Geography of Texas
Along the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico, the land is flat, where bayous, bays, islands, and marshes dominate the landscape. From there, the land gently rises (central and west) into the rolling hills of the Edwards Plateau, commonly referred to as the Texas Hill Country. In the far north, the Great Plains of North America extend into the edges of the Panhandle of Texas to the east of Amarillo; they face in the west the southeastern edges of the Rocky Mountains. In the far southwest, flat, desert-like conditions are broken by the isolated and rugged Davis Peaks, Guadeloupe, and the Santiago Mountains.
- Allcitycodes: Provides map of area codes in Texas by county and city.
- Ask4beauty: Introduction to the state of Texas, addressing geography, history, politics, economy and population.
- Toppharmacyschools: Lists all educational institutes in Texas, including psychology, biological science, clinical psychology, computer science, economics, fine arts, etc.
Texas Famous Natives
People listed are almost always native to the state. We do (on occasion) include those who have either lived within the state for most of their adult lives or have made significant contributions to the state in their personal endeavors.
A
- Actress Amy Acker
- Jensen Akles actor
- Track and field athlete Amy Lynn Acuff
- Red Fireman Adair
- Marvin Lee Adey (Meatloaf) singer
- Alvin Ailey dancer, choreographer
- Actress Debbie Allen, choreographer
- Directed by Wes Anderson
- Lance Armstrong seven-time Tour de France winner
- Founder of Mary Kay Ash Mary Kay Cosmetics
- Stephen F. Austin “Father of Texas”
- Steven “Stone Chill” Austin actor, wrestler
- Gina Autry actor, entrepreneur
- TexAvery cartoonist, animator
B
- Erika Badu singer
- Actor W. Bailey
- Actress Kathy Baker
- Ernie Banks baseball player
- Bank robber Clyde Barrow
- Astronaut Alana Bina
- Frank Beard musician
- Josh Beckett baseball player
- Dan Blocker actor
- Powers actor Allen Buthe
- Football player Andrew “Drew” Brisa
- Founder of Herman Brown Brown and Root
- Carol Burnett comedian
- Brook Burns actor
- Actor Gary Busey
- George W. Bush former US President (born in CT)
- Jeb Bush Florida Governor
- Laura Bush former American First Lady
- Model Lauren Bush
- Singer Tracy Bird
C
- Mark, “Entrepreneur” Calaway wrestler
- Earl Campbell footballer
- Actress Kate Capshaw
- Child cartoonist Cardona
- Leland Chapman bounty hunter, broadcaster
- Cid Charissa dancer
- Pilot Claire Lee Chennault, founder of the Flying Tigers
- Mark Chesnutt singer
- Thomas Hayden church actor
- Ciara singer
- Guy Clarke singer, musician, songwriter
- Singer Kelly Clarkson
- Roger Clemens baseball pitcher
- Randall “Tex” Cobb boxer, actor
- Actor Dabney Wharton Coleman
- Cardiac surgeon Denton Cooley
- Leonard Barry “Barry” Corbin actor
- Douglas Corrigan aviator (“corrigan’s wrong way”)
- Actress Joan Crawford
D
- Songwriter Ted Daffan
- Leonard Davis football player
- Michael Dell Founder Dell Computer
- Louis Carla “Lou” Dobb radio and television host
- Sam Donaldson Television Reporter
- Actress Hilary Duff, singer
- Actress Sandy Duncan
- Singer Holly Dunn
- Ronnie Dunn singer, songwriter
- Actress Shelley Duvall
E
- Dwight Eisenhower US President
- Actress Shannon Elizabeth
- Linda Ellerby actress, producer
- Ron Ely actor
- Terry Emmons Racer
- Dale Evans singer, actress
- Model Megan Ewing
- Morgan Fairchild actress
- Farrah Fawcett actress
- Freddie Fender singer
- Miriam “Ma” Ferguson Governor of Texas
- George Foreman boxer
- Frederick Fenimore Forrest Jr. actor
- Jamie Foxx actor
- Auto racer J. Foyt
- Friedman’s Weird humorist, politician, singer, songwriter
F
- Morgan Fairchild actress
- Farrah Fawcett actress
- Freddie Fender singer
- Miriam “Ma” Ferguson Governor of Texas
- George Foreman boxer
- Frederick Fenimore Forrest Jr. actor
- Jamie Foxx actor
- Auto racer J. Foyt
- Friedman’s Weird humorist, politician, singer, songwriter
G
- Actress Jennifer Garner
- John Nance Garner Vice President of the United States
- Larry, Rudy, Steve Gatlin Singers (Gatlin Brothers)
- Champion Don Gay Bull Rider
- Billy Gibbons singer, guitarist (ZZ Top)
- Selena Gomez actress, singer
- Model Jill Goodacre
- Patrick “Pat” Green singer, songwriter
