Texas

The name Texas, based on the Caddo word {{lang|cad|táy:shaʼ}} ({{IPA|/tə́jːʃaʔ/}}) 'friend', was applied, in the spelling {{lang|es|Tejas}} or {{lang|es|Texas}},José Arlegui, Chronica de la provincia de N.S.P.S. Francisco de Zacatecas Front Cover (1737), [https://books.google.com/books?id=oor1HSP8-SQC&pg=PA53 p. 53].{{cite web |title=Texas |url=https://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Texas |website=Online Etymology Dictionary |publisher=Douglas Harper |access-date=February 25, 2007}}{{cite Handbook of Texas |last=Fry |first=Phillip L. |title=Texas, Origin of Name |id=pft04 |orig-year=July 15, 2010 |date=March 7, 2016}}{{cite web |title=Facts |edition=2010–2011 |work=Texas Almanac |url=http://texasalmanac.com/topics/facts-profile |first=Robert |last=Plocheck |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110228054833/http://www.texasalmanac.com/topics/facts-profile |archive-date=February 28, 2011 |date=November 20, 2017}} by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves, specifically the Hasinai Confederacy.{{cite book |last=Davis |first=Lucile |title=The Caddo of Texas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RN5VZEYH784C |publisher=Rosen Publishing |year=2003 |page=5 |isbn=9780823964352}}

During Spanish colonial rule, in the 18th century, the area was known as {{lang|es|Nuevas Filipinas}} ('New Philippines') and {{lang|es|Nuevo Reino de Filipinas}} ('New Kingdom of the Philippines'), or as {{lang|es|provincia de los Tejas}} ('province of the {{lang|es|Tejas}}'),Oakah L. Jones, Los Paisanos: Spanish Settlers on the Northern Frontier of New Spain, University of Oklahoma Press (1996), [https://books.google.com/books?id=i-eo6Rpbhw0C&pg=PA277 p. 277], citing a document dated November 5, 1730. later also {{lang|es|provincia de Texas}} (or {{lang|es|de Tejas}}), ('province of Texas').Joseph de Laporte, El viagero universal: Ó, Noticia del mundo antiguo y nuevo vol. 27 (1799), [https://books.google.com/books?id=HrxHAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA114 p. 114].{{cite Handbook of Texas |last=Teja |first=Jesús de la |title=New Philippines |id=usn01 |date=June 15, 2010}} It was incorporated as {{lang|es|provincia de Texas}} into the Mexican Empire in 1821, and declared a republic in 1836. The Royal Spanish Academy recognizes both spellings, {{lang|es|Tejas}} and {{lang|es|Texas}}, as Spanish-language forms of the name."Texas. Grafía recomendada para el nombre de este estado norteamericano. Su pronunciación correcta es [téjas], no [téksas]. Se recomienda escribir asimismo con x el gentilicio correspondiente: texano. Son también válidas las grafías con j (Tejas, tejano), de uso mayoritario en España." Diccionario panhispánico de dudas,

Real Academia Española (2005), s.v. [http://lema.rae.es/dpd/?key=texas Texas].

The English pronunciation with {{IPA|/ks/}} is unetymological, contrary to the historical value of the letter x ({{IPAslink|ʃ}}) in Spanish orthography. Alternative etymologies of the name advanced in the late 19th century connected the name Texas with the Spanish word {{lang|es|teja}}, meaning 'roof tile', the plural {{lang|es|tejas}} being used to designate Indigenous Pueblo settlements.Charles Dimitry, "American Geographical Nomenclature", Appletons' Journal 15 (1876), [https://books.google.com/books?id=3C8-AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA758 758f.] A 1760s map by Jacques-Nicolas Bellin shows a village named Teijas on the Trinity River, close to the site of modern Crockett.

{{Texas History}}

{{main|History of Texas}}

{{further|Pre-Columbian Mexico|Native American tribes in Texas}}

File:Early indian west.jpgTexas lies between two major cultural spheres of Pre-Columbian North America: the Southwestern and the Plains areas. Archaeologists have found that three major Indigenous cultures lived in this territory, and reached their developmental peak before the first European contact. These were:{{sfn|Richardson|Wintz|Boswell|Anderson|2021|p=9}} the Ancestral Puebloans from the upper Rio Grande region, centered west of Texas; the Mississippian culture, also known as Mound Builders, which extended along the Mississippi River Valley east of Texas; and the civilizations of Mesoamerica, which were centered south of Texas. Influence of Teotihuacan in northern Mexico peaked around AD 500 and declined between the 8th and 10th centuries.

When Europeans arrived in the Texas region, the language families present in the state were Caddoan, Atakapan, Athabaskan, Coahuiltecan, and Uto-Aztecan, in addition to several language isolates such as Tonkawa. Uto-Aztecan Puebloan and Jumano peoples lived neared the Rio Grande in the western portion of the state and the Athabaskan-speaking Apache tribes lived throughout the interior. The agricultural, mound-building Caddo controlled much of the northeastern part of the state, along the Red, Sabine, and Neches River basins.{{Cite book |last=Carter |first=Cecile Elkins |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1253386080 |title=Caddo Indians where we come from |date=1995 |publisher=University of Oklahoma Press |isbn=0-585-17049-5 |oclc=1253386080}}{{Cite book |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.7560/711501 |title="The Caddo Nation" |date=1993 |publisher=University of Texas Press |doi=10.7560/711501 |isbn=978-0-292-79978-3}} Atakapan peoples such as the Akokisa and Bidai lived along the northeastern Gulf Coast; the Karankawa lived along the central coast.{{Cite book |last=Aten |first=Lawrence E. |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/254092448 |title=Indians of the upper Texas coast |date=1983 |publisher=Academic Pr |isbn=0-12-065740-6 |oclc=254092448}} At least one tribe of Coahuiltecans, the Aranama, lived in southern Texas. This entire culture group, primarily centered in northeastern Mexico, is now extinct.

No one culture was dominant across all the territory of present-day Texas, and many peoples inhabited the area.{{sfn|Richardson|Wintz|Boswell|Anderson|2021|p=10}} Native American tribes who have lived inside the boundaries of present-day Texas include the Alabama, Apache, Atakapan, Bidai, Caddo, Aranama, Comanche, Choctaw, Coushatta, Hasinai, Jumano, Karankawa, Kickapoo, Kiowa, Tonkawa, and Wichita.{{sfn|Richardson|Wintz|Boswell|Anderson|2021|p=12}}{{cite Handbook of Texas|id=bzi04|title=Indians|first=George|last=Klos|date=June 15, 2010}} Many of these peoples migrated from the north or east during the colonial period, such as the Choctaw, Alabama-Coushatta, and Delaware.

The region was primarily controlled by the Spanish until the Texas Revolution. They were most interested in relationships with the Caddo, who were—like the Spanish—a settled, agricultural people. Several Spanish missions were opened in Caddo territory, but a lack of interest in Christianity among the Caddo meant that few were converted. Positioned between French Louisiana and Spanish Texas, the Caddo maintained relations with both, but were closer with the French.{{Cite book |last=Barr |first=Juliana |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1148108904 |title=Peace Came in the Form of a Woman : Indians and Spaniards in the Texas Borderlands. |date=November 2009 |publisher=University of North Carolina Press |isbn=978-1-4696-0470-1 |oclc=1148108904}} After Spain took control of Louisiana, most of the missions in eastern Texas were closed and abandoned.{{Cite book |last=Galán |first=Francis X. |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1128731300 |title=Los Adaes : the first capital of Spanish Texas |year=2020 |publisher=Texas A&M University Press |isbn=978-1-62349-878-8 |oclc=1128731300}} The United States obtained Louisiana following the 1803 Louisiana Purchase and began convincing tribes to self-segregate from whites by moving west; facing an overflow of native peoples in Missouri and Arkansas, they were able to negotiate with the Caddo to allow several displaced peoples to settle on unused lands in eastern Texas. These included the Muscogee, Houma Choctaw, Lenape and Mingo Seneca, among others, who came to view the Caddoans as saviors.Glover, William B. "A History of the Caddo Indians". Reprinted from 'The Louisiana Historical Quarterly'; Vol. 18, No. 4. October 1935Swanton, John R. Indians of the Southeastern United States (Washington: United States Government Printing Office, 1946) p. 139

The different temperaments of Native American tribes directly affected the fates of European explorers and settlers in that land. Friendly tribes taught newcomers how to grow local crops, prepare foods, and hunt wild game, while warlike tribes resisted the settlers.{{cite book |first1=Rupert N. |last1=Richardson |first2=Adrian |last2=Anderson |first3=Cary D. |last3=Wintz |first4=Ernest |last4=Wallace |title=Texas: the Lone Star State |edition=9th |publisher=Prentice Hall |isbn=978-0-1318-3550-4 |pages=10–16|year=2005 }} Prior treaties with the Spanish forbade either side from militarizing its native population in any potential conflict between the two nations. Several outbreaks of violence between Native Americans and Texans started to spread in the prelude to the Texas Revolution. Texans accused tribes of stealing livestock. While no proof was found, those in charge of Texas at the time attempted to publicly blame and punish the Caddo, with the U.S. government trying to keep them in check. The Caddo never turned to violence because of the situation, except in cases of self-defense.

By the 1830s, the U.S. had drafted the Indian Removal Act, which was used to facilitate the Trail of Tears. Fearing retribution, Indian Agents all over the eastern U.S. tried to convince all Indigenous peoples to uproot and move west. This included the Caddo of Louisiana and Arkansas. Following the Texas Revolution, the Texans chose to make peace with the Indigenous people, but did not honor former land claims or agreements.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} The first president of Texas, Sam Houston, aimed to cooperate and make peace with Native tribes, but his successor, Mirabeau B. Lamar, took a much more hostile stance. Hostility towards Natives by white Texans prompted the movement of most Native populations north into what would become Indian Territory (modern Oklahoma). Only the Alabama-Coushatta would remain in the parts of Texas subject to white settlement, though the Comanche would continue to control most of the western half of the state until their defeat in the 1870s and 1880s.{{Cite book |last=Gwynne |first=S. C. |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/968100096 |title=Empire of the Summer Moon. |date=2011 |publisher=Constable & Robinson |isbn=978-1-84901-820-3 |oclc=968100096}}

{{main||New Spain|New France|Louisiana (New France)|French colonization of Texas|Spanish Texas|French and Indian War|Treaty of Paris (1763)|Seminole Wars|Adams–Onís Treaty|Mexican War of Independence|Treaty of Córdoba|First Mexican Empire|Mexican Texas|Provisional Government of Mexico (1823–24)|1824 Constitution of Mexico|First Mexican Republic|Siete Leyes|Centralist Republic of Mexico}}

The first historical document related to Texas was a map of the Gulf Coast, created in 1519 by Spanish explorer Alonso Álvarez de Pineda.{{harvp|Chipman|1992|p=243}}; {{harvp|Weber|1992|p=34}} Nine years later, shipwrecked Spanish explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca and his cohort became the first Europeans in what is now Texas.{{cite Handbook of Texas|id=fca06|title=Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca|first=Donald E. |last=Chipman|orig-year=June 12, 2010 |date=August 3, 2017}}{{cite Handbook of Texas|id=nps01|title=Spanish Texas|first=Donald E. |last=Chipman|orig-year=June 15, 2010 |date=January 23, 2017}} Cabeza de Vaca reported that in 1528, when the Spanish landed in the area, "half the natives died from a disease of the bowels and blamed us."{{cite web |url=http://www.americanjourneys.org/aj-070/summary/index.asp |title=The Journey of Alvar Nuńez Cabeza de Vaca |website=American Journeys |publisher=Wisconsin Historical Society |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005010422/http://www.americanjourneys.org/aj-070/summary/index.asp |archive-date=October 5, 2012}} Cabeza de Vaca also made observations about the way of life of the Ignaces Natives of Texas.{{Efn|Cabeza de Vaca wrote, "They went about with a firebrand, setting fire to the plains and timber so as to drive off the mosquitos, and also to get lizards and similar things which they eat, to come out of the soil. In the same manner they kill deer, encircling them with fires, and they do it also to deprive the animals of pasture, compelling them to go for food where the Indians want."{{cite book |last1=Davidson |first1=James West |first2=Mark H |last2=Lytle |title=After the Fact: The Art of Historical Detection |volume=1 |publisher=McGraw Hill|date=2010 |chapter=Chapter 1 |page=7 |isbn=978-0-0733-8548-8 |edition=6th}}}}{{cite book |last1=Davidson |first1=James West |title=After the Fact: The Art of Historical Detection |last2=Lytle |first2=Mark H |date=2010 |publisher=McGraw Hill |isbn=978-0-0733-8548-8 |edition=6th |volume=1 |page=7 |chapter=Chapter 1}} Francisco Vázquez de Coronado described another encounter with native people in 1541.{{Efn|Vázquez de Coronado wrote, "Two kinds of people travel around these plains with the cows; one is called Querechos and the others Teyas; they are very well built, and painted, and are enemies of each other. They have no other settlement or location than comes from traveling around with the cows. They kill all of these they wish and tan the hides, with which they clothe themselves and make their tents, and they eat the flesh, sometimes even raw, and they also even drink the blood when thirsty. The tents they make are like field tents, and they set them up over poles they have made for this purpose, which come together and are tied at the top, and when they go from one place to another they carry them on some dogs they have, of which they have many, and they load them with the tents and poles and other things, for the country is so level, as I said, that they can make use of these, because they carry the poles dragging along on the ground. The sun is what they worship most."{{cite book |editor-last=Winship |editor-first=George Parker |title=The Journey of Coronado, 1540–1542|publisher=A.S. Barnes & Company |date=1904 |pages=210–211 |url=https://archive.org/stream/journeycoronado00winsrich#page/210/mode/2up}}}}{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/stream/journeycoronado00winsrich#page/210/mode/2up |title=The Journey of Coronado, 1540–1542 |date=1904 |publisher=A.S. Barnes & Company |editor-last=Winship |editor-first=George Parker |pages=210–211}}

The expedition of Hernando de Soto entered into Texas from the east, seeking a route to Mexico. They passed through the Caddo lands but turned back after reaching the River of Daycao (possibly the Brazos or Colorado), beyond which point the Native peoples were nomadic and did not have the agricultural stores to feed the expedition.{{Cite book |last=Hudson |first=Charles M. |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/981166517 |title=Knights of Spain, warriors of the sun : Hernando De Soto and the South's ancient chiefdoms |year=2018 |publisher=University of Georgia Press |isbn=978-0-8203-5160-5 |oclc=981166517}}{{Cite book |last1=Clayton |first1=Lawrence A. |last2=Knight |first2=Vernon J. |last3=Moore |first3=Edward C. |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/47010055 |title=The De Soto chronicles : the expedition of Hernando de Soto to North America in 1539-1543 |date=1995 |publisher=University of Alabama Press |isbn=0-585-36805-8 |oclc=47010055}}

European powers ignored the area until accidentally settling there in 1685. Miscalculations by René-Robert Cavelier de La Salle resulted in his establishing the colony of Fort Saint Louis at Matagorda Bay rather than along the Mississippi River.{{sfnp|Weber|1992|p=149}} The colony lasted only four years before succumbing to harsh conditions and hostile natives.{{Sfnp|Chipman|1992|p=83}} A small band of survivors traveled eastward into the lands of the Caddo, but La Salle was killed by disgruntled expedition members.{{Cite book |last=Joutel |first=Henri |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/962854705 |title=The La Salle expedition to Texas : the journal of Henri Joutel, 1684-1687 |year=1998 |publisher=Texas State Historical Association |isbn=0-87611-165-7 |oclc=962854705}}

In 1690 Spanish authorities, concerned that France posed a competitive threat, constructed several missions in East Texas among the Caddo.{{sfnp|Chipman|1992|p=89}} After Caddo resistance, the Spanish missionaries returned to Mexico.{{sfnp|Weber|1992|p=155}} When France began settling Louisiana, in 1716 Spanish authorities responded by founding a new series of missions in East Texas.{{harvp|Chipman|1992|pp=111–112}}; {{harvp|Weber|1992|p=160}} Two years later, they created San Antonio as the first Spanish civilian settlement in the area.{{sfnp|Weber|1992|p=163}}

File:LaFora 1771 2.jpg clearly shows the Provincia de los Tejas.{{cite book |last=Bolton |first=Herbert Eugene |date=1915 |title=Texas in the Middle 18th Century|publisher=University of California Press |page=facing p. 382 |url=https://archive.org/stream/texasinmiddleei00boltgoog#page/n420/mode/2up}}|left]]

Hostile native tribes and distance from nearby Spanish colonies discouraged settlers from moving to the area. It was one of New Spain's least populated provinces.{{sfnp|Chipman|1992|p=205}} In 1749, the Spanish peace treaty with the Lipan Apache angered many tribes,{{sfnp|Weber|1992|p=193}} including the Comanche, Tonkawa, and Hasinai.{{sfnp|Weber|1992|p=189}} The Comanche signed a treaty with Spain in 1785 and later helped to defeat the Lipan Apache and Karankawa tribes.{{harvp|Weddle|1995|p=164}}; {{harvp|Chipman|1992|p=200}}{{sfnp|Weddle|1995|p=163}} With numerous missions being established, priests led a peaceful conversion of most tribes. By the end of the 18th century only a few nomadic tribes had not converted.{{sfnp|Chipman|1992|p=202}}

File:Stephen f austin.jpg was the first American empresario given permission to operate a colony within Mexican Texas.]]

File:Mexico 1824 (equirectangular projection).png is the northeasternmost state.]]

When the United States purchased Louisiana from France in 1803, American authorities insisted the agreement also included Texas. The boundary between New Spain and the United States was finally set in 1819 at the Sabine River, the modern border between Texas and Louisiana.{{sfnp|Weber|1992|pp=291–299}} Eager for new land, many U.S. settlers refused to recognize the agreement. Several filibusters raised armies to invade the area west of the Sabine River.{{sfnp|Davis|2006|p=46}} Marked by the War of 1812, some men who had escaped from the Spanish, held (Old) Philippines had immigrated to and also passed through Texas (New Philippines){{Cite web|url=http://texascultures.housing.utexas.edu/assets/pdfs/GTC_filipinotexans.pdf|title=Most of the Filipinos in Texas are comparatively recent arrivals. Strong economic and political ties with the Spanish empire from the 16th to the 19th centuries brought few known individuals to the Americas, but United States control in the early 20th century was responsible for Filipino settlement in every metropolitan area in the state. Considering the Spanish trade with the Philippines—the Manila galleons operated between Acapulco and Manila from 1565 to 1815—travelers from the islands may have been in Mexico after the mid-16th century|website=Texascultures.housing.utexas.edu|access-date=April 17, 2021|archive-date=March 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190303090219/http://texascultures.housing.utexas.edu/assets/pdfs/GTC_filipinotexans.pdf|url-status=dead}} and reached Louisiana where Philippine exiles aided the United States in the defense of New Orleans against a British invasion, with Filipinos in the Saint Malo settlement assisting Jean Lafitte in the Battle of New Orleans.{{Cite web|title=From Manila to the Marigny: How Philippine pioneers left a mark at the 'end of world' in New Orleans|url=https://nola.verylocal.com/from-manila-to-the-maringny-how-philippine-pioneers-left-a-mark-at-the-end-of-world-in-new-orleans/89392/|last=Hinton|first=Matthew|date=October 23, 2019|website=Very Local New Orleans}}

In 1821, the Mexican War of Independence included the Texas territory, which became part of Mexico.{{sfnp|Weber|1992|p=300}} Due to its low population, the territory was assigned to other states and territories of Mexico; the core territory was part of the state of Coahuila y Tejas, but other parts of today's Texas were part of Tamaulipas, Chihuahua, or the Mexican Territory of Santa Fe de Nuevo México.{{sfnp|Manchaca|2001|p=162}}

Hoping more settlers would reduce the near-constant Comanche raids, Mexican Texas liberalized its immigration policies to permit immigrants from outside Mexico and Spain.{{sfnp|Manchaca|2001|p=164}} Large swathes of land were allotted to empresarios, who recruited settlers from the United States, Europe, and the Mexican interior, primarily the U.S. Austin's settlers, the Old Three Hundred, made places along the Brazos River in 1822.{{sfnp|Manchaca|2001|p=198}} The population of Texas grew rapidly. In 1825, Texas had about 3,500 people, with most of Mexican descent.{{sfnp|Edmondson|2000|p=75}} By 1834, the population had grown to about 37,800 people, with only 7,800 of Mexican descent.{{sfnp|Manchaca|2001|p=172, 201}}

Many immigrants openly flouted Mexican law, especially the prohibition against slavery. Combined with United States' attempts to purchase Texas, Mexican authorities decided in 1830 to prohibit continued immigration from the United States.{{sfnp|Edmondson|2000|p=78}} However, illegal immigration from the United States into Mexico continued to increase the population of Texas.{{sfnp|Manchaca|2001|p=200}} New laws also called for the enforcement of customs duties angering native Mexican citizens (Tejanos) and recent immigrants alike.{{sfnp|Davis|2006|p=77}}

The Anahuac Disturbances in 1832 were the first open revolt against Mexican rule, coinciding with a revolt in Mexico against the nation's president.{{sfnp|Davis|2006|p=85}} Texians sided with the federalists against the government and drove all Mexican soldiers out of East Texas.{{sfnp|Davis|2006|pp=86–89}} They took advantage of the lack of oversight to agitate for more political freedom. Texians met at the Convention of 1832 to discuss requesting independent statehood, among other issues.{{sfnp|Davis|2006|p=92}} The following year, Texians reiterated their demands at the Convention of 1833.{{cite Handbook of Texas |id=mjc10 |title=Convention of 1833 |first=Ralph W. |last=Steen |date=June 12, 2010}}

{{main|Texas Revolution|Convention of 1836|Texas Declaration of Independence|Treaties of Velasco|Republic of Texas}}

Within Mexico, tensions continued between federalists and centralists. In early 1835, wary Texians formed Committees of Correspondence and Safety.{{cite book |last=Huson |first=Hobart |title=Captain Phillip Dimmitt's Commandancy of Goliad, 1835–1836: An Episode of the Mexican Federalist War in Texas, Usually Referred to as the Texian Revolution|publisher=Von Boeckmann-Jones Co. |year=1974 |page=4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=THI8AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA4}} The unrest erupted into armed conflict in late 1835 at the Battle of Gonzales.{{sfnp|Hardin|1994|p=12}} This launched the Texas Revolution. Texians elected delegates to the Consultation, which created a provisional government.{{sfnp|Winders|2004|p=72}} The provisional government soon collapsed from infighting, and Texas was without clear governance for the first two months of 1836.{{harvp|Winders|2004|pp=90, 92}}{{harvp|Hardin|1994|p=109}}

File:SantaAnnaSurrender.jpg

Mexican President Antonio López de Santa Anna personally led an army to end the revolt.{{sfnp|Hardin|1994|p=102}} General José de Urrea defeated all the Texian resistance along the coast culminating in the Goliad massacre.{{Cite Handbook of Texas |last=Roell |first=Craig H. |title=Coleto, Battle of |orig-year=June 12, 2010 |date=July 12, 2016 |id=qec01}} López de Santa Anna's forces, after a thirteen-day siege, overwhelmed Texian defenders at the Battle of the Alamo. News of the defeats sparked panic among Texas settlers.{{sfnp|Todish|Todish|Spring|1998|p=68}}

File:Wpdms republic of texas.svg with present-day borders superimposed]]

The newly elected Texian delegates to the Convention of 1836 quickly signed a declaration of independence on March 2, forming the Republic of Texas. After electing interim officers, the Convention disbanded.Roberts and Olson (2001), p. 144. The new government joined the other settlers in Texas in the Runaway Scrape, fleeing from the approaching Mexican army.{{sfnp|Todish|Todish|Spring|1998|p=68}}

After several weeks of retreat, the Texian Army commanded by Sam Houston attacked and defeated López de Santa Anna's forces at the Battle of San Jacinto.{{sfnp|Todish|Todish|Spring|1998|p=69}} López de Santa Anna was captured and forced to sign the Treaties of Velasco, ending the war.{{sfnp|Todish|Todish|Spring|1998|p=70}} The Constitution of the Republic of Texas prohibited the government from restricting slavery or freeing slaves, and required free people of African descent to leave the country.{{cite web|title=Tarlton Law Library: Constitution of the Republic of Texas (1836): General Provisions|url=https://tarlton.law.utexas.edu/constitutions/republic-texas-1836/general-provisions|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=tarlton.law.utexas.edu |quote=No free person of African descent, either in whole or in part, shall be permitted to reside permanently in the Republic, without the consent of Congress, and the importation or admission of Africans or negroes into this Republic, excepting from the United States of America, is forever prohibited, and declared to be piracy.}}

Political battles raged between two factions of the new Republic. The nationalist faction, led by Mirabeau B. Lamar, advocated the continued independence of Texas, the expulsion of the Native Americans, and the expansion of the Republic to the Pacific Ocean. Their opponents, led by Sam Houston, advocated the annexation of Texas to the United States and peaceful co-existence with Native Americans. The conflict between the factions was typified by an incident known as the Texas Archive War.{{cite web |title=The Archives War |website=Texas Treasures- The Republic |publisher=The Texas State Library and Archives Commission |date=November 2, 2005 |url=https://www.tsl.state.tx.us/treasures/republic/archwar/archwar.html |access-date=January 3, 2009 |archive-date=January 7, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107025915/http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/treasures/republic/archwar/archwar.html |url-status=dead }} With wide popular support, Texas first applied for annexation to the United States in 1836, but its status as a slaveholding country caused its admission to be controversial and it was initially rebuffed. This status, and Mexican diplomacy in support of its claims to the territory, also complicated Texas's ability to form foreign alliances and trade relationships.{{cite book |title=Seeds of Empire: Cotton, Slavery, and the Transformation of the Texas Borderlands, 1800–1850 |year=2015 |isbn=978-1469624242 |publisher=The University of North Carolina Press |author=Andrew J. Torget}}

The Comanche Indians furnished the main Native American opposition to the Texas Republic, manifested in multiple raids on settlements.This had also been their policy toward neighboring tribes before the arrival of the settlers.

