The largest state in the coterminous United States, Texas is the only state that is allowed to fly its flag at the same height as the United States flag. I am a native Houstonian, and a 5th generation Texan so my roots in The Lone Star state run deep. It is an honor to share with you a little background on this beautiful, diverse state. Texas is located in the S Central part of the country and is bounded by Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, the Gulf of Mexico, New Mexico and the country of Mexico. I told you it was big! Area, 267,338 sq mi (692,405 sq km). Pop. (2000) 20,851,820 Capital, Austin Largest city, Houston, my hometown! Nickname, Lone Star State. State bird, mockingbird.  | 
| State flower, bluebonnet. | Motto, Friendship. |  | |
The vast expanse of the state contains great regional differences (the distance from Beaumont to El Paso is greater than that from New York to Chicago). Texas is the leading U.S. producer of oil, natural gas, and natural-gas liquids. It is also a major producer of helium, salt, sulfur, sodium sulfate, clays, gypsum, cement, and talc. Texas manufactures an enormous variety of products, including chemicals and chemical products, petroleum, food and food products, transportation equipment, machinery, and primary and fabricated metals. The development and manufacture of electronic equipment, such as computers, has in recent decades become one of the state's leading industries; the area around Dallas-Fort Worth has become known as “Silicon Prairie,” a name now also extended to Austin and its suburbs. Let's not forget the world-reknown Texas Medical Center, home of some of the world's best physicians and medical research facilities. |