Texas (TX) is the second largest state in the USA, located in the south of the country along the border with Mexico. The state has a strong economy that is largely based on oil and gas production, agriculture, and technology. The capital of Texas is Austin, but the largest city is Houston. The most popular tourist attractions in Texas include Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains National Parks.
-
Table of Contents
Quick Facts
Name Texas Abbreviation TX Capital Austin Largest city Houston (Population: 2 314 157) Current time 10:56 Time zone CST (UTC-6) is in effect in most of the state, with only El Paso and Hudspeth counties in the west being MST (UTC-7). The state observes daylight saving time CDT (UTC-5) and MDT (UTC-6) Population 29,145,459 (#2 most populous US state) Area 268,595 mi² (#2 largest US state) Admitted to the Union December 29, 1845 (#28 state to join) ⭐ Capital of Texas
Texas declared independence from Mexico in 1836 after winning the Battle of San Jacinto, and three years later a commission was formed to choose a site for a new capital. This became Austin, which was renamed and expanded in order to become the capital.
The area on the north bank of the Colorado River was chosen on the recommendation of Texas Vice President Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar, and it was declared the capital in 1845. Austin was named in honor of the founder of the Texas colony, Stephen Fuller Austin, who is referred to as the “Father of Texas”.
🏙️ Largest City in Texas
The largest city in Texas is Houston, with a population of 2,314,157 in 2023. The second largest city is San Antonio with a population of 1,495,295, and the third largest city is Dallas with a population of 1,302,868.
🕒 Time in Texas
The current time in Texas is 10:56. Central Standard Time (CST, UTC-6) is in effect throughout most of the state, with only El Paso and Hudspeth counties in West Texas recognizing Mountain Standard Time (MST, UTC-7). From March to November, the entire state transitions to daylight saving time.
🧑🤝🧑 Population of Texas
According to 2023 data, Texas had a population of 29,145,459, ranking it as the 2nd most populous state in the USA.
📍 Area of Texas
The total area of Texas is 268,595 mi², of which 261,230 mi² is land and 7,365 mi² is water. Texas is the 2nd largest state in the USA.
-
Fun Facts About Texas
🧩 Texas Neighboring States
Texas is bordered by four American states. New Mexico to the west, Oklahoma to the north, Arkansas to the northeast, and Louisiana to the east. In addition, Texas shares a border with Mexico to the south and has a 367 mi long coastline with the Gulf of Mexico to the southeast.
📅 Date of Texas Statehood
Texas entered the Union on December 29, 1845, as the 28th state in the order; its predecessor was the Republic of Texas.
📛 Nickname of the State of Texas
Texas is known throughout America as “The Lone Star State”. The nickname refers to the single star on the Texas flag and the state’s long history of independence. Before Texas joined the United States in 1845, it existed as an independent republic.
The Lone Star State proudly displays its nickname on all car license plates.
⛰️ Highest Mountain in Texas
The highest mountain in Texas is 8,751 ft Guadalupe Peak, located within Guadalupe Mountains National Park and part of the mountain range of the same name.
🏞️ Rivers in Texas
The longest river in Texas is the Rio Grande with a total flow length of 1,896 mi. It is followed by the Red River (1,361 mi), the Pecos River (926 mi), the Canadian River (906 mi), and the Colorado River (862 mi).
🎓 Universities in Texas
The largest university in the state is Texas A&M University, which was founded in 1876 and has a total of around 73,000 students studying on its several campuses.
In second place is Texas State University from the city of San Marcos, which is attended by around 39 thousand students. The university was opened in 1899.
The third largest university is Sam Houston State University with a tradition since 1879, attending it around 22 thousand students.
✉️ Texas ZIP Codes
All zip codes in Texas have reserved ranges of 733xx, 750xx-770xx, 772xx-779xx. You can find out the ZIP code for a specific address on the USPS website, see the article ZIP Codes in the USA for details on how the system works.
-
Weather in Texas
The best time to visit Texas is from March to May and then from September to November. Temperatures during these months are more comfortable for outdoor activities and the national parks tend to be less crowded.
Spring in Texas is usually warm, with temperatures gradually rising from 59°F in March to 77°F in May. Conditions are particularly good for outdoor activities in central Texas, while rain showers with occasional thunderstorms are more common in the eastern part of the state.
Summers in Texas are very hot, especially in July and August, temperatures commonly exceed 86°F and can reach 104°F on some days. In the areas around the Gulf of Mexico, the humidity tends to be higher, which adds to the feeling of warmth. During the summer months, you may encounter severe thunderstorms or tornadoes in Texas.
Autumn in Texas brings a drop in temperatures to 61°F to 72°F and less rainfall than in spring. September and October are thus the ideal time to visit the national parks.
Winter in Texas varies from region to region. The north of the state tends to be colder, with temperatures dropping below freezing to 18°F. Conversely, frosts are less common in South Texas, with temperatures generally between 50°F and 59°F.
