Texas

Texas, also known as the Lone Star State, in special reference to the state flag that has a single, five-point white star on a field of blue with an upper white horizontal stripe and a lower red horizontal stripe. On March 2, 1836, Texas freed itself from the annexation of Mexico, to become the Republic of Texas. On December 29, 1845, Texas became the 28th chartered state of America. Spread over an area of 690,000 km2, Texas is the second-largest US state in size after and the largest state in the adjacent 48 US states. The capital city of Texas is Austin and the largest city is Houston. Historically, Texas has a "larger than life" standing, particularly when shown in the cowboy films. The name of the state has been derived from a word used in a Caddoan language of the Hasinai, tejas, which means friends. The popular Texas cities are San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Dallas, Galveston, South Padre Island, Corpus Christi, Fredericksburg, and El Paso. Texas is the only state to have 'Six Flags' flown over its land: Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic Of Texas, Confederate States of America, and the United States. Texas is a unique territory that has its foundation in each of these countries. Some ancient cultures also form the basis of Texas.

Mexican and Native American traditions are also prominent in establishing the civilization alongside the cultures of the Central and Eastern European settlers who arrived much later. Europeans showed interest to annex Texas in 1519, when Spanish were busy searching for magical cities of gold. Although no gleaming cities cast in gold were ever found, the Spanish established numerous missions in South and West Texas, including the state's earliest towns. In 1685 the French were still in a fancy that there was a treasure yet to be explored. Led by Sieur de La Salle, the French financed a colonizing expedition to the Gulf Coast, but the weather conditions and kept La Salle from succeeding. In turn the French abandoned their claim to Texas. However, the Spanish continued their missionary efforts through the 18th and the early 19th centuries. A Missouri native named Moses Austin established the first Angolo colony in Texas. In 1825 another 900 American families arrived; 800 Mexican and European families followed in 1831. Afterwards, the colonization shifted farther towards south. Mexico tempted settlers to the Texas region with offers of large land grants. But due to the feuds over ownership and religion between the Texian population and the Mexican government, the Texian population retaliated. The Texas Revolution began with a single cannon blast in Gonzales on October 2, 1835. Texas. The battle lasted on April 21, 1836, and Texas gained its hard-won independence. "The Raven" Sam Houston was named the new president of the new Republic of Texas. In 1845, Texas became the 28th state in the Union. It became the only internationally recognized independent, sovereign state that was directly admitted to the United States as a constituent state of the Union. The new state was soon flooded with adventurers, fortune seekers, and settlers. Texas was heading towards growth and prosperity. In 1861, Texas seceded from the Federal Union and joined the Confederacy. Following the civil was in 1865, the United States Congress readmitted Texas into the Union. On 10th January 1901, the discovery of "black gold" at the Spindletop oil field near Beaumont gave Texas such a boost that the rest of the 20th century belonged to of oil exploration, electronics, and manned space travel.

Most of the travelers associate Texas with oil, cattle, wheeler-dealers, independent nation status. As a matter of fact they all started in Nacogdoches and Nacogdoches is the "Oldest Town in Texas." From 1995 to 2000 George W. Bush served as the governor of the state and went on to become the 43rd president of the United States. He became the first Texas governor to occupy the White House. The climate of Texas is vibrant, particularly spring is spectacular. The topography is diverse with the Rocky Mountains region, the Great Western High Plains, the Great Western Lower Plains, and the Gulf Coast Forested Plains. Until World War II, the economy of Texas was rustic. But now oil is the symbol of Texas economy. It is home of numerous companies that have emerged as a leader in computer manufacturing. Another major economic factor is tourism and its related industries. One of the newest economic areas is the film industry. Texas must see’s are the lovely old missions of San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley, the abandoned forts of West Texas, and the historic battlegrounds of San Jacinto and Goliad. For all those who are fond of shopping Houston's Galleria, San Antonio's River Walk, or Dallas' grande dame of department stores, the original Neiman Marcus are ideal. 624 miles of Gulf coastline offers endless opportunities for a splashing good time in the sun, fishing, and sport-fishing excursions. Though Big Bend National Park is little secluded, it also deserves the tourist’s attention.