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{{otheruses}}
{{US state
|Name = Texas
|Fullname = State of Texas
|Former = Republic of Texas
|Flag = Flag of Texas.svg
|Flaglink = ]
|Seal = Texas state seal.png
|Seallink = ]
|Map = Map_of_USA_TX.svg
|Nickname = Lone Star State
|Motto = Friendship
|Demonym = ]
|Capital = ]
|LargestCity = ]
|LargestMetro = ]<ref name="US Census">{{citation |date=2007-04-04 |year=2007 |title=Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area Estimates |publisher=US Census |url=http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/CBSA-est2006-pop-chg.html |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref>
|Governor = ] (])
|Lieutenant Governor = ] (R)
|Senators = ] (R)<br/>] (R)
|PostalAbbreviation = TX
|TradAbbreviation = Tex.
|BorderingStates = ], ],<br/>], ]
|OfficialLang = No official language<br/>(see ])
|AreaRank = 2<sup>nd</sup>
|TotalAreaUS = 268,820<ref name="facts">{{citation |year=2008 |title=Facts |edition =2008-2009 |publisher=] |url=http://www.texasalmanac.com/facts/ |accessdate=2008-04-29}}</ref>
|TotalArea = 696,241
|LandAreaUS = 261,797<ref name="facts"/>
|LandArea = 678,051
|WaterAreaUS = 6,784<ref name="facts"/>
|WaterArea = 17,574
|PCWater = 2.5
|PopRank = 2<sup>nd</sup>
|2000Pop (old) = 20,851,820
|2000Pop = 23,904,380 (2007 est.) <ref>http://www.census.gov/popest/states/NST-ann-est.html 2007 Population Estimates</ref>
|DensityRank = 26<sup>th</sup>
|2000DensityUS = 79.6<ref name="Census2">{{citation |year=2006 |title=Texas QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau |place =US Census
|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=&geo_id=04000US48&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US48&_street=&_county=&_cityTown=&_state=04000US48&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=040&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=DEC_2000_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= |accessdate=2007-04-28}}</ref>
|2000Density = 30.75
|Total GDP = $1,065,891,000
|Total GDP Rank = 2<sup>nd</sup>
|Per capita GDP = $43,283
|Per Capita GDP Rank = 16<sup>th</sup>
|AdmittanceOrder = 28<sup>th</sup>
|AdmittanceDate = December 29, 1845
|TimeZone = ]: ]-6/]
|TZ1Where = most of state
|TimeZone2 = ]: ]-7/]
|TZ2Where = tip of ]
|Latitude = 25°&#8202;50′ N to 36°&#8202;30′ N
|Longitude = 93°&#8202;31′ W to 106°&#8202;39′ W
|WidthUS = 773<ref name="environment">{{citation |year=2008 |title=Environment |edition =2008-2009 |publisher=] |url=http://www.texasalmanac.com/environment/ |accessdate=2008-04-29}}</ref>
|Width = 1,244
|LengthUS = 790
|Length = 1,270
|HighestPoint = ]<ref name="usgs">{{cite web |date=April 29, 2005 |url=http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html#Highest |title=Elevations and Distances in the United States |publisher=U.S Geological Survey |accessdate=2006-11-08}}</ref>
|HighestElevUS = 8,749
|HighestElev = 2,667
|MeanElevUS = 1,700
|MeanElev = 520
|LowestPoint = ] coast<ref name="usgs"/>
|LowestElevUS = 0
|LowestElev = 0
|ISOCode = US-TX
|Website = www.texasonline.com/
}}
]

'''Texas''' ({{IPAEng|ˈtɛksəs}}) is a ] geographically located in the ] and is also known as the ''Lone Star State''. ] is the ]. Texas is the second largest U.S. state in both area and population, with an area of {{convert|268820|sqmi|km2}} and a growing population of 23.9 million. ] is the state's largest city. The ] is the largest ] in Texas and the fourth-largest metropolitan statistical area in the United States.

Traveling east to west, the ] gradually evolves from that of the ] into that of the desert ], going from ] to semi-forests of oak and ], into rolling plains and ], then finally to ] in the ]. These wide open spaces of the Texas prairie have lent currency to the phrase that "everything is bigger in Texas".<ref name="biggerTexas">{{cite web |last=Gite |first=Lloyd |authorlink=http://findarticles.com/p/search?tb=art&qa=Lloyd+Gite |title=Texas: they say everything is bigger in Texas, but is this true about opportunities for African-Americans in the state's largest cities? |publisher=Black Enterprise |month =June | year =1994 |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1365/is_n11_v24/ai_15429436 |format=html |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref> Due to its long history as a center of the American cattle industry, Texas is associated throughout much of the world with the image of the ].

] and ], Texas has close ties to the ]. However, having once been both a Spanish and ] possession, it can also be classified as a ]. While residents acknowledge these categories, many claim an independent "Texan" identity superseding ].

] was the first European country to claim the area of Texas. It was then part of Mexico until 1836 when it became the independent ]. In 1845 it joined the United States as the 28th state. The state's ] was one of a ] that led to the ] in 1846 and the ].

In the early 1900s, ] led to an economic boom in the state. Texas has since ]. It has a growing base in high technology, biomedical research and higher education. The state's ] is the second-highest in the nation.

==Etymology==
]
The state's name derives from ''{{unicode|táyshay}}'', a word in the ] of the ], which means "allies" or "friends".<ref name="facts"/><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Texas |title=Texas |accessdate=2007-02-25
|publisher=Online Etymology Dictionary}}</ref><ref>Wallace Chafe, p.c.</ref>

The word "Texas" has been incorporated into ] ] in many ways. Due to the state's large geographic size, the term "Texas-sized" is a ] for "big".<ref name=TSize1>{{cite web |last=Farivar |first=Cyrus |title=Texas-Sized Supercomputer to Break Computing Power Record |work=] |date =2007-06-26|url=http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2007/06/sun_supercomputer|accessdate=2008-01-30}}</ref><ref name=TSize2>{{cite web |last=Blumenthal |first=Ralph |title=Texas-sized noxious weed threatens State's largest natural lake |publisher=] |date =2007, July 30 |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/30/news/lake.php|accessdate=2008-01-30}}</ref> The state's name is used in brands such as ] and ]. The abbreviated form of "Texas", "]", is used as a ] for someone born and/or raised in the state, such as country music singer ]. "Tex" is also a ] for Texas-related words, including ] or the restaurant chain ].
{{clear}}

==History==
{{main|History of Texas}}
]" in ] includes the flags of (left to right) ] (Spain), the ] of France, ], the ], the ], and the ].<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=FF/msf1|name=Flags of Texas}}</ref>]]

===Colonization===
{{Texas History}}
{{main|Spanish Texas|Mexican Texas}}

] made the first documented European sighting of Texas in 1519.<ref name="chipman243">Chipman (1992), p. 243.</ref><ref name="weber34"> Weber (1992), p. 34.</ref> On November 6, 1528, shipwrecked Spanish ] ] became the first known European in Texas.<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=CC/fca6|name=Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca}}</ref><ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=SS/nps1|name=Spanish Texas}}</ref> In 1685 ] established the first ] community in Texas, the French colony of ].<ref name="weber149">Weber (1992), p. 149.</ref> The colony, located along ], lasted only four&nbsp;years before succumbing to harsh conditions and hostile natives.<ref name="chipman83">Chipman (1992), p. 83.</ref>

Due to the perceived French encroachment, Spain established its first presence in Texas in 1691 constructing of ] in ].<ref name=chipman89>Chipman (1992), p. 89.</ref> The missions failed quickly, and Spain did not resettle Texas until two&nbsp;decades had passed.<ref name="weber155">Weber (1992), p. 155.</ref> Spain returned to East Texas in 1716, establishing missions and a ] to maintain a buffer between ] and the territory of ].<ref name=chipman111and2>Chipman (1992), pp. 111&ndash;112.</ref><ref name="weber160">Weber (1992), p. 160.</ref> Two&nbsp;years later, the first European civilian settlement in Texas, ], was established.<ref name="weber163">Weber (1992), p. 163.</ref>

Hostile native tribes and remoteness from New Spain discouraged settlers from moving to Texas and it remained one of New Spain's least populated provinces.<ref name=chipman205>Chipman (1992), p. 205.</ref> San Antonio was a target for raids by the ].<ref name="weber188">Weber (1992), p. 188.</ref> In 1749, the Spanish signed a peace treaty with the Apache,<ref name="weber193">Weber (1992), p. 193.</ref> which resulted in raids by the enemies of the Apache, the ], ], and ] tribes.<ref name="weber189">Weber (1992), p. 189.</ref> The Comanche signed a treaty with Spain in 1785<ref>Weddle (1995), p. 163.</ref> and later assisted in defeating the Lipan Apache and ] tribes.<ref name="weddle164">Weddle (1995), p. 164.</ref><ref name=chipman200>Chipman (1992), p. 200.</ref> An increased number of missions in the province allowed for a peaceful conversion of other tribes, and by the end of the 1700s only a few ] tribes had not been "]".<ref name=chipman202>Chipman (1992), p. 202.</ref>

