Texas
29810
226057025
2008-07-16T17:10:53Z
78.149.4.151
{{otheruses}}
{{US state
|Name =Texas
|Fullname =State of Texas
|Former =Republic of Texas
|Flag =Flag of Texas.svg
|Flaglink =[[Flag of Texas]]
|Seal =Texas state seal.png
|Seallink =[[Seal of Texas]]
|Map =Map_of_USA_TX.svg
|Nickname =Lone Star State
|Motto =Friendship
|Demonym =[[Texan]]
|Capital =[[Austin, Texas|Austin]]
|LargestCity =[[Houston, Texas|Houston]]
|LargestMetro =[[Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex|Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington]]<ref name="US Census">{{Citation |date =2007-04-04 |year =2007 |title =Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area Estimates |publisher =US Census |url =http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/CBSA-est2006-pop-chg.html |accessdate =2008-04-28}}</ref>
|Governor =[[Rick Perry]] (R)
|Lieutenant Governor =[[David Dewhurst]] (R)
|Senators =[[Kay Bailey Hutchison]] (R)<br> [[John Cornyn]] (R)
|PostalAbbreviation =TX
|TradAbbreviation =Tex.
|BorderingStates = [[Arkansas]], [[Louisiana]], </br> [[New Mexico]], [[Oklahoma]]
|OfficialLang =No official language<br/>''See [[Languages spoken in Texas|languages of Texas]]''
|AreaRank =2<sup>nd</sup>
|TotalAreaUS =268,820<ref name="facts">{{Citation |year =2008 |title =Facts |edition =2008-2009 |publisher =[[Texas Almanac]] |url =http://www.texasalmanac.com/facts/ |accessdate =2008-04-29}}</ref>
|TotalArea =696,241
|LandAreaUS =261,797<ref name="facts"/>
|LandArea =678,051
|WaterAreaUS =6,784<ref name="facts"/>
|WaterArea =17,574
|PCWater =2.5
|PopRank =2<sup>nd</sup>
|2000Pop =20,851,820
|2007Pop (est) =23,904,380
|DensityRank =28th
|2000DensityUS =79.6<ref name="Census2">{{Citation |year =2006 |title =Texas QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau |place =US Census
|url =http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=&geo_id=04000US48&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US48&_street=&_county=&_cityTown=&_state=04000US48&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=040&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=DEC_2000_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null®=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=|accessdate =2007-04-28}}</ref>
|2000Density =30.75
|Total GDP =$1,065,891,000
|Total GDP Rank =2<sup>nd</sup>
|Per capita GDP =$43,283
|Per Capita GDP Rank =16<sup>th</sup>
|AdmittanceOrder =28<sup>th</sup>
|AdmittanceDate =[[December 29]], [[1845]]
|TimeZone =[[Central Standard Time Zone|Central]]: [[UTC]]-6/[[Daylight saving time|-5]]
|TZ1Where =most of state
|TimeZone2 =[[Mountain Standard Time Zone|Mountain]]: [[UTC]]-7/[[Daylight saving time|-6]]
|TZ2Where =tip of [[West Texas]]
|Latitude =25° 50′ N to 36° 30′ N
|Longitude =93° 31′ W to 106° 39′ W
|WidthUS =773<ref name="environment">{{Citation |year =2008 |title =Environment |edition =2008-2009 |publisher =[[Texas Almanac]] |url =http://www.texasalmanac.com/environment/ |accessdate =2008-04-29}}</ref>
|Width =1,244
|LengthUS =790
|Length =1,270
|HighestPoint =[[Guadalupe Peak]]<ref name=usgs>{{cite web|year =[[29 April]] [[2005]] |url =http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html#Highest|title =Elevations and Distances in the United States|publisher =U.S Geological Survey| accessdate = 2006-11-08}}</ref>
|HighestElevUS =8,749
|HighestElev =2,667
|MeanElevUS =1,700
|MeanElev =520
|LowestPoint =[[Gulf of Mexico]] coast<ref name=usgs/>
|LowestElevUS =0
|LowestElev =0
|ISOCode =US-TX
|Website =www.texasonline.com/
}}
[[Image:National-atlas-texas.png|thumb|300px|right|Map of Texas, showing major cities and roads]]
'''Texas''' ({{IPAEng|ˈtɛksəs}}) is a [[U.S. state|state]] geographically located in the [[South Central United States]] and is also known as the ''Lone Star State''. [[Austin, Texas|Austin]] is the [[state capital]]. Texas is the second largest U.S. state in both area and population, with an area of {{convert|268820|sqmi|km2}} and a growing population of 23.9 million. [[Houston]] is the state's largest city. The [[Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex|Dallas/Fort Worth area]] is the largest [[metropolitan statistical area]].
Traveling east to west, the [[Geography of Texas|landscape of Texas]] gradually evolves from that of the [[Deep South]] into that of the desert [[Southwestern United States|Southwest]], going from [[piney woods]] to semi-forests of oak and [[Cross Timbers|cross timbers]], into rolling plains and [[prairie]], then finally to [[desert]] in the [[Big Bend (Texas)|Big Bend]]. These wide open spaces of the Texas prairie have lent currency to the phrase that "everything is bigger in Texas".<ref name="biggerTexas">{{cite web |last =Gite |first =Lloyd |authorlink =http://findarticles.com/p/search?tb=art&qa=Lloyd+Gite |title =Texas: they say everything is bigger in Texas, but is this true about opportunities for African-Americans in the state's largest cities? |publisher =Black Enterprise |date =June, 1994 |url =http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1365/is_n11_v24/ai_15429436 |format =html |accessdate =2008-04-28}}</ref> Due to its long history as a center of the American cattle industry, Texas is associated throughout much of the world with the image of the [[cowboy]].
[[History of Texas|Historically]] and [[Culture of Texas|culturally]], partly due to settlement patterns and its membership in the [[Confederate States of America|Confederacy]], Texas has close ties to the [[Southern United States|American South]]. However, having once been both a [[Spain|Spanish]] and [[Mexico|Mexican]] possession, it can also be classified as a [[Southwestern United States|Southwestern state]]. While residents acknowledge these categories, many claim an independent "Texan" identity superseding [[List of regions of the United States|regional labels]].
Spain was the first European country to claim the area of Texas. It was part of Spain's colony of Mexico until 1836 when it became the independent [[Republic of Texas]]. In 1845 it joined the United States as the 28th state. The state's [[Texas Annexation|annexation]] was one of a [[Origins of the American Civil War|chain of events]] that led to the [[Mexican-American War]] in 1846 and the [[U.S. Civil War]].
In the early 1900s, [[Spindletop|oil discoveries]] led to an economic boom in the state. Texas has since [[Economy of Texas|economically diversified]]. It has a growing base in high technology, biomedical research and higher education.
==Etymology==
[[Image:Texas.JPG|left|thumb|Texas state welcome sign]]
The state's name derives from ''{{unicode|táyshay}}'', a word in the [[Caddoan languages|Caddoan language]] of the [[Hasinai]], which means "friends" or "allies".<ref name="facts"/><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Texas |title=Texas |accessdate=2007-02-25
|publisher=Online Etymology Dictionary}}</ref><ref>Wallace Chafe, p.c.</ref>
The word "Texas" has been incorporated into [[American English]] [[vernacular]] in many ways. Due to the state's large geographic size, the term "Texas-sized" is a [[metaphor]] for "big".<ref name=TSize1>{{cite web |last =Farivar |first =Cyrus |title =Texas-Sized Supercomputer to Break Computing Power Record |work =[[Wired News]] |date =2007-06-26|url =http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2007/06/sun_supercomputer|accessdate =2008-01-30}}</ref><ref name=TSize2>{{cite web |last =Blumenthal |first =Ralph |title =Texas-sized noxious weed threatens State's largest natural lake |publisher =[[International Herald Tribune]] |date =[[2007]], [[July 30]] |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/30/news/lake.php|accessdate=2008-01-30}}</ref> The state's name is used in brands such as [[Texas Roadhouse]] and [[Texas Instruments]]. The abbreviated form of "Texas", "[[Tex]]", is used as a [[nickname]] for someone born and/or raised in the state, such as country music singer [[Tex Ritter]]. "Tex" is also a [[prefix]] for Texas-related words, including [[Tex-Mex]] or the restaurant chain [[Texadelphia]].
{{clear}}
==History==
{{main|History of Texas}}
[[Image:Six Flags of Texas.jpg|thumb|700px|center|The display of the "[[Six flags over Texas|Six Flags]]" in [[Austin, Texas]] includes the flags of (left to right) [[Crown of Castile]] ([[Spain]]), the [[Fleur-de-lis]] of [[France]], [[Mexico]], the [[Confederate States of America]], the [[Republic of Texas]], and the [[United States of America]].<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=FF/msf1|name=Flags of Texas}}</ref>]]
===Colonization===
{{Texas History}}
{{main|Spanish Texas|Mexican Texas}}
[[Alonso Álvarez de Pineda]] made the first documented European sighting of Texas in 1519.<ref name="chipman243">Chipman (1992), p. 243.</ref><ref name="weber34"> Weber (1992), p. 34.</ref> On [[6 November]] [[1528]], shipwrecked Spanish [[conquistador]] [[Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca]] became the first known European in Texas.<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=CC/fca6|name=Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca}}</ref><ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=SS/nps1|name=Spanish Texas}}</ref> In 1685 [[La Salle]] established the first [[European ethnic groups|European]] community in Texas, the French colony of [[French Texas|Fort Saint Louis]].<ref name="weber149">Weber (1992), p. 149.</ref> The colony, located along [[Matagorda Bay]], lasted only four years before succumbing to harsh conditions and hostile natives.<ref name="chipman83">Chipman (1992), p. 83.</ref>
Due to the perceived French encroachment, Spain established its first presence in Texas in 1691 constructing of [[Spanish missions in Texas|missions]] in [[East Texas]].<ref name=chipman89>Chipman (1992), p. 89.</ref> The missions failed quickly, and Spain did not resettle Texas until two decades had passed.<ref name="weber155">Weber (1992), p. 155.</ref> Spain returned to East Texas in 1716, establishing missions and a [[presidio]] to maintain a buffer between [[New Spain]] and the territory of [[La Louisiane|Louisiana]].<ref name=chipman111and2>Chipman (1992), pp. 111–112.</ref><ref name="weber160">Weber (1992), p. 160.</ref> Two years later, the first European civilian settlement in Texas, [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]], was established.<ref name="weber163">Weber (1992), p. 163.</ref>
Hostile native tribes and remoteness from New Spain discouraged settlers from moving to Texas and it remained one of New Spain's least populated provinces.<ref name=chipman205>Chipman (1992), p. 205.</ref> San Antonio was a target for raids by the [[Lipan Apache]].<ref name="weber188">Weber (1992), p. 188.</ref> In 1749, the Spanish signed a peace treaty with the Apache,<ref name="weber193">Weber (1992), p. 193.</ref> which resulted in raids by the enemies of the Apache, the [[Comanche]], [[Tonkawa]], and [[Hasinai]] tribes.<ref name="weber189">Weber (1992), p. 189.</ref> The Comanche signed a treaty with Spain in 1785<ref>Weddle (1995), p. 163.</ref> and later assisted in defeating the Lipan Apache and [[Karankawa]] tribes.<ref name="weddle164">Weddle (1995), p. 164.</ref><ref name=chipman200>Chipman (1992), p. 200.</ref> An increased number of missions in the province allowed for a peaceful conversion of other tribes, and by the end of the 1700s only a few [[nomadic]] tribes had not been "[[Christianization|Christianized]]".<ref name=chipman202>Chipman (1992), p. 202.</ref>
The [[Louisiana Purchase]] by the United States led to a [[border dispute]] over Texas.<ref name="weber291">Weber (1992), p. 291.</ref><ref>Weber (1992), p. 292.</ref> The dispute was resolved in 1819, with the signing of the [[Adams-Onís Treaty]] recognizing the [[Sabine River (Texas-Louisiana)|Sabine River]] as Texas's eastern boundary.<ref name="weber299">Weber (1992), p. 299.</ref>
[[Image:Stephen f austin.jpg|thumb|left|[[Stephen F. Austin]]]]
In 1821, after the [[Mexican War of Independence]], the territory became a part of the new country.<ref name="weber300">Weber (1992), p. 300.</ref> Texas became the northern section of [[Coahuila y Tejas]] in 1824. Mexico ended the Spanish policy of allowing only full-blooded Spaniards to settle Texas. On [[3 January]] [[1823]], after obtaining authorization by Governor [[Antonio María Martínez]], [[Stephen F. Austin]] began a colony of 297 Anglo-American families known as the "[[Old Three Hundred]]" along the [[Brazos River]].<ref name="old300">{{Handbook of Texas|id=OO/umo1|name=Old Three Hundred}} Accessed [[2008]]-[[04-27]]</ref> By 1830, the 30,000 Anglo settlers in Texas outnumbered [[Tejanos]] six to one.<ref name="Tejanos1">{{cite web |title =Tejano Patriots |work =bexargenealogy.com |url =http://www.bexargenealogy.com/index_Tejanos.htm |format =HTML |accessdate =2008-04-28}}</ref>
===Republic===
{{main|Texas Revolution|Republic of Texas|Texas Annexation}}
The [[Convention of 1832]] and the [[Convention of 1833]] were responses to rising unrest at policies of the [[Mexico|Mexican]] government. Delegates feared the end of [[duty-free]] imports from the United States and the threat of ending slavery.<ref name="HBOT MEX">{{Handbook of Texas|id=MM/npm1|name=Mexican Texas}}</ref> In 1835, [[Antonio López de Santa Anna]], President of Mexico, created a [[1835 Constitution of Mexico|unified constitution]] for Mexico which created a centralized government with power concentrated in the President, and turned states into provinces with governors appointed from Mexico City.<ref name="HBOT MEX"/> States around Mexico rebelled against this imposition, including [[Chihuahua]], [[Zacatecas]] and [[Yucatan]]. Of note was the Centralista forces' brutal suppression of dissidents in [[Zacatecas]].<ref name="HBOT REV">{{Handbook of Texas|id=CC/qdc2|name=Texas Revolution}}</ref> Texans also resented policies such as the forcible disarmament of settlers, and the expulsion of immigrants and legal landowners originally from the United States.
