Texas is an incredibly diverse and interesting state with a rich history and culture. From its unique cuisine to its vibrant music scene, Texas offers a unique glimpse into the history and culture of the United States. Letβs take a look at the Top 10 Facts about Texas!
1. Texas is the second largest state in America.
Texas is the second largest state in the USA.
It’s 268,596 square miles – which is nearly three times bigger than the whole of the UK!
The largest state is Alaska.
2. The capital of Texas is Austin.
The capital of Texas is Austin.
It has a population of 965,872 (as of 2020), which is actually only the 4th highest in the state.
3. The most populous city in Texas is Houston.
The most populous city in Texas is Houston.
Houston has a population of 2.313 million (as of 2020), which makes it the 4th most populous city in the whole of the USA.
4. The Flag of Texas is called ‘The Lone Star Flag’.
The Flag of Texas is called ‘The Lone Star Flag’.
The Lone Star Flag was originally designed in 1839, and an Austin-based artist named Peter Krag was paid $10 (around $200 in today’s money) to develop the flag from an original freehand drawing.
Just like the flag of the USA, the red, white, and blue colours in the Lone Star flag stand for courage (red), purity and liberty (white), and loyalty (blue).
5. The state flower of Texas is the Bluebonnet.
The state flower of Texas is the Bluebonnet.
Its appearance from late March through to early April signals to Texans that spring is here and that the long, hot summer is just around the corner!
6. The state sport of Texas is The Rodeo.
The state sport of Texas is The Rodeo.
The Rodeo is a sport that tests the skill and speed of cowboys and cowgirls. American-style professional rodeos generally comprise the following events: tie-down roping, team roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, bareback bronc riding, bull riding and barrel racing.
It was adopted as the Texas state sport in 1997.
7. The state dish of Texas is Chili Con Carne.
The state dish of Texas is Chili Con Carne.
Chili con carne (chili with meat) was a trail stew that cowboys made with dried beef and dried chilies, and it was made the state dish in 1977.
There’s one main rule about Texas Chili Con Carne is…NO BEANS!
8. The state insect of Texas is the Monarch Butterfly.
The state insect of Texas is the Monarch Butterfly.
Texas is home to more butterfly species than any other stateβat least 400.
The monarch butterfly was designated the state insect in 1995.
9. The state tree of Texas is the Pecan Tree.
The state tree of Texas is the Pecan Tree.
The pecan is native to Texas and produces the state’s only commercially grown nut, and it’s used in loads of things like pecan pie, sweets, and other treats.
10. The state plant of Texas is the Prickly Pear Cactus.
The state plant of Texas is the Prickly Pear Cactus.
The cactus became the state plant in 1995.
The juicy, red, prickly pear fruits are often made into jams and jellies, pies, and wine.
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