All about the great State of Texas ... the Lone Star State!

All About Texas

Texas joined the United States as the 28th state, on December 29, 1845.

We arrived a bit later, but love to travel the state, from east to west, from the major urban centers to the small cities and towns. From Amarillo to Waskom, from Dallas to Luckenbach, from Beaumont to El Paso ... and everywhere in between.

Here are a few facts about the "Lone Star State", and some recent scenes we have enjoyed in traveling around Texas!

Let's "Waltz Across Texas" now!

Nickname	Lone Star State
Number of counties	254 counties - The smallest is Rockwall. The largest is Brewster, with 6,208 square miles. Connecticut (5,544 Sq Mi), Delaware (2,489 Sq Mi) and Rhode Island (1,545 Sq Mi) can fit inside this county.
Population	Texas has a population of 30,029,572 (estimated as of July 1, 2022). The most populous county is Harris County with nearly 5 million residents. Loving County has the least population, with only 64 residents.
Area	268,581 square miles
Highest Point	Guadalupe Peak - 8,749 ft - Texas has 91 mountains a mile high or more
Distances	801 miles from north to south, 773 miles from east to west
State Flower	Texas Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis)
State Song	Texas, Our Texas
State Bird	Northern Mockingbird
State Insect	Monarch Butterfly
State Mammal (Large)	Texas Longhorn
State Reptile	Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum), also called the horned frog
State Mammal (Small)	Armadillo
State Fish	Guadalupe Bass (Micropterus treculii)
State Tree	Pecan
State Plant	Prickly Pear Cactus
State Shrub	Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)
State Native Shrub	Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens)
State Song	Texas, Our Texas
Lakes	4,959 square miles of lakes and streams
State Capitol	Located in Austin
Cattle	Estimated at 16,000,000 head. The King Ranch in Texas is bigger than the state of Rhode Island.
Energy	In 2006, Texas produced 18.2% of the crude oil in the United States, and nearly 30% of the natural gas production.
Wind Power	Texas is the leading state in the US in wind energy output. During 2018, electricity production from wind farms in Texas reached 73.3 million MWh.

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Highlights of Travel Around Texas

We live in East Texas, but spend a lot of time traveling around all areas of the Lone Star State. Included below are just a few highlights of places around Texas we have recently visited.

Some of the photos are from our other travel websites, Road Travel America and Route 66 Road Trip

Austin and the State Capitol

Official Seal of the State of Texas

Designed in 1881 by architect Elijah E. Myers, the Texas State Capitol building was constructed from 1882 to 1888. A $75 million underground extension was completed in 1993.

The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1986.

It is 302.64 feet tall, making it the sixth-tallest state capitol and taller than the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.

It is built of Sunset Red Texas Granite from Burnet County.

Texas State Capitol in Austin

Dome inside the Texas State Capitol

Texas State Capitol in Austin - Interior photograph of the dome

The Austin, Texas skyline, with the Town Lake Boardwalk in the foreground (Photo Credit)

Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin

The Beauty of Nature Across Texas

The Texas state butterfly: Monarch

State Bird: Northern Mockingbird
Texas State Bird: Northern Mockingbird

State Plant: Prickly Pear Cactus
Texas State Plant: Prickly Pear Cactus

Historic U.S. Route 66 Across Texas

Historic 6th Street in Amarillo, Texas, on U.S. Route 66

The Cadillac Ranch, on Interstate 40 just west of Amarillo

Texas Bar-B-Q, in Adrian, Texas, the mid-point of Historic Route 66 between Chicago and Los Angeles

The Texas Hill Country

One of our favorite back roads for seeing Bluebonnets, the Texas State Flower, in the Spring - the Willow Loop Road in the Texas Hill Country, near Fredericksburg, Texas (Staff Photo)

The National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg has gained a reputation as one of the premier military museums in the nation. For more information visit Website of the National Museum of the Pacific War

National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas

Wildseed Farms, near Fredericksburg, Texas

Big Bend Country

Big Bend National Park (Photo Credit)

Where to watch those amazing mystery lights, in Marfa, Texas

The Historic Texas Theater, downtown, Marfa, Texas

George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum

The museum's exhibits reveal the unique influences and challenges that shaped George Bush's life and presidency. Through artifacts, film, photographs, documents, music, sound effects and interactive videos, this museum experience encompasses much of U.S. history since 1941.

The grounds feature the Bush Family Gravesite, and the "Day the Wall Came Down" sculpture. It is located on the campus of Texas A&M University at 1000 George Bush Drive West.

