Random Facts about Texas

• Texas is the only state in the union that has had six different flags flown over it.  At various times, Texas has belonged to
• Spain
• France
• Mexico
• Itself, as a Republic
• the confederacy
• the USA
• Texas is the only state in the union that can fly it's state flag at the same height as the national flag.  All other states must have their state flags below the national flag.
• It is a fallacy that Texas has the right to secede.  Texas does not have any special rights and does have the same right (or lack thereof) as any other state to try and do so. 
• Texas just surpassed California earlier this summer as the state that people want to move to the most.
• Texas' state flower is the bluebonnet although the yellow rose is also closely tied to Texas.
• Texas' state bird is the Mockingbird
• Texas' state mammal is the armadillo
• Houston is the largest city in Texas and the fourth largest in the nation.  (side note, I'll be curious to see if this changes when the new census data is released later.)
• Dallas/Fort Worth is the sixth largest city in the nation...but that's a misnomer as the two cities have to be tied together, so it's more of a metropolis than a city.  It's still the sixth largest populated area in the country.
• San Antonio is the seventh largest city in the nation.  When comparing just San Antonio to Dallas, San Antonio ranks higher, but Dallas is almost always paired with Fort Worth.
• Texas is the second largest state in terms of population surpassed only by California.  Texas replaced New York as #2 about ten years ago.  As a former Californian, I suspect it won't be long before Texas is #1 in population.
• The name Texas comes from the Caddo Indians' word 'Tejas' which means "those who are friends".
• Texans are considered some of the friendliest people in the nation.
• Texans still believe in courtesy, consideration, and manners.
• Texas has it's own Army and Maritime forces.  It is the only state in the union that has continually had it's own forces.  (Most other states assemble forces when needed, in times of war, basically, Texas has forces assembled at all times.)
• Texas' nickname is "The Lone Star State"
• From east to west, the state is almost 800 miles (~1200km).  From Houston to El Paso is farther in distance than El Paso to Los Angeles.
• From north to south, the state is over 800 miles (~1250km).
• The state of Texas is one of just a few that has two time zones.
• Texas has more Fortune 500 companies within the state than any other state.
• The world's largest medical research center is in Texas, in Houston, to be exact.
• Houston is also the oil capital of the world.
• After 9/11, a lot of the finance sector diversified their location and instead of having everything in NYC, it was spread around the nation.  Houston became home to a lot of the finance sector in that process, accounting for about 1/3 of the nations finance activity.
• Texas has two NFL teams, the Texans and the Cowboys (American football), both of which are in the top 10 (of all sports) for team worth and money-making ability.  (That list is topped by Manchester United, btw.) 
• Texas has three NBA teams, the Rockets, the Spurs and the Mavericks
• Texas has two major league baseball teams, the Astros and the Rangers
• Texas has one NHL team, the Stars and one AHL team (the highest level of the minor leagues), Aeros. 
• Texas has two MLS teams, the Dynamo and FC Dallas (soccer, aka football)
• Texas has the second largest theater district in the nation, in downtown Houston.
• Texas does not assess an income tax and instead, derives the majority of the money needed by the state from mineral rights.  (yes, predominantly oil)
• Texas has the 30th largest economy in the world
• It used to be that only Texas and California could sustain themselves as stand-alone nations...but now it's only Texas.
• Texas is home to the world's largest rodeo - The Houston Livestock and Rodeo Show.  Forth Worth also has the Forth Worth Livestock Show which is the world's longest running livestock sale and show.
• Texas weather/climate varies greatly from east to west and north to south. 
• West Texas and South Texas - desert with average summer temps above 100 and less than 10 inches of rain a year.  Average winter temps are in the mid-60's.
• North Texas - prairie land with average summer temps above 90 and 20 inches of rain a year plus snowfall (just minor dustings, nothing major).  Average winter temps are in the low-50's.
• Northeast Texas (Dallas area) average summer temps around 90 and 40 inches of rain a year.  Average winter temps are in the low-50's.
• Southeast Texas (Houston area) average summer temps around mid-90's and 60 inches of rain a year.  Average winter temps are in the 60's.
• Mid-Texas (hill country, Austin) average summer temps in the upper-90's and 30 inches of rain a year.  Average winter temps are in the 50's.
• Texas has more farmland than any other state.
• Texas has more working ranches than any other state.  One of those ranches, King Ranch, is larger than the entire state of Rhode Island.
• Texas has the least populated county out of all counties in all states in the US with a population of 67.  People.  In the county. 
• The deadliest natural disaster occurred in Texas in 1900 when a hurricane hit Galveston island and over 8000 people lost their lives.  Most people did not know what "the eye of the storm" was and so when the storm "passed", people went out to assess the damange.  And then the storm roared back to life as the eye passed catching thousands of people off guard.
• Galveston was once the richest city in the US and was in the 1800's what NYC is now.  It was the vacation spot of vacation spots and where the wealthiest people chose to live.  The "mansions" on the island are worth taking a peak at (IMO).
• Galveston island is two miles off the coast of Texas, connected by a bridge.  There are a lot of wetlands between the mainland and Galveston so you don't really realize how far offshore you are.

I hope you have found this interesting.  I love Texas, personally.  And I can be honest and say that as a kid/tween/pre-teen/early-20-something, I SO did not love Texas.  It's an interesting story that got me to Texas for college...but while here, I learned that I (as well as most other non-Texans) was just so wrong about this state.  I think, now, with the way that people are moving into this state faster than homes can be built, that the misconceptions have been reduced and/or eliminated.  While I miss the beaches of Southern Cali...and the mountains, as well, I love being in Texas.  It is such a peaceful life here in which you really can do your own thing, be your own person and just take care of yourself.  Texans sure love their independence!