When you think of Texas you probably think of cowboys, barbecue, girls with big hair, and everyone saying “y’all”. While you will find all of these things, it is important to note that there is so much more to Texas.
I mean, that’s why Texas cities consistently make the list of top cities in the U.S. to visit! There are so many hidden gems in the U.S.A., and Texas is no exception.
Trust us, we were born and raised in Texas and still call the Lone Star State home! Texas is full of interesting history and the people here are overflowing with Texas pride! Take it from us, knowing a few facts about Texas before you visit will definitely make your trip more enjoyable.
So, while you will find cowboy boots and Stetson hats, and most people will say “y’all”, I think you will find so much more here in our great state. Read on to discover some of the awesome facts about Texas that we love!
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51 Awesome Facts About Texas
1. Texans Are Friendly
You can’t have a list of facts about Texas and not include the friendliness of the people! It doesn’t matter if you are in the small towns of Texas, or the big cities, you will find that the majority of people in Texas are extremely friendly.
Don’t be surprised when strangers smile at you, wave to you, and simply say “hi” as you are walking by. To some people, this can be seen as creepy, but to Texans, this is perfectly normal behavior.
Just go with. I bet before long you will come to like it and be joining in!
2. Friendship is the State Motto
As I said, we are friendly people, and the word Texas means friend, so it is only fitting that the state motto is friendship.
3. Dr. Pepper was Invented in Texas
Oh, my soda obsession, Dr. Pepper! Dr. Pepper is one of the oldest (and in my opinion, the most delicious) soda ever invented!
Originating in 1885 from a pharmacist at Morrison’s Old Corner Drug Store in Waco, Texas, Dr. Pepper is now a Texas icon.
The recipe is a secret and is kept in two halves in two different safety deposit boxes in two different Dallas banks! Despite the secrecy of the recipe, you can still enjoy a great Dr. Pepper anytime you want!
You can also visit the Dr. Pepper museum which is located in Waco, Texas.
4. Six Flags Have Ruled Over Texas
It’s true, six different flags have actually ruled over Texas. These six countries include France, Spain, Mexico, The Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America, and of course, the United States of America.
That’s a lot of flags!
5. Six Flags Theme Park Originated in Texas
I’m sure after reading about the six flags that have ruled over Texas, you put two and two together and figured this one out on your own! The Six Flags Theme Park brand actually originated here in Texas and drew its name from the history of the six flags that ruled over our great state.
Texas businessman, Angus G. Wynn, decided to open his theme park in 1961, it was only fitting that he pay homage to the history of his state.
The first Six Flags theme park was created right here in a suburb of my hometown of Dallas-Fort Worth, in Arlington, Texas. So, of course, we had to include it on our list of things to do in Dallas-Fort Worth.
6. The Frozen Margarita Machine was Invented in Texas
If I could shake the hand of Mariano Martinez, I would gladly do so. Heck, I might even kiss his cheek! Why?
Well because it is thanks to Mariano that we have another one of my favorite drinks, the frozen margarita! Making this, one of my favorite facts about Texas!
Drawing inspiration from the Slurpee machine used at 7-11 stores, Mariano came up with the idea of creating the world’s first frozen margarita machine. Now, you can find this delicious treat all over the Lone Star State.
Trust me, on a hot summer day, a frozen margarita is just what you need!
Today, you can see his original machine on display at The Smithsonian Museum of American History!
7. Texas has its own Power Grid!
It’s true. There are three power grids in the United States, one for the western half of the country, one for the eastern half of the country, and one for Texas!
This, of course, is attributed to the state’s commitment to avoiding federal regulations. You see, by not crossing state lines while installing the power grid, Texas avoids being subject to federal law.
I mean, we were an independent country at one time for a reason!
8. Texas is Home to the Deadliest Natural Disaster in History
One of the saddest facts about Texas is the fact that we are home to one of the deadliest natural disasters in history. In the year 1900, the Great Galveston Hurricane took the lives of between 6,000 and 12,000 people.
