| − | '''Texas''' became the 28th state to join the union on December 29, 1845. It was a territory of [[Mexico]] from 1821–1835, before [[Texas War of Independence|gaining independence]] from [[Mexico]] as the [[Republic of Texas]] from 1836–1845. This state is the largest [[conservative]] state in population (in 2020 it was the only state to gain more than one new seat in Congress, it gained two new seats) and is predicted to surpass [[California]] in population within a few decades (due in part to Californians moving to the state, causing it to lose a Congressional seat for the first time in its history). Texas is the second-largest in population after California (in 2020 its population was estimated at over 29.1 million) and has the second-largest land-area after [[Alaska]]. Texas has the most [[free market]]-based large [[economy]] in the [[United States]]. | + | '''Texas''' became the 28th state to join the union on December 29, 1845. It was a territory of [[Mexico]] from 1821–1835, before [[Texas War of Independence|gaining independence]] from [[Mexico]] as the [[Republic of Texas]] from 1836–1845. This state is the largest [[conservative]] state in population (in 2020 it was the only state to gain more than one new seat in Congress, it gained two new seats) and is predicted to surpass [[California]] in population within a few decades (due in part to Californians moving to the state, causing it to lose a Congressional seat for the first time in its history). Texas is the second-largest in population after California (in 2020 its population was estimated at over 29.1 million) and has the second-largest land-area after [[Alaska]]. Texas has long been the biggest grower of [[cotton]] in the [[U.S.]] Texas has the most [[free market]]-based large [[economy]] in the [[United States]]. |
| | The capital of Texas is [[Austin]], and its largest city is [[Houston]]. Texas was a solidly [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] state from the end of [[Reconstruction]] in the early 1870s until the 1970s, when [[Republican Party]] started gradually taking control, until it dominated the political atmosphere of the state. Nevertheless, Democrats control the largest cities of Houston, [[San Antonio]], Austin, [[Dallas]], and [[El Paso]] (and the respective counties in which they reside), along with the counties along the Mexican border. Austin is one of the most [[liberal]] cities in [[The South|the South]]. | | The capital of Texas is [[Austin]], and its largest city is [[Houston]]. Texas was a solidly [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] state from the end of [[Reconstruction]] in the early 1870s until the 1970s, when [[Republican Party]] started gradually taking control, until it dominated the political atmosphere of the state. Nevertheless, Democrats control the largest cities of Houston, [[San Antonio]], Austin, [[Dallas]], and [[El Paso]] (and the respective counties in which they reside), along with the counties along the Mexican border. Austin is one of the most [[liberal]] cities in [[The South|the South]]. |