Texas Trivia, Size Wise

[atgcpaul]

On our drive from San Diego to North Carolina, we stayed nights in Texas, Texas again, and finally Tennessee. Yeah -- it's big alright!

That describes our move from San Diego to Wash DC exactly. El Paso first
night at my Aunt's. Pulled over for speeding about an hour east of El Paso.
Super nice cop. Cowboy boots, mustache, cowboy hat. He clocked me at
70. I said I had to speed up to pass a truck. "Son, speed limit in Texas is
65." It was obvious we were moving and he was nice to let me off with a
warning. Dallas second night at my SIL.

[wardprobst]

........
.......That Wichita Falls, TX has no natural water falls. (the only part of Texas I've spent any real time)
.

We had some but they were washed away in a flood quite a while back. So, the city took up a collection, built some falls which help to keep the river oxygenated.
Must have done some time at SAFB?
DP

[wardprobst]

For me, the history and "human interest" stories surrounding the creation of the Republic of Texas and particularly the Alamo are absolutely fascinating. Walter Lord's book on the subject is a tremendous read. Hmm, I'm going to have to dig that out of my home library.

Also, check out J. Frank Dobie, Walter Prescott Webb and Lon Tinkle. If you like realistic fiction the early Larry McMurtry stuff is very close to real.
DP

[Tom Slick]

We had some but they were washed away in a flood quite a while back. So, the city took up a collection, built some falls which help to keep the river oxygenated.
Must have done some time at SAFB?
DP

Yep, about 6 months between basic Jet Engine maintenance then Craftsman level Turboprop school.

[shoottx]

World's first rodeo was in Pecos, July 4, 1883. The Texas Prison rodeo was the best, though!

The Flagship Hotel in Galveston is the only hotel in North America built over water. Built after 1900 - see below!

The Heisman Trophy was named after John William Heisman who was the first full time coach for Rice University, Houston. So, what happened to Rice's football team?

Brazoria County has more species of birds than any other area in North America. Yeah, and Harris county has more mosquitoes per square inch than anywhere else!

Aransas Wildlife Refuge is the winter home of North America's only remaining flock of whooping cranes. Well, if they would open it up to hunting season we could solve that!

Jalapeno Jelly originated in Lake Jackson in 1978. I wonder if you can put that on Spam and make a tasty sandwich?

The worst natural disaster in U. S. history was in 1900 caused by a hurricane in which over 8000 lives were lost. And Houston's freeway system is the worst man made disaster in U.S. history!

The first word spoken from the moon, July 20, 1969, was "Houston".
(Do you know where we are or how we can get home?)

El Paso is closer to California than Dallas. Yep, El Paso is centrally located - it is 500 miles from anywhere!

Laredo is the worlds largest inland port. From where, since the Rio Grande no longer flows into the Gulf?

Tyler Municipal Rose Garden is the world's largest rose garden with over 38,000 bushes with 500 varieties on 22 acres. Yeah, but East Texas still has more grass burrs per acre than roses!

State Shell - Lightning Whelk Hmmmm, I thought it was a 12 gauge shotgun shell

King Ranch is larger than Rhode Island. The critters are a lot more friendly too.

July 1979 Tropical Storm Claudette brought a U. S. rainfall record of 43" in 24 hours in and around Alvin. Yeah, and if it would have moved over Houston we would still be under water!

Texas is the only state to enter the U. S. by treaty instead of by annexation. We also still retain the right to divide ourselves up into 5 separate states, but it is bad enough when the one Texas legislature is in session, why would we want 5?!?!

A Live Oak tree near Fulton is estimated to be 1500 years old. So, who cut it down to count the rings?

Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in the state. Probably caused by a tropical storm.

Dr Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885. I wonder what the inventor was trying to invent?

There is no period after Dr in Dr Pepper. They didn't use periods back then.

