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Portal:Texas

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Texas
State of Texas
Map of the United States with Texas highlighted
Map of the United States with Texas highlighted

Texas (/ˈtɛksəs/ TEK-səss) is the most populous state in the Southern United States. It borders the American states of Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, and New Mexico to the west. To the south and southwest, it has an international border with the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas, along a natural boundary formed by the Rio Grande. Texas has a coastline on the Gulf of Mexico to the southeast. Covering 268,596 square miles (695,660 km2) and with an estimated population of over 31.7 million residents in 2025, it is the second-largest U.S. state both by area and by population. Texas is nicknamed the "Lone Star State" for the single star on its flag, symbolic of its former status as an independent country, the Republic of Texas.

Spain was the first European country to claim and control Texas. Following a brief period of French colonization, the territory became part of Mexico after its independence from Spain in 1821. Increasing tensions between settlers and the Mexican government culminated in the Texas Revolution, which included the Battle of the Alamo, and led to the establishment of the independent Republic of Texas in 1836. In 1845, Texas joined the United States as the 28th state. The state's annexation contributed to the Mexican–American War in 1846. Texas remained a slave state until the American Civil War, during which it seceded from the Union in 1861 and joined the Confederate States. After the war and the restoration of its representation in the federal government, Texas entered a prolonged period of economic stagnation.

The economy of Texas (prior to World War II) has been shaped by bison, cattle, cotton, oil, and timber industries. The cattle industry was a major economic driver and created the traditional image of the Texas cowboy. In the later 19th century, cotton and lumber grew to be major industries as the cattle industry became less lucrative. Ultimately, the discovery of major petroleum deposits (Spindletop in particular) initiated an economic boom that became the driving force behind the economy for much of the 20th century. Texas developed a diversified economy and high tech industry during the mid-20th century. As of 2024, it has the second-highest number (52) of Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the United States. With a growing base of industry, the state leads in many industries, including tourism, agriculture, petrochemicals, energy, computers and electronics, aerospace, and biomedical sciences. Texas has led the U.S. in state export revenue since 2002 and has the second-highest gross state product. Texas consistently ranks highly among national averages for business growth, job creation, and economic opportunity with low taxes and a regulatory environment that encourages innovation. (Full article...)

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (IATA: DFW, ICAO: KDFW, FAA LID: DFW) is the primary international airport serving the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and the North Texas region, in the U.S. state of Texas. It is located approximately 16 miles (26 km) northwest of Downtown Dallas and 20 miles (32 km) northeast of Downtown Fort Worth.

It is the largest hub for American Airlines, which is headquartered near the airport, and is the third-busiest airport in the world by aircraft movements and the second-busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic in 2022 and 2023, according to the Airports Council International. As of 2025, it is the eighth-busiest international gateway in the United States and the busiest international gateway in Texas. The hub that American Airlines operates at DFW is the second-largest single airline hub in the world, behind only Delta Air Lines' hub in Atlanta. (Full article...)

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Official portrait, 1967

Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Johnson (née Taylor; December 22, 1912 – July 11, 2007) was the first lady of the United States from 1963 to 1969 as the wife of Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th president of the United States. She had previously been the second lady of the United States from 1961 to 1963, when her husband was vice president under President John F. Kennedy.

After marrying Lyndon Johnson in 1934 when he was a political hopeful in Austin, Texas, she used a modest inheritance to bankroll his congressional campaign and then ran his office while he served in the Navy. (Full article...)

Texas news

July 23, 2026 – Economic impact of the 2026 Iran war
Oil prices, including Brent Crude and West Texas Intermediate, increase to over US$101 per barrel and to nearly $93 per barrel, respectively, after the escalation in the Red Sea. The United States gasoline national average increases to $4.09 per gallon. (NBC News)
July 22, 2026 – Economic impact of the 2026 Iran war
Oil prices, including Brent Crude and West Texas Intermediate, rise to over US$95 and $86 per barrel, respectively, and the United States average gasoline price rises to $4.06 per gallon, amidst the ongoing conflict. (CNBC) (NBC News)
July 20, 2026 – Economic impact of the 2026 Iran war
Brent Crude oil surpasses US$90 per barrel as oil prices increase amidst the ongoing escalation, while West Texas Intermediate reaches $84.49. (CNBC)

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Credit: User:Joyous!
Big Tex has presided over every Texas State Fair since 1952.

Cities - show another

Downtown Midland

Midland is a city in the U.S. state of Texas. It is the county seat of Midland County in West Texas, with small portions extending into Martin County. The population was 132,524 at the 2020 census. Located in the Permian Basin, Midland is a major center for American oil and natural gas production.

The Midland metropolitan area includes all of Midland County and had 169,983 residents at the 2020 census. The metropolitan area is part of the larger Midland–Odessa combined statistical area, which had a population of 340,391 in the 2020 census. Residents of Midland are referred to as "Midlanders". (Full article...)

General images

The following are images from various Texas-related articles on Wikipedia.

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WikiProjects

You are invited to participate in WikiProject Texas, a WikiProject dedicated to developing and improving articles about Texas.

Texas    Austin    Dallas    Houston    Texas A&M    Texas Tech    University of Houston    University of Texas    State Highways

Attractions


San Jacinto Monument seen from the USS Texas
Landmarks
Alamo Mission in San Antonio
Fort Sam Houston
King Ranch
San Jacinto Monument
Spindletop
Texas State Capitol
USS Texas (BB-35)
Presidential libraries
George Bush Presidential Library
George W. Bush Presidential Library
Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum
Battle of Palo Alto historical marker
Historic places
Adolphus Hotel
Barton Springs
Hotel Paso del Norte
Caverns of Sonora
Dealey Plaza
Eisenhower Birthplace Historic Site
El Camino Real de los Tejas Historic Trail
Elissa
Fair Park
Fort Concho
Fort Davis Historic Site
Lyndon B. Johnson Historical Park
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Natural Bridge Caverns
Palo Alto Battlefield Historic Site
Plaza Hotel (El Paso, Texas)
San Antonio Missions Historical Park
Strand Historic Landmark District


Eagle Point, Caprock Canyons State Park

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