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TEXAS A Quick Look Welcome to the country that’s .

CONTENTS Texas’ Past ...... 2 The Six Flags of Texas . . . . .4 Texas’ Capitol ...... 6 OU MAY HAVE Texas Map ...... 8 heard a tall tale The Seven Regions of Texas or two about Texas. Y Country ...... 10 A few of them are even true. But Gulf Coast ...... 12 it’s not so exaggerated to think Hill Country ...... 14 of Texas as a whole other coun- Panhandle Plains ...... 16 try. Covering 268,596 square ...... 18 miles, Texas stretches 801 straight-line miles from north to south and 773 miles from east to west. Prairies and Lakes . . . . . 20 A few things about Texas might surprise you. Like the Plains . . . . . 22 looming a mile high in Big Bend Country. The deep forests that blanket Texas State Parks ...... 24 millions of acres in the Piney Woods. Humid swamps where Flowers of Texas ...... 25 wild orchids grow. Dramatic volcanic landscapes. More than 600 miles of Texas ...... 26 of sunny Gulf coastline. Twenty-nine modern cities with populations of Texas Symbols ...... 27 100,000 or more. And thousands of square miles of grassy, rolling prairies Texas Facts ...... 28 where ranches and Texas cowboys still thrive. People of Texas ...... 30 This isn’t a detailed guide—it’s a quick look at the colorful and distinc- Official State Song ...... 31 tive land called Texas. In these pages, you can discover for yourself the Quick Facts ...... 31 truth about the Texas mystique. Driving Texas Highways . . . .32 Enjoy! Travel Information ...... 33

Compiled & Published by © TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION All photos provided by Travel Information Travel Information Division Texas Department of Transportation PREPARED FOR FREE DISTRIBUTION Division, Texas Department of P.O. Box 149249 March 2012 Transportation, unless otherwise noted. Texas Department Austin, TX 78714-9249 Litho in USA 031212 of Transportation www.txdot.gov Printed on recycled paper

TEXAS: A Quick Look 1 TEXAS’ TEXAS: THE 28TH STATE Civil War, Texas provided both men lthough the Republic of Texas was and supplies to the Con­fed­eracy. The A an independent nation, most of its last battle of the war was in Texas at Past citizens favored statehood. Reluctance Palmito Ranch. A month after Lee had of the U.S. Congress to admit another officially surrendered, the Con­federates THE STORY OF TEXAS is filled “slave” state delayed acceptance of claimed the war’s final victory. with chapters of fascinating people, Texas as a state, but a compromise was places, struggles and victories. reached, and on Decem­ber 29, 1845, CATTLE, OIL AND BEYOND exas recovered from the devasta- Historians and teachers enjoy shar- the state was legally annexed by the . T tion of war more quickly than ing the story with new generations and This annexation of Texas was con- other Confederate states. Thousands of newcomers, because it explains why San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site sidered a declaration of war by Mexico, Longhorn cattle were running free on Texans are so proud and why this state Santa Anna ordered about 1,800 of his and although federal troops under Gen. Texas lands, and there was a demand for is like a whole other country. troops to attack the Alamo, which was Zachary Taylor firmly established the right beef in northern markets. The legendary defended by less than 200 men. Hundreds of Texas to be a state, boundaries were ill- trail drives met that demand and brought of the Mexican troops died before the defined and remained a source of disputes much-needed cash to Texas. Then, at defenders were killed. for years to come. 10 a.m. on January 10, 1901, the Lucas SPANISH EXPLORERS again moved to strengthen their claim by THE TEXIAN REBELLION A few weeks later, Santa Anna ordered oil well blew in at , and Texas ore than 100 years before the Pil­­ establishing missions. Settlements around eanwhile, Sam had come the massacre of Col. James W. Fannin Jr. CIVIL WAR entered the modern era. When NASA M grims set foot on Plymouth Rock, the missions grew to become the towns of M to Texas. As a former congress- and his men at Goliad. He then sent his n February 1861, Texas voted to established its presence near Houston Alonso Alvarez de Piñeda was busily map- , Goliad and Nacogdoches. man and governor of , he had troops in pursuit of Gen. Sam Houston’s I side with the Confederate States of in the 1960s, Texans took part in the ping the Gulf Coast from to Yuca­­­tán, the political background to become a forces, which had retreated to the bayou America. During the course of the exploration of yet another frontier. claiming the land—including what’s now STEPHEN F. AUSTIN’S leader of the restless settlers, who now country near present-day Houston. COLONISTS Texas—for the government of Spain. outnumbered the Mexican nationals in The Texians surprised the Mexicans Spain’s obsession with gold, encour- fter Mexico achieved independence Texas by four to one. on April 21, 1836, and triumphed in the aged by the successes of Cortez in A from Spain in 1821, colonization The first shots of the Battle of San Jacinto, which won indepen- Mexico, led to subsequent expeditions. was encouraged. Land grants were offered were fired on September 1, 1835, off dence for Texas. Colonization came slowly, following the to settlers, and brought Velasco at the mouth of the , groups to take advantage of the generous THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS establishment of missions. The first when the armed schooner San Felipe settlement that could be called a town grants. Best known, perhaps, were the he Texas Declaration of Indepen­ ­­ engaged the revenue cutter Correo de was Ysleta, established in 1681 in 300 families brought by Stephen F. Austin. dence had been drafted on March 2, Mejico. On October 2, the first land shot of T present-day El Paso. Families today proudly trace their ties to 1836, and that independence lasted until the Revolution was fired in Gonzales (near the “Old Three Hundred.” December 29, 1845, when Texas became the present-day community of Cost) when FRENCH COLONIES Settlers came in droves, and soon the 28th U.S. state. Mexican troops demanded the return of a he short-lived Fort St. Louis, friction between the settlers and Mexico Sam Houston, hero of San Jacinto, cannon they had loaned the settlers. Their T established by France in 1685, was grew into rebellion. Conventions were was the republic’s first president. The new reply of “Come and Take It” became a rally- abandoned before the Spanish arrived called in 1832 and 1833, and the colonists government was troubled by a shortage ing cry. On October 12, the Texians overran to challenge it. The Spanish, however, petitioned Mexico for civil rights. Austin of funds. The Mexican army made an abor- the fort at Goliad, and less than two months recognizing the threat of colonization by took the demands to Mexico City where he tive attempt to recapture San Antonio. later took the city of San Antonio. other European powers, moved up the was denied an audience with Gen. Antonio Texas independence was recognized by the and established the first López de Santa Anna and was imprisoned REMEMBER THE ALAMO United States in 1837, by France in 1839, East Texas mission, San Francisco de for nearly two years on a charge of treason. etermined to regain the city, the and by England and Holland in 1840. This historical re-enactment commemorates the Battle of Goliad of the Texas Revolution. los Tejas, near present-day Weches. For the Texian colonists, the last straw came D Mexican dictator Santa Anna and when Santa Anna scrapped the Mexican The French mounted another coloniza- his army held the Alamo under siege for For more information about almost any topic in Texas history—A to Z— tion effort in the 1700s, and the Spanish federal constitution and became a dictator. more than a week. On March 6, 1836, visit the Online: www.tshaonline.org.

