trail, creating the iconic image of the Texas cowboy.
The discovery of oil at Spindletop near Beaumont in 1901 triggered the Texas Oil Boom, which transformed the state’s economy and made many people suddenly rich.
The Texas state flag is the only state flag that was once the flag of an independent nation, and by law, it can be flown at the same height as the U.S. flag.
The northern mockingbird, Texas’s state bird, can sing up to 200 different songs, including perfect imitations of other birds, frogs, and even car alarms!
Texas’s state flower is the bluebonnet! Since 1971, all types of bluebonnets have been included.
The Texas horned lizard, one of the state reptiles, can shoot blood from its eyes as a defense mechanism when threatened!
The official state dish of Texas is chili con carne, a spicy stew typically made with beef, chili peppers, and spices — but never beans, according to traditional Texas chili cooks!
The official state flying mammal of Texas is the Mexican free-tailed bat, which can fly at speeds up to 100 miles per hour (161 km/h) and eat lots of insects each night.
