Texas State Geography

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Key Facts

Population (1994): 18,418,000 (2nd in size)

State size: 266,807 square miles (2nd in size)

State Capital: Austin (named after Stephen F. Austin, a leader in the Texas struggle for independence from Mexico)

Major cities: Auston, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio

Admission to union: The 28th State

Date entered the union: December 29, 1845

Origin of state name: Named from the indian word "tejas" meaning "friends".

Nicknames: The Lone Star State

Bordering states: New Mexico, Oklahoma and Louisiana, with Mexico on the southwest and the Gulf of Mexico on the southeast.

State bird: Mockingbird

State flower: Bluebonnet

State tree: Pecan

Motto: Friendship

The Alamo is a symbol of Texas' struggle for independence from Mexico.

The Houston Space Center is a popular place for those interested in space and space exploration.

First settled by the Spanish in 1682, then the French in 1685. Initially part of Mexico until settlers rebelled and established the State of Texas.

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