Texas' success. The new Silicon Valley. An article about the history of the Texas state

Diverse, entrepreneurial, dynamic, oil-rich, cowboy, tech-savvy, independent, cultural, hospitable, patriotic, large, warm, hot, windy, aerospace, innovative, historical, university-driven, sports-oriented, musical, barbecue-centric, multicultural, religious, border-state, developing, affordable, community-focused, traditional, modern, energy-focused, manufacturing, agricultural, urban, rural, multilingual, lone-star, meat-centric, culinary, musically-inclined, cinematic, tourist-friendly, politically diverse, migratory, sunny, sweltering, freedom-loving, ambitious, welcoming, cosmopolitan. These words perfectly characterize Texas

Grok is very helpful in writing our articles, so here's a not big article on this subject from Grok

The Success of Texas: A Multifaceted Phenomenon

Introduction

Texas, often called "The Lone Star State," is the second largest state in the United States both in terms of area and population. It has become synonymous with success in various aspects – from economic prosperity to cultural diversity. In this article, we will examine the key factors contributing to Texas's success.

Economic Development

Oil and Gas:

Texas is the heart of the American oil industry. The discovery of oil fields at the beginning of the 20th century radically changed the state's economy, transforming it from an agricultural region into an energy giant. Even today, the oil and gas industry continues to play a significant role, supporting the economy through exports, innovation, and job creation.

Economic Diversification:

However, Texas has not stopped at oil. The state actively develops technological, biomedical, and aerospace industries. Cities like Austin have long been tech startup hubs, while Houston and Dallas attract large corporations and financial institutions.

Tax Policy:

Texas is known for its business-friendly tax policies, which include no personal income tax, making it attractive for businesses and investments.

Migration and Population

Attracting Talent:

The state actively attracts talent from around the world and from other parts of the US. In recent years, especially post-pandemic, Texas has become a magnet for IT professionals, immigrants, and those seeking more affordable living and business conditions.

Migration Policy and Challenges:

Texas is also at the forefront of the migration crisis on the Mexican border. This brings both challenges and opportunities for economic and social development, creating a unique dynamic within the state.

Cultural and Social Influence

Cultural Heritage:

Texas is rich in unique cultural traditions, from cowboy culture to Texan cuisine. This heritage not only gives the state a distinctive character but also attracts tourists, contributing to the economy.

Education and Science:

Texas universities, such as the University of Texas at Austin and Rice University, are centers of research and innovation, attracting students and scholars from around the world, which contributes to the state's development.

Infrastructure and Business Climate

Developed Infrastructure:

Texas invests in infrastructure, including transportation networks, making it convenient for business and residents. Airports, ports, and highways play a key role in economic growth.

Political Stability:

Despite political disagreements, especially regarding immigration policy and legal issues, Texas demonstrates an ability to compromise and solve problems, creating a stable climate for business.

Conclusion

Texas's success can be explained by a combination of natural resources, smart economic policy, cultural richness, and the ability to adapt to change. However, this success is not without its challenges, such as environmental issues related to fossil fuel extraction, and social matters concerning immigration and development. Texas continues to be an example of how a region can leverage its unique advantages for prosperity while facing both global and local challenges.

Now let's get to the history of Texas

1519 - Spanish explorer Alonso Alvarez de Pineda became the first European to explore the Texas coast.

Here's a clipping from an article titled "Spain Begins to Explore Texas" from thealamo.org

In 1519, Spanish explorer and map-maker Alonso Álvarez de Pineda led an Spanish expedition that, for the first time, mapped the coast of Texas along the Gulf of Mexico. From this expedition and the ones that followed, Spain claimed the area of present-day Texas as part of their territory. However, this was borderlands country, far from the large cities the Spanish controlled in central Mexico. Establishing a foothold hundreds of miles from military protection and European supply systems would be difficult.

Here's the full article

1821 - Mexico gained independence from Spain and Texas became part of Mexico.

A wikipedia scrapbook about Mexican independence.

Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, after a prolonged struggle marked by the Mexican War of Independence. The country faced numerous challenges in the 19th century, including regional conflicts, caudillo power struggles, the Mexican–American War, and foreign interventions like the French invasion. Efforts at modernization during La Reforma included promoting civil liberties and the separation of church and state, but the country was still beset by internal strife and external threats, including the Second Mexican Empire.

Full article

1824-1826 - Stephen F. Austin established the first American colony in Texas, beginning a mass migration of Americans to the region.

We couldn't find much about it, so here's an article from Grok.

Here's the detailed account of the period 1824-1826 regarding Stephen Austin's establishment of the first American colony in Texas:

1821: Mexico gains independence from Spain, and Texas, previously part of the Spanish province of Tejas, becomes territory of Mexico.

Context and Background: Spain had offered lands in Texas in exchange for settlers to protect these lands from Native Americans and Anglo-American encroachment from neighboring U.S. territories. However, the Spanish government was slow in approving such settlements.

Moses Austin's Role: Stephen's father, Moses Austin, received permission in 1820 from the Spanish Governor of Texas to establish an Anglo-American colony, but he died in 1821 before his plans could be realized.

