TEXAS FROM A-Z

Friendship
A fact for each letter of the alphabet.

Please click on highlighted word for more information.

A IS FOR AGRICULTURE, AMISH, ARCHEOLOGY, & ARCHITECTURE

• The Texas AGRICULTURE Statistic Service provides information and statistics about agriculture in the state. More land is farmed in Texas than in any other state. The major agricultural products include cotton, sweet onions, grapefruit, & wheat. Texas produces more watermelons than any other state, and is the top cotton grower in the country. Cotton is the official Fiber and Fabric. The Texas Red Grapefruit is the State Fruit and the sweet onion is the State Vegetable. The State Soil is Texas-Houston Black. Texas has hundreds of County Fairs and Livestock Shows. The State Fair is held in Dallas and is the largest state fair in the country. The King Ranch in southern Texas is the largest cattle ranch in the continental United States. The tradition of branding cattle goes back to the beginning of ranching in Texas. 4-H Clubs are located throughout the state. The US Department of Agriculture provides information about agriculture.

• The Amish way of life largely revolves around working and socializing together as a family and community. There are several Amish Communities in Texas.

• Texas ARCHAEOLOGY dates back thousands of years and the state has many. Many archaeology and paleontolgy events are held throughout the year. The Texas Archeological Society is made up of 12 regions that promote study, preservation, & awareness of Texas archeology. October is Texas Archeology Awareness Month.

• ARCHITECTURE in Texas includes a wide range of styles. Jails were some of the first buildings erected in Texas. Texas has many historic buildings including 4 buildings that were built by Frank Lloyd Wright.The Texas Medical Center is the largest medical center in the world. Warenton has the smallest Catholic Church in the world.

• Texas is home to many species of BATS. The largest colony of bats in the world live under the bridges of Austin. Two dozen Texas caverns harbor about 100 million free-tailed bats from April to November.

• Texas is home to over 600 species of BIRDS. Texas is the most popular state in the country for birdwatching, and there are many Birding Hotspots. The Rio Grande Valley Bird Festival is held in Harlingen. Three-fourth of all American bird species either live in Texas or visit on their way thru. The State bird is the mockingbird. There are two wildlife refuges near Port Arthur that shelter more than 100,000 duck and 60,000 snow geese. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is a winter home for the rare whooping crane, the tallest bird in Texas. A number of endangered birds live in Texas including the golden eagle, bald eagle, and peregrine falcons. Texas has two bird observatories. The Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center has a number of locations in Texas.

• Most BRIDGES in Texas were built to span water, but some bridges appear in dry West Texas where they span natural chasams. Rainbow Bridge/Veterans Memorial Bridge and Cow Bayou Bridge are located in Bridge City. The longest bridge in Texas is the Galveston Causeway. The State has had 34 Suspension Bridges and some are still in use. The Waco Suspension Bridge is the oldest and largest single-span suspension bridge in the world.

• Texas has scenic Byways and a variety of trails including Horse Trails. Texas participates in National Trails Day. There are many Roadside Attractions in Texas.

• Austin is the State CAPITAL of Texas and is named for Stephen F. Austin who is called the Father of Texas. The Capitol Building is built of Texas pink granite and is the largest state capitol building in the country. President George W. Bush was once governor of Texas. Athens is called the Black-eyed Pea Capital of the World and holds an anuual jamboree. Friona is the official Cheeseburger Capital of Texas. Lockhart is the official Barbeque Capital of the state. Midland is called the Ostrich capital. Odessa is called the Jackrabbit-Roping Capital. Tyler is nick-named the Rose Capital of America and the state produces half of the roses sold in the country.

• Texas has many forms of COMMUNICATION including newspapers, magazines, radio, and television, telephone, and internet. The state has many telephone area codes, and Internet Service Providers are located throughout the state. All of the public schools have at least one internet connection and most have access to online services through the Texas Library Connection, and many schools have websites. Live Webcams are located throughout Texas.

