Texas

The only state that was a recognised independent republic before joining, and the one that has never stopped mentioning it. