Click the icon at left to hear the Official Texas State Song, "Texas,Our Texas". Many people, including Texans, think it is "The Eyes of Texas" which is the song of the University of Texas. 9 out of 10 Texans probably can't sing the "official" song.
The Texas Page
State Seal
Six nations have claimed all or part of Texas at one time or another. Texas was once an independent nation which voluntarily joined the U.S. In addition, several short lived "nations" were set up in Texas by various groups at one time or another during the 1800's.
As with all states in the U.S., Texas has adopted a variety of symbols to represent their state. Known for always doing things in a "big way", Texans have an "official" just-about-anything-you- can-name. Below are some of them.
State Bird
Texas shares the Mockingbird with several of her sister states. An unimpressive looking bird, the "Mocker" can duplicate almost any sound it hears. Just one outside your window will bring you a symphony of all the bird calls in your area, but don't be surprised if you also hear sounds like the meowing of your family cat or the squeak of the garden gate.
Listen to the mockingbird.
State Tree
The Pecan is one of natures great gifts. Tall and strong, it can afford temporary shelter in a storm, hard word for fuel or tools, and delicious nuts which often attract small game for the hunters table.
Truly Texan, the Bluebonnet is associated with Texas as much as any other symbol. A lupine, it ranges in size from a ground hugging plant to some standing over a meter in height. Although blue is the predominant color they are also found in pink and white.
State Flower
State Animal (large)
No animal is more identified with Texas than the Longhorn. Developed by nature from wild cattle which escaped from early Spanish explorers, these cattle could present an awesome opponent to any predator that crossed their path. Kept strictly as a novelty today, these were the cattle of the early cattle drives that became so much a part of Texas economic history.
Official Fiber What else but cotton? Cotton played a major role in the early development of Texas, even before cattle and long before oil.
Just a Baby. This youngster horns measure a mere 2.6 meters
Official Vegetable
Texas Sweet Onion.
Official Fruit
The Texas Ruby Red Grapefruit
Official Gem
The Texas Blue Topaz
Official Insect
The Monarch Butterfly can be found in Texas throughout the summer, but the real treat comes twice a year, in spring and fall, when vast numbers migrate back and forth between their winter homes in Mexico and Texas and more northerly states.
Official Seashell
The Lightning Whelk is found only along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico
Official Shrub
Crepe Myrtle
Rarely growing to more than 3 meters in height these multi-trunked
shrubs are found at almost every Texas home because of the beauty of their long lasting blooms of red, pink, white or lavender.
Official Reptile The Texas Horned Lizard
Called Horn Toads or Horn Frogs, these fearsome looking but completely harmless creatures were the frequent pets of Texas children till the middle of the last century. Sadly, environmental changes have made them increasing rare today in spite of efforts to protect them
Official Dish (Food) and Pepper
Many Texans are reluctant to admit that they took anything from Mexico except their independence, but there can be no dispute that Chili, a thick meat stew, and its key ingredient, the Jalapeno pepper, are both of Mexican origin. Though many Texans brag about how hot their chili is, the best is spicy rather than fiery.
Smaller than a man's thumb, the Jalapeno pepper packs a real wallop!
Official Mammal (small)
Nine-banded Armadillo
This funny little animal, a relative of the ant eater, is harmless unless he's digging in your garden. Less than a meter in length, counting his tail, he is occasionally eaten. Nevertheless, he is one of the few animals found in North America whose range is expanding.
Official Mammal (small, winged)
The Mexican Free-tailed Bat is a small, ugly looking creature.
But what he lacks in beauty he makes up for in usefulness.
This little fellow will eat more than his body weight in insects each night. The largest urban colony of bats in the world lives under a bridge in Austin where people from all over the world gather to watch their exodus at sunset. Their numbers are so vast they are often picked up on weather radar.
NOTE TO STUDENTS: DESPITE THE PICTURE NEVER HANDLE A WILD ANIMAL. THEY OFTEN BITE AND MAY CARRY RABIES!