[[Image:Wpdms republic of texas.svg|thumb|left|Republic of Texas. The present-day outlines of the U.S. states are superimposed on the boundaries of 1836–1845]]
On [[2 March]] [[1836]], the [[Convention of 1836]] signed a [[Texas Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]].<ref name="TXDecofInd">{{cite web| url=http://www.lsjunction.com/docs/tdoi.htm |title=The Texas Declaration of Independence| accessdate=2008-05-26 |publisher=Lone Star Junction}}</ref><ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=CC/mjc12|name=Convention of 1836}}</ref> On [[21 April]] [[1836]], the Texans—led by General [[Sam Houston]]—won their independence at the [[Battle of San Jacinto]]. Santa Anna's capture led to the [[Treaties of Velasco]]. Mexico repudiated the treaties and vowed to reconquer Texas. Later in 1836, the Texans adopted a [[Constitution of the Republic of Texas|constitution]] that formally legalized slavery. The [[Republic of Texas]] included the area of the present state of Texas, and additional unoccupied territory to the west and northwest.<ref name="HBOT REV"/>
Most Texans wanted their Republic to be [[Texas Annexation|annexed]] into the [[United States]]. Events such as the [[Dawson Massacre]] and two recaptures of Béxar in Texas of 1842 added momentum to the desire for statehood.<ref>{{Harvard reference |Surname1=Calvert |Given1=R. |Surname2=De Léon |Given2=A. |Surname3=Cantrell |Given3=G. |Title=The History of Texas |Publisher=Harlan Davidson |Place=Wheeling, Illinois |Year=2002 }}</ref> However, strong [[Abolitionism#United_States|abolitionist]] opposition to adding a [[slave state]] blocked Texas's admission until pro-annexation [[James K. Polk]] won the [[United States presidential election, 1844|election of 1844]]. On [[December 29]] [[1845]], Texas was admitted to the U.S. as a constituent [[U.S. State|state]] of the Union.<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=AA/mga2|name=Annexation}}</ref> The [[Mexican–American War]] followed, with decisive victories by the U.S.<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=MM/qdm2|name=Mexican War}}</ref> Texas's boundaries were set at their present form after the [[Compromise of 1850]]. Land which later became half of present day [[New Mexico]], a third of [[Colorado]], and small portions of [[Kansas]], [[Oklahoma]], and [[Wyoming]], was ceded for the federal government's assumption of $10 million of the old republic's debt.<ref name="comp1850">{{Handbook of Texas|id=CC/nbc2|name=Compromise of 1850}}</ref> Post-war Texas grew rapidly as migrants poured into the cotton lands of the state.<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=CC/afc3|name=Cotton Culture}}</ref>
[[Image:Glory to the defeated - dignified resignation.jpg|right|thumb|Civil war monument in [[Galveston, Texas]]]]
===Civil War and Reconstruction===
{{main|Texas in the American Civil War}}
The state was accepted as a charter member of the [[Confederate States of America]] on [[1 March]] [[1861]].<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=SS/mjs1|name=Secession Convention}}</ref><ref name="facts"/> During the [[American Civil War]], Texas was a "supply state" for the Confederate forces due to its distance from the front lines, contributing men, especially cavalry. Texan regiments fought in every major battle throughout the war.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texascivilwarmuseum.com/index.htm|title=Texas Civil War Museum|accessdate=2006-09-03}}</ref> In mid-1863 the Union capture of the [[Mississippi River]] cut Texas supply lines to the eastern parts of the Confederacy. The last battle of the Civil War was fought in Texas at [[Battle of Palmito Ranch|Palmito Ranch]] on [[13 May]] [[1865]].<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=PP/qfp1|name=Battle of Palmito Ranch}}</ref>
Texas descended into anarchy two months between the [[Battle of Appomattox Courthouse|surrender]] of the [[Army of Northern Virginia]] and the assumption of authority by Union General [[Gordon Granger]]. Violence also marked the early months of [[Reconstruction era of the United States|Reconstruction]].<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=CC/qdc2|name=Civil War}}</ref> [[Juneteenth]] commemorates the announcement of the [[Emancipation Proclamation]] on [[19 June]] [[1865]] in Galveston by General Gordon Granger, over 2-1/2 years after the original announcement.<ref name="BarriersVoting">{{cite web |title =Historical Barriers to Voting |work =Texas Politics |publisher =[[University of Texas]] |url =http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/html/vce/0503.html|format =HTML |accessdate = 2008-05-11}}</ref><ref name="Juneteenth">{{Handbook of Texas|id=JJ/lkj1|name=Juneteenth}}</ref> President Johnson, on [[20 August]] [[1866]], declared that civilian government had been restored to Texas.<ref name="readmission">{{Citation |last =Johnson |first =Andrew |author-link =Andrew Johnson |date =[[1866-08-20]] |year =1866 |title =Proclamation Declaring the Insurrection at an End |series =American Historical Documents |publisher =[[President of the United States]] |url =http://www.bartleby.com/43/42.html |accessdate =2008-04-28}}</ref> Despite not meeting reconstruction requirements, on [[30 March]] [[1870]] the [[United States Congress|Congress]] readmitted Texas into the [[United States|Union]].<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=RR/mzr1|name=Restoration}}</ref> Social volatility continued as the state struggled with agricultural depression and labor issues.
===Modern era===
[[Image:Lucas gusher.jpg|thumb|right|[[Spindletop]]]]
The first major oil well in Texas was [[Spindletop]], south of [[Beaumont]], on [[10 January]] [[1901]]. Other fields were later discovered nearby in [[East Texas]], [[West Texas]], and under the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. The resulting “Oil Boom” permanently transformed the economy of Texas.<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=SS/dos3|name=Spindletop Oilfield}}</ref> Oil production eventually averaged three million barrels of oil per day at its peak in 1972.<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=OO/doogz|name=Oil and Gas Industry}}</ref>
The economy, significantly improved since the civil war, was dealt a double blow by [[the Great Depression]] and the [[Dust Bowl]]. Migrants abandoned the worst hit sections of Texas during the Dust Bowl years. Especially from this period on, blacks left Texas in the [[Great Migration (African American)|Great Migration]] to get work in the [[Northern United States|North]] or [[California]] and to escape the oppression of segregation.<ref name=TX&GreatMigration>{{Handbook of Texas |id=AA/pkaan |name=African Americans}} accessed = [[2008]]-[[04-27]]</ref> With increased immigration, although the numbers of African Americans increased, their proportion of population decreased from 20.4 percent in 1900 to 12.4 percent in 1960.<ref name=TX&GreatMigration/>
From 1950 through the 1960s, Texas modernized and expanded its [[Education in Texas#Colleges and universities|system of higher education]]. Under the leadership of Governor [[John B. Connally]], the state created a long-range plan for higher education, a more rational distribution of resources, and a central state apparatus designed to manage state institutions more efficiently. These changes helped Texas universities receive federal research funds during the [[John F. Kennedy|Kennedy]] and [[Lyndon B. Johnson|Johnson]] administrations.<ref>Blanton, Carlos Kevin. "The Campus and the Capitol: John B. Connally and the Struggle over Texas Higher Education Policy, 1950-1970" ''Southwestern Historical Quarterly'' 2005 108(4): 468-497. ISSN 0038-478X</ref>
==Geography==
{{main|Geography of Texas|List of geographical regions in Texas}}
{{see also|List of Texas state parks}}
[[Image:El Capitan base 2005-03-12.jpg|thumb|left|[[El Capitan (Texas)|El Capitan]]]]
Texas is located at the southernmost part of the [[Great Plains]], which ends in the south against the folded [[Sierra Madre Oriental]] of Mexico. It is in the [[South Central United States|south-central]] part of the United States of America. The state has been categorized as part of the [[Southern United States|U.S. South]] and also part of the [[Southwestern United States|U.S. Southwest]].