With a storm surge of 8 to 15-feet, the entire town of Galveston was engulfed in water from the Gulf of Mexico, causing unsurmountable devastation.
Today, visitors can learn all about this tragic event at the Pier 21 Theatre in Galveston.
While visiting Galveston, you can also discover some great places to eat in Galveston before relaxing on the beach!
9. The Largest Known Bat Colony in North America is in Texas
Just outside of San Antonio, Texas, you will find Bracken Cave, home to the largest known bat colony in North America.
It is estimated that over 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats call this cave home from March to October.
Although access to the cave is restricted, you can arrange to take an evening guided tour to watch the bats emerge!
10. Austin is Home to the World’s Largest Urban Bat Colony
Every summer night, tourist and locals make their way to the South Congress Bridge in downtown Austin to see the emerging of bats from the largest urban bat colony in the world.
At any given time there are over 1.5 million bats that descend from the bridge to go out on their nightly feeding.
11. The Fastest Road in the United States is in Austin, TX
In between Austin and San Antonio, you will find a country road, Highway 130, that is the fastest road in the United States! This road boasts a speed limit of 85 miles per hour! This is the perfect road to drive fast on and not get in trouble!
12. Texas Capital Building is the Largest State Capital Building in the U.S.
I mean, it isn’t a contest or anything, but our Texas Capital building is the largest state capital building in the United States. This beautiful building made out of limestone and granite allows with a marble statue on top called the Goddess of Liberty.
Visitors to Austin have their choice of some of the best places to stay in Austin and then can choose to take a free 30-minute tour to learn more about the capital of Texas.
13. The Texas Capital Building is 15-feet Taller Than the U.S. Capital
OK, maybe it is a competition. We do pride ourselves on the fact that everything is bigger in Texas. So it would only make sense that we live up to that saying.
Making the fact that the Texas Capital Building is 15-feet taller than the U.S. Capital Building one of the many fun facts about Texas.
The U.S. Capital Building in Washington D.C. stands 288-feet tall, the Texas Capital Building stands 308-feet tall.
14. Texas is the 2nd Most Populous State in the United States
Second, to only California, Texas is the 2nd most populous state in the United States. With a population of over 29 million people, Texas is home to over 10% of the population in the United States.
It’s a good thing that we have a lot of room to spread out on!
15. Texas is Larger Than Any European Country
This is one of my favorite facts about Texas to share when we make new friends in Europe. Most people don’t really understand the scale of our great state.
If you place Texas over Europe on a properly scaled map, you can easily see that you could actually fit several European countries into Texas.
16. Texas is Twice the Size of Germany
Like we said above, several European countries could fit into Texas. Specifically, Germany can fit in Texas twice!
17. Texas Was Once An Independent Nation
Texas is called ‘The Lone Star State’ for a good reason. From the years 1836-1845, Texas was an independent nation.
Falling under the flag of the Republic of Texas. This period occurred during the time of Manifest Destiny when American settlers came to this region and won their independence from Mexico during the Texas Revolution.
Texans still take pride in this time period especially in the famous ‘Battle of the Alamo’. You can visit the Alamo and the other missions in San Antonio if you are interested in learning more about the Texas Revolution.
The independence of Texas is one of the many awesome facts about Texas that will enrich your visit to our state.
18. The Texas Rangers are the Oldest State-Wide Law Enforcement Agency
The Texas Rangers were originally founded in 1823 by Stephen F. Austin. This original group of 10 men was given the sole responsibility to protect the settlers that had come to make Texas their home.
Today, the Texas Rangers still patrol our great state to ensure that there is safety for everyone.
19. Texas is Honky-Tonk Heaven
Now found throughout the southern part of the United States, the honky-tonk bar actually originated in Texas.
What exactly is a honky-tonk? Well, it is an entertainment venue that features live music, a dance floor, and a bar area.
20. Texas is Home to the World’s Largest Honky-Tonk
The World’s Largest Honky-Tonk, Billy Bob’s Texas, can be found in our hometown, Fort Worth, and is listed as one of our free things to do in Fort Worth.