The ] by the United States led to a ] over Texas.<ref name="weber291">Weber (1992), p. 291.</ref><ref>Weber (1992), p. 292.</ref> The dispute was resolved in 1819, with the signing of the ] recognizing the ] as Texas's eastern boundary.<ref name="weber299">Weber (1992), p. 299.</ref>

]]]
In 1821, after the ], the territory became a part of the new country.<ref name="weber300">Weber (1992), p. 300.</ref> Texas became the northern section of ] in 1824. Mexico ended the Spanish policy of allowing only full-blooded Spaniards to settle Texas. On January 3, 1823, after obtaining authorization by Governor ], ] began a colony of 297 Anglo-American families known as the "]" along the ].<ref name="old300">{{Handbook of Texas|id=OO/umo1|name=Old Three Hundred}} Accessed ]-]</ref> By 1830, the 30,000 Anglo settlers in Texas outnumbered ] six to one.<ref name="Tejanos1">{{cite web |title=Tejano Patriots |work=bexargenealogy.com |url=http://www.bexargenealogy.com/index_Tejanos.htm |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref>

===Republic===
{{main|Texas Revolution|Republic of Texas|Texas Annexation}}
The ] and the ] were responses to rising unrest at policies of the ] government. Delegates feared the end of ] imports from the United States and the threat of ending slavery.<ref name="HBOT MEX">{{Handbook of Texas|id=MM/npm1|name=Mexican Texas}}</ref> In 1835, ], President of Mexico, created a ] for Mexico which created a centralized government with power concentrated in the President, and turned states into provinces with governors appointed from Mexico City.<ref name="HBOT MEX"/> States around Mexico rebelled against this imposition, including ], ] and ]. Of note was the Centralista forces' brutal suppression of dissidents in ].<ref name="HBOT REV">{{Handbook of Texas|id=CC/qdc2|name=Texas Revolution}}</ref> Texans also resented policies such as the forcible disarmament of settlers, and the expulsion of immigrants and legal landowners originally from the United States.

]
On March 2, 1836, the ] signed a ].<ref name="TXDecofInd">{{cite web|url=http://www.lsjunction.com/docs/tdoi.htm |title=The Texas Declaration of Independence|accessdate=2008-05-26 |publisher=Lone Star Junction}}</ref><ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=CC/mjc12|name=Convention of 1836}}</ref> On April 21, 1836, the Texans&mdash;led by General ]&mdash;won their independence at the ]. Santa Anna's capture led to the ]. Mexico repudiated the treaties and vowed to reconquer Texas. Later in 1836, the Texans adopted a ] that formally legalized slavery. The ] included the area of the present state of Texas, and additional unoccupied territory to the west and northwest.<ref name="HBOT REV"/>

Most Texans wanted their Republic to be ] into the United States. Events such as the ] and two recaptures of Béxar in Texas of 1842 added momentum to the desire for statehood.<ref>{{Harvard reference |Surname1=Calvert |Given1=R. |Surname2=De Léon |Given2=A. |Surname3=Cantrell |Given3=G. |Title=The History of Texas |Publisher=Harlan Davidson |Place=Wheeling, Illinois |Year=2002 }}</ref> However, strong ] opposition to adding a ] blocked Texas's admission until pro-annexation ] won the ]. On December 29, 1845, Texas was admitted to the U.S. as a constituent ] of the Union.<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=AA/mga2|name=Annexation}}</ref> The ] followed, with decisive victories by the U.S.<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=MM/qdm2|name=Mexican War}}</ref> Texas's boundaries were set at their present form after the ]. Land which later became half of present day ], a third of ], and small portions of ], ], and ], was ceded for the federal government's assumption of $10 million of the old republic's debt.<ref name="comp1850">{{Handbook of Texas|id=CC/nbc2|name=Compromise of 1850}}</ref> Post-war Texas grew rapidly as migrants poured into the cotton lands of the state.<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=CC/afc3|name=Cotton Culture}}</ref>

]]]

===Civil War and Reconstruction===
{{main|Texas in the American Civil War}}
The state was accepted as a charter member of the ] on March 1, 1861.<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=SS/mjs1|name=Secession Convention}}</ref><ref name="facts"/> During the ], Texas was a "supply state" for the Confederate forces due to its distance from the front lines, contributing men, especially cavalry. Texan regiments fought in every major battle throughout the war.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texascivilwarmuseum.com/index.htm|title=Texas Civil War Museum|accessdate=2006-09-03}}</ref> In mid-1863 the Union capture of the ] cut Texas supply lines to the eastern parts of the Confederacy. The last battle of the Civil War was fought in Texas at ] on May 13, 1865.<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=PP/qfp1|name=Battle of Palmito Ranch}}</ref>

Texas descended into anarchy two months between the ] of the ] and the assumption of authority by Union General ]. Violence also marked the early months of ].<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=CC/qdc2|name=Civil War}}</ref> ] commemorates the announcement of the ] on June 19, 1865 in Galveston by General Gordon Granger, over 2-1/2 years after the original announcement.<ref name="BarriersVoting">{{cite web |title=Historical Barriers to Voting |work=Texas Politics |publisher=] |url=http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/html/vce/0503.html|format=HTML |accessdate=2008-05-11}}</ref><ref name="Juneteenth">{{Handbook of Texas|id=JJ/lkj1|name=Juneteenth}}</ref> President Johnson, on August 20, 1866, declared that civilian government had been restored to Texas.<ref name="readmission">{{citation |last=Johnson |first=Andrew |author-link =Andrew Johnson |date =] |year=1866 |title=Proclamation Declaring the Insurrection at an End |series =American Historical Documents |publisher=] |url=http://www.bartleby.com/43/42.html |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref> Despite not meeting reconstruction requirements, on March 30, 1870 ] readmitted Texas into the ].<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=RR/mzr1|name=Restoration}}</ref> Social volatility continued as the state struggled with agricultural depression and labor issues.

===Modern era===
]]]
The first major oil well in Texas was ], south of ], on January 10, 1901. Other fields were later discovered nearby in ], ], and under the ]. The resulting “Oil Boom” permanently transformed the economy of Texas.<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=SS/dos3|name=Spindletop Oilfield}}</ref> Oil production eventually averaged three million barrels of oil per day at its peak in 1972.<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=OO/doogz|name=Oil and Gas Industry}}</ref>

The economy, significantly improved since the civil war, was dealt a double blow by ] and the ]. Migrants abandoned the worst hit sections of Texas during the Dust Bowl years. Especially from this period on, blacks left Texas in the ] to get work in the ] or ] and to escape the oppression of segregation.<ref name=TX&GreatMigration>{{Handbook of Texas |id=AA/pkaan |name=African Americans}} accessed = ]-]</ref> With increased immigration from other sources, although the numbers of African Americans increased, their proportion of population decreased from 20.4 percent in 1900 to 12.4 percent in 1960.<ref name=TX&GreatMigration/>

From 1950 through the 1960s, Texas modernized and expanded its ]. Under the leadership of Governor ], the state created a long-range plan for higher education, a different distribution of resources, and a central state apparatus designed to manage state institutions more efficiently. These changes helped Texas universities receive federal research funds during the ] and ] administrations.<ref>Blanton, Carlos Kevin. "The Campus and the Capitol: John B. Connally and the Struggle over Texas Higher Education Policy, 1950-1970" ''Southwestern Historical Quarterly'' 2005 108(4): 468-497. ISSN 0038-478X</ref>

==Geography==
{{main|Geography of Texas|List of geographical regions in Texas}}
]]]
Texas is located at the southernmost part of the ], which ends in the south against the folded ] of Mexico. It is in the ] part of the United States of America. The state has been categorized as part of the ] and also part of the ].

The ], ] and ] are natural state ]s, ] on the north, ] and ] on the east, & the ] states of ], ], ], and ] to the south. In the west and north, its borders with New Mexico and Oklahoma are not based on natural features of terrain. The state's ] has an eastern border with Oklahoma at ], a northern border with Oklahoma at ] and a western border with New Mexico at ]. The state's western tip is in ] at the ] and the ].<ref name="comp1850"/>

Because of its size and unique history, the regional affiliation of Texas is debatable. Depending on the source, it can be fairly considered either or both a Southern or Southwestern state. The vast geographic, economic, and cultural diversity within the state itself prohibits easy categorization of the whole state into a ]. The East, Central, and North Texas, regions have a stronger association with the American South than with the Southwest. Others, such as far West Texas and South Texas share more similarities with the latter. The upper ] is similar to the ] and the ] parts of West Texas, is a blend of South and Southwest.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}

Texas can be divided into five ] regions: ], ], ], ], and ]. ''Texas Almanac'' divides Texas into four ] regions: ], ], ], and ].{{Fact|date=May 2008}}

