Texas is a state in the United States of America and is located in the south of the country. The capital of Texas is Austin. The city is located on the Colorado River in central Texas. The Texas surname is “The Lone Star State”. The nickname alludes to the individual star on the state flag.
The history of Texas – Spain, Mexico, USA and cowboys
The Spaniards were the first Europeans to come to today’s region of Texas. After Mexico became independent from Spain, Texas became part of Mexico for a time in 1821.
After this development, there were increasing problems between the residents of Mexico and the American settlers who lived in Texas. In 1836 the American settlers in Texas proclaimed the Republic of Texas.
In the Civil War of America, Texas fought on the southern side against the northern states. During this time, the role of German settlers in Texas became increasingly important. There was organized emigration from Germans to Texas, there was even an “ Association for the Protection of German Immigrants in Texas”. Even today, there is still a relatively large proportion of German-speaking residents in Texas.
The typical image of many Americans and also Europeans of Texas is shaped by cowboys and the herds of cattle that drive them. However, this picture is not only true in Texas and does not do justice to the diversity of the state.
Texas is now considered a Republican stronghold. The Democrats have only rarely been able to celebrate election successes in Texas since the 1960s. A famous example of this is John F. Kennedy.
Big Bend National Park – The Rio Grande on the border with Mexico
The Big Bend National Park is located in southern Texas on the border with Mexico. The Rio Grande, which forms the border with Mexico, flows through the middle of the national park. A large part of the park is the Chihuahua desert.
Temperatures in this region can reach 40 ° C in summer. The dry landscape in the national park is home to unique plants and animals.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park – The southernmost foothills of the Rocky Mountains
The Guadalupe Mountains National Park is located in western Texas.
The mountains are the southernmost foothills of the Rocky Mountains and are a strong contrast to the otherwise desert landscape of this region.
Austin – Hold Austin Weird – Keep Austin Weird
Keep Austin Weird – the slogan of the capital of Texas alludes to the student lifestyle in the city. The high density of clubs, bars and concert halls is unique in the USA.
The city was founded as Waterloo. In 1838 it was renamed in honor of the founder of the Texas Republic, Stephan F. Austin.
- Countryaah.com: Alphabetical list of all cities and towns in Texas. Also covers geographical map of Texas.
The Texas is not a tourist destination in the United States, but is home to different places worth visiting, especially to know the more “traditional” side of USA. Santo Antônio is the second most important city in the state, after Houston. In recent years, the place has gained several cool attractions, boosting local tourism.
The city is famous for its panoramic River Walk, a kind of boardwalk bordering the river, which allows you to easily get around the city center. About 24 km from start to finish, the shaded paths of the River Walk connect hundreds of shops, restaurants, hotels, historic landmarks, museums and attractions.
Texas – a state of special pride. In Texas everything is “bigger and better”, even if this saying is laughed at first, you will quickly notice on site that this is not just a saying but a fact.
Texas is the second largest state in the United States and is located in the south. Metropolises like Houston are best known for their food – the steak should not be missed here. But not only here, Houston alone has 6 pro sports teams and huge parks. The capital, Austin, is currently the eighth best city in the United States. Large companies like Dell are placed here and music festivals also take place.
Who is not familiar with the series Dallas . Dallas is also a city in Texas and is best known for its art districts and music scene.
El Camino Real de Los Tejas National Historic Trail
The El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail runs through the US states of Texas, New Mexico and Louisiana, which is more than 300 years old, making it the oldest road in Texas. It is formed by Highway 6 in Louisiana and Highway 21 in Texas. The name of the road could be translated from Spanish as the King’s Road, and in the past it was also used by native Indian tribes. Subsequently, from 1691, by Spanish and French missionaries of various faiths.
Around 1835, numerous Mexican and American troops, American and German settlers and well-known personalities of the time, such as Kit Carson, Davy Crocket, Jim Bowie, Sam Houston, Santa Anna, Lyndon Johnson and many others passed through here.
Originally the trail ran only through the territory of Texas, but the Spanish expanded it and connected it to the trail in Louisiana and Mexico. In total, the trail is around 700 miles and runs from Monterey, Mexico to Robline, Louisiana. It thus connects not only geographically but also politically different areas. A large part of this trail has survived to this day. It crosses the most spectacular natural scenery of both states and leads through remote rural areas.
On the way, you can come across the ancient Spanish mission in San Antonio and a number of other historic towns – Bastrop, Crockett, Alto, Nacogdoches or San Augustine. The road also passes by pine forests, beautiful rivers, such as in New Braunfels, San Marcos and La Grange.
El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail
El Camino Real is the oldest and longest continuously used road in the United States. European colonists used it during their travels to New Spain (present-day New Mexico). El Camino Real stretched 2,560 kilometers from Mexico City, Santa Fe to New Mexico. It was used for commercial purposes mainly in the years 1598 – 1882. Its American part, crossing the state of New Mexico for a length of 646 km, was declared a National Historic Trail in October 2000 and is under the protection of the National Park Service.
From the border between Texas and New Mexico, US Route 85 leads to San Juan Pueblo, which skirts this historic trail and offers a nice view of the surrounding countryside. Parts of this historic trade route are adapted for cycling, horseback riding or hiking. One such section is, for example, Paseo del Bosque near Albuquerque or the Rio Grande Trail. To the north, the trail connects to other important trade arteries, the Old Spanish Trail and the Santa Fe Trail.
Along the trail you can come across the old forts of Fort Craig and Fort Selden. El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro also includes a visitor center and museum located about 30 miles south of the town of Socorro. The center, together with the trail, has been a national monument since 2005. It houses valuable exhibits and artifacts related to the history and heritage of the El Camino Real trail. Many of the people living in southwestern New Mexico today are likely descendants of the original settlers who made their way here along this trail.