Texas had six capital cities - Reminds me of our current legislature - still can't make up their mind or get it right!
1. Washington-on-the-Brazos
2. Harrisburg
3. Galveston
4. Velasco
5. West Columbia
6. Austin

The Capitol Dome in Austin is the only dome in the U. S. which is taller than the Capitol Building in Washington D. C. (by 7 feet)

The San Jacinto Monument is also taller than the Washington Monument in DC

The name Texas comes from the Hasini Indian word tejas meaning friends. I always thought it meant if you don't like it here - leave!

State animal - Armadillo
Hmmm, and all this time I thought it was the cockroach!

The first domed stadium in the U. S. was the Astro Dome in Houston Yeah, and as a taxpayer we are still paying for it!

[shoottx]

OTHER INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT TEXAS

• More wool comes from the state of Texas than any other state in the United States.
• Edwards Plateau in west central Texas is the top sheep growing area in the country.
• Texas boasts the nation's largest herd of whitetail deer.
• When Texas was annexed in 1845 it retained the right to fly its flag at the same height as the national flag.
• Austin is considered the live music capital of the world.
• Texas is home to Dell and Compaq computers and central Texas is often referred to as the Silicon Valley of the south.
• Professional sports teams include the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars, Houston Astros, Houston Comets, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, and Texas Rangers.
• Dr. Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885. The Dublin Dr Pepper, 85 miles west of Waco, still uses pure imperial cane sugar in its product. There is no period after the Dr in Dr Pepper.
• The first suspension bridge in the United States was the Waco Bridge. Built in 1870 and still in use today as a pedestrian crossing of the Brazos River.
• Texas' largest county is Brewster with 6,208 square miles.
• Texas possesses three of the top ten most populous cities in the United States. These towns are Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio.
• The state's cattle population is estimated to be near 16 million.
• More land is farmed in Texas than in any other state.
• More species of bats live in Texas than in any other part of the United States.
• Laredo is the world's largest inland port.
• Port Lavaca has the world's longest fishing pier. Originally part of the causeway connecting the two sides of Lavaca Bay, the center span of was destroyed by Hurricane Carla in 1961.
• Amarillo has the world's largest helium well.

[MilDoc]

. . . it is illegal to put beans in chili - in Texas.

As far as I could ever find out, that is a myth. It's not illegal, but there is a supposed Texas saying:

"If you know beans about chili, you know chili ain't got no beans." Also: "If it has beans it's SOUP!" And there really is no truth to: "Puttin' beans in chili is a hangin' offense!"

But Texas chili cookoffs do generally forbid the addition of beans.

Actually, as chili spread in Texas, to areas where meat was uncommon, folks added beans instead.

Yep - original chili had chili peppers, meat, garlic, onions, and cumin. NO tomatoes or tomatoe sauce!

[leehljp]

As far as I could ever find out, that is a myth. It's not illegal, but there is a supposed Texas saying:

I remember seeing other sites over the past 7 - 8 years that say the same as this one: "In Texas, putting beans in chili is prohibited by state law. "
http://www.recipezaar.com/Real-Texas...n-Carne-308422

Since I have seen that at least 3 or 4 times over the years (and heard it too) I figured that more than likely someone stood up on the floor of the Texas legislature and made a motion as such for the purpose of bragging rights, not real legality.

I remember the Louisiana legislature debating that all Cajun's be called "coon*ss". In the debate, one legislature stood and said the only thing that separated a coon*ss from a jack*ss was the Sabine river. (I was living in Louisiana at the time.) The legislature that made the above comment said he was married to a Texas girl, so he could safely make that comment.

So, as a matter of real legality - no, but as bragging rights, I would not doubt it being approved by the legislature. It might not be true but it sure sounds good.

[rjwaldren]

There were definitely things I loved about Texas, but I was stationed at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls. Every time I needed something I was told "you'll have to go to Dallas for that". Now I do love the stretch between Dallas/FW and San Antonio, and planned on going to Austin after the military but the Tech's crashed around that time.

I credit myself with coining this, BTW, I'm not saying there isn't cool stuff -
"Everything IS bigger in Texas - Especially the distance between cool stuff"

[Tom Slick]

In Texas the Jack Rabbits are bigger than the dogs chasing them!