===Geology===
{{main|Geology of Texas}}
]]]
Texas is the southernmost part of the ], which ends in the south against the folded ] of Mexico. The ] here is a stable ] ] which changes across a broad continental margin and transitional crust into true ] of the ]. The oldest rocks in Texas date from the Mesoproterozoic and are about 1,600 million years old. These ] ] and ] rocks underlie most of the state, and are exposed in three places: ] uplift, ], and the ], near ]. This is overlain by mostly ]. The oldest sediments were deposited on the flanks of a rifted continental margin, or ] that developed during ] time. This margin existed until ] and ] collided in the ] era to form ]. This is the buried crest of the ]&mdash;] zone of ] ]. This ] crest is today buried beneath the ]&mdash;]&mdash;]&mdash;] trend. During this time E. Texas was a region of high mountains and shallow seas covered W. Texas.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}

The late ] mountains collapsed as ] in the ] era began to open the Gulf of Mexico. Pangea began to break up in the ] but ] to form the ] occurred only in the mid and late ]. The shoreline shifted again to the eastern margin of the state and the Gulf of Mexico ] began to form. Today there are {{convert|9|mi|km|0}} to {{convert|12|mi|km|0|}} of sediments buried beneath the Texas continental shelf and a large proportion of remaining US ] reserves are to be found here. At the start of its formation, the incipient Gulf of Mexico basin was restricted and seawater often evaporated completely to form thick ] deposits of ] age. These salt deposits formed what are known as ] ]s, and can be found in East Texas, along the Gulf coast.<ref>Muzzafar, Asif. ''Timing of Diapir Growth and Cap Rock Formation, Davis Hill Salt Dome, Coastal Texas'' The Geological Society of America. (accessed July 22, 2008)</ref>

East Texas outcrops consist of ] and ] sediments with contain important deposits of ]]. ] is found in the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian sediments in the north, Permian sediments in the west, Cretaceous sediments in the east, and along the Gulf coast and out on the Texas ]. ] ] rocks are found in far west Texas, in the ] area. A blanket of ] sediments known as the ] in the western high plains region is an important ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.npwd.org/new_page_2.htm |title=Ogallala Aquifer|accessdate=2008-07-23 |publisher=North Plains Groundwater Conservation District}}</ref> Texas has no volcanoes and few earthquakes, being situated far from an active ] boundary.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ig.utexas.edu/research/projects/eq/compendium/earthquakes.htm |title=Earthquakes |accessdate=2008-07-23 |publisher=Jackson School of Geosciences - University of Texas at Austin}}</ref>

==Climate==
{{main article|Climate of Texas}}
] in South Texas]]
The large size of Texas and its location at the intersection of multiple ] gives the state very variable weather. ] divide Texas into three main zones: the ] (] ''Cfa'') of the eastern half of Texas, the temperate ] (Köppen ''BSk'') steppe climate of the northwestern part, including the Panhandle, and the subtropical steppe climate (nearly an ] desert climate, Köppen ''BSh'') of the southern parts of West Texas, particularly around El Paso.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}

The Panhandle of the state is colder in winter than North Texas, while the Gulf Coast has mild winters. Texas has wide variations in precipitation patterns. El Paso, on the western end of the state, averages as little as {{convert|8|in|mm}} of annual rainfall while Houston, on the southeast Texas averages as much as {{convert|54|in|mm}} per year.<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=WW/msf1|name=Weather}}</ref> Dallas in the North Central region averages a more moderate {{convert|37|in|mm}} per year. Snowfall often falls in the winter months in the north. Maximum temperatures in the summer months average from the 80s °] (26 °]) in the mountains of West Texas and on ] to around {{convert|100|°F|°C|0|lk=on}} in the ]. Night time summer temperatures range from the upper 50s °F (14 °C) in the West Texas mountains<ref> weather.com</ref> to {{convert|80|°F|°C|0}} in Galveston.<ref>. weather.com.</ref>

] are very common in Texas, especially the eastern and northern portion of the state. Texas is part of the ] section of the country. The state experiences the most ]es in the Union, an average of 139 a year. These strike most frequently in North Texas and the Panhandle.<ref name="Annual average number of tornadoes"> National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved on October 24, 2006.</ref> Tornadoes in Texas generally occur in the months of April, May, and June.<ref name="TexasWeather">{{Handbook of Texas|id=WW/yzw1|name=Weather}} Accessed ]-]</ref>

], the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history, was extensive.]]
Texas's position at the western end of the ] also makes it very vulnerable to hurricanes. Some of the most destructive hurricanes in U.S. history have impacted Texas. A hurricane in 1875 killed approximately 400 people in ], followed by ] in 1886 that destroyed the town, which was at the time the most important port city in the state. This allowed ] to take over as the chief port city, but it was subsequently devastated by ] in 1900 that killed approximately 8,000 people (possibly as many as 12,000), making it the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Other devastating Texas hurricanes include the ], ] in 1957, which killed over 600 people, ] in 1961, ] in 1967, ] in 1983, ] in 2005, and ] in 2008.{{Fact|date=September 2008}}

Texas emits the most ]es in the US.<ref name="GH1">{{cite news|title=Blame Coal: Texas Leads in Overall Emissions|author=Borenstein, Seth|publisher=USA Today|date=04-06-2007|url=http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2007-06-04-state-emissions_N.htm|accessdate=2007-06-06}}</ref><ref name="GH2">{{cite news |title=Texas No. 1 producer of greenhouse gases |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/060307dnnatemissions.3c1df3a.html |work=Associated Press |publisher=Dallas Morning News |date=]|accessdate=2008-06-11}}</ref> The state's annual carbon dioxide emissions are nearly 1.5 trillion pounds (680 billion kg). Texas would be the world's seventh-largest producer of greenhouse gases if it were an independent nation.<ref name="GH2"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Five Cities that Need help Getting Green|author=MSN City Guides|url=http://cityguides.msn.com/citylife/greenslideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=4848635&imageindex=4}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Approaches, Challenges, Potentials: Renewable Energy and Climate Change Policies in U.S. States|author=Heinrich Boll Foundation North America|date=2003-12|url=http://www.cleanenergyfunds.org/international/downloads/RE_Publication_Online.pdf}}</ref> The primary factors in Texas's greenhouse gas emissions is the state's large number of ] and the state's refining and manufacturing industries which provides the bulk of the United States's petroleum products.<ref name="GH2"/>

==Demographics==
{{main|Demographics of Texas}}
]
]
As of 2006, the state has an estimated population of 23,507,783, an increase of 2.5% from the prior year and 12.7% since the year 2000. The natural increase since the last census was 1,389,275 people, ] from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 801,576 people, and migration within the country produced a net increase of 451,910 people.<ref name="facts"/> As of 2004, the state had 3.5 million foreign-born residents (15.6 percent of the state population), of which an estimated 1.2 million are ]. More than one-third of the foreign-born population in Texas and 5.4 percent of the total state population comes from unauthorized immigration.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} Texas from 2000&ndash;2006 had the fastest growing illegal immigration rate in the nation.<ref name="CausesHealthcare"/> Texas also is one of the receiving states of black college graduates in the ] - the return of African Americans to the South.

===Racial group and ethnic origins===
As of the 2006 US Census estimates, the racial and ethnic distribution in Texas are as follows:

*48.9% ]
**] (10.9%)
**] (7.2%)
**] (7.2%)
*11.6% ]
*3.3% ]
*0.6% ]
*13% other racial groups

*35.7 total ] or ].<ref name="Census2"/>
**21.0% ]
**] (25.3%){{Fact|date=May 2008}}

Much of the population of east, central, and north Texas have a ] ] heritage, primarily descended from ancestors from ] and ].{{Fact|date=May 2008}} Much of central and southeast-central Texas is inhabited by German descendants. African Americans, who historically made up one-third of the state population during the 19th century, are concentrated in the parts of East Texas where the cotton plantation culture was most prominent before the ], as well as in Dallas and Houston.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} Because of a strong labor market, from 1995&ndash;2000, Texas is one of three states in the South that are receiving the high numbers of black college graduates in a ].<ref name="blackmigration">, accessed March 19, 2008</ref> Recently, the ] population in Texas has grown&mdash;primarily in Houston and Dallas.

After the ], German, ], ], ], ] and ] immigration grew, and continued until ].{{Fact|date=May 2008}} The influence of the diverse ] from Europe survives in the names of towns, styles of architecture, genres of music, and varieties of cuisine. ] settlements formed in frontier Texas, particularly in ] and ].{{Fact|date=May 2008}} Lavaca County is predominantly ].{{Fact|date=May 2008}}

Over one-third of Texas residents are of ] origin;<ref name="Census2"/> many are recently arrived, while some ] have ancestors with multigenerational ties to the 18th century in Texas. Hispanics dominate south, south-central, and west Texas, and are a significant proportion of residents in the San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas metropolitan areas. ], primarily from far southern Mexico and Central America, contribute heavily to the state's growth.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} The influx of immigration is partially responsible for the state's having a relatively young population compared to the rest of the United States.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}

] tribes who once lived inside the boundaries of present-day Texas include ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], Hueco and the ] of ]. Currently, there are three federally recognized Native American tribes that reside in Texas: the ] Tribe, the ] Traditional Tribe, and the ].<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=II/bzi4|name=Native Americans}}</ref>

===Religion===
]
Texas is a part of the socially conservative ] ], ], and has the highest percentage of people with a religious affiliation in the United States.<ref name="abstinence">{{citation |last=Connolly |first=Ceci |date =] |year=2003 |title=Texas Teaches Abstinence, With Mixed Grades |publisher=Washington Post |url=http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=12589&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html |accessdate=2008-04-28 |pages=A01}}</ref> ] is home to three major evangelical seminaries and several ], including ], ] and ]. Houston is home to the largest "church" in the nation, ]. ] has the most churches per capita in the nation.<ref name="abstinence"/>

In 2000,the religious demographics of Texas were:<ref name="religion">{{cite web |url=http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/reports/state/48_2000.asp |title=State Membership Report - Texas|publisher=Association of Religion Data Archives|accessdate=2008-02-12}}</ref>

* ] ]{{ndash}} 24.4%
* ]{{ndash}} 8.1%
* ]{{ndash}} 21.0%
* ]{{ndash}} 0.1%
* ], ], ], ], others; 2.0%
* Unclaimed{{ndash}} 44.5%

The largest denominations by number of adherents in 2000 were the ] with 4,368,969; the ] with 3,519,459; and the ] with 1,022,342.<ref name="religion"/> Also, there are approximately 400,000 ] in Texas.<ref name="MuslimPopulation">{{cite web |title=Turning Muslim in Texas |work=Faith and Belief |publisher=Channel4.com |url=http://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/C/can_you_believe_it/debates/texas1.html |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref>

===Cities and towns===
{{see also|List of cities in Texas|List of Texas metropolitan areas|Population of Texas cities in 2000}}
]
]

As of 2000, six incorporated places in Texas had populations greater than 500,000, of which two are ]: Houston and Dallas.<ref name="worldcities">{{cite web |title=Inventory of World Cities |publisher=Globalization and World Cities Research Network |year =2008 |url=http://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/citylist.html |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref> Texas has a total of ], with four having populations over 1 million and two over 5 million. Texas has three cities with populations exceeding 1 million: Houston, San&nbsp;Antonio, and Dallas. This is the most cities of this size within one state.<ref name=PopEstBigCities>{{cite web |url=http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2006-01.csv |title=Table 1: Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places Over 100,000, Ranked by July 1, 2006 Population: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 |format=] |work=2005 Population Estimates |publisher=], Population Division |date=] |accessdate=2008-06-10 }}</ref> These three are also among the 10 largest cities of the United States. ], Fort&nbsp;Worth, and El Paso are also among the top 25 largest U.S. cities.<ref>]</ref> The ] is a region defined by three ]{{ndash}} ] to the west (Dallas-Fort Worth to San Antonio), ] to the east (Dallas to Houston), and ] to the south (San Antonio to Houston). The region contains most of the state's largest cities and ], as well as nearly 75 percent of Texas's total population.<ref>{{ndash}} Southwest Region University Transportation Center (SWUTC)</ref>

===Colonias===
] are rural, unincorporated settlements which often lack basic ] and which are marked by ]. As of 2007, Texas has the largest concentration of people, approximately 400,000, living in colonias in the U.S. <ref>"," '']''</ref> There are at least 2300 Texas colonias, located primarily along the state's {{convert|1248|mi|km|sing=on}} border with Mexico.

==Government and politics==
The ], adopted in 1876, like many ], explicitly provides separation of powers. The state's Bill of Rights has provisions unique to Texas and is considerably longer than its federal ].<ref name="BillofRights">{{cite web |title=Bill of Rights (Article 1} |work=Texas Politics |publisher=] |url=http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/html/cons/0402.html|format=HTML |accessdate=2008-05-11}}</ref>

===State government===
{{main|Government of Texas}}
{{see also|List of Texas state agencies}}
]]]
Texas has a plural ] system which limits the power of the Governor. Except for the ], all executive officers are elected independently making them directly answerable to the public not the Governor.<ref name="pluralexec">{{citation|year=2005|title=The Plural Executive|publisher=]|url=http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/html/exec/0900.html |accessdate=2008-05-07}}</ref> Past executive branches have been split between parties. When ] President ] served as Texas's governor, the state's Lieutenant Governor, ], was a ]. The ] positions consists of the ], ], Comptroller of Public Accounts, Land Commissioner, Attorney General, Agriculture Commissioner, the three-member ], the State Board of Education, and the Secretary of State.<ref name="pluralexec"/>

The ] ] consists of the ], with 150 members, and a ], with 31 members. The ] leads the House, and the Lieutenant Governor leads the Senate.<ref name="Legislature Members">{{citation|year=2005|title=Membership|publisher=]|url=http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/html/leg/0204.html |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref> The Legislature meets in regular session biennially, but the Governor can call for special sessions as often as desired.<ref name="Special Sessions">{{citation|year=2005|title=Special Sessions|publisher=]|url=http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/html/leg/0202.html |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref> The state's ] is from the previous calendar year's September 1 through the current year August 31. Thus, FY 2008 is from September 1, 2007 through August 31, 2008.

===Judicial system===
{{main|Texas judicial system}}
The judicial system of Texas is one of the most complex in the United States, with many layers and overlapping jurisdictions. Texas has two courts of last resort: the ], for civil cases, and the ]. Except for some municipal benches, partisan elections select judges at all levels of the judiciary; the Governor fills vacancies by appointment.<ref name="Judiciary">{{Handbook of Texas|id=JJ/msf1|name=Judiciary}}</ref>

Texas leads the nation in executions, 400, from 1982 to 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/22/AR2007082202542.html|title=Texas Executes 400th Inmate|publisher='']''|accessdate=2007-08-22|date=2007-08-22|author=Graczyk, Michael}}</ref> Only ] is eligible for the death penalty.

Known for their role in Texas law enforcement history, the ] of the ] continue to provide special law enforcement services to the state. Texas ]&mdash;law enforcement officers employed by the ]&mdash;are given the same level of authority as standard law enforcement officers.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}

===Politics===
{{main|Politics of Texas}}
{{see also|Republican Party of Texas|Texas Democratic Party}}
], Texan and 36th president of the United States]]
Like in other ] states, whites resented the ] after the ]. After regaining power near the end of Reconstruction, the ] held a monolithic political presence in Texas until the late 20th century. After the 1960s, ] in Texas began to endorse Republican presidential candidates.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} When President ] signed the ], he reportedly said "We have lost the South for a generation".<ref name="SouthWon">{{citation |last=Risen |first=Clay |date =] |year=2006 |title=How the South was won |publisher=The Boston Globe |url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2006/03/05/how_the_south_was_won/ |accessdate=2008-04-29}}</ref> Scholars attribute the change to the success of Nixon's ]. In 1978, Texas Republicans elected their first post-reconstruction governor and in 2003 they gained control of the ].{{Fact|date=May 2008}}

Today, Republicans control most of Texas's ] delegation, and both ]. Of the 32 ], 19 seats are held by Republicans and 13 by Democrats. Texas Republicans in the U.S. Senate are ] and ]. Since 1994, Texans have not elected a Democrat to a statewide office. The state's Democratic presence is primarily ] and urban voters, particularly in ]. Democrats and independents still hold positions in city governments.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}

The Texas political atmosphere leans towards ] and ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Texas Political Culture - Introduction |work=Texas Politics |publisher=] |url=http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/html/cult/index.html |format= |accessdate=2008-05-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Texas Political Culture - Low Taxes, Low Services Political Culture |work=Texas Politics |publisher=] |url=http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/html/cult/0201.html |format= |accessdate=2008-05-29}}</ref> Since 1980, most of Texas voters have supported Republican Presidential candidates. In 2000 and 2004, Republican ] won Texas with 60.1% of the vote. He was a "favorite son" as a recent Governor of the state. ] is the state's most liberal or "populist" city. ] is among the few urban areas that consistently vote Republican, but its metropolitan areas are very divided politically. ] remains approximately split. Counties along the Rio Grande often vote Democratic.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2000&fips=48&f=1&off=0&elect=0 |title=2000 Presidential General Election Results - Texas |publisher=www.uselectionatlas.org |accessdate=2008-07-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2004&fips=48&f=1&off=0&elect=0 |title=2004 Presidential General Election Results - Texas |publisher=www.uselectionatlas.org |accessdate=2007-07-22}}</ref>

===Administrative divisions===
]
{{see also|List of Texas counties|List of United States congressional districts#Texas}}
Texas has 32 ], the second-most after California. There are 254 ]&mdash;the most nationwide. Each county is run by a ] consisting of four elected commissioners and a county judge. County government is similar to a "weak" ] system; the county judge has no veto authority, but votes along with the other commissioners. County elections are ].{{Fact|date=May 2008}}

Texas does not allow consolidated city-county governments, nor does it have ]s. Cities and counties are permitted to enter "interlocal agreements" to share services. Further, counties are not granted ] status; their powers are strictly defined by state law. The state does not have ]&mdash; areas within a county are either incorporated or unincorporated. Incorporated areas are part of a municipality. The county provides limited services to unincorporated areas. Municipalities are classified as either "general law" or "]". A municipality may elect home rule status once it exceeds 5,000 population with voter approval. Municipal elections in Texas are ].{{Fact|date=May 2008}}

==Economy==
]]]
{{main|Economy of Texas}}
Texas's large population, its abundance of natural resources, and diverse population and geography has led the state to have a large and highly diverse economy. Since the discovery of oil, the state's economy reflected the state of the ] industry. In recent times, urban centers of the state have diversified employing two-thirds of the population in 2005. Growth in the state's economy has led to problems associated with ].<ref name="economy1">{{cite web |title=Economic Geography |work=Texas Politics |publisher=] |url=http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/html/pec/0302.html |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-05-03}}</ref>

In the fourth quarter of 2006, Texas had a ] of $1.09 trillion, the ] highest in the U.S.<ref name="GSP">{{cite web |last=Combs |first=Susan |title=Gross State Product |work=Window on State Government |publisher=Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts |year =2006 |url=http://www.cpa.state.tx.us/ecodata/ecoind/ecoind5.html#product |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref><ref name="GSP2">{{cite press release |title=Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by State |publisher=Bureau of Economic Analysis |date =2006-10-26 |url=http://www.bea.gov/bea/newsrel/gspnewsrelease.htm |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref> ] per capita as of 2005 was $42,975. The state is home to the most ] company headquarters in the United States.<ref name="texasfortune500_1">{{citation |last=Hem |first=Brad |newspaper =Start spreadin' the news ... Texas is Fortune 500's king of the hill (with quite a bit of help from Houston) |year=2008 |date =2008-04-21 |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/5719475.html
|format={{dead link|date=June 2008}}{{ndash}} <sup></sup>}}.</ref><ref name="texasfortune500_2">{{cite web |url=http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/states/T.html|title=Fortune 500 2006 |accessdate=2007-02-16|publisher=CNN|year=2006}}</ref>

In 2004, the ''Site Selection magazine'' ranked Texas as the most business friendly state in the nation. A big reason for this ranking is the state's three billion dollar, ].<ref name="1businessclimate">{{citation |last=Arend |first=Mark |title=The Lone Star States Tops Business Climate Ranking |date =November, 2004 |year=2004 |url=http://www.siteselection.com/issues/2004/nov/p746/ |accessdate=2008-05-02}}.</ref> Texas's growth can be attributed to the availability of jobs, the low cost of housing, the lack of a personal ], high quality of education, low taxation and limited ] of ], a central geographic location, a ], favorable ], and abundant natural resources.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}

===Agriculture and mining===
]]]
Texas is a productive agricultural state with the most farms both in number and acreage in the United States.<ref name="netstateecon">{{cite web |title=The Texas Economy |publisher=netstate.com |date =2007-06-05 |url=http://www.netstate.com/economy/tx_economy.htm |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-04-29}}</ref> Texas leads the nation ] production.<ref name="netstateecon"/> Cattle the state's most valuable agricultural product, but the state also leads nationally in production of sheep and goat products. Texas is ] leading the nation in cotton production, its leading crop and second-most-valuable farm product.<ref name="netstateecon"/> The state also is a large producer of ] crops and ].<ref name="netstateecon"/> Texas also has a large commercial fishing industry. With mineral resources, Texas leads in creating cement, crushed stone, lime, salt, sand and gravel.<ref name="netstateecon"/>

===Energy===
]
{{see also|Deregulation of the Texas electricity market}}
According to the ], Texans consume the most energy in the nation both in per capita and as a whole.<ref name="Petrol"/> Since 2002, Texas ] its electric service with mixed results. {{Fact|date=May 2008}}

The ], contrary to its name, regulates the state's ], gas utilities, pipeline safety, safety in the ] industry, and surface ] and ] mining. Until the 1970s, the commission had enormous control the price of petroleum because of its ability to regulate Texas's oil reserves. The founders of the ] (OPEC) used the Texas agency as one of their models for petroleum price control.<ref name="RRcommission">{{Handbook of Texas |id=RR/mdr1 |name=Railroad Commission}}</ref>

The state has known ] deposits of about {{convert|5|Goilbbl|m3}}, which makes up approximately one-fourth of the known U.S. reserves.<ref name="Petrol"/> Texas refineries can process {{convert|4.6|Moilbbl|m3}} of oil a day.<ref name="Petrol">{{cite web |title=Texas Quick Facts |publisher=Energy Information Administration |date =|url=http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=TX|title=Petroleum Profile: Texas|accessdate=2008-04-29}}</ref> As wells are depleted in the eastern portions of the state, drilling in state has moved westward.<ref name="netstateecon"/> Several ] are based in Texas such as: ], ], ], ], and ].

Texas is a leader in ] production producing one-fourth of the nation's supply.<ref name="Petrol"/>

The state is also a leader in ] sources producing the most ] nationwide.<ref name="Petrol"/><ref name="wind2">{{citation |last=Souder |first=Elizabeth |title=Texas leads nation in wind power capacity |newspaper =] |year=2007 |date =01/08 |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/011808dnbuswindpower.30c78959.html}}</ref>

===Technology===
] headquarters in ].]]
With large universities systems coupled with initiatives like TEF and the ], a wide array of different high tech industries have developed in Texas. The Austin area is nicknamed the "Silicon Hills" and the north Dallas area the "]". High tech companies such as ], ], ], ], and ] (EDS) are headquartered in Texas. As for ], in 2008, FierceBiotech ranked Texas as one of the top five biotechnology states.<ref name="Biotech1">{{cite web|last=Carroll |first=John |title=Top Five Regions Targeting Biotech Companies - 2008 |publisher=FierceBiotech |date =] |url=http://www.fiercebiotech.com/special-reports/top-five-regions-targeting-biotech-companies-2008-0 |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-05-03}}</ref>

The crown jewel of Texas's aeronautics industry is the ], the center of the ] (NASA), located in Southeast Houston. Both ] ] and ] are located in ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Locations |publisher=Lockheed Martin |accessdate=2008-05-22 |url=http://www.lockheedmartin.com/aeronautics/about/Locations.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About Bell Helicopter |publisher=Bell Helicopter |accessdate=2008-05-22 |url=http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en/company/}}</ref> The ], the largest Western fighter program is produced in Fort Worth, and its successor, the ] will also be produced in Fort Worth.<ref name="Downside">{{citation |last=Rosenwald |first=Michael S. |date =] |year=2007 |title=Downside of Dominance? |publisher=The Washington Post |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/16/AR2007121601522.html |accessdate=2008-05-22}}</ref>

===Commerce===
Texas's ] has led to a strong commercial sector consisting of retail, wholesale, banking and insurance, and construction industries. Examples of ] companies that are not based on Texas traditional industries are: ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref name="fortune500_2">{{cite web |title=Texas |publisher=] |date =] |url=http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2007/states/TX.html |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-05-03}}</ref>
Nationally, the Dallas–Fort Worth area, home to the second shopping center in the United States, ], has the most ] per capita than any metropolitan area.<ref name="VisitDallas_Shopping"> Shopping in Dallas. Retrieved on February 20, 2007.</ref>

In 2006, for the fifth year in a row, Texas led the nation in export revenues. Texas exports for 2006 totaled $150.8 billion, which is $22.1 billion more than 2005 and represents a 17.2 percent increase.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} A large contributor to this trend is the ] (NAFTA). The state's largest trading partner is Mexico, with the accounts for a third the state's exports. NAFTA has led to the formation of controversial ] on the Texas/Mexico border.<ref name="economy2">{{cite web|title=Recent Economic Transformations |work=Texas Politics |publisher=] |url=http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/html/pec/0303.html |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-05-03}}</ref>

Texas's central location within the North American continent has made it an important ]. From the Dallas/Fort Worth area, 93 percent of the nation's population can be reached by truck within 48 hours, and 37 percent within 24.<ref name="JDFTransport">{{citation |title=5 Reasons To Choose the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex As A Distribution Hub |publisher=JDF Distribution |url=http://www.jdfdistribution.com/warehousing-logistics-distribution-download.asp |accessdate=2008-06-21 |format={{dead link|date=June 2008}}{{ndash}} <sup></sup>}}</ref> The state is also in the center of the continent's four major economic centers: ], ], ], and ]<ref name="JDFTransport"/>. Texas has the most ] (FTZ), in the nation, 33.<ref name="FTZ1">{{citation | publication-date = August 2007 |title=Texas and General Foreign Trade Zones Information |publisher=Office of the Governor of Texas |url=http://www.texasone.us/site/DocServer/Texas_FTZs_Document_2007.pdf?docID=2221 |accessdate=2008-06-21}}</ref> In 2004 a combined total of $298 billion of goods passed though Texas FTZ's.<ref name="FTZ1"/>