Official Grass Side Oat Gamma
Why would anyone want to name an "official grass"? In the early days of the Texas cattle industry, survival of your cattle (and you) often depended on finding grass. Side oat gamma requires little water and is abundant in the High Plains where little else grows easily.
Official Sport Rodeo
Official Ship
The Battleship Texas saw service in the Pacific during World War II
Did you know? Under the terms of the agreement by which Texas joined the United States she is the only state entitled to her own navy. She also claims her own "official" air force, The Confederate Air Force, a group of vintage airplanes that often perform at area fairs and air shows.
Official Dance
Square Dance
Unofficial But Still Texas
No place is closer to the heart of Texans than the Alamo. Here a small band of Texans held off the Mexican army for 13 days. Though they ultimately lost their lives, the Texans gave General Sam Houston the time to organize the men who would at last defeat Mexico and win our independence.
The Texas Tree Octopus
No Texas site would be complete without one tall tale. Texans delight in outrageous stories just to test the listeners gullibility. This is one example.
Texas Jack Rabbit
Diamond Back Rattler
Official Fish Guadalupe Bass
Official Plant Prickly Pear Cactus
Few plants are as loved and hated as the prickly pear cactus. It's numerous thorns, both large and small, have made the acquaintance of anyone who has strolled through any open country in Texas. The other side of the coin is their beautiful flowers, their use as food (minus the thorns and cut in strips they taste like green beans), their soil retention and their use as emergency food for cattle (again minus the thorns).
Texas even has an Official Dinosaur.
No, we don't have any live ones. (Even a Texan wouldn't try to sell you that one.)
But we do have a number of well preserved prints and bones.
The Pleurocoelus was a a 17 meter long plant eater weighing about 2200 kilo.
His eastern cousin was an early symbol of the American rebellion against Great Britain, this resident of the New World is much misunderstood. Though poisonous, he strikes only when cornered and even then most often gives his characteristic rattle to warn you off.
A hare rather than a rabbit, the Jackass Rabbit was so called because of his long ears.
He may not look like the cartoon character, but he can run just as fast. He can also fly but does so only as a last resort. He's been known to attack, kill, and eat rattlesnakes. A tough old bird indeed.
Road Runner
Another much maligned character of the west, the coyote is more a scavenger than a predator and will rarely attack anything but the smallest or sickest animals. His mournful howl on moonlit nights is loved by westerners as evidence that at least a part of the Old West still lives on.
Coyote
The Disappearing
The cougar was known by many names, but whether he was called mountain lion, painter, panther, catamount, or something else, he was North America's largest predator. Now, only a few remain in the most isolated areas.
The American Bison, commonly called "buffalo" once covered the plains of North America in such numbers that one report claimed a herd that "reached to the horizon" took two full days to pass. Today, only a few survive in carefully controlled herds. Part of his slaughter was due to the white man's desire to raise cattle which were not as adaptable nor as nutritious.
Most people in Texas and throughout the South begin the new year by eating Black-eyed peas. Tradition has it that eating "poor folks food" will bring you good luck. (The food was introduced by African slave.) The fact that it's delicious doesn't hurt either.
Chili may be the "official" food of Texas, but when President Bushentertained at his ranch, you can bet that his guests were served barbecue at least once.
An Oversimplified Geography of Texas
Texas, at a population of over 20 million spread over more than 692,000 sq km, is second in population and second in size of all the United States. Texans joke that if the ice ever melts in Alaska, our largest state, it will only be the size of Rhode Island(our smallest).
Texas is often thought of in association with cotton, cattle and oil, and it still leads the nation in production of these products, but it is also a leader in lumber, electronics, and space exploration.
Texas can be roughly divided in seven regions, five running east to west and two running along her southern boundary.
The Piney Woods The eastern edge of Texas is heavily wooded. Though it is called the Piney Woods there are many other types of trees as well. The soil is generally sandy and not very good for farming. The area has many slow moving streams. Today this region of mostly small towns depends on lumbering and tourists who come for outdoor activities such as camping, hunting and fishing. It was in this region that oil was first discovered in Texas, and certain locations are still heavily involved in its production.
