Texas Today

There are four regions of Texas which include:

  • Great Plains: This region is largely central and northern Texas. It includes popular cities such as Austin, San Angelo, Midland, Odessa, Lubbock, and Amarillo.
  • North Central Plains: The North Central Plains region is located in northern Texas. It includes cities such as Abilene, Wichita Falls, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, and Dallas.
  • Mountains and Basins: This region is located in west Texas. It is the only part of Texas that is abundant in mountains.
  • Coastal Plains: The Coastal Plains region borders the entire east side of Texas, from Paris to San Antonio to Del Rio. One of the sub regions of the Coastal Plains is the Gulf Coastal Plain which is the area that borders the Gulf of Mexico.

Statistics

  • Population: According to the 2015 U.S. Census, the population in Texas is about 27,469,114 people.
  • Size: According to the Texas Almanac, Texas is the second largest state in the United States (behind Alaska) at about 268,580.82 mi2.

Economy

  • According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Texas has one of the largest economies in the U.S., ranking #2 in the United States for Gross State Product (GSP).
  • Reported by the International Business Times, if Texas was a sovereign country, it would have the 12th largest economy in the World according to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
  • Businesses are flocking to Texas, as reported by Fortune 500. There are 6 of the top 50 Fortune 500 businesses located in Texas and 51 Fortune 500 companies total in Texas.
  • These statistics result in a richer economy, higher household income, and more employment opportunities.

If you’re interested in learning more about living in Texas or would like to schedule a viewing to see a home or sell your existing home, contact Brian S. Curry with RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs and Collin County Homes. He would be happy to help you find the perfect home or sell your existing home.

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State Symbols

  • Lone Star: The lone star symbol, which can be found on the Texas state flag and throughout the state, represents independence from Mexico.
  • State Flower: The Texas state flower is the Bluebonnet, which was a well-known, defining flower adopted in 1901.
  • State Flag: The Texas state flag is colored red, white, and blue with a white lone star. The red stands for bravery, the blue stands for loyalty, the white stands for purity, and the star stands for independence and unity.

  • State Bird: The Texas state bird is a Mockingbird because of its vocal abilities.
  • State Mammal (Large): In 1995, Texas designated the Longhorn as the large state mammal because it is a reminder of the old west and the Chisholm Trail.

  • State Mammal (Small):  In 1995, Texas designated the Nine-Banded Armadillo as the small state mammal because of its strong association with Texas history.

Parks and Trails

  • Major National parks in Texas include the Guadalupe Mountains and Big Bend.
  • The Texas State parks include, Lake Tawakoni State Park, Palmetto State Park, Lake Murray State Park, Brazos Bend State Park, McKinney Falls State Park, Eisenhower State Park, David Mountains State Park, Garner State Park, Pedernales Falls State Park, Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Tyler State Park, Dinosaur Valley State Park, Cleburne State Park, Purtis Creek State Park, Lake Mineral Wells State Park, and Lake Casa Blanca International State Park.

The Cattle Trade (Chisholm Trail)

Named after Jesse Chisholm, this trail was originally used to transport goods. Post-civil war, this trail was used to transport cattle for sale from Texas farm ranches to Kansas railheads. Selling the cattle, which were abundant in Texas, helped stimulate and restore the Texas economy which was damaged from the Civil War. The Texas Ranchers usually began the trail in Rio Grande or San Antonio. Unfortunately, the trial only lasted from 1867 to 1884 due to the cattle carrying a deadly disease, the Texas Fever.

Cattle Men

You may have heard many myths, stories, and facts about cowboys in the old west. You probably image a combination of cowboy hats, gun fighting, and riding horses. However, the real cowboys of Texas were cattle men. These cattle men worked in the open plains to herd and sell cattle, which were being sold for a high price in the North. Not only did the cattle men have to work tirelessly to herd large groups of cattle and move them across state, they also had to fight against Native Americans and farmers who opposed the cattle movement.

