Texas, USA — visiting The Lone Star State

‘The Lone Star State’
Texas is a state of superlatives: it’s the second largest state in the U.S. with a land area of 261,797 square miles (678,029 qkm), according to the US Census information. The total area including water areas occupies about 7% of the United States area. From north to south it measures 801 miles (1.289 km) length and from west to east it can reach 773 miles (1.244 km). “The Lone Star” State nickname has its origins in the days of the first half of the 19th century (1800’s+) when a single star in different flag ‘editions’ represented the Republic of Texas. Nowadays the lone star is not only part of the nickname but also and still part of the flag and and state seal.

On November 22, 1963, President John. F. Kennedy was assassinated during a public event in Dallas. You can visit the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey’s Plaza.

NASA
NASA Space Center (Houston) opened in 1962

Capitol
Texas, “the bigger and better state” as many Non-Texans title the state, has the highest Capitol of all American cities. Austin’s Capitol is higher than the Capitol in D.C.!

What to do / Sightseeing

Major Cities
Austin
Houston
Dallas
San Antonio
Corpus Christi

Parks & Nature
Big Bend Nationalpark (Portal)
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Natural Bridge Caverns
South Padre Island National Seashore
Palo Duro Canyon State Park
Big Thicket National Preserve

Towns close to Big Bend National Park
Langtry and Judge Roy Bean

German Heritage
Fredericksburg
New Braunfels

Entertainment, Festivals
Charro Days

State Data & Essentials

State Name
Texas  – State Abbr.: TX
Statehood
29-Dez-1845
– Statehood Ranking: 28
Land Area
261,797 square miles  (678,029 qkm)
– Land Area Ranking: 2
Population
30 Mio (est. for 2020); 25,145,561 (2010 Census); 20,851,820 (2000 Census)
Capital
Austin
Biggest City
Houston
Nickname
The Lone Star State
Motto
Friendship
Highest Point
2.666 m / 8,747 ft (Guadalupe Peak)
Lowest Point
Sea Level
Timezone
Central Standard Time (GMT-6hrs , MEZ-7hrs); just the western area (El Paso) has Mountain Time (GMT-7hrs , MEZ-8hrs)
Daylight Saving Time: yes
Tree
Pecan
Flower
Bluebonnet
Bird
Mockingbird
Song
“Texas, Our Texas” (by: William J. Marsh und Gladys Yoakum Wright)

Map