For details and information about opening dates/times, visit the Website of the George Bush Presidential Library or phone 979.862.2253 George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station

The George

The George™ hotel is steeped in an atmosphere of authentic Texas charm, bringing a sophisticated flair all its own to the Brazos Valley.

The 162-room luxury boutique hotel is located in College Station's most vibrant community, Century Square, a walkable 60-acre mixed-use destination offering the city's best in retail, dining and entertainment venues. Phone toll-free 844.599.3871

The George - Official Website

The George - Reviews on TripAdvisor

Exterior view of The George Hotel in College Station, Texas

The lobby of The George Hotel in College Station, Texas

Ben J. Rogers Visitors Center in South East Texas

The Ben J. Rogers Regional Visitors Center provides information and assistance to travelers throughout the nine counties of South East Texas. It is located at 5055 Interstate Highway 10 South. Phone 409.842.0500 for opening hours and other information. (photo courtesy of Beaumont CVB)

Bordering Texas

Texas borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, and New Mexico to the west. The Rio Grande River forms the state's border with Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico lies to the south.

Concrete "Texas" sign at the Louisiana-Texas state line near Waskom
Concrete Texas sign at Louisiana-Texas state line near Waskom

Texarkana: "Twice As Nice" ... on the Texas-Arkansas state line
Texarkana ... on the Texas-Arkansas state line

The Little Juarez Cafe, in the ghost town of Glenrio, on the Texas-New Mexico border on I-40

Let's Go Dancing in Texas!

Luckenbach, Texas, Established 1849

Gruene Dance Hall, Gruene, Texas
Gruene Dance Hall, Gruene, Texas

Visiting the Large Texas Urban Areas

Dallas ... vibrant and exciting, day and night!
Night lights in Dallas, Texas

Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Texas
Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth, Texas

Festival scene in downtown San Antonio

Cowboys Stadium in Arlington - home of the Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Tyler Texas ... home of the Dallas Cowboys

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
Mission south of San Antonio, Texas

Beaumont ... always lots to see and do downtown!!
Festival time in downtown Beaumont, Texas

... And Visiting Small Town Texas

The Golden Era in Jefferson
The Golden Era ... in Jefferson Texas

Uncertain, TX on Caddo Lake
Uncertain Texas - on the moss-draped cypress shores of Caddo Lake near Karnack

Independence ... Since the Early 1820s (Photo by Pierce Ingram - Travel Texas)

Map of All Texas Counties (click to enlarge)

List of All Counties and County Seats in the State of Texas

The following is a list of all 254 counties and county seats located in the State of Texas:


