Texas

The Lone Star State

On this and the following page we present a demographic and geographic profile of the second-largest, second-most-populous state in the United States.

State Flower
The state flower of Texas is the bluebonnet, also called buffalo clover, wolf flower and el conejo (the rabbit). The bluebonnet was adopted as the state flower, on request of the Society of Colonial Dames in Texas, by the 27th Legislature, 1901. (See acts of regular session, p. 232.) The original resolution designated Lupinus subcarnosus as the state flower, but a resolution (HCR 44) signed March 8, 1971, by Gov. Preston Smith provided legal status as the state flower of Texas for "Lupinus Texensis and any other variety of bluebonnet."

State Bird
The mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is the state bird of Texas, adopted by the Legislature at the request of the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs. (Acts of 1927, 40th Legislature, regular session, p. 486.)

State Song
The state song of Texas is "Texas, Our Texas." The music was written by the late William J. Marsh (who died Feb. 1, 1971, in Fort Worth at age 90), and the words by Marsh and Gladys Yoakum Wright, also of Fort Worth. It was the winner of a state song contest sponsored by the legislature and was adopted in 1929. The wording has been changed once: Shortly after Alaska became a state in Jan. 1959, the word "Largest" in the third line was changed by Mr. Marsh to "Boldest." The text follows:

Texas, Our Texas

Texas, our Texas! all hail the mighty State!
Texas, our Texas! So wonderful, so great!
Boldest and grandest, Withstanding ev'ry test;
O Empire wide and glorious, You stand supremely blest.

Chorus
God bless you, Texas!
And keep you brave and strong,
That you may grow in power and worth,
Thro'out the ages long.

Refrain
Texas, O Texas! Your freeborn Single Star,
Sends out its radiance To nations near and far. Emblem of freedom! It sets our hearts aglow,
With thoughts of San Jacinto And glorious Alamo.

Texas, dear Texas! From tyrant grip now free, Shines forth in splendor Your Star of Destiny! Mother of Heroes! We come your children true, Proclaiming our allegiance, Our Faith, Our Love for you.

Texas Our Texas
click to hear

State Seal
The design of the obverse (front) of the Great Seal of the State of Texas consists of "a star of five points, encircled by olive and live oak branches, and the words, 'The State of Texas'." (State Constitution, Art. IV, Sec. 19.) This design is a slight modification of the Great Seal of the Republic of Texas, adopted by the Congress of the Republic, Dec. 10, 1836, and readopted with modifications in 1839. An official design for the reverse (back) of the seal was adopted by the 57th Legislature in 1961, but there were discrepancies between the written description and the artistic rendering that was adopted at the same time. To resolve the problems, the 72nd Legislature in 1991 adopted an official design " . . . the design for the reverse side of the Great Seal of Texas shall consist of a shield, the lower half of which is divided into two parts; on the shield's lower left is a depiction of the cannon of the Battle of Gonzales; on the shield's lower right is a depiction of Vince's Bridge; on the upper half of the shield is a depiction of the Alamo; the shield is circled by live oak and olive branches, and the unfurled flags of the Kingdom of France, the Kingdom of Spain, the United Mexican States, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America, and the United States of America; above the shield is emblazoned the motto, "REMEMBER THE ALAMO", and beneath the shield are the words, "TEXAS ONE AND INDIVISIBLE"; over the entire shield, centered between the flags, is a white five-pointed star . . ." Since the description of the design of the reverse of the seal was contained in a concurrent resolution rather than a bill, the design is not a matter of law but can be considered the intent of the Legislature. (CR 159, 72nd Legislature, May 1991).

State Citizenship Designation
The people of Texas usually call themselves Texans. However, Texian was generally used in the early period of the state's history.

State Motto
The state motto of Texas is "Friendship." The word, Texas, or Tejas, was the Spanish pronunciation of a Caddo Indian word meaning "friends" or "allies." (Acts of 1930, fourth called session of the 41st Legislature, p. 105.)

State Air Force
The Confederate Air Force, based in Midland at the Midland International Airport, was proclaimed the official air force of Texas by the 71st Legislature in 1989.

State Dinosaur
The Brachiosaur Sauropod, Pleurocoelus, was designated the official state dinosaur by the 75th Legislature in 1997.

State Dish
Chili was proclaimed the Texas state dish by the 65th Texas Legislature in 1977.

State Fiber and Fabric
Cotton was designated the official state fiber and fabric by the 75th Legislature in 1997.

State Fish
The Guadalupe bass, a member of the genus Micropterus within the sunfish family, was named the official state fish of Texas by the 71st Legislature in 1989. It is one of a group of fish collectively known as black bass.

State Folk Dance
The square dance was designated the official state folk dance by the 72nd Legislature in 1991.

State Fruit
The Texas red grapefruit was designated the official state fruit by the 73rd Legislature in 1993.

State Gem
Texas blue topaz, the official Texas gem, is found in the Llano uplift area, especially west to northwest of Mason. It was designated by the 61st Legislature in 1969.

State Grass
Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), a native grass found on many different soils, was designated by the 62nd Legislature as the state grass of Texas in 1971.

State Insect
The Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) was designated the state insect by the 74th Legislature in 1995.

State Mammals
The armadillo was designated the state small mammal; the longhorn was designated the state large mammal; and the Mexican free-tailed bat was designated the state flying mammal by the 74th Legislature in 1995.

State Musical Instrument
The guitar was named the official musical instrument of Texas by the 75th Legislature in 1997.

State Native Pepper
The chiltepin was named the official state native pepper of Texas by the 75th Legislature in 1997.

State Pepper
The jalapeño pepper was designated the official state pepper by the 74th Legislature in 1995.

State Plant
The prickly pear cactus was designated the official state plant by the 74th Legislature in 1995.

State Reptile
The Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) was named the state reptile of Texas by the 73rd Legislature in 1993.

State Shell
The lightning whelk (Busycon perversum pulleyi) was named the official state shell by the 70th Legislature in 1987. One of the few shells that open on the left side, the lightning whelk is named for its colored stripes. It is found only on the Gulf Coast.

State Ship
The battleship Texas was designated the official state ship by the 74th Legislature in 1995.

State Shrub
The crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) was designated the official state shrub by the 75th Legislature in 1997.

State Sport - Rodeo was named the official sport of Texas by the 75th Legislature in 1997.

State Stone
Petrified palmwood, found in Texas principally in counties near the Texas Gulf Coast, was designated the official state stone by the 61st Legislature in March 1969.

State Vegetable
The Texas sweet onion was designated the official state vegetable by the 75th Legislature in 1997.

Data Revised 01/19/2004

 
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