| Revision as of 17:33, 17 April 2009 view sourceThe Thing That Should Not Be (talk | contribs)Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers167,531 editsm Reverted edits by 209.232.147.118 to last revision by Until It Sleeps (HG)← Previous edit | Revision as of 17:34, 17 April 2009 view source 209.232.147.118 (talk) ←Replaced content with 'URL_ID=12589&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html |accessdate=2008-04-28 |pages=A01}}</ref> Dallas-Fort Worth, home to three major …'Next edit → | ||
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| URL_ID=12589&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html |accessdate=2008-04-28 |pages=A01}}</ref> ], home to three major evangelical seminaries, also has several ], including ], ], ], and ]. Houston is home to the largest church in the nation, ], averaging more than 43,000 in 75 | |||
| {{Otheruses1|the U.S. State of Texas}} | |||
| {{Copyedit|date=January 2009}} | |||
| {{Infobox U.S. state | |||
| |Name = Texas | |||
| |Fullname = State of Texas | |||
| |Former = Republic of Texas | |||
| |Flag = Flag of Texas.svg | |||
| |Flaglink = ] | |||
| |Seal = State Seal of Texas.svg | |||
| |Seallink = ] | |||
| |Map = Map_of_USA_TX.svg | |||
| |Nickname = The Lone Star State | |||
| |Motto = Friendship | |||
| |Demonym = ] | |||
| |Capital = ] | |||
| |LargestCity = ] | |||
| |LargestMetro = ]<ref name="US Census">{{cite web |date=2007-04-04 |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) | |||
| |Representative=20 Republicans, 12 Democrats | |||
| |PostalAbbreviation = TX | |||
| |TradAbbreviation = Tex. | |||
| |BorderingStates = ], ],<br/>], ] | |||
| |OfficialLang = No official language<br/>(see ]) | |||
| |AreaRank = 2nd | |||
| |TotalAreaUS = 268,820<ref name="facts">{{cite web |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 = 2nd | |||
| |2000Pop (old) = 20,851,820 | |||
| |2000Pop = 24,326,974 (2008 est.)<ref>{{cite web | title = 2008 Population Estimates | publisher = US Census | url = http://www.census.gov/popest/states/NST-ann-est.html | format = xls | accessdate = 2008-12-23}}</ref> | |||
| |DensityRank = 26th | |||
| |2000DensityUS = 79.6<ref name="Census2"/> | |||
| |2000Density = 30.75 | |||
| |Total GDP = $1,065,891,000 | |||
| |Total GDP Rank = 2nd | |||
| |Per capita GDP = $43,283 | |||
| |Per Capita GDP Rank = 16th | |||
| |AdmittanceOrder = 28th | |||
| |AdmittanceDate = December 29, 1845 | |||
| |TimeZone = ]: ]-6/] | |||
| |TZ1Where = most of state | |||
| |TimeZone2 = ]: UTC-7/-6 | |||
| |TZ2Where = tip of ] | |||
| |Latitude = 25° 50′ N to 36° 30′ N | |||
| |Longitude = 93° 31′ W to 106° 39′ W | |||
| |WidthUS = 773<ref name="environment">{{cite web |year=2008 |title=Environment |edition =2008–2009 |publisher=Texas Almanac |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://egsc.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''' ({{Audio-IPA|en-us-Texas.ogg|/ˈtɛksəs/}}) is a ] in the ], nicknamed the ''Lone Star State''. Texas is the second largest U.S. state in both area and population, with an area of {{convert|268820|sqmi|km2}}, and with a growing population of 24.6 million residents.<ref>{{cite web| title = Utah is Fastest-Growing State| work = Press Release| publisher = U.S. Census Bureau | date = December 22, 2008 | url = http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/013049.html | accessdate = December 23, 2008}}</ref> ] is the largest city in Texas and the ] in the United States, while the ] is the largest ] in the state and the fourth-largest in the nation. Other major cities include ], ], and ]—the ]. | |||
| Texas contains diverse ], resembling in places both the ] and the ]. Traveling from east to west, one can observe ] and semi-forests of ] and ], rolling plains and ], rugged hills, and finally the ] of the ]. The phrase "everything is bigger in Texas" derives in part from the state's geographic sprawl and the wide open spaces of its desert and prairie regions.<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 ] industry, Texas is associated throughout much of the world with the image of the ]. | |||
| ] and ], Texas is usually considered part of the ]. However, with its Spanish and Mexican roots, and the topography and Southwestern vegetation generally west of a Fort Worth to Corpus Christi line, it can also be classified as part of the ]. While residents acknowledge these categories, many claim an independent "]" identity superseding ]. | |||
| The term "]" comes from the multiple countries that have claimed the territory. ] was the first European country to claim the area of Texas. ] held a ] in Texas. ] owned the territory until 1836 when Texas won its independence, becoming an independent ]. In 1845 it joined the United States as the 28th state. The state's ] helped set off a ] that caused the ] in 1846. Texas seceded from the United States in early 1861, joining the ] on March 23, 1861. | |||
| In the early 1900s, ] ] initiated an economic boom in the state. Texas has since ]. It has a growing base in high technology, biomedical research and higher education. Its ] is the second-highest in the nation. | |||
| ==History== | |||
| {{main|History of Texas}} | |||
| ===Pre-European era=== | |||
| The word Texas is derived from ''{{unicode|táysha}}'', a word in the ] of the ], which means "allies" or "friends".<ref name="facts"/><ref name="etymology">{{cite web |url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Texas |title=Texas |accessdate=2007-02-25 |publisher=Online Etymology Dictionary}}</ref><ref name="WChafe">Wallace Chafe, p.c.</ref> Scholars estimate that humans have lived in Texas for approximately {{formatnum:11200}} years.<ref name="Hester">{{en}} {{cite web|url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/PP/bfp2.html|title=Prehistory| author= Thomas R. Hester, Ellen Sue Turner |site=The Handbook of Texas Online|editor= Texas State Historical Association|date=2008-08-22}}</ref> The ] that lived in Texas in the ] era (between 9200 – 6000 B.C.) may have links to ] and ] cultures; these ] hunted ]s and ]<ref name="Hester"/> using ]s. They extracted ] in the region of ] of North Texas. | |||
| Despite the ] along with ] during the ], Texas experienced ], beginning at the ]. Many ]s drawn on the walls of the caves or on rocks are visible in the State, including at ]<ref name="Sutherland">{{cite paper| last= Sutherland| first=Kay| title = Rock Paintings at Hueco Tanks State Historic Site| publisher = Texas Parks & Wildlife| date = 2006| id = PWD BK P4501-095E (6/06)| url = http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_p4501_0095e.pdf| format = PDF| accessdate = 2009-01-26}}</ref> and Seminole Canyon. | |||
| Native Americans in what's now Texas began to ] in villages shortly after 500 B.C., farming and building the first burial ]. This phase of history is due to the influence the ] civilizations that lived in the Mississippi basin.<ref name="Hester"/> The ] nation was formed between 500 and 800 while the ] populations were influenced by ]. | |||
| From the eighth century, the bow and arrow appeared in the region,<ref name="Hester"/> manufacture of pottery developed and ] increasingly depended on ] for survival. Obsidian objects found in various Texan sites attest of trade with present days Mexico and ]. | |||
| Among the Native Americans that lived in Texas before ] were the: | |||
| ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].<ref>Rupert N. Richardson, Adrian Anderson, Cary D. Wintz & Ernest Wallace, ''Texas: the Lone Star State'', 9th edition, New Jersey, Prentice Hall, 0131835505, pp.10–16</ref> | |||
| ===Colonization=== | |||
| {{main|French Texas|Spanish Texas|Mexican Texas}} | |||
| ] | |||
| The first document in Texas history was a map of the ] created in 1519 by Spanish explorer ].<ref name="chipman243">Chipman (1992), p. 243.</ref><ref name="weber34"> Weber (1992), p. 34.</ref> Nine years later, shipwrecked Spanish explorer ] became the first known ] in Texas.<ref name="CVaca">{{Handbook of Texas|id=CC/fca6|name=Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca}}</ref><ref name="SpanishT">{{Handbook of Texas|id=SS/nps1|name=Spanish Texas}}</ref> For over a century, Texas was essentially ignored by European powers. It was settled accidentally in 1685, when miscalculations by ] resulted in the establishement of French colony ] at ] rather than along the ].<ref name="weber149">Weber (1992), p. 149.</ref> The colony lasted only four years before succumbing to harsh conditions and hostile natives.<ref name="chipman83">Chipman (1992), p. 83.</ref> | |||
| Spanish authorities, concerned that France posed a threat to New Spain, initiated settlement activities in 1690 with the construction of several ] in ].<ref name=chipman89>Chipman (1992), p. 89.</ref> After resistance from the native tribes, the Spanish missionaries returned to Mexico, abandoning Texas for the next two decades.<ref name="weber155">Weber (1992), p. 155.</ref> France began settling ], and in response in 1716 Spanish authorities established a new series of missions in East Texas.<ref name=chipman111and2>Chipman (1992), pp. 111–112.</ref><ref name="weber160">Weber (1992), p. 160.</ref> Two years later, ] was established as the first Spanish civilian settlement in Texas.<ref name="weber163">Weber (1992), p. 163.</ref> | |||
| Hostile native tribes and remoteness from New Spain discouraged settlers from moving to Texas, leaving it one of New Spain's least populated provinces.<ref name=chipman205>Chipman (1992), p. 205.</ref> In 1749, the Spanish signed a peace treaty with the ];<ref name="weber193">Weber (1992), p. 193.</ref> this angered the enemies of the Apache, including the ], ], and ] tribes.<ref name="weber189">Weber (1992), p. 189.</ref> The Comanche signed a treaty with Spain in 1785<ref name="weddle163">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 were not ].<ref name=chipman202>Chipman (1992), p. 202.</ref> | |||
