Texas Facts and Trivia

Texas Facts & Trivia

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Billy Bob’s Texas, in Ft Worth, is the world’s largest country-western honky-tonk and includes a 4800-square foot rodeo arena.

In Lefors, it is illegal to take more than three swallows of beer at any time while standing.

When Texas was annexed in 1845 it retained the right to fly its flag at the same height as the national flag.

The last battle of the Civil War was fought on May 12-13, 1865 at Palmito ranch, Texas. It was a Confederate victory.

Billy Bob's Texas

Billy Bob's Texas courtesy Billy Bob's Website

The official dish of Texas is chili.

The Dallas/Fort Worth airport is larger than New York City’s Manhattan Island.

In Port Arthur obnoxious odors may not be emitted while in an elevator.

During the period of July 24-26, 1979, the Tropical Storm Claudette brought 45 inches of rain to an area near Alvin, Texas, contributing to more than $600 million in damages. Claudette produced the United States 24 hour rainfall record of 43 inches.

It is illegal for children to have unusual haircuts in Mesquite, Texas.

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.

El Paso is closer to Needles, California than it is to Dallas.

The nation’s longest, skinniest state park is the Texas State Railroad Park which is over 25 miles long.

The world’s largest collection of beer bottles can be seen at Wurstfest in New Braunfels.

The second largest rock in the nation is Enchanted Rock which has an exposed surface are of 130 square miles, which lies on the border between Gillespie and Llano Counties.

In Texas, it is still a "hanging offense" to steal cattle.

The Battle of the Alamo, lasting nearly two weeks, ended on March 6, 1836, with the deaths of all its defenders – about 190. The Mexican army numbered 4,000-5,000 during its final charge.

There are more than 70,000 miles of highways in Texas.

The Big Texan

The Big Texan in Amarillo, Texas, postcard

The Big Texan Steak Ranch Restaurant in Amarillo serves a 4½ pound steak for free, if you can eat it in an hour.

Franklin Mountains State Park, in El Paso County, is the largest urban park in the nation at over 24,049 acres, covering some 37 square miles, all within the city limits of El Paso.

You can be legally married by publicly introducing a person as your husband or wife three times.

Texas has a total of 6,300 square miles of inland lakes and streams, second only to Alaska.

Texas has four national forests – Angelina, Davy Crockett, Sabine and Sam Houston; and two national parks – Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains.

There were more than 70 World War II prisoner-of-war camps in Texas, more than any other state. Primarily the camps housed German solders, but also held Italian and Japanese prisoners.

Texas has 90 mountains a mile or more high, with Guadalupe Peak in West Texas at 8,751 feet being the tallest.

According to archaeologists, the site of one of the oldest areas of human habitation in North America is near Lubbock, Texas. Located in the northeastern part of Lubbock County, the site dates back to the Clovis period some 12,000 years ago.

In Texarkana owners of horses may not ride them at night without taillights.

Guadalupe Peak

View from the summit of Guadalupe Peak, courtesy

National Weather Service

Windmill along Amarillo Boulevard

Windmill along Amarillo Boulevard,

David Alexander, May, 2004.

This image available for photographic prints HERE!

The Buckhorn Saloon and Museum in San Antonio trots out thousands of dead animals and dead animal parts for your enjoyment. The museum features a 4,000-antler chandelier and a chair made for Teddy Roosevelt out of 62 pair of buffalo horns. This massive assemblage of Texas-style stuff also includes a dead baby giraffe, a bottle cap collection, portraits made from rattlesnake rattlers and a large Indian chief silhouette "drawn" in sheet metal with a .22 caliber rifle.

The entire Encyclopedia Britannica is banned in the State of Texas because it contains a formula for making beer at home.

Updated September, 2008

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Texas Postcards - From Houston to Amarillo and everything in between, you'll find both new and vintage postcards of the Lone Star State. See Route 66, city skylines, and historic destinations by taking a virtual tour through our many Texas Postcards. Each one of these is unique and, in many cases, we have only one available, so don't wait. To see them all, click HERE!