By Texas possessing enormous natural resources, it is a major agricultural state and an industrial giant. Second only to Alaska in its land area, it also leads all other states in such categories as cattle, oil, sheep, and cotton. Texas farms and ranches also produce poultry and eggs, dairy products, nursery products and greenhouse, wheat, hay, rice, sugar cane, and peanuts, and also a variety of vegetables and fruits.

Sulfur, salt, helium, graphite, asphalt, bromine, natural gas, cement, and clays are among the state's most valuable resources. Chemicals, oil refining, machinery, food processing, and transportation equipment are among the major Texas manufacturing industries.

Area: 267,338 sq mi (692,405 sq km)
Pop: (2000) 20,851,820, a 22.8% increase since the 1990 census  
Capital: Austin
Largest city: Houston
Statehood: Dec. 29, 1845 (28th state)
Highest pt.: Guadalupe Peak, 8,751 ft (2,667 m); lowest pt., sea level
Nickname: Lone Star State
Motto: Friendship
State bird: Mockingbird
State flower: Bluebonnet
State tree: pecan
Abbr., Tex., TX