Honestly, visiting a honky-tonk while in Texas is a unique experience that is truly so much fun! If you’re considering visiting Billy Bob’s, be sure to check out their schedule of events.
Note that if you visit when a concert is happening, there is a fee.
21. We Love to Say Y’all
I’m sure this is actually one of the most well-known facts about Texas, but I had to include it.
We love to say y’all! Honestly, I don’t even think about it. Y’all is just part of my vocabulary when I’m referring to two or more people. LOL!
22. We Also Love to Drop the Ending Off of our Words
This is something that you will notice throughout Texas. We love to drop the last letter from our words.
Some common examples include fixin’, comin’, dancin’, and singin’. I don’t know if we are just lazy or if this is just our Texas dialect, but we do it all the time.
23. There is a Ranch in Texas Larger Than Rhode Island
It’s true! King Ranch, located in Kingsville, is larger than the state of Rhode Island!
Spreading over 825,000-acres of land, King Ranch spans over six different counties. Compare this to the state of Rhode Island, coming in at just under 777,000-acres, and King Ranch has it beat.
King Ranch is home to over 35,000 heads of cattle and over 200 American Quarter Horses. King Ranch is such an important part of Texas history that is was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961.
24. One of Our Towns Changed Its Names to Get Free Dish Service
One of the most quirky facts about Texas is the small town that changed its name so that all of its residents would receive dish television service from Dish Network.
This small town located in Denton county consists of just 200 residents, all of which get free Dish Network television.
25. Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World
The Texas state capital, Austin, boasts many great things to do. One of which is a lively music scene.
In Austin, you can find everything from country and western to grunge and pop. The city holds the title of live music capital of the world due to the fact that it has the most live music venues per capita in the nation, boasting more than 250 concert venues.
26. The Hamburger Was Invented in Texas
So I haven’t been able to 100% validate this fact about Texas, but supposedly the hamburger that we all know and love was invented in Athens, Texas.
Whether or not it is true is up for debate. I do know this though, you can find some amazing hamburgers here in our state, so enjoy one while visiting!
27. Whole Food Market and 7-11 Originated in Texas
That’s right, you can thank the great state of Texas for Whole Foods Market and 7-11. You can find these popular stores all over the United States, but both found their start right here in Texas. 7-11 began in Dallas in 1927, while Whole Foods began in Austin in 1980.
28. Texas State Fair is the Largest Fair in the United States
Again, everything is bigger in Texas, so of course, our State Fair has to be also. The Texas State Fair is not only the largest state fair in the United States, it is also the longest-running since it was established in 1886.
Running for 24 days from the end of September thru October every year, the Texas State Fair will have you eating your weight in fried food before taking a ride on one of the many amusement rides.
You’ll know you’re in the right place when you are greeted by Big Tex, the mascot of the fair and an iconic symbol in the state of Texas.
29. We Have Our Own Version of Mexican Food-Tex Mex
Texans have their own version of Mexican food, Tex-Mex, and it is delicious! If you’re visiting Texas and we say we want to go eat Mexican food, I guarantee you we are referring to Tex-Mex. What exactly is Tex-Mex?
Well, Tex-Mex is a fusion of Mexican, Tejano, and American food styles. Growing up in Texas, I associate Tex-Mex with fajitas, cheese-covered enchiladas, breakfast tacos, and of course yellow cheese queso!
You absolutely have to try Tex-Mex while you’re visiting Texas.
30. There is a Team of Gardeners that Ensure we have Bluebonnets
One of my favorite thing about spring in Texas is the emergence of our Texas State Flower, the bluebonnet. Each year, this sea of beautiful blue wildflowers grace not only the country’s hillsides but also are all down the sides of our Texas highways.
To ensure that the bluebonnets make an appearance, the Texas Department of Transportation actually employs a team of gardeners to help spread over 30,000 pounds of wildflower seeds.