{{cite book|last=Gwinnett|first=S.C.|title=Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History|isbn=978-1-4165-9106-1|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/empireofsummermo00gwyn|year=2010|publisher=Simon and Schuster }} Mexico launched two small expeditions into Texas in 1842. The town of San Antonio was captured twice and Texans were defeated in battle in the Dawson massacre. Despite these successes, Mexico did not keep an occupying force in Texas, and the republic survived.{{cite book|last1=Calvert|first1=Robert A.|last2=León|first2=Arnoldo De|last3=Cantrell|first3=Gregg|title=The History of Texas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mS5NPwAACAAJ&pg=PP1|year=2002|publisher=Harlan Davidson|isbn=978-0-88295-966-5}} The cotton price crash of the 1840s depressed the country's economy.

{{main|History of Texas (1845–1860)}}

{{further|Texas annexation|Admission to the Union|Mexican–American War|Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo}}

{{see also|List of U.S. states by date of admission to the Union}}

File:3c Texas Centennial Sam Houston, Stephen Austin, and Alamo, 1936 issue.jpg commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Texas Declaration of Independence, featuring Sam Houston (left), Stephen Austin and the Alamo.]]

Texas was finally annexed when the expansionist James K. Polk won the election of 1844.Buescher, John. [http://www.teachinghistory.org/history-content/ask-a-historian/23927 "Senatorial Division"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101055351/https://teachinghistory.org/history-content/ask-a-historian/23927 |date=November 1, 2020 }}, [http://www.teachinghistory.org/ Teachinghistory.org], accessed August 21, 2011. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711054633/http://teachinghistory.org/ |date=July 11, 2011 }} On December 29, 1845, the U.S. Congress admitted Texas to the U.S.{{cite Handbook of Texas|id=mga02|title=Annexation|first=C. T. |last=Neu|orig-year=June 9, 2010 |date=December 2, 2015}}

After Texas's annexation, Mexico broke diplomatic relations with the United States. While the United States claimed Texas's border stretched to the Rio Grande, Mexico claimed it was the Nueces River leaving the Rio Grande Valley under contested Texan sovereignty. While the former Republic of Texas could not enforce its border claims, the United States had the military strength and the political will to do so. President Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor south to the Rio Grande on January 13, 1846. A few months later Mexican troops routed an American cavalry patrol in the disputed area in the Thornton Affair starting the Mexican–American War. The first battles of the war were fought in Texas: the Siege of Fort Texas, Battle of Palo Alto and Battle of Resaca de la Palma. After these decisive victories, the United States invaded Mexican territory, ending the fighting in Texas.{{cite Handbook of Texas|id=qdm02|title=Mexican War|first= K. Jack |last=Bauer|orig-year=June 15, 2010 |date=March 28, 2016}}

File:Remember Your Regiment, U.S. Army in Action Series, 2d Dragoons charge in Mexican War 1846.jpg's squadron of the 2nd Dragoons slashes through the Mexican Army lines. Resaca de la Palma, Texas, May 1846.]]

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the two-year war. In return for US$18,250,000, Mexico gave the U.S. undisputed control of Texas, ceded the Mexican Cession in 1848, most of which today is called the American Southwest, and Texas's borders were established at the Rio Grande.

The Compromise of 1850 set Texas's boundaries at their present position: Texas ceded its claims to land which later became half of present-day New Mexico, a third of Colorado, and small portions of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Wyoming to the federal government, in return for the assumption of $10 million of the old republic's debt.{{cite Handbook of Texas|id=nbc02|title=Compromise of 1850|first=Roger A. |last=Griffin|orig-year=June 12, 2010 |date=March 21, 2016}} Post-war Texas grew rapidly as migrants poured into the cotton lands of the state.{{cite Handbook of Texas|id=afc03|title=Cotton Culture|first1=Karen Gerhardt |last1=Britton |first2=Fred C. |last2=Elliott |first3=E. A. |last3=Miller|date=June 12, 2010}} They also brought or purchased enslaved African Americans, whose numbers tripled in the state from 1850 to 1860, from 58,000 to 182,566.{{cite news |url=https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/09/visualizing-slavery/ |first=Susan |last=Schulte |title=Visualizing Slavery: A Map of Slavery Interactive Feature |work=The New York Times |date=December 9, 2010}}

{{main|History of Texas (1865–1899)}}

{{further|Ordinance of Secession|Confederate States of America|Texas in the American Civil War}}

Texas re-entered war following the election of 1860. During this time, Black people comprised 30 percent of the state's population, and they were overwhelmingly enslaved.{{cite Handbook of Texas |id=pkaan |first=W. Marvin |last=Dulaney |title=African Americans |orig-year=June 9, 2010 |date=July 25, 2016}} When Abraham Lincoln was elected, South Carolina seceded from the Union; five other Deep South states quickly followed. A state convention considering secession opened in Austin on January 28, 1861. On February 1, by a vote of 166–8, the convention adopted an Ordinance of Secession. Texas voters approved this Ordinance on February 23, 1861. Texas joined the newly created Confederate States of America on March 4, 1861, ratifying the permanent C.S. Constitution on March 23.{{cite Handbook of Texas|id=mjs01|title=Secession Convention|first=Walter L. |last=Buenger|orig-year=June 15, 2010 |date=March 8, 2011}}

Not all Texans favored secession initially, although many of the same would later support the Southern cause. Texas's most notable Unionist was the state governor, Sam Houston. Not wanting to aggravate the situation, Houston refused two offers from President Lincoln for Union troops to keep him in office. After refusing to swear an oath of allegiance to the Confederacy, Houston was deposed.{{cite Handbook of Texas |id=fho73| name=Houston, Samuel |first=Thomas H. |last=Kreneck |orig-year=June 15, 2010 |date=March 30, 2017}}

While far from the major battlefields of the American Civil War, Texas contributed large numbers of soldiers and equipment.{{cite Handbook of Texas |id=qdc02 |title=Civil War |first=Ralph A. |last=Wooster |orig-year=June 12, 2010 |date=January 30, 2017}} Union troops briefly occupied the state's primary port, Galveston. Texas's border with Mexico was known as the "backdoor of the Confederacy" because trade occurred at the border, bypassing the Union blockade.{{cite book |last=Federal Writers' Project |title=Texas, A Guide to the Lone Star State: Brownsville |publisher=Native American Books Distributor |date=December 1997 |page=206 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zUI26u0B_VEC&pg=PA206 |isbn=978-0-403-02192-5}} The Confederacy repulsed all Union attempts to shut down this route, but Texas's role as a supply state was marginalized in mid-1863 after the Union capture of the Mississippi River. The final battle of the Civil War was fought at Palmito Ranch, near Brownsville, Texas, and saw a Confederate victory.{{cite Handbook of Texas|id=qfp01|title=Palmito Ranch, Battle of |first=Jeffrey William |last=Hunt |orig-date=1952 |date=April 20, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230410145326/https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/palmito-ranch-battle-of |archive-date= Apr 10, 2023 }}{{cite web|last=Marvel |first=William |date=June 12, 2006|title=Battle of Palmetto Ranch: American Civil War's Final Battle|url=https://www.historynet.com/battle-of-palmetto-ranch-american-civil-wars-final-battle.htm|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=HistoryNet|language=en-US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122140801/https://www.historynet.com/battle-of-palmetto-ranch-american-civil-wars-final-battle.htm |archive-date= Jan 22, 2021 }}

Texas descended into anarchy for two months between the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia and the assumption of authority by Union General Gordon Granger. Violence marked the early months of Reconstruction. Juneteenth commemorates the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Galveston by General Gordon Granger, almost two and a half years after the original announcement.{{cite web|title=Historical Barriers to Voting |website=Texas Politics |publisher=University of Texas |url=https://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/6_5_3.html |access-date=October 13, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080402060131/http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/html/vce/0503.html |archive-date=April 2, 2008 }}{{cite Handbook of Texas|id=lkj01|title=Juneteenth|first=Teresa Palomo |last=Acosta|orig-year=June 15, 2010 |date=October 6, 2017}} President Johnson, in 1866, declared the civilian government restored in Texas.{{cite book |last=Johnson |first=Andrew |author-link=Andrew Johnson |date=August 20, 1866 |title=Proclamation Declaring the Insurrection at an End |series=American Historical Documents |publisher=President of the United States |url=https://www.bartleby.com/43/42.html |access-date=April 28, 2008}} Despite not meeting Reconstruction requirements, Congress resumed allowing elected Texas representatives into the federal government in 1870. Social volatility continued as the state struggled with agricultural depression and labor issues.{{cite Handbook of Texas|id=mzr01|title=Restoration|first=Carl H. |last=Moneyhon |orig-year=June 15, 2010 |date=January 30, 2017}}

Like most of the South, the Texas economy was devastated by the War. However, since the state had not been as dependent on slaves as other parts of the South, it was able to recover more quickly. The culture in Texas during the later 19th century exhibited many facets of a frontier territory. The state became notorious as a haven for people from other parts of the country who wanted to escape debt, war tensions, or other problems. "Gone to Texas" was a common expression for those fleeing the law in other states. Nevertheless, the state also attracted many businessmen and other settlers with more legitimate interests.{{cite web|last=Pettit|first=Gwen|title=Between the Creeks|url=https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth752794/m2/1/high_res_d/Between%20_the_Creeks_by_Gwen_Pettit_compiled_by_Melinda_Fisher.pdf|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=texashistory.unt.edu|quote=The Southern states, especially the hills of Tennessee and Alabama, were impoverished; war tensions still split neighborhoods. Soon, empty houses had crude signs that stated that the former inhabitants had "Gone to Texas." Church records, also, had the phrase, "Gone to Texas" by numerous names on their roles. So many families left Maury County, Tenn., to settle in eastern Collin County, just across East Fork, that several communities, such as Culleoka, have names directly from south Maury County. That group joined relatives that had come here in the 1850s. Most new immigrants had some link to Collin County, which brought them here. They stayed with relatives and friends until they could find a place to settle. Landowners recruited farmers from the old states by persuading relatives and former neighbors to come. However, numerous families, in the pioneer tradition, loaded their children and belongings in a wagon and headed toward the unknown west. Clarksville, Bonham and Dallas newspapers reported how many wagons passed through each day and how many were camped on the "jockey yards" waiting to find a place to settle. Some of these had sold farms and had money to buy land, but most of these immigrants became tenant farmers and worked on shares.}}

The cattle industry continued to thrive, though it gradually became less profitable. Cotton and lumber became major industries creating new economic booms in various regions. Railroad networks grew rapidly as did the port at Galveston as commerce expanded. The lumber industry quickly expanded and was Texas' largest industry prior to the 20th century.{{cite web|title= Lumber Industry|url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/lumber-industry|access-date=December 28, 2020|publisher=TSHA |work=Handbook of Texas |first1= Robert S. |last1=Maxwell |orig-date=1976 |date=February 15, 2012 |quote=But relatively, the industry's status is far below its dominant position at the beginning of the twentieth century. Then it was the state's largest manufacturing enterprise, first among Texas industries in generating income, and the largest employer of labor in the Lone Star State.}}

File:Lucas_gusher.jpg

In 1900, Texas suffered the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history during the Galveston hurricane. On January 10, 1901, the first major oil well in Texas, Spindletop, was found south of Beaumont. Other fields were later discovered nearby in East Texas, West Texas, and under the Gulf of Mexico. The resulting "oil boom" transformed Texas.{{cite Handbook of Texas|id=dos03|title=Spindletop Oilfield|first1=Robert |last1=Wooster |first2=Christine Moor |last2=Sanders |orig-year=June 15, 2010 |date=April 2, 2019 }} Oil production averaged three million barrels per day at its peak in 1972.{{cite Handbook of Texas|id=doogz|title=Oil and Gas Industry|first=Roger M. |last=Olien |orig-year=June 15, 2010 |date=August 19, 2016}}

In 1901, the Democratic-dominated state legislature passed a bill requiring payment of a poll tax for voting, which effectively disenfranchised most Black and many poor White and Latino people. In addition, the legislature established white primaries, ensuring minorities were excluded from the formal political process. The number of voters dropped dramatically, and the Democrats crushed competition from the Republican and Populist parties.{{cite journal |jstor=791091 |title=Nixon v. Condon. Disfranchisement of the Negro in Texas |journal=The Yale Law Journal |volume=41 |issue=8 |pages=1212–1221 |date=June 1932 |doi=10.2307/791091|issn=0044-0094 }}{{cite web |url=https://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/6_5_3.html |title=Texas Politics: Historical Barriers to Voting |publisher=University of Texas at Austin |date=2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080402060131/http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/html/vce/0503.html |archive-date=April 2, 2008}} The Socialist Party became the second-largest party in Texas after 1912,{{cite Handbook of Texas |id=was01|title=Socialist Party|first=Barr|last=Alwyn|date=June 15, 2010}} coinciding with a large socialist upsurge in the United States during fierce battles in the labor movement and the popularity of national heroes like Eugene V. Debs. The socialists' popularity soon waned after their vilification by the federal government for their opposition to U.S. involvement in World War I.{{Cite web|title=World War I and the Suppression of Dissent {{!}} Wendy McElroy|url=https://www.independent.org/news/article.asp?id=1207|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=The Independent Institute}}{{cite web|title='War against war': Americans for peace in World War I – National Constitution Center|url=https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/war-against-war-americans-for-peace-in-world-war-i|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=National Constitution Center – constitutioncenter.org |quote=Morris Hillquit sought to keep alive the ties of his Socialist Party to its comrades abroad. Senator Robert La Follette filled many a speech with praise for progressives in other countries who shared his hatred for militarism. Henry Ford chartered an ocean liner to transport himself and dozens of other activists across the Atlantic, where they lobbied neutral governments to embrace a peace plan they would press on the warring powers. These Americans, like most critics of the war elsewhere in the world, wanted to create a new global order based on cooperative relationships between nation states and their gradual disarmament. Militarism, they argued, isolated peoples behind walls of mutual fear and loathing. Until April 1917, this formidable coalition of idealists—or realists—did much to keep the nation at peace. They may even have had a majority of Americans on their side until just weeks before Congress, at Wilson's behest, voted to declare war. To prevent that from happening, peace activists pressed for a national referendum on the question, confident that "the people" would recoil from fighting and paying the bills in order to help one group of European powers conquer another.}}

The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl dealt a double blow to the state's economy, which had significantly improved since the Civil War. Migrants abandoned the worst-hit sections of Texas during the Dust Bowl years. Especially from this period on, Black people left Texas in the Great Migration to get work in the Northern United States or California and to escape segregation. In 1940, Texas was 74% White, 14.4% Black, and 11.5% Hispanic.{{cite book|last=Jillson|first=Cal|title=Texas Politics: Governing the Lone Star State|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fQFZCrbc9mIC&pg=PA11|year=2011|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-0-203-82941-7|page=11}}

World War II had a dramatic impact on Texas, as federal money poured in to build military bases, munitions factories, detention camps and Army hospitals; 750,000 Texans left for service; the cities exploded with new industry; and hundreds of thousands of poor farmers left the fields for much better-paying war jobs, never to return to agriculture.{{cite book|last1=Lee|first1=James Ward|last2=Barnes|first2=Carolyn N.|last3=Bowman|first3=Kent Adam|title=1941: Texas Goes to War|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JwBnAAAAMAAJ&pg=PP1|year=1991|publisher=University of North Texas Press|isbn=978-0-929398-29-7}}{{cite book|last=Fairchild|first=Louis|title=They Called It the War Effort: Oral Histories from World War II Orange, Texas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=syZDE5pBzjoC&pg=PP1|edition=second|year=2012|publisher=Texas A&M University Press|isbn=978-0-87611-259-5}} Texas manufactured 3.1 percent of total United States military armaments produced during World War II, ranking eleventh among the 48 states.{{cite book|last1=Peck|first1=Merton J.|author-link1=Whiz Kids (Department of Defense)|last2=Scherer|first2=Frederic M.|author-link2=Frederic M. Scherer|title=The weapons acquisition process: an economic analysis|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wfNHAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA111|year=1962|publisher=Division of Research, Graduate School of Business Administration, Harvard University|page=111}}

Texas modernized and expanded its system of higher education through the 1960s. The state created a comprehensive plan for higher education, funded in large part by oil revenues, and a central state apparatus designed to manage state institutions more efficiently. These changes helped Texas universities receive federal research funds.{{cite journal |last=Blanton |first=Carlos Kevin |title=The Campus and the Capitol: John B. Connally and the Struggle over Texas Higher Education Policy, 1950–1970 |journal=Southwestern Historical Quarterly |volume=108 |issue=4 |pages=468–497 |year=2005 |issn=0038-478X}}

Beginning around the mid-20th century, Texas began to transform from a rural and agricultural state to one urban and industrialized.{{cite Handbook of Texas |last=Calvert |first=Robert A. |title=Texas Since World War II |id=npt02 |orig-year=June 15, 2010 |date=January 30, 2017}} The state's population grew quickly during this period, with large levels of migration from outside the state. As a part of the Sun Belt, Texas experienced strong economic growth, particularly during the 1970s and early 1980s. Texas's economy diversified, lessening its reliance on the petroleum industry. By 1990, Hispanics and Latino Americans overtook Blacks to become the largest minority group. Texas has the largest Black population with over 3.9 million.{{cite web |last1=Tamir |first1=Christine |title=The Growing Diversity of Black America |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2021/03/25/the-growing-diversity-of-black-america/ |website=Pew Research Center's Social & Demographic Trends Project |date=March 25, 2021}}

During the late 20th century, the Republican Party replaced the Democratic Party as the dominant party in the state. Beginning in the early 21st century, metropolitan areas including Dallas–Fort Worth and Greater Austin became centers for the Texas Democratic Party in statewide and national elections as liberal policies became more accepted in urban areas.{{cite web|date=September 12, 2016|title=Red State, Blue Cities|url=https://www.city-journal.org/html/red-state-blue-cities-14731.html |access-date=October 9, 2020|website=City Journal}}{{cite web|title=Chart of the Week: The most liberal and conservative big cities|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/08/08/chart-of-the-week-the-most-liberal-and-conservative-big-cities/ |access-date=October 9, 2020|website=Pew Research Center|date=August 8, 2014 }}{{cite web|date=February 22, 2018|title=Meet the Next Texans, a population boom that will change our politics|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2018/02/22/meet-the-next-texans-a-population-boom-that-will-change-our-politics/|access-date=October 9, 2020|website=Dallas News}}{{cite web|last=Tan|first=Anjelica|date=January 26, 2020|title=Why Republicans may lose Texas|url=https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/479998-why-republicans-may-lose-texas|access-date=October 20, 2020|website=The Hill}}

From the mid-2000s to 2019, Texas gained an influx of business relocations and regional headquarters from companies in California.{{cite news|last=Fechter|first=Joshua|date=December 28, 2018|title=Texas leads in job imports but figures show a mixed bag|url=https://www.expressnews.com/business/local/article/Texas-leads-in-job-imports-but-figures-show-a-13495988.php|access-date=December 29, 2020|newspaper=San Antonio Express-News|language=en-US}}{{cite web|title=Here are the California companies that relocated to Dallas-Fort Worth in 2020 |date=Dec 10, 2020 |first1=Bill |last1=Hethcock |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2020/12/10/california-relocations-dallas.html|access-date=December 29, 2020|website=Dallas Business Journal }}{{cite web|title=North Texas among the regions benefitting from 'Bay Area exodus'|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2018/10/11/north-texas-among-the-regions-benefitting-from-bay.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=December 29, 2020|website=Dallas Business Journal |date=Oct 11, 2018 |first1=Mark |last1=Calvey }}{{cite web|date=December 13, 2020|title=Tesla's Musk and Oracle Corp. follows 687,000 other Californians who've moved to Texas in last decade|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/relocation-by-teslas-musk-and-oracle-corp-follows-687000-other-californians-whove-moved-to-texas-in-last-decade/ |agency=The Dallas Morning News|access-date=December 29, 2020|website=The Seattle Times}} Texas became a major destination for migration during the early 21st century and was named the most popular state to move for three consecutive years.{{cite web |last=Collman |first=Ashley |title=These are the top 10 states that people are moving to |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/us-states-people-are-moving-to-2019-5 |date=May 28, 2019 |access-date=October 9, 2020|website=Business Insider}} Another study in 2019 determined Texas's growth rate at 1,000 people per day.{{cite web |last=Méndez |first=María|date=May 8, 2019|title=Where is Texas' growing population coming from?|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2019/05/08/texas-keeps-growing-where-are-newest-transplants-coming/|access-date=October 13, 2020 |website=The Texas Tribune}}

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Texas, the first confirmed case of the virus in Texas was announced on March 4, 2020.{{cite web|title=DSHS Announces First Case of COVID-19 in Texas|url=https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news/releases/2020/20200304.aspx|accessdate=October 9, 2020|website=dshs.texas.gov}} On April 27, 2020, Governor Greg Abbott announced phase one of re-opening the economy.{{cite web|title=Governor Abbott Announces Phase One To Open Texas, Establishes Statewide Minimum Standard Health Protocols|url=https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-announces-phase-one-to-open-texas-establishes-statewide-minimum-standard-health-protocols|access-date=October 9, 2020|website=gov.texas.gov}} Amid a rise in COVID-19 cases in autumn 2020, Abbott refused to enact further lockdowns.{{cite web|last=Rosenzweig-Ziff|first=Patrick Svitek and Dan |date=November 18, 2020|title=Coronavirus cases in Texas are soaring again. But this time Gov. Greg Abbott says no lockdown is coming.|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2020/11/18/texas-coronavirus-lockdown/|access-date=November 20, 2020|website=The Texas Tribune}}{{cite web|title=Texas, Florida and South Dakota governors refuse lockdowns as coronavirus resurges|date=November 18, 2020 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/texas-florida-south-dakota-governors-refuse-lockdowns-coronavirus-resurges-n1248042|access-date=November 20, 2020|publisher=NBC News}} In November 2020, Texas was selected as one of four states to test Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine distribution.{{cite web |last1=Fischer |first1=Courtney|last2=Abrahams|first2=Tom|date=November 17, 2020|title=Texas among states chosen to test Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine distribution|url=https://abc13.com/8036302/|access-date=February 16, 2021|website=ABC13 Houston}} As of February 2, 2021, there had been over 2.4 million confirmed cases in Texas, with at least 37,417 deaths.{{cite news|title=Texas Coronavirus Map and Case Count|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/texas-coronavirus-cases.html|access-date=December 29, 2020|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 2020}}

During February 13–17, 2021, the state faced a major weather emergency as Winter Storm Uri hit the state, as well as most of the Southeastern and Midwestern United States.{{cite web|date=February 19, 2021|title=Explained: How a winter storm caused widespread blackouts in energy-rich Texas|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/texas-winter-storm-blackout-7192677/|access-date=February 20, 2021|website=The Indian Express}}{{cite web|title=Miserable winter weather is still hitting Texas and now it's spreading to the East Coast|date=February 18, 2021 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/18/weather/winter-storm-weather-thursday/index.html|access-date=February 20, 2021|publisher=CNN}} Historically high power usage across the state caused the state's power grid to become overworked and ERCOT (the main operator of the Texas Interconnection grid) declared an emergency and began to implement rolling blackouts across Texas, causing a power crisis.{{cite web|title=ERCOT calls for rotating outages as extreme winter weather forces generating units offline|url=http://www.ercot.com/news/releases/show/225210|access-date=February 20, 2021|website=ercot.com|archive-date=March 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302070732/http://www.ercot.com/news/releases/show/225210|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Douglas|first=Erin|date=February 18, 2021|title=Texas was "seconds and minutes" away from catastrophic monthslong blackouts, officials say|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/18/texas-power-outages-ercot/|access-date=February 20, 2021|website=The Texas Tribune}}{{cite web|title=Texas Republicans criticized for misleading claims that renewable energy sources caused massive outages|date=February 18, 2021 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/18/politics/texas-power-outages-political-fallout/index.html|access-date=February 20, 2021|publisher=CNN}} Over 3 million Texans were without power and over 4 million were under boil-water notices.{{cite web|last=Hanson|first=Blake|date=February 18, 2021|title=With half of Texas under a boil water notice, state efforts shift to emerging water crisis|url=https://www.fox4news.com/news/with-half-of-texas-under-a-boil-water-notice-state-efforts-now-shifting-to-emerging-water-crisis|access-date=February 20, 2021|website=FOX 4|language=en-US}}

{{main|Geography of Texas}}

File:Sam Rayburn Reservoir.jpg]]

File:Texas hill country.jpg]]

Texas is the second-largest U.S. state by area, after Alaska, and the largest state within the contiguous United States, at {{convert|268820|sqmi|km2}}. If it were an independent country, Texas would be the 39th-largest.{{cite web|date=May 31, 2017|title=How Big is Texas Compared to Countries Around the World? Huge.|url=https://www.wideopencountry.com/how-big-is-texas/|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=Wide Open Country|language=en-US}} It ranks 26th worldwide amongst country subdivisions by size.

