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Capital: Austin
State abbreviation/Postal code: Tex./TX
Governor: Rick Perry, R (to Jan. 2007)
Lieut. Governor: David Dewhurst, R (to Jan. 2007)
Senators: John Cornyn, R (to Jan. 2009); Kay Bailey Hutchison, R (to Jan. 2007)
U.S. Representatives: 32
Historical biographies of Congressional members
Secy. of State: Roger Williams (apptd. by gov.)
Comptroller: Carole Keeton Strayhorn, R (to Jan. 2007)
Atty. General: Greg Abbott, R (to Jan. 2007)
Entered Union (rank): Dec. 29, 1845 (28)
Present constitution adopted: 1876
Motto: Friendship
State symbols:
|
flower |
bluebonnet (1901) |
|
tree |
pecan (1919) |
|
bird |
mockingbird (1927) |
|
song |
"Texas, Our Texas" (1929) |
|
fish |
guadalupe bass (1989) |
|
seashell |
lightning whelk (1987) |
|
dish |
chili (1977) |
|
folk dance |
square dance (1991) |
|
fruit |
Texas red grapefruit (1993) |
|
gem |
Texas blue topaz (1969) |
|
gemstone cut |
Lone Star cut (1977) |
|
grass |
sideoats grass (1971) |
|
reptile |
horned lizard (1993) |
|
stone |
petrified palmwood (1969) |
|
plant |
prickly pear cactus |
|
insect |
monarch butterfly |
|
pepper |
jalapeņo pepper |
|
mammal |
longhorn |
|
small mammal |
armadillo |
|
flying mammal |
Mexican free-tailed bat |
Nickname: Lone Star State
Origin of name: From an Indian word meaning "friends"
10 largest cities (2003 est.): Houston, 2,009,690; San Antonio, 1,214,725; Dallas, 1,208,318; Austin, 672,011; Fort Worth, 585,122; El Paso, 584,113; Arlington, 355,007; Corpus Christi, 279,208; Plano, 241,991; Garland, 218,027
Land area: 261,797 sq mi. (678,054 sq km)
Geographic center: In McCulloch Co., 15 mi. NE of Brady
Number of counties: 254
Largest county by population and area: Harris, 3,644,285 (2004); Brewster, 6,193 sq mi.
State forests: 5 (7,314 ac.)
State parks: 120 (600,000+ ac.)
2004 resident population est.: 22,490,022
2000 resident census population (rank): 20,851,820
Male: 10,352,910 (49.6%);
Female: 10,498,910 (50.4%).
White: 14,799,505 (71.0%);
Black: 2,404,566 (11.5%);
American Indian: 118,362 (0.6%);
Asian: 562,319 (2.7%);
Other race: 2,438,001 (11.7%);
Two or more races: 514,633 (2.5%);
Hispanic/Latino: 6,669,666 (32.0%).
2000 percent population 18 and over: 71.8;
65 and over: 9.9;
median age: 32.3.
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