| When the United States ] from France in 1801, American authorities insisted that the agreement also included Texas. The boundary between New Spain and the United States was finally set at the ] in 1819.<ref name="weber291to9">Weber (1992), pp. 291–299.</ref> Many American citizens refused to recognize the agreement, and several ]s raised armies to invade Texas.<ref name=davis46>Davis (2006), p. 46.</ref> In 1821, following the ], Texas became part of the new country of Mexico.<ref name="weber300">Weber (1992), p. 300.</ref> Due to its low population, Texas was denied independent statehood, and instead became part of the state of ].<ref name=manchaca162>Manchaca (2001), p. 162.</ref> | |||
| ] was the first '']'' given permission to operate a colony within ].]] | |||
| Authorities in ] had neither manpower nor funds to protect settlers from near-constant Comanche raids. In the hopes that an influx of settlers could control the Indian raids, the government liberalized its immigration policies for the region, and for the first time settlers from the United States were permitted to immigrate to Mexico.<ref name=manchaca164>Manchaca (2001), p. 164.</ref> Under the Mexican immigration system, large swathes of land were allotted to '']s'', who would recruit settlers from the United States, Europe, and the Mexican interior. Texas grew rapidly, from a population of approximately 3,500 (primarily of Mexican descent) in 1825<ref name=edmondson75>Edmondson (2000), p. 75.</ref> to approximately 37,800 (only 7,800 of Mexican descent) in 1834.<ref name=manchaca201and172>Manchaca (2001), pp. 172, 201.</ref> | |||
| Many new settlers to Texas openly flouted Mexican law, especially the prohibition against slavery. This, combined with several attempts by the United States to purchase Texas, convinced Mexican authorities that immigration should be halted. In 1830 Mexico officially outlawed further immigration from the United States to Texas.<ref name="edmondson78">Edmondson (2000), p. 78.</ref> The new laws, which also called for the enforcement of customs duties, angered both native Mexican citizens ('']s'') as well as recent immigrants.<ref name=davis77>Davis (2006), p. 77.</ref> In 1832, a group of men led a revolt against customs enforcement in ]. These ] coincided with a revolt in Mexico against the current president.<ref name=davis85>Davis (2006), p. 85.</ref> ]s sided with the ] against the current government and drove all Mexican soldiers out of East Texas.<ref name=davis86to89>Davis (2006), pp. 86–9.</ref> Texians took advantage of the lack of oversight to agitate for more political freedom, resulting in the ], which, among other issues, requested independent statehood for Texas.<ref name=davis92>Davis (2006), p. 92.</ref> The following year, Texians reiterated their demands at the ]. After presenting their petition, courier ] was jailed for the next two years in ] on suspicion of treason.<ref name=lack7>Lack (1992), p. 7.</ref> | |||
| ===Republic=== | |||
| {{main|Texas Revolution|Republic of Texas}} | |||
| Within Mexico, tensions continued between proponents of a federalist system and those that wanted a more centralized government. In early 1835, wary colonists in Texas began forming Committees of Correspondence and Safety.<ref name=huson4>Huson (1974), p. 4.</ref> The vague unrest erupted into armed conflict in late 1835 at the ].<ref name="hardin12">Hardin (1994), p. 12.</ref> This launched the ], and over the next two months, the ]s successfully defeated all Mexican troops in the region.<ref name=barr64>Barr (1990), p. 64.</ref> Texians elected delegates to the ], which created a provisional government.<ref name=winders72>Winders (2004), p. 72.</ref> The provisional government soon collapsed from infighting, and Texas was without clear governance for the first two months of 1836.<ref name=winders90and92>Winders (2004), pp. 90, 92.</ref><ref name=hardin109>Hardin (1994), p. 109.</ref> | |||
| During this time of Texas political turmoil, Mexican President ] personally led an army to end the revolt.<ref name="hardin102">Hardin (1994), p. 102.</ref> The Mexican expedition was initially successful. General ] defeated all the Texian resistance along the coast culminating in the ].<ref name=Handbook>{{Citation |last=Roell|first=Craig|title=Battle of Coleto|publisher=Handbook of Texas|url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/CC/qec1.html}}</ref> Santa Anna's forces, after a thirteen-day siege, overwhelmed Texian defenders at the ]. News of the defeats sparked panic amongst Texas settlers.<ref name=todish68/> | |||
| The newly-elected Texian delegates to the ] hurriedly signed a ] on March 2, forming the ]. After electing interim officers, the Convention disbanded.<ref name=roberts144>Roberts and Olson (2001), p. 144.</ref> The new government joined the other settlers in Texas in the ], fleeing from the approaching Mexican army.<ref name=todish68>Todish ''et al'' (1998), p. 68.</ref> | |||
| After several weeks of retreat, the ] commanded by ] attacked and defeated Santa Anna's forces at ].<ref name=todish69>Todish ''et al'' (1998), p. 69.</ref> Santa Anna was captured and forced to sign the ], ending the war.<ref name=todish70>Todish ''et al'' (1998), p. 70.</ref> Because the treaty was signed under ], the Mexican government never ratified the treaty. | |||
| ] | |||
| Several sites served as temporary capitals of Texas until 1839, when the Republic built the brand new town of Austin as Texas' permanent capital. Internal politics of the Republic were based on the conflict between two factions. The nationalist faction, led by ], advocated the continued independence of Texas, the expulsion of the ], and the expansion of Texas to the Pacific Ocean. Their opponents, led by Sam Houston, advocated the annexation of Texas to the United States and peaceful co-existence with Native Americans. The conflict between the factions was typified by an incident known as the ].<ref name="archivewar">{{cite web | title = The Archives War | work = Texas Treasures- The Republic| publisher = The Texas State Library and Archives Commission | date = 2005-11-02 | url = http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/treasures/republic/archwar/archwar.html | accessdate = 2009-01-03}}</ref> | |||
| ===Statehood=== | |||
| {{main|Texas Annexation|Mexican American War}} | |||
| Most Texans supported ] of their Republic into the United States. Events such as the ] and two recaptures of Béxar in Texas of 1842 added urgency to the desire for statehood.<ref name="Calvert">{{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> Strong ] opposition to adding ]s blocked Texas's admission until pro-annexation ] won the ]. On December 29, 1845, ] admitted Texas to the U.S. as a constituent ] of the Union.<ref name="TAnnexation">{{Handbook of Texas|id=AA/mga2|name=Annexation}}</ref> | |||
| When Texas gained statehood, Mexico broke diplomatic relations with the United States. The United States claimed that Texas' border stretched to the Rio Grande, citing the 1836 ]. Mexico, never ratifying these treaties, claimed the ] as its border. While the former Republic of Texas could not enforce its border claims, the United States had the military strength and the political will to do so. President Polk ordered General ] south to the Rio Grande on January 13, 1846. A few months later Mexican troops routed an American cavalry patrol in the disputed area in what is called the ]. Polk declared this incident an act of war. The first battles of the war were fought in Texas: the ], ] and ]. After these decisive victories, the United States invaded Mexican territory ending the fighting in Texas.<ref name="Mwar">{{Handbook of Texas|id=MM/qdm2|name=Mexican War}}</ref> | |||
| ] | |||
| After a series of United States victories, the ] ended the two year war. In return, for ]18,250,000, Mexico gave the U.S. undisputed control of Texas, ceded the ] in 1848, most of which today is called the American Southwest, and Texas' borders were established at the Rio Grande.<ref name="Mwar"/> | |||
| The ] set Texas's boundaries at their present form. Texas ceded land which later became half of present day ], a third of ], and small portions of ], ], and ] to the federal government, in return for the 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 name="CCulture">{{Handbook of Texas|id=CC/afc3|name=Cotton Culture}}</ref> | |||
| Texas retains the right to divide into five independent States.{{cn}} | |||
| "...New states, of convenient size, not exceeding four in number, in addition to said state of Texas, and having sufficient population, may hereafter, by the consent of said state, be formed out of the territory thereof, which shall be entitled to admission under the provisions of the federal constitution. ''See'' "Annexation of Texas. Joint Resolution of the Congress of the United States, March 1, 1845.<ref>http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/texan02.asp</ref> | |||
| ===Civil War and Reconstruction=== | |||
| ]]] | |||
| {{main|Texas in the American Civil War}} | |||
| The election of ] in 1860 led to support for secession throughout the American South. Texas’ most notable ] was Governor Sam Houston. A State Convention to consider secession opened in Austin on January 28, 1861. On February 1, by a vote of 166-8, the Convention adopted an Ordinance of Secession from the United States. Texas voters ratified the Ordinance on February 23, 1861. After refusing two offers from President Lincoln for Union troops to keep him in office, Houston resigned his office peacefully.<ref name="SamHoustonHB">{{Handbook of Texas | id=HH/fho73.html| name=Sam Houston}} Accessed January 14, 2009</ref> Texas soon joined the Confederate States of America, ratifying the C.S. Constitution on March 23, 1861.<ref name="facts"/><ref name="SecessionConvention">{{Handbook of Texas|id=SS/mjs1|name=Secession Convention}}</ref> | |||