Texas is in the south central part of the United States. The Rio Grande forms a natural border with the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas to the south. The Red River forms a natural border with Oklahoma and Arkansas to the north. The Sabine River forms a natural border with Louisiana to the east. The Texas Panhandle has an eastern border with Oklahoma at 100° W, a northern border with Oklahoma at 36°30' N and a western border with New Mexico at 103° W. El Paso lies on the state's western tip at 32° N and the Rio Grande.

With 10 climatic regions, 14 soil regions and 11 distinct ecological regions, regional classification becomes complicated with differences in soils, topography, geology, rainfall, and plant and animal communities.{{cite web |url=http://www.texasep.org/html/lnd/lnd_1reg.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603175718/http://www.texasep.org/html/lnd/lnd_1reg.html |archive-date=June 3, 2008 |title=Tx Environmental Profiles |access-date=July 14, 2006}} One classification system divides Texas, in order from southeast to west, into the following: Gulf Coastal Plains, Interior Lowlands, Great Plains, and Basin and Range Province.{{cite web|date=October 4, 2019|title=Physical Regions of Texas|url=https://texasalmanac.com/topics/environment/physical-regions-texas|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=texasalmanac.com}}

The Gulf Coastal Plains region wraps around the Gulf of Mexico on the southeast section of the state. Vegetation in this region consists of thick piney woods. The Interior Lowlands region consists of gently rolling to hilly forested land and is part of a larger pine-hardwood forest. The Cross Timbers region and Caprock Escarpment are part of the Interior Lowlands.

File:Martin-Dies-Jr-State-Park.jpg]]

The Great Plains region in Central Texas spans through the state's panhandle and Llano Estacado to the state's hill country near Lago Vista and Austin. This region is dominated by prairie and steppe. "Far West Texas" or the "Trans-Pecos" region is the state's Basin and Range Province. The most varied of the regions, this area includes Sand Hills, the Stockton Plateau, desert valleys, wooded mountain slopes and desert grasslands.{{cite web|title=Texas Ecoregions |url=https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/hunter-education/online-course/wildlife-conservation/texas-ecoregions|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=Texas Parks & Wildlife Department |language=en-us}}

Texas has 3,700 named streams and 15 major rivers,{{cite web |url=http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/water/habitats/rivers/ |title=Rivers in Texas |website=Tpwd.state.tx.us |date=November 16, 2007 |access-date=April 11, 2010}}{{cite Handbook of Texas |first=Hal P. |last=Bybee |id=rnr07 |title=Rivers |date=June 15, 2010}} with the Rio Grande as the largest. Other major rivers include the Pecos, the Brazos, Colorado, and Red River. While Texas has few natural lakes, Texans have built more than a hundred artificial reservoirs.{{cite web |url=https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/recreational/lakes/lakelist.phtml |title=Alphabetical List of Texas Lakes |website=Tpwd.state.tx.us |date=January 28, 2010 |access-date=April 11, 2010}}

The size and unique history of Texas make its regional affiliation debatable; it can be considered a Southern or a Southwestern state, or both. The vast geographic, economic, and cultural diversity within the state itself prohibits easy categorization of the whole state into a recognized region of the United States. Notable extremes range from East Texas which is often considered an extension of the Deep South, to Far West Texas which is generally acknowledged to be part of the interior Southwest.{{cite news |url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/is-texas-southern-western-or-truly-a-lone-star/ |website=Texas Monthly |title=Is Texas Southern, Western, or Truly a Lone Star? |last=Nova Lomax |first=John |date=March 3, 2015 |access-date=September 6, 2016}}

{{main|Geology of Texas}}

File:Palo Duro lighthouse.jpg]]

File:Summitanthonysnose1b.jpg]]

File:Big Bend National Park PB112599.jpg]]

Texas is the southernmost part of the Great Plains, which ends in the south against the folded Sierra Madre Occidental of Mexico. The continental crust forms a stable Mesoproterozoic craton which changes across a broad continental margin and transitional crust into true oceanic crust of the Gulf of Mexico. The oldest rocks in Texas date from the Mesoproterozoic and are about 1,600 million years old.{{cite web|title=Geology|url=https://www.nhnct.org/geology/geo1.html|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=nhnct.org}}

This margin existed until Laurasia and Gondwana collided in the Pennsylvanian subperiod to form Pangea.{{cite web|date=2016|title=Late Cretaceous and Tertiary Burial History, Central Texas|url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56e481e827d4bdfdac7fbe0f/t/58c1e3fac534a59cc49605f6/1489101856226/Rose%2C+P.%2C+2016%2C+Late+Cretaceous+and+Tertiary+Burial+History%2C+Central+Texas%2C+GCAGS.pdf|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=gcags.org|quote=Fault displacement decreases steadily to the north of Austin and to the west of San Antonio; Balcones faulting dies out about halfway between Waco and Dallas, and about halfway between Uvalde and Del Rio.}} Pangea began to break up in the Triassic, but seafloor spreading to form the Gulf of Mexico occurred only in the mid- and late Jurassic. The shoreline shifted again to the eastern margin of the state and the Gulf of Mexico's passive margin began to form. Today {{convert|9|to|12|mi|km|0}} of sediments are buried beneath the Texas continental shelf and a large proportion of remaining US oil reserves are here. The incipient Gulf of Mexico basin was restricted and seawater often evaporated completely to form thick evaporite deposits of Jurassic age. These salt deposits formed salt dome diapirs, and are found in East Texas along the Gulf coast.{{cite conference |last=Muzzafar |first=Asif |title=Timing of Diapir Growth and Cap Rock Formation, Davis Hill Salt Dome, Coastal Texas |url=https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2001AM/finalprogram/abstract_24852.htm |conference=GSA Annual Meeting, November 5–8, 2001 |publisher=The Geological Society of America |access-date=July 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907164932/http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2001AM/finalprogram/abstract_24852.htm |archive-date=September 7, 2008 |url-status=dead}}

East Texas outcrops consist of Cretaceous and Paleogene sediments which contain important deposits of Eocene lignite. The Mississippian and Pennsylvanian sediments in the north; Permian sediments in the west; and Cretaceous sediments in the east, along the Gulf coast and out on the Texas continental shelf contain oil. Oligocene volcanic rocks are found in far west Texas in the Big Bend area. A blanket of Miocene sediments known as the Ogallala formation in the western high plains region is an important aquifer.{{cite web |url=http://www.npwd.org/new_page_2.htm |title=Ogallala Aquifer |access-date=July 23, 2008 |publisher=North Plains Groundwater Conservation District |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704071707/http://www.npwd.org/new_page_2.htm |archive-date=July 4, 2008 |url-status=dead}} Located far from an active plate tectonic boundary, Texas has no volcanoes and few earthquakes.{{cite web |url=https://www.ig.utexas.edu/research/projects/eq/compendium/earthquakes.htm |title=Earthquakes |access-date=July 23, 2008 |publisher=Jackson School of Geosciences—University of Texas |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501011850/http://www.ig.utexas.edu/research/projects/eq/compendium/earthquakes.htm |archive-date=May 1, 2008}}

{{see also|List of mammals of Texas|List of birds of Texas|List of reptiles of Texas|List of amphibians of Texas}}

Texas is the home to 65 species of mammals, 213 species of reptiles and amphibians, including the American green tree frog, and the greatest diversity of bird life in the United States—590 native species in all.{{cite web |url=http://wildtexas.com/wildguides/ |title=Texas Wildlife Identification & Viewing Guide |website=Wildtexas.com |date=December 3, 2010 |access-date=April 18, 2013 |archive-date=May 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524001544/http://www.wildtexas.com/wildguides/ |url-status=dead }} At least 12 species have been introduced and now reproduce freely in Texas.{{cite web |url=http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot1/txmammal.htm |title=Texas Mammals |website=The Mammals of Texas—Online Edition |publisher=Natural Science Research Laboratory—Museum of Texas Tech University |access-date=April 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508130445/http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot1/txmammal.htm |archive-date=May 8, 2013 |url-status=dead}}

Texas plays host to several species of wasps, including an abundance of Polistes exclamans,{{cite journal |first=Mary Jane |last=West |year=1968 |title=Range Extension and Solitary nest founding in Polistes Exclamans |journal=Psyche: A Journal of Entomology |volume=75 |issue=2 |pages=118–123 |doi=10.1155/1968/49846|doi-access=free }} and is an important ground for the study of Polistes annularis.{{cite thesis|last=Nacko|first=Scott|date=May 2017|title=Occurrence and Phenology of Polistine Wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Southern Louisiana|type=MS thesis |publisher=Louisiana State University |url=https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5594&context=gradschool_theses|access-date=December 28, 2020 |doi=10.31390/gradschool_theses.4593 |via=LSU Digital Commons|doi-access=free}}

During the spring Texas wildflowers such as the state flower, the bluebonnet, line highways throughout Texas. During the Johnson Administration the first lady, Lady Bird Johnson, worked to draw attention to Texas wildflowers.{{cite web|title=Lady Bird Johnson's I-95 Landscape-Landmark Tour – Highway History – FHWA – General Highway History – Highway History – Federal Highway Administration|url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/ladybird.cfm|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)}}

{{main|Climate of Texas}}

File:Texas Köppen.svg

The large size of Texas and its location at the intersection of multiple climate zones gives the state highly variable weather. The Panhandle of the state has colder winters than North Texas, while the Gulf Coast has mild winters. Texas has wide variations in precipitation patterns. El Paso, on the western end of the state, averages {{convert|8.7|in|mm}} of annual rainfall,{{cite web |url=https://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=7227&refer=&cityname=El-Paso-Texas-United-States-of-America |title=El Paso, Texas Travel Weather Averages |publisher=Weatherbase |access-date=April 18, 2013 |archive-date=May 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513185756/http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=7227&refer=&cityname=El-Paso-Texas-United-States-of-America |url-status=dead }} while parts of southeast Texas average as much as {{convert|64|in|mm}} per year.{{cite web |url=https://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=86614&refer=&cityname=Mauriceville-Texas-United-States-of-America |title=Mauriceville, Texas Travel Weather Averages |publisher=Weatherbase |access-date=April 18, 2013 |archive-date=May 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513185802/http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=86614&refer=&cityname=Mauriceville-Texas-United-States-of-America |url-status=dead }} Dallas in the North Central region averages a more moderate {{convert|37|in|mm}} per year.{{cite web|title=Weather averages Dallas-DFW Intl Arpt, Texas|url=https://www.usclimatedata.com/climate/dallas-dfw-intl-arpt/texas/united-states/ustx0328|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=usclimatedata.com}}

Snow falls multiple times each winter in the Panhandle and mountainous areas of West Texas, once or twice a year in North Texas, and once every few years in Central and East Texas. Snow falls south of San Antonio or on the coast only in rare circumstances. Of note is the 2004 Christmas Eve snowstorm, when {{convert|6|in|mm}} of snow fell as far south as Kingsville, where the average high temperature in December is 65 °F.{{cite web |url=https://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KNQI/2008/12/24/DailyHistory.html?req_city=NA&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA |title=History: Weather Underground |website=Wunderground.com |date=December 24, 2008 |access-date=April 11, 2010}}

Night-time summer temperatures range from the upper 50s °F (14 °C) in the West Texas mountains to {{convert|80|°F|°C|0}} in Galveston.{{cite web |title=Monthly Averages for Marfa, Texas |publisher=The Weather Channel |url=https://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/outdoors/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USTX0830?from=search |access-date=October 15, 2008}}{{cite web |title=Monthly Averages for Galveston, Texas |publisher=The Weather Channel |url=https://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/outdoors/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USTX0499?from=search |access-date=October 15, 2008}}

The table below consists of averages for August (generally the warmest month) and January (generally the coldest) in selected cities in various regions of the state.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:auto;"

|+Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures for selected cities in Texas{{cite web |url=https://www.weatherbase.com/weather/city.php3?c=US&s=TX&statename=Texas-United-States-of-America |title=Texas climate averages |publisher=Weatherbase |access-date=November 10, 2015 |archive-date=January 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101180344/http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/city.php3?c=US&s=TX&statename=Texas-United-States-of-America |url-status=dead }}

|-

!Location

!August (°F)

!August (°C)

!January (°F)

!January (°C)

|-

|Houston|| 94/75 || 34/24 || 63/54 || 17/12

|-

|San Antonio|| 96/74 || 35/23 || 63/40 || 17/5

|-

|Dallas|| 96/77 || 36/25 || 57/37 || 16/3

|-

|Austin|| 97/74 || 36/23 || 61/45 || 16/5

|-

|El Paso|| 92/67 || 33/21 || 57/32 || 14/0

|-

|Laredo|| 100/77 || 37/25 || 67/46 || 19/7

|-

|Amarillo|| 89/64 || 32/18 || 50/23 || 10/−4

|-

|Brownsville|| 94/76 || 34/24 || 70/51 || 21/11

|}

{{see also|List of Texas hurricanes}}

Thunderstorms strike Texas often, especially the eastern and northern portions of the state. Tornado Alley covers the northern section of Texas. The state experiences the most tornadoes in the United States, an average of 139 a year. These strike most frequently in North Texas and the Panhandle.[https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate/research/tornado/small/avgt5304.gif NOOA.gov] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423020857/https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate/research/tornado/small/avgt5304.gif |date=April 23, 2017}} National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved on October 24, 2006. Tornadoes in Texas generally occur in April, May, and June.{{cite Handbook of Texas|id=yzw01|title=Weather |first=George W. |last=Bomar |date=June 15, 2010}}

Some of the most destructive hurricanes in U.S. history have impacted Texas. A hurricane in 1875 killed about 400 people in Indianola, followed by another hurricane in 1886 that destroyed the town. These events allowed Galveston to take over as the chief port city. The 1900 Galveston hurricane subsequently devastated that city, killing about 8,000 people or possibly as many as 12,000 in the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history.{{cite web |last1=Blake |first1=Eric S. |last2=Rappaport |first2=Edward N. |last3=Landsea |first3=Christopher W. |title=The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Tropical Cyclones From 1851 to 2006 |publisher=National Weather Service: National Hurricane Center |date=April 15, 2007 |url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/NWS-TPC-5.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231217022106/https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/NWS-TPC-5.pdf |archive-date= Dec 17, 2023 }} In 2017, Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Rockport as a Category 4 Hurricane, causing significant damage there. Its unprecedented amounts of rain over the Greater Houston area resulted in widespread and catastrophic flooding that inundated hundreds of thousands of homes. Harvey ultimately became the costliest hurricane worldwide, causing an estimated $198.6 billion in damage, surpassing the cost of Hurricane Katrina.{{cite report|first1=Michael |last1=Hicks |first2=Mark |last2=Burton|publisher=Ball State University|date=September 8, 2017|access-date=November 1, 2017|title=Hurricane Harvey: Preliminary Estimates of Commercial and Public Sector Damages on the Houston Metropolitan Area|url=https://projects.cberdata.org/reports/HurricaneHarvey2017.pdf}}

Other devastating Texas hurricanes include the 1915 Galveston hurricane, Hurricane Audrey in 1957, Hurricane Carla in 1961, Hurricane Beulah in 1967, Hurricane Alicia in 1983, Hurricane Rita in 2005, and Hurricane Ike in 2008. Tropical storms have also caused their share of damage: Allison in 1989 and again during 2001, Claudette in 1979, and Tropical Storm Imelda in 2019.{{cite web|last=Levin|first=Matt|date=June 15, 2015|title=Here's how tropical storms have impacted Texas in the past 35 years|url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Here-s-how-tropical-storms-have-impacted-Texas-in-6328173.php|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=Chron|language=en-US}}{{cite news|date=June 4, 2020|title=Tropical Storm Allison blew through Houston 19 years ago|url=https://abc13.com/timely-tropical-storm-allison-houston-hurricane/2075243|access-date=December 28, 2020|newspaper=Abc13 Houston}}{{cite web|last=Levin|first=Matt|date=May 29, 2015|title=Tropical Storm Claudette: The 'Mother Lode' of floods|url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-weather/article/Remembering-Tropical-Storm-Claudette-The-Mother-6295177.php|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=Chron|language=en-US}}

There is no substantial physical barrier between Texas and the polar region. Although it is unusual, it is possible for arctic or polar air masses to penetrate Texas,{{cite news|title=Casualty|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47088684|date=February 1, 2019|access-date=February 12, 2019}}{{cite web|title=Polar vortex: What is it and how does it happen? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-47065461/polar-vortex-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-happen |date=January 30, 2019|website=BBC News video|access-date=January 31, 2019}} as occurred during the February 13–17, 2021 North American winter storm.{{cite web |author1=Department of Atmospheric Sciences (DAS) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. |title=Continental Polar Air Masses |url=http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/af/arms/artc.rxml |access-date=February 21, 2021}}{{cite news |author1=Tom Niziol |title=The lethal atmospheric setup behind a deadly Arctic outbreak: How ingredients came together for an onslaught of bone-chilling temperatures and a barrage of storms |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/02/16/setup-arctic-outbreak-niziol/ |access-date=February 21, 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 16, 2021}} Usually, prevailing winds in North America will push polar air masses to the southeast before they reach Texas. Because such intrusions are rare, and, perhaps, unexpected, they may result in crises such as the 2021 Texas power crisis.

{{main|Climate change in Texas}}

{{As of|2017}}, Texas emitted the most greenhouse gases in the U.S.{{cite web |title=Rankings: Total Carbon Dioxide Emissions, 2017 |url=https://www.eia.gov/state/rankings/?sid=TX#/series/226 |publisher=U.S. Energy Information Administration |access-date=January 14, 2020 |date=2017}} {{As of|2017}} the state emits about {{convert|707|e6t|e9lb|abbr=off|sp=us|order=flip}} of carbon dioxide annually. As an independent state, Texas would rank as the world's seventh-largest producer of greenhouse gases.{{cite news |title=Texas No. 1 producer of greenhouse gases |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/060307dnnatemissions.3c1df3a.html |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=The Dallas Morning News |date=June 3, 2007 |access-date=June 11, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919052620/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/060307dnnatemissions.3c1df3a.html |archive-date=September 19, 2008}} Causes of the state's vast greenhouse gas emissions include the state's large number of coal power plants and the state's refining and manufacturing industries. In 2010, there were 2,553 "emission events" which poured {{convert|44.6|e6lb|t|abbr=off|sp=us}} of contaminants into the Texas sky.{{cite web|access-date=January 16, 2021|title=Living, and coughing, downwind of Texas smoke stacks|url=https://phys.org/news/2011-11-downwind-texas-stacks.html|website=phys.org|agency=Agence France-Presse}}

{{see also|List of counties in Texas|List of Texas metropolitan areas|List of municipalities in Texas}}

{| class="wikitable floatright" style="text-align:center;"

|-

! colspan="2" |Largest city in Texas by year{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0027/tab01.txt |title=100 Largest Cities by Decade |publisher=U.S. Bureau of the Census |date=June 15, 1998}}

|-

! Year(s)

! City

|-

| 1850–1870 ||San Antonio{{cite Handbook of Texas |id=hds02 |title=San Antonio, TX |first=T. R. |last=Fehrenbach |orig-year=June 15, 2010 |date=March 30, 2017}}

|-

| 1870–1890 ||Galveston{{cite Handbook of Texas |id=hdg01 |title=Galveston, TX |first=David G. |last=McComb |orig-year=June 15, 2010 |date=May 5, 2016}}

|-

| 1890–1900 ||Dallas

|-

| 1900–1930 ||San Antonio

|-

| 1930–present ||Houston{{cite Handbook of Texas |id=hdh03 |title=Houston, TX |first=David G. |last=McComb |orig-year=June 15, 2010 |date=February 15, 2017}}

|}

File:Texas Counties and Urban Areas.png and urban areas]]

File:Dirt road texas.jpg in the Rio Grande Valley near the Mexico–United States border]]

The state has three cities with populations exceeding one million: Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas.{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2006–01.csv |title=Table 1: Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places Over 100,000, Ranked by July 1, 2006 Population: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 |format=CSV |website=2005 Population Estimates |publisher=United States Census Bureau, Population Division |date=June 10, 2008 |access-date=June 10, 2008}} {{dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}} These three rank among the 10 most populous cities of the United States. As of 2020, six Texas cities had populations greater than 600,000. Austin, Fort Worth, and El Paso are among the 20 largest U.S. cities. Texas has four metropolitan areas with populations greater than a million: {{nowrap|Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington}}, {{nowrap|Houston–Sugar Land–The Woodlands}}, {{nowrap|San Antonio–New Braunfels}}, and {{nowrap|Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos}}. The Dallas–Fort Worth and Houston metropolitan areas number about 7.5 million and 7 million residents as of 2019, respectively.{{cite web |title=Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas Totals: 2010–2019 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/datasets/time-series/demo/popest/2010s-total-metro-and-micro-statistical-areas.html |access-date=December 28, 2020 |website=The United States Census Bureau |language=en-US}}

Three interstate highways—I-35 to the west (Dallas–Fort Worth to San Antonio, with Austin in between), I-45 to the east (Dallas to Houston), and I-10 to the south (San Antonio to Houston) define the Texas Urban Triangle region. The region of {{convert|60000|sqmi|km2|sigfig=2}} contains most of the state's largest cities and metropolitan areas as well as 17 million people, nearly 75 percent of Texas's total population.{{cite web|last=Neuman |first=Michael |title=The Texas Urban Triangle: Framework for Future Growth |publisher=Southwest Region University Transportation Center (SWUTC) |url=http://swutc.tamu.edu/projectdescriptions/167166.htm |access-date=October 14, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705231054/https://swutc.tamu.edu/projectdescriptions/167166.htm |archive-date=July 5, 2009}} Houston and Dallas have been recognized as world cities.{{cite web |title=The World According to GaWC 2008 |website=Globalization and World Cities Research Network |access-date=March 1, 2009 |url=http://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/world2008t.html |archive-date=August 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811203314/http://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/world2008t.html |url-status=dead }} These cities are spread out amongst the state.{{cite web |title=Distance Houston to Dallas – Air line, driving route, midpoint|url=https://www.distance.to/Houston/Dallas|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=distance.to|language=en-us}}

In contrast to the cities, unincorporated rural settlements known as colonias often lack basic infrastructure and are marked by poverty.{{cite web |url=http://www.sos.state.tx.us/border/colonias/faqs.shtml |title=Colonias FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions) |access-date=October 12, 2008 |author=Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Office of Community Affairs |publisher=Texas Secretary of State |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009044415/http://www.sos.state.tx.us/border/colonias/faqs.shtml |archive-date=October 9, 2008}} The office of the Texas Attorney General stated, in 2011, that Texas had about 2,294 colonias, and estimates about 500,000 lived in the colonias. Hidalgo County, as of 2011, has the largest number of colonias.Grinberg, Emmanuella. "[http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/07/05/texas.colonias/index.html?hpt=hp_c1 Impoverished border town grows from shacks into community]". CNN. July 8, 2011. Retrieved on July 9, 2011. Texas has the largest number of people living in colonias of all states.

Texas has 254 counties, more than any other state.{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=REtEXQNWq6MC&pg=PA215 |title=Historical Gazetteer of the United States|chapter=Georgia|first=Paul T.|last=Hellmann|date=February 14, 2006 |publisher=Routledge |access-date=February 16, 2017|isbn=978-1135948597}} Each county runs on Commissioners' Court system consisting of four elected commissioners (one from each of four precincts in the county, roughly divided according to population) and a county judge elected at large from the entire county. County government runs similar to a "weak" mayor-council system; the county judge has no veto authority, but votes along with the other commissioners.{{Cite web|title=Texas County Government|url=https://co.jefferson.tx.us/prct1/TAC_brochure.pdf|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=co.jefferson.tx.us}}{{cite web|title=Texas county judge|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_county_judge|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=Ballotpedia}}

Although Texas permits cities and counties to enter "interlocal agreements" to share services, the state does not allow consolidated city-county governments, nor does it have metropolitan governments. Counties are not granted home rule status; their powers are strictly defined by state law. The state does not have townships—areas within a county are either incorporated or unincorporated. Incorporated areas are part of a municipality. The county provides limited services to unincorporated areas and to some smaller incorporated areas. Municipalities are classified either "general law" cities or "home rule".{{cite thesis |last=McDonald |first=John V. |title=An Analysis of Texas' Municipal Home Rule Charters Since 1994" |date=August 2000 |publisher=Texas State University |url=http://ecommons.txstate.edu/arp/124/ |access-date=October 14, 2008 |archive-date=March 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304010149/http://ecommons.txstate.edu/arp/124/ |url-status=dead }} A municipality may elect home rule status once it exceeds 5,000 population with voter approval.{{cite web|title=Home Rule |url=https://centertexas.org/city-council/home-rule|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=centertexas.org}}

Texas also permits the creation of "special districts", which provide limited services. The most common is the school district, but can also include hospital districts, community college districts, and utility districts. Municipal, school district, and special district elections are nonpartisan,{{cite web|title=Run for Party Nomination to Public Office |website=Texas Politics |publisher=University of Texas |url=http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/4_6_2.html |access-date=October 12, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318023922/http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/4_6_2.html |archive-date=March 18, 2009 }} though the party affiliation of a candidate may be well-known. County and state elections are partisan.{{Cite web|date=February 2008|title=County Elections – Partisan or Non-Partisan? State by State|url=https://www.pinellascounty.org/charter/pdf/County-elections-partisan-or-non-partisan.pdf|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=pinellascounty.org|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126210054/https://www.pinellascounty.org/charter/pdf/County-elections-partisan-or-non-partisan.pdf|url-status=dead}}

{{Largest cities

| country = Texas

| stat_ref = 2022 U.S. Census Bureau Estimate{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2010-2019/cities/totals/SUB-IP-EST2019-ANNRES-48.xlsx |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Texas: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2019 (SUB-IP-EST2019-ANNRES-48) |date=May 21, 2020 |publisher=United States Census Bureau, Population Division |access-date=December 23, 2022}}

| list_by_pop =

| div_name =

| div_link = Counties of Texas{{!}}County

| city_1 = Houston

| div_1 = Harris County, Texas{{!}}Harris

| pop_1 = 2,302,878

| img_1 = Aerial views of the Houston, Texas, skyline in 2014 LCCN2014632225.jpg

| city_2 = San Antonio

| div_2 = Bexar County, Texas{{!}}Bexar

| pop_2 = 1,472,909

| img_2 = Gfp-texas-san-antonio-tall-buildings.jpg

| city_3 = Dallas

| div_3 = Dallas County, Texas{{!}}Dallas

| pop_3 = 1,299,544

| img_3 = View of Dallas from Reunion Tower August 2015 13.jpg

| city_4 = Austin, Texas{{!}}Austin

| div_4 = Travis County, Texas{{!}}Travis

| pop_4 = 974,447

| img_4 = Downtown Austin from Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge, October 2022.jpg

| city_5 = Fort Worth

| div_5 = Tarrant County, Texas{{!}}Tarrant

| pop_5 = 956,709

| img_5 =

| city_6 = El Paso

| div_6 = El Paso County, Texas{{!}}El Paso

| pop_6 = 677,456

| img_6 =

| city_7 = Arlington, Texas{{!}}Arlington

| div_7 = Tarrant County, Texas{{!}}Tarrant

| pop_7 = 394,602

| img_7 =

| city_8 = Corpus Christi, Texas{{!}}Corpus Christi

| div_8 = Nueces County, Texas{{!}}Nueces

| pop_8 = 316,239

| img_8 =

| city_9 = Plano, Texas{{!}}Plano

| div_9 = Collin County, Texas{{!}}Collin

| pop_9 = 289,547

| img_9 =

| city_10 = Lubbock, Texas{{!}}Lubbock

| div_10 = Lubbock County, Texas{{!}}Lubbock

| pop_10 = 263,930

| img_10 =

| city_11 = Laredo, Texas{{!}}Laredo

| div_11 = Webb County, Texas{{!}}Webb

| pop_11 = 256,187

| img_11 =

| city_12 = Irving, Texas{{!}}Irving

| div_12 = Dallas County, Texas{{!}}Dallas

| pop_12 = 254,715

| img_12 =

| city_13 = Garland, Texas{{!}}Garland

| div_13 = Dallas County, Texas{{!}}Dallas

| pop_13 = 240,854

| img_13 =

| city_14 = Frisco, Texas{{!}}Frisco

| div_14 = Collin County, Texas{{!}}Collin

| pop_14 = 219,587

| img_14 =

| city_15 = McKinney, Texas{{!}}McKinney

| div_15 = Collin County, Texas{{!}}Collin

| pop_15 = 207,507

| img_15 =

| city_16 = Grand Prairie, Texas{{!}}Grand Prairie

| div_16 = Dallas County, Texas{{!}}Dallas

| pop_16 = 201,843

| img_16 =

| city_17 = Amarillo, Texas{{!}}Amarillo

| div_17 = Potter County, Texas{{!}}Potter

| pop_17 = 201,291

| img_17 =

| city_18 = Brownsville, Texas{{!}}Brownsville

| div_18 = Cameron County, Texas{{!}}Cameron

| pop_18 = 189,382

| img_18 =

| city_19 = Killeen, Texas{{!}}Killeen

| div_19 = Bell County, Texas{{!}}Bell

| pop_19 = 159,172

| img_19 =

| city_20 = Denton, Texas{{!}}Denton

| div_20 = Denton County, Texas{{!}}Denton

| pop_20 = 150,353

| img_20 =

}}

{{Main|Demographics of Texas}}

{{US Census population

| 1850 = 212592

| 1860 = 604215

| 1870 = 818579

| 1880 = 1591749

| 1890 = 2235527

| 1900 = 3048710

| 1910 = 3896542

| 1920 = 4663228

| 1930 = 5824715

| 1940 = 6414824

| 1950 = 7711194

| 1960 = 9579677

| 1970 = 11196730

| 1980 = 14229191

| 1990 = 16986510

| 2000 = 20851820

| 2010 = 25145561

| 2020 = 29145505

| estimate = 31290831

| estref =

| estyear = 2024

| align-fn = center

| footnote = 1910–2020{{cite web |title=Historical Population Change Data (1910-2020) |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/dec/popchange-data-text.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 1, 2021 |archive-date=April 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429012609/https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/dec/popchange-data-text.html |url-status=dead }}

}}

File:Texas population density 2020.png

The resident population of Texas was 29,145,505 in the 2020 census, a 15.9% increase since the 2010 census. At the 2020 census, the apportioned population of Texas stood at 29,183,290.{{Cite web|date=April 26, 2021|title=Apportionment Population, Resident Population, and Overseas Population: 2020 Census and 2010 Census|url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/apportionment/apportionment-2020-tableA.pdf|access-date=April 27, 2021|website=United States Census Bureau}} The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population was 31,290,831 as of July 1, 2024, an increase of 7.4% since the 2020 census. Texas is the second-most populous state in the United States after California and the only other U.S. state to surpass a total estimated population of 30 million people as of July 2, 2022.{{cite web | url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2020/dec/2020-apportionment-data.html | title=2020 Census Apportionment Results }}{{cite web | url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022/2022-population-estimates.html | title=Growth in U.S. Population Shows Early Indication of Recovery Amid COVID-19 Pandemic }}

In 2015, Texas had 4.7 million foreign-born residents, about 17% of the population and 21.6% of the state workforce.{{cite web |url=https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/sites/default/files/research/immigrants_in_texas.pdf |publisher=American Immigration Council|title=Immigrants in Texas|date=2017}} The major countries of origin for Texan immigrants were Mexico (55.1% of immigrants), India (5%), El Salvador (4.3%), Vietnam (3.7%), and China (2.3%). Of immigrant residents, 35.8 percent were naturalized U.S. citizens. As of 2018, the population increased to 4.9 million foreign-born residents or 17.2% of the state population, up from 2,899,642 in 2000.{{cite web |title=State Demographics Data – TX |url=https://www.migrationpolicy.org/data/state-profiles/state/demographics/TX |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018031941/https://www.migrationpolicy.org/data/state-profiles/state/demographics/TX |archive-date=October 18, 2020|access-date=October 18, 2020|website=migrationpolicy.org}}

In 2014, there were an estimated 1.7 million undocumented immigrants in Texas, making up 35% of the total Texas immigrant population and 6.1% of the total state population. In addition to the state's foreign-born population, 4.1 million Texans (15% of the state's population) were born in the United States yet had at least one immigrant parent.

According to the American Community Survey's 2019 estimates, 1,739,000 residents were undocumented immigrants, a decrease of 103,000 since 2014 and but an increase of 142,000 since 2016. Of the undocumented immigrant population, 951,000 had resided in Texas no more than 14 years; an estimated 788,000 had lived in Texas for 15 or more years.{{cite web |title=Profile of the Unauthorized Population – TX|url=https://www.migrationpolicy.org/data/unauthorized-immigrant-population/state/TX|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018032011/https://www.migrationpolicy.org/data/unauthorized-immigrant-population/state/TX|archive-date=October 18, 2020|access-date=October 18, 2020|website=migrationpolicy.org}}

Texas's Rio Grande Valley has seen significant migration from across the U.S.–Mexico border. During the 2014 crisis, many Central Americans, including unaccompanied minors traveling alone from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, reached the state, overwhelming Border Patrol resources for a time. Many sought asylum in the United States.{{cite news |last1=Hennessy-Fiske |first1=Molly |last2=Carcamo |first2=Cindy |title=In Texas' Rio Grande Valley, a seemingly endless surge of immigrants |url=https://latimes.com/nation/la-na-texas-border-chaos-20140614-story.html#page=1 |date=June 16, 2014 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}{{cite news |first1=Nick |last1=Miroff |first2=Joshua |last2=Partlow |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/central-american-migrants-overwhelm-border-patrol-station-in-texas/2014/06/12/7359534e-2e1b-4a6b-b010-f622f1cac3f0_story.html |title=Central American migrants overwhelm Border Patrol station in Texas |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 12, 2014}}

Texas's population density as of 2010 is {{convert|96.3|/sqmi|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|abbr=out}} which is slightly higher than the average population density of the U.S. as a whole, at {{convert|87.4|/sqmi|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|abbr=out}}. In contrast, while Texas and France are similarly sized geographically, the European country has a population density of {{convert|301.8|/sqmi|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|abbr=out}}. Two-thirds of all Texans live in major metropolitan areas such as Houston.

According to HUD's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 24,432 homeless people in Texas.{{Cite web |title=2007-2022 PIT Counts by State |url=https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huduser.gov%2Fportal%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fxls%2F2007-2022-PIT-Counts-by-State.xlsx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK}}{{Cite web |title=The 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress |url=https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2022-AHAR-Part-1.pdf}}

[[File:Texas Counties by race (2020 census).svg|thumb|Map of counties in Texas by racial and ethnic plurality, per the 2020 U.S. census {{col-begin}}{{col-2}}

Non-Hispanic White

{{legend|#f2ccc4|20–30%}}

{{legend|#e6b8af|30–40%}}

{{legend|#dd7e6b|40–50%}}

{{legend|#cc4125|50–60%}}

{{legend|#a61c00|60–70%}}

{{legend|#85200c|70–80%}}

{{legend|#5b0f00|80–90%}}

{{col-2}}

Hispanic or Latino

{{legend|#a2c4c9|40–50%}}

{{legend|#76a5af|50–60%}}

{{legend|#45818e|60–70%}}

{{legend|#134f5c|70–80%}}

{{legend|#0c343d|80–90%}}

{{legend|#05262d|90%+}}

{{col-end}}|222x222px]]

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" ; text-align:right; font-size:80%;"

|+ style="font-size:90%" |Ethnic composition as of the 2020 census

|-

! Race and ethnicity{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0400000US48&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race|website=Census.gov|accessdate=July 5, 2022}}

! colspan="2" data-sort-type="number" |Alone

! colspan="2" data-sort-type="number" |Total

|-

| Hispanic or Latino{{efn|Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin are not distinguished between total and partial ancestry.}}

|align=right| {{bartable}}

|align=right| {{bartable|40.2|%|2||background:green}}

|-

| Non-Hispanic White

|align=right| {{bartable|39.7|%|2||background:gray}}

|align=right| {{bartable|39.8|%|2||background:gray}}

|-

| African American

|align=right| {{bartable|11.8|%|2||background:mediumblue}}

|align=right| {{bartable|12.8|%|2||background:mediumblue}}

|-

| Asian

|align=right| {{bartable|5.4|%|2||background:purple}}

|align=right| {{bartable|6.1|%|2||background:purple}}

|-

| Native American

|align=right| {{bartable|0.3|%|2||background:gold}}

|align=right| {{bartable|1.4|%|2||background:gold}}

|-

| Pacific Islander

|align=right| {{bartable|0.1|%|2||background:pink}}

|align=right| {{bartable|0.2|%|2||background:pink}}

|-

| Other

|align=right| {{bartable|0.4|%|2||background:brown}}

|align=right| {{bartable|1.0|%|2||background:brown}}

|}

In 2019, non-Hispanic Whites represented 41.2% of Texas's population, reflecting a national demographic shift.{{Cite web|last=Jin|first=Alexa Ura and Connie Hanzhang|date=June 20, 2019|title=Texas gained almost nine Hispanic residents for every additional white resident last year |website=The Texas Tribune |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2019/06/20/texas-hispanic-population-pace-surpass-white-residents/ |access-date=October 18, 2020}}{{Cite news |date=April 30, 2019|title=The U.S. white majority will soon disappear forever|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/The-US-white-majority-will-soon-disappear-forever-13806738.php|access-date=October 18, 2020 |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |last1=Poston |first1=Dudley }}{{Cite web|last=Aaronson|first=Becca|date=May 17, 2012 |title=On the Records: Texas One of Five "Minority-Majority" States |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2012/05/17/on-the-records-majority-texas-minority-races/|access-date=October 18, 2020|website=The Texas Tribune}} Black people made up 12.9%, American Indians and Alaska Natives 1.0%, Asian Americans 5.2%, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders 0.1%, some other race 0.2%, and two or more races 1.8%. Hispanics or Latino Americans of any race made up 39.7% of the estimated population.{{Cite web |title=American Community Survey 2018 Demographic and Housing Estimates |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Texas&tid=ACSDP1Y2019.DP05&hidePreview=false |access-date=October 18, 2020 |website=data.census.gov}}

At the 2020 census, the racial and ethnic composition of the state was 42.5% White (39.8% non-Hispanic White), 11.8% Black, 5.4% Asian, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 13.6% some other race, 17.6% two or more races, and 40.2% Hispanic and Latino American of any race.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/racial-and-ethnic-diversity-in-the-united-states-2010-and-2020-census.html|title=Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the United States: 2010 Census and 2020 Census|date=August 12, 2021|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=August 12, 2021}}{{Cite web|date=August 13, 2021|title=Booming Texas population growth, demographic changes set stage for redistricting battle|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2021/08/12/north-texas-population-boom-continues-hispanics-outnumber-whites-in-dallas-census-data-show/|access-date=August 19, 2021|website=Dallas News|language=en}}

In 2010, 49% of all births were Hispanics; 35% were non-Hispanic White; 11.5% were non-Hispanic Black, and 4.3% were Asians/Pacific Islanders.{{cite news |first=Juan |last=Castillo |url=http://www.statesman.com/news/local/hispanics-make-up-nearly-half-of-all-texas-1977207.html |title=Hispanics make up nearly half of all Texas births in 2010, U.S. says |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=November 17, 2011 |access-date=November 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120175944/http://www.statesman.com/news/local/hispanics-make-up-nearly-half-of-all-texas-1977207.html |archive-date=November 20, 2011 |url-status=dead }} Based on U.S. Census Bureau data released in February 2011, for the first time in recent history, Texas's White population is below 50% (45%) and Hispanics grew to 38%. Between 2000 and 2010, the total population grew by 20.6%, but Hispanics and Latino Americans grew by 65%, whereas non-Hispanic Whites grew by only 4.2%.{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/2011-02-17-texas-census_N.htm |title=Majority of Texas' population growth is Hispanic |work=USA Today |first=Rick |last=Jervis |date=February 23, 2011}} Texas has the fifth highest rate of teenage births in the nation and a plurality of these are to Hispanics or Latinos.{{cite web |url=https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/adolescent-health-topics/reproductive-health/states/tx.html |title=Texas Adolescent Reproductive Health Facts |publisher=US Department of Health and Human Services |access-date=August 2, 2014 |archive-date=August 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804102325/http://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/adolescent-health-topics/reproductive-health/states/tx.html |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |last4=Essig |first1=Alexa |last1=Ura |first2=Jason |last2=Kao |first3=Carla |last3=Astudillo |first4=Chris |date=August 12, 2021 |title=People of color make up 95% of Texas' population growth, and cities and suburbs are booming, 2020 census shows |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/08/12/texas-2020-census/ |access-date=June 2, 2022 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}} As of 2022, Hispanics and Latinos of any race replaced the non-Hispanic White population as the largest share of the state's population.{{Cite web |last=Ura |first=Alexa |date=2023-06-22 |title=Hispanics officially make up the biggest share of Texas' population, new census numbers show |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/21/census-texas-hispanic-population-demographics/ |access-date=June 22, 2023 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}

Texas has the second-largest share of Mexican Americans in the US, making up 32.2% of the total population and 80% of the state's Hispanic population.{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B03001 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B03001&geo_ids=04000US48&primary_geo_id=04000US48 |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=censusreporter.org}} Other than Mexican, the largest self-reported ancestries in the state as of 2022 were German (8.1%), English (7.9%), Irish (5.8%), those identifying as American (4.6%), Italian (1.9%), Indian (1.9%), Salvadoran (1.4%), Scottish (1.3%), Vietnamese (1.1%), Chinese (1%), Puerto Rican (0.9%), Polish (0.9%), Honduran (0.8%), Filipino (0.8%), and Scotch-Irish (0.7%).{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B04006 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B04006&geo_ids=04000US48&primary_geo_id=04000US48 |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=censusreporter.org}}{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02018 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02018&geo_ids=04000US48&primary_geo_id=04000US48 |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=censusreporter.org}}

{{main|Languages of Texas}}

{| class="wikitable sortable floatright" style="margin-left:1em; font-size: 90%; display: inline-table"

|+Most common non-English languages

|-

! scope="col" | Language

! scope="col" | Population
(as of 2010)

|-

! scope="row" |Spanish

| 29.2%

|-

! scope="row" |Vietnamese

| 0.8%

|-

! scope="row" |Chinese

| 0.6%

|-

! scope="row" |German

| 0.3%

|-

! scope="row" |Tagalog

| 0.3%

|-

! scope="row" |French

| 0.3%

|-

! scope="row" |Korean and Urdu (tied)

| 0.2%

|-

! scope="row" |Hindi

| 0.2%

|-

! scope="row" |Arabic

| 0.2%

|-

! scope="row" |Niger-Congo languages

| 0.2%

|}

The most common accent or dialect spoken by natives throughout Texas is sometimes referred to as Texan English, itself a sub-variety of a broader category of American English known as Southern American English.{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/speak/seatosea/americanvarieties/texan/ |title=Do You Speak American. Sea to Shining Sea. American Varieties. Texan |publisher=PBS |date=November 29, 2003 |access-date=August 2, 2014}}{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/speak/seatosea/americanvarieties/texan/drawl/ |title=Do You Speak American. Sea to Shining Sea. American Varieties. Texan. Drawl |publisher=PBS |access-date=August 2, 2014}} Creole language is spoken in some parts of East Texas.Kirstin Squint, [http://postcolonial.org/index.php/pct/article/viewArticle/375/813 A Linguistic and Cultural Comparison of Haitian Creole and Louisiana Creole], postcolonial.org, Accessed March 11, 2014 In some areas of the state—particularly in the large cities—Western American English and General American English, is increasingly common. Chicano English—due to a growing Hispanic population—is widespread in South Texas, while African-American English is especially notable in historically minority areas of urban Texas.

