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TEXAS “It’s like a whole other country”
by Linda Wales Callahan
The Lone Star State became the 28th state in 1845, and is the second largest of the 50 states. The only state in the Union to 
serve under Six Flags: Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederacy and the United States. Bordered by Oklahoma, New Mexico , Louisiana and Arkansas, and also the country of Mexico, with a population over 20 million and an area of 268,601 square miles. To get an idea of the size of Texas you could fit the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland 3 ½ times into Texas …or…it is as large as all of New England, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois combined.
The climate of Texas depends on where you are. In the southern part is not just the heat but it is also the humidity. Summers and winters can sometimes be extreme, but spring and autumn are always delightful. Snow is not unusual in the Panhandle but for the rest of the state winter comes in spurts. As they say in Texas, “If you don’t like the weather just wait 5 minutes and it will change.”
It is divided into 6 major areas, the Panhandle in the North, Big Bend Country in the West, Piney Woods in the East, the Prairies and Lakes, the Hill Country, the South Texas Plains and the Gulf 
coast. Each area is unique. Its main rivers are the Rio Grande, the Red River and the Brazos River. The State bird is the mockingbird, State flower is the Bluebonnet, State tree is the Pecan and its motto is “Friendship”.
The capital city of Texas is Austin, and Houston, Dallas and San Antonio are the largest cities. Texas economy is agriculture: Cattle, dairy products, poultry, cotton, sorghum, corn and wheat, and its Industries are chemical products, petroleum and natural gas, food processing, electrical equipment such as computers, machinery, and mining. More and more people worldwide are discovering Texas as a vacation destination, and more and more film companies from the West and East coast are in Texas to shoot their movies.
It is the birthplace of two U.S. presidents, Dwight David Eisenhower and Lyndon Baines Johnson. Some other famous people that come from Texas are, Audie Murphy the most decorated soldier of WWII, Joan Crawford, Carol Burnett, Larry Hagman, Willie Nelson, Sandra Day O’Connor and Dan Rather.
Places of interest: The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center is in Houston, Big Bend National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Padre Island National Seashore, and the San Antonio Missions to include of course the famous Alamo.
Texas boasts two NFL teams the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans, two Major league baseball teams the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers, and three NBA teams, the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs.
Texas has great cultural diversity due to the many people from all over the world that settled here. Texas is rich in history and rich in personality. There is something for everybody in Texas for example, you can hunt, fish, bike, hike, camp, swim and go boating. You can play golf on some of the finest golf courses. You can shop till you drop, and eat some of the finest cuisine bar none. Texas is full of charm, and friendly people. It is why people are always coming to discover Texas!
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