Texas

Information and Tourism

This is the Lonestar State, a former independent republic and successful contender in the struggle for independence from Mexico. Texas is still the type of place where the locals have more than a smidgeon of Wild West spirit, and where there's an awful lot of everything, including wide-open spaces.

Just mention Texas and a whole group of stereotypes are bound to spring to mind. First on the list are baked bean-eating Texan cowboys. It is true that Texas has long been a center for the cattle industry. Regular rodeos are still the order of the day in many small Texan towns and there are plenty of cattle ranches where a traditional cowboy way of life can still be seen. That said, oil has taken over from cattle in more recent times. The first major oil supply was discovered in Texas, just south of Beaumont, in the year of 1901. The Texan oil boom peaked in the early 1970s. The TV show 'Dallas' did a great deal to add to the world's image of the average Texan oil magnate. Today, there are over 340,000 Texan millionaires.

Texas will be forever associated with the assassination of the US President John F. Kennedy, an event that occurred in the city of Dallas in November 1963 and sent shockwaves through the nation.

Texas shares a lengthy border zone with Mexico, something which often hits the headlines, usually because of illegal immigrants. In recent years, a 'wall' has been built to deal with the problem. It has been somewhat controversial, due to the effect it may be having on the rich wildlife that can be found on the banks of the Rio Grande.

Texas Information and Fast Facts

• Country: USA
• Population: approximately 26 million
• Capital city: Austin
• Biggest city: Houston
• Biggest urban area: Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
• Language: American English
• Area: 268,600 square miles / 695,670 square kilometers
• Length of Texas-Mexico border: 1,240 miles / 2,000 km

	WORLD GUIDES TO TEXAS
	World Guide to Austin, TX, USA The city of Austin lies on the banks of the Colorado River and has been the proud Texan capital since the 1840s. Located in the heart of Texas, Austin is close to many green hills and expansive lakes, and is renowned for its lively music scene.
	World Guide to Corpus Christi, TX, USA Corpus Christi is often referred to as simply 'Corpus', and is an attractive port town on the southside of Texas, with many interesting features. These include a number of renovated historic buildings, parks, museums and nearby beaches.
	World Guide to Dallas, TX, USA The city of Dallas, Texas (TX) often known locals as the 'Big D', can be found in the northwestern part of Texas. Dating back to the 1840s, when it became a major financial center, Dallas was made famous by the assasination of John F. Kennedy.
	World Guide to El Paso, TX, USA El Paso stands on the western edge of Texas, near to Mexico, which can be reached across the Rio Grande River. Full of heritage and a Mexican flavor, El Paso is close to the Franklin Mountains and Chihuahua Desert, with day trips available.
	World Guide to Houston, TX, USA Houston lies in the southeastern part of Texas, near to the Gulf of Mexico in southern USA. The largest city in Texas, Houston was founded in 1836 and oozes with wealth and money, close to Galveston Bay.
	World Guide to Irving, TX, USA Irving is an important city in Texas, near Dallas and Fort Worth. With many popular tourist attractions standing in northern Irving and also in the Las Colinas district, Irving's most famous landmark is the Mustangs of Las Colinas.
	World Guide to San Antonio, TX, USA One of America's biggest cities, San Antonio was founded in the early 1700s and is situated in the southeastern part Texas Hill Country. San Antonio is famous for being home of the 1836 Battle of the Alamo and is nicknamed 'River City'.

Map of Texas