Welcome to Texas
"The Lone Star State" A popular adage insists everything is "bigger in Texas." It's appropriate, considering the vast Lone Star State's area of 268,820 square miles is second only to that of Alaska's. Texas also has the second highest gross state product in the U.S., after California, at $1.09 trillion. The state's abundance of natural resources and land has encouraged the prosperity: Texas leads the nation in livestock, cotton, and natural gas production, and its petroleum reserves represent a quarter of that of the nation. Technology also plays a large factor in the state's economy, with high-tech companies like Dell, Texas Instruments, and AT&T all headquartered there. Another adage, "Don't Mess with Texas," is also quite popular in the state (in stark contrast to the welcoming official motto of "Friendship"). Texans often cling to their history as an autonomous republic—the Texas constitution even reserves the right for the state to secede from the Union. The term maverick, synonymous with independence, is derived from Texas rancher Samuel Maverick's refusal to brand his cattle, and it could be extended to the population as a whole. Perhaps Texas' history of being claimed by France, Spain, Mexico, and the U.S. at different points in its history has cemented Texans' desire for personal and state autonomy. State Name: Texas State Nickname: "The Lone Star State"  State Motto: "Friendship" Name for Residents: Texan Abbreviation: TX Time Zone:    Central (most of state), GMT/UTC -6 / -5 (Daylight Savings Time)    Mountain (tip of west Texas), GMT/UTC -7 / -6 (Daylight Savings     Time) Capital City: Austin Date of Statehood: December 29, 1845 Statehood Rank: 28th State Area: 268,820 square miles (696,241 km²) Area Rank: 2 of 50 Number of Counties: 254 State Population: 24,326974 (2008 estimate) Largest Cities:     Houston - 2,242,193 (2007)     Dallas - 1,279,910 (2008)     San Antonio - 1,351,305 (2008) Major Rivers:     Rio Grande - Length: 1,885 mi (3,034 km)     Red River - Length: 1,360 mi (2,190 km)     Sabine River - Length: 555 mi (893 km) Highest Point: Guadalupe Peak, 8,751 ft (2,667 m) Lowest Point: Gulf of Mexico coast (sea level)  Bordering States and Countries:     Oklahoma (North)     Arkansas (Northeast)     Louisiana (East)     Mexico (South and Southwest)     New Mexico (Northwest) Record High Temperature:     120°F (49°C)     August 12, 1936 at Seymour Record Low Temperature:     -23°F (-31°C)     February 8, 1933 at Seminole
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	Author: World Trade Press