| While far from ] ] of the war east of the Mississippi river, Texas contributed large amounts of men, and equipment to the rest of the Confederacy.<ref name="CivilwarHB">{{Handbook of Texas | id=CC/qdc2.html | name=Civil War}} Accessed January 14, 2009</ref> However, in mid-1863 the Union capture of the ] cut these supply lines. | |||
| Few battles of the war were fought in Texas. Union troops briefly ] the state's primary port, Galveston. Texas' border with Mexico was known as the "backdoor of the Confederacy" because it allowed trade to occur at the border, mitigating the effects of the Union blockade on the state.<ref name="FederalWriter">{{cite book | last = Federal Writers' Project | title = Texas, A Guide to the Lone Star State: Brownsville | publisher = Native American Books Distributor | date = December, 1997 | pages = 206 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=zUI26u0B_VEC&pg=PA206&lpg=PA206&dq=texas+back+door+confederacy&source=web&ots=VStg1U1cWb&sig=Vg2v7zfmRNqxTjwkGYjngF0V1BY&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=8&ct=result#PPA203,M1 | isbn = 0403021928}}</ref> The Confederacy repulsed all Union attempts to shut down this route.<ref name="CivilwarHB">{{Handbook of Texas | id=CC/qdc2.html | name=Civil War}} Accessed January 14, 2009</ref> A month after Robert E. Lee's surrender the final battle of the Civil War, the ], was fought over this border.<ref name="BattlePR">{{Handbook of Texas|id=PP/qfp1|name=Battle of Palmito Ranch}}</ref> | |||
| Texas descended into near anarchy two months between the ] of the ] and the assumption of authority by Union General ]. Violence also marked the early months of ].<ref name="CW1">{{Handbook of Texas|id=CC/qdc2|name=Civil War}}</ref> ] commemorates the announcement of the ] in Galveston by General Gordon Granger, over 2½ years after the original announcement.<ref name="BarriersVoting">{{cite web |title=Historical Barriers to Voting |work=Texas Politics |publisher=University of Texas |url=http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/6_5_3.html|format=HTML |accessdate=2008-10-13}}</ref><ref name="Juneteenth">{{Handbook of Texas|id=JJ/lkj1|name=Juneteenth}}</ref> President Johnson, in 1866, declared that civilian government restored in Texas.<ref name="readmission">{{cite web |last=Johnson |first=Andrew |author-link =Andrew Johnson |date=1866-08-20 |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, in 1870 Congress readmitted Texas into the ]. Social volatility continued as the state struggled with agricultural depression and labor issues.<ref name="restoration">{{Handbook of Texas|id=RR/mzr1|name=Restoration}}</ref> | |||
| ===Modern era=== | |||
| ] | |||
| The first major oil well in Texas was ], south of ], on January 10, 1901. Other fields were later discovered nearby in East Texas, ], and under the ]. The resulting "Oil Boom" permanently transformed the economy of Texas.<ref name="Spindletop">{{Handbook of Texas|id=SS/dos3|name=Spindletop Oilfield}}</ref> Oil production eventually averaged three million barrels per day at its peak in 1972;<ref name="Oil_Gas">{{Handbook of Texas|id=OO/doogz|name=Oil and Gas Industry}}</ref> the resulting royalties provided and continue to provide a considerable source of income to the ] for Texas' public universities.<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/PP/khp2.html|title=Permanent University Fund |accessdate= January 13, 2008|first=Vivian Elizabeth|last= Smyrl|publisher=TSHA Online}}</ref> | |||
| ] and the ] dealt a double blow to the state's economy, which had significantly improved since the Civil War. 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 | retrieved }} = 2008-04-27</ref> | |||
| On November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, ] assassinated president ].<ref name="warren147">Warren Commission, p. 147.</ref> The Texas Governor, ], was also critically injured in the incident but survived.<ref name="Warrenpage133">Warren Commission Hearings, p. 133</ref> On ] at Dallas's ], Kennedy's ], the Texan ], swore in as the next president.<ref> Transcript, Lawrence F. O'Brien Oral History Interview XIII, 9/10/86, by Michael L. Gillette, Internet Copy, LBJ Library. See: Page 23 at </ref> | |||
| Despite the tragedy, in the 1950 through the 1960s, Texas modernized and expanded its ]. Under the leadership of Governor Connally, the state created a comprehensive 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.<ref name="Blanton">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== | |||
| {{Expand|section|date=January 2009}} | |||
| ]]] | |||
| 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. | |||
| Texas' size and unique history makes its regional affiliation 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 ] than with the ]. Others, such as far West Texas and South Texas share more similarities with the latter. | |||
| The ], ] and ] form natural state ]s, Oklahoma on the north, ] and ] on the east, & the Mexican states of ], ], ], and ] to the south. The state's ] has an eastern border with Oklahoma at ], a northern border with Oklahoma at ] and a western border with New Mexico at ]. ] lies on the state's western tip at ] and the Rio Grande.<ref name="comp1850"/> | |||
| ===Geology=== | |||
| {{main|Geology of Texas}} | |||
| ]]] | |||
| Texas is the southernmost part of the Great Plains, which ends in the south against the folded ] of Mexico. The ] forms a stable ] ] which changes across a broad continental margin and transitional crust into true ] of the Gulf of Mexico. The oldest rocks in Texas date from the Mesoproterozoic and are about 1,600 million years old. These ] ] and ]s underlie most of the state, and are exposed in three places: ] uplift, ], and the ], near El Paso. ] overlay most of these ancient rocks. 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 ]–] zone of Pennsylvanian ]. This ] crest is today buried beneath the Dallas–]—Austin–San Antonio trend. | |||
| 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 Gulf of Mexico occurred only in the mid and late Jurassic. The shoreline shifted again to the eastern margin of the state and the Gulf of Mexico passive margin began to form. Today {{convert|9|mi|km|0}} to {{convert|12|mi|km|0|}} of sediments are buried beneath the Texas continental shelf and a large proportion of remaining US oil reserves are located 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 Jurassic age. These salt deposits formed ] ]s, and are found in East Texas, along the Gulf coast.<ref name="DiaperGrowth">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 which contain important deposits of ]]. 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 ] contain oil. ] ] 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 name="Ogallala">{{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> Located far from an active ] boundary, Texas has no ] and few ].<ref name="earthquakes">{{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}}</ref> | |||
| ==Climate== | |||
| {{main article|Climate of Texas}} | |||
| ], causes a closure of ]]] | |||
| The large size of Texas and its location at the intersection of multiple ] gives the state very variable weather. The Panhandle of the state has colder winters 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 name="weather1">{{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. | |||
| Generally, snow falls multiple times each winter in the Panhandle and mountainous areas of West Texas, once or twice a year in North Texas, once every few years in Central and East Texas, but snow rarely falls south of San Antonio or on the coast except in extreme circumstances, such as the ] which saw the first White Christmas ever for ] and 6 inches of snow as far south as ], whose average high temperature in December is 65° ].<ref>http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KNQI/2008/12/24/DailyHistory.html?req_city=NA&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA</ref> | |||
| 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 ], but most areas of Texas see consistent summer high temperatures in the {{convert|90|°F|°C|0|lk=on}} range. | |||
| Night time summer temperatures range from the upper 50s °F (14 °C) in the West Texas mountains<ref name="weather2">{{cite web | title = Monthly Averages for Marfa, Texas | publisher = The Weather Channel | url =http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/outdoors/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USTX0830?from=search Monthly Averages for Marfa, Texas] weather.com | accessdate = 2008-10-15}}</ref> to {{convert|80|°F|°C|0}} in Galveston.<ref name="weather3">{{cite web | title = Monthly Averages for Galveston, Texas | publisher = The Weather Channel | url = http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/outdoors/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USTX0499?from=search Monthly Averages for]. weather.com | accessdate = 2008-10-15}}</ref> | |||
| ] strike Texas often, especially the eastern and northern portion of the state. ] covers the northern section of Texas. 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 2008-07-22</ref> | |||
| 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, at the time the most important port city in the state. This allowed ] to take over as the chief port city, the ] subsequently devastated that city killing 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.<ref name="deadhurr">{{cite web| last = Blake| first = Eric S.| coauthors = Rappaport, Edward N., Landsea, Christopher W.| title = The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Tropical Cyclones From 1851 to 2006| publisher = National Weather Service: National Hurricane Center| date = 2007-04-15| url = http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/NWS-TPC-5.pdf| format = PDF| accessdate = 2008-10-02}}</ref> Tropical storms have also caused their share of damage: ] in 1989 and again ], ] in 1979 among them. | |||
