South Central Region:
Texas
Current Events (ELL)—Ms. Basille & Mr.
Clark
South Central Region Project, page 1
24 October 2011
Texas History
The first inhabitants of this land now called Texas arrived here around
10,000 B.C; they hunted giant bison and mammoths, and over many
centuries a wide variety of Indian cultures developed and prospered.
These earliest Texans arrived via the ice bridge that once spanned from
Russia to Alaska, and then traveled south to somewhat milder climates.
The Spanish began their conquest of Texas in 1519 when Alonso Álvarez de Pineda mapped
the coastline. In 1528, Cabeza de Vaca shipwrecked near Galveston, would later refer to his
discoveries in Texas as the "Seven Cities of Gold" and the legend quickly grew.
Searching for those "Cities" the Spanish explorer Coronado scoured much of the southwest;
he never found them, but Spain's claim on the land grew stronger and their first mission,
Corpus Christi de la Isleta, was established near present-day El Paso in 1682.
In 1685, LaSalle, the French explorer, arrived along the Gulf of Mexico coastline and he
established Fort St. Louis on the edge of Matagorda Bay. This was the first claim in Texas
by the French. LaSalle was later killed by his own men, and within five years Indians attacks
and diseases virtually wiped out the French forces.
Beginning in 1690 the Spanish established a large series of Catholic missions across the
southwest. In 1718 the Mission San Antonio de Valero, (the Alamo) was built on a plot of
land in present-day San Antonio and some original parts of this historic place still stand.
Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, and Stephen F. Austin, known as " The
Father of Texas" received permission from the Mexican government to form a colony in
southeast Texas; this was the first official Anglo-American settlement in the area.
Years went quickly by and soon regional tensions escalated because of cultural, political and
religious differences between the upstart American settlers and the Mexican government.
Mexico sent troops to tighten their control, and on October 2, 1835, the first battle for
Texas independence, the Battle of Gonzales took place.
On March 6, 1836, the historic Battle of the Alamo was over and all of
the brave defenders of Texas (about 190) were slaughtered by a
Mexican army estimated at 4,000 to 5,000 solders strong. Texan heroes
killed included David Crockett, Jim Bowie and William B. Travis.
The Texas Declaration of Independence was enacted that same year and
the final battle with Mexico, the Battle of San Jacinto (resulting in
Texas' independence from Mexico) took place near Houston; General
Santa Anna's entire Mexican force of 1,600 was killed or captured by
General Sam Houston's army of 800 Texans; only nine Texans died.
South Central Region:
Texas
Current Events (ELL)—Ms. Basille & Mr.
Clark
South Central Region Project, page 2
24 October 2011
Sam Houston, a Virginia native, went on to become President of the Republic of Texas twice.
Through his efforts, Texas was subsequently annexed to the United States as the 28th
state on December 29, 1845.
During America's Civil War, Texas seceded and joined the Confederate States of America.
Several battles were fought on its soil and on June 19th, 1865, ( as the war was ending)
General Gordon Granger, commander of the U.S. troops in Texas, arrived in Galveston and
issued the order that the Emancipation Proclamation was now in place, thus ending slavery in
Texas.
After the period of reconstruction, Texas was readmitted to the United States on March
30, 1870. The present state constitution was ratified on February 15, 1876.
During its rich history there have flown six flags over Texas, including those of Spain,
France, United Mexican States, the Confederate States of America, the Republic of Texas
and the United States of America. With all the history-changing events that have taken
place in Texas, it's no surprise that 11,621 historical markers are found within its borders.
Texas Today
The Lone Star State is a proud, historic place, with a very close
relationship with Mexico, its culture, and its people. The Southern
Texas towns of San Antonio and El Paso have a rich Hispanic community
and tradition. The famous Tex-Mex cuisine wakes up the taste buds
with chili peppers and everything that's hot! A sampling of all the local
chili recipes is mandatory at the State Fair of Texas held in Dallas throughout September
and October annually. The Dallas sister-city of Forth Worth is the historic starting point
for the great Longhorn cattle round-ups and trail drives of earlier years and is home to the
biggest stock yards in the south.
This state is expansive, bold, and beautiful, and so are the Texan people. Locals tell it like it
is with a hearty laugh, a pat on the back, and an invite to Texas barbecue. The adventurous
western spirit is evident in people like Red Adair, the famous oil well firefighter, President
& General Dwight D. Eisenhower, ballplayer Nolan Ryan, rockers Meat Loaf, Tina Turner and
Janis Joplin, and actors Gary Busey, Dennis Quaid, and Owen Wilson, to name just a few of
the famous people who hail from the Lone Star State.
Besides its enormous size (second only to Alaska), Texas is a giant
agricultural and industrial power and, as a separate country, would rank
10th in the world in overall gross domestic product (GDP)! Texas cities are
growing, while many other U.S. metropolises are dwindling. Texas is home
to NASA at the Houston Space Center and a booming high-tech and
aerospace industry has grown up around it. Several large military bases
bring even more life and business to Texas towns. This expansive state on the verge of the
South Central Region:
Texas
Current Events (ELL)—Ms. Basille & Mr.
Clark
South Central Region Project, page 3
24 October 2011
southwest takes both its sports teams and its patriotism very seriously. Hunting and fishing
are pastimes learned at an early age for most homegrown Texans.
A Vast Texas Landscape
With such a vast terrain, almost every landscape and climate is found in
Texas. The state boasts the awesome Rio Grande River along its western
border with Mexico. The Port of Galveston sits on the Gulf of Mexico and
hosts throngs of beach loving visitors throughout the year, with bustling
Houston just a short drive to the North. Dallas and Fort Worth sit on the
rolling plains and hills of the East Texas prairies that are dotted with lakes.
San Antonio is found on the vast flat southern plains with big skies that let you see for
miles. Austin sits at the southern end of the Colorado River as it passes on its way to the
ocean and El Paso nestles at the base of the Davis Mountains to the West. All of these
great cities are home to unique adventures and great things to do on a Texas vacation.
Famed for the Alamo, cattle drives, cowboy boots and hats, rodeos, oil and gas production,
NASA, a high-tech industry second-to-none, the magical cities of Austin, Dallas, Houston
and San Antonio; and so much more, it can truly be said that, "Texas...It's like a whole other
country."
 Capital City: Austin (pop.) 743,074 (2008 est.)
 Texas Population: 25,268,418 (2nd)
 Texas Population: (per square mile)
 U.S. State Populations: (all states)
  Texas Quarter The Texas quarter was the third quarter released in 2004 and the 28th in the United
States Mint's 50 State Quarters® Program. Texas became the 28th state to be admitted to the Union on
December 29, 1845.
The quarter's design features an outline of the State with a star superimposed on the
outline along with the inscription "The Lone Star State". The lariat encircling the design
symbolizes the cattle and cowboy history of Texas and the frontier spirit that tamed the
land.
The two most recognized symbols of Texas are its shape and the lone star that is
represented on the State flag. The name "Texas" comes from the Indian word "tejas"
meaning friends or allies. Texas is the only State to have had six different flags fly over its land: Spain,
France, Mexico, Republic of Texas, Confederate States of America and the United States of America.
 Largest Cities: (by population) Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Fort Worth
 Name: The origin of the name is reportedly from the Caddo Indian word "teysha" meaning "hello friend"
 Statehood: Dec. 29, 1845 (28th state)
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Texas
Current Events (ELL)—Ms. Basille & Mr.
Clark
South Central Region Project, page 4
24 October 2011
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Animal: (Small) Armadillo, (Large) Longhorn
Bird: Mockingbird
Flower: Bluebonnet
Insect: Monarch Butterfly
Motto: "Friendship"
Nicknames: (most used) Lone Star State
Song: "Texas, Our Texas"
Tree: Pecan
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· · Land Area:
(land) 261,797 sq miles
(water) 6,687 sq miles
(TOTAL) 268,484 sq miles
· Land Area: (all states)
· Horizontal Width: 776 miles
· Vertical Length: 809 miles
· Bordering States: (4) New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana
· County: (largest by population) Harris, 3,894,556
· Geographic Center: approximately 15 miles to the northeast of Brady, in McCulloch
County
· Highest Point: Guadalupe Peak, 8,749 ft.
· Lowest Point:
a small lake along the Rio Grande, near the Gulf of Mexico (-2 ft.)
· Latitude and Longitude
· Mean Elevation: 1,687 ft.
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Latitude/Longitude: (Absolute Locations)
Austin: (capital city) 30º 16' N, 97º 44' W
Dallas: (2nd largest city) 32º 80' N, 96º 76' W
Houston: (largest city) 29º 45' N, 95º 21' W
RELATIVE LOCATION:
Texas is positioned in both the northern and western hemispheres.
Located in the southern Gulf-Coast region of the United States of America - a part of North America - it's
bordered by the U.S. States of New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, as well as the Gulf of
Mexico.
South Central Region:
Texas
Current Events (ELL)—Ms. Basille & Mr.
Clark
South Central Region Project, page 5
24 October 2011
In addition, it's bordered by the Rio Grande River that forms the state's entire border with the country of
Mexico, a border 1,951 miles - 3,141 km in length.
ATTRACTIONS: (a few major)
The Lone Star State has a very close relationship with Mexico, its culture, and its people, and with all of
the history-changing events that have taken place in Texas, it's no surprise that 11,621 historical markers
are found within its borders.
Major points-of-interest include the Capital City of Austin, Big Bend National Park, the glistening cities of
Dallas and Houston, the Guadalupe Mountains, historic Galveston, Gulf of Mexico coastline, the Hill
Country, NASA (Johnson Space Center) in Clear Lake, Padre Island National Seashore, San Antonio
Riverwalk and the Alamo, numerous Spanish missions sprinkled across the state, and so much more...
Climate:
As a general rule in Texas, weather conditions are consistantly dry and hot along its southwestern border
with Mexico; the Gulf Coast is usually hot and humid with very mild winters; central and north, summers
are also hot but with colder winters. Winter snow and colder conditions are common northwest, in the
Texas/Oklahoma panhandle.
The statewide average high temperature in July is in the high 80's, while in January, high temps statewide
reach the mid 50's.
Texas rainfall varies, with up to 20 inches per year in the west, 30-35 inches central, and much higher
amounts in east and southeast along the Gulf of Mexico.