The Lone Star State of Texas is recorded as the 28th state of the United States when it joined on December 29, 1845. With an area of 268,601 square miles, it is the second largest state, after the state of Alaska. With regards to population, as of the year 2000, it is the second most populous state, after the state of California. The state of New York comes third. To know more about this particular state, here are some Texas facts.

Basic Texas Facts

• State capital and major industries – the state capital of Texas is Austin but the geographically biggest city is Houston. With Houston leading the industries of Texas, this state thrives on petroleum and natural gas, farming of cotton and livestock, the steel industry, banking and finance, insurance and tourism.
• The Texas Name – On the eastern part of Texas, there once exist a group of Caddo Indian tribes. These tribes, as a group, are called “Tejas”, which means “those who are friends”. Today, when the word “Tejas” evolved to “Texas”, the theme of friendship remains. In fact, the state motto is “Friendship”.

Aside from the above general facts about Texas, here are some state facts that distinguish Texas from other states. Every Texan must be aware of these. And perhaps other states share the same.

• State large mammal – Texas longhorn
• State small mammal – Armadillo
• State flying mammal – Free-tailed bat
• State shell – Lightning Whelk
• State fish – Guadalupe bass
• State reptile – Texas horned lizard
• State insect – Monarch butterfly
• State flower – Bluebonnet
• State tree – Pecan
• State grass – Sideoats grama
• State shrub – Chinese crepe myrtle
• State fruit – Red grapefruit
• State vegetable – Sweet onion
• State fiber – Cotton
• State stone – Petrified palmwood
• State gem – Texas blue topaz
• State plant – Prickly pear cactus
• State dinosaur – Pleurocoelus
• State flag – Lone Star Flag, in which red means bravery, white means purity, and blue means loyalty.

For those who are geographically inclined, here are fascinating natural Texas facts.

• The main rivers that are within the territory of the State of Texas are the Rio Grande, the Red River, and the Brazos River
• The highest point on this state is called the Guadalupe Peak. Its peak is about 8,749 feet or 2,667 meters above sea level.
• The body of water that borders Texas is the Gulf of Mexico.
• And the other states that shares borders with Texas are Arkansas, Louisiana, Mexico, and Oklahoma.
• Many fossils of various dinosaurs were dug in Texas. Some of them are Acrocanthosaurus, Alamosaurus, Brontopodus, Camptosaurus, Dimetrodon, Iguanodon, Shuvosaurus, Stegoceras, and of course, the state dinosaur, Pleurocoelus