• Texas has more COUNTIES than any other state - 254. Rockwall County is the smallest and Brewster County is the largest. Harris County has the largest population and Loving County has the smallest. Mentone is the least populated county in the lower 48 states and is the only town in Loving County. Angelina County is the only county named for a women. Five counties made the list of the most affordable counties in the country. Nacogdoches and Ysleta are the 2 oldest town in Texas. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states for the level of local government below the state government.

• Texas has a wide variety of CULTURES. In the late 1800's Galveston was the second largest port of entry in the country, and people arrived from many European countries bringing their culture, food, music, religion, and festivals. The culture of Germans, Polish, and Scots-Irish is found in many towns. Signs of Mexican culture are everywhere. Nearly 1/4 of the people in Texas claim Mexican heritage, and some families have lived along the border area since the state belonged to Mexico. In East Texas, Cajun and Creole language, food, and culture spill over the border from Louisiana. Texans celebrate their many cultures with food, festivals, and music.

• Texas has many DAMS. Some have created resorvoirs or artificial lakes, and some provide hydroelectric power. Mansfield Dam is the highest dam in the state, & Montague County has the most dams. Texas has a Dam Safety Program. Other sources of energy in Texas include solar power facilities, and the state leads the country in wind power production.

• At one time nearly 16 species of DINOSAURS lived in Texas. Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose is the most famous dinosaur tracksite in Texas. Exhibits at the Annie Riggs Museum in Fort Stockton has dinosaur footprints and casts. The State Dinosaur is the Brachiosaur Sauropod. A variety of Fossils have been found in Texas. The State Fossil is Petrified Palmwood which is also the official State Stone. About 25 Texas caves have yielded important fossils of vertebrate animals including the Columbian Mammoth.

• EARTHQUAKES occur in Texas, but they have not been a major danger historically. The largest earthquake occurred in 1931.

• The History of Public EDUCATION in Texas dates back to 1840, but the first public schools in were Mission Schools opened in the 1700s. The Texas Education Agency oversees all public and private schools in the state and in most cases attendance is compulsory from age 6 thru 17. The Texas Parks & Wildlife has a variety of education programs. Just for the Kids was formed to raise academic standards and increase student achievement. Information about schools in Texas is provided by SchoolBug and Great Schools.

• Special EVENTS are held throughout the year in Texas including fairs, festivals, sports, concerts, and exhibits. Festivals include the Strawberry Festival in Poteet, Cantaloupe Festival in Pecos, Watermelon Thump in Luiling, and Oysterfest in Fulton. Many Cinco de Mayo celebrations are held throughout the state, and Octoberfests are held in German communities. Texas has several theatre companies, and the State Play is "TEXAS," Fandangle". San Antonio has a ten-day Fiesta in April. The state observes Fixed Public Holidays and celebrates many other holidays.

• The FLAG of Texas has a blue vertical stripe with a white star in the center and 2 equal horizontal stripes. Six flags have flown over Texas since its exploration in 1519 - Spanish, French, Mexican, Confederacy, United States, and Republic of Texas. Nearly 50 counties have their own flag. The Cherokee of Texas have their own flag.

• The State FISH is Guadalupe Bass and found only in Texas. Fishing is a popular sport. Texas has 2 National Fish Hatcheries.

• The FOOD of Texas is influenced by its history. The State Dish is chili, and the Chilympiad is sometimes held in San Marcos in September. In November Terlingua hosts a Chili Cook-off. Texas has more barbeque competitions than the rest of the country, and the National Championship Barbecue Cook-Off is held in Meridian. The State Pepper is the Jalapeno and the State Native Pepper is the Chiltepin. Texas produces more than half of all the jalapeno chili sauce made in the country. Dr. Pepper is the oldest major brand of soft drink in the country. It was invented in Waco, & the state has 2 Dr. Pepper Museums. There are Food Banks located throughout the state.

• Federal FORTS once stretched across western Texas, guarding settlements, state-coach lines, and trade routes. Fort Davis was an important fort in the late 1800s and is a National Historic Site. It is known as the highest town in Texas. The Spanish built dozens of missions in Texas and most of them had a fort. Old San Antonio had 5 missions. Mission San Jose is known as the Queen of the Missions, and San Antonio Missions is a National Historical Park.

