Located in the south-central part of the country, it borders Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. It also borders Mexico along the Rio Grande, and has a coastline on the Gulf of Mexico. Covering 268,596 square miles (695,660 km2) and with an estimated population of over 31.7 million residents in 2025, it is the second-largest state by both area and population. Texas is nicknamed the "Lone Star State" for the single star depicted on the Republic of Texas flag in 1836 during the Texas war for independence from Mexico, symbolizing Texans' enduring independent spirit and distinct national identity. The lone star design was originally flown in 1819 during the Long Expedition, an early attempt to liberate Texas from Spanish imperial rule.
Getting to Texas
Texas shares an international border with Mexico as well as a 600-mile coastline. It is bordered on the north by the state of Oklahoma, on the west by the state of New Mexico, and on the east by the states of Arkansas and Louisiana. As a state of the United States, all visa and passport rules of the U.S. apply.
Worth seeing
The Battle of the Alamo in San Antonio was the most tragic hour of the erstwhile Republic of Texas. Here some 200 men under siege by a Mexican army of 1,500 or more bravely refused to surrender, and gained immortal fame. San Jacinto Battleground State Historical Park, Houston. This is the site of the decisive 1836 battle between Texians led by Sam Houston and the Mexican army under the dictator Gen.
Things to do
Take a leisurely inner tube trip, floating down the Comal, Guadalupe, San Marcos, Brazos, or Frio rivers. Spend the weekend living the Old West at a Dude Ranch Hike and climb through the natural wonders of the Palo Duro Canyon near Amarillo. Enjoy live music and Western heritage at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, held every spring at Houston's Reliant Park.
Where to eat
Barbecue is the mainstay of any true Texan's diet (some Texans will frown at you if you call it B-B-Q). The International Barbecue Cookoff is held annually in Taylor, TX (northeast of Austin). A Texas specialty is chopped or thinly sliced beef brisket, usually served with a slice of white bread, pickles, onions, and sauce in a separate container (although Central European-style sausage is also common).
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Michael Barera (see Commons), Wikimedia Commons.