2 TEXAS: A Quick Look TEXAS: A Quick Look 3 ISTORIANS NOTE that during more than flew flags of the Long Republic and THE four centuries of recorded history in the area the Fredonian Republic. South Texas unfurled a flag of Hthat became Texas, many more than six flags the Republic of the Rio Grande. At San Jacinto, where have flown at significant times and places. One ban- Texas won independence, the charging Texans carried Six Flags ner was associated with the opening shots of the Texas a white silk banner centered with the figure of a woman OF TEXAS Revolution at Gonzales in 1835. symbolizing liberty. Several flags of the revolutionary period featured On these pages are the six flags of nations that exer- a “lone star,” as on Capt. William Scott’s flag, the cised actual dominion over or staked major claims to Battalion Flag and the Texas Naval Flag. Texas.

TEXAS UNDER SPAIN TEXAS UNDER FRANCE TEXAS UNDER MEXICO TEXAS AS A REPUBLIC TEXAS IN THE CONFEDERACY TEXAS IN THE UNITED STATES 1519–1685; 1690–1821 1685–1690 1821–1836 1836–1845 1861–1865 1845–1861; 1865–PRESENT ★ Spain was the first European nation to ★ Planning to expand its base from ★ For more than a decade after Mexico ★ During nearly 10 years of independence, ★ Sixteen years after Texas became ★ On joining the union, Texas became claim what is now Texas, beginning in French , France took a bold won independence from Spain, pio- the Republic of Texas endured epidem- part of the United States, the Civil the 28th star on the U.S. flag. 1519 when Cortez was establishing a step in 1685, planting its flag in eastern neers from the Hispanic south and ics, financial crises and volatile clashes War broke out. ★ Shrugging aside defeat and bitter Spanish presence in Mexico and Alonso Texas near the Gulf Coast. Although the Anglo north flowed into Texas. with Mexico. ★ Gov. Sam Houston, who urged Texans reconstruction after the Civil War, the Alvarez de Piñeda was mapping the Spain had claimed Texas, most of the ★ It was a frontier region for both. ★ But during this period, many Texas to stay aloof or re-establish a neutral offspring of Texas pioneers marshaled Texas coastline. territory had no Spanish presence at all. Anglo Texans became Mexican icons and legends took shape: republic, was driven from office. their strengths to secure a future based ★ A few shipwrecked Spaniards, like Alvar The nearest Spanish settlements were citizens. on determined self-reliance. • Texas became the birthplace of ★ Texas joined the doomed Confederacy, Núñez and Cabeza de Vaca, and explor- hundreds of miles away. ★ But divergent social and political the American cowboy. and like all Confederate states, it faced ★ The fabled Texas Longhorn provided ers such as Coronado, occasionally ★ French nobleman René Robert attitudes began to alienate the two • Texas’ Navy was the first to use Sam devastation and economic collapse. beef for a burgeoning nation. probed the vast wilderness, but more Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, founded cultures. Colt’s remarkable revolver. ★ The first national flag of the Confederate ★ Newly turned topsoil on vast farm acre- than 100 years passed before Spain a colony called Fort St. Louis. But ★ The last straw: Mexican Gen. Santa • Sam Houston became an American States of America (shown above) is ages yielded bountiful crops. planted its first settlement in Texas: the effort was doomed by a series of Anna scrapped the Mexican federal ideal of rugged individualism. known as the Stars and Bars. You ★ The 20th century dawned with the Ysleta Mission in present-day El Paso, calamities—shipwreck, disease, famine, constitution and declared himself ★ The republic ended when Texas may be more familiar with the later discovery of fabulous resources— established in 1681. hostile Indians and internal strife result- dictator. joined the United States on X-crossed Confederate battle flag, ing in La Salle’s murder by one of his oil gushers roaring in at a place called ★ Gradually expanding from Mexico, other ★ Texans revolted and won their December 29, 1845. also known as the Starry Cross. Spindletop near Beaumont. Spanish missions, forts and civil settle- own company. independence April 21, 1836, on ★ The red, white and blue Texas state flag ★ ments followed for nearly a century ★ By 1690, France’s claim to Texas By mid-century, modern Texas indus- the battleground of San Jacinto with its lone star is the same flag the and-a-half until Mexico won its inde- had failed. tries were sprouting in a fertile climate near Houston. republic adopted in 1839. of advanced technology. pendence from Spain in 1821. ★ The French flag—actually the French ★ Mexico’s flag depicts an eagle, ★ ★ The red-and-yellow-striped Spanish royal ensign for ships and forts— a snake (a symbol from pre- This historic version of the Stars and For more information, see the “Flags of Texas” flag of this historic period depicts a features golden fleurs-de-lis on a field Columbian mythology) and Stripes features only 28 stars, as it entry at www.tshaonline.org or see lion of Leon and a castle of Castile of white. a cactus on bars of green, white would have when Texas first became www.tsl.state.tx.us/ref/abouttx/sixflags.html. on a shield surmounted by a crown. and red. part of the United States.