The [[Rio Grande]], [[Red River (Mississippi watershed)|Red River]] and [[Sabine River (Texas-Louisiana)|Sabine River]] are natural state [[border]]s, [[Oklahoma]] on the north, [[Louisiana]] and [[Arkansas]] on the east, & the [[Mexico|Mexican]] states of [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]], [[Coahuila]], [[Nuevo León]], and [[Tamaulipas]] to the south. To the west, its borders with New Mexico & Oklahoma are not based on natural features of terrain. The state's [[Texas Panhandle]] has a western border with New Mexico at [[100th meridian west|100° W]], a northern one at [[36°30' parallel north|36°30' N]] and a western one at [[103rd meridian west|103° W]]. The state's western tip is located on the 32th parallel extending from the [[Rio Grande]] to the Panhandle.<ref name="comp1850"/>
Because of its size and unique history, the regional affiliation of Texas is debatable. Depending on the source, it can be fairly considered either or both a Southern or Southwestern state. The vast geographic, economic, and cultural diversity within the state itself prohibits easy categorization of the whole state into a [[List of regions of the United States|recognized region of the United States]]. The East, Central, and North Texas, regions have a stronger association with the American South than with the Southwest. Others, such as far West Texas and South Texas share more similarities with the latter. The upper [[Texas Panhandle]] is similar to the [[Midwestern United States]] and the [[South Plains]] parts of West Texas, is a blend of South and Southwest.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}
Texas can be divided into five [[human geography|human geographical]] regions: [[North Texas|North]], [[East Texas|East]], [[Central Texas|Central]], [[South Texas|South]], and [[West Texas|West]]. ''Texas Almanac'' divides Texas into four [[physical geography|physical geographical]] regions: [[Geography of Texas#The Gulf Coastal Plains|Gulf Coastal Plains]], [[Geography of Texas#The Interior Lowlands|Interior Lowlands]], [[Geography of Texas#The Great Plains|Great Plains]], and [[Geography of Texas#The Basin and Range Province|The Basin and Range Province]].{{Fact|date=May 2008}}
===Geology===
{{main|Geology of Texas}}
[[Image:LlanoEstacadoShadedRelief.jpg|thumb|right|Shaded Relief Map of the [[Llano Estacado]]]]
Texas is the southernmost part of the [[Great Plains]], which ends in the south against the folded [[Sierra Madre Occidental]] of Mexico. The [[continental crust]] here is a stable [[Mesoproterozoic]] [[craton]] which changes across a broad continental margin and transitional crust into true [[oceanic crust]] of the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. The oldest rocks in Texas date from the Mesoproterozoic and are about 1,600 million years old. These [[Precambrian]] [[igneous]] and [[metamorphic]] rocks underlie most of the state, and are exposed in three places: [[Llano, Texas|Llano]] uplift, [[Van Horn, Texas|Van Horn]], and the [[Franklin Mountains (Texas)|Franklin Mountains]], near [[El Paso]]. This is overlain by mostly [[sedimentary rocks]]. The oldest sediments were deposited on the flanks of a rifted continental margin, or [[passive margin]] that developed during [[Cambrian]] time. This margin existed until [[Laurasia]] and [[Gondwana]] collided in the [[Pennsylvanian]] era to form [[Pangea]]. This is the buried crest of the [[Appalachian Mountains]]—[[Ouachita Mountains]] zone of [[Pennsylvanian]] [[continental collision]]. This [[orogeny|orogenic]] crest is today buried beneath the [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]]—[[Waco, Texas|Waco]]—[[Austin, Texas|Austin]]—[[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]] trend. During this time E. Texas was a region of high mountains and shallow seas covered W. Texas.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}
The late [[Paleozoic]] mountains collapsed as [[rifting]] in the [[Jurassic]] era began to open the Gulf of Mexico. Pangea began to break up in the [[Triassic]] but [[seafloor spreading]] to form the [[Gulf of Mexico]] occurred only in the mid and late [[Jurassic]]. The shoreline shifted again to the eastern margin of the state and the Gulf of Mexico [[passive margin]] began to form. Today there are {{convert|9|mi|km|0}} to {{convert|12|mi|km|0|}} of sediments buried beneath the Texas continental shelf and a large proportion of remaining US [[Petroleum|oil]] reserves are to be found here. At the start of its formation, the incipient Gulf of Mexico basin was restricted and seawater often evaporated completely to form thick [[evaporite]] deposits of [[Jurassic]] age. These salt deposits have buoyantly risen up through the passive margin sediments to form [[salt dome]] [[diapir]]s, commonly found in East Texas, along the Gulf coast.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}
East Texas outcrops consist of [[Cretaceous]] and [[Paleogene]] sediments with contain important deposits of [[Eocene]][[lignite]]. [[Petroleum|Oil]] is found in the Mississippian ad Pennsylvanian sediments in the north, Permian sediments in the west, Cretaceous sediments in the east, and along the Gulf coast and out on the Texas [[continental shelf]]. [[Oligocene]] [[volcanic]] rocks are found in far west Texas, in the [[Big Bend, Texas|Big Bend]] area. A blanket of [[Miocene]] sediments known as the [[Ogallala Aquifer|Ogallala formation]] in the western high plains region is an important [[aquifer]]. Texas has no volcanoes and few earthquakes, being situated far from an active [[plate tectonic]] boundary.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}
==Climate==
{{main article|Climate of Texas}}
[[Image:Palm Trees and Snow.jpg|thumb|left|[[2004 Christmas Eve Snowstorm]] in South Texas]]
The large size of Texas and its location at the intersection of multiple [[Köppen climate classification|climate zones]] gives the state very variable weather. [[Climatology|Climatologists]] divide Texas into three main zones: the [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Koppen]] ''Cfa'') of the eastern half of Texas, the temperate [[semi-arid]] (Koppen ''BSk'') steppe climate of the northwestern part, including the Panhandle, and the subtropical steppe climate (nearly an [[arid]] desert climate, Koppen ''BSh'') of the southern parts of West Texas, particularly around El Paso.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}
The Panhandle of the state is colder in winter than North Texas, while the Gulf Coast has mild winters. Texas has wide variations in precipitation patterns. El Paso, on the western end of the state, averages as little as {{convert|8|in|mm}} of annual rainfall while Houston, on the southeast Texas averages as much as {{convert|54|in|mm}} per year.<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=WW/msf1|name=Weather}}</ref> Dallas in the North Central region averages a more moderate {{convert|37|in|mm}} per year. Snowfall often falls in the winter months in the north. Maximum temperatures in the summer months average from the 80s °[[Fahrenheit|F]] (26 °[[Celsius|C]]) in the mountains of West Texas and on [[Galveston Island]] to around {{convert|100|°F|°C|0|lk=on}} in the [[Rio Grande Valley]]. Night time summer temperatures range from the upper 50s °F (14 °C) in the West Texas mountains<ref>[http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/outdoors/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USTX0830?from=search Monthly Averages for Marfa, TX] weather.com</ref> to {{convert|80|°F|°C|0}} in Galveston.<ref>[http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/outdoors/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USTX0499?from=search Monthly Averages for Galveston, TX]. weather.com.</ref>
[[Thunderstorms]] are very common in Texas, especially the eastern and northern portion of the state. Texas is part of the [[Tornado Alley]] section of the country. The state experiences the most [[tornado]]es in the Union, an average of 139 a year. These strike most frequently in North Texas and the Panhandle.<ref name="Annual average number of tornadoes"> [http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate/research/tornado/small/avgt5304.gif nooa.gov] National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved on [[October 24]], [[2006]].</ref> Tornadoes in Texas generally occur between the months of April–July.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}
Texas emits the most [[greenhouse gas]]es in the US.<ref name="GH1">{{cite news|title=Blame Coal: Texas Leads in Overall Emissions|author=Borenstein, Seth|publisher=USA Today|date=04-06-2007|url=http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2007-06-04-state-emissions_N.htm|accessdate=2007-06-06}}</ref><ref name="GH2">{{cite news |title= Texas No. 1 producer of greenhouse gases |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/060307dnnatemissions.3c1df3a.html |work= Associated Press |publisher= Dallas Morning News |date= [[2007-06-03]]|accessdate=2008-06-11}}</ref> The state's annual carbon dioxide emissions are nearly 1.5 trillion pounds (680 billion kg). Texas would be the world's seventh-largest producer of greenhouse gases if it were an independent nation.<ref name="GH2"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Five Cities that Need help Getting Green|author=MSN City Guides|url=http://cityguides.msn.com/citylife/greenslideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=4848635&imageindex=4}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Approaches, Challenges, Potentials: Renewable Energy and Climate Change Policies in U.S. States|author=Heinrich Boll Foundation North America|date=2003-12|url=http://www.cleanenergyfunds.org/international/downloads/RE_Publication_Online.pdf}}</ref> The primary factors in Texas's greenhouse gas emissions is the state's large number of [[Fossil fuel power plant|coal power plants]] and the state's refining and manufacturing industries which provides the bulk of the United States's petroleum products.<ref name="GH2"/>
==Demographics==
{{main|Demographics of Texas}}
[[Image:Houston International Festival.jpg|thumb|right|The annual Houston International Festival spotlights a different culture each year]]
[[Image:Texas population map.png|thumb|right|Texas Population Density Map]]
As of 2006, the state has an estimated population of 23,507,783, an increase of 2.5% from the prior year and 12.7% since the year 2000. The natural increase since the last census was 1,389,275 people, [[Immigration to the United States|immigration]] from outside the [[United States]] resulted in a net increase of 801,576 people, and migration within the country produced a net increase of 451,910 people.<ref name="facts"/> As of 2004, the state has 3.5 million foreign-born residents (15.6 percent of the state population), of which an estimated 1.2 million are [[Illegal immigration to the United States|illegal aliens]]. More than one-third of the foreign-born population in Texas and 5.4 percent of the total state population comes from illegal immigration.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} Texas from 2000–2006 had the fastest growing illegal immigration rate in the nation.<ref name="CausesHealthcare"/> Texas also is one of the receiving states of black college graduates in the [[New Great Migration]] - the return of African Americans to the South.
===Racial group and ethnic origins===
As of the 2006 US Census estimates, the racial distribution in Texas are as follows:
*69.8% [[White American]]
**21.0% [[White Hispanic]]
**[[German American|German]] (10.9%)
**[[English American|English]] (7.2%)
**[[Scots-Irish American|Scots-Irish]] (7.2%)
*11.6% [[African American]]
*3.3% [[Asian American]]
*0.6% [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian]]
*13% other racial groups
*35.7 [[Hispanic]] or [[Latino]].<ref name="Census2"/>
**[[Mexican American|Mexican]] (25.3%){{Fact|date=May 2008}}
Much of the population of east, central, and north Texas have a [[white (people)|white]] [[Protestant]] heritage, primarily descended from ancestors from [[Great Britain]] and [[Ireland]].{{Fact|date=May 2008}} Much of central and southeast-central Texas is inhabited by German descendants. African Americans, who historically made up one-third of the state population during the 19th century, are concentrated in the parts of East Texas where the cotton plantation culture was most prominent before the [[American Civil War]], as well as in Dallas and Houston.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} Because of a strong labor market, from 1995–2000, Texas is one of three states in the South that are receiving the high numbers of black college graduates in a [[New Great Migration]].<ref name="blackmigration">[http://www.brookings.edu/urban/pubs/20040524_Frey.pdf William H. Frey, "The New Great Migration: Black Americans' Return to the South, 1965-2000", May 2004, The Brookings Institution, p.1], accessed [[19 March]] [[2008]]</ref> Recently, the [[Asian American|Asian]] population in Texas has grown—primarily in Houston and Dallas.