1821-1822: After Moses Austin's death, his son, Stephen F. Austin, took over his father's mission.

Journey to Mexico City: Austin traveled to Mexico City to confirm the colonization grant with the new Mexican government, as Mexico had now become independent. Despite the change in government, he managed to secure approval for colonization.

1823: Austin returns to Texas to begin the work of attracting American settlers.

Settlers' Conditions: Austin offered land at low prices or even free with the condition that settlers would farm the land and promise to become Catholics (though this requirement was often ignored). Each family head could receive up to 177 acres of land, while single men were granted 44 acres.

First Colony: The first settlers arrived in the area that would later be known as Austin's Colony, situated along the Brazos River. This colony became the first officially sanctioned American settlement in Texas.

1824-1826: Mass migration begins:

Population Growth: During this period, thousands of Americans moved to Texas. In 1824, Mexico's first Federal Constitutional Act was passed, which facilitated colonization by granting more autonomy to states and territories.

Cultural and Economic Impact: American settlers brought with them agricultural methods, tools, and a lifestyle different from the Mexican one. This led to cultural and economic changes in Texas.

Problems and Conflicts: Soon after colonization began, disagreements arose between the new settlers and the Mexican government, particularly regarding laws, language, religion, and property rights. These conflicts would eventually contribute to the Texas Revolution.

These years laid the groundwork for Texas's future as an American state, although this was not Austin's initial goal. His colonization efforts resulted in a demographic and cultural shift in the region, which eventually led to Texas's independence from Mexico and its subsequent annexation into the United States.

1835-1836 - Texas Revolution:

October 1835 - Battle of Gonzales, considered the beginning of the Texas Revolution.

February 23 - March 6, 1836 - Siege of the Alamo, one of the most famous battles of the Texas Revolution, where all the defenders of the Alamo were killed.

April 21, 1836 - Battle of San Jacinto, where Texans under Sam Houston defeated the Mexican army, leading to Texas independence.

1836 - Texas declared its independence from Mexico, creating the Republic of Texas, which existed until 1845

It's the wikipedia clipping again

The Republic of Texas (Spanish: República de Tejas), or simply Texas, was a breakaway state in North America. It existed for just under 10 years, from March 2, 1836 to February 19, 1846. It shared borders with Mexico, the Republic of the Rio Grande (another Mexican breakaway republic), and the United States of America.

Full article

1845 - Texas joined the United States as the 28th state.

Wikipedia clipping

The Republic of Texas was annexed into the United States and admitted to the Union as the 28th state on December 29, 1845.

The Republic of Texas declared independence from the Republic of Mexico on March 2, 1836. It applied for annexation to the United States the same year, but was rejected by the United States Secretary of State. At that time, the majority of the Texian population favored the annexation of the Republic by the United States. The leadership of both major U.S. political parties (the Democrats and the Whigs) opposed the introduction of Texas — a vast slave-holding region — into the volatile political climate of the pro- and anti-slavery sectional controversies in Congress. Moreover, they wished to avoid a war with Mexico, whose government had outlawed slavery and refused to acknowledge the sovereignty of its rebellious northern province. With Texas's economic fortunes declining by the early 1840s, the President of the Texas Republic, Sam Houston, arranged talks with Mexico to explore the possibility of securing official recognition of independence, with the United Kingdom mediating.

Full article

1861-1865 - U.S. Civil War: Texas seceded from the United States and joined the Confederacy.

1870s - Reconstruction after the Civil War, the beginning of active railroad operations and a significant increase in cattle ranching.

1901 - Discovery of the Spindletop oil field, marking the beginning of the oil industry in Texas and changing the economy of the state and nation.

Clipping from an article from history.com

On January 10, 1901, an enormous geyser of oil exploded from a drilling site at Spindletop Hill, a mound created by an underground salt deposit located near Beaumont in Jefferson County, southeastern Texas. Reaching a height of more than 150 feet and producing close to 100,000 barrels a day, the “gusher” was more powerful than any previously seen in the world. A booming oil industry soon grew up around the oil field at Spindletop, and many of the major oil companies in America, including Gulf Oil, Texaco and Exxon, can trace their origins there.

Here's the full article

Now just some news that Grok also helped with

1920s - Economic boom due to oil, significant urbanization and growth of cities.

1950s - Beginning of the space age with the creation of the Lyndon Johnson Space Center in Houston.

1963 - Assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas. Everybody knows about that.

1980s:

Economic downturn: In the early 1980s, Texas experienced a significant economic downturn caused by falling oil prices. This led to the failure of many banks, falling real estate prices, and high unemployment, especially in Houston and Dallas.

Development of the technology scene: Despite the oil crisis, the technology community in Austin, which later became known as "Silicon Hills," began to develop.

Renaissance Lobby Disaster: In 1981, stairwells at Dallas' Hyatt Regency hotel collapsed, killing 13 people and becoming one of the most tragic engineering mistakes in the United States.