==Transportation==
{{main|Transportation in Texas}}
Transportation in Texas has been difficult historically because of the state's large size and rough terrain. Texas has compensated by building both the America's largest highway and railway systems in terms of mileage as well as the largest number of airports in the nation.<ref name="AdvaTransport">{{cite web |title=Texas-Transportation |publisher=Advamag, Inc. |year =2007 |url=http://www.city-data.com/states/Texas-Transportation.html |format=HTML |accessdate=2006-05-04}}</ref> The ] (TxDOT) is the state's ], whose stated mission is to "work cooperatively to provide safe, effective and efficient movement of people and goods."<ref name="texdotmission">{{cite web |title=Mission and Vision |publisher=] |url=http://www.dot.state.tx.us/about_us/mission.htm |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-04-29}}</ref> Though the public face of the agency is generally associated with maintenance of the state's immense ] system, the agency is also responsible for ].<ref name="texdotaviation">{{cite web |title=Aviation Division |publisher=] |url=http://www.dot.state.tx.us/services/aviation/default.htm |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-04-29}}</ref> in the state and overseeing ] systems.<ref name="texdottransport">{{cite web |title=Transportation Division |publisher=] |url=http://www.dot.state.tx.us/services/public_transportation/default.htm |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-04-29}}</ref>

===Highways===
]
{{main|Texas state highways}}
Texas ]s have been heavily traveled since the 1948 opening of the ] in ].<ref name="txfwy"></ref> As of 2005, there were {{convert|79535|mi|km|0}} of public highway in Texas (up from {{convert|71000|mi|km|0}} in 1984).<ref name="highwaymiles">{{cite web |title=LoneStarRoads - Highways of Texas |publisher=AARoads |date =] |url=http://www.aaroads.com/texas/ |format=html |doi= |accessdate=2008-04-20}}</ref> ] are common in Texas primarily due to lack of funds from traditional revenue sources. There are approximately 17 current ] with additional roads proposed.<ref name="tollways2">{{cite web |title=Global List of Toll Facilities - United States |publisher=International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association |year =2005 |url=http://www.ibtta.org/Information/content.cfm?ItemNumber=2530 |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-04-20}}</ref> In the western part of the state, both ] and ] have a speed limit of ], the highest in the nation.<ref name="speedlimit">{{cite web |title=Texas Raises Rural Speed Limits to 80 MPH{{ndash}} |publisher=FOXNews.com / Associated Press |date =] |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,197072,00.html |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-05-12}}</ref>

The ] (TTC), also known has the ] (NAFTA) freeway, is a transportation network in the planning and early construction stages. The network, as planned, would be composed of a {{convert|4000|mi|km|-3|sing=on}} network of ] up to {{convert|1200|ft|m|-1}} wide to carry parallel lines of ], ], and ] lines.<ref name="TTC">{{cite web |title=Crossroads of the Americas: Trans Texas Corridor Plan Report Summary |url=http://ttc.keeptexasmoving.com/publications/files/ttc_report_summary.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref>

===Airports===
{{see also|List of airports in Texas}}
]]]
Texas has the most airports of any state in the nation.<ref name="AdvaTransport"/> Largest of these is ] (DFW), the second largest in the United States, and fourth largest in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dfwairport.com/visitor/facts.htm |title=Facts about DFW |accessdate=2007-08-04 |work=Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport}}</ref> In traffic, DFW is the busiest in the state, fourth busiest in the United States,<ref>{{cite web|title=10 Great Places for Aviation and Aerospace|author=Jennifer LeClaire|work=Southern Business and Development|url=http://www.sb-d.com/issues/spring2007/features/10GreatPlacesForAviationAndAerospace.asp|accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref> and sixth busiest in the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport|work=USAToday|url=http://destinations.usatoday.com/dallas/|accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref> The airport serves 135 domestic destinations and 40 international. DFW is the largest and main ] of the ]s ] / ], the world's largest airline in total passengers-miles transported<ref>Aviation Week and Space Technology, January 15, 2007, p. 349, </ref> and passenger fleet size.<ref name="AMR">{{cite web |title=American airlines information pictures and facts |publisher=aviationexplorer.com |date =] |url=http://www.aviationexplorer.com/american_airlines.htm |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref>

Texas's second-largest air facility is Houston's ] (IAH). ] is the headquarters of ] and is the airline's largest hub. IAH offers service to the most Mexican destinations of any U.S. airport.<ref name="GBAir1">{{cite web|title=About George Bush Intercontinental Airport|publisher=Houston Airport System|url=http://www.houstonairportsystem.org/iahAbout|format=HTML|accessdate=2008-06-28}}</ref><ref name="GBAir2">{{cite press release|title=Houston Emerges As The Premier Gateway In The U.S. For Travelers To Mexico|publisher=Houston Airport System|date=]|url=http://www.fly2houston.com/0/8178/0/1906D1940/|accessdate=2006-12-30}} </ref> IAH ranks third among U.S. airports with scheduled non-stop domestic and international service.<ref name="GBAir1"/>

], headquartered in Dallas, Texas, began its operations at ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.southwest.com/about_swa/airborne.html |title=We Weren't Just Airborne Yesterday |date=]|publisher=Southwest Airlines |accessdate=2007-06-09}}</ref> It is the largest airline in the United States by number of passengers carried domestically per year and the ] by number of passengers carried.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iata.org/pressroom/wats/wats_passengers_carried.htm |title=Scheduled Passengers Carried |author=] |accessdate=2007-06-10}}</ref> The airline's growth from its original hub is limited by the ] of 1979.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asp.usatoday.com/community/profile.htm?UID=ebb13abbd48dd5df |title=Flights up, fares down one year after Wright Amendment changes |publisher=] |date =] |url=http://blogs.usatoday.com/sky/2007/10/wright.html |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref>

===Ports===
].]]
{{main|List of ports in the United States}}
Over 1,000 ] dot Texas's coast with over {{convert|1000|mi|km}} of ].<ref name="ports1">{{citation |title=About Texas Ports |publisher=Texas Ports Association |url=http://www.texasports.org/ |accessdate=2008-05-07}}</ref> Ports employ nearly one-million people and handle an average of 317 million ].<ref name="portbenefits">{{citation |title=Benefits of Texas Ports |publisher=Texas Ports Association |url=http://www.texasports.org/benefits/ |accessdate=2008-05-07}}</ref> Texas ports are connected with the rest of the US Atlantic seaboard in the ] section of the ].<ref name= "ports1"/> Until the deadliest hurricane in US history of ], the state's primary port was ].

With completion of the Houston Ship Channel in 1919, the ] replaced Galveston and today is the busiest port in the United States in foreign tonnage, second in overall tonnage, and ] worldwide in tonnage.<ref name="porthouston">{{citation |date =] |year=2008 |title=General Information |publisher=The Port of Houston Authority |url=http://www.portofhouston.com/geninfo/overview1.html |accessdate=2008-05-07}}</ref> The ] is currently {{convert|530|ft|m}} wide by {{convert|45|ft|m}} deep by {{convert|50|mi|km}} long.<ref name="HGnav">"Welcome to the Houston-Galveston Navigation Channel Project Online Resource Center" (description), ], December 2005, </ref>

===Railroads===
] in ]]]
{{seealso|List of Texas railroads}}
Part of the state's ] legends are based on ] where ] was herded from Texas to ] in Kansas. The first railroad in Texas completed in 1872, the ], diminished the need for these drives. The desire for the benefits of railroads was so strong that Dallasites paid $5,000 for the Houston and Central Texas Railroad to shift its route through its location, rather than ] as planned.<ref name="DallasRR">{{Handbook of Texas |id=EE/hte14 |name=East Dallas, TX}} accessed ]-]</ref> Since 1911, Texas has led the nation in railroad length. Construction of railroads created a radial system of major cities, unlike states in which river transportation most influenced the cities. Texas railway mileage peaked in 1932 at {{convert|17078|mi|km}}, but declned to {{convert|14006|mi|km}} by 2000.<ref name="AdvaTransport"/> The state's oldest regulatory agency, the ], originally regulated the railroads, but in 2005, the state transferred to these duties to TxDOT.<ref name="RRCMove">{{cite web |title=Former Rail Division|publisher=] |date =] |url=http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/divisions/rail_moved/index.html?/rail.html |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref>

] systems have been implemented in both Dallas and Houston. ] (DART) operates the first light rail system in the ].<ref name="DARTLightRail">{{citation |last=Myerson |first=Allen R. |date =1996-06-14 |year=1996 |title=Dallas Opening Southwest's First Rail Transit |publisher=] |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D01EFD81739F937A25755C0A960958260 |accessdate=2008-05-11}}</ref> The ] service, the ] (TRE), links Fort Worth and Dallas, provided by the ] (the T) and DART.<ref name="TRE">{{cite web |title=Trinity Railroad Express |url=http://www.trinityrailwayexpress.org/ |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-06-11}}</ref> The ] (METRO) operates lines in the Houston area.

Intercity passenger rail service in Texas is limited in terms of both network and frequency. Just three scheduled ] routes serve the state: the daily '']'' {{nowrap|(Chicago&ndash;San Antonio)}}; the tri-weekly '']'' {{nowrap|(New Orleans&ndash;Los Angeles)}}, with stops in Texas; and the daily '']'' {{nowrap|(Fort Worth&ndash;Oklahoma City)}}.

==Culture==
{{main|Culture of Texas}}
{{see also|List of people from Texas|List of Texas symbols}}
] has presided over every ] since 1952]]
Texas historically has had a culture that has been a blend of Southwestern (Mexican), Southern (Dixie), and Western (frontier) influences. A popular food item drawing from all three is the breakfast taco, made with a soft flour tortilla wrapped around bacon and scrambled eggs or other hot, cooked fillings. Adding to Texas's traditional culture, established in the 18th and 19th centuries, later immigration has made Texas a ] of cultures from around the world.

