Texas is a vast state with a distinct political history, many landscapes, and cultural traditions shaped by Indigenous, Spanish, Mexican, Tejano, African American, European, and immigrant communities. These 15 facts are a practical introduction to the Lone Star State.
Quick Facts
Capital: Austin
Largest city: Houston
Statehood: December 29, 1845 (28th state)
Nickname: Lone Star State
15 Essential Facts About Texas
1. Texas became the 28th state in 1845.
Texas joined the United States on December 29, 1845, after nearly a decade as the independent Republic of Texas.
2. Austin is the capital and Houston is the largest city.
Austin houses the state government and the Texas Capitol. Houston is the state’s largest city and a major international business, health, and spaceflight center.
3. Texas has 254 counties.
More counties than any other U.S. state make Texas’s local map especially detailed. County government is an important part of everyday administration.
4. Texas was once an independent republic.
Following its revolution against Mexico in 1836, the Republic of Texas existed until annexation by the United States in 1845.
5. The Lone Star is the state’s enduring symbol.
The single star on the Texas flag recalls the republic era and is the source of the “Lone Star State” nickname.
6. “Six flags over Texas” summarizes changing sovereignties.
The phrase refers to Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States, and the United States—all of which claimed authority over parts of present-day Texas.
7. The Alamo is one of the state’s best-known historic sites.
The 1836 battle at the Alamo became a powerful symbol during the Texas Revolution. The former mission is preserved in downtown San Antonio.
8. Texas contains dramatically different landscapes.
The state includes the Gulf Coast, forests, fertile plains, Hill Country, high plains, and the Chihuahuan Desert. Its size makes regional contrasts especially visible.
9. Big Bend National Park protects a desert bend of the Rio Grande.
In far West Texas, Big Bend includes desert, mountain, and river environments along the international boundary with Mexico.
10. Human spaceflight is a major Houston story.
NASA’s Johnson Space Center manages human spaceflight programs, and “Houston” became synonymous with mission control in the public imagination.
11. Ranching helped define Texas culture and economy.
Cattle ranching, vaquero traditions, and open-range history have had a lasting influence on Texas food, language, work, and popular imagery.
12. Texas is the second-largest state by land area.
Only Alaska is larger by land area. Texas’s scale affects its climate, travel distances, and regional identities.
13. Energy is an important part of the Texas economy.
Oil, natural gas, wind, solar, refining, and electricity generation all play major roles in the state’s economy and landscape.
14. San Antonio’s missions tell a layered borderlands history.
The San Antonio Missions National Historical Park interprets Spanish colonial missions and the enduring stories of the Indigenous people connected to them.
15. Texas food is a regional conversation.
Barbecue, Tex-Mex, Mexican, Gulf seafood, Czech-German baking, and many other food traditions reflect the state’s diverse communities and geography.
Sources and Further Reading
- Texas state government
- Texas State Historical Association
- Texas State Library: About Texas
- National Park Service: Big Bend
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts