The Lone Star State
Presidents
Travel & Tourism
State Symbols
Culture
Agriculture
Parks & Rec
State Symbols
STATE MAMMAL
Texas Longhorn LARGE
The Texas Longhorn is the official large state mammal of Texas.
The Texas Longhorn became Texas’ official large state mammal on June 16, 1995.
Texas Longhorns thrive in a wide range of climates –from hot, damp coastal region to harsh, freezing winters.
On average, an adult Texas Longhorn weighs between 1,200 & 1,500 pounds.
Texas Longhorns are known for their gentle temperament.
Their horns can extend over 8 feet from tip to tip!
Unlike other cattle, Texas Longhorns can survive DAYS without water.
Texas Longhorn’s are very intelligent & easy to train.
8 feet
They eat a much wider range of grasses than other cattle.
Northern Mockingbird STATE BIRD
The Northern Mockingbird is
The Northern Mockingbird became Texas’ official state bird in
5 states have the Northern Mockingbird as their state bird.
The Northern Mockingbird can be found every part of Texas during Northern Mockingbirds many sounds including chirps & songs of bird species. These birds are known for being territorial.
laid in spring
Northern Mockingbirds . songbird.
Northern Mockingbirds eat mostly berries, small insects & seeds. Their scientific name is Mimus polyglottos.
STATE FLOWER
Bluebonnets
Bluebonnets are the official state flower of Texas.
These flowers prefer to grow in FULL sun.
Bluebonnets became the official state flower of Texas in 1901.
Bluebonnets have several nicknamesone of them being “buffalo clover.”
Bluebonnets begin to bloom in March and then reach full
Most bluebonnets are blue & white
The 2 main species of bluebonnets are ONLY grown in TX. their highways.
Bluebonnets grow to be 1 - 2 feet tall.
SMALL MAMMAL
Nine-Banded Armadillo STATE
Banded Armadillo is the state small mammal of Texas.
banded armadillo became Texas’ official state small mammal in 1995.
Armadillos can hold their breath for
Armadillos have bony shells that provide protection from predators. eating both insects & plants.
Armadillos prefer warm & wet climates.
Nine-banded armadillos are the ONLY species of armadillo found in the U.S.
Horned Lizard STATE REPTILE
The Horned Lizard became Texas’ official state reptile on June 16, 1993
Horned lizards are cold blooded, so they rely on the sun to keep them warm!
During the cooler months, horned lizards hibernate in burrows to stay warm.
The Horned Lizard is the official state reptile of Texas. Horned lizards are known for the two prominent horns on their heads.
Horned lizards' spiky scales provide them protection from predators.
Horned lizards are active during the day & sleep at night.
Horned lizards are also known as horned frogs.
Horned lizards mainly eat harvester ants
Monarch Butterfly STATE INSECT
The Monarch Butterfly is the official state insect of Texas.
The lifecycle of a butterfly: (caterpillar) à pupa
The Monarch Butterfly was adopted as June 16, 1995. & monarch caterpillars
Guadalupe Bass STATE FISH
The Guadalupe Bass is the official
The Guadalupe Bass became Texas’ official state fish in
Guadalupe bass are a popular fish among sport fisherman.
Guadalupe bass can be found in the Texas Hill Country streams & rivers. bass are known for being aggressive. The average Guadalupe bass is 12 inches long & weighs 1 to 3 pounds.
Guadalupe bass are an endemic species meaning they are found nowhere else in the world but Texas.
crayfish
Pecan Tree STATE TREE
The Pecan tree is the official state tree of Texas
The Pecan tree became the official state tree of Texas in 1919
Pecan trees are native to Pecan trees can live and produce nuts for over 150 years which are a popular type of nut. Pecan pie is the official state pie of Texas. Pecan trees often grow near rivers & streams.
Pecan trees can grow to be up to 100 feet tall.
Red Grapefruit STATE FRUIT
The red grapefruit is the official state fruit of Texas
Grapefruits make up 70% of Texas’ citrus production.
Texas is home to around 19,000 acres of grapefruit groves.
Most of the grapefruits grown in Texas are grown in the Lower Rio Grande Valley
Grapefruit trees take 6-13 months to produce fruit.
The Rio Star Ruby Sweet varieties of grapefruit are ONLY grown in Texas. Grapefruit trees can grow to be up to 45 feet tall.
Texas harvests around 90,000 TONS of grapefruits each year.
Jalapeño STATE PEPPER
The jalapeño pepper is the official state pepper of Texas.
alapeño peppers are grown on over 12,000 acres of land across Texas.
Texas is the 3rd
The heat of peppers are measured on a Scoville scale. Jalapeños are usually around 2,000 - 8,000 Scoville heat units – making them a relatively mild pepper.
Capsaicin is the compound in peppers that make them spicy.
peppers
Jalapeños have been to space! The Columbia Space Shuttle took them on their trip in 1982!
Big Cities
Houston BIG CITY
Houston is the LARGEST city in Texas with a population of around 2.3 million people.
Nicknamed “The Space City” – home to NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.
The largest rodeo in
The Texas Medical Center, located in Houston is the largest medical center in the world. are spoken in Houston.
Houston is the 2nd fastest growing city in the U.S.
Houston ISD is the largest school district in Texas with over 194,000 students.
San Antonio
The Alamo is located in San Antonio.
The Alamo is the #1 attraction in Texas.
San Antonio is the 2nd largest city in Texas with a population over 1.4 million people.
San Antonio is the MOST visited city in Texas.
San Antonio is home to the world’s LARGEST cowboy boots.
35’ tall.
34+ million visit
San Antonio starts in a cluster of springs in San Antonio.
Dallas BIG CITY
The Texas State Fairthe largest state fair in the U.S. is hosted every year in Dallas.
Dallas is the 3rd largest city a population over 1.2 million people
Dallas is home to one of the largest airports in the world.
The Dallas/Fort Worth Declaration of Independence is located in the Dallas Public Library.
Austin BIG CITY
Austin is the with a population over Austin is the capital city to the largest state capitol building
The city changed its name from Waterloo to Austin in 1839 in honor of Stephen F. Austin, who is known as the “Father of Texas known as the Capital of the Austin is home to the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library & Museum.
Fort Worth BIG CITY
Fort Worth is the 5th largest city in Texas with a population over 900,000 people.
Around 60% of U.S. paper money is printed in Fort Worth.
Fort Worth opened Texas’ first zoo in 1909.
Fort Worth has historically been the center for Texas Longhorn cattle trade.
Fort Worth has a few nicknames, one of them being “Cowtown.”
Fort Worth was established in 1849
The National Museum is located
El Paso BIG CITY
The Rio Grande River forms the natural border between El Paso & Mexico.
El Paso is the 6th largest city in Texas with a population over 700,000 people.
El Paso is commonly known for their delicious Tex-Mex cuisine
“Boot Capital of the World”
El Paso is nicknamed “The Sun City” because it experiences 300+ days of sunshine every year!
El Paso is famous for its boot-making industry.
El Paso ISD has over 50,000 students.
Arlington BIG CITY
Arlington
Arlington is the 7th in Texas with a population of almost
Arlington is most known for their sports, recreation is home to many of professional sports teams' stadiums.
Arlington has more than 4,600 acres of parks & greenspace.
Arlington ISD has over 55,000 students.
There are 15 cities in the U.S. with the name ArlingtonArlington, Texas is the LARGEST of them all.
BIG CITY
Corpus Christi
LARGEST aquariums in the U.S. is located in Corpus Christi.
Corpus Christi is the 8th largest city with a population over 300,000 people
Corpus Christi is a coastal known for its beaches. horse ranches in the world.
Corpus Christi gets over 5 million visitors per year.
200+ species of birds migrate through Corpus Christi during the spring.
Corpus Christi ISD has over 33,000 students.
Plano BIG CITY
Referring to the city’s terrain, Plano means to “flat” in Spanish.
Plano is the 9th largest city in Texas with a population over 288,000 people.
Plano is often referred to as Suburb with Style ”
Plano ISD has over 49,000 students. balloon
Plano was officially
Plano is home to many nature preserves, parks & greenspace.
The historic, Texas-shaped swimming pool - The Texas Pool is located in Plano, TX.
Lubbock BIG CITY
Lubbock is home to "Prairie Dog Town” where visitors can observe prairie dogs in their natural habitat.
largest city in Texas with a population over 260,000 people.
Lubbock is nicknamed the “ ” South Plains region education, healthcare and transportation in the South Plains region.
Lubbock ISD has over 25,000 students.
Laredo
Laredo is hosts the largest celebration for George Washington’s birthday each year with parades, pageants & carnivals.
Laredo is the 11th largest city in Texas with a population over 266,000 people
Laredo was established in 1755 but officially became a part of Texas in 1846 .
Laredo hosts Jalapeño Festival
Laredo ISD has over 20,000 students.
Laredo is one of the oldest crossing points between
Irving
Irving is the 12th largest city with a population over
Irving was officially incorporated as a city of Texas on April 14, 1914 known for its iconic bronze sculpture,
Irving, TX was named after the author Washington Irving. Irving is centrally located between Dallas & Fort Worth.
Irving ISD has over 32,000 students.
Garland
Garland is the 13th largest city with a population over 243,000 people
Garland, TX was established in merging two rival communities together.
Garland is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. largest hat making company is in Garland. Garland is home to over 2,800 acres of greenspace.
role in Garland’s growth.
Garland ISD has over 51,000 students.
Garland was originally Duck Creek.”
Frisco
named after the St. LouisSan Francisco Railway,
Frisco is the 14th largest city in Texas with a population over 225,000 people.
Frisco was founded in 1902 as a stop along to St. Louis-San Francisco Railway.
Frisco became an official city of Texas in 1908.
Frisco has the nickname “Sports City USA.”
Frisco ISD has over 66,000 students.
biking trails.
McKinney
McKinney is the 15th largest city in Texas with a population over 210,000 people.
McKinney is home to a 289-acre wildlife sanctuary
McKinney was incorporated as an official city of Texas in 1849. McKinney’s downtown is one of the oldest and most wellpreserved historic downtowns in Texas. McKinney was named after Collin McKinney.
Collin McKinney was a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence.
Pasadena
Pasadena is home to one of the LARGEST urban
Pasadena is the 22nd largest city with a population over 146,000 people
Pasadena became an official city of Texas on December 22, 1928 legacy in the strawberry industry and was once known as the “Strawberry Capital of the South.”
Pasadena, TX was named after Pasadena, CA due to their similar vegetation.
Pasadena ISD has over 49,000 students.
Rosenberg
Rosenberg is a mid-sized with a population over
Rosenberg was founded in 1883 as a railroad community.
Rosenberg was named after Henry von Rosenbergthe President of the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railroad.
Rosenberg was nicknamed the “Mud City” due to their unpaved & often muddy roads.
Lamar CISD has over 42,000 students. Rosenberg hosts the annual Fort Bend County Fair.
Small Towns
Santa Fe SMALL TOWN
Santa Fe is a small town in Texas with a population of just over 12,000 people.
Santa Fe, Texas was named after the Santa Fe Railroad that runs through the town. Two small towns, Arcadia & Alta Lomar merged to establish Santa Fe.
Santa Fe is known for it’s tight-knit community.
Santa Fe became an official city of Texas in 1978.
Santa Fe is surrounded dairy farms.
Paris SMALL TOWN
One of the most popular cycling races in Texas
Paris is a small town in Texas with a population of just over 24,000 people.
Paris, TX is most famous for their 65-foot Eiffel Tower replica with a red cowboy hat.
“The Second Largest Paris in the World”
Paris hosts a hot air balloon festival each year.
Paris has a historic downtown square full of unique shops & restaurants.
Paris ISD has around 3,800 students.
Fredericksburg SMALL TOWN
Fredericksburg is a small town in Texas with a population of around 11,500 people.
Fredericksburg is home to the wildflower farm in the U.S.
Rock is one of the town’s most visited locations.
Home to the Texas German dialect.
“Fritztown”
Fredericksburg is located in the Texas Hill Country.
Founded in 184 6.
The street signs leading along Main Street in Fredericksburg spell out ALL WELCOME & COME BACK.
Fredericksburg ISD has around 3,000 students.
Ennis SMALL TOWN
& Texas Central RailroadsCornelius Ennis.
Ennis is a small town population of around
In 1997, Ennis was designated as the Official Bluebonnet City of Texas
Ennis hosts an annual Texas Bluebonnet festival during the month of April
Bardwell Lake is known for having excellent fishing opportunities.
Ennis ISD has around 6,000 students.
Terlingua SMALL TOWN
The mine in Terlingua quickly ran dry and eventually closed in the 1940s.
Terlingua
small town in Texas with a population of less than 200
Terlingua started as a in the early 1900s is often referred to as the Terlingua Ghost Town.
CSD has 1 school & around 100 students. Terlingua translates in Spanish to “three tongues.”
Terlingua hosted the first famous championship chili cook off in that is still hosted annually & brings in over 10,000 people.
Tourist Attractions
Johnson Space Center
The Johnson Space Center controls space shuttle missions & trains astronauts.
NASA’s Johnson Space Center was established on November 1, 1961
The JSC’s original name was the Manned Space Center - later remanded to honor President & Texas native, Lyndon B. Johnson
The JSC controlled Project Apollo
The Johnson Space Center is located in Houston, TX.
The Alamo
The Alamo is a historic fort in San Antonio, TX known for The Battle of the Alamo.
The Battle of the Alamo was fought between the Republic of Texas and Mexico in 1836.
The Alamo is the #1 attraction in all of Texas with over 2.5 MILLION visitors/year. The Alamo is a National Historic Landmark.
The Alamo was originally built in the 1700s as a home to
“Remember the Alamo” The building is primarily made of limestone. The Alamo is located in downtown San Antonio.
The Alamo covers around 3 acres
Dallas Zoo
The 106-acre Dallas Zoo founded in 1888 is the largest & oldest zoo in Texas.
“Creating a Better World for Animals.”
The Dallas Zoo’s mission is engaging people & saving wildlife.
The Dallas Zoo welcomes over one million guests every year. There are over 350 employees & over 750 volunteers who work at the Dallas Zoo.
Open 364 days a year!
Epic Waters
Epic Waters is the largest indoor waterpark in North Texas.
Epic Waters has 12 waterslides river, a surfing simulator
Epic Waters lazy river is 650 feet long!
Epic Waters is open all year-round!
“A crashing wave of !” fun
Epic Waters has a retractable roof that comes off during the summer months.
Epic Waters is located in Grand Prairie, TX
Epic Waters requires the use of over 500,000 gallons of water.
San Antonio River Walk
The San Antonio River Walk is a famous walking path along the San Antonio River.
The San Antonio River Walk is lined with restaurants, shops & many other attractions.
Robert H. H. Hugman is credited for the vision for the San Antonio River Walk is 15 miles long!
Over 11.5 MILLION people visit the San Antonio River Walk each year.
The San Antonio River was originally Place of
Fort Worth Stockyards
The Fort Worth Stockyards is a historic district that celebrates the Old West.
The Fort Worth Stockyards is the world’s ONLY twice daily longhorn cattle drive. cattle drive is the process of moving cattle from one location to The Fort Worth Stockyards host live rodeo shows yearround.
The Fort Worth Stockyards were designated as a National Historic District in 1976.
cattle drives occur at 11:30 am & 4:00 pm.
Commodities & Agriculture
Corn
Texas grows over acres of corn each year.
An average of 285 million bushels corn are harvested in Texas each year.
In Texas, corn is grown for BOTH
The Texas Panhandle, Blackland Prairie & South Texas regions grow the most corn throughout the state.
a grain!
There are around 800 kernels on each ear of corn.
Corn is America’s number 1 field crop
Dairy
Dairy is Texas’ largest commodity
Dairy is anything made from milk, cheese, butter, yogurt & ice cream!
Texas produces more than 16.5 BILLION pounds of milk per year.
Texas is the 4th largest milk producing state in the U.S.
70% of Texas dairy farms in are located in the panhandle.
Texas is home to 33 milk processing plants throughout the state.
Most dairy products are made from the milk of COWS!
Dairy is a GREAT source of protein, vitamins & minerals.
