Facts Unique to Texas
- Texas is the only state that was a country prior to becoming a state.
- The Constitution of 1845, which was the resolution that allowed Texas into the Union, stated that Texas had the right to divide into 4 states in addition to the original Texas. That legal right still remains true.
- There has been 6 flags to fly over Texas. The Spanish, French, Mexican, Confederacy, United States, and Republic of Texas. The Spanish controlled Texas from 1519-1685 and 1690-1821. The French from 1685-1690. The Mexican from 1821-1836. The Republic of Texas from 1836-1845. The United States from 1845-1861 and 1865-present. The Confederacy from 1861-1865.
- In the Texas state song, the word "boldest" replaced the word "largest" after Alaska became a state.
- The state capitol building is the largest state capitol building in the country.
- There are actually five state flowers of Texas. Before 1971, there were debates over which variation of bluebonnet was the actual state flower. (Only two variations were known at that time). In 1971, the state legislature solved this confrontation by making both variations and "any other variety of bluebonnet not heretofore recorded" the state flower. Currently five variations of bluebonnet are known: lupinus subcarnosus, lupinus texensis, lupinus Havardii, lupinus concinnus, lupinus plattensis. There are also several colors of state flower. Blue, white, pink, lavender, and maroon being the primary colors, with several other minor variations found in nature.
- The people of Texas usually call themselves Texans. However, Texian was generally used in the early period of the state's history.
- Texas is the only state whose state flag flies as high as the United States flag.
Famous Texans
- Red Adair
fireman oil well fires, Houston
- Alvin Ailey
choreographer, Rogers
- Mary Kay Ash
cosmetics entrepreneur, Hot Wells
- Steven Fuller
Austin founding father of Texas, Austinville,VA
- Gene Autry
singer, actor, Tioga
- Kathy Baker
actress, Midland
- Clyde Barrow
outlaw, Telico
- Carol Burnett
comedienne, San Antonio
- Cyd Charisse
actress, dancer, Amarillo
- Henry Cisneros
politician, San Antonio
- Denton A. Cooley
heart surgeon, Houston
- Joan Crawford
actress, San Antonio
- Robert Dennard
inventor, Terrell
- Dwight David Eisenhower
U.S. president, general, Denison
- A. J. Foyt
auto racer, Houston
- Larry Hagman
actor, Fort Worth
- Ben Hogan
golfer, Dublin
- Buddy Holly
musician, Lubbock
- Howard Hughes
industrialist, film producer, Houston
- Jack Johnson
boxer, Galveston
- Lyndon B. Johnson
U.S. president, Stonewall
- Michael Johnson
olympic sports, Dallas
- George Jones
singer, Saratoga
- Janis Joplin
blues singer, Port Arthur
- Tommy Lee Jones
actor, San Saba
- Trini Lopez
singer, Dallas
- Mary Martin
singer, actress, Weatherford
- Roger Miller
singer, songwriter, Fort Worth
- Spanky McFarland
actor, Fort Worth
- Audie Murphy
actor, war hero, Kingston
- Willie Nelson
singer, Abbot
- Chester Nimitz
admiral, Fredricksburg
- Sandra Day O'Connor
jurist, El Paso
- Roy Orbisonsinger
, Vernon
- Buck Owens
singer, Sherman
- Bonnie Parker
outlaw, Rowena
- H. Ross Perot
philanthropist, Texarkana
- Katherine Anne Porter
author, Indian Creek
- Wiley Post
aviator, Grand Saline
- Dan Rather TV newscaster
, Wharton
- Robert Rauschenberg
painter, Port Arthur
- Tex Ritter
singer, Murval
- Eugene Wesley Gene Roddenberry
screenwriter, El Paso
- Tabitha Soren
TV journalist, San Antonio
- Rip Torn
actor, director, Temple
- Ernest Tubb
country music, Crisp
- Tommy Tune
dancer, choreographer, Wichita Falls
- Kathy Whitworth
golfer, Monahans
- Dooley Wilson
actor, musician, Tyler
- Babe Didrikson Zaharias
athlete, golfer, Port Arthur
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