4 TEXAS: A Quick Look TEXAS: A Quick Look 5 TEXAS’’ Capitol ★ It was dedicated on May 16, 1888, and occu­pied in September of that year. ★ Covering 2.25 acres of ground with some 8.5 acres of floor space, the Capitol was said to be the seventh-largest building in the world at the time of its construction. ★ A four-story, 650,000-square-foot underground extension was added in 1993. Major renovation of the Capitol was completed in 1995. ★ The building stands 302.64 feet tall, measured from the oval walk at the south entrance to the tip of the star in the Goddess of Liberty’s hand at the top of the dome. It is taller than the U.S. Capitol in , D.C. For more information, see www.tspb.state.tx.us.

Capitol rotunda

USTIN BECAME the capital city in 1839. The capital was later moved to Houston in 1842, then A Washington-on-the-Brazos before returning to Austin in 1845. The Texas Constitution, adopted February 15, 1876, authorized the sale of public land to finance a new state capitol in Aus­tin. ★ The builders accepted as payment 3 million acres of land in House Chamber 10 counties of the . This land became the famed XIT Ranch. THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS ★ Original plans called for construction with Texas limestone. ★ The Texas Legislature meets every two years. After the cornerstone was laid on March 2, 1885, concerns­ ★ It convenes in January of every odd-numbered year for a arose about the uniform quality of limestone from then- session lasting no more than 140 days. available quarries. ★ In addition, the governor may call a special session at any time. ★ ★ Owners of at Marble Falls in Burnet County The Legislature has two chambers — the Senate and the House. offered building stone, free of charge, to the state. The struc- ★ The Senate has 31 members who serve four-year terms. ture was completed with the Sunset Red Texas Granite that ★ The House has 150 members who serve two-year terms. makes the Capitol so distinctive. For more information, see www.capitol.state.tx.us.

6 TEXAS: A Quick Look TEXAS: A Quick Look 7 TEXAS TRAVEL INFORMATION CENTERS TEXAS (See page 33)

1 Amarillo 5 Gainesville 9 Texarkana THE SEVEN REGIONS OF TEXAS Map 2 Anthony 6 Langtry 10 ■ BIG BEND COUNTRY 3 Austin 7 Laredo 11 Waskom HIS IS AN OVERVIEW of the ■ GULF COAST 4 Denison 8 12 Wichita Falls state showing interstate and major T highways. It is not intended for ■ HILL COUNTRY use as a travel map. Colors indicate the seven ■ PANHANDLE PLAINS Texas travel regions—shown at right. The next PINEY WOODS 14 pages feature photos and descriptions of ■ each region. ■ PRAIRIES AND LAKES ■ SOUTH TEXAS PLAINS

MILEAGE CHART Use this chart to see how far it is between two Texas cities. Traveling on I-10, it is 834 miles from El Paso to Orange!

8 TEXAS: A Quick Look TEXAS: A Quick Look 9

Big Bend Country ISITORS TO THIS BEAUTIFUL natural region find high-country Vadventure after adventure because the Big Bend Country is chockfull of outdoor opportunities like hiking, camping, horseback riding, mountain biking, jeep touring, river rafting and more. The landscapes in this tallest region of the state are straight out of an old Hollywood western, with thorny, sun-bleached and jagged ter- rain. Ancient rock strata lie exposed in rocky mountains more than a mile high. Survival became a way of life for those who settled in this rough, remote area. Although early explorers couldn’t tame the land, they made it more accessible. Today, excellent highways span the wilderness, leading to sites where the great War Trail swept across two nations, con- quistadors and cavalry troopers scanned the horizon for danger, and cowboys made their home on the range.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The River Road in Big Bend Ranch State Park. A collection of pumping units are on display outside the Petroleum Museum in Midland. Fort Stockton’s Paisano Pete is the world’s largest roadrunner.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Texas’ oldest mission, Corpus Christi de la Ysleta in El Paso, was established in 1682. The Presidential Museum in Odessa is dedicated to the leaders who have shaped this country. Visitors can peek through a telescope at the University of Texas McDonald Observatory near Fort Davis. Hiking trails lead to enchant­ing scenery in National Park.

10 TEXAS: A Quick Look TEXAS: A Quick Look 11 ETWEEN THE MOSS-DRAPED Gulf Coast bayous of Louisiana and the sunny Bshores of Mexico, you’ll discover the 624-mile stretch of the Texas Gulf Coast. Here, you’ll find a wealth of natural harbors, historic fishing villages, busy ports, offshore islands, sheltered bays and rec- reational areas sprinkled along the seashore. Campers and anglers enjoy superb oceanfront parks, while nature-lovers delight in some of the best opportunities for -watching in the Western Hemisphere. The seaside playground, South Padre Island, draws tourists from across the globe and enjoys acclaim as one of the best beaches in the world.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Public beaches and piers can be found at many points along the 624- mile Texas Gulf Coast. An adventure into the past, present and future of NASA’s space flight program awaits visitors at Space Center Houston. Climb aboard a CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The pyramids at Galveston’s World War II–era aircraft carrier Moody Gardens house an aquarium, a rain forest at the USS Lexington Museum in and IMAX 3-D and 4-D theaters. The Brownsville Corpus Christi. Heritage Complex offers history of the lower Rio Grande Valley. The Lucas Gusher Monument in Beaumont commemorates the beginning of the petroleum industry. The skyline of Houston— Texas’ largest city—stands tall.

12 TEXAS: A Quick Look TEXAS: A Quick Look 13 USH GREEN SLOPES, ROCKY Hill Country landscapes and bubbling springs L are just part of the wonderment that makes up the . You’ll also be amazed by rolling hills and river valleys that were shaped by ancient seas, enormous geological forces and mil- lennia of . Today, skyscrapers stand in cities just miles away from open space teeming with native wildlife. Visitors explore cliff-edged lakes, dude ranches, deep and state parks that offer historic treasures and natural beauty. It’s a land to cherish –– rich with Texas’ handsome capital city, charming small towns, aquatic playgrounds, highland vistas and more.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Swim, fish and and paddle at Guadalupe River State Park near Boerne. The National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg tells the story of World War II in the Pacific. There are lots of riding opportunities at dude ranches around Bandera. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The state-of-the-art Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin tells the story of Texas. The drive along Texas 71, between Llano and Brady, is a great place to view spring wildflowers. Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels is one of America’s most popular water parks. There are lots of opportunities to see cave formations at the .