The Blackland Prairie The first region to experience heavy settlement from the United States, this area of rich farm land is home to most of Texas larger cities today. Although much farming still occurs, the large cities have brought diversified business such as manufacturing and education.
The Hill Country No matter what kind of map you use, the hill country is easy to identify. On a road map it is the land to the west of Interstate Highway 35, the main artery of traffic between Mexico and Canada. On a topographic map the hills appear abruptly along the Davis Fault Line. A weather map would identify this the region as the place where rainfall drops below 76 cm ( the minimum most crops require), and on a political map it is the line that marks the eastern edge of the Texas Panhandle. Although the region does grow some peaches, farming largely comes to an end, and sheep and goat ranches takes over. The rocky area is home to many dude ranches and is a popular spot for hunting and fishing.
The High Plains The hill country slowly flattens out and rises steadily in elevation and trees disappear as one heads northwest. This area of monotonous grassland has so few identifying landmarks that early explorers found it necessary to drive stakes into the ground to mark their way back. This practice gave rise to one of the popular names for the area, the Staked Plains. Because of climatic conditions, this region is subject to swift and violent weather changes. Thinly settled, it is a region of ranching and heavy irrigation farming. This is Texas other oil producing area. Except for some "Dude Ranches" to the east, this is where you are most likely to encounter a real cowboy, but you may be disappointed. He won't have a six gun on his hip and he's more likely to be riding in a jeep than on a horse. Of course, he will be dressed like a cowboy, but as Texans are quick to point out, you can find the same garb on people around the world. Texans laugh at these "drugstore cowboys" calling them "all hat and no cattle".
West Texas To the south and west of the High Plains and the Hill Country lies the area often thought of by people from other countries as the "real" Texas. It is a land of semi-arid climate with long vistas of empty space. Some ranching occurs in the area, but it remains the most sparsely settled region of Texas.
The Gulf Coast From the Louisiana border to the coast of Mexico lies an area of warm beaches. Popular with sun seekers, the area also has numerous fishing villages and a significant involvement in shipping. The region is also home to major chemical plants, the hub of much of the oil industry, and home to Texas largest city, Houston.
The Lower Rio Grande Valley Along the eastern edge of the border with Mexico is a region of citrus and winter vegetable growth. The region is popular during winter with people from more northern states who come here to avoid the harsh temperatures further north. It is also a popular starting point for visits into Mexico.
The Seasons of Texas
Spring Because of its southern location Spring comes early to Texas. By mid-March the grass is green and wildflowers have appeared. College students flock to the beaches. Rains are frequent but generally light, and temperatures rise rapidly to 27C and above.
Summer One word describes Texas Summers, Hot! By early June temperature rise to 32C and beyond. The eastern half becomes muggy due to moisture coming from the Gulf of Mexico. The western portion experiences frequent, often violent thunderstorms which may even spawn tornadoes as the moist air from the gulf meets the drier air from the west. By July long periods of temperature of 38C are common. These conditions persist until well into September. A famous general once remarked after a summer in Texas,"If I owned Texas and Hades, I'd rent out Texas and live in Hades."
Fall Texas has few deciduous trees, and those that are do not put on much of a display. So autumn offers little more than dull brown. This is relieved by the many types of birds which fly through on their way south and, in the eastern half, by the many evergreen trees. Texans hope for good rains during this period to insure good crops of grass and wildflowers the following spring.
Winter Texas experiences many visitors fleeing the harsher climates to the north. These same visitors often marvel that Texans who seem to take the heat of summer so readily complain of winter cold when in all but the northernmost portion temperatures rarely drop below freezing for any length of time. Even by Texas standards, "winter" doesn't usually begin until mid-November. When temperatures do drop to freezing, it is usually at night and the "cold snap" rarely lasts for more than three days. Nevertheless, this state, where most residents will not see a single snowflake throughout the winter, can produce uncomfortable conditions. The dry regions of the west have clear skies which allow the rapid escape of warmth at nightfall. To the east, the moisture from the Gulf saturates the air to the point that a winter blast has been described as "being hit in the face with a wet towel fresh from the refrigerator."