H
- Actor Larry Hagman
- Actress Jerry Hola
- Roy Hargrove musician
- Actress Angie Harmon
- Woody Harrelson actor
- Christopher “Chris” Harrison Television Host
- Actress Lisa Hartman
- Ethan Hawke actor
- Cornell Haynes Jr. (Nellie) singer
- James Pinkney Henderson first Governor of Texas
- Don Henley singer, songwriter
- Thomas Herrion footballer
- Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt
- Written by Patricia Highsmith
- Dusty Hill singer, guitarist (ZZ Top)
- Ben Hogan golfer
- Musician Buddy Holly
- Robert E. Howard author
- Howard Hughes aviator
- Ivory Joe Hunter singer, songwriter, pianist
- Kay Bailey Hutchison US Senator
J
- John Jefferson football player
- Waylon Jennings singer, songwriter
- Jack Johnson boxer
- Jimmie Johnson football coach
- Lady Bird Johnson First Lady of the United States
- Lyndon Johnson US President
- George Jones singer
- Mike Jones rapper
- Tommy Lee Jones actor
- Singer Zona Jones
- Singer Janis Joplin
- Scott Joplin composer, musician
- Barbara Jordan politician, leader of the civil rights movement
K
- Tom Kite golfer
- Beyoncé Knowles singer, actress
- David Koresh religious figure
- Kris Christofferson actor, singer, songwriter
Austin Texas
Located in the heart of the Lone Star State, Austin is the bustling capital of Texas. This vibrant, modern city, widely regarded as the “Living Music Capital of the World”, is the largest high tech center and home to the University of Texas main campus.
Austin (first called Waterloo) came to life in 1830 as a small village on the banks of the Colorado River. In 1839, Waterloo was chosen as the capital of the newly independent Republic of Texas. The city was later renamed Austin after Stephen F. Austin, a man revered as the “Father of Texas”.
“Keep Austin Weird” is the city’s contemporary motto, and everyday life in this eclectic city is almost amazing. Outdoor activities and shopping are the order of the day, accompanied by a selection of gourmet cuisine and barbecues. But when that Texas sun finally sets, the bars, clubs, white swipes, and music venues across Austin (especially on 6th Street) will all light up the night until the wee hours.
- Scholz Garten, located in downtown Austin, is the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Texas and also the oldest business in all of Texas. They opened for business right after the civil war!
- The Texas Capitol, one of the most beloved and admired landmarks in the state, was completed in 1888 and is actually 14 feet taller than the United States Capitol.
- Because the hills to the west are mostly limestone rock with a very thin topsoil cover, parts of Austin are often subject to flash floods from runoff caused by thunderstorms.
Austin is bursting with college sports fanatics, entertainment venues, filmmakers, musicians, singers, and of course, politics. One of the hottest spots in the city is the headquarters of Whole Foods, the world’s largest natural and organic food retailer. Their signature store is crowded 24/7 and is the place to shop and get noticed.
Congress Avenue Bridge Bats
This is one of the most unusual and alluring glasses nature has to offer, a major attraction and a lesson about survival. The Austin Avenue Bridge Congress is home to the largest Mexican free-tailed bat colony in North America. Enjoy an amazing show every evening from April to October when these tiny creatures soar into the night sky offering an enchanting view.
Barton Springs Pool
Found in Zilker Park, this spring-fed pool spreads across 3 acres and is surrounded by beautiful gardens and pecans. The pool is fed by underground spring waters that maintain a year-round temperature of around 68 degrees, ideal for swimming, snorkeling or just a timid toe dip. A popular attraction for decades, Barton Spring Pool is an Austin gem perfect for press ops and lazy days.
Jeor’s Birthday Party
Held the last Saturday of each April, this unique event is very “Austin”. It’s a huge gathering of several thousand people just celebrating life: sitting, walking, playing music, beating drums, eating, drinking beer and playing games. Everyone from families to the singles side is having fun, wishing a happy birthday to the statue of Jyor dressed up as the Statue of Liberty.