1986:

Racial Segregation in Schools: In 1986, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision that banned segregation in schools based on race, which had a significant impact on the Texas educational system.

1989:

Hurricane Hugo: While Hugo mainly affected the Caribbean and the U.S. East Coast, its impact was also felt in Texas, causing preparations for possible hurricanes.

1990s:

Economic Recovery: By the early 1990s, the Texas economy was beginning to recover through diversification, with growth in technology, health care, and education. Launch of NAFTA: In 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into effect, significantly increasing trade between the United States, Canada, and Mexico, positively impacting the Texas economy, especially in the border regions.

1993:

Siege of Waco: One of the most famous events was the siege of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, which lasted 51 days and ended tragically when a fire killed 76 people.

1995:

Oklahoma City Bombing: Although this event did not take place in Texas, Timothy McVeigh, the man responsible for the bombing, was arrested in Perrin, Texas, which generated a lot of interest and brought attention to security issues in the region.

1997:

Thanksgiving Day Murder: The high-profile murder of a teenage boy in Houston sparked a public outcry and led to discussions about juvenile justice and youth violence.

1999:

Billion Population: Texas became the second state after California to exceed 20 million people. Enron Energy Company Scandal: Although Enron was based in Houston, its collapse in 2001 laid the groundwork for a scandal that affected Texas, as many aspects of the company's business were tied to local politicians and businesses

2001:

Enron Scandal: Although the collapse of Enron began in 2001, its aftermath continued to affect Texas for years, especially Houston, where the company was based.

2002:

Inauguration of Governor Rick Perry: Rick Perry took office as Governor of Texas, beginning his term as the youngest governor of Texas in 130 years.

2003:

Moving to the Big 12 Conference: Texas university sports programs, especially the soccer team at the University of Texas at Austin, have come to dominate the Big 12 Conference.

2005:

Hurricane Katrina: Although Katrina mainly affected Louisiana, Texas received large numbers of evacuees and migrants. Hurricane Rita: Rita, a Category 4 hurricane, struck southeast Texas, causing significant damage and the evacuation of millions of people.

2006:

The election of Joe Straus as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives: A significant political event reflecting a shift in the Texas political landscape.

2008:

Global Financial Crisis: Although the crisis was global, Texas was less affected than many other regions due to the diversification of its economy, but still felt the effects.

2010:

Texas Floods: In the spring of 2010, severe flooding affected central and south Texas, causing significant losses.

2011:

Historic Drought: Texas experienced one of the most severe droughts and heat waves in its history, resulting in wildfires, crop failures, and water supply problems.

2012:

Boot Camp Disciplinary Scandal: It turned out that teens sent to disciplinary camps were being abused, leading to an investigation and changes in juvenile justice laws.

2013:

Financial problems in Detroit: Echoes of the crisis in Detroit reverberated in Texas as some pension funds and investors from Texas had investments in that city, sparking discussions about municipal budgets and investments.

2014:

Election of Greg Abbott: Greg Abbott won the election for governor of Texas, replacing Rick Perry.

Oil Industry Expansion: Oil prices began to decline toward the end of the year, but before that, Texas experienced an oil and gas boom, especially in the Permian Basin area, leading to economic growth and job creation. Hurricane Invest (Invest 92L): Although it was not an officially named hurricane, the system caused significant flooding in east Texas.

2015:

Memorial Day Floods: In May, Houston and surrounding neighborhoods were hit by widespread flooding that caused significant damage and became one of the costliest natural disasters in the city's history.

2016:

Tax Day Floods: In April, heavy rains led to flooding that hit east Texas, including Houston.

2017:

Hurricane Harvey: In August, Hurricane Harvey hit southeast Texas, causing catastrophic flooding. It was one of the most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history, causing tremendous economic loss and human suffering.

2019:

Tropical Storm Imelda: In September, caused more flooding in east Texas, especially in Houston, re-flooding some areas still reeling from Harvey.

2020:

Freezing temperatures and power grid collapse: In February, Texas faced unusually cold weather, resulting in massive power outages due to an energy infrastructure unprepared for such conditions.

Tropical Storm Beta: In September, affected the Gulf Coast, including Galveston, with additional rainfall and flooding.

2021:

Hurricane Nicholas: Hit the Texas coast in September, bringing high winds and flooding.

2022:

Extreme Heat and Drought: The summer of 2022 was marked by record high temperatures and drought, causing problems with water supply and agriculture.

2023:

Hottest Summer: The summer of 2023 was one of the hottest summers in Texas history, with serious impacts on public health, agriculture, and energy use.

2024:

Tree: In May, Texas was hit by the tree, a weather event with high winds that caused widespread damage mostly in the central and eastern part of the state. Political conflict over migration: Earlier in the year, a conflict between Texas and the U.S. federal government over control of the border with Mexico erupted, with widespread public outcry and support from other states.

Changing Political Landscape: The trend continues to shift the state's political orientation. There has been a shift toward the Democratic Party, reflected in a narrowing gap between Republican and Democratic candidates in elections.

Texas is a state that may soon become the main economic center of the planet, the main thing for them is not to go the way of California

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