• The GEOLOGY of Texas is varied. The US Geolological Service provides information about the geology of Texas. The Blue Topaz is the State Gem. The state has 3 Texas distinct. The Gulf Coastal Plains to the east, the Great Plains in the center of the State, and the extension of the Guadalupe Mountains to the west.

• The GLOBAL POSITION of Texas is approximately 106 degrees west longitude and 36 degrees north latitude. McCulloch is the geographic center of Texas. NOAA provides information about the topography of the state. Geocaching is a high-tech game using a Global Positioning System, and Texas has many geocaches.

• There are many, many GHOST TOWNS in Texas. Calf Creek has a few foundations and a cemetery. Damon has asmall family owned business, a post office, and churches. Doole has cement bleachers, and foundations. Goshen has a cemetery. Helena has many historical markers and ruins. Huron has a church and foundation of an old school site. Oakland has about 100 residents, a post office, and a cemetery. Sanco has many abandoned buildings. Silver has a few occupied buildings. Zella has a hotel.

• Texas has more than 2,000 HISTORIC SITES listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The state also has nearly 12,000 historical markers for courthouses, forts, missions, cemeteries, churches, homes, buildings, battle sites, and more. The Alamo is the most famous historic site in Texas. The National Trust helps protect historic places in Texas.

  Texas HISTORY dates back to 225 million B.C. The state celebrates National History Day

• Texas has a variety of INDUSTRIES including agriculture, manufacturing and tourism. Products include petroleum and coal products, nonelectrical machinery, chemicals, food products, electrical machinery and equipment, fabricated metals, primary metals, and transportation equipment. The city of Industry is in the middle of the state. Texas has over 100 Trade Shows during the year.

• Texas has many ISLANDS in lakes, rivers, bays and off the coast in the Gulf of Mexico. The Barrier Islands protect the coast from heavy waves. Padre Island is the longest barrier island in the country and a National Seashore. Galveston Island has been occupied since the early 1500's and is a State Park.

• Texas has 25,000 INSECTS including many butterflies. More than 175 species of butterflies have been found in Big Bend National Park. Several are seen only in this country within the park or West Texas. The State Insect is the Monarch Butterfly. Africanized honey bees, also known as Killer Bees have been fround in Texas. The state has both native and non-native fire ants.

• JAZZ is popular in Texas, and annual Jazz Festivals are organized by the Texas Jazz Festival Society. The Town of Addison and the University of North Texas Division of Jazz Studies collaborate to present one of the best Jazz Festivals in the country. Central Texas has several Jazz Events.

• Texas has 3 main KARST regions, and thousands of caves, sinkholes, and rock shelters including 7 Show Caves open to the public. The Karst Waters Institute provides information about karst water systems. The state has carbonate-rock aquifers. Honey Creek Cave is the longest cave in the state, Sorcerer's Cave is the deepest, and Fern Cave is the largest in volume. The caverns of Sonora are among the best in the country and the most active in the world. Early people in Western Texas sometimes painted on cave walls. Panther Cave is named for a panther painting more than 15 feet long. Natural Bridge Caverns has gigantic rooms and corridors. The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department offers guided tours of Wild Caves. Boerne is the site of the Cave Whithout a Name. Texas has several major & minor aquifers. The National Speleological Society has chapters in Texas.

• Many aspects of life in Texas focus on KIDS and has a special Kids Corner . The Texas State Senate has a Kids Page. A program called Kids Count works to build a better understanding of the children in Texas. Texas Water Kids! has information for kids about water. Aggie Horticulture just for Kids teaches kids about gardening. The Texas Department of transportation has a special Kids Page. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has an Outdoor Kids' Network. The Texas Christmas Tree Association has games for kids.

• Texas has 167 LAKES and reservoirs and is 2nd only to Alaska in volume of inland water. Lake Sam is the largest lake and a major recreational facility.

• The English LANGUAGE in Texas is spoken with a distinct accent. Many residents of Fredericksburg speak German. Because of its proximity to Mexico, Spanish is often spoken.

