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Texas State Facts - Texas History Firsts

Catch up on your state trivia with these Texas history firsts and interesting fun facts about the state.

Official Name	Texas
Capital	Austin
Location Region	30.30588 N, 097.75052 W Texas
Constitution Ratified	1876
Statehood	December 29, 1845 28th state
Number of Counties	254 Counties in Texas
Largest County (by population)	Harris County 3,400,578 1,729 sq. mi.

Texas History Firsts & State Facts

• 1835 - The first offensive action of the Texas Revolution occurred in Goliad on October 9, 1835 when local colonists captured the fort and town.
• 1835 - On December 20, 1835 the first Declaration of Texas Independence was signed in Goliad and the first flag of Texas Independence was hoisted.
• 1836 - The state was an independent nation from 1836 to 1845.
• 1836 - Five sites served as temporary capitals of Texas: Washington-on-the-Brazos: Harrisburg: Galveston: Velasco: and Columbia. Sam Houston moved the capital to Houston in 1837. In 1839 the capital was moved to the new town of Austin.
• 1836 - The Republic of Texas, with Sam Houston as president, was born In 1836 following the war between American settlers in Texas and the Mexican government which featured the well known battle of the Alamo.
• 1839 - Find out more about the Texas State Flag
• 1840 - The capital city of Austin is located on the Colorado River in south-central Texas. The capitol building is made from Texas pink granite. It served as the capital of the Republic of Texas in 1840-1842.
• 1845 -
  • When Texas was annexed in 1845 it retained the right to fly its flag at the same height as the national flag.
  • Find out more about the Texas State State seal
• 1870 - The first suspension bridge in the United States was the Waco Bridge. Built in 1870 and still in use today as a pedestrian crossing of the Brazos River.
• 1883 - The world's first rodeo was held in Pecos on July 4, 1883.
• 1885 - Dr Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885. The Dublin Dr Pepper, 85 miles west of Waco, still uses pure imperial cane sugar in its product. There is no period after the Dr in Dr Pepper.
• 1888 - The capitol in Austin opened May 16, 1888. The dome of the building stands seven feet higher than that of the nation's Capitol in Washington, D.C.
• 1900- The worst natural disaster in United States history was caused by a hurricane that hit Galveston in 1900. Over 8000 deaths were recorded.
• 1901 -
  • Spindletop oil field, near Beaumont, was the first gusher in North America. In 1901, it sprayed more than 800,000 barrels of oil into the air before it was brought under control.
  • The Bluebonnet (Lupinus subcarnosus) is chosen as Texas State Flower
• 1919 - The Pecan tree (Carya illinoinensis) was designated the Texas State Tree
• 1927 - The Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) was selected as Texas State Bird
• 1929 - "Texas, Our Texas," words by William J. Marsh and Gladys Yoakum Wright, music by William J. Marsh. is designated as Texas State Song
• 1933 -
  • Find out more about the Texas State Pledge to the flag
  • "Bluebonnets," by Julia D. Booth and Lora C. Crockett is designated as Texas State Flower song
• 1961 - Port Lavaca has the world's longest fishing pier. Originally part of the causeway connecting the two sides of Lavaca Bay, the center span of was destroyed by Hurricane Carla in 1961.
• 1965 - Texas has the first domed stadium in the country. The structure was built in Houston and opened in April 1965.
• 1966 - Barbara Jordan of Houston became the first black woman elected to the state senate.
• 1969 -
  • The first word spoken from the moon on July 20, 1969 was Houston.
  • Petrified palmwood was designated the official Texas State Stone
  • Texas Parks and Wildlife's foundation herd is the Texas State Longhorn herd
  • The Texas blue topaz is selected as Texas State Gem
  • "The Legend of Old Stone Ranch" is Texas State Epic poem
• 1971 - Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) (Michx.) Torr. was designated as Texas State Grass
• 1977 - Lone Star Cut is adopted as Texas State Gemstone cut
• 1978 - Jalapeno pepper jelly originated in Lake Jackson and was first marketed in 1978.
• 1979 -
  • During the period of July 24-26, 1979, the Tropical Storm Claudette brought 45 inches of rain to an area near Alvin, Texas, contributing to more than $600 million in damages. Claudette produced the United States 24 hour rainfall record of 43 inches.
  • "The Lone Star," presented in Galveston Island State Park until 1990. "Texas," presented in Palo Duro Canyon State Park.
    "Beyond the Sundown," presented at the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation. "Fandangle," presented in Shackelford County are designated as Texas State Plays
