Throughout history, a total of six nations have raised their flag over Texas. These are Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America and last but not least the United States.
Texas is a stormy state and on average, the Texans will have to endure 139 (!) tornadoes every year. It’s the most tornado-prone state in the US. If a tornado is coming your way, take shelter. If you live in a trailer or mobile home, leave ASAP. If you happen to be at school, just follow the safety procedures.
The Texas State Fair is the largest in the U.S. It is estimated that almost 3.5 million people attended the fair in 2015.
Restaurateur Mariano Martinez, who drew inspiration from the Slurpee machines at 7-11, adapted a soft-serve ice cream machine to make frozen margaritas and called it “The World’s First Frozen Margarita Machine.”
Highway 130 between Austin and Seguin has an 85 mph speed limit! If you like to drive fast, now you know where to go besides Germany and their Autobahn.
For instance, it’s illegal to sell your eye, to dust a public building with a feather duster, to milk somebody else’s cow, and to shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel. And you absolutely cannot let a camel run loose on the beaches of Galveston.
The red, white, and blue colors used on the flag are required to be an exact match to those on the national flag. Each color has its own meaning: red for bravery, white for purity, and blue for loyalty.
Texas is hot, and I mean really hot! The highest temperature ever recorded in the state was 120° F (48.8 C). That’s similar to temperatures in the Saharan desert.
The Texas Rangers is the oldest statewide law enforcement agency in the U.S. It was established in 1823.
The Highland Park Village in Texas is the first planned shopping center in the U.S. It was constructed in 1931.
The state’s nickname the “Lone Star State” comes from the fact that it was once an independent country with its own single star flag.
Texas is bigger than you think it is. Clocking in at 268,497 square miles, Texas is larger than every country in Europe and could easily fit a handful of European countries within its borders.
