Portal:Texas

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The Texas Portal

Texas is a state in the South and Southwest regions of the United States of America. With an area of 268,581 square miles (695,622 km²) and a population of 22.8 million, Texas is the second-largest U.S. state in both area and population, and the largest state in the contiguous 48 states in area. The state name derives from a word in a Caddoan language of the Hasinai, táyshaʔ, tecas (or tejas, as the Spaniards spelled it), meaning "those who are friends," friends or allies. Spanish explorers mistakenly applied the word to the people and their location.

Texas joined the United States in 1845 as the 28th state, after nearly 10 years as the Republic of Texas—an independent country. Texas historically had a "larger than life" reputation, especially in cowboy films. The term "Texas sized" is used to describe something larger than average, and large geographic areas are often described in terms of the size of Texas. It is the southernmost part of the Great Plains, which ends in the south against the folded Sierra Madre Oriental of Mexico. It is in the south-central part of the United States of America. It is considered to form part of the U.S. South and also part of the U.S. Southwest.

In 2005 Texas had a gross state product of $982.4 billion, the second highest in America after California. Texas is the only state in the U.S. to have three cities with populations exceeding one million: Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas; which are also among the 10 largest cities of the United States. They are larger than any other cities in the Southern United States. Austin, El Paso, and Fort Worth are in the top 25 largest U.S. cities.

Texas history... Show new content edit

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The Alamo is the name of former mission and fortress compound, now a museum, in San Antonio, Texas. The compound, which originally comprised a church and surrounding buildings, was built by the Spanish Empire in the 18th century for the education of local Native Americans after their conversion to Christianity. After its later abandonment as a mission, it was used as a fortress in the 19th century and was the scene of several military actions, including most notably the 1836 Battle of the Alamo, one of the pivotal battles between the forces of the Republic of Texas and Mexico during the Texas Revolution.

The mission was authorized in 1716 by the viceroy of New Spain. It was established two years later in 1718 by Fray Antonio de Olivares, who brought Indian converts and records with him from the San Francisco Solano Mission near San Juan Bautista on the Rio Grande.

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Selected biography

James Bowie (1796 - March 6, 1836), aka Jim Bowie, was a 19th century pioneer and soldier who took a prominent part in the Texas Revolution and was killed at the Battle of the Alamo. He was born in Kentucky, and spent most of his life in Louisiana before moving to Texas and joining in the revolution.

Bowie is also known for the style of knife he carried, which came to be known as the "Bowie knife". Stories of his frontier spirit has made him one of the most colorful folk heroes of Texas history. During the period before the Texas Revolution, Bowie had all sorts of adventures, including his famous search for the silver mines of San Saba, which proved unsuccessful. Also during this time, he became embroiled in many fights and was known for his fiery temper.

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Texas news

Wikinews Texas portal

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Things you can do

Nominate at WP:FAC: Amarillo, Texas

Improve FA candidates: History of Texas, Republic of Texas, Texas

Expand: Barton Creek, Geography of Texas, Geology of Texas, Politics of Texas, Spanish Texas, Texas state government, Galveston Island, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Houston

Wikify/Cleanup: Balcones Fault, Economy of Texas, Edwards Aquifer, Natural Bridge Caverns, Odessa Meteor Crater, Rio Grande Valley

Destub: Austin Chronicle, Caldwell Zoo, Cameron Park Zoo, Castle Peak (Texas), Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, Handbook of Texas, Padre Island National Seashore, Texas Independence Day, Zilker Botanical Garden, More...

Lists to de-redlink: List of Texas butterflies, Texas state highways, List of Texas reptiles, List of Texas rivers, List of Texas railroads, Registered Historic Places in Texas, List of Texas state parks, More...

Images required: Category:Wikipedia requested photographs in Texas

The current Texan Collaboration of the Monthis Marshall, Texas.
Every month, a different Texas-related topic, stub or non-existent article is picked.
Please read the nomination textand improve the article any way you can.

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Credit: User:Sarum blue
The Episcopal Cathedral Church of Saint Matthew in Dallas, Texas.

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Spotlight city

Waco is the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 113,726. The Waco MSA consists of McLennan County and has a population of 222,439.

Prior to the founding of the town, a Wichita Native American group known as the "Waco" or "Hueco" lived on the land of contemporary downtown Waco west of the Brazos River. In 1824, on an expedition to the Waco village, Thomas M. Duke reported the following to Stephen F. Austin: "This town is situated on the West Bank of the River about half a mile from the River. They have a spring almost as cold as ice itself. All we want is some Brandy and Sugar to have Ice Toddy. They have about four hundred acres planted in corn beans pumpkins and melons and that tended in good order. I think they cannot raise more than One Hundred Warriors."

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