After the [[revolutions of 1848|European revolutions of 1848]], German, [[Polish American|Polish]], [[Swedish American|Swedish]], [[Norwegian American|Norwegian]], [[Czech American|Czech]] and [[French Americans|French]] immigration grew, and continued until [[World War I]].{{Fact|date=May 2008}} The influence of the diverse [[Immigration to the United States|immigrants]] from Europe survives in the names of towns, styles of architecture, genres of music, and varieties of cuisine. [[Germans|German]] settlements formed in frontier Texas, particularly in [[Fredericksburg, Texas|Fredericksburg]] and [[New Braunfels, Texas|New Braunfels]].{{Fact|date=May 2008}} Lavaca County is predominantly [[Czechs|Czech]].{{Fact|date=May 2008}}
Over one-third of Texas residents are of [[Hispanic]] origin.<ref name="Census2"/> Many recently arrived, while [[Tejanos]] have ancestors with multigenerational ties in Texas. Hispanics dominate south, south-central, and west Texas. They are a significant proportion of residents in the San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas metropolitan areas. [[Immigrants]] (including [[illegal aliens]])—primarily from far southern Mexico and Central America, contribute heavily to the state's growth.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} The influx of immigration is partially responsible for the state's having a young population compared relative to the rest of the United States.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}
[[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian]] tribes who once lived inside the boundaries of present-day Texas include [[Apache Tribe|Apache]], [[Atakapan]], [[Bidai]], [[Caddo]], [[Comanche]], [[Cherokee]], [[Kiowa]], [[Tonkawa]], [[Wichita (tribe)|Wichita]], Hueco and the [[Karankawa]] of [[Galveston]]. Currently, there are three federally recognized Native American tribes that reside in Texas: the [[Alabama-Coushatta]] Tribe of Texas, the [[Kickapoo]] Traditional Tribe of Texas, and the [[Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo]] of Texas.<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=II/bzi4|name=Native Americans}}</ref>
===Religion===
[[Image:Lakewood1.jpg|thumb|Lakewood Church interior]]
Texas is a part of the strong socially conservative [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical]] [[Protestant]], [[Bible Belt]], and is the state that has the highest percentage of people with a religious affiliation in the United States.<ref name="abstinence">{{Citation |last =Connolly |first =Ceci |date =[[2003-01-21]] |year =2003 |title =Texas Teaches Abstinence, With Mixed Grades |publisher =Washington Post |url =http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=12589&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html |accessdate =2008-04-28 |pages =A01}}</ref> [[Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas]] is home to three major evangelical seminaries and several of America's largest [[megachurches]], including [[Fellowship Church]], [[T. D. Jakes|Potter's House]] and [[Prestonwood Baptist Church]]. Houston is home to the largest "church" in the nation, [[Lakewood Church]]. [[Lubbock, Texas]] has the most churches per capita in the nation.<ref name="abstinence"/>
In 2000, The religious demographics of Texas were:<ref name="religion">{{cite web |url=http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/reports/state/48_2000.asp |title=State Membership Report - Texas|publisher=Association of Religion Data Archives|accessdate =2008-02-12}}</ref>
* [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical]] [[Protestant]] – 24.4%
* [[Mainline Protestant]] – 8.1%
* [[Orthodox]] – 0.1%
* [[Roman Catholic]] – 21.0%
* [[Hindu]],[[Sikhs]],[[Buddhists]],[[Muslim]],others; 2.0%
* Unclaimed – 44.5%
The largest single denominations by number of adherents in 2000 were the [[Roman Catholic Church]] 4,368,969, the [[Southern Baptist Convention]] 3,519,459 and the [[United Methodist Church]] 1,022,342.<ref name="religion"/> Also, there are approximately 400,000 [[Muslims]] in Texas.<ref name="MuslimPopulation">{{cite web |title =Turning Muslim in Texas |work =Faith and Belief |publisher =Channel4.com |url =http://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/C/can_you_believe_it/debates/texas1.html |format =HTML |accessdate =2008-04-28}}</ref>
===Cities and towns===
{{see also|List of cities in Texas|List of Texas metropolitan areas|Population of Texas cities in 2000}}
[[Image:Downtown Houston 7.jpg|thumb|Houston]]
[[Image:Downtown San Antonio.jpg|thumb|San Antonio]]
As of 2000, six incorporated places in Texas had populations greater than 500,000, of which two are [[global city|global cities]]: Houston and Dallas.<ref name="worldcities">{{cite web |title =Inventory of World Cities |publisher =Globalization and World Cities Research Network |date =2008 |url =http://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/citylist.html |format =HTML |accessdate =2008-04-28}}</ref> Texas has a total of [[List of Texas metropolitan areas|25 metropolitan areas]], with four having populations over 1 million and two over 5 million. Texas has three cities with populations exceeding 1 million: Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas. This is the most cities of this size within one state.<ref name=PopEstBigCities>{{cite web | url = http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2006-01.csv | title = Table 1: Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places Over 100,000, Ranked by July 1, 2006 Population: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 | format = [[comma-separated values|CSV]] | work = 2005 Population Estimates | publisher = [[United States Census Bureau]], Population Division | date = [[2008-06-10]] | accessdate = 2008-06-10 }}</ref> These three are also among the 10 largest cities of the [[United States]]. [[Austin, Texas|Austin]], Fort Worth, and El Paso are also among the top 25 largest U.S. cities.<ref>[[List of United States cities by population]]</ref> The [[Texas Urban Triangle]] is a region defined by three [[Interstate Highway System|interstate highways]] – [[Interstate 35 (Texas)|I-35]] to the west (Dallas-Fort Worth to San Antonio), [[Interstate 45 (Texas)|I-45]] to the east (Dallas to Houston), and [[Interstate 10 (Texas)|I-10]] to the south (San Antonio to Houston). The region contains most of the state's largest cities and [[List of Texas metropolitan areas|metropolitan areas]], as well as nearly 75 percent of Texas's total population.<ref>[http://swutc.tamu.edu/projectdescriptions/167166.htm Texas Urban Triangle] – Southwest Region University Transportation Center (SWUTC)</ref>
===Colonias===
[[Colonia (border settlement)|Colonias]] along the [[United States|U.S.]]–[[Mexico|Mexican]] [[U.S.-Mexico border|border]], are rural, unincorporated settlements which often lack basic [[infrastructure]] and which are marked by [[poverty]]. As of 2007, Texas has the largest concentration of people, approximately 400,000, living in colonias on the U.S. side of the border.<ref>"[http://www.sos.state.tx.us/border/colonias/faqs.shtml Colonias FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)]," ''[[Texas Secretary of State]]''</ref> There are more than 2,294 Texas colonias, located primarily along the state's {{convert|1248|mi|km|sing=on}} border with Mexico. The colonia population is predominately Hispanic.
==Government and politics==
{{main|Government of Texas|Politics of Texas}}
The [[Texas Constitution]], adopted in 1876, like many [[State constitution (United States)|state constitutions]], explicitly provides separation of powers. The state's Bill of Rights has provisions unique to Texas and is considerably longer than its federal [[United States Bill of Rights|counterpart]].<ref name="BillofRights">{{cite web |title =Bill of Rights (Article 1} |work =Texas Politics |publisher =[[University of Texas]] |url =http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/html/cons/0402.html|format =HTML |accessdate =2008-05-11}}</ref>
===State government===
{{see also|List of Texas state agencies}}
[[Image:Texas capitol day.jpg|left|thumb|[[Texas State Capitol]]]]
Texas has a plural [[executive branch]] system which limits the power of the Governor. Except for the [[Secretary of State of Texas|Secretary of State]], all executive officers are elected independently making them directly answerable to the public not the Governor.<ref name="pluralexec">{{Citation| year =2005| title =The Plural Executive| publisher =[[University of Texas at Austin]]| url =http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/html/exec/0900.html |accessdate =2008-05-07}}</ref> Past executive branches have been split between parties. When [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] President [[George W. Bush]] served as Texas's governor, the state's Lieutenant Governor, [[Bob Bullock]], was a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]. The [[executive branch]] positions consists of the [[List of Governors of Texas|Governor]], [[Lieutenant Governor of Texas|Lieutenant Governor]], Comptroller of Public Accounts, Land Commissioner, Attorney General, Agriculture Commissioner, the three-member [[Texas Railroad Commission]], the State Board of Education, and the Secretary of State.<ref name="pluralexec"/>
The [[bicameral]] [[Texas Legislature]] consists of the [[Texas House of Representatives|House of Representatives]], with 150 members, and a [[Texas Senate|Senate]], with 31 members. The [[Speaker of the House]] leads the House, and the Lieutenant Governor leads the Senate.<ref name="Legislature Members">{{Citation| year =2005| title =Membership| publisher =[[University of Texas at Austin]]| url =http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/html/leg/0204.html |accessdate =2008-06-17}}</ref> The Legislature meets in regular session biennially, but the Governor can call for special sessions as often as desired.<ref name="Special Sessions">{{Citation| year =2005| title =Special Sessions| publisher =[[University of Texas at Austin]]| url =http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/html/leg/0202.html |accessdate =2008-06-17}}</ref> The state's [[fiscal year]] is from the previous calendar year's September 1st through the current year August 31. Thus, FY 2008 is from September 1, 2007 through August 31, 2008.
===Judicial system===
{{main|Texas judicial system}}
{{see also|Capital punishment in Texas}}
The judicial system of Texas is one of the most complex in the United States, with many layers and overlapping jurisdictions. Texas has two courts of last resort: the [[Texas Supreme Court]], for civil cases, and the [[Texas Court of Criminal Appeals]]. Except for some municipal benches, partisan elections select judges at all levels of the judiciary; the Governor fills vacancies by appointment.<ref name="Judiciary">{{Handbook of Texas|id=JJ/msf1|name=Judiciary}}</ref>
Texas leads the nation in executions, 400, from 1982 to 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/22/AR2007082202542.html|title=Texas Executes 400th Inmate|publisher=''[[The Washington Post]]''|accessdate=2007-08-22|date=2007-08-22|author=Graczyk, Michael}}</ref> Only [[capital murder]] is eligible for the death penalty.
Known for their role in Texas law enforcement history, the [[Texas Ranger Division]] of the [[Texas Department of Public Safety]] continue to provide special law enforcement services to the state. Texas [[Game Wardens]]—law enforcement officers employed by the [[Texas Parks and Wildlife Department]]—are given the same level of authority as standard law enforcement officers.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}
===Politics===
{{main|Republican Party of Texas|Texas Democratic Party}}
{{see also|Disfranchisement after the Civil War}}
[[Image:Lbj2.jpg|right|thumb|[[Lyndon B. Johnson]], Texan and 36th president of the United States]]
Like other [[Solid South|"Solid South"]] states, whites resented the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] after the [[American Civil War]]. After regaining power near the end of Reconstruction, the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] held a monolithic political presence in Texas until the late 20th century. After the 1960s, [[Conservative Democrats]] in Texas began to endorse Republican presidential candidates.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} When President [[Lyndon Johnson]] signed the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]], he reportedly said "We have lost the South for a generation".<ref name="SouthWon">{{Citation |last =Risen |first =Clay |date =[[2006-03-05]] |year =2006 |title =How the South was won |publisher =The Boston Globe |url =http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2006/03/05/how_the_south_was_won/ |accessdate =2008-04-29}}</ref> Scholars attribute the change to the success of Nixon's [[Southern Strategy]]. In 1978, Texas Republicans elected their first post-reconstruction governor and in 2003 they gained control of the [[Texas House of Representatives|state legislature]].{{Fact|date=May 2008}}
Today, Republicans control most of Texas's [[U.S. House of Representatives]] delegation, and both [[U.S. Senators]]. Of the 32 [[Texas Congressional Districts|congressional districts in Texas]], 19 seats are held by Republicans and 13 by Democrats. Texas Republicans in the U.S. Senate are [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]] and [[John Cornyn]]. Since 1994, Texans have not elected a Democrat to a statewide office. The state's Democratic presence is primarily [[minority groups]] and urban voters, particularly in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]]. Democrats and independents still hold positions in city governments.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}