Temperature Extremes Texas has experienced temperatures as high as 49C in summer and as low as -31C in winter. Texans say, "If you don't like the weather just wait a minute."
The People of Texas
According to theInstitute of Texan Culturesin San Antonio, there are at least 26 different cultural groups who have contributed to Texas development. In addition to African, American Indian, Mexican, and English, significant groups have also come from Germany, France, Poland, China, the Philippines, India, and Czechoslovakia to name but a few. Some groups, such as the Wends, who once lived in what is today eastern Germany, have virtually disappeared from the land of origin.
The first European settlements in Texas were established by the Spanish. Their colonies were to the south, but like most European claimants to the New World they claimed vast regions. The first Texas settlements were designed to prevent the French, who claimed the Louisiana territory to the east, from "infringing" on Spanish claims.
The majority of immigrants to Texas arrived from the United States where they had, in turn arrived from Europe. Drawn from crowded, often troubled, areas of Europe by the promise of free land and a fresh start, the sheer vastness of the new lands led to a wastefulness that still plagues America today. The pioneers, who may be admired for their industry in claiming a homestead from the wilderness, were ruthless in their destruction of the natural environment. Particularly in the South, where cotton was the dominant crop, men would often simply move to new lands further west when the soil became depleted after a few years of growing this demanding crop. The new nation (the United States) also got caught up in the temper of the times. As England, France, Spain and others strove for vast empires the U.S. joined the rush.
Official Stone Petrified Palmwood
Official Instrument Guitar
Oil wells remain a major image of Texas worldwide.
The Innocent Villain
Prairie Dogs are seemly harmless burrowing rodents related to squirrels. How could they possibly be a danger to anyone? Prairie Dogs form large colonies creating dozens, sometimes hundreds, of hole that unsuspecting horses and cattle step into breaking their legs and dying. By some accounts, these gentle creatures probably killed more cattle and horses than cougars and coyotes combined. Today, only small colonies of these cute creatures remain.
Famous Texans Past and Present
Stephen F. Austin called the "Father of Texas" was the first American to bring colonists to Texas, then a part of Mexico. The state capitol is named in his honor.
Sam Houston successfullyled the Texas army against the larger Mexican army. he later served as the first president of the Republic of Texas. Texas largest city bears his name.
Lyndon Johnson president of the United States during the late 1960's. The control center for U.S. space flights carries his name.
George Bush and George W. Bush are only the second father and son team to hold the nations highest office.
The Texas Challenge
Students: Can you meet the Texas challenge?
Try your hand at the questions below.
1. The measurements (temperature and distance) are given in metric and Celsius, but Americans don't use these terms. They speak of inches, feet, and miles, and degrees of temperature are given in Fahrenheit. Can you convert the measurements on this page to American measures?
2. The site mentions several "official" symbols of Texas. Can you list the official symbols of your home land?
3. There are several plants and animals mentioned that are unique to Texas. What plants and animal would you tell a visitor were unique to your home?
4. This page lists the names of some famous Texans. With a population of over 20 million, Texas should have someone active in your particular area of interest (sports, education, medicine, etc). Can you find him? Who would you list as the famous of your home?
5. This page talks about the different geographic regions of Texas. What are the geographic regions of your home?
6. The page mentions 26 cultures that have contributed to Texas. What cultures have contributed to your home?
7. What do you think are the biggest difference between the people of Texas and those of your home?
8. The map at the top of the page shows 48 of the 50 states in the United States? Can you name the two that are not shown? How many of the other states can you name and locate?
9. George Bush and George W. Bush were the second father and son to ever hold the office of U.S. president. Can you name the first father and son team to do so?
If you have a question about Texas drop me an email. I'll try to answer it for you.
Teachers! Just looking for "the facts"? Try this file.
