North Texas is a large and diverse region that covers a multitude of cities and towns in 32 counties. We have a rich past and those cultural and historical influences have helped shape who we are today.
The name Texas came from the Caddo word tayshas meaning “friends” or “allies”. The Spanish pronunciation was tejas which the English then pronounced as Texas.
The six flags to fly over Texas were Spain (1519-1685 and 1690-1821); France (1685-1690); Mexico (1821-1836); Republic of Texas (1836-1845); Confederate States of America (1861-1865); and the United States of America (1845-1861 and from 1865 to the present).
The Dallas/Fort Worth Area is the #1 tourist destination in Texas, more visited than San Antonio, Austin or Houston.
The Texas Longhorn can reach a weight of 2,500 pounds.
The Shawnee Trail was the first trail in Texas and ran from Austin through Dallas from 1840’s up until the 1860’s. The famous Chisholm Trail was a cattle trail that come from the Rio Grande through Fort Worth. It was used from 1867 to 1884 and during that time, more than 5 million cattle and 1 million mustang horses migrated through this area.
Texas Instruments (TI) began in Dallas in the 1930s and TI’s Jack Kilby invented the first integrated computer chip (which became the microchip) here in 1958.
With the roof enclosed, the entire Statue of Liberty could fit into the AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
The Dallas Arts District is the largest urban arts district in the United States.
The world’s first indoor rodeo was held at the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth. You can still see rodeo action there every Friday and Saturday night at the Stockyards Championship Rodeo.
The Dallas Public Library permanently displays one of the original copies of the Declaration of Independence, printed on July 4, 1776, and the First Folio of William Shakespeare’s “Comedies, Histories & Tragedies.”
The Trinity River is the longest river in Texas totally contained within the State’s borders.
The frozen margarita machine was invented in Dallas.
The Texas Rangers are the oldest law enforcement organization in North America with statewide jurisdiction.
The Palace Theater Light Bulb in Fort Worth is the 2nd longest burning bulb in the world at 105 years old.
Belle Starr, also known as the “Bandit Queen” lived in Scyene (between Dallas and Mesquite) in the 1860’s.
John Henry “Doc” Holliday practiced dentistry in Dallas at an office on Elm Street near Dealey Plaza.
Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid and their Wild Bunch would meet up in Fort Worth after robberies. The famous group had their photo taken in 1901 at Swartz’s photography Studio on Main Street.
State of Texas Trivia
• State Motto – Friendship
• State Song – “Texas, Our Texas”
• State Flower – bluebonnet
• State Bird – mockingbird
• State Tree – pecan tree
• State Small Animal – armadillo
• State Large Animal – longhorn
• State Fish – Guadalupe bass
• State Insect – Monarch butterfly
• State Reptile – Texas horned lizard
• State Dinosaur – Paluxysaurus Jonesi
• State Gem – Texas blue topaz
• State Shoe – cowboy boot
• State Sport – Rodeo
• State Dish – Chili
• State Snack – Tortilla chips and salsa
• State Nickname – Lone Star State