Texas (TEK-səə ss, locally additionally TEK-siz; Spanish: Texas or Tejas) is the most heavily populated state in the South Central area of the USA. It borders Louisiana to the eastern, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the west, and a global border with the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas to the south and southwest. Texas has a shoreline on the Gulf of Mexico to the southeast. Treatment 268,596 square miles (695,660 km2) and with over 31 million homeowners as of 2024, it is the second-largest state by area and populace. Texas is nicknamed the Lone Star State for the solitary star on its flag, symbolic of its former standing as an independent country, the Republic of Texas. Spain was the very first European country to claim and control Texas. Complying with a short-term nest managed by France, Mexico regulated the land up until 1836 when Texas won its self-reliance, ending up being the Republic of Texas. In 1845, Texas joined the USA of America as the 28th state. The state's annexation set off a chain of events that caused the Mexican–-- American Battle in 1846. Following success by the United States, Texas remained a slave state until the American Civil War, when it stated its secession from the Union in early 1861 prior to officially signing up with the Confederate States on March 2. After the Civil Battle and the repair of its representation in the federal government, Texas went into a long period of financial stagnancy. Historically, 5 significant industries shaped the economic situation of Texas prior to The second world war: bison, cattle, cotton, oil, and wood. Before and after the Civil War, the cattle industry—-- which Texas involved dominate—-- was a significant economic driver and produced the conventional image of the Texas cowboy. In the later 19th century, cotton and lumber grew to be major industries as the cattle industry came to be less lucrative. Ultimately, the exploration of significant oil deposits (Spindletop particularly) initiated a financial boom that became the driving force behind the economic situation for much of the 20th century. Texas created a diversified economic situation and advanced sector throughout the mid-20th century. As of 2024, it has the second-highest number (52) of Lot of money 500 companies headquartered in the USA. With an expanding base of sector, the state leads in several sectors, including tourism, farming, petrochemicals, power, computer systems and electronics, aerospace, and biomedical sciences. Texas has led the U. S. in state export revenue because 2002 and has the second-highest gross state product. The Dallas–-- Fort Worth metroplex and Greater Houston locations are the country's 4th and fifth-most populous metropolitan regions specifically. Its funding city is Austin. Due to its dimension and geologic features such as the Balcones Fault, Texas includes varied landscapes common to both the U. S. Southern and the Southwestern regions. Most population facilities remain in areas of former prairies, grasslands, woodlands, and the coastline. Taking a trip from east to west, terrain arrays from coastal swamps and piney woods, to rolling levels and tough hills, to the desert and mountains of the Large Bend.
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