🌡️ Average Temperatures and Precipitation in Texas
-
Things to Do in Texas
1️⃣ Big Bend National Park
Big Bend is a vast national park on the Texas-Mexico border, known for its desert landscape and high mountains. The highest peak in the park is Emory Peak with an elevation of 7,825 ft.
Visitors can choose from 150 mi hiking trails in the park, and several campgrounds provide overnight camping opportunities. The park’s low light smog makes for ideal stargazing conditions. Especially in the summer months, it is extremely hot in the park, always think about sufficient water supplies.
2️⃣ Palo Duro Canyon State Park
Palo Duro Canyon is the second largest canyon in the United States, earning it the nickname the Grand Canyon of Texas. The most famous rock formation is Lighthouse Rock, which is reached by a 6.0 mi long hiking trail. There are a total of 16 trails in the state park, varying in difficulty and are designed for hiking and biking. Due to the high temperatures, visiting the park during the summer months is not recommended.
3️⃣ Fortress Alamo in San Antonio
The Alamo is a historic 1718 fort that is considered a symbol of Texas independence. In 1836, it was the site of the famous Battle of the Alamo between Texas rebels and the vastly superior Mexican army, which captured the fort after two weeks.
For the Americans, the Alamo became a symbol of resistance, which led to the subsequent revolution and the declaration of a separate Republic of Texas completely independent of Mexico. Visitors can choose from several guided tours of the fort.
4️⃣ Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Guadalupe Mountains National Park on the New Mexico border is home to the highest mountain in Texas, 8,750 ft high Guadalupe Peak. Several hiking trails of varying difficulty run across the park, and conditions are good for wilderness camping. It is necessary to be prepared for difficult terrain and unpredictable weather. In the animal kingdom, wapiti deer, baribal bears, coyotes, bobcats, and skunks can be found in the park.
5️⃣ Six Flags Over Texas Amusement Park
Six Flags Over Texas is one of the largest amusement parks in the state, offering visitors around 45 attractions, thirteen of which are roller coasters. The design of the roller coasters is inspired by comic book superheroes such as Superman, The Joker, Catwoman, Aquaman and Batman.
The park also features water rides or trains and roller coasters popular in the summer for young children. The park is a great place for a day of fun for families with children and groups of friends.
6️⃣ Houston Zoo
The Houston Zoo is one of the most visited zoos in the entire United States, founded in September 1922. The zoo is home to over 6,000 animals of 900 different species, the most popular of which include anteaters, tapirs, orangutans, jellyfish, elephants and zebras. An interesting experience is the chance to feed giraffes or see some of the world’s most venomous snakes for yourself.
7️⃣ Space Center Houston
NASA’s Johnson Space Center Visitor Center in Houston is a great place to visit for families and science lovers. Interested visitors can see the authentic space mission control center, astronaut training center, space shuttle and other interactive exhibits. Tickets tend to sell out quickly, so it is recommended to buy them in advance online.
8️⃣ SeaWorld San Antonio
SeaWorld San Antonio combines roller coasters, centrifuges and other thrill rides with classic aquariums where visitors can see dolphins, killer whales, beluga whales and other marine animals.
Some of the animals are part of shows that are on the schedule throughout the day. Open year-round, the park is a great place for families to enjoy a combination of fun and education.
9️⃣ Fort Worth’s Stockyards District
The Stockyards is a historic neighborhood in Fort Worth that immerses the visitor in a Wild West setting. Cattle shows and rodeo shows are regularly held here, and concerts and dance performances can be attended in the evenings. There are several authentic Texas restaurants, cowboy shops and bars in the Stockyards.
🔟 Historic Galveston Island Pier
A small amusement park with a chain carousel, roller coaster and lighted observation wheel is located on the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier southeast of Houston. Admission to the pier is free, and you have to pay for individual rides, either separately or as a day pass.
The Gulf of Mexico Pier also features shops and restaurants, including Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. made famous in the movie Forrest Gump.
-
Largest Cities in Texas
The table below shows the ten largest cities in the state of Texas in 2023, the source of the data is the United States Census Bureau, a federal agency whose main job is to count the population.
City County Population 1 Houston Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery 2,314,157 Map of Houston 2 San Antonio Bexar, Comal, Medina 1,495,295 Map of San Antonio 3 Dallas Dallas, Collin, Denton, Kaufman, Rockwall 1,302,868 Map of Dallas 4 Austin Travis, Hays, Williamson 979,882 Map of Austin 5 Fort Worth Tarrant, Denton, Johnson, Parker, Wise 978,468 Map of Fort Worth 6 El Paso El Paso 678,958 Map of El Paso 7 Arlington Tarrant 398,431 Map of Arlington 8 Corpus Christi Nueces, Kleberg, San Patricio, Aransas 316,595 Map of Corpus Christi 9 Plano Collin, Denton 290,190 Map of Plano 10 Lubbock Lubbock 266,878 Map of Lubbock -
Sports Teams in Texas
🏒 Ice Hockey (NHL)
The only Texas team in the NHL is the Dallas Stars, a club founded in 1967 and ranked in the Central Division of the Western Conference. The Stars play their home games at the American Airlines Center in Dallas; the club colors are green, black, gray, and white.
