Texas

Texas is a state in the southern United States. It is the second-most populous state and the second-largest by area, covering about 268,600 square miles. It borders New Mexico to the west, Oklahoma to the north, Arkansas and Louisiana to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the southeast, and Mexico to the south and southwest. The capital is Austin, and the largest city by population is Houston. Most of the state observes Central Time, with a western portion in Mountain Time. The state features diverse geography, including the Gulf Coastal Plain, the Hill Country, the Great Plains, and desert regions in the west, with a climate ranging from humid subtropical in the east to arid in the west.

Indigenous peoples inhabited the region long before European contact. It was part of New Spain and then Mexico. After gaining independence, the Republic of Texas was formed in 1836. Texas joined the United States in 1845 and later aligned with the Confederacy during the Civil War; it rejoined the Union after the war. The discovery of oil at Spindletop in 1901 spurred rapid growth, followed by expansion in aerospace, energy, agriculture, and technology.

Today Texas has a diversified economy anchored by energy, manufacturing, agriculture, and services, with major ports at Houston and Corpus Christi. The population is diverse, with a large Hispanic and Latino community and large urban centers in the Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, and Austin–San Antonio corridors. Cultural traditions include Tex-Mex cuisine, barbecue, country and western music, and rodeo. The state motto is Friendship, and the state flag features a blue vertical stripe with a white star and red and white stripes.