Texas, USA
The Lone Star State (28)
Capitol: Austin
Admitted into Union: December 29, 1845
State Flower: Bluebonnet
State Tree: Pecan
State Bird: Mockingbird
Population: 20.9 million

Animus/Anima: In the Lone Star state, the cattle population (16 million) rivals that of humans (21 million). That explains the cowboy influence on Texas culture, but did you know that in Austin the state capitol building is made from pink granite? We like to think it reflects the strong but decidedly feminine persona of Texas women. Whether you’re out two-steppin’ or cutting a Texas-size business deal, the soft pink faux leather and nutmeg suede trim of the Texas Star Clutch declares your independence.

Native roots: The name “Texas” comes from the Hasinai Indian word tejas, meaning friends or allies.

Identity crisis? Texas is the only state to have the flags of six different nations fly over it: Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States, and the United States. Even though six nations have presided over Texas, there have been eight changes of government: Spanish 1519-1685, French 1685-1690, Spanish 1690-1821, Mexican 1821-1836, the Republic of Texas 1836-1845, United States 1845-1861, Confederate States 1861-1865, United States 1865-present.

Fort-itude: On March 2, 1836, the Declaration of Texas Independence was signed and the first flag of the Republic of Texas, featuring one lone star, was raised. The Alamo, a fortress in San Antonio, is where Mexican General Santa Anna defeated Texas fighters later that month. “Remember the Alamo!” became a Texas battle cry, and six weeks later General Sam Houston defeated Mexico in the 18-minute Battle of San Jacinto. San Jacinto Day is a state holiday on April 21.

E-I-E-I-O! Texas is tops in the nation for sheep’s wool production.

Everything’s bigger in Texas! The King Ranch in Texas is bigger than Rhode Island. Texas comprises over 267,000 square miles—over 7% of the nation's total land mass. Laredo is the world's largest inland port. The world's largest oatmeal cake was built in Bertram in 1991. The 33-layer cake stood more than 3 feet tall, weighed 333 pounds, and served 3,333 people.
Braggin’ rights: The first word spoken from the moon on July 20, 1969, was “Houston.”
Texas Floods: In July 1979, Tropical Storm Claudette brought 45 inches of rain to Alvin, Texas, causing more than $600 million in damages and setting a US rainfall record (43 inches in 24 hours). The worst natural disaster in US history was a hurricane that hit Galveston in 1900, causing over 8,000 deaths.

Snack capitol: Dr Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885. It’s still made according to the original recipe, with pure imperial cane sugar, in Dublin. There is no period after the Dr in Dr Pepper. 75% of the world’s Snickers bars are made in Waco.

Batty stats: More bats species live in Texas than anywhere else in the US. The Mexican free-tailed bat is the state flying mammal.

Occupational hazard: According to the Texas Department of Transportation, every year one person is killed while painting stripes on the state’s highways and roads.
Justice, Texas style: Texan logic has put some odd laws on the books. A recent one requires criminals to give their victims 24 hours’ notice, orally or in writing, and to explain the nature of the crime to be committed.
Texan standoff: According to the law, when two trains meet each other at a railroad crossing in Texas, each must come to a full stop and neither may proceed until the other has gone.
“Bible Belt” logic: The entire Encyclopedia Britannica is banned in Texas because it contains a recipe for home-made beer. One must acknowledge a supreme being before being able to hold public office in Texas, yet in Odessa, the star of David and the peace symbol are forbidden by the city's dress code because they are considered to be “Satanic symbols.”

Oh the irony…. According to one geographer, digging straight down from Austin will not get you to China but to Iraq.

Famous Texans: Mary Kay Ash, Stephen Fuller Austin, Gene Autry, Carol Burnett, George W. Bush, Denton A. Cooley, Joan Crawford, Dwight David Eisenhower, Ben Hogan, Sam Houston, Howard Hughes, Lyndon B. Johnson, George Jones, Tommy Lee Jones, Janis Joplin, Scott Joplin, Mary Martin, Spanky McFarland, Sandra Day O’Connor, Buck Owen, Selena Perez, Lou Diamond Phillips, Katherine Anne Porter, Wiley Post, Dan Rather, Rip Torn, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Babe Didrikson Zaharias.