Texas
Texas is the twenty-eighth state to enter into the union and was admitted on December 29, 1845. Texas is the second largest in population after California and has the second largest land-area after Alaska. It has the largest land-area in the continental US. Before its admission, it was its own country, having gained independence from Mexico.
The capital of Texas is Austin, and the largest city is Houston. It was solidly Democratic from about 1900 to the 1970s, then Republicans gradually took control and now dominate the political atmosphere of Texas.
Up until the 1980's Texas had a booming oil industry, starting with the Spindletop oil gusher. For many years Texas was one of the largest oil producers in the world.
Currently, Texas is shifting from the oil industry to the service sector. It has a growing tech industry and is home to many well-known corporations such as Dell and Texas Instruments.
The current governor of Texas is Rick Perry.
Notable Texans
- Lance Armstrong, who holds the record for most consecutive Tour de France victories, was born in Plano.
- George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States, former Governor of Texas.
- Dwight Eisenhower, former president, was born in Denison.
- Pat Garrett, the policeman who shot Billy the Kid, lived in multiple locations in Texas.
- Sam Houston was the president of Texas when it was an independent nation, and lent his name to Texas's largest city.
- Howard Hughes, the reclusive billionaire who was the subject of the movie The Aviator, was born in Humble.
- Lyndon B. Johnson, former president, lived and died in Stonewall.
- Phil McGraw, talk show host, lived in Wichita Falls at one point.
- Ted Nugent, controversial conservative musician, lives near Crawford.
- Ross Perot, former presidential candidate, was born in Texarkana.
- Dan Rather, former CBS news anchor, was born in Wharton.
- Stevie Ray Vaughn, musician.
Republic of Texas Era
- Shortly after winning independence from Mexico, Texas became an independent republic, from 1836-1845
- In 1845, hoping to find a cheap labor supply of Mexicans, congressed legalized Texas
- Their plan backfired when they discovered Texans would much rather star in gay cowboy movies than trim the hedges of the white house lawn
- When it was discovered that George Bush is an incompetent asshole, plans were drawn up to kick Texas out of the union
Education
The state of Texas is home of many notable institutions of higher learning.
See Also