12 Things You May Not Know About Texas
As someone born and raised in the state of Texas, I have a lot of state pride. Most Texans do, and we love to throw around facts about our great state. I did some research, however, and found some interesting (random!) facts about Texas I’d never heard. Sharing them below!
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photos by Ban Avenue Photography
12 Things You May Not Know About Texas:
1. The world's first rodeo was held in Pecos, Texas on the Fourth of July, 1883.
When we say “This ain’t my first rodeo”, we mean it.
2. The deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history occurred in Texas.
Galveston, Texas, an island city located about 50 miles southeast of Houston, was once the nation’s biggest cotton port. But on September 8, 1900, a Category 4 hurricane slammed the area with a 15-foot storm surge and winds up to 140 miles per hour. Very few residents evacuated, in part because U.S. weather forecasters had downplayed warnings from their Cuban counterparts, and an estimated 8,000 people died. This storm resulted in the building of the Seawall we know in Galveston today.
3. “Don’t mess with Texas” started as an anti-litter message.
In the 1980s Texas spent about $20 million a year cleaning up trash along its highways. As a result, the state Department of Transportation hired an advertising agency to help with its anti-litter campaign. The agency came up with the phrase “Don’t mess with Texas,” which first aired on television during the 1986 Cotton Bowl and has since turned into an unofficial slogan for Texas pride.
4. Texas is the number one producer of wool in the United States.
No, I didn't just misspell "oil", although we're number one at that, too.
5. Despite popular belief, Texas does not have the constitutional right to secede.
The Tyler, TX Treaty of 1845 maintains that Texas has the right to split into as many as five separate states. This provision somehow spawned the misconception that the Lone Star State could legally secede.
6. The physical area of Houston is large enough to hold Boston, New York City and San Francisco concurrently.
Everything really is bigger in Texas.
7. It's completely legal to shoot and kill Big Foot if you see him (or her) in Texas.
Please don’t though.
8. In 1942, the BBC banned the song "Deep in the Heart of Texas".
In factories at the time, the clapping portion of the song was seen as a hazard around heavy machinery.
9. At 85 mph, Texas has the highest speed limit in the country.
There’s not much between Odessa and El Paso, y’all. Might as well drive fast. Even though the speed limit is only 85 on a 41 mile toll road between Austin and San Antonio.
10. Chuck Norris is an honorary Texas Ranger.
My great-great-grandfather happened to be a Texas Ranger, too. Other Honorary Texas Rangers include John Wayne, Will Rogers, and former President George H.W. Bush.
11. Two presidents were born in Texas, neither with the last name Bush.
For some reason, I was sure George W. was born in Texas but I was wrong. Dwight Eisenhower, the 34th president, was born in Denison on October 14, 1890. Lyndon Johnson, our 36th president, was born in Johnson City on August 27, 1908.
12. One Texas town rescheduled Halloween because it conflicted with football.
Friday Night Lights is the real deal, y’all. In fact, in 2014 the small town of Decatur voted to reschedule Halloween to October 30 because the October 31 date would have conflicted with the local high school's Friday night football game. Our high school used to play Decatur in football, and it was serious business indeed.
Did you know any or all of these Texas facts?! Have any to share?
xo, Britt