| 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=2007-06-04|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=2007-06-03|accessdate=2008-06-11}}</ref><ref name="GH3">{{cite news |title=Texas Is No. 1 Carbon Polluter In U.S.|author=Associated Press|date=2008-01-16|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/16/tech/main3720823.shtml?source=RSSattr=SciTech_3720823}}</ref> The state emits nearly 1.5 trillion pounds (680 billion kg) of carbon dioxide annually. As an independent nation Texas would rank as the world's seventh-largest producer of greenhouse gases.<ref name="GH2"/> Causes of the state's vast greenhouse gas emissions include the state's large number of ] and the state's refining and manufacturing industries.<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 state's ] (births - deaths) 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 ]. Texas from 2000–2006 had the fastest growing illegal immigration rate in the nation.<ref name="CausesHealthcare"/> | |||
| ===Racial group and ethnic origins=== | |||
| As of the 2006 US Census estimates, the racial and ethnic distribution in Texas are as follows: | |||
| *70.6% ] (51.5% Non-Hispanic White, 20% ]) | |||
| **] (10.9%) | |||
| **] (7.2%) | |||
| **] (7.2%) | |||
| *35.5% total ] or ] (of any race)<ref name="Census2">{{cite web |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®=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= |accessdate=2007-04-28}}</ref> | |||
| *11.5% ] | |||
| *3.3% ] | |||
| *0.5% ] | |||
| *12.3% other racial groups | |||
| *1.8% Two or more races | |||
| ] | |||
| German descendants inhabit much of central and southeast-central Texas. Over one-third of Texas residents are of Hispanic origin;<ref name="Census2"/> while many have recently arrived, some ] have ancestors with multigenerational ties to 18th century Texas. In addition to the descendants of the state's former slave population, many African American college graduates have come to the state for work recently in the ].<ref name="blackmigration">, accessed March 19, 2008</ref> Recently, the Asian population in Texas has grown—primarily in Houston and Dallas. | |||
| Native American tribes who once lived inside the boundaries of present-day Texas include ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], Hueco and the Karankawa of ]. Currently, three federally recognized Native American tribes reside in Texas: the ] Tribe, the ] Traditional Tribe, and the ].<ref name="nativeamericans">{{Handbook of Texas|id=II/bzi4|name=Native Americans}}</ref> | |||
| ===Religion=== | |||
| ] | |||
| Texas resides in the socially conservative Evangelical Protestant ], and has the highest percentage of people with a religious affiliation in the United States.<ref name="abstinence">{{cite web |last=Connolly |first=Ceci |date=2003-01-21 |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> ], home to three major evangelical seminaries, also has several ], including ], ], ], and ]. Houston is home to the largest church in the nation, ], averaging more than 43,000 in attendance per week.<ref>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Top-100-Largest-Churches</ref> ], according to local lore, has the most churches per capita in the nation.<ref name="abstinence"/> | |||
| The religious affiliation of Texas are as follows:<ref>http://www.gc.cuny.edu/faculty/research_briefs/aris/key_findings.htm#StateFaith</ref> | |||
| *] - 28% | |||
| *] - 21% | |||
| *] - 11% | |||
| *] - 8% | |||
| *] - Others- 7% | |||
| *] - 3% | |||
| *] - 3% | |||
| *] - 2% | |||
| *] - 1% | |||
| *], ], other - 1% | |||
| *] - 1% | |||
| 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">{{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> Also, approximately 400,000 ] live 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 have populations greater than 500,000, two of which are beta ]: Dallas and Houston.<ref name="worldcities">{{Cite web | |||
| | title = GaWC - The World According to GaWC 2008 | |||
| | work = Globalization and World Cities Research Network | |||
| | accessdate = 2009-03-01 | |||
| | url = http://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/world2008t.html | |||
| }}</ref> Texas has the most cities, three, with populations exceeding 1 million: Dallas, Houston, San Antonio.<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=2008-06-10 |accessdate=2008-06-10}}</ref> These three rank among the 10 largest cities of the United States. Austin, Fort Worth, and El Paso rank among the top 25 ]. Texas has a total of ], with four having populations over 1 million (], ], ] and ]) of which Dallas and Houston are over 5 million. Three ]{{ndash}} ] to the west (Dallas-Fort Worth to San Antonio, with Austin in between), ] to the east (Dallas to Houston), and ] to the south (San Antonio to Houston) forms the ] region. The region contains most of the state's largest cities and metropolitan areas, as well as nearly 75 percent of Texas's total population.<ref name="urbantriangle">{{cite web | last = Neuman | first = Michael | title = The Texas Urban Triangle: Framework for Future Growth | publisher = Southwest Region University Transportation Center (SWUTC) | url = http://swutc.tamu.edu/projectdescriptions/167166.htm | format = HTML | accessdate = 2008-10-14}}</ref> | |||
| In contrast to the cities, Texas has rural, unincorporated settlements called ] which often lack basic ] and are marked by ].<ref name="Colonias">{{cite web| url= http://www.sos.state.tx.us/border/colonias/faqs.shtml| title= Colonias FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)| accessdate = 2008-10-12| author = Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Office of Community Affairs| publisher= Texas Secretary of State}}</ref> As of 2007, Texas had at least 2,294 colonias, located primarily along the state's {{convert|1248|mi|km|sing=on}} border with Mexico.<ref name="Colonias"/> Texas has the largest concentration of people, approximately 400,000, living in colonias. | |||
| ==Government and politics== | |||
| The ] was adopted in 1876. Like many ], it explicitly provides for a separation of powers. The state's Bill of Rights is much larger than its ], and has a number of provisions unique to Texas.<ref name="BillofRights">{{cite web |title=Bill of Rights (Article 1} |work=Texas Politics |publisher=University of Texas |url=http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/7_4_2.html|format=HTML |accessdate=2008-10-13}}</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 ], voters elect executive officers independently making candidates directly answerable to the public, not the Governor.<ref name="pluralexec">{{cite web |year=2005|title=The Plural Executive|work=Texas Politics| publisher=University of Texas|url=http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/1_9_0.html |accessdate=2008-05-07}}</ref> This election system has led to some executive branches split between parties. When ] President ] served as Texas' governor, the state had a ] Lieutenant Governor, ]. The executive branch 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, the Senate.<ref name="Legislature Members">{{cite web|year=2005|title=Membership|work=Texas Politics |publisher=University of Texas|url=http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/2_2_4.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">{{cite web|year=2005|title=Special Sessions|work=Texas Politics |publisher=University of Texas|url=http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/2_2_2.html |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref> The state's ] spans from the previous calendar year's September 1 to the current year's August 31. Thus, the FY 2008 dates from September 1, 2007 through August 31, 2008. | |||
| The ] 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> Although only ] is eligible for the death penalty, Texas leads the nation in executions, 400, from 1982 to 2007.<ref name="CPunish">{{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> | |||
| The ] of the ] is a ] with statewide ]. Over the years, the Texas Rangers have investigated crimes ranging from murder to political corruption, acted as ] police and as detectives, protected the Texas governor, tracked down fugitives, and functioned as a ] force at the service of both the Republic (1836–45) and the state. The Texas Rangers were unofficially created by ] in 1823 and formally constituted in 1835. The Rangers were part of several important events of Texas history and some of the best-known criminal cases in the history of the ].<ref name="TexasRangers">{{Handbook of Texas|id=TT/met4|name=Texas Rangers}}. Accessed January 14, 2009.</ref> | |||
| ===Politics=== | |||
| {{main|Politics of Texas}} | |||
| {{Further|]}} | |||
| ] | |||
| As in other ] states, whites resented the Republican Party after the American Civil War, and the Democratic Party dominated Texas politics from the end of ] until the late 20th century. When President ] signed the ], he reportedly said "We have lost the South for a generation".<ref name="SouthWon">{{cite web |last=Risen |first=Clay |date =2006-03-05 |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> | |||