At the 2020 American Community Survey's estimates, 64.9% of the population spoke only English, while 35.1% spoke a language other than English.{{Cite web |title=American Community Survey 2020 Languages Spoken at Home Estimates |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Texas+languages&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1601 |access-date=October 18, 2020 |website=data.census.gov}} Roughly 30% of the total population spoke Spanish. By 2021, approximately 50,546 Texans spoke French or a French-based creole language. German and other West Germanic languages were spoken by 49,565 residents; Russian, Polish, and other Slavic languages by 37,444; Korean by 31,673; Chinese 86,370; Vietnamese 92,410; Tagalog 40,124; and Arabic by 47,170 Texans.{{Cite web |title=American Community Survey 2021 Detailed Household Language Estimates |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Texas+languages&tid=ACSDT1Y2021.B16002 |access-date=October 18, 2020 |website=data.census.gov}}

At the census of 2010, 65.8% (14,740,304) of Texas residents age{{nbsp}}5 and older spoke only English at home, while 29.2% (6,543,702) spoke Spanish, 0.8 percent (168,886) Vietnamese, and Chinese (which includes Cantonese and Mandarin) was spoken by 0.6% (122,921) of the population over five. Other languages spoken include German (including Texas German) by 0.3% (73,137), Tagalog with 0.3% (64,272) speakers, and French (including Cajun French) was spoken by 0.3% (55,773) of Texans. Reportedly, Cherokee is the most widely spoken Native American language in Texas.{{cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2014/05/language_map_what_s_the_most_popular_language_in_your_state.html |last=Blatt |first=Ben |title=Tagalog in California, Cherokee in Arkansas: What language does your state speak? |website=Data source: Census Bureau American Community Survey. Map by Ben Blatt/Slate. |date=May 13, 2014 |access-date=June 2, 2014}} In total, 34.2% (7,660,406) of Texas's population aged five and older spoke a language at home other than English as of 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.mla.org/cgi-shl/docstudio/docs.pl?map_data_results |title=Texas |publisher=Modern Language Association |access-date=August 11, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060619224705/http://www.mla.org/cgi-shl/docstudio/docs.pl?map_data_results |archive-date=June 19, 2006 }}

{{see also|List of cathedrals in Texas}}

{{bar box

|title = Religious affiliation (2020)Public Religion Research Institute, [http://ava.prri.org/#religious/2020/States/religion/m/US-TX "American Values Atlas (Texas)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221221714/http://ava.prri.org/#religious/2020/States/religion/m/US-TX |date=February 21, 2019 }}

|titlebar=#ccf |background-color=#f8f9fa |float=right

|bars =

{{bar percent|Christian|darkblue|75.5}}

{{bar percent|Catholic|mediumblue|28}}

{{bar percent|Protestant|mediumblue|47}}

{{bar percent|Other Christian|mediumblue|0.5}}

{{bar percent|Unaffiliated|purple|20}}

{{bar percent|Jewish|lightgreen|1}}

{{bar percent|Muslim|lightgreen|1}}

{{bar percent|Buddhist|lightgreen|1}}

{{bar percent|Other faiths|lightgreen|5}}

}}

With the coming of Spanish Catholic and American Protestant missionary societies,{{Cite web|title= Religion|url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/religion|access-date=February 16, 2021|publisher=TSHA |work=Handbook of Texas |first1= John W. |last1=Storey |orig-date=February 1, 1996 |date=August 25, 2023 }} American Indian religions and spiritual traditions dwindled. Since then, colonial and present-day Texas has become a predominantly Christian state, with 75.5% of the population identifying as such according to the Public Religion Research Institute in 2020.{{Cite web |title=American Values Atlas |url=http://ava.prri.org/#religious/2020/States/religion/m/US-TX |access-date=February 27, 2022 |website=Public Religion Research Institute |archive-date=February 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221221714/http://ava.prri.org/#religious/2020/States/religion/m/US-TX |url-status=dead }}

File:St._Mary's_Cathedral_Basilica_-_Galveston_02.jpg of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston]]

Among its majority Christian populace, the largest Christian denomination as of 2014 has been the Catholic Church, per the Pew Research Center at 23% of the population, although Protestants collectively constituted 50% of the Christian population in 2014;{{Cite web |title=Religion in America: U.S. Religious Data, Demographics and Statistics: Texas |url=https://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/state/texas |access-date=October 18, 2020 |website=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project}} in the 2020 study by the Public Religion Research Institute, the Catholic Church's membership increased to encompassing 28% of the population identifying with a religious or spiritual belief. At the 2020 Association of Religion Data Archives study, there were 5,905,142 Catholics in the state.{{Cite web |title=Maps and data files for 2020 |url=https://www.usreligioncensus.org/index.php/node/1639 |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=U.S. Religion Census}} The largest Catholic jurisdictions in Texas are the Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston—the first and oldest Latin Church diocese in Texas{{Cite web |title=Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston |url=https://www.archgh.org/backgroundinfo |access-date=March 3, 2022 |website=archgh.org |quote=The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston...… serves 1.7 million-plus Catholics.… is the first and oldest diocese in Texas, established by Pope Pius IX in 1847, when Galveston was named the mother diocese of the Lone Star State.}}—the dioceses of Dallas and Fort Worth, and the Archdiocese of San Antonio.

File:Dallas_-_First_Baptist_Church_02.jpg]]

Being part of the strongly, socially conservative Bible Belt,{{Cite web|last=Bethancourt|first=Phillip|title=Rough Country: How Texas Became America's Most Powerful Bible-Belt State|url=https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/rough-country-texas/|access-date=October 20, 2020|website=The Gospel Coalition|date=June 16, 2017 }} Protestants as a whole declined to 47% of the population in the 2020 study by the Public Religion Research Institute. Predominantly-white Evangelical Protestantism declined to 14% of the Protestant Christian population. Mainline Protestants in contrast made up 15% of Protestant Texas. Hispanic or Latino American-dominated Protestant churches and historically Black or African American Protestantism grew to a collective 13% of the Protestant population.

Evangelical Protestants were 31% of the population in 2014, and Baptists were the largest Evangelical tradition (14%); according to the 2014 study, they made up the second-largest Mainline Protestant group behind Methodists (4%). Nondenominational and interdenominational Protestant Christians were the second largest Evangelical group (7%) followed by Pentecostals (4%). The largest Evangelical Baptists in the state were the Southern Baptist Convention (9%) and independent Baptists (3%). The Assemblies of God USA was the largest Evangelical Pentecostal denomination in 2014. Among Mainline Protestants, the United Methodist Church was the largest denomination (4%) and the American Baptist Churches USA comprised the second-largest Mainline Protestant group (2%).

According to the Pew Research Center in 2014, the state's largest historically African American Christian denominations were the National Baptist Convention (USA) and the Church of God in Christ. Black Methodists and other Christians made up less than 1 percent each of the Christian demographic. Other Christians made up 1 percent of the total Christian population, and the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox formed less than 1 percent of the statewide Christian populace. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest nontrinitarian Christian group in Texas alongside the Jehovah's Witnesses.

Among its Protestant population, the Association of Religion Data Archives in 2020 determined Southern Baptists numbered 3,319,962; non-denominational Protestants 2,405,786 (including Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, and the Churches of Christ altogether numbering 2,758,353); and United Methodists 938,399 as the most numerous Protestant groups in the state. Baptists altogether (Southern Baptists, American Baptist Associates, American Baptists, Full Gospel Baptists, General Baptists, Free Will Baptists, National Baptists, National Baptists of America, National Missionary Baptists, National Primitive Baptists, and Progressive National Baptists) numbered 3,837,306; Methodists within United Methodism, the AME, AME Zion, CME, and the Free Methodist Church numbered 1,026,453 Texans.

The same study tabulated 425,038 Pentecostals spread among the Assemblies of God, Church of God (Cleveland), and Church of God in Christ. Nontrinitarian or Oneness Pentecostals numbered 7,042 between Bible Way Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, COOLJC, and the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World. Other Christians, including the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox, numbered 55,329 altogether, and Episcopalians numbered 134,318, although the Anglican Catholic Church, Anglican Church in America, Anglican Church in North America, Anglican Province of America, and Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite had a collective presence in 114 churches.{{Cite web |title=Maps and data files for 2020 |url=https://www.usreligioncensus.org/index.php/node/1639 |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=U.S. Religion Census}}

Non-Christian faiths accounted for 4% of the religious population in 2014, and 5% in 2020 per the Pew Research Center and Public Religion Research Institute. Adherents of many other religions reside predominantly in the urban centers of Texas. Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism were tied as the second largest religion as of 2014 and 2020. In 2014, 18% of the state's population were religiously unaffiliated. Of the unaffiliated in 2014, an estimated 2% were atheists and 3% agnostic; in 2020, the Public Religion Research Institute noted the largest non-Christian groups were the irreligious (20%), Judaism (1%), Islam (1%), Buddhism (1%) and Hinduism, and other religions at less than 1 percent each.

In 1990, the Islamic population was about 140,000 with more recent figures putting the current number of Muslims between 350,000 and 400,000 as of 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.texanonline.net/special-reports/muslim-growth-adds-to-texas-diversity |title=Texas Online: Muslim growth adds to Texas diversity |work=Texanonline.net |access-date=May 7, 2012 |archive-date=March 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326150126/http://www.texanonline.net/special-reports/muslim-growth-adds-to-texas-diversity |url-status=dead }} The Association of Religion Data Archives estimated there were 313,209 Muslims as of 2020. Texas is the fifth-largest Muslim-populated state as of 2014.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/04/arts/design/dallas-museum-lands-a-rich-trove-of-islamic-art.html |title=Dallas Museum Lands a Rich Trove of Islamic Art |date=February 4, 2014 |website=The New York Times|access-date=February 25, 2016}} The Jewish population was around 128,000 in 2008.{{cite book |title=Twentieth-century Texas: a social and cultural history |author1=Storey, John Woodrow |author2=Kelley |author3=Mary L. |publisher=University of North Texas Press |year=2008 |page=145}} In 2020, the Jewish population grew to over 176,000.{{Cite web |title=Jewish Population in the United States by State|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jewish-population-in-the-united-states-by-state|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018050539/https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jewish-population-in-the-united-states-by-state|archive-date=October 18, 2020|access-date=October 18, 2020 |website=jewishvirtuallibrary.org}} According to ARDA's 2020 study, there were 43 Chabad synagogues; 17,513 Conservative Jews; 8,110 Orthodox Jews; and 31,378 Reform Jews. Around 146,000 adherents of religions such as Hinduism and Sikhism lived in Texas as of 2004.Lindsey, William D.; Silk, Mark: [https://books.google.com/books?id=NjdrZ4m_BK8C Religion and public life in the southern crossroads: showdown states], Altamira Press, 2004, p. 48 By 2020, there were 112,153 Hindus and 20 Sikh gurdwaras; 60,882 Texans adhered to Buddhism.

{{Main|Economy of Texas}}

{{See also|Texas locations by per capita income|Texas Stock Exchange}}

File:Geo Map of Income by Location in Texas (2014).png

File:Texas counties by GDP 2021.png

As of 2024, Texas had a gross state product (GSP) of $2.664 trillion, the second highest of any U.S. state.{{cite web |title=GDP by State |url=https://www.bea.gov/data/gdp/gdp-state |website=GDP by State | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) |publisher=Bureau of Economic Analysis |access-date=10 April 2022}} Its GSP is greater than the GDP of Brazil, the world's 8th-largest economy.{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2022/October/weo-report?c=512,914,612,171,614,311,213,911,314,193,122,912,313,419,513,316,913,124,339,638,514,218,963,616,223,516,918,748,618,624,522,622,156,626,628,228,924,233,632,636,634,238,662,960,423,935,128,611,321,243,248,469,253,642,643,939,734,644,819,172,132,646,648,915,134,652,174,328,258,656,654,336,263,268,532,944,176,534,536,429,433,178,436,136,343,158,439,916,664,826,542,967,443,917,544,941,446,666,668,672,946,137,546,674,676,548,556,678,181,867,682,684,273,868,921,948,943,686,688,518,728,836,558,138,196,278,692,694,962,142,449,564,565,283,853,288,293,566,964,182,359,453,968,922,714,862,135,716,456,722,942,718,724,576,936,961,813,726,199,733,184,524,361,362,364,732,366,144,146,463,528,923,738,578,537,742,866,369,744,186,925,869,746,926,466,112,111,298,927,846,299,582,487,474,754,698,&s=NGDPD,&sy=2020&ey=2027&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2022 |date=October 11, 2022 |publisher=International Monetary Fund}} The state ranks 22nd among U.S. states with a median household income of $64,034, while the poverty rate is 14.2%, making Texas the state with 14th highest poverty rate (compared to 13.15% nationally). Texas's economy is the second-largest of any country subdivision globally, behind California.

Texas's large population, an abundance of natural resources, thriving cities and leading centers of higher education have contributed to a large and diverse economy. Since oil was discovered, the state's economy has reflected the state of the petroleum industry. In recent times, urban centers of the state have increased in size, containing two-thirds of the population in 2005. The state's economic growth has led to urban sprawl and its associated symptoms.{{cite web|title=Economic Geography |website=Texas Politics |publisher=University of Texas |url=http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/9_3_2.html |access-date=October 13, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430215209/http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/9_3_2.html |archive-date=April 30, 2009 }}

In May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the state's unemployment rate was 13 percent.{{cite web |title=Local Area Unemployment Statistics |url=http://www.bls.gov/web/laus/laumstrk.htm |publisher=Bureau of Labor Statistics |access-date=July 3, 2020}}

In 2010, Site Selection Magazine ranked Texas as the most business-friendly state, in part because of the state's three-billion-dollar Texas Enterprise Fund.{{cite web |title=Site Selection Rankings |url=http://greyhill.com/site-selection-rankings/ |access-date=October 10, 2011}} As of 2024, it has the second-highest number (52) of Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the United States.{{Cite web |last=Burleigh |first=Emma |date=2024-06-04 |title=California beats out Texas and New York as home to the most Fortune 500 companies |url=https://fortune.com/2024/06/04/fortune-500-california-most-companies/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Fortune |language=en}} In 2010, there were 346,000 millionaires in Texas, the second-largest population of millionaires in the nation.{{efn|Second to California}}{{cite news |first=Walter |last=Scott |title=Personality Parade |work=Parade Magazine |page=2 |date=May 2, 2010}} In 2018, the number of millionaire households increased to 566,578.{{cite web|title=Texas has an eye-popping number of millionaire households|url=https://dallas.culturemap.com/news/city-life/02-19-18-texas-number-of-millionaire-households-phoenix-marketing-international/|access-date=April 27, 2021|website=CultureMap Dallas|date=February 19, 2018 }}

Texas has a reputation for a low tax. According to the Tax Foundation, Texans' state and local tax burdens are seventh-lowest nationally; state and local taxes cost $3,580 per capita, or 8.4 percent of resident incomes.{{cite web |title=Texas |website=Research Areas |publisher=The Tax Foundation |year=2010 |url=http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/topic/60.html |access-date=October 15, 2010 |archive-date=October 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023002226/http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/topic/60.html |url-status=dead }} Texas is one of seven states that lack a state income tax.{{cite web |title=State Individual Income Taxes |publisher=Federation of Tax Administrators |url=http://www.taxadmin.org/fta/rate/ind_inc.html |access-date=October 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003052903/http://www.taxadmin.org/fta/rate/ind_inc.html|archive-date=October 3, 2008}}

Instead, the state collects revenue from property taxes (though these are collected at the county, city, and school district level; Texas has a state constitutional prohibition against a state property tax) and sales taxes. The state sales tax rate is 6.25 percent,{{cite web |url=http://alltaxtips.com/why-does-texas-taxus-have-the-highest-property-taxes-and-3rd-highest-sales-tax/ |title=Why does Texas (Taxus) have the highest property taxes and 3rd highest sales tax? |website=Alltaxtips.com |date=May 9, 2011 |access-date=August 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707114602/http://alltaxtips.com/why-does-texas-taxus-have-the-highest-property-taxes-and-3rd-highest-sales-tax/ |archive-date=July 7, 2011 |url-status=dead }} but local taxing jurisdictions (cities, counties, special purpose districts, and transit authorities) may also impose sales and use tax up to 2{{nbsp}}percent for a total maximum combined rate of 8.25 percent.{{cite web |url=http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/sales/faq_collect.html |title=FAQ: Texas Sales Tax |website=Window.state.tx.us |access-date=January 10, 2011}}

Texas is a "tax donor state"; in 2005, for every dollar Texans paid to the federal government in federal income taxes, the state got back about $0.94 in benefits. To attract business, Texas has incentive programs worth $19 billion per year (2012); more than any other U.S. state.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/us/winners-and-losers-in-texas.html |title=Lines Blur as Texas Gives Industries a Bonanza|first=Louise|last=Story|work=The New York Times|date=December 1, 2012}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/12/01/us/government-incentives.html#TX |title=United States of Subsidies, Texas|work=The New York Times|date=December 1, 2012}}

File:West Texas Cotton.jpg

File:Longhorn cattle at the Enchanted Springs Ranch, a working ranch in Boerne, Texas, whose Old West Town is often used in movies and videos LCCN2015630429.tif cattle in Boerne, Texas]]

Texas has the most farms and the highest acreage in the United States. The state is ranked {{Numero|1}} for revenue generated from total livestock and livestock products. It is ranked {{Numero|2}} for total agricultural revenue, behind California.{{cite web |title=The Texas Economy |website=netstate.com |date=June 5, 2007 |url=http://www.netstate.com/economy/tx_economy.htm |access-date=April 29, 2008}} At $7.4 billion or 56.7 percent of Texas's annual agricultural cash receipts, beef cattle production represents the largest single segment of Texas agriculture. This is followed by cotton at $1.9 billion (14.6 percent), greenhouse/nursery at $1.5 billion (11.4 percent), broiler chickens at $1.3 billion (10 percent), and dairy products at $947 million (7.3 percent).{{cite web|author=Electronic Municipal Market Access|author-link=Electronic Municipal Market Access|title=Appendix A|website=The State of Texas|publisher=Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB)|year=2013|url=http://emma.msrb.org/EA509022-EA396584-.pdf|access-date=October 23, 2016}}

Texas leads the nation in the production of cattle, horses, sheep, goats, wool, mohair and hay. The state also leads the nation in production of cotton which is the number one crop grown in the state in terms of value.{{cite web |last=Carmack |first=Liz |title=The Legacy of 'King Cotton' |url=http://www.county.org/magazine/departments/historicalhighlights/Pages/The-Legacy-of-King-Cotton.aspx |website=County |publisher=Texas Association of Counties |access-date=July 23, 2015 |date=June 21, 2013 |archive-date=July 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723131128/http://www.county.org/magazine/departments/historicalhighlights/Pages/The-Legacy-of-King-Cotton.aspx |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=Crop Production: 2014 Summary |url=http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/nass/CropProdSu//2010s/2015/CropProdSu-01-12-2015.pdf |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |access-date=July 23, 2015 |pages=48–49}} The state grows significant amounts of cereal crops and produce. Texas has a large commercial fishing industry. With mineral resources, Texas leads in creating cement, crushed stone, lime, salt, sand and gravel. Texas throughout the 21st century has been hammered by drought, costing the state billions of dollars in livestock and crops.{{cite news |last=Marsh |first=Wendell |title=No relief in sight for Texas heat and drought |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-weather-idUSTRE7745CG20110805 |access-date=January 13, 2013 |work=Reuters |date=August 5, 2011 |archive-date=March 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308010200/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/05/us-weather-idUSTRE7745CG20110805 |url-status=live}}

{{Main|Energy in Texas}}

{{See also|Deregulation of the Texas electricity market}}

File:Oil well.jpg

File:GreenMountainWindFarm Fluvanna 2004.jpg]]

Ever since the discovery of oil at Spindletop, energy has been a dominant force politically and economically within the state.{{cite web |last=Ramos |first=Mary G. |url=http://texasalmanac.com/topics/business/oil-and-texas-cultural-history |title=Oil and Texas: A Cultural History |access-date=July 3, 2018 |website=Texas Almanac 2000–2001 |publisher=The Texas State Historical Association|date=November 29, 2017}} If Texas were its own country it would be the sixth-largest oil producer in the world according to a 2014 study.{{cite news |title=The 10 Most Oil-Rich States |author=Alexander Kent |newspaper=24/7 Wall Street |date=July 28, 2014 |url=http://247wallst.com/special-report/2014/07/28/the-10-most-oil-rich-states/4/ |access-date=August 5, 2014}}

The Railroad Commission of Texas regulates the state's oil and gas industry, gas utilities, pipeline safety, safety in the liquefied petroleum gas industry, and surface coal and uranium mining. Until the 1970s, the commission controlled the price of petroleum because of its ability to regulate Texas's oil reserves. The founders of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) used the Texas agency as one of their models for petroleum price control.{{cite Handbook of Texas |id=mdr01 |title=Railroad Commission |first=David F. |last=Prindle |date=June 15, 2010}}

As of January 1, 2021, Texas has proved recoverable petroleum reserves of about {{convert|15.6|Goilbbl|m3}} of crude oil (44% of the known U.S. reserves) and {{convert|9.5|Goilbbl|m3}} of natural gas liquids.{{Cite web |title=Texas Profile |url=https://www.eia.gov/state/print.php?sid=TX |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=eia.gov}} The state's refineries can process {{convert|5.95|Moilbbl|m3}} of oil a day. The Port Arthur Refinery in Southeast Texas is the largest refinery in the U.S. Texas is also a leader in natural gas production at {{convert|28.8|Gcuft|m3}} per day, some 32% of the nation's production.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rrc.texas.gov/oil-and-gas/research-and-statistics/production-data/texas-monthly-oil-gas-production/|title=Texas Monthly Oil & Gas Production|website=rrc.texas.gov}} Texas has {{convert|102.4|Tcuft|m3}} of gas reserves which is 23% of the nation's gas reserves. Many petroleum companies are based in Texas such as: ConocoPhillips,{{cite web|title=Contact Us|url=https://www.conocophillips.com/contact-us/|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=ConocoPhillips}} EOG Resources, ExxonMobil,{{cite web|title=Contact us directory|url=https://corporate.exxonmobil.com/Company/Contact-us/Directory|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=ExxonMobil}} Halliburton,{{cite web|title=Corporate Officers – Halliburton|url=https://www.halliburton.com/en-US/about-us/corporate-governance/corporate-officers.html|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=halliburton.com}} Hilcorp, Marathon Oil,{{cite web|title=Contact Us|url=https://www.marathonoil.com/about/contact-us/|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=Marathon Oil|language=en-US}} Occidental Petroleum,{{cite web |title=Contact Us |url=https://www.oxy.com/Information/Pages/Contact-Us.aspx |access-date=December 28, 2020 |website=oxy.com}} Valero Energy,{{cite web|title=Contact Us|url=https://www.valero.com/contact-us|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=Valero}} and Western Refining.{{cite web|title=Western Refining|url=https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company-profiles.western_refining_inc.eb51b8a369f31725ac87f78225d4ff95.html|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=dnb.com}}

According to the Energy Information Administration, Texans consume, on average, the fifth most energy (of all types) in the nation per capita and as a whole, following behind Wyoming, Alaska, Louisiana, North Dakota, and Iowa.{{cite web |title=Petroleum Profile: Texas |publisher=Energy Information Administration |url=http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=TX |access-date=December 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204233946/http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=TX |archive-date=February 4, 2011 |url-status=dead}}

Unlike the rest of the nation, most of Texas is on its own alternating current power grid, the Texas Interconnection. Texas has a deregulated electric service. Texas leads the nation in total net electricity production, generating 437,236 MWh in 2014, 89% more MWh than Florida, which ranked second.{{cite web |title=Texas State Energy Profile: Electricity |url=http://www.eia.gov/state/print.cfm?sid=TX |publisher=U.S. Energy Information Administration |access-date=July 23, 2015 |quote=Texas produces more electricity than any other state, generating almost twice as much as the next largest generating state.}}{{cite web |title=Electricity Data Browser: Net generation from electricity plants for all fuels, annual |url=https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/browser/#/topic/0 |publisher=Energy Information Administration}}

The state is a leader in renewable energy commercialization; it produces the most wind power in the nation.{{cite web |last=Souder |first=Elizabeth |title=Texas leads nation in wind power capacity |website=The Dallas Morning News |date=January 2008 |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/011808dnbuswindpower.30c78959.html |access-date=January 19, 2008 |archive-date=December 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202012437/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/011808dnbuswindpower.30c78959.html |url-status=dead }} In 2014, 10.6% of the electricity consumed in Texas came from wind turbines.{{cite news |url=https://huffingtonpost.com/stacy-clark/hold-onto-your-bonnets-br_b_7596854.html |title=Hold Onto Your Bonnets! Breezes and Sunshine to Power Georgetown, TX |first=Stacy |last=Clark |work=Huffington Post |date=December 6, 2017}} The Roscoe Wind Farm in Roscoe, Texas, is one of the world's largest wind farms with a 781.5 megawatt (MW) capacity.{{cite news |last=O'Grady |first=Eileen |title=E.ON completes world's largest wind farm in Texas |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN3023624320091001 |access-date=August 26, 2010 |work=Reuters |date=October 1, 2009}} The Energy Information Administration states the state's large agriculture and forestry industries could give Texas an enormous amount of biomass for use in biofuels. The state also has the highest solar power potential for development in the U.S.