14 TEXAS: A Quick Look TEXAS: A Quick Look 15 Panhandle Plains HAT BETTER WAY to understand the frontier W and the people who settled it than to browse the fascinating museums and experience the rugged grandeur of the Texas Panhandle Plains? Resilient men and women shaped the heritage of this region. The Panhandle Plains slice through what residents call the “Golden Spread,” which refers to this immensely rich agricultural, mineral and industrial area. Those who travel these wide-open spaces find abundant opportunities for camping amid scenic vistas, nature photography and exploring the paths of the ancient people who once roamed this land.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: These formations in Palo Duro prove that the Panhandle isn’t all flat. Ten Cadillacs are buried CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Learn about prehistory and geology at the nose down at the Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo. The International Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument near Fritch. Windmills Water Lily Collection can be found in Civic League Park in San provided the West with important access to underground water. Angelo. Plainview celebrates Cowboy Days in September. “Texas” outdoor drama in .

16 TEXAS: A Quick Look TEXAS: A Quick Look 17 O APPRECIATE THE VAST Piney Woods East Texas Piney Woods—with T acreage almost equaling that of the combined forests of New England—get out and explore on a walk or a drive. This isn’t the open prairie that often comes to mind when you picture Texas. The Piney Woods were the first part of Texas to be settled by Anglo- American pioneers. Steamboats plied rivers and bayous, including Caddo Lake, the only natural lake in Texas. Plantation homes embodied the Old-South lifestyle. Today’s travelers savor outdoor recreation in verdant landscapes and enjoy historic structures in delightfully comfortable small towns.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Fishing and boating are popular on Caddo Lake near Uncertain. Dancer at -Coushatta Reservation near Livingston. A carriage ride is a great way to see Jefferson. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The General Sam Houston Folk Festival, held each spring in Huntsville, showcases 19th-century skills and crafts. The Ace of Clubs House in Texarkana is one of many historic homes in the Piney Woods. The Old Nacogdoches University Building is the oldest university building in Texas. encompasses more than 97,000 acres of dense woods, swamps and streams.

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AKING A GIANT SWEEP Prairies and Lakes from the Texas- Mstate line through and Fort Worth, south to the dark, rich central prairies is the Prairies and Lakes region. Here, Stephen F. Austin and Sterling Robertson settled their original Texas colonists. In this region, you can find adventure in the big city or recreation at the lake. Ballet, symphonies, museums, sporting events, outdoor activities and a calendar full of fairs and festivals assure plenty of options for entertainment and fun. This region is also home to dozens of major lakes where anglers take hefty stringers of black and sand bass, crappie and catfish.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Take in a view of the Dallas sky- line from Pioneer Plaza. In Arlington, watch the Texas Rangers in action. Check out the decorated oil well pump jacks in Luling. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Fayette county is known for its painted churches like this one in Dubina. Cattle drives are held daily at the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District. LCRA McKinney Roughs Nature Park, near Bastrop, includes horseback trails. Whitney is a gateway to recreational areas at Lakes Whitney and Aquilla.

20 TEXAS: A Quick Look TEXAS: A Quick Look 21 South Texas Plains ELCOME TO THE REGION where planted Wfortresses for Imperial Spain, where huge ranches flourished, and where Franciscan padres founded graceful missions a half-century before the United States was born. The South Texas Plains, stretching from San Antonio to the Mexican border, offers a delightful bicultural experi- ence, complete with mariachi music and the tangy taste of Mexican cuisine. There’s a definite Latino flavor made even more exotic by glossy green citrus groves, rustling palms and blazing bougainvilleas that supply the back- ­drop for the Lower Rio Grande Valley at the southern tip of the state.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The Alamo, in San Antonio, is Texas’ most famous shrine. Washington’s Birthday Celebration in Laredo is a 16-day fiesta honoring the nation’s first president. A bird- watching paradise, the Lower Rio Grande Valley is home to nine sites of the World Birding CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Mission Espiritu Santo, in Goliad, has been Center. reconstructed to look like it did in the 1780s. Just miles from the U.S.- Mexico border, eclectic shopping opportunities abound in Weslaco. South Texas puts on a wildflower display in springtime. Hidalgo’s Borderfest features parades and entertainment.

22 TEXAS: A Quick Look TEXAS: A Quick Look 23 TEXAS

State Parks HE TEXAS PARKS AND N THE HUMID MARSHLANDS Flowers Wildlife Department offers of the East Texas Piney Woods, OF TEXAS T more than 90 state parks, with I carnivorous pitcher plants trap features ranging from natural landscapes unwary insects. Far across the state, rare, to outdoor recreational areas to historic red Mexican silenes seek the seclusion sites. Park visitors find abundant camping of cool canyons. On the sun-swept Gulf facilities, hiking and nature trails, close-up Coast, beach morning glories race across views of colorful birds and wildlife, flora lonely dunes. Such is the variety of Texas’ from shady forests to desert cacti, and 5,000 wildflower species—products of the frequent opportunities for fishing, swim­ state’s diverse environment. Blue­bonnets, ming and boating. Fishing is allowed in buttercups and Indian paint­brushes crop all water-access state parks, and fishing up statewide, making colorful displays licenses are available at most. along the highways each spring. In the Texas state park system, you’ll While spring is the most spectacular find eerie subterranean chambers, pri­ season, other times offer their own spe- Lost Maples State Natural Area meval , mile-high mountain cialties. The sun-drenched western desert vistas, spectacular canyons and sandy doesn’t follow the calendar. In almost any Springtime wildflowers in the Hill Country seashores. The Texas Historical Commission oversees month, “spring” follows each rare, wel- certain state historical sites, which accent Texas’ heritage, come rain, when , ocotillo and cacti Bluebonnet, the official where centuries-old Spanish missions, rough-hewn erupt in a brief display of blooms. state flower frontier army forts and dignified mansions from bygone Throughout the year in the Lower Rio days are preserved. Grande Valley, towering palms stand guard Most parks charge an admission fee, plus a range of over bougainvillea-draped boulevards. In additional fees for camping and other accommodations. winter, citrus orchards are heady with the scent of orange blossoms, and giant poin- settias, a major floriculture crop, decorate homes for the holiday season. Dogwood

