texas

one of the West South Central states of the U.S., bordered on the N by Oklahoma, on the NE by Arkansas, on the E by Louisiana, on the SE by the Gulf of Mexico, on the SW by Mexico, and on the W by New Mexico. The Red R. forms part of the N boundary, the Sabine R. forms part of the E boundary, and the Rio Grande forms the border with Mexico. Texas entered the Union on Dec. 29, 1845, as the 28th state. Two 20th-century U.S. presidents—Dwight D. Eisenhower and Lyndon B. Johnson—were born in Texas. President George H. W. Bush took up residence in the state in 1948 and retired there after leaving the White House; his eldest son, George W. Bush, grew up and lived there, serving as governor from 1995 until 2000, when he himself was elected president. In the 19th century the Texas economy was based on cattle breeding, cotton growing, and other agricultural activities. After 1900 petroleum and natural-gas production became very important, and the state also developed a diversified manufacturing sector. The state’s name is derived from tejas, the mid-16th-century Spanish rendering of a Caddo Indian term meaning “friends”; it was adopted and spelled as Texas when the area was organized as the Republic of Texas in 1836, the year it became independent of Mexico. Texas is known as the Lone Star State (for the single star on its flag). TEXAS STATE FACTS DATE OF STATEHOOD: December 29, 1845; 28th state CAPITAL: Austin MOTTO: Friendship NICKNAME: Lone Star State STATE SONG: “Texas, Our Texas” (words by Gladys Y. Wright and William J. Marsh; music by William J. Marsh) STATE TREE: Pecan STATE FLOWER: Bluebonnet STATE BIRD: Mockingbird POPULATION (2000 census): 20,851,820; 2nd among the states AREA: 695,621 sq km (268,581 sq mi); 2d largest state; includes 17,570 sq km (6784 sq mi) of inland water COASTLINE: 591 km (367 mi) HIGHEST POINT: Guadalupe Peak, 2667 m (8749 ft) LOWEST POINT: Sea level, at the Gulf coast ELECTORAL VOTES: 34 (as of the 2004 presidential election) U.S. CONGRESS: 2 senators; 32 representatives GOVERNOR: Rick Perry (Rep.) Took office December 2000