• Texas has over 500 free public LIBRARIES and most of them are connected to the internet. The Mary Evelyn Blagg-Huey Library in Denton contains extensive material about women. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Museum is the biggest presidential library in the country. The Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library is part of the Almo. The Texas State Library and Archive Commission in Austin provides historical and genealogical information and provides online information. The Hertzberg Circus Museum in San Antonio has one of the largest collections of circus memorabilia in the world.

• Texas has 7 LIGHTHOUSES. The lighthouse at Port Isabel is a State Historic Site. The most important aspect of a LIGHTHOUSE is the light that comes from the tower.

• Texas has 16 MILITARY installations. Fort Sam Houston is the army headquarters for 5 states. The State Ship is the Battleship Texas and is a state Historic site. The State Air Force is the Commemorative Air Force. The Houston Space Center focuses on the accomplishments of NASA and the American manned space flight program. Texas has Army National Guard Units, and The Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for many lakes in the state.

• Texas has 2 ranges of MOUNTAINS, and 90 mountains are a mile or more high. Guadalupe Peak is the highest mountain in the state and part of the Guadalupe National Park. Other mountains include Bush, Bartlett, Baldy, Livermore, Hunter, and El Capitan.

• Texas has many MUSEUMS, and some of the finest art museums in the world. The Jack S. Blanton Museum has the largest Latin American Art Collection in the country. The El Paso Museum of History, recreates the region's past. The National Border Patrol Museum displays items from Texas' history of guarding the border. The Amon Carter Museum has horse sculptures and scenes of cowboys.The Hummel Museum displays hummel figurines and paintings. Corpus Christi de la Isleta was the first Spanish mission and pueblo in Texas.

• The MUSIC of Texas is influenced by its history. Many songs have been written about the state. There are unique songs including regional favorites, campfire classics, and songs about Mexico. Country Western music, Tejano (Texan) music, and line dancing are popular. Fort Worth hosts the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition every 4 years. The Guitar is the State Musical Instrument. Concerts are held throughout the year in many areas of Texas. Most major cities in texas have orchestras. Texas has several opera companies and many dance studios and companies. The State Folk Dance is the Square Dance. Ennis has an annual Polka Festival.

• The NAME Texas came from the Caddo Indian word tejas which is "hello friend". The nickname of Texas is Lone Star State. The southwest corner of the state is known as Cajun Country. Residents are called Texans. Spanish explorers and missionaries often used Indian names for rivers and other natural features. Part of the state is called North Texas.

• For thousands of years various tribes of NATIVE AMERICANS occupied the region that is now Texas, and the state has 3 Federally Recognized Tribes and Indian Reservations. The Alabama-Coushatta have a gift shop and campgrounds. The Kickapoo have a casino at Eagle Pass. The Tigua is the oldest ethnic group identified in the country.

• Texas has 6 OBSERVATORIES The McDonald Observatory has one of the 1st and most productive lunar ranging stations. The observatory at Stephen F. Austin State University operates the 2nd largest observatory in Texas and the Central Time Zone and is home to the largest student observatory in the state. The Texas Astronomical Society of Dallas celebrates Astronomy Day.

• OIL was discovered in Texas in 1901 at Spindletop Hill and is one of the major industries in the state. Texas leads the country in the production of oil and making chemicals, plastics, and other products from oil. The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum, Library, and Hall of Fame is in Midland. Texas is also the number one state in natural gas and magnesium. The state has a wide variety of other minerals. The State Gemstone of Texas is the Texas blue topaz. The State Gemstone Cut is the Lone Star Cut. The State Rock is Petrified Palmwood. Texas is part of the U.S. Geological Survey

• Texas has a variety of PARKS including 2 National PARKS and 17 State Parks. Some State Parks are under consideration for privatization. Texas also has a National Monument, a National Preserve, and 2 National Recreation Areas - Armistad and Lake Meredith. Texas has several amusements parks. One of the most popular is Six Flags Over Texas.

• Texas has a population of over 21 million PEOPLE. Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first Texan to become president of the United States. Lyndon B. Johnson, George Bush, and his son George W. Bush are presidents who also came from Texas. Scott Joplin is known as the King of Ragtime Music. The National Museum and Cowgirl Hall of Fame is in Hereford. The Texas Ranger law enforcement is the oldest police force in the country and has a Hall of Fame in Waco. The Texas Women's Hall of Fame honor the most outstanding women in the state.

