Texas

Americans, led by Stephen F. Austin, began to settle along the Brazos River in 1821 when Texas was controlled by Mexico, recently independent from Spain. In 1836, following a brief war between the American settlers in Texas and the Mexican government, the Independent Republic of Texas was proclaimed with Sam Houston as president. This war was famous for the battles of the Alamo and San Jacinto. After Texas became the 28th U.S. state in 1845, border disputes led to the Mexican War of 1846-48.

Possessing enormous natural resources, Texas is a major agricultural state and an industrial giant. Second only to Alaska in land area, it leads all other states in such categories as oil, cattle, sheep, and cotton. Texas ranches and farms also produce poultry, rice, pecans, peanuts, sorghum, and an extensive variety of fruits and vegetables.

Sulfur, salt, helium, asphalt, graphite, bromine, natural gas, cement, and clays are among the state's valuable resources. Chemicals, oil refining, food processing, machinery, and transportation equipment are among the major Texas manufacturing industries.

Millions of tourists spend well over $20.6 billion annually visiting 123 state parks, recreation areas, and points of interest such as the Gulf Coast resort area, the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, the Alamo in San Antonio, the state capital in Austin, and the Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

Capital: Austin

Governor: Rick Perry, R

Lieut. Governor: David Dewhurst, R

Senators: John Cornyn, R (to Jan. 2009); Kay Bailey Hutchison, R

Secy. of State: Roger Williams (apptd. by gov.)

Comptroller: Susan Combs, R

General: Greg Abbott, R

Entered Union (rank): Dec. 29, 1845 (28)

Present constitution adopted: 1876

Motto: Friendship

Nickname: Lone Star State

Origin of name: From an Indian word meaning "friends"

10 16st cities (2005 est.): Houston, 2,016,582; San Antonio, 1,256,509; Dallas, 1,213,825; Austin, 690,252; Fort Worth, 624,067; El Paso, 598,590; Arlington, 362,805; Corpus Cristi, 283,474; Plano, 250,096; Garland, 216,346

Land area: 261,914 sq mi. (678,358 sq km)

Geographic center: In McCulloch Co., 15 mi. NE of Brady

Number of counties: 254

Largest county by Population and area: Harris, 3,693,050 (2005); Brewster, 6,193 sq mi.

State forests: 5 (7,609 ac.)

State parks: 115 (600,000+ ac.)

Residents: Texan

2005 resident population est.: 22,859,968

2000 resident census population (rank): 20,851,820 (2). Male: 10,352,910 (49.6%); Female: 10,498,910 (50.4%). White: 14,799,505 (71.0%); Black: 2,404,566 (11.5%); American Indian: 118,362 (0.6%); Asian: 562,319 (2.7%); Other race: 2,438,001 (11.7%); Two or more races: 514,633 (2.5%); Hispanic/Latino: 6,669,666 (32.0%). 2000 percent population 18 and over: 71.8; 65 and over: 9.9; median age: 32.3.

Symbols

Flower: Bluebonnet (1901)

Tree: Pecan (1919)

Bird: Mockingbird (1927)

Song: "Texas, Our Texas" (1929)

Fish: Guadalupe Bass (1989)

Seashell: Lightning Whelk (1987)

Dish: Chili (1977)

Folk Dance: Square Dance (1991)

Fruit: Texas Red Grapefruit (1993)

Gem: Texas Blue Topaz (1969)

Gemstone cut: Lone Star cut (1977)

Grass: Sideoats Grass (1971)

Reptile: Horned Lizard (1993)

Stone: Petrified Palmwood (1969)

Plant: Prickly Pear Cactus

Insect: Monarch Butterfly

Pepper: Jalapeño Pepper

Mammal: Longhorn

Small Mammal: Armadillo

Flying Mammal: Mexican Free-tailed Bat