Fun Facts
1. Texas has more airports than any other state
2. There has been six flags over Texas- Spain, France, Mexico, Republic of Texas, Confederate State, US
3. Texas experiences the most tornadoes in the US ( mostly N.TX and Panhandle)
4. Deadliest natural disaster- Galveston Hurricane of 1900
5. Sam Houston was the first president and first governor of Texas
6. Texas was and independent nation from 1836-1845
7. Texas annexed to the US in 1845 but retained the right to fly its flag at the same height as the US flag
8. “GTT” – Gone to Texas, quick was for people to let families know they left for greener grass in Texas
9. Famous battle cry- “Remember the Alamo”
10. Most popular snack foods in Texas- Frito Pie, corndogs, peanuts, Dr Pepper, beef jerky, jalapenos
11. Camels were imported into Texas in 1850 in belief they would be handy animals during Indian wars
12. The three colors on the Texas flag represents- red/courage, white/liberty, blue/loyalty
13. Texas state capitol building is largest in the nation of all states
14. Father of Texas – Stephen F. Austin
15. Amarillo hosts the world’s largest Calf Fry Cook-off (bull testicles)
16. Dallas- State Fair of Texas is home to the largest Ferris wheel in the western hemisphere
17. Texas is the only state that entered the Union by treaty on December 29, 1845
18. Charles Alderton first created Dr Pepper in 1845
19. San Jacinto Monument is among the tallest columns in the world
20. The lightning whelk is the official state shell
21. King Ranch is bigger than the state of Rhode Island
22. More wool comes from Texas than any other state in the US
23. A coastal live oak located near Fulton is the oldest tree in the state, estimated more than 1500 years
24. Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in Texas
25. Austin is considered the live music capital of the world
26. The first suspension bridge in the US was the Waco Bridge built in 1870 and is still in use today as a pedestrian
crossing of the Brazos Rv.
27. The capitol of Austin opened on May 16, 1888, and the dome stands 7 feet higher than the nation’s Capital in
Washington, D.C.
28. El Paso is closer to Needles, California than Dallas
29. More land is farmed in Texas than any other state
30. Laredo is the world’s largest inland port
31. Port Lavaca has the world’s longest fishing pier
32. Tyler Municipal Rose Garden is the world’s largest rose garden
33. The world’s first rodeo was held in Pecos on July 4, 1883
34. 1400- Caddo Confederacy forms a civilization based on agriculture
35. 1519- Pineda maps the Texas coast
36. 1528- Cabeza de Vaca explores Texas 37. 1541- Coronado leads a western Texas expedition
38. 1682- Spainards establish the first mission at Ysleta
39. 1685- La Salle builds Fort St. Louis on the Texas coast
40. 1690- Spanish monks establish the first mission in eastern Texas
41. 1718- De Buenaventura y Olvares found Mission San Antonio de Valero (Alamo)
42. 1813- First newspaper in Texas begins publication at Nacogdoches
43. 1821- Stephen F. Austin begins to settle Texas under an agreement with the Mexican government
44. 1835- Texas Revolution erupts; the present-day state is the only state to fly 6 different flags during its history
45. 1836- Texas wins independence from Mexico
46. 1837- United States recognizes the Republic of Texas
47. 1845- Union officially admits Texas as the 28th state by treaty
48. 1848- Mexico surrenders claim to Texas as Mexican War ends
49. 1861- Texas secedes from the Union and joins the Confederacy
50. 1866- Cattle boom begins in Texas with first major cattle drive
51. 1870- Union readmits Texas
52. 1870- Engineers build the Waco Bridge, the first suspension bridge across the Brazos Rv.
53. 1876- Texas adopts constitution
54. 1876- Texas A& M University is founded
55. 1883- Texas hosts the world's first rodeo in Pecos on July 4
56. 1885- Charles Alderton invents Dr Pepper
57. 1888- Texas capitol building opens in Austin
58. 1891- Texas Railroad Commission is established
59. 1900- Galveston Hurricane kills 8,000; worst natural disaster in US history
60. 1916- Mexican bandit Poncho Villa raids Glen Springs and Bouquillas
61. 1931- East Texas oil fields are discovered
62. 1933- First Texas Rose Festival at Tyler Municipal Rose Garden; 500 varieties of roses
63. 1950- US Supreme Court outlaws racial segregation at University of Texas Law School
64. 1953- Dwight D. Eisenhower is the first Texas born president
65. 1968- Houston Oilers move into the Astrodome, the nation’s first domed stadium
66. 1969- Neil Armstrong is the first human to land on the moon
67. 1973- NASA renames Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston for President Lyndon B. Johnson
68. 1979- Tropical Storm Claudette drops 45 inches of rain
69. 1981- Texas legislature votes the armadillo as the official state mammal
70. 1988- America elects Texan George Bush as the 41st US President
71. 1996- Dallas Cowboys win their 5th Superbowl
72. 1997- Houston Comets win four consecutive WNBA championships
73. 2000- America elects Texas governor George W. Bush as the 43rd US President
74. 2003- Space shuttle Columbia breaks apart over Texas during its reentry, seven astronauts die
75. 2006- Rick Perry is reelected as governor
76. 2011- Texas celebrates its 175th anniversary of independence from Mexico