Lake Corpus Christi State Park Wildflowers of Texas, a bro- chure published by the Texas Department of Transportation, is available free from all Texas Travel Information Centers and by writing to Wildflowers of Texas, P.O. Box 149249, Austin, TX 78714-9249. For information on state parks, hunting and fishing, call Texas Parks and Wildlife at For information about 800/792-1112 or visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us. For information on state historic sites, call Texas wildflowers, see Texas Historical Commission at 512/463-7948 www.wildflower.org. Strawberry Cactus Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site or visit www.thc.state.tx.us.

24 TEXAS: A Quick Look TEXAS: A Quick Look 25

TEXAS Birds Northern Mockingbird OF TEXAS Symbols ITH THREE-FOURTHS of all known American birds represented in EXAS HAS DOZENS OF OFFICIAL CAPITAL Texas, anywhere in the state, anytime of the year, there are birds for official state symbols and DESIGNATIONS the watching. W­ “capitals”—all designated by The Texas Legislature has designated No other state offers the birding vari- here and so might the ivory-billed wood­ T the state Legislature. many symbolic capitals all over the state. ety (or challenge) that Texas does. It’s pecker, which was once thought to be extinct. To see the complete list, go to www. no wonder Texas is one of the nation’s Out of more than 600 bird species iden- OFFICIAL TEXAS SYMBOLS tsl.state.tx.us/ref/abouttx/capitals.html. STATE SEAL: Since the earli- leaders in nature tourism. Varied vegeta- tified in Texas, most have been sighted Below are a few of Texas’ state symbols. Here are a few examples: est days of Texas, a five-pointed tion, altitudes from sea level to more than along the Texas coastline. Numerous Some are well known, but did you know … AND BUTTERFLIES, TOO “lone star” has been prominent 8,000 feet, rainfall from less than ten inch- Anhinga that Texas has an official state dinosaur? Alligator Capital: ANAHUAC ith its many ecological regions among Texas symbols. The state es to more than 55 inches annually, and a For a complete list of official Texas Barbecue Capital: LOCKHART W and diverse geological and bio- seal, adopted as part of the 1845 strategic position on the North American symbols, see www.tsl.state.tx.us/ref/ Bluebird Capital: WILLS POINT logical features, Texas is also the most state constitution, features the lone continent combine to provide a diversity abouttx/symbols.html. Cactus Capital: SANDERSON butterfly-diverse state in the nation. star encircled by olive and live of bird life unrivaled by any other state. In Catfish Capital: WEST TAWAKONI Of the 772 species recorded in North branches. The Congress of the addition, Texas’ large resident bird popu- Citrus Capital: WESLACO America (north of Mexico), about 432 Republic of Texas adopted the lone lation is augmented by migrating species. Crawfish Capital: MAURICEVILLE have been recorded in Texas. Nearly 300 star as its seal in December 1836 The Panhandle Plains, is home to horned Danish Capital: DANEVANG of those species are found only in the and added the olive and live oak larks, kites and prairie chickens. Its lakes Kolache Capital: CALDWELL Lower Rio Grande Valley where the win- branches in January 1839. The state attract mallard, wigeon and pintail migrants. Pancake Capital: HAWKINS ters are mild and the plants are diverse. seal is identical to the 1839 seal Rare Colima warblers, eagles, canyon Polka Capital: FREDERICKSBURG Butterfly watchers from across the except that the word “State” has wrens, desert-dwelling flycatchers and shorebirds populate the region—gulls, Pump Jack Capital: ELECTRA globe can spot a multitude of species replaced “Republic.” tiny verdins make their nests out west. pelicans, egrets and roseate spoonbills, Rodeo Capital: MESQUITE including swallowtails, whites and sul- Prickly Pear Cactus The Hill Country hosts flocks of wild plus the world’s few remaining whoop- Sausage Capital: ELGIN phurs, gossamer-winged, metalmarks, turkeys and almost countless resident and ing cranes, which winter at the Aransas Sunflower Capital: HEARNE Heliconians, monarch, true brush-foots, Nickname: LONE STAR STATE migrant species—including rare golden- . The Lower Rio emperors, leafwings and skippers. Motto: FRIENDSHIP cheeked warblers. Open terrain is habitat Grande Valley hosts tropical birds and is Texas Longhorn For information and images Bird: MOCKINGBIRD for fleet-footed roadrunners. the only place in the nation where such of Texas butterflies, visit Tree: PECAN The East Texas Piney Woods is home to species as white-tipped doves, chachal- www.butterfliesandmoths.org. Flower: BLUEBONNET several eastern species, including the wood acas and green jays may be observed. : HORNED LIZARD thrush, Acadian flycatcher and Texas is home to the Great Texas Large Mammal: TEXAS LONGHORN warbler. A few swallow-tailed kites may live Wildlife Trails—Heart of Texas, Coastal Small Mammal: ARMADILLO Birding, Mountains and Basins, Panhandle Green Jay Flying Mammal: MEXICAN Plains, and Prairies and Pineywoods trails. FREE-TAILED BAT Lightning These driving trails across the state help Dinosaur: BRACHIOSAUR Whelk birders and wildlife enthusiasts find the SAUROPOD, PLEUROCOELUS best viewing spots. To learn more about Plant: PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS the trails or for information on trail maps, Fruit: TEXAS RED GRAPEFRUIT see www.tpwd.state.tx.us/birdingtrails. Pepper: JALAPEÑO Zebra Heliconian Seashell: LIGHTNING WHELK For more information about birds and wildlife in texas, see Sport: RODEO www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild. Dish: CHILI

