Tatiana Ryckman - Texas: The Lone Star State

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION
SNAPSHOT TEXAS

ONE
GEOGRAPHY

TWO
THE HISTORY OF TEXAS

THREE
WHO LIVES IN TEXAS?

FOUR
AT WORK IN TEXAS

FIVE
GOVERNMENT

SNAPSHOT TEXAS

The Lone Star State

Statehood

December 29, 1845

Population

28,304,596 (2017 census estimate)

Capital

Austin

State Seal

The Texas state seal has changed five times since it was first introduced, when Texas gained independence from Mexico in 1836. The first government of Texas decided that the original seal would be a single star of five points, either of gold or silver. In 1839, the seal was updated by state congress to include an azure ground, encircled by an olive and live oak branches. Though the seal has not changed much since then, it wasnt until 1992 that the seal was standardized to match the exact description in the state constitution. Thats more than one hundred years later! Even today, some state offices still use outdated versions of the seal with the wrong kind of oak leaf.

State Flag

The flag of the Republic of Texas was introduced in 1839. When Texas joined the United States in 1845, that flag was adopted as the state flag. The flag contains three bold stripes of blue, white, and red. The blue stripe is vertical, while the horizontal white stripe is on top of the horizontal red stripe. A single white star is at the center of the blue stripe. The lone star on the flag gave the state its nickname: the Lone Star State. The flags stripes represent loyalty, bravery, and purity.

HISTORICAL EVENTS TIMELINE

1519

Spanish explorers map the Texas coastline.

17161789

The Spanish establish missions throughout Texas and the towns of San Antonio, Goliad, and Nacogdoches.

1821

Stephen F. Austin founds the first Anglo-American colony in Texas.

1845

Texas is annexed into the United States.

1888

The capitol building in Austin is dedicated.

1901

The discovery of sends Texas into an oil boom.

State Song

The Texas state song is Texas, Our Texas. The song was adopted in 1929 after William J. Marsh and Gladys Yoakum Wright won a statewide contest. The music was originally written by Marsh in 1924. The lyrics say, Texas, O Texas! your freeborn single star, / Sends out its radiance to nations near and far.

State Tree

The pecan tree is the state tree of Texas. Fossil records show that pecan trees were living in Texas even before humans. The pecan became the official state tree in 1919 to commemorate James Stephen Hogg, the first native-born governor of Texas. Just before he died in 1906, he asked that a pecan tree be planted at the head of his grave in place of a tombstone. To further prove Texans love of pecans, the official state health nut is the pecan, and pecan pie is the official state pie.

State Flower

The bluebonnet is the Texas state flower. These delicate blue flowers bloom along Texas highways, across pastures, and in flowerbeds. However, not all bluebonnets are the same. There are five known varieties across the state, and they are all officially the state flower. Any new varieties of bluebonnets that are discovered will also become the state flower.

State Plant

Prickly Pear Cactus

State Bird

Mockingbird

CURRENT EVENTS TIMELINE

1987

The first South by Southwest music festival takes place.

1993

Kay Bailey Hutchison becomes the first female senator to represent Texas.

2005

More than a million Texans evacuate their homes due to Hurricane Rita.

2011

Wildfires destroy more than 1 million acres (404,700 hectares) in Texas.

2017

The Houston Astros win the World Series for the first time.

2018

Nearly sixteen million Texans register to vote in 2018s midterm elections, a state record.

State Dish

Chili

State Folk Dance

Square Dance