===Arts===
{{further|]}}
] is one of only five American cities with permanent professional resident companies in all of the major performing arts disciplines: the ], the ], the ], and ].<ref name="houstontheater">{{cite web |title=About Houston Theater District |publisher=] |url=http://www.houstontheaterdistrict.org/en/cms/?68 |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref> Known for the vibrancy of its ] and ], the ]&mdash;a 17-block area in the heart of ]&mdash;is ranked second in the country in the number of theatre seats in a concentrated downtown area, with 12,948 seats for live performances and 1,480 movie seats.<ref name="houstontheater"/>

] is an epicenter of the North Texas region's art scene. Founded in 1892, ] is the oldest art museum in Texas. The city is also home to the ], the ], the ], the ], and the ] downtown.

The ] of ] has arts venues such as the ], the ], ], and the ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Dallas Arts District |publisher=Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau |accessdate=2008-05-29 |url=http://www.dallascvb.com/visitors/listing.details.php?id=492}}</ref>

] in Houston]]
The ] district within Dallas became popular during the 1920s and 1930s as the prime ] and ] hotspot in the ]. The name Deep Ellum is derived from local people pronouncing "Deep Elm" as "Deep Ellum".<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=DD/hpd1|name=Deep Ellum}}</ref> Artists such as ], ], Huddie "]" Ledbetter, and ] played in early Deep Ellum clubs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dallas History Items: Deep Ellum |publisher=Dallas Historical Society |url=http://www.dallashistory.org/history/dallas/deep_ellum.htm |accessdate=2008-07-25}}</ref> Today, the district is home to hundreds of artists who live in lofts and operate in studios throughout the district alongside bars, pubs, and concert venues{{Fact|date=May 2008}}. One major art infusion has resulted from the city's ] stance on ]: several public ways, including tunnels, sides of buildings, sidewalks, and streets, are covered in graffiti murals.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}

], the ], boasts the most venues per capita citywise.<ref name="livemusic">{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofaustin.org/music/|title=Live Music Capital of the World|accessdate=2007-06-12|publisher=City of Austin}}</ref> The city's music revolves around the ]s on ] and an annual ], music, and ] festival known as ].<ref name="SouthbySouthwest">{{citation |last=Collier |first=Kiah |date =2007-03-19 |year=2007 |title=Austin's financial windfall from South by Southwest larger than last year |newspaper =] |publisher=] |url=http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2007/03/19/TopStories/Austins.Financial.Windfall.From.South.By.Southwest.Larger.Than.Last.Year-2779781.shtml |accessdate=2008-05-12}}</ref> The longest-running concert music program on American television, '']'' and its similarly named ] are located at ] at ].

Over the past couple of decades, ] has evolved into the "Nashville of ]." The ] have provided a forum to create greater awareness and appreciation for Tejano music and culture.<ref name="TejanoMA">{{cite web |title=Tejano Music Awards |publisher=Texas Talent Musicians Association |year =2008 |url=http://www.tejanomusicawards.com/ |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-05-12}}</ref>

===Sports===
{{main|Sports in Texas}}
{{further|], and ]}}
], home of the Texas&nbsp;Rangers]]
While ] has long been considered “king” in the state, Texans today enjoy a wide variety of sports.<ref name="FBKing">{{cite news|last=Brady |first=Erik |title=Football still king, but hoops teams in Texas grab attention |publisher=] |date =] |url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/2003-04-03-texas-double_x.htm |accessdate=2008-04-11}} </ref> Texans have a plethora of ] teams to cheer for. Texas is home to two ] teams, the ] and the ]; two ] teams, the ] and ]; three ] teams: the ], the ], and the ]; two ] teams: the ] and the ]; one National Hockey League team, the ]. Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area is one of only ] that have sports teams from the ]. Other professional teams include the ], and ], and the ].

] have deep significance in Texas culture. The state has the most ] schools in America, ten. The four largest programs are part of the ]: the ], ], ], and ]. According to a survey of Division I-A coaches, the ] between the ] and the University of Texas, the ], is ranked the third best collegiate rivalry in the nation.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/redrivershootout/texas/stories/100705dnspofbwnewrivalrylede.1c8619ce.html |title=UT-OU : Best Rivalry? |work=] |last=Davis |first=Brian |date=2005-10-07 |accessdate=2006-07-11}}</ref> The rivalry between the two largest universities in the state, Texas A&M University and the University of Texas, is called the ].] football game at ]]]<!--This image contains trademarked symbols, the ATM and the longhorn, and is only being used to illustrate said symbols within context-->

As described the book '']'', high school football is a major part of Texas culture.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} Texas is an American Football recruiting hotbed for college teams nationwide. In 2006, 170 players in the NFL were from Texas high schools.<ref name="HSrecruit">{{citation |last=Talman |first=John |title=Lone Star Competition |newspaper =] |year=2006 |date =] |url=http://rivals100.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=880&CID=523700}}.</ref> The ] (UIL) organizes most primary and secondary school competitions. Events organized by UIL include athletics as well as the arts and academic subjects such as ].{{Fact|date=May 2008}}

From 1905&ndash;1915, people in Dallas and Fort Worth turned out by the thousands for horse racing, which was usually tied to the state fair schedule. Dallas established a Jockey Club early on. The Fort Worth Driving Club (for owners of Standardbred trotters and pacers) had 101 members when it opened in 1905. Trotters raced at a park in Fort Worth, but both cities attracted thousands of people for each style of racing.<ref>, University of Texas at Arlington, accessed March 29, 2008</ref>

Texans also enjoy going to the ]. The annual ] is the largest rodeo in the world. The event begins with trail rides that originate from several points throughout the state, of which convene at ]. The World’s first rodeo was held in ] on July 4, 1883.<ref name="HoustonRodeo">{{cite web |title=Houston Rodeo Tickets |publisher=] |year =2008 |url=http://www.houstonrodeoonline.com/ |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-04-20}}</ref> The ] in ] has a cowboy, a Mexican and many traditional rodeos. The ] is held in ] each year at ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Fair Park, TX |publisher=City of Dallas |accessdate=2008-05-22 |url=http://www.dallascityhall.com/FairPark/art_architectural.html}}</ref>

Other popular sports in Texas include ], ], ] and ].{{Fact|date=May 2008}}

==Healthcare==
] ranks the Texas ] the third worst in the nation.<ref name="insurancenet">{{citation |last=Perotin |first=Maria M. |title=Texas is Near Bottom of Healthcare Rankings |newspaper =] |year=2007 |date =] |url=http://www.insurancenewsnet.com/article.asp?a=top_lh&id=80824 |accessdate=2008-04-22}}</ref> It also ranks Texas close to last in access to healthcare, quality of care, avoidable hospital spending, and equity among various groups.<ref name="insurancenet"/> Causes of the state's poor rankings include: politics, a high poverty rate, and illegal immigration, Texas having the highest rate in the nation.<ref name="CausesHealthcare">{{citation |last=Roberson |first=Jason |title=Politics, poverty, immigration entangle Texas health care |newspaper =] |year=2007 |date =] |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/120407dnbustexashealth.29ab7e6.html}}</ref> In May 2006, Texas initiated the program "code red" in response to the report that the state had 25.1 percent of the population without health insurance, the largest proportion in the nation.<ref name="codered">{{cite web |title=Code Red: The Critical Condition of Health in Texas |url=http://www.coderedtexas.org/ |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref> Texas also has controversial ] ] lawsuits set at $250,000, in an attempt to "curb rising malpractice premiums, and control escalating healthcare costs".<ref name="tort">{{citation |last=Odom |first=Lamar |last2 =Garcia |first2 =Anthony |last3 =Milburn |first3 =Pamela |year=2005 |title=The Ethicality of Capping Non-Economic Damages to Control Rising Healthcare Costs: Panacea or False and Misleading Practice? |edition =1 |volume=3 |publisher=The Internet Journal of Healthcare Administration |isbn=1531-2933 |url=http://www.ispub.com/ostia/index.php?xmlFilePath=journals/ijhca/vol3n1/capping.xml |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref>

The ] ranked Texas 12th highest adult ] rate, 24.6 percent, nationwide, and the 4th highest in the percentage of overweight high school students, 13.9 percent.<ref name="obese1">{{citation |last=Segal |first=Laura |last2 =Earls |first2 =Michael |title=Texas Ranks 12th in Nation for Obesity, New Report Finds State and Federal Obesity Policies are Failing |date =October 2004 |year=2004 |url=http://healthyamericans.org/reports/obesity/release.php?StateID=TX |accessdate=2008-04-21}}.</ref> The 2008 ] obesity survey ranked four Texas cities among the top 25 fattest cities in America; Houston ranked 6th, Dallas 7th, El Paso 8th, and ] 14th.<ref name="obese2">
{{citation |title=America's Fittest Cities 2007 |newspaper =] |year=2008 |url=http://www.mensfitness.com/city_rankings/411 |accessdate=2008-04-21}}}.</ref> Austin was the only Texan city in the top 25 among the "fittest cities" in America and ranked 21st.<ref name="obese2"/> The same survey has evaluated the state's obesity initiatives favorably with a "B+".<ref name="obese2"/>