The Texas political atmosphere leans towards [[fiscal conservatism|fiscal]] and [[social conservatism]].<ref>{{cite web |title =Texas Political Culture - Introduction |work =Texas Politics |publisher =[[University of Texas]] |url =http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/html/cult/index.html |format = |accessdate = 2008-05-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title =Texas Political Culture - Low Taxes, Low Services Political Culture |work =Texas Politics |publisher =[[University of Texas]] |url =http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/html/cult/0201.html |format = |accessdate = 2008-05-29}}</ref> Since 1980, most of Texas voters have supported Republican Presidential candidates. In 2000 and 2004, Republican [[George W. Bush]] won Texas with 60.1% of the vote. He was a "favorite son" as a recent Governor of the state. [[Austin, Texas|Austin]] is the state's most liberal or "populist" city. [[Houston, Texas|Houston]] is among the few urban areas that consistently vote Republican, but its metropolitan areas are very divided politically. [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]] remains approximately split. In the southwest part of the state, particularly in [[El Paso]], Democrats are strong.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}
===Administrative divisions===
[[Image:Texas counties map.gif|right|thumb|Map outlining 254 counties of Texas]]
{{see also|List of Texas counties}}
Texas has 32 [[Texas Congressional Districts|congressional districts]], the second-most after California. ''[[List of United States congressional districts#Texas|See map]]''. There are 254 [[Counties of the United States|counties]]—the most nationwide. Each county is run by a [[Commissioners' Court]] consisting of four elected commissioners and a county judge. County government is similar to a "weak" [[mayor-council]] system; the county judge has no veto authority, but votes along with the other commissioners. County elections are [[political parties|partisan]].{{Fact|date=May 2008}}
Texas does not allow consolidated city-county governments, nor does it have [[metropolitan government]]s. Cities and counties are permitted to enter "interlocal agreements" to share services. Further, counties are not granted [[home rule]] status; their powers are strictly defined by state law. The state does not have [[townships]]— areas within a county are either incorporated or unincorporated. Incorporated areas are part of a municipality. The county provides limited services to unincorporated areas. Municipalities are classified as either "general law" or "[[home rule]]". A municipality may elect home rule status once it exceeds 5,000 population with voter approval. Municipal elections in Texas are [[nonpartisan]].{{Fact|date=May 2008}}
==Economy==
[[Image:NASA Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory Astronaut Training.jpg|right|thumb|The [[Johnson Space Center]]]]
{{main|Economy of Texas}}
{{see also|List of military installations in Texas}}
Texas's large population, its abundance of natural resources, and diverse population and geography has led the state to have a large and highly diverse economy. For a time, since the discovery of oil, the state's economy reflected the state of the [[petroleum]] industry. In recent times, urban centers of the state have diversified employing two-thirds of the population in 2005. Growth in the state's economy has caused problems in Texas associated with [[urban sprawl]].<ref name="economy1">{{cite web |title =Economic Geography |work =Texas Politics |publisher =[[University of Texas]] |url =http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/html/pec/0302.html |format =HTML |accessdate = 2008-05-03}}</ref>
In the fourth quarter of 2006, Texas had a [[gross domestic product|gross state product]] of $1.09 trillion, the [[List of U.S. states by GDP (nominal)|second]] highest in the U.S.<ref name="GSP">{{cite web |last =Combs |first =Susan |title =Gross State Product |work =Window on State Government |publisher =Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts |date =2006 |url =http://www.cpa.state.tx.us/ecodata/ecoind/ecoind5.html#product |format =HTML |accessdate =2008-04-28}}</ref><ref name="GSP2">{{cite press release |title =Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by State |publisher =Bureau of Economic Analysis |date =2006-10-26 |url =http://www.bea.gov/bea/newsrel/gspnewsrelease.htm |accessdate =2008-04-28}}</ref> [[Gross state product]] per capita as of 2005 was $42,975. The state is home to the most [[Fortune 500]] companies in the United States.<ref name="texasfortune500_1">{{Citation |last =Hem |first =Brad |newspaper =Start spreadin' the news ... Texas is Fortune 500's king of the hill (with quite a bit of help from Houston) |year =2008 |date =2008-04-21 |url =http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/5719475.html
| format = {{dead link|date=June 2008}} – <sup>[http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=author%3AHem+intitle%3A&as_publication=&as_ylo=2008&as_yhi=2008&btnG=Search Scholar search]</sup>}}.</ref><ref name="texasfortune500_2">{{Cite web |url=http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/states/T.html|title=Fortune 500 2006 |accessdate=2007-02-16|publisher=CNN|year=2006}}</ref> In 2004, the ''Site Selection magazine'' ranked Texas as the most business friendly state in the nation. A big reason for this ranking is the state's three billion dollar, [[Texas Enterprise Fund]].<ref name="1businessclimate">{{Citation |last =Arend |first =Mark |title =The Lone Star States Tops Business Climate Ranking |date =November, 2004 |year =2004 |url =http://www.siteselection.com/issues/2004/nov/p746/ |accessdate =2008-05-02}}.</ref>
Texas's growth can be attributed to the availability of jobs, the low cost of housing, the lack of a personal [[state income tax]], high quality of education, low taxation and limited [[regulation]] of [[business]], a central geographic location, a [[Texas Legislature|limited government]], favorable [[Climate of Texas|weather]], and abundant natural resources.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} On another note, the [[Economic impact of illegal immigrants in the United States|economic impact]] of [[illegal immigration]] is significant but difficult to estimate.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}
===Agriculture and mining===
[[Image:TexasLonghornCattle.jpg|right|thumb|A [[Texas longhorn (cattle)|Texas longhorn]]]]
Texas is a productive agricultural state with the most farms both in number and acreage in the United States.<ref name="netstateecon">{{cite web |title =The Texas Economy |publisher =netstate.com |date =2007-06-05 |url =http://www.netstate.com/economy/tx_economy.htm |format =HTML |accessdate =2008-04-29}}</ref> Texas leads the nation in the value of cattle it produces, the state's most valuable agricultural product.<ref name="netstateecon"/> The state also leads nationally in production of sheep and goat products. Texas is [[King Cotton|king of cotton]] leading the nation in cotton production, its leading crop and second-most-valuable farm product.<ref name="netstateecon"/> Texas is a leader in [[cereal]] crop production. The state is a large [[produce]] growing state especially with watermelons, grapefruits and cantaloupes.<ref name="netstateecon"/> Texas also has a large commercial fishing industry. With mineral resources, Texas leads in creating cement, crushed stone, lime, salt, sand and gravel.<ref name="netstateecon"/>
===Energy===
[[Image:Oil well.jpg|right|thumb|An oil well]]
{{see also|Deregulation of the Texas electricity market}}
According to the [[Energy Information Administration]], Texans consume the most energy in the nation both in per capita and as a whole.<ref name="Petrol"/> Since 2002, Texas [[Deregulation of the Texas electricity market|deregulated]] its electric service with mixed results. {{Fact|date=May 2008}}
The [[Railroad Commission of Texas]], contrary to its name, regulates the state's [[oil industry|oil and gas industry]], gas utilities, pipeline safety, safety in the [[liquefied petroleum gas]] industry, and surface [[coal]] and [[uranium]] mining. Until the 1970s, the commission had enormous control the price of petroleum because of its ability to regulate Texas oil reserves. The founders of the [[Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries]] (OPEC) used the Texas agency as one of their models for petroleum price control.<ref name="RRcommission">{{Handbook of Texas |id=RR/mdr1 |name=Railroad Commission}}</ref>
The state has known [[petroleum]] deposits of about {{convert|5|Goilbbl|m3}}, which makes up approximately one-fourth of the known U.S. reserves.<ref name="Petrol"/> Texas refineries can process {{convert|4.6|Moilbbl|m3}} of oil a day.<ref name="Petrol">{{cite web |title =Texas Quick Facts |publisher =Energy Information Administration |date =|url=http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=TX|title=Petroleum Profile: Texas|accessdate=2008-04-29}}</ref> As wells are depleted in the eastern portions of the state, drilling in state has moved westward.<ref name="netstateecon"/> Several [[List of petroleum companies|petroleum companies]] are based in Texas such as: [[Conoco-Phillips]], [[Exxon-Mobil]], [[Halliburton]], [[Valero Energy Corporation|Valero]], and [[Marathon|Marathon Oil]].
Texas is a leader in [[natural gas]] production producing one-fourth of the nation's supply.<ref name="Petrol"/>
The state is also a leader in [[renewable energy]] sources producing the most [[wind power in Texas|wind power]] nationwide.<ref name="Petrol"/><ref name="wind2">{{Citation |last =Souder |first =Elizabeth |title =Texas leads nation in wind power capacity |newspaper =[[Dallas Morning News]] |year =2007 |date =01/08 |url =http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/011808dnbuswindpower.30c78959.html}}</ref>
===Technology===
[[Image:GodPod.jpg|right|thumb|[[Electronic Data Systems]] headquarters in [[Plano, Texas]].]]
With large universities systems coupled with initiatives like TEF and the [[Texas Emerging Technology Fund]], a wide array of different high tech industries have developed in Texas. The Austin area is nicknamed the "Silicon Hills" and the north Dallas area the "[[Silicon Prairie]]". High tech companies such as [[Dell, Inc.]], [[Texas Instruments]], [[Perot Systems]], [[AT&T]], and [[Electronic Data Systems]] (EDS) are headquartered in Texas. As for [[emerging technologies]], in 2008, FierceBiotech ranked Texas as one of the top five biotechnology states.<ref name="Biotech1">{{cite web|last =Carroll |first =John |title =Top Five Regions Targeting Biotech Companies - 2008 |publisher =FierceBiotech |date =[[2008-02-19]] |url =http://www.fiercebiotech.com/special-reports/top-five-regions-targeting-biotech-companies-2008-0 |format =HTML |accessdate =2008-05-03}}</ref>
The crown jewel of Texas's aeronautics industry is the [[Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center]], the center of the [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration]] (NASA), located in Southeast Houston. Both [[Lockheed Martin|Lockheed Martin's]] [[Lockheed Martin Aeronautics|Aeronautics division]] and [[Bell Helicopter Textron]] are located in [[Fort Worth, Texas]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Locations | publisher = Lockheed Martin | accessdate = 2008-05-22 | url = http://www.lockheedmartin.com/aeronautics/about/Locations.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = About Bell Helicopter | publisher = Bell Helicopter | accessdate = 2008-05-22 | url = http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en/company/}}</ref> The [[F-16 Fighting Falcon]], the largest Western fighter program is produced in Fort Worth, and its successor, the [[F-35 Lightning II]] will also be produced in Fort Worth.<ref name="Downside">{{Citation |last =Rosenwald |first =Michael S. |date =[[2007-12-17]] |year =2007 |title =Downside of Dominance? |publisher =The Washington Post |url =http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/16/AR2007121601522.html |accessdate =2008-05-22}}</ref>
===Commerce===
Texas's [[Affluence in the United States|affluence]] has led to a strong commercial sector consisting of retail, wholesale, banking and insurance, and construction industries. Examples of [[Fortune 500]] companies that are not based on Texas traditional industries are: [[AT&T]], [[Men's Warehouse]], [[Landry's Restaurants]], [[Kimberly-Clark]], [[Blockbuster]], [[Whole Foods Market]], and [[Tenet Healthcare]].<ref name="fortune500_2">{{cite web |title =Texas |publisher =[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune Magazine]] |date =[[2007-04-30]] |url =http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2007/states/TX.html |format =HTML |accessdate =2008-05-03}}</ref>
Nationally, the Dallas–Fort Worth area, home to the second shopping center in the United States, [[Highland Park Village]], has the most [[shopping centers]] per capita than any metropolitan area.<ref name="VisitDallas_Shopping">[http://www.visitdallas.com/shared/file.download.php?id=259 VisitDallas.com] Shopping in Dallas. Retrieved on [[20 February]] [[2007]].</ref>
In 2006, for the fifth year in a row, Texas led the nation in export revenues. Texas exports for 2006 totaled $150.8 billion, which is $22.1 billion more than 2005 and represents a 17.2 percent increase.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} A large contributor to this trend is the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] (NAFTA). The state's largest trading partner is Mexico, with the accounts for a third the state's exports. NAFTA has led to the formation of controversial [[maquiladoras]] on the Texas/Mexico border.<ref name="economy2">{{cite web| title =Recent Economic Transformations |work =Texas Politics |publisher =[[University of Texas]] |url =http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/html/pec/0303.html |format =HTML |accessdate = 2008-05-03}}</ref>
