Texas
Texas, the largest state in the contiguous United States, is located in the south-central part of the country and is bounded to the north by Oklahoma (across the Red River, except in the Texas panhandle); to the northeast by Arkansas; to the east by Louisiana (across the Sabine River); to the southeast by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Mexico (across the Rio Grande River); and, to the west by New Mexico.
Area: 267,338 sq mi (692,405 sq km)
Population: 20,851,820 in 2000 (a 22.8% increase since the 1990 census)
Capital: Austin
Largest city: Houston
Nickname: Lone Star State
Motto: Friendship
State bird: Mockingbird
State flower: Bluebonnet
State tree: Pecan
State animal: Armadillo
Texas is roughly spade-shaped. The vast expanse of the state contains great regional differences (the distance from Beaumont to El Paso is greater than that from New York to Chicago). Mineral resources compete with industry for primary economic importance in Texas. The state is the leading U.S. producer of oil, natural gas, and natural-gas liquids, despite recent production declines. It is also a major producer of helium, salt, sulfur, sodium sulfate, clays, gypsum, cement, and talc.
Texas manufactures an enormous variety of products, including chemicals and chemical products, petroleum, food and food products, transportation equipment, machinery, and primary and fabricated metals. The development and manufacture of electronic equipment, such as computers, has in recent decades become one of the state's leading industries; the area around Dallas-Fort Worth has become known as “Silicon Prairie,” a name now also extended to Austin and its suburbs. Agriculturally, Texas is one of the most important states in the country. It easily leads the nation in producing cattle, cotton, and cottonseed. Texas also has more farms, farmland, sheep, and lambs than any other state.
The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center is in the Houston area. Other places of interest in the state include Big Bend National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Amistad and Lake Meredith national recreation areas, Padre Island National Seashore, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Arkansas National Wildlife Refuge (winter home of the whooping crane), the Alamo, Washington On The Brazos, and the San Jacinto Monument and Battlefield. Austin is the capital and Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio are the largest cities.
Texas is home to many institutions of higher learning, among which are the University of Texas and Texas A&M University, both with large branches at various locations around the state.
Harris County
Harris County is located in deep southeast Texas, approximately 50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. It is the third largest county in the United States with a population of over three million people and encompases 1,788 square miles in area. There's a lot more to learn about this area at the official website for Harris County.
Houston
Houston is a world-class city that has something for everyone. The largest city in Texas and the fourth largest in the United States, this is a diverse, exciting community offering a large number of business and social opportunities. The Houston Real Estate Market is thriving, our downtown is flourishing and our parks and neighborhoods are inviting. And our city is fun! Enjoy Houston's outstanding performing and visual arts venues. Try one of the countless restaurants, offering cuisine in everything from Tex-Mex and South American to Middle Eastern and Vietnamese. For sports fans we have local teams representing all major sports. Do some shopping. Houston offers something to fit every budget - from the exclusive shops in Houston's Uptown area, the famous Galeria, or any of the outlet malls just outside the City. And this is just the beginning.
Houstonians eat out more than residents of any other city. While here you can choose to indulge in one of the more than 11,000 restaurants ranging from award-winning and upscale to memorable deli shops. Houston has a Theater District second only to New York City with its concentration of seats in one geographic area. Located downtown, the 17-block Theater District is home to eight performing arts organizations with more than 12,000 seats. Other major attractions include the "Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo" (the world's largest) and the "Shell Houston Open" PGA Tour Event at the Redstone Golf Club in Fall Creek.
For additional information about the great state of Texas, Harris County or Houston, click on the links below.