Major Rivers

  • Rio Grande
  • Colorado
  • Red
  • Brazos
  • Trinity
  • Canadian
  • Neches
  • Sabine
  • San Jacinto
  • Pecos
  • Nueces
  • Guadalupe
  • San Antonio

Mountains

Mountains in Texas over 8,000 feet include:

  • Guadalupe Peak
  • Bush Mountain
  • Shumard Peak
  • Bartlett Peak
  • Mount Livermore
  • Hunter Peak
  • El Capitan

Popular Attractions

Popular Attractions in Dallas:

Popular Attractions in Fort Worth:

Popular Attractions in El Paso:

Popular Attractions in Austin:

Popular Attractions in San Antonio:

Popular Attraction in Houston:

Popular Events

Popular Events in Dallas:

Popular Events in Fort Worth:

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Popular Events in Austin:

Popular Events in San Antonio:

Popular Events in Houston:

National Sports Teams

Top 20 Universities

Below are the top 20 Universities and Colleges in Texas based off of academic quality and affordability.

  1. University of Texas at Austin
  2. Rice University
  3. Texas A&M University
  4. LeTourneau University
  5. The University of Texas at Dallas
  6. Southern Methodist University
  7. Texas Christian University
  8. Dallas Baptist University
  9. Trinity University
  10. Austin College
  11. Southwestern University
  12. Baylor University
  13. Hardin-Simmons University
  14. Texas Tech University
  15. Abilene Christian University
  16. University of Houston
  17. University of Dallas
  18. Texas Lutheran University
  19. St. Edward’s University
  20. University of North Texas

Largest Counties in Texas by Population

  1. Harris County – Population: 4,538,028
  2. Dallas County – Population: 2,553,385
  3. Tarrant County – Population: 1,982,498
  4. Bexar County – Population: 1,897,753
  5. Travis County – Population: 1,176,558
  6. Collin County – Population: 914,127
  7. Hidalgo County – Population: 842,304
  8. El Paso County – Population: 835,593
  9. Denton County – Population: 780,612
  10. Fort Bend County – Population: 716,087
  11. Montgomery County – Population: 537,559
  12. Williamson County – Population: 508,514
  13. Cameron County – Population: 422,156
  14. Nueces County – Population: 359,715
  15. Brazoria County – Population: 346,312
  16. Bell County – Population: 334,941
  17. Galveston County – Population: 322,225
  18. Lubbock County – Population: 299,453
  19. Webb County – Population: 269,721
  20. Jefferson County – Population: 254,308

These are just 20 of the 254 counties located throughout Texas. In fact, Texas has the most counties of any other state in the U.S.!

Largest Cities in Texas

  • Houston: Known for its space and science contributions, Houston, Texas has a population of about 2.1 million in 2015 as reported by the U.S. Census. This is the largest city in Texas! According to the Greater Houston Partnership, Houston’s economy ranks as the 4th largest U.S. metro economy.
  • San Antonio: The 2015 U.S. Census reported that there are 1.4 million people residing in San Antonio, Texas. This city is known for the historical and well-known Alamo. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economics, San Antonio is ranked 38th in Gross Domestic Products nationwide.
  • Dallas: According to the 2015 United State Census, there are 1.2 million people living in Dallas, Texas. This city was founded in 1841 and rapidly grew due to its contributions to banking, oil, cotton, and technology. Dallas has a large amount of headquarters located in the city with 9 companies being Fortune 500 Companies.
  • Austin: This city is the capital of Texas and has about 885,400 residents as reported by the 2015 U.S. Census. According to the State Magazine, Austin, Texas is the fastest growing city out of the 50 largest cities.
  • Fort Worth: According to the 2015 U.S. Census, Fort Worth has a population of 833,319 people. This city is the 16th largest city in the United States and is known for their collection of Museums. As reported by Wallethub in 2015, Fort Worth is ranked #3 in large cities with fastest-growing economy.

Contact Brian S. Curry with RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs and Collin County Homes if you’re interested in learning more about living in Collin, Denton or Dallas County. He can assist in scheduling a viewing to see a home or sell your existing home. He is a RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs real estate agent and would be happy to help you find the perfect home or sell your existing home.

Disclaimer: Information as of December 23, 2016. All of the information is deemed reliable, however, some information including dates, statistics, and quotes may be subject to change.