County	County Seat	County	County Seat
Anderson	Palestine	Karnes	Karnes City
Andrews	Andrews	Kaufman	Kaufman
Angelina	Lufkin	Kendall	Boerne
Aransas	Rockport	Kenedy	Sarita
Archer	Archer City	Kent	Jayton
Armstrong	Claude	Kerr	Kerrville
Atascosa	Jourdanton	Kimble	Junction
Austin	Bellville	King	Guthrie
Bailey	Muleshoe	Kinney	Brackettville
Bandera	Bandera	Kleberg	Kingsville
Bastrop	Bastrop	Knox	Benjamin
Baylor	Seymour	La Salle	Cotulla
Bee	Beeville	Lamar	Paris
Bell	Belton	Lamb	Littlefield
Bexar	San Antonio	Lampasas	Lampasas
Blanco	Johnson City	Lavaca	Hallettsville
Borden	Gail	Lee	Giddings
Bosque	Meridian	Leon	Centerville
Bowie	Boston	Liberty	Liberty
Brazoria	Angleton	Limestone	Groesbeck
Brazos	Bryan	Lipscomb	Lipscomb
Brewster	Alpine	Live Oak	George West
Briscoe	Silverton	Llano	Llano
Brooks	Falfurrias	Loving	Mentone
Brown	Brownwood	Lubbock	Lubbock
Burleson	Caldwell	Lynn	Tahoka
Burnet	Burnet	Madison	Madisonville
Caldwell	Lockhart	Marion	Jefferson
Calhoun	Port Lavaca	Martin	Stanton
Callahan	Baird	Mason	Mason
Cameron	Brownsville	Matagorda	Bay City
Camp	Pittsburg	Maverick	Eagle Pass
Carson	Panhandle	McCulloch	Brady
Cass	Linden	McLennan	Waco
Castro	Dimmitt	McMullen	Tilden
Chambers	Anahuac	Medina	Hondo
Cherokee	Rusk	Menard	Menard
Childress	Childress	Midland	Midland
Clay	Henrietta	Milam	Cameron
Cochran	Morton	Mills	Goldthwaite
Coke	Robert Lee	Mitchell	Colorado City
Coleman	Coleman	Montague	Montague
Collin	McKinney	Montgomery	Conroe
Collings-worth	Wellington	Moore	Dumas
Colorado	Columbus	Morris	Daingerfield
Comal	New Braunfels	Motley	Matador
Comanche	Comanche	Nacogdoches	Nacogdoches
Concho	Paint Rock	Navarro	Corsicana
Cooke	Gainesville	Newton	Newton
Coryell	Gatesville	Nolan	Sweetwater
Cottle	Paducah	Nueces	Corpus Christi
Crane	Crane	Ochiltree	Perryton
Crockett	Ozona	Oldham	Vega
Crosby	Crosbyton	Orange	Orange
Culberson	Van Horn	Palo Pinto	Palo Pinto
Dallam	Dalhart	Panola	Carthage
Dallas	Dallas	Parker	Weatherford
Dawson	Lamesa	Parmer	Farwell
Deaf Smith	Hereford	Pecos	Fort Stockton
Delta	Cooper	Polk	Livingston
Denton	Denton	Potter	Amarillo
DeWitt	Cuero	Presidio	Marfa
Dickens	Dickens	Rains	Emory
Dimmit	Carrizo Springs	Randall	Canyon
Donley	Clarendon	Reagan	Big Lake
Duval	San Diego	Real	Leakey
Eastland	Eastland	Red River	Clarksville
Ector	Odessa	Reeves	Pecos
Edwards	Rocksprings	Refugio	Refugio
El Paso	El Paso	Roberts	Miami
Ellis	Waxahachie	Robertson	Franklin
Erath	Stephenville	Rockwall	Rockwall
Falls	Marlin	Runnels	Ballinger
Fannin	Bonham	Rusk	Henderson
Fayette	La Grange	Sabine	Hemphill
Fisher	Roby	San Augustine	San Augustine
Floyd	Floydada	San Jacinto	Coldspring
Foard	Crowell	San Patricio	Sinton
Fort Bend	Richmond	San Saba	San Saba
Franklin	Mount Vernon	Schleicher	Eldorado
Freestone	Fairfield	Scurry	Snyder
Frio	Pearsall	Shackelford	Albany
Gaines	Seminole	Shelby	Center
Galveston	Galveston	Sherman	Stratford
Garza	Post	Smith	Tyler
Gillespie	Fredericksburg	Somervell	Glen Rose
Glasscock	Garden City	Starr	Rio Grande City
Goliad	Goliad	Stephens	Breckenridge
Gonzales	Gonzales	Sterling	Sterling City
Gray	Pampa	Stonewall	Aspermont
Grayson	Sherman	Sutton	Sonora
Gregg	Longview	Swisher	Tulia
Grimes	Anderson	Tarrant	Fort Worth
Guadalupe	Seguin	Taylor	Abilene
Hale	Plainview	Terrell	Sanderson
Hall	Memphis	Terry	Brownfield
Hamilton	Hamilton	Throckmorton	Throckmorton
Hansford	Spearman	Titus	Mount Pleasant
Hardeman	Quanah	Tom Green	San Angelo
Hardin	Kountze	Travis	Austin
Harris	Houston	Trinity	Groveton
Harrison	Marshall	Tyler	Woodville
Hartley	Channing	Upshur	Gilmer
Haskell	Haskell	Upton	Rankin
Hays	San Marcos	Uvalde	Uvalde
Hemphill	Canadian	Val Verde	Del Rio
Henderson	Athens	Van Zandt	Canton
Hidalgo	Edinburg	Victoria	Victoria
Hill	Hillsboro	Walker	Huntsville
Hockley	Levelland	Waller	Hempstead
Hood	Granbury	Ward	Monahans
Hopkins	Sulphur Springs	Washington	Brenham
Houston	Crockett	Webb	Laredo
Howard	Big Spring	Wharton	Wharton
Hudspeth	Sierra Blanca	Wheeler	Wheeler
Hunt	Greenville	Wichita	Wichita Falls
Hutchinson	Stinnett	Wilbarger	Vernon
Irion	Mertzon	Willacy	Raymondville
Jack	Jacksboro	Williamson	Georgetown
Jackson	Edna	Wilson	Floresville
Jasper	Jasper	Winkler	Kermit
Jeff Davis	Fort Davis	Wise	Decatur
Jefferson	Beaumont	Wood	Quitman
Jim Hogg	Hebbronville	Yoakum	Plains
Jim Wells	Alice	Young	Graham
Johnson	Cleburne	Zapata	Zapata
Jones	Anson	Zavala	Crystal City