Facts About Texas

eMail | 2-10-04 | unknown

[FlyLow]

No one asked for these, but here are some little known facts about Texas. I know y'all just can't wait to read them!

Beaumont to El Paso: 742 miles Beaumont to Chicago: 770 miles World's first rodeo was in Pecos... July 4, 1883. The Flagship Hotel in Galveston is the only hotel in North America built over water. The Heisman Trophy was named after John William Heisman who was the first full time coach for Rice University, Houston. Brazoria County has more species of birds than any other area in North America. Aransas Wildlife Refuge is the winter home of North America's only remaining flock of whooping cranes. Jalapeno jelly originated in Lake Jackson in 1978. The worst natural disaster in U.S. history was in 1900 caused by a hurricane in which over 8000 lives were lost on Galveston Island. The first word spoken from the moon, July 20, 1969, was "Houston." El Paso is closer to California than to Dallas. Laredo is the world's largest inland port. Tyler Municipal Rose Garden is the world's largest rose garden with over 38,000 bushes with 500 varieties on 22 acres. The State shell is Lightning Whelk. King Ranch is larger than Rhode Island. Tropical Storm Claudette brought a U.S. rainfall record of 43" in 24 hours in and around Alvin in July 1979. Texas is the only state to enter the U.S. by TREATY, instead of by annexation. (This allows the Texas flag to fly a t the same height as the US flag.) A Live Oak tree near Fulton is estimated to be 1500 years old. Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in the state. Dr Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885. There is no period after Dr in Dr Pepper. Texas has had six capital cities . 1. Washington-on-the-Brazos 2. Harrisburg 3. Galveston 4. Velasco 5. West Columbia 6. Austin The Capitol Dome in Austin is the only dome in the U.S. which is taller than the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. (by 7 feet). The name Texas comes from the Hasini Indian word "Tejas" meaning friends. Tejas is not Mexican for Texas. The State animal is the Armadillo. * The first domed stadium in the U.S. was the Astrodome in Houston.

IT IS THE ONLY STATE THAT CAN HAVE A REFERENDUM AND DIVIDE ITSELF INTO FIVE (5) STATES, PER ITS TREATY TO BECOME PART OF THE UNITED STATES.

*An interesting bit of trivia about the armadillo is they always have four babies! They have one egg which splits into four and they either have four males or four females. Well... I thought it was interesting anyway!

[dtel]

I am afraid you can already pencil in '04 as a big LOSER also.
Sell the team Tom!

[dtel]

They have played in eight.

[bigcheese]

Another small fact about Texas that this article left out is that the true northern border cuts off at Austin. Anyone above that actually resides in South Oklahoma.

Although, with the way Austin is nowadays, I'd say move the border to the southern edge of Austin.

{donning asbestos underwear now}

[Deguello]

"The battle of San Jacinto lasted less than 20 minutes."

The battle lasted only 20 minutes, but the killing went on for most of the day.

[dfwgator]

"Don't you DARE take the name of Texas in vain!"

[af_vet_rr]

They also have there own seperate electrical grid...there's the western grid, the eastern grid...then there's the texas grid...

I hope it stays that way.

The article mentioned the whooping cranes - the whooping crane festival is at the end of this month in Port Aransas. If you like to hike and/or are into birdwatching, outdoors type stuff, Port Aransas is a great place to go, they even have hummingbirds that winter there (among the dozens/hundreds of other species that winter there).

[freekitty]

Amon G. Carter started the myth that Fort Worth is where the West begins.

[TC Rider]

IT IS THE ONLY STATE THAT CAN HAVE A REFERENDUM AND DIVIDE ITSELF INTO FIVE (5) STATES, PER ITS TREATY TO BECOME PART OF THE UNITED STATES.

An interesting way to pick up 8 Senate Seats.

[RandallFlagg]

All this talk about Texas and not ONE pic of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders?!?!
SHEESH! Gotta do everything myself...






I miss Texas....

[davetex]

There weren't any "Texans" at that point in history. It was
still a part of Mexico. Why do you think the battle of the Alamo occured?

[MPJackal]

I think you should read the whole thread. I was just ruffeling some Texican feathers for fun.

[PurVirgo]

From North Carolina, still in the lovely South

Been here 3 years, and seen some (but not near enough) of it. Still wanna see Big Bend and Dallas/FW

[CovenBuster]

Click image

[Ditter]

I lived in Baileys Prairie in July of '79. That was quite a rain but I don't think we got as much as Alvin.

[I got the rope]

no way...that's a photoshop...no way

[Rushmore Rocks]

My great uncle, Jerry Sadler, wrote a fun read about Texas politics..."Politics, Fat-Cats, and Honey-Money Boys".

Uncle Jerry was many things in his lifetime--FBI agent, lawyer, candidate for governor, railroad commissioner, land commissioner, oilman and good friend of Franklin Roosevelt. I'm sure he was a bit on the shady side, but my cousins and I thought he was wonderful. He could tell stories like no other. He was greatly loved in Texas, and almost equally hated. As I recall, he even spent some time in Iran during WWII.

If you want an understanding of Texas politics, read his "Mem-Wars".

[TheWriterInTexas]

All of those states are honored at the Alamo in a room specifically designated by the standing of their state flags.

There were a number of countries represented, as well, from around the world, signifying men who fought at the Alamo. Their flags are honorably standing in a separate room, too.

All due deference is paid to those who joined us in the fight. If you've been there, you would certainly know this.

As for our ability to join the US being paid for with the blood of NON Texans, we LOST at the Alamo. The ensuing victories saw the spilling of plenty of Texan blood.

[TheWriterInTexas]

Here are some more:

Texas was the birthplace of the Amber Missing Child Alert Network to help locate missing and abducted children.

Texas was the birthplace of the Homeland Security Network's information sharing strategy. The Dallas model is being implemented nation wide.

The Greater Dallas area was the birthplace of the first region-wide Hotel Security Network to combat fraud and other non-violent crimes. The process will be introduced in other cities this year.

But that's okay...we're just country bumpkins down here.

[FlyLow]

"Amon G. Carter started the myth that Fort Worth is where the West begins."

---

Myth? Wash your mouth out, missy. Here in Foat Wuth we take our heros without bile, thank you! (-:

[GalvestonGal.com]

I was wondering what you were talking about - the Flagship built after the 1900 storm??? No way. Ah -ha! You mean the Galvez. Yes, it took 10 years to recover from the storm. The causeway opened to regular traffic, the seawall was built, the rest of the island had been raised, and being the whore's we are - we built a big beautiful hotel to attract tourists. GAGGGGG.

It's Mardi Gras again. Even in the rain we're going to have 500,000 drunks. It's tons of fun though. Everybody can come down next weekend, the rain should be over.