The name Texas is a Spanish name, which comes from an Indian word meaning "friends" or "allies." The Republic of Texas achieved its independence from Mexico in 1836, the same year as the famous siege of the Alamo in which pioneers Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett were slain. It became the 28th state in 1845. Texas is the second largest state. Although it has a wild frontier history, today Texas is a major producer of oil and has important centers of industry and finance. Frontier cowboys with their 10-gallon hats have long been a symbol of the state. Cowboys still ride across the plains driving great herds of cattle;  and cowboy hats and boots still make up the everyday dress of many rural Texans. However, the Texans of today are just as likely to be workers in an oilfield or scientists in a laboratory as they are to be cowboys. Some of the most popular resort centers in Texas are on the Gulf Coast. Sandy beaches stretch along most of the coast, making it ideal for swimming, boating and deep sea fishing. 

GOVERNMENT
Capital: Austin
Governor: Rick Perry, R (to Jan. 2007)
Senators: John Cornyn, R (to Jan. 2009); Kay Bailey Hutchison, R (to Jan. 2007)
House of Representatives: 32 districts | Search by zip code

ECONOMY
Total Gross State Product 1999 (millions of dollars): 687,272; National rank: 3; Percent change since 1990: 77%; National Rank based on Growth Rate: 13 (Including Washington, DC)
Per Capita Personal Income 2001: $28,472; National Rank: 28 (94% of the national average)
State Exports 2001 (millions of dollars): 94,995; National Rank: 2
Agriculture: Cattle, cotton, dairy products, nursery stock, poultry, sorghum, corn, wheat.
Industry: Chemical products, petroleum and natural gas, food processing, electric equipment, machinery, mining, tourism.