26 TEXAS: A Quick Look TEXAS: A Quick Look 27 ­

TEXAS

LAKES cottonseed, vegetables, peanuts, rice, convenience and safety of the traveling acts exas — second only to in total citrus and soy beans. public. The state’s railroad system is tops F ★ in the nation with 45 railroads operating on Tarea of inland water—has more than Texas ranks first nationally in cotton 4,959 square miles of lakes and streams. production, with an annual cotton crop 10,405 rail miles, carrying 366.07 million AREA ★ Toledo Bend Reservoir, between Texas average of 5.54 million bales since 1996. rail tons. exas covers 268,596 square miles and Louisiana, is the largest reservoir in The state offers 12 deep water ports with (land and water) according to the WIND ENERGY T Texas or on its borders with more than channels at least 30 feet deep along the Gulf Statistical Abstract of the United States. 180,000 acres of surface area. exas leads the nation in wind energy Coast, including the Port of Houston, which ★ Texas is as large as the following production and is tops in the nation is ranked second in the nation for total trade. ★ The largest body of water wholly within T 10 states combined: , New for installed capacity—10,135 megawatts There are 285 public-use airports, three the state is , which Hampshire, , , in June 2011, almost triple that of the next public-use heliports and more than 1,300 has a surface area of 114,500 acres. , , , contender, . private airstrips on farms and ranches. ★ Texas has thousands of lakes and reser- , and . As home to the two largest wind farms The state’s two largest airports—Dallas- voirs, but Caddo Lake is the only natural ★ Texas extends 801 straight-line miles Ranching and farming are an important part of Texas’ economy. in the world, Texas plays a significant role Fort Worth International and George Bush lake in the state. It was dammed in 1914, from north to south and 773 miles in the energy markets, and would rank Intercontinental in Houston—rank among Austin 790,593 increasing its size to 26,800 acres. from east to west. 22 million acres of forests and woodlands, sixth behind China, the United States, the 30 busiest airports in the world by total Fort Worth 731,588 12 million acres are in the East Texas Piney ★ Brewster County, in , is the TRAVEL Germany, Spain and India if the state passengers and No. 4 and No. 6, respec- El Paso 620,440 Woods area, which includes all or part of largest of the state’s 254 counties with ash receipts are enormous for Texas’ stood as its own nation. tively, in terms of aircraft movements. ★ Texas has 29 cities with a population 43 counties. The area includes four nation- travel industry, ranked third in the na- 6,193 square miles, an area larger than C GROSS STATE PRODUCT of 100,000 or more. al forests totaling more than 637,000 acres RANCHING the state of Connecticut. tion. According to the Office of the Governor, oth in number and diversity, Texas he gross state product for Texas in and five state forests covering more than Economic Development and Tourism, travelers ★ The smallest is the 149-square-mile WEATHER fiscal year 2011 was estimated at 7,500 acres. leads the nation in livestock with T spent $57.5 billion in Texas in 2010. That B Rockwall County, just east of Dallas. exas enjoys generally mild winters, 13.8 million cattle and calves, more than $1.34 trillion. If Texas were a nation, its econ­ The $33.6-billion Texas forest products travel spending directly supported 529,400 but the summers are hot! In July, the omy (based on Gross Domestic Product) T in ­dustry used its timber harvest in the produc­ twice as much as the next largest produc- jobs with earnings of $16.5 billion. BOUNDARY average daytime high statewide is almost would rank as the 13th largest in the world. tion of 1.4 billion board feet of lum­ber, er. Texas pro­­duces 20 percent of the exas’ boundary extends 3,822 miles 96 degrees. Average annual rainfall varies 2 billion square feet of structural panel, and PETROLEUM nation’s beef cattle. INTERNATIONAL TRADE Twith Louisiana on the east, Ar­kan­sas from less than 9 inches in far West Texas 2 million tons of pulp and paper products. he first successful oil well in Texas n 2011, for the 10th year in a row, on the northeast, Oklahoma on the north, to about 58 inches in parts of East Texas. BRAIN POWER was drilled in 1866 near Nacogdoches. Texas was the top exporting state in on the west, and Mexico and MOUNTAINS T exas is home to many universities and I TERRAIN ★ Production in 2010 amounted to almost the nation, according to U.S. Department the on the south. The tide- exas has 91 mountains that are Tresearch institutions that are leaders he state’s surface ranges from sea level 357 million barrels of crude oil and more of Commerce data. water coastline extends 624 miles. a mile or more high (one mile = in electronics, medicine, biotechnology, to mountains more than a mile high. T than 7.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Texas’ exports in 2011 totaled more T 5,280 feet), all of them in West Texas. aerospace, advanced materials and energy. There are sun-baked deserts; rich, black ★ In 2010, Texas had 260,104 producing than $249.8 billion, up 20.7 percent from POPULATION ★ The state’s highest point, Guadalupe Peak, The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office shows farmlands; humid swamps; and dramatic wells, including 158,451 oil wells and $206.9 billion in 2010, outperforming ccording to the U.S. Bureau of the stands at 8,749 feet. That makes it more that in 2010, 7,545 patents were issued to volcanic landscapes of basalt and granite. 101,653 gas wells. overall U.S. exports, which grew by Census, Texas had an estimated than 2,000 feet higher than North Carolina’s Texas residents. That places Texas second A ★ The table-flat Great Plains fill much of 15.8 percent in 2011. 25,674,681 residents in 2011, ranking sec- , which marks the greatest FARMING in the nation, behind . the Texas Panhandle. The state’s top export recipients were ond among the 50 states. elevation east of the River. exas’ 247,500 farms and ranches ★ Nearly as flat are vast coastal plains along TRANSPORTATION Mexico, Canada, China, Brazil and the ★ Between April 1, 2010–July 1, 2011, cover about 76 percent of the the Gulf of Mexico. RIVERS T y land, sea or air, Texas is tops in Netherlands. Texas’ top exporting indus- state’s land area, or approximately Texas gained more people—529,000— he longest river in the state is the Rio moving people and products. tries in 2011 were petroleum and coal ★ Deep forests blanket East Texas. B 130.5 million acres. than any other state. Grande, which forms the inter­national Texas has 310,850 miles of public products, chemicals, computer and elec- ★ T In the Texas Hill Country, limestone hills ★ ★ The six largest Texas cities and their pop- boundary between Texas and Mexico and In 2010, Texas agricultural product exports roads, which is more than any other state. tronic products, non-electrical machinery give way to green river valleys. ulations based on 2012 estimates are: extends 1,254 miles along Texas. Other were valued at $5.9 billion. Livestock prod- On this system are more than a million and transportation equipment. Houston 2,260,918 FORESTS principal rivers are the Red River, Brazos, uct exports were valued at $77.9 million. signs and markers, as well as 842 rest In 2010, port level imports—mostly ener- San Antonio 1,373,677 rees cover about 13 percent of , Trinity, Sabine, Nueces, Neches, ★ Major crops include cotton, corn, grain areas and picnic areas maintained by the gy, machinery and telecom/high technology Dallas 1,299,590 TTexas’ total land area. Of the state’s Pecos and Guadalupe. sorghum, wheat, hay, nursery crops, Texas Department of Transportation for the equipment—totaled about $302.49 billion.