File:NASA Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory Astronaut Training.jpg in Houston]]

With large universities systems coupled with initiatives like the Texas Enterprise Fund and the Texas Emerging Technology Fund, a wide array of different high tech industries have developed in Texas. The Austin area is nicknamed the "Silicon Hills" and the north Dallas area the "Silicon Prairie". Many high-tech companies are located in or have their headquarters in Texas (and Austin in particular), including Dell, Inc.,{{cite web|last=Kanellos|first=Michael|title=Dell shifts base back to Round Rock|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/dell-shifts-base-back-to-round-rock/|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=CNET}} Borland,{{cite web|last=Clarke|first=Gavin|title=Borland bails out of California, moves HQ to Austin, TX|url=https://www.theregister.com/2007/04/17/borland_leaves_valley/|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=theregister.com}} Forcepoint,{{cite web|date=February 6, 2014|title=Websense gets $4.5M to move to Texas|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/economy/sdut-texas-austin-perry-jobs-economy-websense-2014feb06-htmlstory.html|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=The San Diego Union-Tribune|language=en-US}} Indeed.com,{{cite web|title=Indeed opens new North Austin office, 1,000 new jobs planned|url=https://www.kvue.com/article/money/business/indeed-opens-new-north-austin-office-1000-new-jobs-planned/269-67902537|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=kvue.com|date=March 4, 2016 |language=en-US}} Texas Instruments,{{Cite web|last=McKellop|first=Mario|date=May 26, 2020|title=Texas Instruments starts construction on Dallas plant|url=https://www.theburnin.com/industry/texas-instruments-begins-construction-dallas-factory-2020-5/|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=The Burn-In|language=en-US}} Perot Systems,{{cite web|title=Dell sells Perot Systems IT services division to Dallas firm|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/blog/techflash/2016/03/dell-sells-perot-systems-it-services-division-to.html#:~:text=NTT%20Data%20Corp.%20has%20inked,in%20the%20works%20last%20month.&text=John%20McCain,%20CEO%20of%20NTT,will%20lead%20the%20combined%20company.|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=bizjournals.com}} Rackspace and AT&T.{{cite web|date=July 21, 2014|title=Rackspace to Move into Former Texas Shopping Mall … Again|url=https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2014/07/21/rackspace-to-use-another-texas-mall-as-office-real-estate|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=Data Center Knowledge}}{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|date=June 30, 2008|title=AT&T Making a Move (Published 2008)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/30/technology/30phone.html|access-date=December 28, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}{{cite web|title=AT&T to move headquarters to Dallas|date=June 27, 2008 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna25417174|access-date=December 28, 2020|publisher=NBC News}}

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (NASA JSC) is located in Southeast Houston. Both SpaceX and Blue Origin have their test facilities in Texas.{{cite web |url=http://www.spacex.com/about/capabilities |title=Capabilities & Services |work=SpaceX |date=November 27, 2012 |access-date=April 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404042653/http://www.spacex.com/about/capabilities |archive-date=April 4, 2016 |url-status=live |author1=Spacexcmsadmin }}{{cite news |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/6822763|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104024843/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/6822763/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 4, 2013|title=Amazon founder unveils space center plans|work=NBC News|date=January 13, 2006|author=Boyle, Alan|access-date=June 28, 2006}} Fort Worth hosts both Lockheed Martin's Aeronautics division and Bell Helicopter Textron.{{cite web |title=Locations |publisher=Lockheed Martin |access-date=May 22, 2008 |url=http://www.lockheedmartin.com/aeronautics/about/Locations.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422122219/http://www.lockheedmartin.com/aeronautics/about/Locations.html|archive-date=April 22, 2008}}{{cite web |title=About Bell Helicopter |publisher=Bell Helicopter |access-date=May 22, 2008 |url=http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en/company/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080602032048/http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en/company/ |archive-date=June 2, 2008 |url-status=dead }} Lockheed builds the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the largest Western fighter program, and its successor, the F-35 Lightning II in Fort Worth.{{cite news |last=Rosenwald |first=Michael S. |date=December 17, 2007 |title=Downside of Dominance? |newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/16/AR2007121601522.html |access-date=May 22, 2008}}

Texas's affluence stimulates a strong commercial sector consisting of retail, wholesale, banking and insurance, and construction industries. Examples of Fortune 500 companies not based on Texas traditional industries are AT&T, Kimberly-Clark, Blockbuster, J. C. Penney, Whole Foods Market, and Tenet Healthcare.{{cite magazine |title=Texas |magazine=Fortune Magazine |date=April 30, 2007 |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2007/states/TX.html |access-date=May 3, 2008}}

Nationally, the Dallas–Fort Worth area, home to the second shopping mall in the United States, has the most shopping malls per capita of any American metropolitan statistical area.{{cite web |title=Dallas Shopping |publisher=Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau |url=http://www.visitdallas.com/things-to-do/shopping/index.html |access-date=June 26, 2016}}

Mexico, the state's largest trading partner, imports a third of the state's exports because of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). NAFTA has encouraged the formation of maquiladoras on the Texas–Mexico border.{{cite web|title=Recent Economic Transformations |website=Texas Politics |publisher=University of Texas |url=http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/9_3_3.html |access-date=October 13, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430110703/http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/9_3_3.html |archive-date=April 30, 2009 }}

{{main|Transportation in Texas}}

File:High Five.jpg in Dallas]]

The state's large size and rough terrain have historically complicated transportation. Texas has compensated by building the nation's largest highway and railway systems. The regulatory authority, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), maintains the state's highway system, regulates aviation,{{cite web |title=Aviation Division |publisher=Texas Department of Transportation |url=http://www.txdot.gov/business/aviation/default.htm |access-date=July 22, 2009 |archive-date=July 10, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090710134535/http://www.txdot.gov/business/aviation/default.htm |url-status=dead }} and public transportation systems.{{cite web|title=Transportation Division |publisher=Texas Department of Transportation |url=http://www.dot.state.tx.us/services/public_transportation/default.htm |access-date=April 29, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501171426/http://www.dot.state.tx.us/services/public_transportation/default.htm |archive-date=May 1, 2008 }}

The state is an important transportation hub. From the Dallas/Fort Worth area, trucks can reach 93 percent of the nation's population within 48 hours, and 37 percent within 24 hours.{{cite web|title=5 Reasons To Choose the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex As A Distribution Hub |publisher=JDF Distribution |url=http://jdfdistribution.com/pdf/dallas-for-distribution.pdf?doc=dfd.pdf |access-date=October 14, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028193024/http://jdfdistribution.com/pdf/dallas-for-distribution.pdf?doc=dfd.pdf |archive-date=October 28, 2008 }} Texas has 33 foreign trade zones (FTZ), the most in the nation.{{cite web|date=August 2007 |title=Texas and General Foreign Trade Zones Information |publisher=Office of the Governor of Texas |url=http://www.texasone.us/site/DocServer/Texas_FTZs_Document_2007.pdf?docID=2221 |access-date=June 21, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214163035/http://www.texasone.us/site/DocServer/Texas_FTZs_Document_2007.pdf?docID=2221 |archive-date=February 14, 2015}} In 2004, a combined total of $298 billion of goods passed through Texas FTZs.

{{main|Texas state highways}}

File:Welcome to Texas sign, 2008.jpg]]

The first Texas freeway was the Gulf Freeway opened in 1948 in Houston.{{cite web |title=Interstate 45 South, the Gulf Freeway |website=TexasFreeway.com |date=May 28, 2001 |url=http://www.texasfreeway.com/Houston/photos/45s/i45s.shtml |access-date=October 15, 2008}} As of 2005, {{convert|79535|mi|km|0}} of public highway crisscrossed Texas (up from {{convert|71000|mi|km|-3|disp=or|abbr=out}} in 1984).{{cn|date=November 2024}} To fund recent growth in the state highways, Texas has 17 toll roads with several additional tollways proposed.{{cite web|title=Global List of Toll Facilities—United States |publisher=International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association |year=2005 |url=http://www.ibtta.org/Information/content.cfm?ItemNumber=2530 |access-date=April 20, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113051058/http://www.ibtta.org/Information/content.cfm?ItemNumber=2530 |archive-date=January 13, 2009 }} In Central Texas, the southern section of the State Highway 130 toll road has a speed limit of {{convert|85|mph|km/h}}, the highest in the nation.{{cite news |last1=Owens |first1=Owens |last2=Sunseri |first2=Gina |title=Speeding Through Texas: Going 85 MPH on the Nation's Fastest Highway |publisher=ABC News |date=October 24, 2012 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/speeding-texas-85-mph-highway-opens/story?id=17549839 |access-date=October 28, 2012}} All federal and state highways in Texas are paved.

{{See also|List of airports in Texas}}File:20110123 DFW terminal D.jpg]]

File:Bush terminal E.jpg in Houston]]Texas has 730 airports, second-most of any state in the nation. Largest in Texas by size and passengers served, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is the second-largest by area in the United States, and fourth in the world with {{convert|18076|acre|km2}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.dfwairport.com/visitor/index.php?ctnid=24254 |title=Facts about DFW |access-date=October 14, 2008 |website=Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912234631/http://www.dfwairport.com/visitor/index.php?ctnid=24254 |archive-date=September 12, 2008}} In traffic, DFW airport is the busiest in the state, the fourth busiest in the United States,{{cite web |title=10 Great Places for Aviation and Aerospace |author=Jennifer LeClaire |website=Southern Business and Development |url=http://www.sb-d.com/archivesite/www.sb-d.com/issues/spring2007/features/10GreatPlacesForAviationAndAerospace.html |access-date=April 28, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716012226/http://www.sb-d.com/archivesite/www.sb-d.com/issues/spring2007/features/10GreatPlacesForAviationAndAerospace.html |archive-date=July 16, 2011}} and sixth worldwide.{{cite news |title=Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport |work=USA Today|url=http://destinations.usatoday.com/dallas/ |access-date=April 28, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630002132/http://destinations.usatoday.com/dallas/ |archive-date=June 30, 2007}} Southwest Airlines, headquartered in Dallas, has its operations at Dallas Love Field.{{cite web |url=http://www.southwest.com/about_swa/airborne.html |title=We Weren't Just Airborne Yesterday |date=May 2, 2007 |publisher=Southwest Airlines |access-date=June 9, 2007}} American Airlines Group's American / American Eagle, the world's largest airline in total passengers-miles transported and passenger fleet size,{{cite web |author=Investor Relations |url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=117098&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1921786&highlight== |title=American Airlines | Investor Relations | News Release |website=Phx.corporate-ir.net |access-date=August 2, 2014}} uses DFW as its largest and main hub.

Texas's second-largest air facility is Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). It serves as the largest hub for United Airlines, the world's third-largest airline, by passenger-miles flown.{{cite web |url=http://ir.unitedcontinentalholdings.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=83680&p=irol-newsArticle&id=1889262 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140318221457/http://ir.unitedcontinentalholdings.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=83680&p=irol-newsArticle&id=1889262 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |title=United Continental Holdings, Inc.—Investor Relations—News |website=Ir.unitedcontinentalholdings.com |date=January 8, 2014 |access-date=August 2, 2014 }}{{efn|Based on the industry-standard measure of revenue passenger-kilometers/miles flown}} IAH offers service to the most Mexican destinations of any U.S. airport.{{cite web |title=About George Bush Intercontinental Airport |publisher=Houston Airport System |url=http://www.houstonairportsystem.org/iahAbout |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013160110/http://www.houstonairportsystem.org/iahAbout |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 13, 2007 |access-date=June 28, 2008 }}{{cite press release|title=Houston Emerges As The Premier Gateway In The U.S. For Travelers To Mexico |publisher=Houston Airport System |date=April 12, 2005 |url=http://www.fly2houston.com/0/8178/0/1906D1940/ |access-date=December 30, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928091617/http://www.fly2houston.com/0/8178/0/1906D1940/ |archive-date=September 28, 2007 }} The next five largest airports in the state all serve more than three million passengers annually; they include Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, William P. Hobby Airport, San Antonio International Airport, Dallas Love Field and El Paso International Airport. The smallest airport in the state to be designated an international airport is Del Rio International Airport.

{{main|List of ports in the United States}}

File:Houston Ship Channel.jpg along the Houston Ship Channel|left]]

Around 1,150 seaports dot Texas's coast with over {{convert|1000|mi|km}} of channels.{{cite web |title=About Texas Ports |publisher=Texas Ports Association |url=http://www.texasports.org/ |access-date=May 7, 2008}} Ports employ nearly one-million people and handle an average of 317 million metric tons.{{cite web |title=Benefits of Texas Ports |publisher=Texas Ports Association |url=http://www.texasports.org/benefits/ |access-date=May 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728092744/http://www.texasports.org/benefits/ |archive-date=July 28, 2011 |url-status=dead}} Texas ports connect with the rest of the U.S. Atlantic seaboard with the Gulf section of the Intracoastal Waterway. The Port of Houston today is the busiest port in the United States in foreign tonnage, second in overall tonnage, and tenth worldwide in tonnage.{{cite web|date=March 31, 2008 |title=General Information |publisher=The Port of Houston Authority |url=http://www.portofhouston.com/geninfo/overview1.html |access-date=May 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509141210/http://www.portofhouston.com/geninfo/overview1.html |archive-date=May 9, 2008 }} The Houston Ship Channel spans {{convert|530|ft|m}} wide by {{convert|45|ft|m}} deep by {{convert|50|mi|km}} long."Welcome to the Houston-Galveston Navigation Channel Project Online Resource Center" (description), United States Army Corps of Engineers, December 2005, [http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/items/hgnc/ United States Army Corps of Engineers] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090109052637/http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/items/hgnc/ |date=January 9, 2009 }}

File:Westmoreland Station August 2019 5.jpg in Dallas]]

File:METRO Light Rail3.jpg in Houston]]

{{See also|List of Texas railroads}}Part of the state's tradition of cowboys is derived from the massive cattle drives which its ranchers organized in the nineteenth century to drive livestock to railroads and markets.

The first railroad to operate in Texas was the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado Railway, opening in August 1853.{{cite Handbook of Texas |first=George C. |last=Werner |id=eqb16 |title=Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado Railway |date=June 12, 2010}} The first railroad to enter Texas from the north, completed in 1872, was the {{nowrap|Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad}}.{{cite Handbook of Texas |first=Donovan L. |last=Hofsommer |id=eqm08 |title=Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad |date=June 15, 2010}} With increasing railroad access, the ranchers did not have to take their livestock up to the Midwest and shipped beef out from Texas. This caused a decline in the economies of the cow towns.{{Cite web|title=Western Economic Expansion: Railroads and Cattle |work=US History II (American Yawp)|url=https://courses.lumenlearning.com/ushistory2ay/chapter/western-economic-expansion-railroads-and-cattle-2/|accessdate=December 28, 2020|publisher=Lumen Learning}}

Since 1911, Texas has led the nation in length of railroad miles within the state. Texas railway length peaked in 1932 at {{convert|17078|mi|km}}, but declined to {{convert|14006|mi|km}} by 2000. While the Railroad Commission of Texas originally regulated state railroads, in 2005 the state reassigned these duties to TxDOT.{{cite web|title=Former Rail Division |publisher=Texas Railroad Commission |date=October 1, 2005 |url=http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/divisions/rail_moved/index.html?/rail.html |access-date=May 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506073304/http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/divisions/rail_moved/index.html?%2Frail.html |archive-date=May 6, 2008 |url-status=dead }}

In the Dallas–Fort Worth area, three public transit agencies provide rail service: Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA), and Trinity Metro. DART began operating the first light rail system in the Southwest United States in 1996.{{cite news |last=Myerson |first=Allen R. |date=June 14, 1996 |title=Dallas Opening Southwest's First Rail Transit |work=The New York Times |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D01EFD81739F937A25755C0A960958260 |access-date=May 11, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919043630/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D01EFD81739F937A25755C0A960958260 |archive-date=September 19, 2008}} The Trinity Railway Express (TRE) commuter rail service, which connects Fort Worth and Dallas, is provided by Trinity Metro and DART.{{cite web |title=Trinity Railroad Express |url=http://www.trinityrailwayexpress.org/ |access-date=June 11, 2008}} Trinity Metro also operates the TEXRail commuter rail line, connecting downtown Fort Worth and Northeast Tarrant County to DFW Airport.{{cite news|date=January 4, 2019|title=TEXRail to begin service Thursday after delay due to government shutdown|work=WFAA|url=https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/tarrant-county/texrail-to-begin-service-thursday-after-delay-due-to-government-shutdown/287-626199928|access-date=April 10, 2019}} The A-train commuter rail line, operated by DCTA, acts as an extension of the DART Green line into Denton County.{{cite web |title=DART inMotion 2011 |url=https://www.dart.org/about/inmotion/fall11/4.htm |access-date=April 10, 2019 |archive-date=April 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411031227/https://www.dart.org/about/inmotion/fall11/4.htm |url-status=dead }} In the Austin area, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority operates a commuter rail service known as Capital MetroRail to the northwestern suburbs. The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas (METRO) operates light rail lines called METRORail in the Houston area.{{Cite web|title=About METRO|url=https://www.ridemetro.org/Pages/AboutMetro.aspx|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=ridemetro.org|language=en-US}}

Amtrak provides Texas with limited intercity passenger rail service. Three scheduled routes serve the state: the daily Texas Eagle {{nowrap|(Chicago–San Antonio)}}; the tri-weekly Sunset Limited {{nowrap|(New Orleans–Los Angeles)}}, with stops in Texas; and the daily Heartland Flyer {{nowrap|(Fort Worth–Oklahoma City)}}. Texas may get one of the nation's first high-speed rail line. Plans for a privately funded high-speed rail line between Dallas and Houston have been planned by the Texas Central Railway company.{{Cite web|last=Garnham|first=Juan Pablo|date=September 21, 2020|title=High-speed train between Dallas and Houston gets federal approval|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2020/09/21/dallas-houston-high-speed-train/|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=The Texas Tribune}}

{{Main|Culture of Texas}}

{{See also|List of Texas symbols}}

File:Mission San Antonio aka Alamo.jpg is one of the most recognized symbols of Texas.|left]]

Historically, Texas culture comes from a blend of mostly Southern (Dixie), Western (frontier), and Southwestern (Mexican/Anglo fusion) influences, varying in degrees of such from one intrastate region to another. A popular food item, the breakfast burrito, draws from all three, having a soft flour tortilla wrapped around bacon and scrambled eggs or other hot, cooked fillings. Adding to Texas's traditional culture, established in the 18th and 19th centuries, immigration has made Texas a melting pot of cultures from around the world.{{Cite news|date=October 5, 1982|title=A California-style migration stirs up Texas melting pot|work=Christian Science Monitor|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1982/1005/100528.html|access-date=December 28, 2020|issn=0882-7729}}{{cite news|date=November 24, 2017|title=Can Houston move past the 'melting pot'?|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/Can-Houston-move-past-the-melting-pot-12377720.php|access-date=December 28, 2020|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|language=en-US |last1=Aquila |first1=Dominic A. }}

Texas has made a strong mark on national and international pop culture. The entire state is strongly associated with the image of the cowboy shown in westerns and in country western music. The state's numerous oil tycoons are also a popular pop culture topic as seen in the hit TV series Dallas.{{cite news|last=Arnold|first=Richard|title=40 years on from the TV series, Dallas is much more than oil barons and big hats|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/north-america/united-states/texas/articles/tv-series-dallas-attractions/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/north-america/united-states/texas/articles/tv-series-dallas-attractions/ |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=The Telegraph|date=August 2, 2018|language=en-GB}}{{cbignore}}

The internationally known slogan "Don't Mess with Texas" began as an anti-littering advertisement. Since the campaign's inception in 1986, the phrase has become "an identity statement, a declaration of Texas swagger".{{cite news |last=Fernandez |first=Manny |title=Not to Be, Um, Trifled With, Texas Guards Its Slogans |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/15/us/not-to-be-um-trifled-with-texas-guards-its-slogans.html?_r=0 |access-date=December 29, 2013 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 14, 2013}}

File:Big Tex.JPG presided over every Texas State Fair since 1952 until it was destroyed by a fire in 2012. Since then a new Big Tex was created.]]

"Texas-sized" describes something that is about the size of the U.S. state of Texas,{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/08/20/hurricane.dean/index.html |title=Texas-sized Hurricane Dean spins toward Yucatan |work=CNN |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010010315/http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/08/20/hurricane.dean/index.html |archive-date=October 10, 2008}}{{Cite news|url=http://feeds.arstechnica.com/~r/arstechnica/BAaf/~3/174124811/20071023-texas-sized-garbage-patch-threatens-pacific-marine-sanctuary.html |title=Floating, Texas-sized garbage patch threatens Pacific marine sanctuary |work=ars technica |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203221345/http://feeds.arstechnica.com/~r/arstechnica/BAaf/~3/174124811/20071023-texas-sized-garbage-patch-threatens-pacific-marine-sanctuary.html |archive-date=December 3, 2008}} or something (usually but not always originating from Texas) that is large compared to other objects of its type.{{cite news |url=https://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2007/06/sun_supercomputer |title=Texas-Sized Supercomputer to Break Computing Power Record |work=Wired.com |date=June 26, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140211090723/http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2007/06/sun_supercomputer |archive-date=February 11, 2014}}{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/Story?id=4371384&page=1 |title=Dems in Texas-sized showdown |publisher=ABC News}}{{cite news |url=http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/338668.aspx |title=A Texas-Sized Battle: Evolution vs. ID |work=CBNnews.com}} Texas was the largest U.S. state until Alaska became a state in 1959. The phrase "everything is bigger in Texas" has been in regular use since at least 1950.{{cite web |last1=Popik |first1=Barry |title=Everything's Bigger in Texas |url=http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/texas/entry/everythings_bigger_in_texas/ |website=The Big Apple online etymological dictionary |access-date=April 7, 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303152558/https://www.barrypopik.com/texas/entry/everythings_bigger_in_texas/|archivedate=March 3, 2024}}

{{further|Music of Texas}}

File:ZZ Top on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury 2016 IMG 8527 (27374417884).jpg performing in 2016. The power trio are considered cultural icons of Texas and blues-inspired rock music.]]

Houston is one of only five American cities with permanent professional resident companies in all the major performing arts disciplines: the Houston Grand Opera, the Houston Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Ballet, and The Alley Theatre.{{cite web |title=About Houston Theater District |publisher=Houston Theater District |url=http://www.houstontheaterdistrict.org/en/cms/?68 |access-date=April 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080229033851/http://www.houstontheaterdistrict.org/en/cms/?68 |archive-date=February 29, 2008}} Known for the vibrancy of its visual and performing arts, the Houston Theater District ranks second in the country in the number of theater seats in a concentrated downtown area, with 12,948 seats for live performances and 1,480 movie seats.

{{Listen

| filename =

| title = "La Grange"

| description = ZZ Top's 1973 single "La Grange" references the Chicken Ranch in the town of La Grange, Texas. It was the lead single off of the group's 1973 studio album Tres Hombres, which peaked at number 8 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in 1974.

| pos = right

}}

Founded in 1892, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, also called "The Modern", is Texas's oldest art museum. Fort Worth also has the Kimbell Art Museum, the Amon Carter Museum, the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, the Will Rogers Memorial Center, and the Bass Performance Hall downtown. The Arts District of Downtown Dallas has arts venues such as the Dallas Museum of Art, the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, the Trammell & Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art, and the Nasher Sculpture Center.{{cite web |title=Dallas Arts District |publisher=Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau |access-date=May 29, 2008 |url=http://www.visitdallas.com/things-to-do/arts/index.html}}

File:Houston Symphony.jpg at the Jones Hall]]

The Deep Ellum district within Dallas became popular during the 1920s and 1930s as the prime jazz and blues hotspot in the Southern United States. The name Deep Ellum comes from local people pronouncing "Deep Elm" as "Deep Ellum".{{cite Handbook of Texas|id=hpd01|title=Deep Ellum |first=Lisa C. |last=Maxwell |orig-year=June 12, 2010 |date=November 1, 2015}} Artists such as Blind Lemon Jefferson, Robert Johnson, Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter, and Bessie Smith played in early Deep Ellum clubs.{{cite web|title=Dallas History Items: Deep Ellum |publisher=Dallas Historical Society |url=http://www.dallashistory.org/history/dallas/deep_ellum.htm |access-date=July 25, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517115728/http://www.dallashistory.org/history/dallas/deep_ellum.htm |archive-date=May 17, 2008 }}

Austin, The Live Music Capital of the World, boasts "more live music venues per capita than such music hotbeds as Nashville, Memphis, Los Angeles, Las Vegas or New York City".{{cite web |url=http://www.cityofaustin.org/music/ |title=Live Music Capital of the World |access-date=June 12, 2007 |publisher=City of Austin}} The city's music revolves around the nightclubs on 6th Street; events like the film, music, and multimedia festival South by Southwest; the longest-running concert music program on American television, Austin City Limits; and the Austin City Limits Music Festival held in Zilker Park.{{cite web|last=Bernardini |first=Deb |title=Television's longest running concert series begins season 33 Tapings with performances by Norah Fones, Wilco, Femi Kuti, Arcade Fire and more |url=http://dbmpr.com/pressroom/acl/ACLFinalPR.doc.pdf |access-date=October 15, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028193024/http://dbmpr.com/pressroom/acl/ACLFinalPR.doc.pdf |archive-date=October 28, 2008 }}

Since 1980, San Antonio has evolved into "The Tejano Music Capital Of The World".{{cite web |url=http://www.tejanomusicawards.com/about.html |title=About The Texas Talent Musicians Association (TTMA) |access-date=August 2, 2009 |publisher=Texas Talent Musicians Association |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310113748/http://www.tejanomusicawards.com/about.html |archive-date=March 10, 2009}} The Tejano Music Awards have provided a forum to create greater awareness and appreciation for Tejano music and culture.{{cite web |title=Tejano Music Awards |publisher=Texas Talent Musicians Association |year=2008 |url=http://www.tejanomusicawards.com/ |access-date=May 12, 2008}}

{{main|Sports in Texas}}

{{further|List of University Interscholastic League events}}

File:Cowboys Stadium full view.jpg, home of the Dallas Cowboys, who are commonly known as America's Team]]

File:Spurs vs Lakers.jpg (led by Tim Duncan, #21) and the Los Angeles Lakers in 2007; the Spurs won the NBA Finals that year.]]

File:Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers July 2019 19.jpg teams (Texas Rangers and Houston Astros) at Globe Life Field in Arlington]]

Within the "Big Four" professional leagues, Texas has two NFL teams (the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans), two MLB teams (the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers),{{cite web |date=April 1, 1994 |title=Rangers Ballpark in Arlington|url=http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/tex/ballpark/index.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517153830/http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/tex/ballpark/index.jsp |archive-date=May 17, 2008 |access-date=May 11, 2013 |website=Texas.rangers.mlb.com}}{{cite web |date=April 1, 1994 |title=Rangers Ballpark in Arlington|url=http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/tex/ballpark/index.jsp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203080806/http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/tex/ballpark/index.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 3, 2007 |accessdate=May 11, 2013 |website=Texas.rangers.mlb.com}} three NBA teams (the San Antonio Spurs, the Houston Rockets, and the Dallas Mavericks), and one NHL team (the Dallas Stars). The Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex is one of only thirteen American metropolitan areas that host sports teams from all the "Big Four" professional leagues. Outside of the "Big Four", Texas also has a WNBA team (the Dallas Wings), three Major League Soccer teams (Austin FC, Houston Dynamo FC and FC Dallas), and one NWSL team (the Houston Dash).{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}

Collegiate athletics have deep significance in Texas culture, especially football. The state has twelve Division I-FBS schools, the most in the nation. Four of the state's schools claim at least one national championship in football: the Texas Longhorns, the Texas A&M Aggies, the TCU Horned Frogs, and the SMU Mustangs.{{cite web|title=Texas Longhorns Four-Time Football National Champions Bobblehead Unveiled|date=August 27, 2019 |url=https://www.bobbleheadhall.com/texas-longhorns-four-time-football-national-champions-bobblehead-unveiled/|access-date=December 28, 2020|language=en-GB}}{{cite web|title=Texas A&M Picked Up Two National Championships, Two Conference Titles Over The Summer|url=https://deadspin.com/texas-a-m-picked-up-two-national-championships-two-con-5941380|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=Deadspin|date=September 7, 2012 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=National Champions!!! TCU Earns Third Title In Program History|url=https://gofrogs.com/news/2019/3/9/womens-rifle-national-champions-tcu-earns-third-title-in-program-history.aspx|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=TCU Athletics|date=March 9, 2019 }}{{cite web|last=Dymeck|first=Pete|title=National Treasure: SMU's Forgotten, Yet Glorious Football History|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/47192-national-treasure-smus-forgotten-yet-glorious-football-history|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=Bleacher Report}} According to a survey of Division I-A coaches, the rivalry between the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas at Austin, the Red River Shootout, ranks the third-best in the nation.{{cite news |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/redrivershootout/texas/stories/100705dnspofbwnewrivalrylede.1c8619ce.html |title=UT-OU : Best Rivalry? |work=The Dallas Morning News |last=Davis |first=Brian |date=October 7, 2005 |access-date=July 11, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930031446/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/redrivershootout/texas/stories/100705dnspofbwnewrivalrylede.1c8619ce.html |archive-date=September 30, 2007}} The TCU Horned Frogs and SMU Mustangs also share a rivalry and compete annually in the Battle for the Iron Skillet. A fierce rivalry, the Lone Star Showdown, also exists between the state's two largest universities, Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin. The athletics portion of the Lone Star Showdown rivalry was paused between 2012, when Texas A&M left the Big 12 and joined the SEC, and 2024, when Texas joined them.{{cite news|title=Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork denies Lone Star Showdown renewal claims|url=https://247sports.com/Article/Texas-AM-AD-Ross-Bjork-denies-Lone-Star-Showdown-renewal-claims-Texas-Longhorns-Tom-Herman-Jimbo-Fisher-Sam-Ehlinger-149643578/|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=247Sports|language=en-US}}

The University Interscholastic League (UIL) organizes most primary and secondary school competitions. Events organized by UIL include contests in athletics (the most popular being high school football) as well as artistic and academic subjects.{{cite web |title=University Interscholastic League |publisher=University of Texas at Austin |url=http://www.uil.utexas.edu/ |access-date=September 28, 2008 |archive-date=February 21, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060221153929/http://www.uil.utexas.edu/ |url-status=dead }}

File:Rodeo competition at the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo, produced by Rodeo Austin in Austin, Texas LCCN2015630182.tif (the state sport) in Austin]]

Texans also enjoy rodeo. The world's first rodeo was hosted in Pecos, Texas.{{cite web |url=http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/viewform.asp?atlas_num=5389005909&site_name=World's+First+Rodeo&class=5000 |title=View Atlas Data |website=Atlas.thc.state.tx.us |access-date=April 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904022847/http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/viewform.asp?atlas_num=5389005909&site_name=World%27s+First+Rodeo&class=5000 |archive-date=September 4, 2015 |url-status=dead }} The annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the largest rodeo in the world. The Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show in Fort Worth is the oldest continuously running rodeo incorporating many of the state's most historic traditions into its annual events. Dallas hosts the State Fair of Texas each year at Fair Park.{{cite web|title=Fair Park, Texas |publisher=City of Dallas |access-date=May 22, 2008 |url=http://www.dallascityhall.com/FairPark/art_architectural.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514155643/http://www.dallascityhall.com/FairPark/art_architectural.html |archive-date=May 14, 2008 }}

Texas Motor Speedway hosts annual NASCAR Cup Series and IndyCar Series auto races since 1997. Since 2012, Austin's Circuit of the Americas plays host to a round of the Formula 1 World Championship.{{cite web |title=Formula One returns to the United States |publisher=Formula 1 Administration Ltd |access-date=May 25, 2010 |url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2010/5/10824.html}}

The Panther City Lacrosse Club is a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League. They have played local matches at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas since their inaugural 2021–2022 season.{{cite news |url= https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/more-sports/professional-lacrosse-is-coming-to-fort-worth-dickies-arena/ar-BB1747QE |title= Professional lacrosse is coming to Fort Worth, Dickies Arena |access-date=July 22, 2020 }}

{{main|Education in Texas}}

The second president of the Republic of Texas, Mirabeau B. Lamar, is the Father of Texas Education. During his term, the state set aside three leagues in each county for public schools. An additional 50 leagues of land set aside for the support of two universities would later become the basis of the state's Permanent University Fund.{{cite Handbook of Texas |id=khp02 |title=Permanent University Fund |date=June 15, 2010 |first=Vivian Elizabeth |last=Smyrl}} Lamar's actions set the foundation for a Texas-wide public school system.{{cite book |last=Hendrickson | first=Kenneth E. Jr. |title=The Chief of Executives of Texas: From Stephen F. Austin to John B. Connally, Jr |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8zF5AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA37 |publisher=Texas A&M University Press |year=1995 |page=37 |isbn=978-0-89096-641-9}}

Between 2006 and 2007, Texas spent $7,275 per pupil, ranking it below the national average of $9,389. The pupil/teacher ratio was 14.9, below the national average of 15.3. Texas paid instructors $41,744, below the national average of $46,593. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) administers the state's public school systems. Texas has over 1,000 school districts; all districts except the Stafford Municipal School District are independent from municipal government and many cross city boundaries.{{cite press release |title=Comptroller Strayhorn to Review Stafford Municipal School District |publisher=Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn |date=September 16, 2003 |url=http://www.cpa.state.tx.us/news/30916stafford.html |access-date=June 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040222021846/http://www.cpa.state.tx.us/news/30916stafford.html |archive-date=February 22, 2004 |url-status=dead }} School districts have the power to tax their residents and to assert eminent domain over privately owned property. Due to court-mandated equitable school financing, the state has a tax redistribution system called the "Robin Hood plan" which transfers property tax revenue from wealthy school districts to poor ones.{{cite web|last=Saghaye-Biria |first=Hakimeh |title=Robin Hood Plan is Working |date=April 22, 2001 |publisher=World Internet News Cooperative |url=http://soc.hfac.uh.edu/artman/publish/article_137.shtml |access-date=June 23, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511051857/http://soc.hfac.uh.edu/artman/publish/article_137.shtml |archive-date=May 11, 2008 }} The TEA has no authority over private or homeschooling activities.{{cite web|date=November 1, 2007 |title=Home School Information Letter |publisher=Texas Education Agency |url=http://www.tea.state.tx.us/home.school/homeltr.html |access-date=June 24, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613083329/http://www.tea.state.tx.us/home.school/homeltr.html |archive-date=June 13, 2008 }}

Students in Texas take the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) in primary and secondary school. STAAR assess students' attainment of reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies skills required under Texas education standards and the No Child Left Behind Act. The test replaced the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test in the 2011–2012 school year.{{cite news|url=http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/admin/eoc/index.html |title=End-of-Course (EOC) Assessments: Implementation |last=Texas Education Agency |work=Assessment Division |date=October 22, 2007 |access-date=October 22, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071120064701/http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/admin/eoc/index.html |archive-date=November 20, 2007 }}

Generally prohibited in the Western world, school corporal punishment is not unusual in the more conservative, rural areas of the state,{{cite news |last1=Salhotra |first1=Pooja |title=Proposed ban on corporal punishment in Texas schools fails again |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/26/texas-house-corporal-punishment-public-schools/ |access-date=17 January 2024 |work=The Texas Tribune |date=27 April 2023 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Frosch |first1=Dan |title=Schools Under Pressure to Spare the Rod Forever |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/28/education/30paddle.html |access-date=17 January 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=29 March 2011}}{{cite journal |last1=Gershoff |first1=Elizabeth T. |last2=Font |first2=Sarah A. |title=Corporal Punishment in U.S. Public Schools: Prevalence, Disparitiesin Use, and Status in State and Federal Policy |journal=Social Policy Report |date=2016 |volume=30 |issue=1 |pages=1–26 |doi=10.1002/j.2379-3988.2016.tb00086.x |pmid=29333055 |pmc=5766273 |issn=1075-7031}} with 28,569 public school students paddled at least one time,{{efn|This figure refers to only the number of students paddled, regardless of whether a student was spanked multiple times in a year, and does not refer to the number of instances of corporal punishment, which would be substantially higher.}} according to government data for the 2011–2012 school year. The rate of school corporal punishment in Texas is surpassed only by Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas.{{cite web|url=http://corpun.com/counuss.htm |title= Corporal punishment in US schools |publisher=World Corporal Punishment Research | last = Farrell | first = Colin | date=February 2016|access-date=April 4, 2016}}

{{further|List of colleges and universities in Texas}}

File:University of Texas at Austin August 2019 30 (Littlefield Fountain and Main Building).jpg]]

File:Roy Gustav Cullen Building.JPG]]

File:TAMUcampus.jpg]] File:Lovett Hall.jpg]]

The state's two most widely recognized flagship universities are The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University, ranked as the 21st"[http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/university-of-texas-austin-3658 University of Texas—Austin] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908040718/http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/university-of-texas-austin-3658 |date=September 8, 2014 }}". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved November 17, 2013. and 41st"[http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/texas-am-university-college-station-10366 Texas A&M University—College Station] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908040651/http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/texas-am-university-college-station-10366 |date=September 8, 2014 }}". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved November 17, 2013. best universities in the nation according to 2020's latest Center for World University Rankings report, respectively. Some observers{{cite web |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7386162.html |title=UH takes big step up to Tier One status |website=Houston Chronicle |date=January 18, 2011 |access-date=July 6, 2011}} also include the University of Houston and Texas Tech University as tier one flagships alongside UT Austin and A&M.{{cite web |url=http://www.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2011articles/Jan2011/011811CarnegieTierOne.php |title=Carnegie Foundation Gives University of Houston its Highest Classification for Research Success, Elevating UH to Tier One Status |author=Bonnin, Richard |publisher=University of Houston |access-date=February 8, 2011}}"[http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2012/mar/26/hance-chief-of-growth-fundraising-for-tech/ Texas Tech University has quietly emerged as top-tier institution] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209205948/http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2012/mar/26/hance-chief-of-growth-fundraising-for-tech/ |date=February 9, 2014 }}". San Angelo Standard-Times. Retrieved November 17, 2013. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board ranks the state's public universities into three distinct tiers:"[http://www.utsystem.edu/tierone/tierone.htm Tier One/Prop. 4] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130916002505/http://www.utsystem.edu/tierone/tierone.htm |date=September 16, 2013 }}". The University of Texas System. Retrieved November 17, 2013.

• National Research Universities (Tier 1)"[http://www.texastribune.org/2012/05/25/tech-and-uh-qualify-tier-one-prize-money/ Tech and U. of Houston Qualify for Tier-One Prize Money]". Texas Tribune. Retrieved November 17, 2013."[https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/utep/2019/01/09/utep-tier-1-research-university-diana-natalicio/2517085002/ UTEP hits major milestone with top-tier research funding status]". El Paso Times. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
• The University of Texas at Austin
• Texas A&M University
• Texas Tech University
• University of Houston
• Rice University
• The University of Texas at Arlington
• The University of Texas at Dallas
• The University of North Texas
• The University of Texas at El Paso
• Emerging Research Universities (Tier 2)
• The University of Texas at San Antonio
• Texas State University
• Comprehensive Universities (Tier 3)
• All other public universities (25 in total)

Texas's alternative affirmative action plan, Texas House Bill 588, guarantees Texas students who graduated in the {{nowrap|top 10}} percent of their high school class automatic admission to state-funded universities. This does not apply to The University of Texas at Austin, which automatically admits Texas students who graduated in the {{Nowrap|top 6}} percent of their high school class.{{Cite web |date=September 21, 2021 |title=Automatic Admissions Threshold Remains at 6% for UT Austin |url=https://news.utexas.edu/2021/09/21/automatic-admissions-threshold-remains-at-6-for-ut-austin/ |access-date=May 13, 2022 |website=UT News |language=en-US}} The bill encourages demographic diversity while attempting to avoid problems stemming from the Hopwood v. Texas (1996) case.{{cite web|date=July 8, 2019|title=Texas top ten percent policy provides a cautionary lesson|url=https://hechingerreport.org/texas-top-10-policy-didnt-expand-number-of-high-schools-feeding-students-to-top-universities/|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=The Hechinger Report|language=en-US}}

Thirty-six public universities exist in Texas, of which 32 belong to one of the six state university systems.{{cite news |last=Heath |first=Ben |newspaper=Daily Texan |date=July 7, 2003 |url=http://www.utsystem.edu/news/clips/dailyclips/2003/0706-0712/UTSystem-DT-BillRequires-070703.pdf |access-date=October 12, 2007 |title=Bill requires review of university systems |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205011655/http://www.utsystem.edu/news/clips/dailyclips/2003/0706-0712/UTSystem-DT-BillRequires-070703.pdf |archive-date=February 5, 2009}}{{cite web |title=Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education Testimony Regarding the Benefits of a Stand Alone Institution |publisher=Sam Houston State University |date=June 25, 2008 |url=http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/commit/c535/20080625/062508_SFA_Testimony_Dr_Pattillo.pdf |access-date=October 12, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028193024/http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/commit/c535/20080625/062508_SFA_Testimony_Dr_Pattillo.pdf |archive-date=October 28, 2008 }} Discovery of minerals on Permanent University Fund land, particularly oil, has helped fund the rapid growth of the state's two largest university systems: the University of Texas System and the Texas A&M System. The four other university systems: the University of Houston System, the University of North Texas System, the Texas State System, and the Texas Tech System are not funded by the Permanent University Fund.{{Cite web|title= Permanent University Fund|url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/permanent-university-fund|access-date=December 28, 2020|publisher=TSHA |work=Handbook of Texas |first1=Vivian Elizabeth |last1=Smyrl |orig-date=1976 |date=June 9, 2020 }}

The Carnegie Foundation classifies five of Texas's universities as Tier One research institutions: Rice University, The University of Texas at Austin, the Texas A&M University, the University of Houston and Texas Tech University. The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University are the flagship universities of the University of Texas System and Texas A&M University System, respectively. Both were established by the Texas Constitution and hold stakes in the Permanent University Fund.

The state has sought to expand the number of flagship universities by elevating some of its seven institutions designated as "emerging research universities". The two expected to emerge first are the University of Houston and Texas Tech University, likely in that order according to discussions on the House floor of the 82nd Texas Legislature.{{cite web |title=Tier-One Prize Money Tentatively Passes House |date=April 14, 2011 |access-date=April 27, 2011 |url=http://www.texastribune.org/texas-education/higher-education/tier-one-prize-money-tentatively-passes-house-/}}

The state is home to various private institutions of higher learning—ranging from liberal arts colleges to a nationally recognized top-tier research university. {{nowrap|Rice University}} in Houston is one of the leading teaching and research universities of the United States and is ranked the nation's 17th-best overall university by U.S. News & World Report.{{cite web|title=Rice University, Best Colleges 2009 |website=U.S. News & World Report|access-date=March 27, 2009 |url=http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/items/3604 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216191034/http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/items/3604 |archive-date=February 16, 2009 }}

Trinity University, a private, primarily undergraduate liberal arts university in San Antonio, has ranked first among universities granting primarily bachelor's and select master's degrees in the Western United States for 20 consecutive years by U.S. News.{{cite web|title=Trinity University |website=Best Colleges 2011—U.S. News & World Report |access-date=January 6, 2012 |url=http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/regional-universities-west |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119182030/http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/regional-universities-west |archive-date=January 19, 2012 }} Private universities include Abilene Christian University, {{nowrap|Austin College}}, {{nowrap|Baylor University}}, {{nowrap|University of Mary Hardin–Baylor}}, and {{nowrap|Southwestern University}}.{{cite web |title=About Baylor |publisher=Baylor University |access-date=May 21, 2008 |url=http://www.baylor.edu/about/}}{{cite web |title=Southwestern History |publisher=Southwestern University |access-date=October 12, 2008 |url=http://www.southwestern.edu/about/about-history.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024123018/http://www.southwestern.edu/about/about-history.html |archive-date=October 24, 2007}}{{cite web |title=History |date=November 2009 |publisher=Austin College |access-date=June 9, 2015 |url=http://www.austincollege.edu/about/history/ |archive-date=June 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608002350/http://www.austincollege.edu/about/history/ |url-status=dead }}

Universities in Texas host three presidential libraries: George Bush Presidential Library at Texas A&M University,{{Cite web|title=Archives and Research – George Bush Library and Museum|url=https://bush41library.tamu.edu/|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=bush41library.tamu.edu}} the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum at The University of Texas at Austin,{{Cite web|title=Plan Your Visit to the LBJ Library – LBJ Presidential Library|url=http://www.lbjlibrary.org/footer/plan-your-visit|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=lbjlibrary.org|archive-date=November 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125080437/http://www.lbjlibrary.org/footer/plan-your-visit/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|title= Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum|url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/lyndon-baines-johnson-library-and-museum|access-date=December 28, 2020|publisher=TSHA |work=Handbook of Texas |date=1976 }} and the George W. Bush Presidential Library at Southern Methodist University.{{Cite web|title=The George W. Bush Presidential Center and SMU – SMU|url=https://www.smu.edu/bushcenter|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=smu.edu}}

{{main|Healthcare in Texas}}

{{see also|List of hospitals in Texas}}

Notwithstanding the concentration of elite medical centers in the state, The Commonwealth Fund ranks the Texas healthcare system the third worst in the nation.{{cite web |last=Perotin |first=Maria M. |title=Texas is Near Bottom of Healthcare Rankings |website=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |date=June 13, 2007 |url=http://www.insurancenewsnet.com/article.asp?a=top_lh&id=80824 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302104007/https://www.insurancenewsnet.com/article.asp?a=top_lh&id=80824 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 2, 2021 |access-date=April 22, 2008 }} Texas ranks close to last in access to healthcare, quality of care, avoidable hospital spending, and equity. In May 2006, Texas initiated the program "code red" in response to the report the state had 25.1 percent of the population without health insurance, the largest proportion in the nation.{{cite web|title=Code Red: The Critical Condition of Health in Texas |url=http://www.coderedtexas.org/ |access-date=April 28, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512021439/http://www.coderedtexas.org/ |archive-date=May 12, 2008 }}

The Trust for America's Health ranked Texas 15th highest in adult obesity: 27.2 percent of the state's population is obese.{{cite web |title=Texas |website=State Data |publisher=Trust for America's Health |year=2008 |url=http://healthyamericans.org/states/states.php?measure=highschooloverweight&sort=data |access-date=October 14, 2008 |archive-date=January 6, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106124245/http://healthyamericans.org/states/states.php?measure=highschooloverweight&sort=data |url-status=dead }} The 2008 Men's Health obesity survey ranked four Texas cities among the top 25 fattest cities in America: Houston ranked 6th, Dallas 7th, El Paso 8th, and Arlington 14th.{{cite web |title=America's Fittest Cities 2007 |website=Men's Health |year=2008 |url=http://www.mensfitness.com/city_rankings/462 |access-date=April 21, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313161801/http://www.mensfitness.com/city_rankings/462|archive-date=March 13, 2008}} Texas had only one city (Austin, ranked 21st) in the top 25 "fittest cities" in America. The state is ranked forty-second in the percentage of residents who engage in regular exercise according to a 2007 study.[http://www.statemaster.com/graph/hea_phy_exe-health-physical-exercise Statemaster.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513182949/http://www.statemaster.com/graph/hea_phy_exe-health-physical-exercise |date=May 13, 2013 }}, Accessed May 16, 2007

Texas has the highest maternal mortality rate in the developed world, and the rate by which Texas women died from pregnancy-related complications doubled from 2010 to 2014, to 23.8 per 100,000—a rate unmatched in any other U.S. state or economically developed country.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/20/texas-maternal-mortality-rate-health-clinics-funding|title=Texas has highest maternal mortality rate in developed world, study finds|last=Redden|first=Molly|date=August 20, 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|issn=0261-3077|access-date=December 23, 2016}} In May 2021, the state legislature passed the Texas Heartbeat Act, which banned abortion from as early as six weeks of pregnancy, except to save the life of the mother. The Act allows private citizens to sue abortion providers and anyone else who assists in an abortion, except for the woman on whom the abortion is performed.{{cite news |title=Abortion: Texas governor signs restrictive new law |work=BBC News |date=May 19, 2021 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57177224 |access-date=June 8, 2021}}{{cite news |title=Answers to Questions About the Texas Abortion Law |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/01/health/texas-abortion-law-facts.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/01/health/texas-abortion-law-facts.html |archive-date=December 28, 2021 |url-access=limited |access-date=September 2, 2021 |agency=The New York Times |date=September 1, 2021|last1=Rabin |first1=Roni Caryn }}{{cbignore}} On August 25, 2022, another law took effect that made committing abortion at any stage of pregnancy a felony punishable by life in prison.{{cite web | url=https://www.npr.org/2022/08/22/1118635642/abortion-trigger-ban-tennessee-idaho-texas | title=3 more states are poised to enact abortion trigger bans this week | website=NPR| date=August 22, 2022 | last1=Kim | first1=Juliana }}

Access to allergy and immunology specialists in Texas is unevenly distributed. While the state is served by approximately 462 allergists and immunologists, these specialists are primarily concentrated in major urban centers such as Dallas, Houston, and Austin. In rural areas of Texas, the average availability is significantly lower, with approximately one specialist for every 50,000 residents.