===Medical research===
]
{{see also|List of hospitals in Texas}}
Texas is home to elite research medical centers. The state has eight ],<ref name="MedicalSchools">{{cite web |title=Texas Medical Schools and Hospitals |publisher=Texas Medical Association |date =2006-08-03 |url=http://www.texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=86 |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref> three dental schools, and one ] school. Texas has two ] (BSL-4) laboratories: one at ] (UTMB) in Galveston,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bioscrypt.com/about/press/press-2004-10-14.shtml|date=October 14, 2004|title=University Selects Bioscrypt for Biosafety Level 4 Lab|publisher=Bioscrypt|accessdate=2006-04-29}}</ref> and the other at the ] in San Antonio&mdash;the first privately owned BSL-4 lab in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfbr.org/pages/about_resources2.php|title=Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) Laboratory|publisher=Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research|accessdate=2006-04-29}}</ref>

The ], in Houston, is the world's largest concentration of ] and ] institutions, with 45 member institutions in the Texas Medical Center.<ref>. ''Texas Medical Center''. 2006. Last Retrieved ].</ref> More heart transplants are performed at ] than anywhere else in the world.<ref name="HeartTransplants">{{cite web |title=Background Statistics > People and Politics (most recent) by state |publisher=State Master |date =2008-05-08 |url=http://www.statemaster.com/graph/bac_bac-background-people-and-politics |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-05-08}}</ref> San Antonio's South Texas Medical Center facilities rank sixth in clinical medicine research impact in the United States<ref name="UTSAFactsheet">{{citation |date =] |year=2007 |title=Health Science Center ranks sixth in clinical medicine |edition =7 |volume=XL |publisher=University of Texas Health Science Center |url=http://www.uthscsa.edu/hscnews/singleformat.asp?newID=2353 |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref> with the ] being another highly ranked research and educational institution.<ref>{{cite web |title=Medical center's research ranks high |publisher=San Antonio Express-News |accessdate=2008-05-15 |url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA040407.medical.center.EN.2dc65c3e.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=International report gives Dental School high marks |publisher=HSC NEWS |accessdate=2008-05-15 |url=http://www.uthscsa.edu/hscnews/singleformat.asp?newID=1742}}</ref>

Dallas is home to the ] and the ], "among the top academic medical centers in the world".<ref name="UTSWAboutUs">{{cite web |title=About UT Southwestern |publisher=] |url=http://www8.utsouthwestern.edu/home/about/index.html |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref> The ] at the center employs the most medical school ] in the world.<ref name="UTSWFactsheet">{{cite web |title=UT Southwestern Fact Sheet |publisher=] |year =2008 |url=http://www8.utsouthwestern.edu/vgn/images/portal/cit_56417/43/32/2800592006_Fact_Sheet.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref><ref name="UTSWAboutUs"/> ] is one of the world’s highly regarded academic institutions devoted to cancer patient care, research, education and prevention.<ref name="MDAnderson">{{cite web |title=About MD Anderson |publisher=] |url=http://www.mdanderson.org/about_mda/ |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref>

==Education==
{{main|Education in Texas}}
], in 2005, had the largest graduating class in the nation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12535986/site/newsweek/page/2/|title=Some Numbers from Newsweek's Best High Schools List - Newsweek America's Best High Schools -r MSNBC.com|publisher=Newsweek|accessdate=2006-07-10}}</ref>]]
The ] ranked Texas 26 among the 50 states for education in 2007. Texas students ranked higher than average in mathematics, but lower in reading. Between 2005&ndash;2006, Texas spent $7,584 per pupil ranking it below the national average of $9,295. The pupil/teacher ratio was 15.0 slightly below average. Instructors were paid $38,130, below the national average. 10.8% of the educational funding in Texas came from the federal government, 89.22% from state funding.<ref name="reportcard">{{citation|title=2007 Report Card on American Education|date =|year=2007|url=http://www.alec.org/fileadmin/newPDF/2007%20ALEC%20Education%20Report%20Card.pdf|accessdate=2008-04-08|format={{dead link|date=June 2008}}{{ndash}} <sup></sup>}}</ref>

The state's public school systems are administered by the ] (TEA). Texas has ] ]s&mdash;all districts except the ] are independent from ] and many cross city boundaries.<ref name="Stafford">>{{cite press release|title=Comptroller Strayhorn to Review Stafford Municipal School District|publisher=Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn|date=]|format=HTML|url=http://www.cpa.state.tx.us/news/30916stafford.html|accessdate=2008-06-28}}</ref> School districts have the power to ] their residents and to assert ] over privately owned property. The "]" is a controversial tax redistribution system that provides court-mandated equitable school financing for school districts. Property tax revenue from property-wealthy school districts is distributed to those in property-poor districts, in an effort to equalize the public school financing for children throughout Texas.<ref name="robinhood">{{citation|last=Saghaye-Biria|first=Hakimeh| author-link =http://soc.hfac.uh.edu/cgi-bin/artman/exec/search.cgi?keyword=Hakimeh%20Saghaye-Biria|date=]|publisher=World Internet News Cooperative|url=http://soc.hfac.uh.edu/artman/publish/article_137.shtml|accessdate=2008-06-23}}</ref> The TEA has no authority over ] operations; private schools may or may not be accredited, and achievement tests are not required for private school graduating seniors. Neither TEA nor the local school district has authority to regulate ] activities.<ref name="homeschool">{{citation | publication-date =2007-11-01|title=Home School Information Letter|publisher=Texas Education Agency |url=http://www.tea.state.tx.us/home.school/homeltr.html|accessdate=2008-06-24}}</ref>

The ] (TAKS) is a ] used in Texas ] and ] to assess students' attainment of ], ], ], ], and ] skills required under Texas education standards. Though created before the ] was passed, it complies with the law. In spring 2007, Texas legislators replaced the TAKS for freshmen in the 2011&ndash;2012 school year and onward with End of Course exams for core high school classes.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/admin/eoc/index.html|title="End-of-Course (EOC) Assessments: Implementation" |last=Texas Education Agency|first= |work=Assessment Division|date=]|accessdate=2007-10-22}}</ref>

===Colleges and universities===
]
{{further|]}}
There are 181 colleges and universities, and dozens of other institutions engaged in the research and development of Texas within five different ].{{Fact|date=February 2008}}. The ], ], ] and the ] are Texas's four largest comprehensive ]{{ndash}} granting institutions with a combined enrollment of over 145,000. Texas's controversial alternative ] plan, ], guarantees Texas students who graduated in the ] of their ] class automatic admission to state-funded universities. The bill was created to encourage ] while avoiding problems stemming from the '']'' (1996) case. As for ], ]&mdash;one of the country’s leading teaching and research universities&mdash;ranked the 17th-best university overall in the nation by '']''.<ref>. ''U.S.News & World Report''</ref> Additionally, ], in Waco, and ], near Austin, are two of the longest established universities and were chartered by the Republic of Texas.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Baylor |publisher=Baylor University |accessdate=2008-05-21 |url=http://www.baylor.edu/about/}}</ref><ref>http://www.southwestern.edu/about/about-history.html</ref> ], located in Dallas, was recently ranked the 13th-best university in the nation by the Center for College Affordability & Productivity (as published in )&mdash;a sign of the increasing prominence of the university as a formidable institution not only to schools within the state of Texas, but nationwide.

==See also==
{{portal|Texas|Flag of Texas.svg|left=no}}
*]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
*{{citation|last=Chipman|first=Donald E.|title=Spanish Texas, 1519-1821|publisher=]|location=]|date=1992|isbn=0292776594}}
*{{citation|last=Weber|first=David J.|title=The Spanish Frontier in North America|publisher=]|location=]|series=Yale Western Americana Series|date=1992|isbn=0300051980}}
*{{citation|last=Weddle|first=Robert S.|title=Changing Tides: Twilight and Dawn in the Spanish Sea, 1763–1803|series=Centennial Series of the Association of Former Students Number 58|publisher=]|location=]|date=1995|isbn=0890966613}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks}}
;State Government
*
* - Annotated list of searchable databases produced by Texas state agencies and compiled by the ''Government Documents Roundtable of the American Library Association''.
*. An online textbook from the College of Liberal Arts, The University of Texas at Austin.
;U.S. Government
*
*
*
*
;Other
*
*{{ndash}} Published by the ''Texas State Historical Association''
*, hosted by the ''University of North Texas Libraries''
*
*{{wikitravel}}
*
{{Template group
|list =
{{Texas|expand}}
{{United States}}
{{US South}}
{{Six flags of Texas}}
{{Confederate States of America}}
{{coor title d|31|N|100|W|region:US-TX_type:adm1st_scale:10000000}}
}}
{{succession
|preceded = ]
|office = ]
|years = Admitted on December 29, 1845 (28th)
|succeeded = ]
}}

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Revision as of 15:48, 24 September 2008