28 TEXAS: A Quick Look TEXAS: A Quick Look 29 People Official OF TEXAS State Quick Song HE LONE STAR STATE Facts gets much of its uniqueness from T its beautiful mix of people. Indeed “TEXAS, OUR TEXAS” DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE it is this great blend of cultures that give Texas, our Texas! IS AN OFFICIAL SALUTE TO Texas its lively personality. All hail the mighty state! THE TEXAS STATE FLAG? You can hear it in the music, taste it in the food, sample it at the festivals and see it Texas, our Texas! Honor the Texas Flag. in the architecture—Texans are a colorful So wonderful, so great! I pledge allegiance to thee, bunch. Here are just a few: Boldest and grandest, NATIVE AMERICANS: Texas’ earliest Texas, one state under God, inhabitants, the Native Americans, were not withstanding ev’ry test; one and indivisible. a single culture. There were many tribes, O empire wide and glorious, including the , Caddo, Comanche, Cherokee, , Tonkawa, Wichita, Hueco you stand supremely blest. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF A TEXIAN? and Karankawa. Today, there are three fed- he term “Texian” is used to describe early Anglo-American settlers in Texas and erally recognized Native American tribes Refrain citizens of the Republic of Texas, which dated from 1836 to 1845. The word that live in Texas. They are the Alabama- God bless you, Texas, and T Coushatta, Kickapoo and the Ysleta Del Sur “Texian” was used back in that period, but after Texas joined the United States in keep you brave and strong Pueblo of Texas. the border and become teachers, mer- 1845, “Texan” became much more common. HISPANIC: European Spaniards changed The most fun way to celebrate the chants, miners, landowners and more. That you may grow the New World more than any other peo- different cultures of Texas is to attend When Texas won its independence from in power and worth DID YOU KNOW THAT THE LAST BATTLE OF THE U.S. CIVIL WAR ple. They came to Texas as soldiers, any of a number of festivals, like the Mexico in 1836, slavery became legal thro’out the ages long. WAS FOUGHT IN TEXAS? settlers and priests. But they also changed, Czech Heritage Fest, Kolache Fest, again. But on June 19, 1865, slaves as much as they changed the land. They Greek Food Fest, African-American received word—the Emancipation elieve it or not, more than a month after Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered, encouraged mixed marriages with Heritage Festival, Germanfest, Okto­ Proclamation from President Abraham Texas, O Texas! B officially ending the Civil War, a battle was fought at Palmito Ranch near European, Native American and African, ber­fest, Festa Italiana, Celtic Heritage Lincoln—that they were freed. The event, Your freeborn single star Brownsville. The Confederate soldiers had heard the news of Lee’s surrender, but and those blends—mestizos—became Festival, Fiesta in San Antonio, Polka which occurred in Galveston, is now cele- Sends out its radiance they were determined to fight on. On May 13, 1865, the Southerners defeated the known by many names—Mexicans, Fest, numerous Native American pow- brated in several states as Juneteenth. Union troops at Palmito Ranch. At the same time, the Confederate governors of Tejanos, Texas Mexicans, Hispanics, wows, the Wendish Fest and more. FRENCH: The French Alsatians founded to nations near and far. Latinos, Mexican Texans, Mexicanos, For more event information, Castroville, near San Antonio, and after Emblem of freedom, Texas and several other nearby states were holding meetings that would disband the Mexican Americans, la Raza and Chicanos. visit the Texas Events Calendar the Texas Revolution, French missionaries Confederate armies and bring the war to a close. it sets our hearts aglow GERMAN: German Texans are a predomi- at www.texashighways.com or helped to rebuild the Catholic Church in nant cultural group in Texas and their www.traveltex.com. Texas and set up schools, churches and With thoughts of San Jacinto traditions, food and music can be found in hospitals across the state. and glorious Alamo. FOR MORE INFORMATION many festivals and events throughout the for developing Polish settlements in Texas ASIAN: Around 1880, many Chinese came year. The Germans made their way to www.tshaonline.org (The Handbook of Texas Online) like Cestohowa, Kosciusko, Polonia, Chap- to Texas to help build the railroads, now one Texas, dear Texas! www.texasalmanac.com (Texas Almanac) Texas in about 1844 where they bought pel Hill and Bryan. He helped bring 100 of the best systems in the nation. In 1902, From tyrant grip now free, land and settled in New Braunfels. After a families from Upper Silesia to Texas and Japanese migrated from their overpopulated www.traveltex.com (Official Site of Texas Tourism) considerable amount of growth, they later founded the town Panna Maria, which is country to the Gulf Coast where they started Shines forth in splendor www.txdot.gov (Texas Department of Transportation) founded the town of Fredericksburg. now the oldest permanent Polish settle- rice farms, which allowed Texas to viably your star of destiny! www.tpwd.state.tx.us (Texas Parks and Wildlife) CZECH: Farming, food and music were a ment in the United States and the location compete with Louisiana in rice production. www.artonart.com (Texas Commission on the Arts) way of life for the Czech immigrants, and of the first Polish Catholic church and school. Today, Asians—also including East Indian, Mother of heroes! today, there are Czech museums and festi- AFRICAN-AMERICAN: Spain declared Vietnamese, Filipino, Laotian, and Cambodi- We come, your children true, www.thc.state.tx.us (Texas Historical Commission) vals you can attend to get a feel for (and in 1803 that any African-American slave an Texans—continue to add their languages, www.texashighways.com (Texas Highways magazine) Proclaiming our allegiance, taste of) this culture. that crossed the Sabine into Texas would religions and cultures to the Texas mix. www.tsl.state.tx.us (Texas State Library) POLISH: Father Leopold Moczygemba, be automatically free. Seeking that prom- Houston, in fact, has the third highest Asian our faith, our love for you. www.txdps.state.tx.us (Texas Department of Public Safety) a Polish Franciscan missionary, gets credit ise of freedom, many slaves headed for population in the nation.

