Texas

"Texas o Tejas (AFI: [tk.ss] en inglés y [te.xas] en español) es un estado situado en la región Sur de Estados Unidos. Tanto en extensión como en población es el segundo de los estados de Estados Unidos; abarca 696 241 km² y posee una población de 27,4 millones, en constante aumento. Limita al sur con los estados mexicanos de Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila y Chihuahua, y con los estados estadounidenses de Luisiana al este, Oklahoma al norte, Arkansas al noreste, y Nuevo México al oeste. El término seis banderas de Texas proviene de los múltiples países que han reclamado el territorio. España fue el primer país europeo que, en el ámbito del virreinato mexicano, poseyó el territorio texano. Francia afirmó haber establecido una colonia en Texas, que sería de lo más efímero. Como sucesor de la corona española, México fue propietario legítimo del territorio hasta 1836, cuando un grupo de inmigrantes de Estados Unidos se alzó en armas, proclamando unilateralmente una República independiente. Esto facilitó la posterior anexión en 1845 por parte de Estados Unidos como estado número 28. La Intervención estadounidense en México dio lugar a una guerra entre México y Estados Unidos en 1846, con derrota mexicana. Tras ello, Texas sería otro de los estados que se sumaron a los Estados Confederados de América, con carácter de miembro. A principios de 1900, el descubrimiento de pozos de petróleo inició un auge económico en el estado. Texas se ha diversificado económicamente. Cuenta con una creciente base en la alta tecnología, la investigación biomédica y la educación superior. Su PIB estatal es el segundo más alto de los Estados Unidos. La capital de Texas es Austin, aunque la ciudad más poblada es Houston. La flor del estado es el altramuz de Texas; el pájaro del estado es el cenzontle o sinsonte, la mascota es el armadillo y la comida típica es el chili con carne."

"Texas (/tkss/, locally /tksz/; Spanish: Texas or Tejas [texas]) is the second largest state in the United States by both area and population. Geographically located in the south central part of the country, Texas shares borders with the other US states of Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the west, and the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas to the southwest, while the Gulf of Mexico is to the southeast. Houston is the most populous city in Texas and the fourth largest in the US, while San Antonio is the second most populous in the state and seventh largest in the US. DallasFort Worth and Greater Houston are the fourth and fifth largest metropolitan statistical areas in the country, respectively. Other major cities include Austin, the second most populous state capital in the US, and El Paso. Texas is nicknamed the Lone Star State to signify its former status as an independent republic, and as a reminder of the state's struggle for independence from Mexico. The "Lone Star" can be found on the Texan state flag and on the Texan state seal. The origin of the state name, Texas, is from the word, "Tejas", which means 'friends' in the Caddo language. Due to its size and geologic features such as the Balcones Fault, Texas contains diverse landscapes that resemble both the US southern and southwestern regions. Although Texas is popularly associated with the US southwestern deserts, less than 10 percent of Texas' land area is desert. Most of the population centers are located in areas of former prairies, grasslands, forests, and the coastline. Traveling from east to west, one can observe terrain that ranges from coastal swamps and piney woods, to rolling plains and rugged hills, and finally the desert and mountains of the Big Bend. The term "six flags over Texas" refers to several nations that have ruled over the territory. Spain was the first European country to claim the area of Texas. France held a short-lived colony. Mexico controlled the territory until 1836 when Texas won its independence, becoming an independent Republic. In 1845, Texas joined the United States as the 28th state. The state's annexation set off a chain of events that caused the MexicanAmerican War in 1846. A slave state before the American Civil War, Texas declared its secession from the US in early 1861, and officially joined the Confederate States of America on March 2 of the same year. After the Civil War and the restoration of its representation in the federal government, Texas entered a long period of economic stagnation. One Texan industry that thrived after the Civil War was cattle. Due to its long history as a center of the industry, Texas is associated with the image of the cowboy. The state's economic fortunes changed in the early 20th century, when oil discoveries initiated an economic boom in the state. With strong investments in universities, Texas developed a diversified economy and high tech industry in the mid-20th century. As of 2010 it shares the top of the list of the most Fortune 500 companies with California at 57. With a growing base of industry, the state leads in many industries, including agriculture, petrochemicals, energy, computers and electronics, aerospace, and biomedical sciences. Texas has led the nation in export revenue since 2002 and has the second-highest gross state product."