| The Texas political atmosphere leans towards ] and ].<ref name="TPoliticalCulture1">{{cite web |title=Texas Political Culture - Introduction |work=Texas Politics |publisher=University of Texas |url=http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/10_1_0.html |format= |accessdate=2008-05-29}}</ref><ref name="TPoliticalCulture2">{{cite web |title=Texas Political Culture - Low Taxes, Low Services Political Culture |work=Texas Politics |publisher=University of Texas |url=http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/10_2_1.html |format= |accessdate=2008-10-13}}</ref> Since 1980, most of Texas voters have supported Republican presidential candidates. In 2000 and 2004, Republican George W. Bush won Texas with 60.1% of the vote partly due to his "favorite son" status as a former Governor of the state. ] won the state in ], but in a smaller margin compared to Bush at (55%-44%). Austin consistently leans Democratic in both local and statewide elections. ] and ] remain approximately split. Counties along the Rio Grande generally vote Democratic, while most rural areas of Texas vote Republican.<ref name="2000electionresults">{{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 name="2004electionresults">{{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> | |||
| The ] of congressional districts led by the Republican ], was called by the ''New York Times'' "an extreme case of partisan ]".<ref name="NYTGerry">{{cite news | title = The Texas Gerrymander| publisher = New York Times| date = 2006-03-01| url = http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/01/opinion/01wed2.html| accessdate = 2009-01-07}}</ref> A group of Democratic legislators, the "]", fled the state in a ] effort.<ref name="Tex11">{{cite news | last = Ridder| first = Knight | title = 11 Texas Senate Democrats Take Cue from House, Bolt to Avoid Redistricting | publisher = Houston Chronicle | date = 2003-07-29 | url = http://www.allbusiness.com/government/elections-politics-politics-political-parties/10366221-1.html| accessdate = 2009-01-07}}</ref> Despite these efforts the legislature passed a map heavily in favor of Republicans. Protests of the redistricting went reached the national Supreme court in the case '']'', but the ruling went in the Republican's favor.<ref>{{cite news|author = The Associated Press | |||
| |url = http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/28/washington/28cnd-scotus.html|title =Justices Back Most G.O.P. Changes to Texas Districts |work = New York Times|date= ]|accessdate = 2006-06-28}}</ref> | |||
| As of the ], a large majority the members of Texas' ] delegation are Republican, along with both ]. In the ], of the 32 ], 20 are held by Republicans and 12 by Democrats. Texas' Senators are ] and ]. Since 1994, Texans have not elected a Democrat to a statewide office. The state's Democratic presence comes primarily from ] and urban voters, particularly in Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and Houston. | |||
| ===Administrative divisions=== | |||
| ] | |||
| {{see also|List of Texas counties|List of United States congressional districts#Texas}} | |||
| Texas has 32 congressional districts, the most after California. There are 254 ]—the most nationwide. Each county runs on ] system consisting of four elected commissioners and a county judge. County government runs similar to a "weak" ] system; the county judge has no veto authority, but votes along with the other commissioners. | |||
| Although Texas permits cities and counties to enter "interlocal agreements" to share services, the state does not allow ], nor does it have ]s. Counties are not granted ] status; their powers are strictly defined by state law. The state does not have ]— 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 either "general law" cities or "home rule".<ref name="homerule">McDonald, John V., "An Analysis of Texas' Municipal Home Rule Charters Since 1994" (2000). Applied Research Projects. Paper 124. http://ecommons.txstate.edu/arp/124/</ref> A municipality may elect home rule status once it exceeds 5,000 population with voter approval. Municipal elections are ]<ref name="reqvote">{{cite web |title=Run for Party Nomination to Public Office |work=Texas Politics |publisher=University of Texas |url=http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/4_6_2.html|format=HTML |accessdate=2008-10-12}}</ref> as are elections for school boards. | |||
| ==Economy== | |||
| {{main|Economy of Texas}} | |||
| ]]] | |||
| Texas's large population, abundance of natural resources, and diverse population and geography have led to a large and diverse economy. Since oil was discovered, the state's economy has reflected the state of the ] industry<!-- elaborate; stats and major companies would be nice -->. In recent times, urban centers of the state have increased in size, containing two-thirds of the population in 2005. The state's economic growth has led to excessive ] and its associated symptoms.<ref name="economy1">{{cite web |title=Economic Geography |work=Texas Politics |publisher=University of Texas| url=http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/9_3_2.html|format=HTML |accessdate=2008-10-13}}</ref> | |||
| Texas has a "low taxes, low services" reputation.<ref name="TPoliticalCulture1"/> According to the ], Texans' state and local tax burdens rank among the lowest in the nation, 7th lowest nationally; state and local taxes cost $3,580 per capita, or 8.7% of resident incomes.<ref name="TaxFound">{{cite web | title = Texas | work = Research Areas | publisher = The Tax Foundation | year = 2008 | url = http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/topic/60.html | format = HTML | accessdate = 2008-10-15}}</ref> Texas is one of six states that lack a ].<ref name="TaxFound"/><ref name="incometax">{{cite web | title = State Individual Income Taxes | publisher = Federation of Tax Administrators | url = http://www.taxadmin.org/fta/rate/ind_inc.html | format = HTML | accessdate = 2008-10-12}}</ref> Instead, the state collects revenue from a state ], which is charged at the rate of 6.25%.<ref name="TaxFound"/> Texas is a "tax donor state"; in 2005, for every dollar Texans paid to the federal government in ], the state received approximately $0.94 in benefits.<ref name="TaxFound"/> | |||
| In 2004, ''Site Selection Magazine'' ranked Texas as the most business friendly state in the nation. This ranking stems in part from the state's three-billion-dollar ].<ref name="1businessclimate">{{cite web |last=Arend |first=Mark |title=The Lone Star States Tops Business Climate Ranking |month =November | year=2004 |url=http://www.siteselection.com/issues/2004/nov/p746/ |accessdate=2008-05-02}}.</ref> In the fourth quarter of 2006, Texas had a ] of $1.09 trillion, the ] 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.texasahead.org/economy/indicators/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 holds the most ] company headquarters in the United States.<ref name="texasfortune500_1">{{cite news| title = Texas passes New York on Fortune 500 list | work = Associated Press | publisher = Dallas Morning News| date = 2008-04-22 | url = http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/042208dnbusfortunetexas.20aec09.html| accessdate = 2008-10-14}}</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> | |||
| ===Agriculture and mining=== | |||
| ]]] | |||
| Texas has the most farms and the highest 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 livestock production.<ref name="netstateecon"/> Cattle is the state's most valuable agricultural product, and the state leads nationally in production of sheep and goat products. Texas leads the nation in production of cotton.<ref name="netstateecon"/> The state grows significant amounts of cereal crops and produce.<ref name="netstateecon"/> Texas has a large commercial fishing industry. With mineral resources, Texas leads in creating cement, crushed stone, lime, salt, sand and gravel.<ref name="netstateecon"/><!-- very stubby section needs more elaboration --> | |||
| ===Energy=== | |||
| {{see also|Deregulation of the Texas electricity market}} | |||
| ] | |||
| Ever since the discovery of oil at ], energy has been a dominant force politically and economically within the state.<ref name="AlmanacOil">{{cite web| url = http://www.texasalmanac.com/history/highlights/oil/ | title = Oil and Texas: A Cultural History| accessdate = 2009-02-03| last = Ramos| first = Mary G.| format = HTML| work = Texas Almanac 2008-2009| publisher = The Texas State Historical Association}}</ref> According to the ], Texans consume the most energy in the nation per capita and as a whole.<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=2008-12-13}}</ref> Unlike the rest of the nation, most of Texas is on its own ] ], the ]. Despite the ], Texas still has a ] electric service. | |||
| 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 controlled 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> | |||
| Texas has known petroleum deposits of about {{convert|5|Goilbbl|m3}}, which makes up approximately one-fourth of the known U.S. reserves.<ref name="Petrol"/> The state's ] can process {{convert|4.6|Moilbbl|m3}} of oil a day.<ref name="Petrol"/> The ] in the Houston area is the largest refinery in America.<ref name="Petrol"/> Texas also leads in ] production, producing one-fourth of the nation's supply.<ref name="Petrol"/> Several ] are based in Texas such as: ], ], ], ], and ]. | |||
| The state is a leader in ] sources; it produces the most ] in the nation.<ref name="Petrol"/><ref name="wind2">{{cite web |last=Souder |first=Elizabeth |title=Texas leads nation in wind power capacity |work=Dallas Morning News |year=2007 |date =01/08 |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/011808dnbuswindpower.30c78959.html}}</ref> The ] in ] and ], Texas, is the world's largest ] as of November 2008 with a 735.5 ] (MW) capacity.<ref name="fplen">{{cite web| last =FPL Energy, LLC| title =Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center now largest wind farm in the world| publisher =FPL Energy, LLC| date =2007-09-07| url =http://www.fplenergy.com/portfolio/pdf/horsehollow.pdf|format=PDF| accessdate =2008-06-14}}</ref> The Energy Information Administration states that the state's large agriculture and forestry industries gives Texas enormous ] for use in biofuels. The state also has the highest ] potential for development in the nation.<ref name="Petrol"/> | |||
