Texas is a state that stands out in many
ways. A phrase that often comes to mind
when someone thinks of Texas is "Everything's bigger in Texas." This is a fairly accurate statement. The King Ranch is larger than the state of
Rhode Island and the capitol building in Austin is taller than the Capitol in
Washington, D.C.
"Let 'er Ride" by Dan Ballard |
Cowboys (originally vaqueros) are an iconic
symbol of southwestern culture and an image that stands out when thinking of
Texans. Many that are not employed
cattle herders have a penchant for the requisite western wear - 10 gallon hats,
boots and big belt buckles. This is
commonly worn all over the state carrying on the cowboy image. You can get an extra big dose of this in the
rodeo circuits that thrive in Texas culture.
Akin to the cowboys/ranch hands are their bosses the rich ranchers such
as the ones portrayed in television's "Dallas" or the film
"Giant." These are the well-dressed
cowboys.
Texas is known for having one of the healthiest
economies in the U.S. Of the top 10
largest cities in the country 3 belong to Texas. The energy industry, a.k.a Big Oil, plays a
leading role in pumping money into and providing jobs in the state. After all it is no coincidence that petroleum
is also referred to as "Texas Tea."
"Houston we have a problem"... one
can't help but associate that phrase with the largest city in Texas. NASA's Johnson Space Center has been and
continues to be home to mission control, astronaut training, and monitoring of
space exploration. Even though the
shuttle program was retired in 2010 Houston, TX is still a hub of the space
program and aeronautic research of today.
Music of the Lone Star State stands out when
representing its culture. Names such as
Stevie Ray Vaughn, Willie Nelson, ZZ Top, George Strait and Pantera are just a
few representative of Texas music. Honky
Tonk, a rhythm-heavy style of country music was developed in Texas. The capital city Austin is also dubbed the
Live Music Capital of the World and hosts internationally renowned annual
concert events and festivals.
If you have ever been to Texas or heard talk
from someone who has you might find yourself hungry for the cuisine. Predominately that is BBQ, Chili, and Tex
Mex. The Czech influence in central
Texas is present in the popular sweet kolache pastries. These also have a savory version with the
sausage kolache, usually with smoked sausage and optional jalapenos and
cheese. These are a staple item found
all over the state as are the breakfast tacos.
Aside from the people and culture of Texas there
are also the natural features, like the wide open spaces, which is only one
descriptor as the lay of the land varies as does the weather which is known for
extremes. Texas is the only U.S. state
that has every type of regional climate zone - coastal, plains, forest,
mountains and desert. On the extremes note, Texas has the highest incidence of
tornadoes annually and is equally prone to drought and flooding.
The great state of Texas has so many
identifiable traits a shelf of articles could be dedicated to going over them
all. This is simply a list of what
tends to be foremost in the mind of people having a moment to reflect on what
they know about it. Sometimes it seems
like a country within a country with its strong cultural identity. Whatever one's predisposition is, there is
certainly something for everyone in Texas.
© Becca Knight
© Becca Knight
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