Texas is a big state and it’s people are unique. But, what is real and what is a pre-conceived image of this state and its people? When “outsiders” think of Texas, they envision the stereotypical images of cowboys, ten-gallon hats, oil wells, Friday night lights, barbeque, The Alamo, and the old west. While there are elements of the above in Texas, these are far from what most of the state and its people are like.
Texas has lots of open spaces with vast ranches and farmland that stretches over sections of land. But, it is also the urban hubs of Houston, San Antonio, Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlington/Plano, Austin and El Paso. While a part of the economy is indeed oil wealth, it is also made up of financial centers, shipping hubs, industrial ports, retail hubs, and technology centers. Each of the major cities has its own brand of economic activity and the people are as diverse as the state itself.
In Texas, football is indeed king but food isn’t far behind; not just barbeque and steak but imported food cultures from all parts of the world. And while Friday night skies will be filled with lights from hundreds of football stadiums, there is almost certainly going to be food involved. It has history that was once the gateway to the old west and a fierce independence that dates back to the Alamo. At the same time, its people embrace the future in technology and space science, as well as international finance. Let’s take a look at this state from the eyes of a native Texan and lifelong resident. This is the real Texas.
Texas is indeed a BIG state
I grew up near Waco, attended Baylor University in Waco, and returned to my hometown after graduation. Waco is considered “Central Texas,” but so is Austin (around a hundred miles south), as is the Texas hill country, San Saba, and north to Hillsboro. It is a long way from any of these to “out of Texas!”
This state is the second largest after Alaska and covers over 260,000 square miles. It is twice as big as Spain and ten percent larger than France. It would be the fortieth largest country in the world. And, it’s 824 miles east to west on Interstate 10 from Beaumont to El Paso; a number many native Texans can tell you. It’s a long day’s drive, even on the 85 mile per hour interstates of West Texas. El Paso is actually closer to San Diego, California than it is to Houston! Similarly, Beaumont is closer to Jacksonville, Florida than to El Paso.
The western half of the state is wide-open and vast
The vast size of Texas leads to the impression by those who haven’t been here that the entire state is nothing but wide open spaces, vast plains, and tumbleweeds. In fact, much of the western half of Texas is made up of wide-open spaces! From the irrigated farmlands of the plains of the Texas panhandle to the oil rich deserts of the west, only two cities besides El Paso have populations over 150,000: Lubbock and Amarillo. Most of Texas’ almost 30,000,000 people live to the east of the north-south centerline.
Those living in the west live in often far-flung West Texas communities made up of tough, hard-working, independent- minded people. They drive pickup trucks because they are practical. They are farmers and ranchers, oil men and oil field workers, bankers and business owners. Yes, there are those with vast wealth (often unrecognized) and there are people who just show up for a job every day. They work hard, and go home to their families and friends at night. It is this West Texas culture that led to “Friday Night Lights.” It also led to community involvement and pride in family and community. Spend a little time there and you will see these qualities in its residents.
The Piney Woods of East Texas and the Hill Country
Rolling terrain and thick, pine forests characterize Eastern Texas. This is a part of Texas that many who don’t live here or haven’t visited find surprising. Bottomlands filled by growths of hickory, elm and oak hardwood forests break up this pine forest. This vast forest actually stretches into Louisiana, Arkansas, and even southeastern Oklahoma. Within the woods are numerous bayous and sloughs where Bald Cyprus trees and Spanish Moss grow. True to its name, a national preserve known as The Big Thicket is located here.
The transition to the west is gradual and subtle. To the southwest, the Texas Hill Country is a part of this transition. First-time visitors often visit this rugged and sometimes remote country made up of granite and limestone hills. It is a place to take in the spring wildflowers each year. A hiker’s delight, Enchanted Rock, the second largest granite dome in the United States, is also located here.
Although dry and prone to flash flooding, the hill country also has a number of popular, manmade lakes meandering through the region. These lakes draw many Texans seeking to cool off from the hot summer heat to water sports. A number of these lakes are within easy driving distance of the population centers of Austin and San Antonio.