• Texas has 13 deepwater PORTS along the Gulf Coast. The Port of Houston is the busiest in the state and the 2nd largest port in the country. The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway runs close to the coast. The Texas Maritime Museum has history and artifacts.

• The United States Mint issued a quarter for each state in the order that it became part of the Union. Texas became a State on December 29, 1845 and a quarter was issued for it in the year 2004. The U.S. Mint has a special Kids Page.

• QUILTING is popular in texas, and the International Quilt Show is held in Houston. Texas also has Spinner and Weavers Guilds including Contemporary Handweavers of Texas, Lake Country Handweavers Guild in Fredericksburg, Lampasas Fiber Arts Guild, Contemporary Handweavers of Houston, Tall Pines Weavers and Spinners in Houston, and Sam Houston Weavers & Spinners Guild in Huntsville.

• Take a quiz about Texas. Coloring pages to print.

• Texas is made up of 7 geographical REGIONS. The state also has 7 natural regions that form the basis for field guides to flora, fauna, geology, and geography.

• Texas is home to several species of REPTILES and amphibians including lizards, frogs, toads, turtles, salamanders, crocodillians, and snakes. The Texas horned Lizard is the state reptile. The Mojave Rattlesnake has the most deadly venom of any snake in the country. Texas has many Reptile Societies. The state is part of the USGS North American Amphibian Monitoring Program.

• Texas has nearly 200,000 miles of RIVERS and streams. Some of the rivers shape the borders of Texas. The Red River is to the north, the Sabine River shapes the boundary between Texas and Louisiana to the east, and the Rio Grand divides Texas from Mexico Most of the rivers empty into the Gulf of Mexico. Part of the Rio Grande is designated a Wild and Scenic River.

• A variety of SEA LIFE can be found the coast of Texas including whales and dolphins. Oil rigs & scuttled ships provide artificial reefs for sea life. The Lightning Whelk is the State Shell. The Texas Sea Center is a fish hatchery and an aquarium. SeaWorld Adventure Park is the largest marine life adventure park in the world.

• The coast of Texas along the Gulf of Mexico has more than 600 historic SHIPWRECKS. The State Marine Archeologist is responsible for the protection, preservation, and investigation of historic shipwrecks in all the state owned waters of Texas. The La Belle is one of the most important shipwrecks ever discovered in North America. UHEXSO plans to assist in developing a volunteer marine archeology training program.

• Texas has college, high school, league, and professional SPORTS teams. Dallas hosts the Cotton Bowl on New Years Day. The Texas Sports Hall of Fame in Waco celebrates and preserves Texas' sports history. The first rodeo in the world was held in Pecos in 1883, and the Rodeo is the official Texas State Sport. Texas has about 800 public &private golf courses. The Texas Water Safari is called the world's toughest canoe race. The Alamodome has major sporting events, concerts, and conventions. The Reliant Astrodome was the 1st airconditioned domed stadium in the country and the 1st to use artificial turf.

• The official State TARTAN is the Texas Bluebonnet Tartan. There are many Scottish Cultural Groups in the state including Highland Dance, Games and Gatherings, and Pipe Bands. The Scottish Society of San Antonio sponsors Tartan Day ceremonies in front of the Alamo and Highland Games. The Association of Scottish Games and Festivals list several events in Texas.

• Texas has all forms of TRANSPORTATION.The Texas Department of Transportation maintains the vast highway system in the state. Texas has more public roads than any other state in the country, and Texans are among the highest per capita users of air transportation in the country. The Adopt-a-Highway Program started in Texas. The first license plates in Texas were issued in 1907. The Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo Tribe has their own license plate. To celebrate its birthday in 2002, Matchbox cars issued a vehicle for each state in the order in which it was admitted into the union. The vehicle for Texas was the Dodge Dakota Pickup.

• Texas has nearly 300 species of native TREES. The State TREE is the Pecan Tree. Texas has 64 National Champion Trees and one of them is the Texas Live Oak. A coastal live oak near Fulton is the oldest tree in the state with an estimated age of 1,500 years. About 15% of Texas is forested. Texas has 4 National Forests - Angelina, Davy Crockett, Sabine, and Sam Houston.