| ===Technology=== | |||
| With large universities systems coupled with initiatives like TEF and the ], a wide array of different ] industries have developed in Texas. The Austin area is nicknamed the "Silicon Hills" and the north Dallas area the "]". Texas has the headquarters of many high technology companies, such as ], ], ], AT&T, and ] (EDS). | |||
| ]]] | |||
| The ]'s (NASA) ] (JSC) located in Southeast Houston, sits as the crown jewel of Texas's aeronautics industry. ] hosts both ]'s ] and ].<ref name="LM1">{{cite web |title=Locations |publisher=Lockheed Martin |accessdate=2008-05-22 |url=http://www.lockheedmartin.com/aeronautics/about/Locations.html}}</ref><ref name="Bell">{{cite web |title=About Bell Helicopter |publisher=Bell Helicopter |accessdate=2008-05-22 |url=http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en/company/}}</ref> Lockheed builds the ], the largest Western fighter program, and its successor, the ] in Fort Worth.<ref name="Downside">{{cite web |last=Rosenwald |first=Michael S. |date=2007-12-17 |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 ] stimulates a strong commercial sector consisting of retail, wholesale, banking and insurance, and construction industries. Examples of Fortune 500 companies not based on Texas traditional industries are: ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref name="fortune500_2">{{cite web |title=Texas |publisher=] |date=2007-04-30 |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 ] built in the United States, has the most ] per capita of any American metropolitan area.<ref name="VisitDallas_Shopping">{{cite web | title = Dallas Shopping | publisher = Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau | url = http://www.visitdallas.com/downloads/1224091342.02416300_679fbde386/DallasShopping.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate = 2008-02-20}}</ref> | |||
| ] (NAFTA) contributes to Mexico, the state's largest trading partner, importing a third of the state's exports. NAFTA has encouraged the formation of controversial ] on the Texas/Mexico border.<ref name="economy2">{{cite web|title=Recent Economic Transformations |work=Texas Politics |publisher=University of Texas |url=http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/9_3_3.html|format=HTML |accessdate=2008-10-13}}</ref> | |||
| ==Transportation== | |||
| {{main|Transportation in Texas}} | |||
| Texans have historically had difficulties traversing Texas due to the state's large size and rough terrain. Texas has compensated by building both America's largest ] and railway systems in terms of mileage, as well as the largest number of airports.<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 ], the ] maintains the state's immense highway system, regulates ],<ref name="texdotaviation">{{cite web |title=Aviation Division |publisher=Texas Department of Transportation |url=http://www.dot.state.tx.us/services/aviation/default.htm |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-04-29}}</ref> and ] systems.<ref name="texdottransport">{{cite web |title=Transportation Division |publisher=Texas Department of Transportation |url=http://www.dot.state.tx.us/services/public_transportation/default.htm |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-04-29}}</ref> | |||
| Texas's central North American location has the state an important ]. From the Dallas/Fort Worth area, trucks can reach 93 percent of the nation's population within 48 hours, and 37 percent within 24.<ref name="JDFTransport">{{cite web |title=5 Reasons To Choose the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex As A Distribution Hub |publisher=JDF Distribution |url=http://jdfdistribution.com/pdf/dallas-for-distribution.pdf?doc=dfd.pdf |format=PDF|accessdate=2008-10-14}}</ref> Texas has the most ] (FTZ), in the nation, 33.<ref name="FTZ1">{{cite web | 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 FTZs.<ref name="FTZ1"/> | |||
| ===Highways=== | |||
| ] | |||
| {{main|Texas state highways}} | |||
| Texans have heavily traveled their ]s since the 1948 opening of the ] in Houston.<ref name="txfwy"> | |||
| {{cite web | title = Interstate 45 South, the Gulf Freeway | publisher = TexasFreeway.com | date=2001-05-28 | url = http://www.texasfreeway.com/Houston/photos/45s/i45s.shtml | format = HTML | accessdate = 2008-10-15}}</ref> As of 2005 {{convert|79535|mi|km|0}} of public highway crisscrossed Texas (up from {{convert|71000|mi|km|0}} in 1984).<ref name="highwaymiles">{{cite web |title=LoneStarRoads - Highways of Texas |publisher=AARoads |date=2008-02-09 |url=http://www.aaroads.com/texas/ |format=html |doi= |accessdate=2008-04-20}}</ref> To fund recent growth in the state highways currently there are currently 17 ], with several additional ]s 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 west Texas, both ] and ] have speed limits 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=2006-05-08 |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,197072,00.html |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-05-12}}</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 in the world.<ref name="DFWAir">{{cite web |url=http://www.dfwairport.com/visitor/index.php?ctnid=24254 |title=Facts about DFW |accessdate=2008-10-14 |work=Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport}}</ref> In traffic, DFW is the busiest in the state, fourth in the United States,<ref name="GreatPlacesAvi">{{cite web|title=10 Great Places for Aviation and Aerospace|author=Jennifer LeClaire|work=Southern Business and Development|url=http://www.sb-d.com/archivesite/www.sb-d.com/issues/spring2007/features/10GreatPlacesForAviationAndAerospace.html|accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref> and sixth worldwide.<ref name="DFWAir2">{{cite web|title=Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport |work=USAToday| url=http://destinations.usatoday.com/dallas/| accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref> ]s ] / ], the world's largest airline in total passengers-miles transported<ref name="AA1">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=2008-04-11 |url=http://www.aviationexplorer.com/american_airlines.htm |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref> uses DFW as its largest and main ]. ], is also headquartered in Dallas, Texas, began its operations at ].<ref name="SW1">{{cite web |url=http://www.southwest.com/about_swa/airborne.html |title=We Weren't Just Airborne Yesterday |date=2007-05-02|publisher=Southwest Airlines |accessdate=2007-06-09}}</ref> It ranks as the largest airline in the United States by number of passengers carried domestically per year and the ] by number of passengers carried.<ref name="IATA">{{cite web |url=http://www.iata.org/pressroom/wats/wats_passengers_carried.htm |title=Scheduled Passengers Carried |author=] |accessdate=2007-06-10}}</ref> | |||
| Texas's second-largest air facility Houston's ] (IAH) serves as Houston based ]'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=2005-04-12|url=http://www.fly2houston.com/0/8178/0/1906D1940/|accessdate=2006-12-30}}</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">{{cite web |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">{{cite web |title=Benefits of Texas Ports |publisher=Texas Ports Association |url=http://www.texasports.org/benefits/ |accessdate=2008-05-07}}</ref> Texas ports connect with the rest of the US Atlantic seaboard with the ] section of the ].<ref name= "ports1"/> The ] today is the busiest port in the United States in foreign tonnage, second in overall tonnage, and ] worldwide in tonnage.<ref name="porthouston">{{cite web |date=2008-03-31 |title=General Information |publisher=The Port of Houston Authority |url=http://www.portofhouston.com/geninfo/overview1.html |accessdate=2008-05-07}}</ref> The ] currently spans {{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 Houston]] | |||
| {{seealso|List of Texas railroads}} | |||
| Part of the state's ] originates from ] in which ]s herded livestock to ]s in Kansas. The first railroad in Texas completed in 1872, the ]. Since 1911, Texas has led the nation in railroad length. Texas railway mileage peaked in 1932 at {{convert|17078|mi|km}}, but declined to {{convert|14006|mi|km}} by 2000.<ref name="AdvaTransport"/> While the ], originally regulated state railroads, in 2005, the state reassigned these duties to TxDOT.<ref name="RRCMove">{{cite web |title=Former Rail Division|publisher=Texas Railroad Commission |date=2005-10-01 |url=http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/divisions/rail_moved/index.html?/rail.html |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref> | |||
| Both Dallas and Houston feature ] systems. ] (DART) built the first light rail system in the ].<ref name="DARTLightRail">{{cite web |last=Myerson |first=Allen R. |date =1996-06-14 |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 light rail lines in the Houston area. | |||
| ] provides Texas limited intercity passenger rail service both in size and frequency. Just three scheduled routes serve the state: the daily '']'' {{nowrap|(Chicago–San Antonio)}}; the tri-weekly '']'' {{nowrap|(New Orleans–Los Angeles)}}, with stops in Texas; and the daily '']'' {{nowrap|(Fort Worth–Oklahoma City)}}. | |||
| ==Culture== | |||
| {{main|Culture of Texas}} | |||
| {{see also|List of people from Texas|List of Texas symbols}} | |||
| ] has presided over every Texas State Fair since 1952]] | |||
