Texas achieved statehood in 1845, and its capital is Austin. Houston is home to the Johnson Space Center with its world-famous NASA Mission Control. Texas offers a multitude of outdoor activities: you can visit a ranch or a rodeo, or go hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, or canoeing. Popular sites are the Alamo in San Antonio, the Modern Art Museum in Fort Worth, the Natural Bridge Caverns in San Antonio, or the Padre Island National Seashore in Corpus Christi. Famous Texans include former presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Dwight D. Eisenhower, actors Tommy Lee Jones and Joan Crawford, and musicians Janis Joplin and Buddy Holly.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Texas has a population of 22,859,968. Of this population, 6,219,854 are under the age of 18 and 2,258,423 are at or above the age of 65.