Texas's central location within the North American continent has made it an important [[transportation hub]]. From the Dallas/Fort Worth area, 93 percent of the nation's population can be reached by truck within 48 hours, and 37 percent within 24.<ref name="JDFTransport">{{Citation | title =5 Reasons To Choose the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex As A Distribution Hub | publisher =JDF Distribution | url =http://www.jdfdistribution.com/warehousing-logistics-distribution-download.asp | accessdate =2008-06-21 | format ={{dead link|date=June 2008}} – <sup>[http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=intitle%3A5+Reasons+To+Choose+the+Dallas%2FFort+Worth+Metroplex+As+A+Distribution+Hub&as_publication=&as_ylo=&as_yhi=&btnG=Search Scholar search]</sup>}}</ref> The state is also in the center of the continent's four major economic centers: [[New York City|New York]], [[Los Angeles]], [[Mexico City]], and [[Toronto]]<ref name="JDFTransport"/>. Texas has the most [[Special Economic Zone|foreign trade zones]] (FTZ), in the nation, 33.<ref name="FTZ1">{{Citation | publication-date = August 2007 | title = Texas and General Foreign Trade Zones Information | publisher = Office of the Governor of Texas | url = http://www.texasone.us/site/DocServer/Texas_FTZs_Document_2007.pdf?docID=2221 | accessdate =2008-06-21}}</ref> In 2004 a combined total of $298 billion of goods passed though Texas FTZ's.<ref name="FTZ1"/>
==Transportation==
{{main|Transportation in Texas}}
Transportation in Texas has been difficult historically because of the state's large size and rough terrain. Texas has compensated by building both the America's largest highway and railway systems in terms of mileage as well as the largest number of airports in the nation.<ref name="AdvaTransport">{{cite web |title = Texas-Transportation |publisher =Advamag, Inc. |date =2007 |url = http://www.city-data.com/states/Texas-Transportation.html |format = HTML |accessdate =2006-05-04}}</ref> The [[Texas Department of Transportation]] (TxDOT) is the state's [[regulatory authority]], whose stated mission is to "work cooperatively to provide safe, effective and efficient movement of people and goods."<ref name="texdotmission">{{cite web |title =Mission and Vision |publisher =[[Texas Department of Transportation]] |url =http://www.dot.state.tx.us/about_us/mission.htm |format =HTML |accessdate =2008-04-29}}</ref> Though the public face of the agency is generally associated with maintenance of the state's immense [[highway]] system, the agency is also responsible for [[aviation]].<ref name="texdotaviation">{{cite web |title =Aviation Division |publisher =[[Texas Department of Transportation]] |url =http://www.dot.state.tx.us/services/aviation/default.htm |format =HTML |accessdate =2008-04-29}}</ref> in the state and overseeing [[public transportation]] systems.<ref name="texdottransport">{{cite web |title =Transportation Division |publisher =[[Texas Department of Transportation]] |url =http://www.dot.state.tx.us/services/public_transportation/default.htm |format =HTML |accessdate =2008-04-29}}</ref>
===Highways===
[[Image:45intoI-10 2.jpg|thumb|left|I-10 and I-45 interchange in Houston]]
{{main|Texas state highways|Texas Tollways}}
Texas [[freeway]]s have been heavily traveled since the 1948 opening of the [[Gulf Freeway]] in [[Houston]].<ref name="txfwy">[http://www.texasfreeway.com/Houston/photos/45s/i45s.shtml TexasFreeway – Interstate 45 South, the Gulf Freeway]</ref> As of 2005, there were {{convert|79535|mi|km|0}} of public highway in Texas (up from {{convert|71000|mi|km|0}} in 1984).<ref name="highwaymiles">{{cite web |title =LoneStarRoads - Highways of Texas |publisher =AARoads |date =[[2008-02-09]] |url =http://www.aaroads.com/texas/ |format =html |doi =|accessdate =2008-04-20}}</ref> [[Tollways]] are common in Texas primarily due to lack of funds from traditional revenue sources. There are approximately 17 current [[List of Toll Roads in the United States#Texas|toll roads in the state]] with additional roads proposed.<ref name="tollways2">{{cite web |title =Global List of Toll Facilities - United States |publisher =International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association |date =2005 |url =http://www.ibtta.org/Information/content.cfm?ItemNumber=2530 |format =HTML |accessdate =2008-04-20}}</ref> In the western part of the state, both [[Interstate 10 (Texas)|I-10]] and [[Interstate 20 (Texas)|I-20]] have a speed limit of [[Speed_limits_in_the_United_States#75_mph_and_80_mph_limits|{{convert|80|mph|km/h}}]], the highest in the nation.<ref name="speedlimit">{{cite web |title =Texas Raises Rural Speed Limits to 80 MPH – |publisher =FOXNews.com / Associated Press |date =[[2006-05-08]] |url =http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,197072,00.html |format =HTML |accessdate =2008-05-12}}</ref>
The [[Trans-Texas Corridor]] (TTC), also known has the [[NAFTA]] freeway, is a transportation network in the planning and early construction stages. The network, as planned, would be composed of a {{convert|4000|mi|km|-3|sing=on}} network of [[supercorridors]] up to {{convert|1200|ft|m|-1}} wide to carry parallel lines of [[tollways]], [[railroad|rails]], and [[public utility|utility]] lines.<ref name="TTC">{{cite web |title =Crossroads of the Americas: Trans Texas Corridor Plan Report Summary |url =http://ttc.keeptexasmoving.com/publications/files/ttc_report_summary.pdf |format =PDF |accessdate =2008-04-28}}</ref>
===Airports===
{{see also|List of airports in Texas}}
[[Image:Dfw airport.jpg|thumb|right|[[Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport]]]]
Texas has the most airports of any state in the nation.<ref name="AdvaTransport"/> Largest of these is [[Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport]] (DFW), the second largest in the United States, and fourth largest in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url =http://www.dfwairport.com/visitor/facts.htm |title =Facts about DFW |accessdate =2007-08-04 |work =Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport}}</ref> In traffic, DFW is the busiest in the state, fourth busiest in the United States,<ref>{{cite web|title=10 Great Places for Aviation and Aerospace|author=Jennifer LeClaire|work=Southern Business and Development|url=http://www.sb-d.com/issues/spring2007/features/10GreatPlacesForAviationAndAerospace.asp|accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref> and sixth busiest in the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport|work=USAToday|url=http://destinations.usatoday.com/dallas/|accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref> The airport serves 135 domestic destinations and 40 international. DFW is the largest and main [[Airline hub|hub]] for [[American Airlines|American]], the world's largest airline in total passengers-miles transported<ref>Aviation Week and Space Technology, [[January 15]], [[2007]], p. 349, </ref> and passenger fleet size.<ref name="AMR">{{cite web |title =American airlines information pictures and facts |publisher =aviationexplorer.com |date =[[2008-04-11]] |url =http://www.aviationexplorer.com/american_airlines.htm |format =HTML |accessdate =2008-04-28}}</ref>
Texas's second-largest air facility is Houston's [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport]] (IAH). [[Houston, Texas|Houston]] is the headquarters of [[Continental Airlines]] and is the airline's largest hub. IAH offers service to the most Mexican destinations of any U.S. airport.<ref name="GBAir1">{{cite web| title =About George Bush Intercontinental Airport| publisher =Houston Airport System| url =http://www.houstonairportsystem.org/iahAbout| format =HTML| accessdate =2008-06-28}}</ref><ref name="GBAir2">{{cite press release|title=Houston Emerges As The Premier Gateway In The U.S. For Travelers To Mexico|publisher=Houston Airport System|date=[[2005-04-12]]|url= http://www.fly2houston.com/0/8178/0/1906D1940/|accessdate=2006-12-30}} </ref> IAH ranks third among U.S. airports with scheduled non-stop domestic and international service.<ref name="GBAir1"/>
[[Southwest Airlines]], headquartered in Dallas, Texas, began its operations at [[Dallas Love Field]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.southwest.com/about_swa/airborne.html |title=We Weren't Just Airborne Yesterday |date=[[2007-05-02]]|publisher=Southwest Airlines |accessdate=2007-06-09}}</ref> It is the largest airline in the [[United States]] by number of passengers carried domestically per year and the [[World's largest airlines#By scheduled passengers carried|largest airline in the world]] by number of passengers carried.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.iata.org/pressroom/wats/wats_passengers_carried.htm |title=Scheduled Passengers Carried |author=[[International Air Transport Association]] |accessdate=2007-06-10}}</ref> The airline's growth from its original hub is limited by the [[Wright Amendment]] of 1979.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asp.usatoday.com/community/profile.htm?UID=ebb13abbd48dd5df |title =Flights up, fares down one year after Wright Amendment changes |publisher =[[USA Today]] |date =[[2007-10-01]] |url =http://blogs.usatoday.com/sky/2007/10/wright.html |format =HTML |accessdate =2008-04-28}}</ref>
===Ports===
[[Image:PortofHouston.jpg|thumb|right|[[Port of Houston]].]]
{{main|List of ports in the United States}}
Over 1,000 [[ports|seaports]] dot Texas's coast with over {{convert|1000|mi|km}} of [[channels]].<ref name="ports1">{{Citation |title =About Texas Ports |publisher =Texas Ports Association |url =http://www.texasports.org/ |accessdate =2008-05-07}}</ref> Ports employ nearly one-million people and handle an average of 317 million [[metric tons]].<ref name="portbenefits">{{Citation |title =Benefits of Texas Ports |publisher =Texas Ports Association |url =http://www.texasports.org/benefits/ |accessdate =2008-05-07}}</ref> Texas ports are connected with the rest of the US Atlantic seaboard in the [[Gulf Intracoastal Waterway|Gulf]] section of the [[Intracoastal Waterway]].<ref name= "ports1"/> Until the deadliest hurricane in US history of [[Galveston Hurricane of 1900|1900]], the state's primary port was [[Galveston, Texas|Galveston]].
With completion of the Houston Ship Channel in 1919, the [[Port of Houston]] replaced Galveston and today is the busiest port in the United States in foreign tonnage, second in overall tonnage, and [[List of world's busiest ports by cargo tonnage|tenth]] worldwide in tonnage.<ref name="porthouston">{{Citation |date =[[2008-03-31]] |year =2008 |title =General Information |publisher =The Port of Houston Authority |url =http://www.portofhouston.com/geninfo/overview1.html |accessdate =2008-05-07}}</ref> The [[Houston Ship Channel]] is currently {{convert|530|ft|m}} wide by {{convert|45|ft|m}} deep by {{convert|50|mi|km}} long.<ref name="HGnav">"Welcome to the Houston-Galveston Navigation Channel Project Online Resource Center" (description), [[USACE]], December 2005, [http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/items/hgnc/ USACE]</ref>
===Railroads===
[[Image:METRORail 5.jpg|thumb|left|[[METRORail]] in [[Houston]]]]
{{seealso|List of Texas railroads}}
Part of the state's [[Cowboy#Texas_tradition|cowboy]] legends are based on [[Cattle drives in the United States|cattle drives]] where [[livestock]] was herded from Texas to [[Rail transport|railroads]] in Kansas. The first railroad in Texas completed in 1872, the [[Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad]], diminished the need for these drives. The desire for the benefits of railroads was so strong that Dallasites paid $5,000 for the Houston and Central Texas Railroad to shift its route through its location, rather than [[Corsicana, Texas|Corsicana]] as planned.<ref name="DallasRR">{{Handbook of Texas |id=EE/hte14 |name=East Dallas, TX}} accessed [[2008]]-[[05-07]]</ref> Since 1911, Texas has led the nation in railroad length. Construction of railroads created a radial system of major cities, unlike states in which river transportation most influenced the cities. Texas railway mileage peaked in 1932 at {{convert|17078|mi|km}}, but declned to {{convert|14006|mi|km}} by 2000.<ref name="AdvaTransport"/> The state's oldest regulatory agency, the [[Railroad Commission of Texas]], originally regulated the railroads, but in 2005, the state transferred to these duties to TxDOT.<ref name="RRCMove">{{cite web |title = Former Rail Division| publisher =[[Texas Railroad Commission]] |date =[[2005-10-01]] |url =http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/divisions/rail_moved/index.html?/rail.html |format =HTML |accessdate =2008-05-04}}</ref>
[[Light rail]] systems have been implemented in both Dallas and Houston. [[Dallas Area Rapid Transit]] (DART) operates the first light rail system in the [[Southwest United States]].<ref name="DARTLightRail">{{Citation |last =Myerson |first =Allen R. |date =1996-06-14 |year =1996 |title =Dallas Opening Southwest's First Rail Transit |publisher =[[New York Times]] |url =http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D01EFD81739F937A25755C0A960958260 |accessdate =2008-05-11}}</ref> The [[commuter rail]] service, the [[Trinity Railway Express]] (TRE), links Fort Worth and Dallas, provided by the [[Fort Worth Transportation Authority]] (the T) and DART.<ref name="TRE">{{cite web |title =Trinity Railroad Express |url =http://www.trinityrailwayexpress.org/ |format =HTML |accessdate =2008-06-11}}</ref> The [[Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas]] (METRO) operates lines in the Houston area.
Intercity passenger rail service in Texas is limited in terms of both network and frequency. Just three scheduled [[Amtrak]] routes serve the state: the daily ''[[Texas Eagle]]'' {{nowrap|(Chicago–San Antonio)}}; the tri-weekly ''[[Sunset Limited]]'' {{nowrap|(New Orleans–Los Angeles)}}, with stops in Texas; and the daily ''[[Heartland Flyer]]'' {{nowrap|(Fort Worth–Oklahoma City)}}.
==Culture==
{{main|Culture of Texas}}
{{see also|List of people from Texas|List of Texas symbols|Don't Mess with Texas|Gone to Texas|Architecture of Texas}}
[[Image:Big Tex.JPG|thumb|right|[[Big Tex]] has presided over every [[State Fair of Texas|Texas State Fair]] since 1952]]
Texas historically has had a culture that has been a blend of Southern (Dixie), Western (frontier), and Mexican influences. In addition to Texas's traditional culture established in the 18th and 19th centuries, later immigration has made Texas a [[melting pot]] of different cultures from around the world.
