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Texas is called the Lone Star State because of the design of the state flag; a broad vertical blue stripe at left, centered by a single white star, with horizontal bars of white and red on the right. The red means courage, the white means liberty and the blue stands for loyalty. The star has five points, one for each letter of the state's name. The word 'Texas' comes from the Hasinai Indian word 'Tejas' which means 'friends' or 'allies.'

Pledge of the Texas flag. 'Honor the Texas Flag. I pledge allegiance to thee. Texas, one and indivisible.'

Six Other Flags Have Flown Over Texas
Spanish...................................... 1519 - 1685
French....................................... 1685 - 1690
Spanish..................................... 1690 - 1821
Mexican..................................... 1821 - 1836
Republic of Texas..................... 1836 - 1845
United States............................. 1845 - 1861
Confederate States................... 1861 - 1865
United States............................. 1865 - Present
French Flag
Spanish Flag
Mexican Flag
Texas Flag
Confederate Flag
United States
Geography
Coastline:
624 miles long
Land Area: 262,017 Square Miles
Elevation: 0-8749 Ft. (Highest point, Guadalupe Peak)
Texas Counties: 254
Population: 22,100,000 (2003 US Census Bureau)
Motto: Friendship
Nickname: Lone Star State
Time Zones: Central and Mountain
State Symbols:
Flower:
Bluebonnet
Bird: Mockingbird
Tree: Pecan

Government
Capital:
Austin
Government: Bicameral Legislature

Air Force: The Confederate Air Force, based in Midland at the Midland International Airport, was proclaimed the state air force of Texas by the 71st Legislature in 1989.

Song: 'Texas Our Texas' (The music was written by the late William J. Marsh and the works by Marsh and Gladys Yoakum Wright, both of Fort Worth. It was adopted in 1929.).

Animals
Reptile:
Texas Horned Lizard
Mammal: Armadillo, Longhorn, Mexican Free-Tailed Bat
Fish: Guadalupe Bass
Insect: Monarch Butterfly
Seashell: Lightning Whelk (Gulf Coast)
Dinosaur: Brachiosaur, Sauropod, Pleuracoelus

Minerals
Stone: Petrified Palmwood
Gem: Blue Topaz

Entertainment and Music
Folk Dance: Square Dance
Sport: Rodeo
 
Plants
Native Pepper: The Chiltepin
Vegetable: Texas Sweet Onion
Plant: Prickly Pear Cactus
Shrub: Crape Myrtle (lagerstroemia indicia)
Fruit: Texas Grapefruit

Food and Cloths
Fiber and Fabric: Cotton
Dish: Chili

History
Entered Union: December 29, 1845 (28th State)
Ship: Battleship Texas




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