Houston and San Antonio: the state's biggest
Texas’ largest cities are mostly spread out but with the exception of El Paso, the largest are in the eastern half of the state with San Antonio falling pretty close to the center. The largest, Houston, is in Southeast Texas near the Gulf of Mexico and is Texas’ major shipping center. The Port of Houston is the second busiest in the world when measured in shipping tonnage.
Houston is also home to the NASA space center and its related research.
San Antonio is a center for Texas history and is home to the San Antonio River Walk, the number one attraction in Texas. The River Walk is home to boat tours, restaurants, retail, and entertainment as well as being located near the world-famous Alamo. San Antonio is also only a little more than a 75-mile interstate highway drive from the state capital, Austin and its eclectic mix of people and entertainment.
The financial hub and way out west
The financial hub of Dallas ranks third in population among Texas cities, but nine of the top twenty largest Texas cities make up the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. This busy urban center contains theme parks, museums, zoos and aquariums, professional sports teams, universities, diverse restaurants, and all types of entertainment. It is far more than the cowboy boot and hat wearing oil tycoons (although they exist!) that are the outsider’s impression of Texans.
And finally, way out west, is the border city of El Paso. El Paso is much closer to Phoenix, Arizona than to Dallas. It is in every way a border city to Mexico. It joins the Rio Grande River and is just across the river, which constitutes the international border, from Ciudad Juárez, a Mexican city with a population of over 1.4 million. El Paso ranks 5th among US cities in proportion of citizens that are Hispanic. El Paso is home to a major university, The University of Texas, El Paso. It also is home to several large federal military complexes. As expected, it is also a major US Port of Entry from Mexico.
Texas' people are as diverse as its land and climate
While the stereotypical culture of Texas is that of a cowboy on a horse or a bigger-than-life oil tycoon, there is far more cultural diversity than that. Much of Texas’ culture is influenced by its shared 1,250+ mile border with neighboring Mexico. It is obvious in the music, the architecture, and in the food. In the cities you find cultures from all over the world. And yes, out in the wide open spaces, you find a hard-working rural culture and the small communities that go with it.
In Texas football is king
It is said that in Texas, football is king. It is the birth place of “Friday Night Lights.” Friday nights in the fall find its people gathered at a local stadium to cheer on a local team. But, the people of this state support all types of sports from high school, to college, to professional. Youngsters are involved in local baseball, soccer, and basketball leagues. Golf is a favorite pastime and Texans love any type of recreation that has to do with water. There is plenty to occupy Texans’ spare time.
Whether it’s participating in or attending a sporting event, hunting or fishing, spending a day at the lake, or playing a round of golf, Texans will usually find a way to incorporate food! Texans love good food. It’s hard to find bad Mexican food in Texas. There are world renown barbeque places as well. Burgers and hotdogs? Well of course you’ll find them here and with their own Texan flair. And, Texans love a good steak! If you’re not into any of these very Texas foods…and who wouldn’t be, you will find plenty of great seafood along the coast and very diverse menus in and around the cities of Texas.
So what is Texas and who are Texans?
I was born in Texas. I grew up here and received my education here. Furthermore, my adult life has been spent here. I observe the way people look at things and how they think. I have traveled extensively but always return to Texas and proudly proclaim myself a “native Texan.” As a result, I have a pretty good perspective on this state we call Texas and the people we call Texans.
We embrace the “bigness” that is Texas and think nothing of traveling 100 miles to visit a friend or relative or simply to be entertained or eat great food. The parts of Texas are a part of us. Each region is a destination just as other states and countries are to other travelers. We support each other and even embrace the stereotypes. When we are looking for work or entertainment, education or community involvement, we can satisfy our needs right here in Texas.
Texans find many opportunities to travel, both domestic and abroad. We seek to know and understand other people and other cultures. We sample other lifestyles. But, one thing is always true. We Texans always return to our roots. We always return home to Texas.