===Arts===
{{further|[[Music of Texas]]}}
[[Houston, Texas|Houston]] is one of only five American cities with permanent professional resident companies in all of the major performing arts disciplines: the [[Houston Grand Opera]], the [[Houston Symphony Orchestra]], the [[Houston Ballet]], and [[The Alley Theatre]].<ref name="houstontheater">{{cite web |title =About Houston Theater District |publisher =[[Houston Theater District]] |url =http://www.houstontheaterdistrict.org/en/cms/?68 |format =HTML |accessdate =2008-04-28}}</ref> Known for the vibrancy of its [[visual arts|visual]] and [[performing arts]], the [[Houston Theatre District]]—a 17-block area in the heart of [[Downtown Houston]]—is ranked second in the country in the number of theatre seats in a concentrated downtown area, with 12,948 seats for live performances and 1,480 movie seats.<ref name="houstontheater"/>
[[Fort Worth]] is an epicenter of the North Texas region's art scene. Founded in 1892, [[Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth|The Modern]] is the oldest art museum in Texas. The city is also home to the [[Kimbell Art Museum]], the [[Amon Carter Museum]], the [[National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame]], the [[Will Rogers Memorial Center]], and the [[Bass Performance Hall]] downtown.
The [[Arts District, Dallas|Arts District]] of [[Downtown Dallas]] has arts venues such as the [[Dallas Museum of Art]], the [[Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center]], [[the Trammell & Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art]], and the [[Nasher Sculpture Center]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Dallas Arts District | publisher = Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau | accessdate = 2008-05-29 | url = http://www.dallascvb.com/visitors/listing.details.php?id=492}}</ref>
[[Image:HoustonTX HobbyCenter.jpg|thumb|left|[[Hobby Center for the Performing Arts]] in Houston]]
The [[Deep Ellum]] district within Dallas became popular during the 1920s and 1930s as the prime [[jazz]] and [[blues]] hotspot in the [[Southern United States]]. The name Deep Ellum is derived from local people pronouncing "Deep Elm" as "Deep Ellum". Artists such as [[Blind Lemon Jefferson]], [[Robert Johnson (musician)|Robert Johnson]], Huddie "[[Leadbelly]]" Ledbetter, and [[Bessie Smith]] played in early Deep Ellum clubs like The Harlem and The Palace.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} Today, the district is home to hundreds of artists who live in lofts and operate in studios throughout the district alongside bars, pubs, and concert venues{{Fact|date=May 2008}}. One major art infusion has resulted from the city's [[wiktionary:lax|lax]] stance on [[graffiti]]: several public ways, including tunnels, sides of buildings, sidewalks, and streets, are covered in graffiti murals.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}
[[Austin, Texas]], the [[Music of Austin|''The Live Music Capital of the World'']], boasts the most venues per capita citywise.<ref name="livemusic">{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofaustin.org/music/|title=Live Music Capital of the World|accessdate=2007-06-12|publisher=City of Austin}}</ref> The city's music revolves around the [[nightclub]]s on [[6th Street (Austin)|6th Street]] and an annual [[film]], music, and [[multimedia]] festival known as [[South by Southwest]].<ref name="SouthbySouthwest">{{Citation |last =Collier |first =Kiah |date =2007-03-19 |year =2007 |title =Austin's financial windfall from South by Southwest larger than last year |newspaper =[[Daily Texan]] |publisher =[[University of Texas]] |url =http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2007/03/19/TopStories/Austins.Financial.Windfall.From.South.By.Southwest.Larger.Than.Last.Year-2779781.shtml |accessdate =2008-05-12}}</ref> The longest-running concert music program on American television, ''[[Austin City Limits]]'' and its similarly named [[Austin City Limits Music Festival|music festival]] are located at [[the University of Texas at Austin]] at [[Zilker Park]]. Over the past couple of decades, [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]] has evolved into the "Nashville of [[Tejano music]]." The [[Tejano Music Awards]] have provided a forum to create greater awareness and appreciation for Tejano music and culture.<ref name="TejanoMA">{{cite web |title =Tejano Music Awards |publisher =Texas Talent Musicians Association |date =2008 |url =http://www.tejanomusicawards.com/ |format =HTML |accessdate =2008-05-12}}</ref>
===Sports===
{{main|Sports in Texas}}
{{further|[[List of Texas sports teams]], and [[List of University Interscholastic League events]]}}
[[Image:Tbia.jpg|thumb|right|[[Rangers Ballpark in Arlington]], home of the Texas Rangers]]
While [[American football]] has long been considered “king” in the state, Texans today enjoy a wide variety of sports.<ref name="FBKing">{{cite news|last =Brady |first =Erik |title =Football still king, but hoops teams in Texas grab attention |publisher =[[USA TODAY]] |date =[[2003-04-04]] |url =http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/2003-04-03-texas-double_x.htm |accessdate =2008-04-11}} </ref> Texans have a plethora of [[professional sports]] teams to cheer for. Texas is home to two [[National Football League|NFL]] teams, the [[Dallas Cowboys]] and the [[Houston Texans]]; two [[Major League Baseball]] teams, the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] and [[Houston Astros]]; three [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] teams: the [[Houston Rockets]], the [[San Antonio Spurs]], and the [[Dallas Mavericks]]; two [[Women's National Basketball Association|WNBA]] teams: the [[Houston Comets]] and the [[San Antonio Silver Stars]]; one National Hockey League team, the [[Dallas Stars]]. Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area is one of only [[U.S. cities with teams from four major sports|thirteen American cities]] that have sports teams from the [[Major North American professional sports leagues|"Big Four" professional leagues]]. Other professional teams include the [[Arena Football League]], and [[Major League Soccer]], and the [[Mexican 1st Division]].
[[College athletics|Collegiate athletics]] have deep significance in Texas culture. The state has the most [[Division I-FBS]] schools in America, ten. The four largest programs are part of the [[Big 12 Conference]]: the [[Baylor Bears]], [[Texas A&M Aggies]], [[Texas Longhorns]], and [[Texas Tech Red Raiders]]. According to a survey of Division I-A coaches, the [[College rivalry|rivalry]] between the [[University of Oklahoma]] and the University of Texas, the [[Red River Shootout]], is ranked the third best collegiate rivalry in the nation.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/redrivershootout/texas/stories/100705dnspofbwnewrivalrylede.1c8619ce.html |title=UT-OU : Best Rivalry? |work =[[Dallas Morning News]] |last =Davis |first =Brian |date=2005-10-07 |accessdate=2006-07-11}}</ref> The rivalry between the two largest universities in the state, Texas A&M University and the University of Texas, is called the [[Lone Star Showdown]].[[Image:Lone Star Showdown 2006 McGee on goal-line.jpg|left|thumb|2006 [[Lone Star Showdown]] football game at [[Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium]]]]<!--This image contains trademarked symbols, the ATM and the longhorn, and is only being used to illustrate said symbols within context-->
As described the book ''[[Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream]]'', high school football is a major part of Texas culture.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} Texas is an American Football recruiting hotbed for college teams nationwide. In 2006, 170 players in the NFL were from Texas high schools.<ref name="HSrecruit">{{Citation |last =Talman |first =John |title =Lone Star Competition |newspaper =[[Rivals.com]] |year =2006 |date =[[2006-03-15]] |url =http://rivals100.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=880&CID=523700}}.</ref> The [[University Interscholastic League]] (UIL) organizes most primary and secondary school competitions. Events organized by UIL include athletic events as well as the arts and academic subjects such as [[mathematics]].{{Fact|date=May 2008}}
From 1905–1915, people in Dallas and Fort Worth turned out by the thousands for horse racing, which was usually tied to the state fair schedule. Dallas established a Jockey Club early on. The Fort Worth Driving Club (for owners of Standardbred trotters and pacers) had 101 members when it opened in 1905. Trotters raced at a park in Fort Worth, but both cities attracted thousands of people for each style of racing.<ref>[http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utarl/00018/arl-00018.html Fort Worth Driving Club Records: A Guide], University of Texas at Arlington, accessed [[29 March]] [[2008]]</ref>
Texans also enjoy going to the [[rodeo]]. The annual [[Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo]] is the largest rodeo in the world. The event begins with trail rides that originate from several points throughout the state, of which convene at [[Reliant Park]]. The World’s first rodeo was held in [[Pecos, Texas]] on [[4 July]] [[1883]].<ref name="HoustonRodeo">{{cite web |title =Houston Rodeo Tickets |publisher =[[Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo]] |date =2008 |url =http://www.houstonrodeoonline.com/ |format =HTML |accessdate =2008-04-20}}</ref> The [[Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show]] in [[Fort Worth, Texas]] has a cowboy, a Mexican and many traditional rodeos. The [[State Fair of Texas]] is held in [[Dallas, Texas]] each year at [[Fair Park]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Fair Park, TX | publisher = City of Dallas | accessdate = 2008-05-22 | url = http://www.dallascityhall.com/FairPark/art_architectural.html}}</ref>
Other popular sports in Texas include [[golf]], [[fishing]], [[auto racing]] and [[lacrosse]].{{Fact|date=May 2008}}
==Healthcare==
[[The Commonwealth Fund]] ranks the Texas [[healthcare system]] the third worst in the nation.<ref name="insurancenet">{{Citation |last =Perotin |first =Maria M. |title =Texas is Near Bottom of Healthcare Rankings |newspaper =[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |year =2007 |date =[[2007-06-13]] |url =http://www.insurancenewsnet.com/article.asp?a=top_lh&id=80824 |accessdate =2008-04-22}}</ref> It also ranks Texas close to last in access to healthcare, quality of care, avoidable hospital spending, and equity among various groups.<ref name="insurancenet"/> Causes of the state's poor rankings include: politics, a high poverty rate, and illegal immigration, Texas having the highest rate in the nation.<ref name="CausesHealthcare">{{Citation |last =Roberson |first =Jason |title =Politics, poverty, immigration entangle Texas health care |newspaper =[[Dallas Morning News]] |year =2007 |date =[[2008-12-04]] |url =http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/120407dnbustexashealth.29ab7e6.html}}</ref> In May 2006, Texas initiated the program "code red" in response to the report that the state had 25.1 percent of the population without health insurance, the largest proportion in the nation.<ref name="codered">{{cite web |title =Code Red: The Critical Condition of Health in Texas |url =http://www.coderedtexas.org/ |format =HTML |accessdate =2008-04-28}}</ref> Texas also has controversial [[non-economic damages caps]] [[medical malpractice]] lawsuits set at $250,000, in an attempt to "curb rising malpractice premiums, and control escalating healthcare costs".<ref name="tort">{{Citation |last =Odom |first =Lamar |last2 =Garcia |first2 =Anthony |last3 =Milburn |first3 =Pamela |year =2005 |title =The Ethicality of Capping Non-Economic Damages to Control Rising Healthcare Costs: Panacea or False and Misleading Practice? |edition =1 |volume =3 |publisher =The Internet Journal of Healthcare Administration |isbn =1531-2933 |url =http://www.ispub.com/ostia/index.php?xmlFilePath=journals/ijhca/vol3n1/capping.xml |accessdate =2008-04-28}}</ref>
The [[Trust for America's Health]] ranked Texas 12th highest adult [[obesity]] rate, 24.6 percent, nationwide, and the 4th highest in the percentage of overweight high school students, 13.9 percent.<ref name="obese1">{{Citation |last =Segal |first =Laura |last2 =Earls |first2 =Michael |title =Texas Ranks 12th in Nation for Obesity, New Report Finds State and Federal Obesity Policies are Failing |date =October 2004 |year =2004 |url =http://healthyamericans.org/reports/obesity/release.php?StateID=TX |accessdate =2008-04-21}}.</ref> The 2008 [[Men's Health]] obesity survey ranked four Texas cities among the top 25 fattest cities in America; Houston ranked 6th, Dallas 7th, El Paso 8th, and [[Arlington, Texas|Arlington]] 14th.<ref name="obese2">
{{Citation |title =America's Fittest Cities 2007 |newspaper =[[Men's Health]] |year =2008 |url =http://www.mensfitness.com/city_rankings/411 |accessdate =2008-04-21}}}.</ref> Austin was the only Texan city in the top 25 among the "fittest cities" in America and ranked 21st.<ref name="obese2"/> The same survey has evaluated the state's obesity initiatives favorably with a "B+".<ref name="obese2"/>
