The state of Texas is the second largest state in the United States of America, both in terms of area and population. The state’s more than 29 million inhabitants live in a varied landscape that is home to mountains, deserts and coastal areas. On the south side of Texas, the state of Mexico borders to the west and the Gulf of Mexico bay to the east. In addition, Texas looks back on an eventful history in which the state was under the influence of various states.
History and Culture of the State of Texas
The population of Texas is diverse due to the state’s history: while almost half of the inhabitants can be classified as white, about 40% have a Hispanic background. The white population are descendants of former European immigrants. The largest proportion is of German descent, followed by Irish and English descent. The Hispanic population is usually descendants of the Spanish occupiers. After Texas was able to break away from the Spanish occupiers in 1821, they joined the state of Mexico . In 1936, however, today’s federal state succeeded in becoming an independent republic. Another 9 years later, Texas was admitted to the U.S. Confederation, whose condition continues to this day.
Economically, Texas is enriching itself in particular from the oil and natural gas deposits in the state. Of all states in the USA , Texas has the highest oil production rate. In addition, agriculture and livestock farming is very pronounced. As a result, a large food industry also emerged, which was locally integrated into agriculture and livestock farming. Overall, Texas accounts for over 8% of the total GDP of the United States.
Texas cuisine is directly influenced by the history of the state: The dishes are characterized by the generous use of chili, which has Mexican origins. In addition, barbecue plays a relevant role in the everyday life of Texans, which is a special cooking method. Due to its relevance, the “International Barbeque Cookoff” takes place annually, where various barbecue dishes are offered to visitors worldwide.
But sport also has a great significance in the southern state of the USA. Texas can boast at least one team in the respective top national leagues in basketball, American football, baseball, ice hockey and, more recently, football. At the Dallas Mavericks basketball club, the German star player Dirk Nowitzki was active until 2019.
Major Cities in Texas
While a total of 41 cities in Texas are home to over one hundred thousand inhabitants, only three cities have more than one million inhabitants: Houston, San Antonio and Dallas.
With over 2.3 million inhabitants, Houston is the largest city in Texas. The city is located directly on the Gulf of Mexico and has grown in size thanks to the brisk shipping traffic. Even today, large quantities of oil products are shipped through the port of Houston. Various large companies have settled here due to the infrastructural location.
The city of San Antonio is the oldest city in Texas, founded in 1735 by the Spanish colonial empire. Due to its southern location, San Antonio is still strongly influenced by Spanish, Mexican, German and Anglo-American influences. The city is considered a figurehead of the cultural diversity that exists in Texas.
With over 1.3 million inhabitants, Dallas is the third largest city in Texas. A variety of railroad lines make the city the Texas center for the transportation of oil and cotton. However, the computer and financial services industry is also strongly represented in Dallas .
The capital of the state of Austin is only the fourth largest city in Texas. The city is particularly characterized by the high number of students. In addition, the city is home to many music clubs and is the venue for concerts and live music.
Sights in the state of Texas
Texas is home to breathtaking nature, which is reflected in the national parks, among other things. In particular, the Big Bend National Park and the Guadalupe Mountains National Park impress with unique rock formations, raging rivers and canyons that invite you to hike and visit. In addition, the second largest canyon in the United States can be found – the Palo Duro Canyon. With a length of 193 kilometers and an average width of 10 kilometers, it is one of the largest specimens in the world.
The history and culture of the country can be found above all in the Alamo museums in San Antonio and the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. While the former is a former fort that deals with the recent Texan past, the latter includes a collection of over 60,000 objects from all over the world, some of which date back to antiquity.
For fun, for example, the River Walk in San Antonio is a good choice. There are a variety of shops, restaurants and hotels along the river, which exude a cozy atmosphere due to their location and design. Houston is home to a world-famous zoo, which is home to various wild animals such as monkeys, giraffes and lions. The motto of the zoo is the closer coexistence of humans and animals. Texas is also home to the Six Flags Over Texas theme park, which specializes in roller coasters with different design themes.
It can be said that Texas is an exciting holiday destination from a cultural and historical point of view as well as in terms of leisure activities, which is under the radar from a tourist point of view.