Visiting Texas during the spring is highly recommended to see these Texas beauties.
31. Two Presidents of the United States Were Born in Texas
Both Lyndon B. Johnson and Dwight Eisenhower were born here in Texas. Matter of fact, you can tour the LBJ Ranch while you are visiting Fredericksburg, TX, and see the ‘Texas White House’.
32. Texas is Home to 3 of the United States’ Largest Cities
Texas is home to 3 of the United States’ largest cities. Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio all made the top 10 of the list of the largest cities in the U.S.
33. There are Over 13 Million Cows in Texas
With all of the available land in Texas, we had to put it to good use, so why not allow cows to enjoy it, right. There are several breeds of cattle that call Texas home including our famous Texas Longhorns, Beefmasters, and Santa Gertrudis.
No matter where you visit in Texas, you are bound to see some cows while you are here.
34. Football is a Religion in Texas
Fall in Texas means football, and boy do we take it seriously. Friday nights come alive at high schools across the state as the Friday night lights bring fans from far and wide to root on their home team.
It isn’t just high school football that we love. Texans are devoted football fans through and through.
35. There is a Dialect of German Only Spoken in Texas
A large portion of the Texas Hill Country was settled by German immigrants in the early 1900s. During this time of settlement, these immigrants developed a unique dialect of the German language that you still hear spoken today.
36. Texas is Home to an Alien Gravesite
It was reported that on April 17, 1897, a UFO crashed near a farm in Aurora, TX. The crash supposedly resulted in the fatality of the alien inside the UFO and the result was a burial for the alien’s body in an unmarked grave in a local cemetery.
Now, I don’t know if this is true, but we claim it anyway!
37. Texas is Home to an Eiffel Tower
In the town of Paris, Texas, you will find an Eiffel Tower unlike any other in the world. Why? Well, this Eiffel Tower, which stands 65-foot tall wears a huge red cowboy hat!
38. Don’t Mess With Texas is For Real
The ‘Don’t Mess with Texas’ slogan originated as an anti-litter campaign. It has since been used on so many different things.
Some people say that you really don’t mess with Texas’ because of the history of independence here.
39. Texas is Home to the Only City in the World Named Earth
It’s true, Texas has a city named Earth and this is the only one on the planet Earth. This small town in West Texas had a little over 1,000 residents as of the 2010 Census, so it definitely isn’t as big as Earth.
40. We Are a Leader in Fortune 500 Companies
Here is one of the facts about Texas that proves that we are more than just land and cattle. Texas is 2nd in the United States when it comes to being the home base to Fortune 500 companies.
Texas is home to over 50 Fortune 500 companies including AT&T, American Airlines, Keller Williams, and Dell Computers.
41. Texas is the Largest States of the Continual U.S. States
We have already told you several times that Texas is big, but did you realize that Texas is the largest state of the continual U.S. states? Texas is second in size to only Alaska when it comes to all of the United States.
42. We Love Our Sports Teams
One of the other well-known facts about Texas is that we love our sports teams. Whether it is baseball, basketball, football, or hockey, we love our sports teams here in Texas. We love them so much that we have 10 major league sports teams here in our great state.
43. Texas is the Only U.S. State to Enter by Treaty
Of course, Texas had to show its independence before coming to part the United States. Texas was the only state to enter into the U.S. by treaty. All other states in the United States were acquired through annexation.
44. Texas Has a Haunted Highway
Ghost hunters will love this fact about Texas. Take a drive on highway 281 between Wimberly and Blanco on the stretch of road known as ‘the Devil’s Backbone’ to experience this haunted highway.
Even if you don’t experience a ghostly encounter, it is a beautiful stretch of highway.
45. Texas Averages Over 100 Tornadoes a Year
Now this probably isn’t one of the facts about Texas that we should be advertising, but it is important to know before you visit Texas. The Lone Star states averages over 100 tornadoes a year.
46. The Designer of the Texas Flag is Unknown
Our flag, red, white, and blue with a single Lone Star is an iconic symbol of Texas. The flag dates back to the days of the early Republic and was adopted in 1839.
