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Texas

Texas
US State
NicknameThe Lone Star State
MottoFriendship
Official languagesNo official language
(see Languages spoken in Texas)
Spoken languagesEnglish 68.7%
Spanish 27.0%
DemonymTexan
Texian (archaic)
CapitalAustin
Largest cityHouston
Largest metro areaDallas � Fort Worth � Arlington
Area
Area Ranked2nd
Total268,581 sq mi 696241 km2
Width773 mi 1244 km
Length790 mi 1270 km
% water2.5
Population
Pop. Rank2nd
Total25,145,561 (2010 Census)
Density96.3 /sq mi 37.2 /km2
Elevation
Highest pointGuadalupe Peak
8751 ft 2667 m
Mean1700 ft 520 m
Lowest pointGulf of Mexico coast
0 ft 0 m
Other information
Admission to UnionDecember 29, 1845 (28th)
GovernorRick Perry (R)
Lieutenant GovernorDavid Dewhurst (R)
LegislatureTexas Legislature
Upper houseSenate
Lower houseHouse of Representatives
U.S. SenatorsKay Bailey Hutchison (R)
John Cornyn (R)
U.S. House delegation23 Republicans, 9 Democrats
Timezone
- most of state - Central: UTC−6/−5
- tip of West Texas - Mountain: UTC−7/−6
Time zoneCentral: UTC−6/−5

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Texas c-enaudio=en-us-Texas.oggˈtɛksəs is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state in the contiguous United States.

The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in East Texas. Located in the South Central United States, Texas is bordered by Mexico to the south, New Mexico to the west, Oklahoma to the north, Arkansas to the northeast, and Louisiana to the east. Texas has an area of 268820 sqmi (696240.6 km2), and a growing population of 25.1 million residents.

During the Spanish colonial rule, the area was officially known as the Nuevo Reino de Filipinas : La Provincia de Texas. Antonio Margil de Jesús was known to be the first person to use the name in a letter to the Viceroy of Mexico in 20 July 1716. The name was not popularly used in daily speech but often appeared in legal documents until the end of the 1800s.

Houston is the largest city in Texas and the fourth-largest in the United States, while San Antonio is the second largest in the state and seventh largest in the United States. Dallas � Fort Worth and Greater Houston are the fourth and sixth largest United States metropolitan areas, respectively. Other major cities include El Paso and Austin-the state capital. Texas is nicknamed the Lone Star State to signify Texas as an independent republic and as a reminder of the state's struggle for independence from Mexico. The "Lone Star" can be found on the Texas state flag and on the Texas state seal today.

Due to its size and geologic features such as the Balcones Fault, Texas contains diverse landscapes that resemble both the American South and Southwest. Although Texas is popularly associated with the Southwestern deserts, less than 10% of the land area is desert. Most of the population centers are located in areas of former prairies, grasslands, forests, and the coastline. Traveling from east to west, one can observe terrain that ranges from coastal swamps and piney woods, to rolling plains and rugged hills, and finally the desert and mountains of the Big Bend.

The term "six flags over Texas" came from the several nations that had ruled over the territory. Spain was the first European country to claim the area of Texas. France held a short-lived colony in Texas. Mexico controlled the territory until 1836 when Texas won its independence, becoming an independent Republic. In 1845 it joined the United States as the 28th state. The state's annexation set off a chain of events that caused the Mexican � American War in 1846. A slave state, Texas declared its secession from the United States in early 1861, joining the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. After the war and its restoration to the Union, Texas entered a long period of economic stagnation.

One Texas industry that thrived after the Civil War was cattle. Due to its long history as a center of the industry, Texas is associated with the image of the cowboy. The state's economic fortunes changed in the early 20th century, when oil discoveries initiated an economic boom in the state. With strong investments in universities, Texas developed a diversified economy and high tech industry in the mid-20th century. As of 2010 it shares the top of the list of the most Fortune 500 companies with California at 57. With a growing base of industry, the state leads in many industries, including agriculture, petrochemicals, energy, computers and electronics, aerospace, and biomedical sciences. It leads the nation in export revenue since 2002 and has the second-highest gross state product.


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