Texas: The Lone Star State

Texas: The Lone Star State — page 1
INTRODUCTION After Alaska Texas is the largest state in area in the United States For several years this state was a nation on its own it was called the Republic of Texas That all changed on Dec 29 1845 when Texas became the 28th state to join the Union Texas is as large as Kentucky Ohio Indiana and all of the Middle Atlantic and New England states put together Its various regions include mountains forests deserts plains and a subtropical coast Few other states have such a wealth of mineral resources as Texas In the 20th century Texas became the leading producer and refiner of oil in the United States Metropolitan Austin had a population of about 1 25 million in the 2000 census 4 TEXAS Texas has a 367-mile coastline on the Gulf of Mexico Texas motto is Friendship The state bird is the mockingbird It is known for its lovely singing The state tree of Texas is the pecan tree Texas state flower is the bluebonnet Many Texans see it as a trademark much like the shamrock is to the Irish The state’s official tartan a plaid cloth originating in Scotland is called the Texas Bluebonnet The first word in the third line of the state song Texas Our Texas had to be changed from largest to boldest after Alaska joined the Union The capital of Texas is Austin