🏈 American Football (NFL)
Two teams from Texas are part of the NFL.
The Dallas Cowboys of the NFC Eastern Division were the first to play in the 1960 season. The club plays its home games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, and its colors are navy blue, metallic silver, royal blue, silver-green, and white.
The other team in the NFL since the 2002 season is the Houston Texans of the AFC South Division Conference. The team’s home stadium is NRG Stadium in Houston, and the club colors are dark steel blue, red, white, and blue.
🏀 Basketball (NBA)
Texas has a triple representation in the NBA basketball league, all teams are part of the Southwest Division in the Western Conference.
The Houston Rockets were the first team to enter the competition in the 1967 season, playing their home games at the Toyota Center in Houston. The club colors are red, black, gray, anthracite and white.
In the 1976 season, the San Antonio Spurs entered the NBA, using silver and black as the club colors. The Spurs play their home games at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio.
The third Texas team in the NBA since the 1980 season is the Dallas Mavericks. All of the team’s home games are played at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. The club colors are royal blue, silver and black.
⚾ Baseball (MLB)
Baseball is played by two teams from Texas, both part of the American League’s Western Division.
TheTexas Rangers have played since 1961, and the team colors are blue, red, and white. The Rangers play their home games at Globe Life Field in Arlington.
The Houston Astros have been playing baseball in the American League since the 2013 season, having been in the National League since 1962. The team plays its home games at Minute Maid Park in Houston; the club colors are navy blue, orange, and white.
⚽ Soccer (MLS)
Texas is represented by three teams in the MLS soccer league, all in the Western Conference.
The first team in MLS since the 1996 season was FC Dallas, which recognizes red, blue, silver, and white as the club colors. All home matches are played at Toyota Stadium in Frisco.
Houston Dynamo FC joined as the second team in the 2006 season, with its home matches played at Shell Energy Stadium. The Dynamo chose orange, blue and black as their club colors.
The third Texas team in MLS is Austin FC, which entered the competition in the 2021 season. The club colors are bright green and black, with home matches played at Q2 Stadium in Austin.
-
Texas State Symbols
Texas state law defines dozens of different symbols, and this article lists just a few of them.
State Flag of Texas
The lone star flag is one of the most recognizable symbols of American states, very often flown across Texas in front of homes or stores. In a poll by the North American Vexillological Association in 2001, it was ranked as the second most beautiful flag after the flag of New Mexico.
The state flag of Texas was officially adopted on January 25, 1839, when Texas was still an independent republic. It is independence that is symbolized by the single white star. The colors chosen symbolize courage (red), purity (white), and loyalty (blue).
Great Seal of Texas
The Great Seal has been used to authenticate documents issued by the government since 29 December 1845, when Texas became part of the Union. The design of the seal is based on the design of the original seal of the Republic of Texas. The main motif is a five-pointed star in the middle of an olive branch and oak branches, which symbolize peace and strength.
State Song
The official state song is Texas, Our Texas, with lyrics written by Gladys Yoakum Wright in 1924 and music composed by British immigrant William J. Marsh. It became the national anthem after winning a national contest in 1929, although the relevant law was not passed until 1993.
When Alaska became part of the United States in 1959, the lyrics were changed from “the largest and most beautiful” to “the boldest and most beautiful”, as Texas was no longer the largest state.
State Plant
The state plant was declared the prickly pear in 1995 and has spread across Texas. The plant copes well with harsh and dry conditions, which is meant to symbolize the resilience of the state’s residents. The fruit and leaves of the prickly pear are commonly used in Texas and Mexican cuisine.
State Sport
Rodeo was declared an official sport in 1997, highlighting the importance of the activity in Texas history and culture. The state hosts several major events each year where rodeo is combined with music, food, and entertainment.
State Reptile
In 1993, the Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) was added to the list of symbols to raise awareness of its endangered status. The long-legged 9 cm to 13 cm lizard is one of the native species of Texas, and an interesting feature is its ability to squirt blood from its eyes, which it uses as a defense mechanism.
State Tree
Since 1919, the symbol of Texas has been the pecan tree (Carya illinoinensis), which is one of the native trees of Texas. The pecan tree represents prosperity, strength, and resilience, values that are supposed to be inherent to Texans. The tree was designated a symbol based on the wishes of former Governor James Stephen Hogg, who expressed his desire to be buried under the pecan tree before his death in 1906.
State Flower
The lupine (Lupinus spp) was chosen as the floral symbol of Texas in March 1901 to represent the natural beauty and botanical diversity of the state.
State Fruit
In 1993, the Texas red grapefruit became the official fruit, chosen for its unique flavor and economic importance. Texas is one of the largest producers of grapefruit in the USA and the local variety is appreciated for its sweetness and juiciness.
State Dish
In 1977, a law was enacted that made chili con carne the official state food of Texas. The traditional ingredient in this very spicy dish is ground beef or lamb and chili peppers, usually accompanied by tomatoes, onions, beans and other ingredients.
Contribute with Your Question or Personal Experience