Texas
Texas is located in the south of the United States. With an area of 268,596 square miles (695,662 km²), it is the second largest state after Alaska and, with around 29.1 million inhabitants, also the second most populous after California. The nature of Texas is best known for its deserts. However, it is actually very diverse, ranging from prairies and rugged hills to swamps and forests. The largest city, Houston, is known as the home of NASA's Mission Control Center. Houston's skyline is one of the largest in North America and includes the 1,002-foot (305.4 m) high JPMorgan Chase Tower, the tallest five-sided building in the world.
In pre-colonial times, Texas was inhabited by three major cultures: the Ancestral Puebloans, the Mound Builders of the Mississippian culture, and the Aridoamerican peoples, who were influenced by Mesoamerican civilizations. At the time of the Spanish arrival in 1528, a large number of tribes lived in the area. The name of the state is derived from the Caddo word "táyshaʼ, which means "friend" and was recorded by the Spanish as "Tejas" or "Texas". This is also the origin of the state motto, "Friendship". In the course of the Mexican War of Independence, Texas became a part of Mexico in 1821. Conflicts between the government and the Anglo-American and Hispanic population of the province of Texas sparked the Texas Revolution in 1835. As a result the Republic of Texas was founded. Ten years later, Texas was admitted to the Union as the 28th state in 1845. The star in the seal of Texas has its origins in its time as an independent republic, which earned Texas the nickname "The Lone Star State".
Texas ranching has heavily influenced the famous pop culture of cowboys and rodeo. The state's economy has traditionally been dominated by the cattle industry. After cotton and timber grew in importance in the 19th century, the discovery of oil in 1901 marked the beginning of the Texas oil boom. The Lucas gusher at the Spindletop oil field south of Beaumont was the first major oil gusher in Texas.
Facts
- Capital city: Austin
- Largest city: Houston
- Area: 268,596 square miles (695,662 km²)
- Population: 29.1 million
- Date of statehood: 29th December 1845
- Rank of the admission: 28th
Texas Folding Card
At the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836, General Sam Houston led the Texans to victory over Mexico and thus to independence. He then became the first president of the Republic of Texas. After Texas joint the Union, Houston also served as a U.S. senator and as governor of Texas and Tennessee. Among other things, the largest city in Texas is named after him. The equestrian statue erected there in his honor and a portrait of Houston are depicted on this note from the 50 U.S. States Program. Further more, it features the Houston skyline, the Lucas gusher at the Spindletop oil field, Texas' seal, the motto "FRIENDSHIP", and the year of admission to the Union.
100 Souvenir Dollars
Obverse: Sam Houston (1793–1863), first president of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston Monument, skyline of Houston, Lucas gusher at the Spindletop oil field south of Beaumont, seal of Texas
Reverse: United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., seals of the commemorative series
| Dimensions: 7.07 x 3.00 inches (179.50 x 76.20 mm) Material: Paper |