• Texas has many UNIVERSITIES and colleges. Texas A&M was the first public university in the state. Higher education is also available at Public Community and Technical Colleges. One of the only five copies of the Gutenberg Bible in the country is at the University of Texas in Austin.

• Three ships of the United States Navy have been named USS TEXAS. The 1st USS Texas was commissioned in 1895 and was the United States Navy's first battleship and served from 1895 until 1911. The 2nd USS Texas (BB-35) was a dreadnought battleship commissioned in 1914 that served in both World War I and World War II. The 3rd USS Texas (DLGN/CGN-39) was commissioned in 1977 and was the 2nd Virginia-class nuclear guided missile cruiser. The 4th USS Texas (SSN-775) will be the second Virginia-class nuclear attack submarine when she joins the fleet in 2005.

• The VEGETATION of Texas includes buffalo grass, cacti, curly mesquite, and a variety of wildflowers. More than 500 types of grass carpet the prairies and plains. The official State Grass is Sideoats Grama. Texas has more than 100 types of cactus, and the official State Plant is the edible Prickly Pear. The official State Shrub is the Crape Myrtle. The State flower is the bluebonnet. More than 5,000 wildflower species grow in Texas (the background of this page is wildflowers), and the LBJ Wild Flower Center preserves and studies North American native grasses, wildflowers, and other plants. The Nature Conservancy helps preserve the land in Texas.

• Texas does not have any active VOLCANOES, but it has a volcanic past. Extinct volcanoes lie along the Rio Grande rift system in the western part of the state. Volcanic eruptions formed the Davis Mountains.

• There are 3 major WATERFALLS in Texas. Cascade Caverns has an underground waterfall and sparkling crystal pools. Pedernales Falls is a State Park. Dolan Falls on the Devils River is one of the largest waterfalls in Texas.

• The WEATHER in Texas is generally mild. The amount of rainfall varies greatly from the coast to the inland. The coast experiences extreme weather conditions. Hurricanes often flow in from the Gulf of Mexico and strike the southern coast and the nearby sandbars. The worst natural disaster in the country was caused by a hurricane that hit Galveston in 1900. Another devistating hurricane happened in 2008. The state is hit by more tornadoes than any other state in the country. NOAA provides up-to-date weather information. The Environmental Protection Agency provides information about the effect of Global Warming in Texas.

• Texas has a large variety of WILDLIFE including bears, coyote, deer, mountain lions, wild pigs, and the largest herd of whitetail deer in the country. The State Large Mammal is the Texas Longhorn, and the Small Mammal is the Armadillo. Prairie dogs build a network of tunnels on the plains. Black Beauty Ranch adopts abused and distressed animals. Texas has 17 National Wildlife Refuges. Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch has animals from 6 of the 7 continents. Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge is home to birds and animals found no where else in the country. The Texas Snow Monkey Sanctuary provides a free-range environment for primates in need. Texas is part of the Wildlife Protection Program.

• XMAS is the abbreviation of Christmas and is celebrated in Texas the same as it is in the rest of the country and around the world. The National Christmas Tree Association has members in Texas. The largest historic preservation festival in the country is "NIOSA" (A Night in Old San Antonio).

• YMCA groups are located throughout Texas. YMCA camps include Camp Texlake, Pine Cove Christian Camp, and Texas Ski Ranch. The YMCA in Texas is participating in the youth and government programs.The state also has Y Indian Guides.

• YOUTH HOSTELS are located in several places in Texas. The Youth Hostel in Austin is one of the best in the state. Texas also has Elder Hostels.

• The use of postal ZIP CODES began in 1963. Zip codes in Texas all start with a 7. The postal code for Texas is TX.

• Texas is in 2 time ZONES. Most of the state is in the central time zone, but El Paso runs on mountain time. Texas has several plant hardiness zones

• Texas has several ZOOS, and Aquariums and Aquatic Attractions. The Texas Zoo in Victoria, allows animals native to the state to roam in their natural habitat. The Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville is one of the top zoos in the country.