It is thought to have been designed by Senator William H. Wharton, but no one really knows for sure.
47. Nothing Beats Our Ice Cream
Now I know that this is a bold statement, especially since I loved eating gelato in Venice, but truly nothing beats our ice cream. By ice cream, I am officially referring to Texas-made Blue Bell ice cream.
No one does ice cream like Blue Bell! Made right here in Brenham, TX using only the freshest ingredients, Blue Bell is ‘the best ice cream in the country’.
48. We Take Our BBQ Seriously
Although BBQ was not invented in Texas, we take it seriously and pride ourselves on having the best in the U.S. Now while this is a highly controversial statement, there are many Texans that would go toe to toe to prove it.
Whether you agree that Texas has the best BBQ or not is up to you. Give it a try and see what you think.
49. By BBQ, We Mean Beef
Whether you agree or not with the belief that Texas has the best BBQ, one thing is for sure here, when we say BBQ, we mean BEEF!
Don’t come to Texas and get pork or chicken. If you want to experience true Texas BBQ then you better order beef!
50. It’s HOT in Texas
It is hot, hot, hot in Texas in the summer. Trust me, you will be thankful that we have air conditioning EVERYWHERE!
When you can’t find air conditioning or you just want to be outside for a while, then find one of the many swimming holes in Texas like the ones in Wimberley to cool off in.
Final Thoughts on Facts About Texas
Really, we could go on and on with facts about Texas. The Lone Star State is definitely a unique state that is full of great people, beautiful countryside, and tons of things to do.
Feel free to comment below and add to our list of facts about Texas!
Check Out Some of Our Other Texas Posts:
Fun Things to do in the Highland Lakes of Texas
Romantic Weekend in Downtown McKinney
Covered Wagon Camping: Unique Places to Stay in Texas
Visiting the Fredericksburg, TX Wineries (Everything You Need to Know)
30 Fun Things to do in Fredericksburg TX
40 Awesome Free Things to do in Austin
Free Things to do in San Antonio
101 Ideas for Date Night in Dallas
30 Incredible Day Trips from Dallas
55 Ideas for Date Night in Fort Worth
20 Towns to Celebrate Christmas in Texas
20 Fabulous Small Towns in Texas You Must Visit
Visiting the San Antonio River Walk at Christmas
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About the Author
Michelle Snell is a travel writer, history buff, wine lover, and enthusiast of different cultures. While she is a professional educator by day, her passion for travel has her jet-setting all over the world during her free time.
Michelle enjoys bringing places to life through her informative writing style on her blog, That Texas Couple. Her practical tips and suggestions help make travel dreams a reality while immersing her readers in the history, culture, and food of a region. She is happiest sipping wine in Italy or chilling on a beach with her husband, Marty.
Shannon
Saturday 28th of March 2020
Love it! Fun, informative and some inspiration for my next Texas visit in October!
thattexascouple
Saturday 28th of March 2020
Thanks, Shannon. I am so glad we were able to give you some tips!
Ophelie
Saturday 28th of March 2020
So cool to discover all of those facts! I didn't know you guys had an Eiffel Tower! I know a few people from Texas and I can tell that they are really friendly indeed!
thattexascouple
Saturday 28th of March 2020
That is so great to hear, and yes we have an Eiffel Tower and a Stonehenge! LOL!
Agnes
Saturday 28th of March 2020
Well, thank you Texas for all of the frozen margs I've consumed in my life. Great post!
thattexascouple
Saturday 28th of March 2020
Right....we all have to thank Texas for that!
galatia savva
Saturday 28th of March 2020
such a fun informative post! Texas looks like a blast!
thattexascouple
Saturday 28th of March 2020
Thanks so much!
Chelsea
Saturday 28th of March 2020
Thank goodness for margarita machines BBQ and ice cream! The way to my heart is through food and music! Texas has it all!
thattexascouple
Saturday 28th of March 2020
Haha! I love it!!