{{cite web | title=Allergies and Asthma in Texas | publisher=AllergyX | date=2025 | url=https://www.allergyx.us/allergy-watch/allergies-and-asthma-in-texas/ | access-date=2025-03-21}}

File:Texas medical center sundown.jpg in Houston]]

Texas has many elite research medical centers. The state has 15 medical schools,{{cite web |title=Texas Medical Schools and Hospitals |publisher=Texas Medical Association |date=August 3, 2006 |url=http://www.texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=86 |access-date=April 28, 2008}} four dental schools,{{cite news |url=http://www.dentist.net/dentalschools.asp |title=Dental Schools in the United States |access-date=October 31, 2008 |newspaper=Dentist.net|last1=Net |first1=Dentist }} and two optometry schools.{{cite web |url=http://www.aoa.org/x12702.xml |title=Accreditation Council on Optometric Education |access-date=December 26, 2011 |publisher=American Optometric Association |archive-date=January 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105005827/http://www.aoa.org/x12702.xml |url-status=dead }} Texas has two Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) laboratories: one at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston,{{cite web|url=http://www.bioscrypt.com/news/press/item-728/ |date=October 14, 2004 |title=University Selects Bioscrypt for Biosafety Level 4 Lab |publisher=Bioscrypt |access-date=April 29, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117074008/http://www.bioscrypt.com/news/press/item-728/ |archive-date=November 17, 2007 |url-status=dead }} and the other at the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research in San Antonio—the first privately owned BSL-4 lab in the United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.sfbr.org/pages/about_resources2.php |title=Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) Laboratory |publisher=Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research |access-date=April 29, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629233704/http://www.sfbr.org/pages/about_resources2.php |archive-date=June 29, 2007 }}

The Texas Medical Center in Houston holds the world's largest concentration of research and healthcare institutions, with over 50 member institutions.{{cite web |title=About the Texas Medical Center |publisher=The Texas Medical Center |access-date=April 11, 2009 |url=http://www.texmedctr.tmc.edu/root/en/GetToKnow/AboutTMC/About+the+TMC.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810221035/http://www.texmedctr.tmc.edu/root/en/GetToKnow/AboutTMC/About+the+TMC.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 10, 2007 }} Texas Medical Center performs the most heart transplants in the world.{{cite web |title=Background Statistics > People and Politics (most recent) by state |publisher=State Master |date=May 8, 2008 |url=http://www.statemaster.com/graph/bac_bac-background-people-and-politics |access-date=May 8, 2008 |archive-date=May 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503125428/http://www.statemaster.com/graph/bac_bac-background-people-and-politics |url-status=dead }} The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston is a highly regarded academic institution that centers around cancer patient care, research, education and prevention.{{cite web |title=About MD Anderson |publisher=The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center |url=http://www.mdanderson.org/about_mda/ |access-date=April 28, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424201445/http://www.mdanderson.org/about_mda/ |archive-date=April 24, 2008 }}

San Antonio's South Texas Medical Center facilities rank sixth in clinical medicine research impact in the United States.{{cite web |date=April 3, 2007 |title=Health Science Center ranks sixth in clinical medicine |edition=7 |volume=XL |publisher=University of Texas Health Science Center |url=http://www.uthscsa.edu/hscnews/singleformat.asp?newID=2353 |access-date=April 28, 2008 |archive-date=March 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309051019/http://uthscsa.edu/hscnews/singleformat.asp?newID=2353 |url-status=dead }} The University of Texas Health Science Center is another highly ranked research and educational institution in San Antonio.{{cite web |title=International report gives Dental School high marks |work=HSC NEWS |access-date=May 15, 2008 |url=http://www.uthscsa.edu/hscnews/singleformat.asp?newID=1742 |archive-date=December 27, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227030845/http://www.uthscsa.edu/hscnews/singleformat.asp?newID=1742 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=Medical center's research ranks high |work=San Antonio Express-News |access-date=May 15, 2008 |url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/MYSA040407_medical_center_EN_2dc65c3e_html751.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121208194147/http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/MYSA040407_medical_center_EN_2dc65c3e_html751.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 8, 2012}}

Both the American Heart Association and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center call Dallas home.{{cite web|title=About UT Southwestern |publisher=University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center |url=http://www8.utsouthwestern.edu/home/about/index.html |access-date=April 28, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509062317/http://utsouthwestern.edu/home/about/index.html |archive-date=May 9, 2008 }} The institution's medical school employs the most medical school Nobel laureates in the world.{{cite web|title=UT Southwestern Fact Sheet |publisher=University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center |year=2008 |url=http://www8.utsouthwestern.edu/vgn/images/portal/cit_56417/43/32/2800592006_Fact_Sheet.pdf |access-date=April 28, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080413194108/http://www8.utsouthwestern.edu/vgn/images/portal/cit_56417/43/32/2800592006_Fact_Sheet.pdf |archive-date=April 13, 2008}}

{{Clear}}

The current Texas Constitution was adopted in 1876. Like many states, it explicitly provides for a separation of powers. The state's Bill of Rights is much larger than its federal counterpart, and has provisions unique to Texas.{{cite web|title=Bill of Rights (Article 1) |website=Texas Politics |publisher=University of Texas |url=https://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/7_4_2.html |access-date=October 13, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206142915/http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/7_4_2.html |archive-date=February 6, 2009}}

{{main|Government of Texas}}

{{further|Law of Texas}}

{{see also|List of Texas state agencies}}

File:Texas State Capitol Night.jpg at night]]

Texas has a plural executive branch system limiting the power of the governor, which is a weak executive compared to some other states. Except for the secretary of state, voters elect executive officers independently; candidates are directly answerable to the public, not the governor.{{cite web |year=2005 |title=The Plural Executive |website=Texas Politics |publisher=University of Texas |url=https://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/1_9_0.html |access-date=May 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928082847/http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/1_9_0.html |archive-date=September 28, 2008}} This election system has led to some executive branches split between parties and reduced the ability of the governor to carry out a program. When Republican president George W. Bush served as Texas's governor, the state had a Democratic lieutenant governor, Bob Bullock. The executive branch positions consist of the governor, lieutenant governor, comptroller of public accounts, land commissioner, attorney general, agriculture commissioner, the three-member Texas Railroad Commission, the State Board of Education, and the secretary of state.

The bicameral Texas Legislature consists of the House of Representatives, with 150 members, and a Senate, with 31 members. The Speaker of the House leads the House, and the lieutenant governor, the Senate.{{cite web|year=2005 |title=Membership |website=Texas Politics |publisher=University of Texas |url=https://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/2_2_4.html |access-date=June 17, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302003227/http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/2_2_4.html |archive-date=March 2, 2009 }} The Legislature meets in regular session biennially for just over a hundred days, but the governor can call for special sessions as often as desired (notably, the Legislature cannot call itself into session).{{cite web|year=2005 |title=Special Sessions |website=Texas Politics |publisher=University of Texas |url=https://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/2_2_2.html |access-date=June 17, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302003217/http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/2_2_2.html |archive-date=March 2, 2009 }} The state's fiscal year begins September{{nbsp}}1.{{Cite web|title=FY 2021 State Budget Status|url=https://www.ncsl.org/research/fiscal-policy/fy-2021-state-budget-status.aspx#:~:text=Forty-six%20states%20began%20fiscal,1.|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=ncsl.org|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107135525/https://www.ncsl.org/research/fiscal-policy/fy-2021-state-budget-status.aspx#:~:text=Forty-six%20states%20began%20fiscal,1.|url-status=dead}}

The judiciary of Texas is among the most complex in the United States, with many layers and overlapping jurisdictions. Texas has two courts of last resort: the Texas Supreme Court, for civil cases, and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Except for some municipal benches, partisan elections select judges at all levels of the judiciary; the governor fills vacancies by appointment.{{cite Handbook of Texas|id=jzj01|title=Judiciary|first=Paul |last=Womack|date=June 15, 2010}} Texas is notable for its use of capital punishment, having led the country in executions since capital punishment was reinstated in the Gregg v. Georgia case.{{Cite web|date=December 15, 2018|title=Texas again leads U.S. in executions in 2018, and Dallas was top county, with 4|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/courts/2018/12/15/texas-again-leads-u-s-in-executions-in-2018-and-dallas-was-top-county-with-4/|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=Dallas News}}

The Texas Ranger Division of the Texas Department of Public Safety is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction. Over the years, the Texas Rangers have investigated crimes ranging from murder to political corruption. They have acted as riot police and as detectives, protected the Texas governor, tracked down fugitives, and functioned as a paramilitary force. The Texas Rangers were unofficially created by Stephen F. Austin in 1823 and formally constituted in 1835. The Rangers were integral to several important events of Texas history and some of the best-known criminal cases in the history of the Old West.{{cite Handbook of Texas|id=met04|title=Texas Rangers|first=Ben H. |last=Procter|orig-year=June 15, 2010 |date=February 8, 2018}}

The Texas constitution defines the responsibilities of county governments, which serve as agents of the state. Commissioners court and court judges are elected to serve as the administrative arm. Most cities in the state, those over 5,000 in population, have home-rule governments. The vast majority of these have charters for council-manager forms of government, by which voters elect council members, who hire a professional city manager as an operating officer.{{cite web|title=Council-manager government|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Council-manager_government|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=Ballotpedia}}

{{main|Politics of Texas}}

{{further|Political party strength in Texas}}

{{see also|Republican Party of Texas|Texas Democratic Party}}

File:37 Lyndon Johnson 3x4.jpg of Texas, 36th president of the United States]]

File:George-W-Bush.jpeg of Texas, 43rd president of the United States]]

The Democratic Party dominated Texas politics from the turn of the 20th century, imposing racial segregation and white supremacy. It held power until after passage in the mid-1960s of national civil rights legislation enforcing constitutional rights of all citizens.{{cite web|title= Democratic Party|url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/democratic-party|access-date=December 28, 2020|publisher=TSHA |work=Handbook of Texas |first1= Nancy |last1=Young |date=1976 }}{{Cite news|title=Dixie's Long Journey From Democratic Stronghold To Republican Redoubt|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/06/25/417154906/dixies-long-journey-from-democratic-stronghold-to-republican-redoubt|access-date=December 28, 2020|newspaper=NPR|date=June 25, 2015|last1=Elving|first1=Ron}}

The state's conservative White voters began to support Republican presidential candidates by the mid-20th century. After this period, they supported Republicans for local and state offices as well, and most Whites became Republican Party members.{{cite news |last=Risen |first=Clay |date=March 5, 2006 |title=How the South was won |work=The Boston Globe |url=https://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2006/03/05/how_the_south_was_won/ |access-date=April 29, 2008}} The party also attracted some minorities, but many have continued to vote for Democratic candidates. The shift to the Republican Party is much-attributed to the fact the Democratic Party became increasingly liberal during the 20th century, and thus increasingly out-of-touch with the average Texas voter.{{cite web |title=History of Texas Voters |url=http://www.newschannel10.com/story/33661247/history-of-texas-voters |date=November 8, 2016 |website=NewsChannel10 |publisher=KFDA-TV |access-date=December 16, 2016}} As Texas was always a conservative state, voters switched to the Republicans, which now more closely reflected their beliefs.{{cite web |title=How Texas Became a "Red" State |website=Frontline |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/architect/texas/realignment.html |date=April 12, 2005 |publisher=PBS |access-date=December 16, 2016}} Commentators have also attributed the shift to Republican political consultant Karl Rove, who managed numerous political campaigns in Texas in the 1980s and 1990s. Other stated reasons included court-ordered redistricting and the demographic shift in relation to the Sun Belt that favored the Republican Party and conservatism.

The 2003 Texas redistricting of Congressional districts led by Republican Tom DeLay, was called by The New York Times "an extreme case of partisan gerrymandering".{{cite news |title=The Texas Gerrymander |work=The New York Times |date=March 1, 2006 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/01/opinion/01wed2.html}} A group of Democratic legislators, the "Texas Eleven", fled the state in a quorum-busting effort to prevent the legislature from acting, but was unsuccessful.{{cite news |last=Ridder |first=Knight |title=11 Texas Senate Democrats Take Cue from House, Bolt to Avoid Redistricting |work=Houston Chronicle |date=July 29, 2003 |url=https://www.allbusiness.com/government/elections-politics-politics-political-parties/10366221-1.html |access-date=January 7, 2009}}{{dead link|date=January 2011}} The state had already redistricted following the 2000 census. Despite these efforts, the legislature passed a map heavily in favor of Republicans, based on 2000 data and ignoring the estimated nearly one million new residents in the state since then. Career attorneys and analysts at the Department of Justice objected to the plan as diluting the votes of African American and Hispanic voters, but political appointees overrode them and approved it. Legal challenges to the redistricting reached the national Supreme Court in the case League of United Latin American Citizens v. Perry (2006), but the court ruled in favor of the state (and Republicans).{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/28/washington/28cnd-scotus.html |title=Justices Back Most G.O.P. Changes to Texas Districts |work=The New York Times|date=June 28, 2006}}

In the 2014 Texas elections, the Tea Party movement made large gains, with numerous Tea Party favorites being elected into office, including Dan Patrick as lieutenant governor,{{cite news |last=Fernandez |first=Manny |title=Lieutenant Governor Loses Texas Runoff as Tea Party Holds Sway |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/28/us/politics/tea-party-favorite-beats-lieutenant-governor-in-texas.html |date=May 27, 2014 |work=The New York Times}}{{cite news |last1=Koppel |first1=Nathan |title=Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Moves Quickly to Advance Conservative Agenda |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/texas-lt-gov-dan-patrick-moves-quickly-to-advance-conservative-agenda-1421883867 |date=January 21, 2015 | work=The Wall Street Journal}} Ken Paxton as attorney general,{{cite news | last1=Grissom | first1=Brandi |title=Tea Party Conservatives Win Top GOP Runoff Contests |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2014/05/28/tea-party-conservatives-win-top-gop-runoff-contest/ |date=May 28, 2014 |work=The Texas Tribune}} in addition to numerous other candidates including conservative Republican Greg Abbott as governor.{{cite news |last=Fernandez |first=Manny |title=Texas' New Governor Echoes the Plans of Perry |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/21/us/politics/new-texas-governor-greg-abbott-expected-to-continue-on-perrys-path.html |date=January 20, 2015 |work=The New York Times}}

Texas voters lean toward fiscal conservatism, while enjoying the benefits of significant federal investment in the state in military and other facilities achieved by the power of the Solid South in the 20th century. They also tend to have socially conservative values.{{cite web|title=Texas Political Culture—Introduction |website=Texas Politics |publisher=University of Texas |url=https://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/10_1_0.html |access-date=May 29, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220092705/http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/10_1_0.html |archive-date=December 20, 2008 }}{{cite web|title=Texas Political Culture—Low Taxes, Low Services Political Culture |website=Texas Politics |publisher=University of Texas |url=https://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/10_2_1.html |access-date=October 13, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130015106/http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/10_2_1.html |archive-date=January 30, 2009 }}

Since 1980, most Texas voters have supported Republican presidential candidates. Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and El Paso consistently lean Democratic in both local and statewide elections. Residents of counties along the Rio Grande closer to the Mexico–United States border, where there are many Latino residents, generally vote for Democratic Party candidates, while most other rural and suburban areas of Texas have shifted to voting for Republican Party candidates.{{cite web |url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2000&fips=48&f=1&off=0&elect=0 |title=2000 Presidential General Election Results—Texas |website=US Election Atlas |access-date=July 22, 2008}}{{cite web |url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2004&fips=48&f=1&off=0&elect=0 |title=2004 Presidential General Election Results—Texas |website=uselectionatlas.org |access-date=July 22, 2007}}

As of the midterm elections of 2022, a large majority of the members of Texas's U.S. House delegation are Republican, along with both U.S. Senators. In the 119th United States Congress, of the 38 Congressional districts in Texas, 25 are held by Republicans and 13 by Democrats. Texas's Senators are John Cornyn and Ted Cruz. Since 1994, Texans have not elected a Democrat to a statewide office. The state's Democratic voters are made up primarily by liberal and minority groups in Austin, Beaumont, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, and San Antonio as well as minority voters in East and South Texas.{{cite news|title=Religion in America: U.S. Religious Data, Demographics and Statistics|url=https://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project|language=en-US|archive-date=January 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103045246/https://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |author1=Mandi Cai |author2=Matthew Watkins |author3=Anna Novak |author4=Darla Cameron|date=November 6, 2020|title=In Texas, Biden's urban wins couldn't offset Trump's millions of votes in rural, red counties|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2020/11/06/texas-trump-biden-counties-rural-suburban-city/|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=The Texas Tribune}}{{cite web|last=Ramsey|first=Ross|date=November 11, 2016|title=Analysis: The blue dots in Texas' red political sea|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2016/11/11/analysis-blue-dots-texas-red-political-sea/|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=The Texas Tribune}}

According to a study by the Cato Institute, Texas ranks last in personal freedom among the states, by factors including incarceration rates, cannabis laws, civil asset forfeiture policies, educational freedom, gambling laws, marriage freedom, and travel freedom.{{Cite web |last=Solomon |first=Dan |date=2023-12-01 |title=Texas Ranks Last in Personal Freedoms, According to the Libertarian CATO Institute |url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/texas-personal-freedom-cato/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=Texas Monthly |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-01-10 |title=Why Texas is dead last in 'personal freedom,' according to new study |url=https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/yall-itics/texas-rankings-last-dallas-personal-freedom-cato-institute/287-91807d11-1b84-4886-9482-e53096276558 |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=wfaa.com |language=en-US}}

Lesser parties that have ballot access are the Green Party and the Libertarian Party.{{cite web | url=https://www.thegreenpapers.com/G24/TX | title=Texas 2024 General Election }}

{{main|Crime in Texas}}

{{see also|List of law enforcement agencies in Texas}}

Texas has a reputation of very harsh criminal punishment for criminal offenses. It is one of the 32 states that practice capital punishment, and since the US Supreme Court allowed capital punishment to resume in 1976, 40% of all U.S. executions have taken place in Texas.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23075873 |title=Texas executes 500th person since resuming death penalty |work=BBC News|date=June 27, 2013 |access-date=July 8, 2013}} In 2018, Texas had the 8th highest incarceration rate in the U.S.{{cite web |author=Laura M. Maruschak |author2=Todd D. Minton |title=Appendix Table 1 |work=Correctional Populations in the United States, 2017–2018 |publisher=Bureau of Justice Statistics, United States Department of Justice |year=2020 |url=https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/cpus1718.pdf |access-date=March 21, 2021}} Texas also has strong right of self-defense and self defense laws, allowing citizens to use lethal force to defend themselves, their families, or their property.{{cite web |url=http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/txstatutes/PE/2/9/D/9.42 |title=Tex Pe. Code Ann. § 9.42: Texas Statutes—Section 9.42: Deadly Force to Protect Property |website=Codes.lp.findlaw.com |access-date=July 8, 2013}} Texas has one of the strictest abortion bans in the country.{{cite web |title=Texas |url=https://reproductiverights.org/maps/state/texas/ |website=Center for Reproductive Rights |access-date=22 June 2024}}

{{portal|Texas|United States}}

• Outline of Texas
• Index of Texas-related articles
• List of people from Texas
• USS Texas, 4 ships

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last=Chipman |first=Donald E. |title=Spanish Texas, 1519–1821 |publisher=University of Texas Press |year=1992 |isbn=978-0-292-77659-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0CAjAQAAIAAJ&pg=PP1}}
• {{cite book |last=Davis |first=William C. |title=Lone Star Rising |year=2006 |publisher=Texas A&M University Press |isbn=978-1-58544-532-5}} originally published 2004 by New York: Free Press {{google books|1yhVDgAAQBAJ|Lone Star Rising}}
• {{cite book |last=Edmondson |first=J.R. |title=Alamo Story: From Early History to Current Conflicts |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nb46Ye6Nb8MC&pg=PP1 |publisher=Republic of Texas Press |year=2000 |isbn=978-1-55622-678-6}}
• {{cite book |last=Fehrenbach |first=T.R. |title=Lone Star: A History of Texas and the Texans |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dh4rAwAAQBAJ&pg=PP1 |publisher=Open Road Media |year=2000 |orig-year=1968 |isbn=978-1-4976-0970-9}}
• {{cite book |last=Hardin |first=Stephen L. |title=Texian Iliad: A Military History of the Texas Revolution, 1835-1836 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GbeSB3cWircC&pg=PP1 |publisher=University of Texas Press |year=1994 |isbn=978-0-292-79252-4}}
• {{cite book |last=Lack |first=Paul D. |title=The Texas Revolutionary Experience: A Political and Social History 1835–1836 |publisher=Texas A&M University Press |year=1992 |isbn=978-0-89096-497-2}}
• {{cite book |last=Manchaca |first=Martha |title=Recovering History, Constructing Race: The Indian, Black, and White Roots of Mexican Americans |series=The Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Series in Latin American and Latino Art and Culture |publisher=University of Texas Press |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-292-75253-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CGldCgAAQBAJ&pg=PP1}}
• {{cite book |last1=Richardson |first1=Rupert N. |last2=Wintz |first2=Cary D. |last3=Boswell |first3=Angela |last4=Anderson |first4=Adrian |last5=Wallace |first5=Ernest |title=Texas: The Lone Star State |date=2021 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=9781000403763 |edition=Eleventh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CPsvEAAAQBAJ}}
• {{cite book |last1=Todish |first1=Timothy J. |last2=Todish |first2=Terry |last3=Spring |first3=Ted |title=Alamo Sourcebook, 1836: A Comprehensive Guide to the Battle of the Alamo and the Texas Revolution |publisher=Eakin Press |year=1998 |isbn=978-1-57168-152-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=htIFAAAACAAJ&pg=PP1}}
• {{cite book |title=The Warren Commission Report |volume=IV |series=Warren Commission Hearings |publisher=National Archives |isbn=978-0-312-08257-4 |url=http://www.jfk-assassination.de/warren/index.php |author=Report of President's Commission on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. |year=1992}}
• {{cite book |last=Weber |first=David J. |title=The Spanish Frontier in North America |publisher=Yale University Press |series=Yale Western Americana Series |year=1992 |isbn=978-0-300-05198-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MUCmD15yEAYC&pg=PP1}}
• {{cite book |last=Weddle |first=Robert S. |title=Changing Tides: Twilight and Dawn in the Spanish Sea, 1763–1803 |series=Centennial Series of the Association of Former Students Number 58 |publisher=Texas A&M University Press |year=1995 |isbn=978-0-89096-661-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=luH4W_mOz4sC&pg=PP1}}
• {{cite book |last=Winders |first=Richard Bruce |title=Sacrificed at the Alamo: Tragedy and Triumph in the Texas Revolution |publisher=State House Press |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-880510-80-3 |series=Military History of Texas Series: Number Three|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mll5AAAAMAAJ&pg=PP1}}

{{refend}}

{{Sister project links|voy=Texas}}

• [http://www.thestoryoftexas.com/ The Texas State History Museum]
• [https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/ The Handbook of Texas Online]
• [http://texashistory.unt.edu/explore/collections/TR/browse/ Texas Register]
• [http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/tx/ South and West Texas: A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary]
• {{osmrelation-inline|114690}}
• [https://digital.lib.uh.edu/collections/subject/5 View historical photographs from Texas at the University of Houston Digital Library.]
• [https://www.smu.edu/libraries/digitalcollections/jtx Lawrence T. Jones III Texas Photographs, DeGolyer Library]
• [https://www.smu.edu/libraries/digitalcollections/tex Texas: Photographs, Manuscripts, and Imprints, DeGolyer Library]
• [https://www.smu.edu/libraries/digitalcollections/gcd George W. Cook Dallas/Texas Image Collection, DeGolyer Library]
• [https://www.smu.edu/libraries/digitalcollections/jmm John Miller Morris Real Photographic Postcards and Photographs of Texas, DeGolyer Library]
• [https://www.smu.edu/libraries/digitalcollections/tbn Rowe-Barr Collection of Texas Currency, DeGolyer Library]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20121024013411/http://www.library.okstate.edu/okmaps/ Oklahoma Digital Maps: Digital Collections of Oklahoma and Indian Territory]

• [https://www.texas.gov Official website of the government of Texas]
• [http://www.texasonline.com/portal/tol Official website of the state of Texas]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080515221125/http://wikis.ala.org/godort/index.php/Texas Texas State Agencies's databases]
• [http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/ Texas politics website]

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110204233946/http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=TX Energy Profile for Texas—Economic, environmental, and energy data]
• [http://www.usgs.gov/state/state.asp?State=TX USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Texas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161209115548/https://www2.usgs.gov/state/state.asp?State=TX |date=December 9, 2016 }}
• [http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/state-fact-sheets/state-data.aspx?StateFIPS=48&StateName=Texas#.U856MfldVu0 Texas State Facts from USDA]
• [http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/tx/ South and West Texas, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary]

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