• 1981 - Earl Campbell designated as Texas State Hero
• 1989 -
  • The Confederate Air Force was adopted as Texas State Air force
  • The Guadalupe bass (Micropterus treculi) was designated as Texas State Fish
• 1990's -
  • In the mid-1990s, only 7 percent of the workers in Texas were unionized. The state has a right-to-work law, which prohibits union membership as a condition of employment.
  • Texas's population grew by 1.5 million in the early 1990s, making the state the second largest in the country after California.
• 1985 -
  • The Texas State Aquarium located in Corpus Christi is Texas State Aquarium
  • Carl Lewis  was designated as the Texas State Hero
• 1987 -
  • Texas Maritime Museum in Rockport, Aransas County Texas is the State Maritime museum
  • The Lightning whelk (Busycon contrarium) is the official Texas State Shell
• 1989 - Find out more about the Texas State Tartan
• 1991 - The Square dance was designated as the Texas State Folk dance
• 1993 -
  • The Texas red grapefruit (Citrus X paradisi) is adopted as the Texas State Fruit
  • The Horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) was designated as Texas State Reptile
• 1995 -
  • The Battleship Texas is chosen as Texas State Ship
  • The Armadillo (Family: Dasypodidae) is the Texas State Small mammal
  • The Jalapeno (Capsicum annuum) is adopted as the Texas State Pepper
  • Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia spp.) is designated as the Texas State Plant
  • The Mexican free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) becomes Texas State Flying mammal
  • Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) becomes Texas State Insect
  • The Longhorn (Bos taurus) was designated as Texas State Large state mammal
• 1997 -
  • The Houston Comets are the only team in the country to win four back-to-back WNBA championships. 1997-2000 Cynthia Cooper remains the only player to win the WNBA Championship MVP.
  • Ennis is the Texas State Bluebonnet city
  • The Chappell Hill Bluebonnet Festival becomes Texas State Bluebonnet festival
  • Ennis Bluebonnet Trail is the Texas State Bluebonnet trail
  • Chili was designated as Texas State Dish
  • Cotton (Genus Gossypium) was selected as Texas State Fiber and Fabric
  • The Sweet onion was designated as the Texas State Vegetable
  • The Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia) was adopted as the Texas State Shrub
  • The Guitar was chosen as the Texas State Musical instrument
  • Chiltepin (Capsicum annuum) was designated as the Texas State Native pepper
  • Rodeo was adopted as Texas State Sport
  • Sauropod Dinosaur (Brachiosaur sauropod, Pleurocoelus) was replaced as the Texas State Dinosaur by the quadrupedal sauropodi(Paluxysaurus jonesi) as the Texas State Dinosaur on June 19, 2009
• 2001 -
  • The Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) was designated as the Texas State Health nut
  • Eastland is the Texas State Home of "Old Rip--The Most Famous Horned Toad in Texas."
  • Kenedy is the Horned lizard capital of Texas
  • The Tejano Music Hall of Fame located in Alice was selected Texas State Tejano music hall of fame
• 2003 -
  • Sopaipilla and Strudel (Until January 31, 2005) is Texas State Pastries
  • Texas State Railroad was designated as the Texas State Railroad
  • Tortilla chips and salsa becomes Texas State Snack
• 2005 -
  • Chuck wagon is Texas State Vehicle
  • Texas purple sage (Leucophyllum frutescens) is designated as Texas State Native shrub
  • Texas Round-Up 0K  is designated as the Texas State 10K
  • Elissa is designated as Texas State Tall ship
  • Pan de campo, also called cowboy bread is selected as Texas State Bread
  • Cast iron Dutch oven was adopted as Texas State Cooking implement
  • Blue Lacy (Canis lupus familiaris) is designated as the Texas State Dog breed
• 2007 -
  • The Ghostriders is selected as the Texas State Rodeo drill team
  • Silver was designated as Texas State Precious metal
  • Bolo tie is Texas State Tie
  • Cowboy boot  are Texas State Footwear
• 2009 -
  • The American quarter horse (Equus caballus) was designated as the Texas State Horse
  • Burton Cotton Gin & Museum in Burton is the Texas State Cotton gin museum
  • Paluxysaurus jonesi is the Texas State Dinosaur
  • The Texas toad (Bufo speciosus) was selected as the Texas State Amphibian
• 2011 -
  • Nymphaea Texas Dawn was adopted as Texas State Waterlily
  • Red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) is designated as Texas State Saltwater fish
  • Western swing was adopted as the Texas State Music
  • Texas bison herd at Caprock State Park is the Texas State Bison herd
  • 42 is the Texas State Domino game
• 2013 -
  • Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) was adopted as the Texas State Sea turtle
  • Pecan pie is Texas State Pie