| Historically, Texas culture comes from a blend of Southwestern (Mexican), Southern (Dixie), and Western (frontier) influences. A popular food item, the ], draws from all three influences, having 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, immigration has made Texas a ] of cultures from around the world. | |||
| ===Arts=== | |||
| {{further|]}} | |||
| Houston 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 ]—a 17-block area in the heart of ]—ranks second in the country in the number of theater seats in a concentrated downtown area, with 12,948 seats for live performances and 1,480 movie seats.<ref name="houstontheater"/> | |||
| Founded in 1892, ], also called "The Modern", is Texas's oldest art museum. Fort Worth also has the ], the ], the ], the ], and the ] downtown. The ] of ] has arts venues such as the ], the ], ], ], and the ].<ref name="Dallasarts">{{cite web |title=Dallas Arts District |publisher=Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau |accessdate=2008-05-29 |url=http://www.visitdallas.com/visitors/listing-details?id=492}}</ref> | |||
| ] in Houston]] | |||
| The ] district within Dallas became popular during the 1920s and 1930s as the prime ] and ] hotspot in the Southern United States. The name Deep Ellum comes from local people pronouncing "Deep Elm" as "Deep Ellum".<ref name="DeepElm">{{Handbook of Texas|id=DD/hpd1|name=Deep Ellum}}</ref> Artists such as ], ], Huddie "]" Ledbetter, and ] played in early Deep Ellum clubs.<ref name="DeepElm2">{{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> | |||
| Austin, 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 events like the film, music, and ] festivals, ]. The longest-running concert music program on American television, '']'' and its similarly named ] run at ].<ref name="AustinCL">{{cite web | last = Bernardini | first = Deb | authorlink = http://dbmpr.com/ | title = Television's longest running concert series begins season 33 Tapings with performances by Norah Fones, Wilco, Femi Kuti, Arcade Fire and more | url = http://dbmpr.com/pressroom/acl/ACLFinalPR.doc.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate = 2008-10-15}}</ref> | |||
| Over the past couple of decades, San Antonio 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 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=2003-04-04 |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 has two ] teams, the ] and the ]; two ] teams, the ] and ]; three ] teams: the ], the ], and the ]; one ] team: the ]; one National Hockey League team, the ]; two ] teams, the ], and ]; and one ] team, the ]. Dallas / Fort Worth metropolitan area is one of only ] that hosts sports teams from all the ]. | |||
| ] have deep significance in Texas culture. The state has the most ] schools in America, ten. The four largest programs in the state, the ], ], ], and ], belong to the ]. According to a survey of Division I-A coaches the ] between the ] and the University of Texas, the ], ranks the third best in the nation.<ref name="RRShootout">{{cite news |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/redrivershootout/texas/stories/100705dnspofbwnewrivalrylede.1c8619ce.html |title=UT-OU : Best Rivalry? |work=Dallas Morning News |last=Davis |first=Brian |date=2005-10-07 |accessdate=2006-07-11}}</ref> A fierce rivalry, the ], also exists between the state's two largest universities, Texas A&M University and the University of Texas.]]]<!--This image contains trademarked symbols, the ATM and the longhorn, and is only being used to illustrate said symbols within context--> | |||
| Collegiate teams nationwide see Texas ] as a recruiting hotbed. In 2006, 170 players in the NFL came from Texas high schools.<ref name="HSrecruit">{{cite web |last=Talman |first=John |title=Lone Star Competition |newspaper =] |date=2006-03-15 |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 ].<ref name="UIL">{{cite web| title = University Interscholastic League| publisher = University of Texas| url = http://www.uil.utexas.edu/| format = HTML| accessdate = 2008-09-28}}</ref> | |||
| Texans also enjoy the ]. The annual ], the largest rodeo in the world, begins with trail rides that originate from several points throughout the state, that convene at ]. ], Texas hosted the world's first rodeo.<ref name="HoustonRodeo">{{cite web |title=Houston Rodeo Tickets |publisher=Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo |year =2008 |url=http://www.houstonrodeoonline.com/ |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-04-20}}</ref> The ] in Fort Worth, Texas has a cowboy, a Mexican and many traditional rodeos. Dallas hosts the ] each year at ].<ref name="statefair">{{cite web |title=Fair Park, Texas |publisher=City of Dallas |accessdate=2008-05-22 |url=http://www.dallascityhall.com/FairPark/art_architectural.html}}</ref> | |||
| ==Healthcare== | |||
| {{see also|List of hospitals in Texas}} | |||
| ] ranks the Texas ] the third worst in the nation.<ref name="insurancenet">{{cite web |last=Perotin |first=Maria M. |title=Texas is Near Bottom of Healthcare Rankings |newspaper =] |date=2007-06-13 |url=http://www.insurancenewsnet.com/article.asp?a=top_lh&id=80824 |accessdate=2008-04-22}}</ref> Texas ranks 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">{{cite web |last=Roberson |first=Jason |title=Politics, poverty, immigration entangle Texas health care |newspaper =] |year=2007 |date=2008-12-04 |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 ] for ] lawsuits, set at $250,000, in an attempt to "curb rising malpractice premiums, and control escalating healthcare costs".<ref name="tort">{{cite web |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 15th highest adult ] rate, 27.2 percent.<ref name="healthyamericans">{{cite web| title = Texas| work = State Data| publisher = Trust for America's Health| year = 2008| url= http://healthyamericans.org/states/states.php?measure=highschooloverweight&sort=data| format = HTML| accessdate = 2008-10-14}}</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"> | |||
| {{cite web |title=America's Fittest Cities 2007 |newspaper =Men's Health |year=2008 |url=http://www.mensfitness.com/city_rankings/462 |accessdate=2008-04-21}}.</ref> Texas had only one city, Austin, ranked 21st, in the top 25 among the "fittest cities" in America.<ref name="obese2"/> The same survey has evaluated the state's obesity initiatives favorably with a "B+".<ref name="obese2"/> | |||
| ===Medical research=== | |||
| ] | |||
| Many elite research medical centers reside in Texas. The state has nine ],<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,<ref name="dentalschool">{{cite web |url=http://www.dentist.net/dentalschools.asp |title=Dental Schools in the United States |accessdate=2008-10-31 |format=HTML |publisher=Dentist.net}}</ref> and one ] school.<ref name="optometry">{{cite web |url=http://healthguideusa.org/optometry/texas_optometry_schools.htm |title=Texas Optometry Schools |accessdate=2008-10-31 |format=HTML |publisher=Health Guide USA}}</ref> Texas has two ] (BSL-4) laboratories: one at ] (UTMB) in Galveston,<ref name="biosafety4">{{cite web|url=http://www.bioscrypt.com/news/press/item-728/|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—the first privately owned BSL-4 lab in the United States.<ref name="biosafety4_2">{{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, holds the world's largest concentration of ] and ] institutions, with 47 member institutions.<ref name="TexasMC"> | |||
| {{Cite web | title = About the Texas Medical Center | publisher = The Texas Medical Center | accessdate = 2009-04-11 | url = http://www.texmedctr.tmc.edu/root/en/GetToKnow/AboutTMC/About+the+TMC.htm}}</ref> Texas Medical Center performs the most heart transplants 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">{{cite web |date=2007-04-03 |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 name="Tmedicialcenter2">{{cite web |title=Medical center's research ranks high |publisher=San Antonio Express-News |accessdate=2008-05-15 |url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/MYSA040407_medical_center_EN_2dc65c3e_html751.html}}</ref><ref name="DentalSchool">{{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> Also in Houston, highly regarded academic institution, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, centers around 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> | |||
| Both the ] and the ] call Dallas home. The Southwestern Medical Center ranks "among the top academic medical centers in the world".<ref name="UTSWAboutUs">{{cite web |title=About UT Southwestern |publisher=University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center |url=http://www8.utsouthwestern.edu/home/about/index.html |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-04-28}}</ref> The ] employs the most medical school ] in the world.<ref name="UTSWFactsheet">{{cite web |title=UT Southwestern Fact Sheet |publisher=University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center |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"/> | |||
| ==Education== | |||
| {{main|Education in Texas}} | |||
| ]]] | |||
| Texas ranked 26 in the ]'s Report Card on American Education. Texas students ranked higher than average in mathematics, but lower in reading. Between 2005–2006, 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. Texas paid instructors $38,130, below the national average. The state provided 89.22% of the funding for education, the federal government 10.8%.<ref name="reportcard">{{cite web| title = Texas| work = 2007 Report Card on American Education| publisher = American Legislative Exchange Council| year = 2007| url = http://www.alec.org/am/pdf/states/texas2007.pdf|accessdate=2008-04-08| format = PDF| accessdate = 2008-10-14}}</ref> | |||