30 TEXAS: A Quick Look TEXAS: A Quick Look 31 Driving TRAVEL TEXAS HIGHWAYS Information in every car, and they are offering free vehi- HE TEXAS DEPARTMENT cle litterbags to make it easy, including a of Transportation operates 12 limited-edition new line of bags designed to T Texas Travel Information Centers appeal especially to Texans ages 16 to 24. for the convenience of the traveling pub- Don’t Mess With Texas also introduces lic. Uniformed, professional counselors a superhero team, the Litter Force. This welcome visitors and provide detailed program, designed for elementary school information on travel within the state. children, includes Litter Force outreach Working with the Texas State Travel team visits to designated school districts. Guide and the Texas Official Travel Map, They perform interactive plays and give counselors expertly chart routes to any area out litter prevention materials, including an of Texas, pointing out the most convenient activity book and litterbags. An interactive short-line directions or leisurely scenic drives Litter Force website—www.dontmess to your destination. They supply compre- withtexas.org/litterforce—features games, hensive statewide travel publications, plus IGHWAY SAFETY relies meets adopted standards. Exemp­tions ★ TEXAS TRAVEL INFORMATION CENTERS downloadable coloring pages and desktop detailed brochures about towns, attractions on the willingness of drivers are allowed for persons over age 21 1 Amarillo I-40 806/335-1441 wallpapers, as well as a section for parents with certain health insurance and and points of interest along the way. to act responsibly, whether 2 Anthony I-10 915/886-3468 H and teachers. The Texas Travel Information Centers making a quick trip to the store or a cross- training requirements. 3 Austin Capitol Visitor Center 512/463-8586 So, what’s litter? Litter is trash that served 1,991,524 customers in 2011. Travel- country excursion. Please be aware of the 4 Denison U.S. 69/75 903/463-2860 KEEPING THE is not in a garbage can or recycle bin, ers stopping at the travel information centers following Texas highway laws: 5 Gainesville I-35 940/665-2301 ROADWAYS BEAUTIFUL where it belongs. had access to more than four and a half mil- ★ Motor-vehicle operators must maintain 6 Langtry U.S. 90/Loop 25 432/291-3340 hile some rules of the road keep So, what’s the big deal? Littering is lion pieces of literature in 2011, making them current liability insurance and be able 7 Laredo I-35 at U.S. 83 956/417-4728 people safe, others exist to keep against the law. You could be fined up to the largest outlets of travel literature in the to show proof if requested by law W 8 Orange I-10 409/883-9416 roads free of litter. That is where Texas $500 for an offense. Do it again, and you state and some of the largest in the nation. enforcement. 9 Texarkana I-30 903/794-2114 Department of Transportation’s Don’t could face a fine of up to $2,000 and 180 The centers are open daily except New ★ 10 Valley U.S. 77 at U.S. 83 (Harlingen) 956/428-4477 All occupants of cars and light trucks, ® Mess With Texas litter prevention cam- days in jail. If you toss out anything that Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving Day, 11 Waskom I-20 903/687-2547 regardless of age or seating position, paign comes in. The weighs more than five pounds, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 12 Wichita Falls I-44/U.S. 287, Exit 1C 940/723-7931 must wear seat belts. campaign has been that’s considered illegal dump- ★ Car seats are required for children up to SUBSCRIBE TO educating Texans about ing and the fines are much eight years old or who are less than four litter prevention since higher. Did you know you feet, nine inches in height. 1986. In that time, hun- could also be fined if your ★ It is illegal (with certain exceptions such dreds of tons of trash pickup truckload isn’t covered? • Great getaways as parades and emergencies) have been collected It’s a $200 fine for the first • Stunning photography to operate an open-bed pickup truck, an on Texas roadways offense and $500 for repeat • Roundup of events open flatbed truck or an open flatbed and littering has been offenders. • And much more trailer when children under the age of reduced by 33 percent, TxDOT’s litter prevention Just $19.95 $15.95 18 are occupying the bed of the truck or which saves taxpayers programs include Adopt-a- for a 1-year U.S. subscription (12 monthly issues) trailer, regardless of the vehicle’s speed. millions of dollars in Highway and a grassroots 1-800-839-4997 ★ Open containers of alcohol are not reduced litter pickup costs. and mention source code A2AQCK partnership with Keep Texas Beautiful. For travel information, literature Price advertised applies to new, permitted in the passenger area of That’s great progress, but the effort To find out more or to order your own phone-in orders only. and emergency road-condition a motor vehicle. to get the message out continues––Real Don’t Mess With Texas litterbag or other International subscriptions are $29.95. information, call 800/452-9292. Call 386-597-4297 or order online. ★ Motorcycle operators and passengers Texans don’t litter. Today, TxDOT is issuing Don’t Mess With Texas merchandise, must wear protective headgear that a challenge for all Texans to keep a litterbag visit www.DontMessWithTexas.org. www.texashighways.com

32 TEXAS: A Quick Look TEXAS: A Quick Look 33