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More Texas History Firsts & State Facts

• Texas is popularly known as The Lone Star State.
• The Alamo is located in San Antonio. It is where Texas defenders fell to Mexican General Santa Anna and the phrase Remember the Alamo originated. The Alamo is considered the cradle of Texas liberty and the state's most popular historic site.
• Texas is the only state to have the flags of 6 different nations fly over it. They are: Spain, France, Mexico, Republic of Texas, Confederate States, and the United States.
• Although six flags have flown over Texas, there have been eight changes of government: Spanish 1519-1685, French 1685-1690, Spanish 1690-1821, Mexican 1821-1836, Republic of Texas 1836-1845, United States 1845-1861, Confederate States 1861-1865, United States 1865-present.
• The King Ranch in Texas is bigger than the state of Rhode Island.
• All Texas rivers empty into the Gulf of Mexico.
• More wool comes from the state of Texas than any other state in the United States.
• Edwards Plateau in west central Texas is the top sheep growing area in the country.
• Texas is the only state to enter the United States by treaty instead of territorial annexation.
• Texas boasts the nation's largest herd of whitetail deer.
• A coastal live oak located near Fulton is the oldest tree in the state. The tree has an estimated age of more than 1,500 years.
• Sam Houston, arguably the most famous Texan, was actually born in Virginia. Houston served as governor of Tennessee before coming to Texas.
• Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in the state.
• The Hertzberg Circus Museum in San Antonio contains one of the largest assortments of circusana in the world.
• Austin is considered the live music capital of the world.
• Texas is home to Dell and Compaq computers and central Texas is often referred to as the Silicon Valley of the south.
• Professional sports teams include the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars, Houston Astros, Houston Comets, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, and Texas Rangers.
• Texas comes from the Hasinai Indian word tejas meaning friends or allies
• Texas' largest county is Brewster with 6,208 square miles.
• Texas possesses three of the top ten most populous cities in the United States. These towns are Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio.
• El Paso is closer to Needles, California than it is to Dallas.
• Texas includes 267,339 square miles, or 7.4% of the nation's total area.
• The state's cattle population is estimated to be near 16 million.
• More land is farmed in Texas than in any other state.
• More species of bats live in Texas than in any other part of the United States.
• Laredo is the world's largest inland port.
• The Tyler Municipal Rose Garden is the world's largest rose garden. It contains 38,000 rose bushes representing 500 varieties of roses set in a 22-acre garden.
• Amarillo has the world's largest helium well.
• Texas is the country's biggest producer of oil, cattle, sheep, minerals and cotton.
• Texas is second in size only to Alaska.
• More wool comes from the state of Texas than any other state in the United States.
• Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in the state.
• Texas is home to Dell and Compaq computers and central Texas is often referred to as the Silicon Valley of the south.
• Texas possesses three of the top ten most populous cities in the United States. These towns are Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio.
• The Flagship Hotel on Seawall Boulevard in Galveston is the only hotel in North America built entirely over the water.
• The Heisman trophy is named for John William Heisman the first full-time coach and athletic director at Rice University in Houston.
• Brazoria County has more species of birds than any other comparable area in North America.
• The Aransas Wildlife Refuge is the winter home of North America's only remaining flock of whooping cranes.

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