===Medical research===
[[Image:FlightHoustontoDallas086.jpg|thumb|right|Aerial of Texas Medical Center in Houston]]
{{see also|List of hospitals in Texas}}
Texas is home to elite research medical centers. The state has eight [[List_of_colleges_and_universities_in_Texas#Health_Science_Schools|medical schools]],<ref name="MedicalSchools">{{cite web |title =Texas Medical Schools and Hospitals |publisher =Texas Medical Association |date =2006-08-03 |url =http://www.texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=86 |format =HTML |accessdate =2008-04-28}}</ref> three dental schools, and one [[optometry]] school. Texas has two [[Biosafety Level 4]] (BSL-4) laboratories: one at [[The University of Texas Medical Branch]] (UTMB) in Galveston,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bioscrypt.com/about/press/press-2004-10-14.shtml|year=[[October 14]] [[2004]]|title=University Selects Bioscrypt for Biosafety Level 4 Lab|publisher=Bioscrypt|accessdate=2006-04-29}}</ref> and the other at the [[Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research]] in San Antonio—the first privately owned BSL-4 lab in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfbr.org/pages/about_resources2.php|title=Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) Laboratory|publisher=Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research|accessdate=2006-04-29}}</ref>
The [[Texas Medical Center]], in Houston, is the world's largest concentration of [[research]] and [[healthcare]] institutions, with 45 member institutions in the Texas Medical Center.<ref>[http://www.texmedctr.tmc.edu/root/en/GetToKnow/FactsandFigures/FactsAndFigures.htm Facts and Figures]. ''Texas Medical Center''. 2006. Last Retrieved [[2007-03-17]].</ref> More heart transplants are performed at [[Texas Medical Center]] than anywhere else in the world.<ref name="HeartTransplants">{{cite web |title =Background Statistics > People and Politics (most recent) by state |publisher =State Master |date =2008-05-08 |url =http://www.statemaster.com/graph/bac_bac-background-people-and-politics |format =HTML |accessdate =2008-05-08}}</ref> San Antonio's South Texas Medical Center facilities rank sixth in clinical medicine research impact in the [[United States]]<ref name="UTSAFactsheet">{{Citation |date =[[2007-04-03]] |year =2007 |title =Health Science Center ranks sixth in clinical medicine |edition =7 |volume =XL |publisher =University of Texas Health Science Center |url =http://www.uthscsa.edu/hscnews/singleformat.asp?newID=2353 |accessdate =2008-04-28}}</ref> with the [[UTHSCSA|University of Texas Health Science Center]] being another highly ranked research and educational institution.<ref>{{cite web | title = Medical center's research ranks high | publisher = San Antonio Express-News | accessdate = 2008-05-15 | url = http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA040407.medical.center.EN.2dc65c3e.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = International report gives Dental School high marks | publisher = HSC NEWS | accessdate = 2008-05-15 | url = http://www.uthscsa.edu/hscnews/singleformat.asp?newID=1742}}</ref>
Dallas is home to the [[American Heart Association]] and the [[University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center]], "among the top academic medical centers in the world".<ref name="UTSWAboutUs">{{cite web |title =About UT Southwestern |publisher =[[University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center]] |url =http://www8.utsouthwestern.edu/home/about/index.html |format =HTML |accessdate =2008-04-28}}</ref> The [[University of Texas Southwestern Medical School]] at the center employs the most medical school [[Nobel laureates]] in the world.<ref name="UTSWFactsheet">{{cite web |title =UT Southwestern Fact Sheet |publisher =[[University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center]] |date =2008 |url =http://www8.utsouthwestern.edu/vgn/images/portal/cit_56417/43/32/2800592006_Fact_Sheet.pdf |format =PDF |accessdate =2008-04-28}}</ref><ref name="UTSWAboutUs"/> [[The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center]] is one of the world’s highly regarded academic institutions devoted to cancer patient care, research, education and prevention.<ref name="MDAnderson">{{cite web |title =About MD Anderson |publisher =[[The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center]] |url =http://www.mdanderson.org/about_mda/ |format =HTML |accessdate =2008-04-28}}</ref>
==Education==
{{main|Education in Texas}}
[[Image:pesh.jpg|thumb|right|[[Plano East Senior High School]], in 2005, had the largest graduating class in the nation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12535986/site/newsweek/page/2/|title=Some Numbers from Newsweek's Best High Schools List - Newsweek America's Best High Schools -r MSNBC.com|publisher=Newsweek|accessdate=2006-07-10}}</ref>]]
The [[American Legislative Exchange Council]] ranked Texas 26 among the 50 states for education in 2007. Texas students ranked higher than average in mathematics, but lower in reading. Between 2005–2006, Texas spent $7,584 per pupil ranking it below the national average of $9,295. The pupil/teacher ratio was 15.0 slightly below average. Instructors were paid $38,130, below the national average. 10.8% of the educational funding in Texas came from the federal government, 89.22% from state funding.<ref name="reportcard">{{Citation|title =2007 Report Card on American Education|date =|year =2007|url =http://www.alec.org/fileadmin/newPDF/2007%20ALEC%20Education%20Report%20Card.pdf|accessdate =2008-04-08|format ={{dead link|date=June 2008}} – <sup>[http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=intitle%3A2007+Report+Card+on+American+Education&as_publication=&as_ylo=2007&as_yhi=2007&btnG=Search Scholar search]</sup>}}</ref>
The state's public school systems are administered by the [[Texas Education Agency]] (TEA). Texas has [[List of school districts in Texas|over 1,000]] [[school district]]s—all districts except the [[Stafford Municipal School District]] are independent from [[municipal government]] and many cross city boundaries.<ref name="Stafford">>{{cite press release| title = Comptroller Strayhorn to Review Stafford Municipal School District| publisher =Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn| date =[[2003-09-16]]| format =HTML| url =http://www.cpa.state.tx.us/news/30916stafford.html| accessdate =2008-06-28}}</ref> School districts have the power to [[taxation|tax]] their residents and to assert [[eminent domain]] over privately owned property. The "[[Robin Hood plan]]" is a controversial tax redistribution system that provides court-mandated equitable school financing for school districts. Property tax revenue from property-wealthy school districts is distributed to those in property-poor districts, in an effort to equalize the public school financing for children throughout Texas.<ref name="robinhood">{{Citation| last =Saghaye-Biria| first =Hakimeh| author-link =http://soc.hfac.uh.edu/cgi-bin/artman/exec/search.cgi?keyword=Hakimeh%20Saghaye-Biria| date =[[2001-04-22]]| publisher =World Internet News Cooperative| url =http://soc.hfac.uh.edu/artman/publish/article_137.shtml| accessdate =2008-06-23}}</ref> The TEA has no authority over [[private school]] operations; private schools may or may not be accredited, and achievement tests are not required for private school graduating seniors. Neither TEA nor the local school district has authority to regulate [[homeschooling|home school]] activities.<ref name="homeschool">{{Citation | publication-date =2007-11-01| title =Home School Information Letter| publisher =Texas Education Agency | url =http://www.tea.state.tx.us/home.school/homeltr.html| accessdate =2008-06-24}}</ref>
The [[Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills]] (TAKS) is a [[standardized test]] used in Texas [[primary education|primary]] and [[secondary education|secondary schools]] to assess students' attainment of [[reading (activity)|reading]], [[writing]], [[math]], [[science]], and [[social studies]] skills required under Texas education standards. Though created before the [[No Child Left Behind Act]] was passed, it complies with the law. In spring 2007, Texas legislators replaced the TAKS for freshmen in the 2011–2012 school year and onward with End of Course exams for core high school classes.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/admin/eoc/index.html|title="End-of-Course (EOC) Assessments: Implementation" |last=Texas Education Agency|first=|work=Assessment Division|date=[[2007-10-22]]|accessdate=2007-10-22}}</ref>
===Colleges and universities===
[[Image:The University of Texas at Austin - Littlefield Fountain and Main Building.jpg|thumb|right|The University of Texas at Austin]]
{{further|[[List of colleges and universities in Texas]]}}
There are 181 colleges and universities, and dozens of other institutions engaged in the research and development of Texas within five different [[State university system|university systems]].{{Fact|date=February 2008}}. The [[University of Texas at Austin]], [[Texas A&M University]], [[University of Houston]] and the [[University of North Texas]] are Texas's four largest comprehensive [[Doctorate|[doctoral degree]] – granting institutions with a combined enrollment of over 145,000. Texas's controversial alternative [[affirmative action]] plan, [[Texas House Bill 588]], guarantees Texas students who graduated in the [[Class rank|top ten percent]] of their [[high school]] class automatic admission to state-funded universities. The bill was created to encourage [[Multiculturalism|diversity]] while avoiding problems stemming from the ''[[Hopwood v. Texas]]'' (1996) case. As for [[Private university|private universities]], [[Rice University]]—one of the country’s leading teaching and research universities—ranked the 17th-best university overall in the nation by ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]''.<ref>[http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/natudoc/tier1/t1natudoc_brief.php America's Best Colleges 2006]. ''U.S. News & World Report''</ref> Additionally, [[Baylor University]]—the oldest university in the state—was chartered by the Republic of Texas.<ref>{{cite web | title = About Baylor | publisher = Baylor University | accessdate = 2008-05-21 | url = http://www.baylor.edu/about/}}</ref>
{{clear}}
==See also==
{{portal|Texas|Flag of Texas.svg|left=no}}
*[[List of Texas-related topics]]
{{clear}}
<!-- Please place links to all topics directly related to the State of Texas in the [[List of Texas-related topics]] -->
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
*{{Citation|last=Chipman|first=Donald E.|title=Spanish Texas, 1519-1821|publisher=[[University of Texas Press]]|location=[[Austin, TX]]|date=1992|isbn=0292776594}}
*{{Citation|last=Weber|first=David J.|title=The Spanish Frontier in North America|publisher=[[Yale University Press]]|location=[[New Haven, CT]]|series=Yale Western Americana Series|date=1992|isbn=0300051980}}
*{{citation|last=Weddle|first=Robert S.|title=Changing Tides: Twilight and Dawn in the Spanish Sea, 1763–1803|series=Centennial Series of the Association of Former Students Number 58|publisher=[[Texas A&M University Press]]|location=[[College Station, TX]]|date=1995|isbn=0890966613}}
{{refend}}
==External links==
{{sisterlinks}}
;State Government
*[http://www.texasonline.com/portal/tol The State of Texas]
*[http://wikis.ala.org/godort/index.php/Texas Texas State Databases] - Annotated list of searchable databases produced by Texas state agencies and compiled by the ''Government Documents Roundtable of the American Library Association''.
;U.S. Government
*[http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=TX Energy Profile for Texas- Economic, environmental, and energy data]
*[http://www.usgs.gov/state/state.asp?State=TX USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Texas]
*[http://www.ers.usda.gov/StateFacts/TX.htm Texas State Facts]
*[http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/tx/ South and West Texas, a National Park Service ''Discover Our Shared Heritage'' Travel Itinerary]
;Other
*[http://www.thestoryoftexas.com/ The Texas State History Museum]
*[http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/ The Handbook of Texas Online] – Published by the ''Texas State Historical Association''
*[http://texinfo.library.unt.edu/texasregister/default.htm ''Texas Register''], hosted by the ''University of North Texas Libraries''
*[http://dmoz.org/Regional/North_America/United_States/Texas/ Open Directory: Texas]
*{{wikitravel}}
{{Texas|expand}}
{{United States}}
{{US South}}
{{Six flags of Texas}}
{{Confederate2}}
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[[Category:Texas|*]]
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[[Category:Southern United States]]
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