Milk is made up of
The dairy industry significantly Texas’ economy
Dairy Cows
Texas is home to 646,000 dairy cows & 320 dairy farms.
The average herd size on a Texas dairy farm is around 2,000 cows. Holstein cows are the most popular dairy cow breed in Texas.
Many Texas dairy farms prioritize comfort for their cows with cooling systems & comfortable bedding.
Holstein cows are the black & white cows with unique spots
The average Texas dairy cow produces gallons Cows can SEE almost 360 degrees up to 6 miles
Parks & Natural Wonders
Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park was established as America’s 27th national park in 1944
The Rio Grande River runs through Big Bend National Park.
118 miles of Big Bend National Park runs along the border of the U.S. & Mexico
The Chisos Mountains are located in Big Bend National Park - the only mountain range contained entirely within a national park.
Big Bend National Park welcomes around 300,000 visitors per year.
90+ dinosaur species have been discovered within the park.
Palo Duro Canyon
Palo Duro Canyon is the second largest canyon in the United States.
Palo Duro Canyon is about 120 miles long, 20 miles wide and up to 800 feet deep. A canyon Hoodoos are tall, thin spires of rock formed by erosion.
Palo Duro Canyon opened as a state park in 1 9 3 4
the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. horseback riding, camping.
Rio Grande River
The Rio Grande River flows through Texas’
The Rio Grande River is one of the longest rivers in the U.S. - almost 1,900 miles
Big Bend
National Park.
The Rio Grande River creates a border between the U.S. (Texas) & Mexico.
“Río Grande del Norte”
The Rio Grande has long been used to support agriculture.
The river starts out as a small stream in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and flows all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.
Caddo Lake
STATE PARK
Depending on rainfall, Caddo Lake spans 26,000 acres, with its depth ranging from 8 - 20 feet.
Caddo Lake State Park contains the largest naturally formed lake in TX – Caddo Lake!
Caddo Lake was formed by a huge log jam Red River known as “
Lake State
National Seashore PADRE ISLAND
Padre Island National Seashore is the longest National Park seashore in the U.S.
Padre Island is National Seashore makes up
Over 500,000 people visit Padre
Kemp’s ridley the most
Padre Island National Seashore was established on Sept. 28, 1962
Padre Island National Seashore is known for its “Little Shell” & “Big Shell
Dinosaur Valley
STATE PARK
Dinosaur Valley State Park is home
Dinosaur Valley State Park is located along the Paluxy River. Some of the dinosaur footprints found at Dinosaur Valley State Valley State Park was established in 1972 to preserve the dinosaur footprints.
The dinosaur footprints located in Dinosaur Valley State Park were discovered 1909 .
Culture & Industries
Rodeos
Rodeos are sporting events that test the speed & skills of cowboys/girls.
Rodeos events involve livestock. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the largest rodeo event in the world.
Texas’ first official
Mesquite, TX “Rodeo Capital of Texas
Rodeo is the official sport of Texas.
The
Saddle Bronc
Bareback
Bull Riding
Steer Wrestling
Tie Down Roping
Team Roping
Barrel Racing
Breakaway Roping
Cattle
Texas’ cattle industry (mainly for beef) industry in the state.
The cattle industry involves the production & more.
Beef cattle is the LARGEST sector of Texas Texas dairies provide over 15 BILLION gallons of milk each year. is a big part of Texas’ economy AND culture.
Texas is home to the greatest number of cattle 13+ MILLION.
TX cattle represents over 13% of all cattle in the U.S.
Oil
The oil industry is the largest industry in Texas.
Texas Oil Boom started on , like The oil industry has a very large impact on Texas’ economy.
Oil pumps –the machines that pump oil form the ground are are commonly called called “nodding donkeys.”
Texas produces oil than any other state in the U.S.
Cowboys
Cowboys were known to sing to cattle to calm them at night.
Cowboys & cowgirls played a big role in shaping Texas’ history & culture.
Cowboys work on cattle ranches, and ride horses to herd and care for the cattle.
Bandera, TX is considered the Cowboy Capital of the
Cowboys would travel hundreds of miles at time during cattle drives.
World
Texas cowboys learned many of their skills & traditions from Mexican vaqueros.
Rodeos started with cowboys.