| The ] (TEA) administers the state's public school systems. Texas has ] ]s—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=2003-09-16|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. Due to court-mandated equitable school financing for school districts, the state has a controversial tax redistribution system called the"]". This plan transfers property tax revenue from wealthy school districts to poor ones.<ref name="robinhood">{{cite web| last=Saghaye-Biria| first=Hakimeh| title=Robin Hood Plan is Working|date=2001-04-22|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 ] or ] activities.<ref name="homeschool">{{cite web | 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> | |||
| Texas students take the ], the ] (TAKS), both in ] and ]. TAKS assess students' attainment of ], ], ], ], and ] skills required under Texas education standards and the ]. In spring 2007, Texas legislators replaced the TAKS for freshmen in the 2011–2012 school year and onward with End of Course exams for core high school classes.<ref name="TAKS">{{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=2007-10-22|accessdate=2007-10-22}}</ref> | |||
| ===Colleges and universities=== | |||
| {{further|]}} | |||
| ] | |||
| The second ], ], is called the ''Father of Texas Education''. During his term, the state set aside three ] of land for each county for equipping public schools. An additional 50 leagues of land set aside for the support of two universities would later become the basis of the state's ]. Lamar's actions set the foundation for a Texas-wide public school system.<ref name=hen37>Hendrickson (1995), p. 37.</ref> Discoveries of valuable minerals, principally oil, has helped fund the rapid growth the state's two largest ]s, the ] and the ]. The PUF principal in fall 2005 was approximately $15 billion, second in size only to ]'s endowment.<ref>{{cite web|title=2007 NACUBO Endowment Study|publisher=National Association of College and University Business Officers|url=http://www.nacubo.org/Images/All%20Institutions%20Listed%20by%20FY%202007%20Market%20Value%20of%20Endowment%20Assets_2007%20NES.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=2008-11-12}}</ref> | |||
| ] at the ], the ] university in Texas]] | |||
| In addition to the state's two Permanent University Fund university systems, Texas has four other state university systems and four independent public universities.<ref name="UniSystems">{{cite web | last = Heath | first = Ben | publisher = Daily Texan | date = 2003-07-07 | url = http://www.utsystem.edu/news/clips/dailyclips/2003/0706-0712/UTSystem-DT-BillRequires-070703.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate =2007-10-12|title=Bill requires review of university systems}}</ref><ref name="unisystems2">{{cite web | title = Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education Testimony Regarding the Benefits of a Stand Alone Institution | publisher = Sam Houston State University | date = 2008-06-25 | url =http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/commit/c535/20080625/062508_SFA_Testimony_Dr_Pattillo.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate =2008-10-12}}</ref> These University systems are the ], ], ], and ]. Texas's controversial alternative ] plan, ], guarantees Texas students who graduated in the ] of their ] class automatic admission to state-funded universities. The bill encourages ] while avoiding problems stemming from the '']'' (1996) case. | |||
| Texas has three ] universities.<ref>{{cite news|last=Scharrer|first=Gary|title=Bill aims to make UTSA top-level Texas university|work=San Antonio Express-News|url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/politics/texas_legislature/Bill_aims_to_make_UTSA_top-level_Texas_university.html|accessdate=2009-3-12}}</ref> In 2009 ] ranked them at 17 (]), 47 (]) and 64 (]).<ref>{{cite news|title=National University Rankings|work=US News and World Report|url=http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/national-search}}</ref> UT and A&M are ] established by the ] which hold stakes in the Permanent University Fund. The state is considering expanding the number of top-tier universities by elevating several of its emerging research universities— ], ], UT-Arlington, UT-Dallas, ], the University of North Texas and ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Scharrer|first=Gary|title=Bill aims to make UTSA top-level Texas university|work=San Antonio Express-News|url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/politics/texas_legislature/Bill_aims_to_make_UTSA_top-level_Texas_university.html|accessdate=2009-3-12}}</ref> The ] in the state enroll a total of nearly 320,000 students. | |||
| While Texas did not form public universities until its statehood, the former republic chartered two ]: ] and ].<ref name="privateuni">{{cite web |title=About Baylor |publisher=Baylor University |accessdate=2008-05-21 |url=http://www.baylor.edu/about/}}</ref><ref name="southwestern">{{cite web |title=Southwestern History |publisher=Southwestern University |accessdate=2008-10-12 |url=http://www.southwestern.edu/about/about-history.html}}</ref> Other prominent private institutions include ] in Houston, ] in Fort Worth, ] in University Park, and ] in San Antonio. | |||
| Universities in Texas currently host two ]: ] at Texas A&M University and the ] at the University of Texas. An agreement has been reached to create a third; the ] at Southern Methodist University. | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| {{portal|Lone Star|Flag of Texas.svg}} | |||
| {{portal|Dallas-Fort Worth|Flag of Dallas, Texas.png}} | |||
| {{portal|Houston|Flag of Houston, Texas.png}} | |||
| * ] | |||
| {{clear}} | |||
| <!-- Please place links to all topics directly related to the State of Texas in the ] --> | |||
| ==Footnotes== | |||
| {{reflist|2}} | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{refbegin}} | |||
| *{{citation|last=Chipman|first=Donald E.|title=Spanish Texas, 1519–1821|publisher=]|location=]|year=1992|isbn=0292776594}} | |||
| *{{citation|last=Davis|first=William C.|title=Lone Star Rising|date=2006|publisher=Texas A&M University Press|location=College Station, TX|isbn=9781585445325}} originally published 2004 by New York: Free Press | |||
| *{{citation|last=Edmondson|first=J.R.|title=The Alamo Story-From History to Current Conflicts|publisher=Republic of Texas Press|place=]|isbn=1-55622-678-0|year=2000}} | |||
| *{{citation|last=Hendrickson|first=Kenneth E., Jr.|title=The Chief of Executives of Texas: From Stephen F. Austin to John B. Connally, Jr.|publisher=]|location=]|year=1995|isbn=0890966419}} | |||
| *{{citation|last=Hardin|first=Stephen L.|title=Texian Iliad|location=Austin, Texas|publisher=University of Texas Press|date=1994|isbn=0-292-73086-1}} | |||
| *{{citation|last=Huson|first=Hobart|title=Captain Phillip Dimmitt's Commandancy of Goliad, 1835–1836: An Episode of the Mexican Federalist War in Texas, Usually Referred to as the Texian Revolution|location=Austin, Texas|publisher=Von Boeckmann-Jones Co.|year=1974}} | |||
| *{{Citation|last=Lack|first=Paul D.|title=The Texas Revolutionary Experience: A Political and Social History 1835–1836|publisher=Texas A&M University Press|location=College Station, TX|date=1992|isbn=0-89096-497-1}} | |||
| *{{citation|last=Manchaca|first=Martha|title=Recovering History, Constructing Race: The Indian, Black, and White Roots of Mexican Americans|series=The Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Series in Latin American and Latino Art and Culture|publisher=University of Texas Press|location=Austin, TX|date=2001|isbn=0292752539}} | |||
| * {{citation|last=Todish|first=Timothy J.|last2=Todish|first2=Terry|last3=Spring|first3=Ted|title=Alamo Sourcebook, 1836: A Comprehensive Guide to the Battle of the Alamo and the Texas Revolution|publisher=Eakin Press|date=1998|location=Austin, Texas|isbn=9781571681522}} | |||
| *{{citation| title =The Warren Commission Report| volume = IV| series =Warren Commission Hearings| publisher =National Archives| isbn =0-31208-257-6| url =http://www.jfk-assassination.de/warren/index.php| author =report of President's Commission on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.| year =1992}} | |||
| *{{citation|last=Weber|first=David J.|title=The Spanish Frontier in North America|publisher=]|location=]|series=Yale Western Americana Series|year=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=]|year=1995|isbn=0890966613}} | |||
| *{{citation|last=Winders|first=Richard Bruce|title=Sacrificed at the Alamo: Tragedy and Triumph in the Texas Revolution|publisher=State House Press|location=Abilene, TX|date=2004|isbn=1880510804|series=Military History of Texas Series: Number Three}} | |||
| {{refend}} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| {{Texas History}} | |||
| {{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. | |||
| ;U.S. Government | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| ;Other | |||
| *{{dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Texas}} | |||
| * | |||
| *{{ndash}} Published by the ''Texas State Historical Association'' | |||
| *, hosted by the ''University of North Texas Libraries'' | |||
| *{{wikitravel}} | |||
| * | |||
| {{Template group | |||
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| {{United States}} | |||
| {{Six flags of Texas}} | |||
| {{Confederate States of America}} | |||
| {{coord|31|N|100|W|region:US-TX_type:adm1st_scale:10000000|display=title}} | |||
| }} | |||
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Revision as of 17:34, 17 April 2009
URL_ID=12589&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html |accessdate=2008-04-28 |pages=A01}}</ref> Dallas-Fort Worth, home to three major evangelical seminaries, also has several megachurches, including Fellowship Church, Potter's House, First Baptist Church, Dallas, and Prestonwood Baptist Church. Houston is home to the largest church in the nation, Lakewood Church, averaging more than 43,000 in 75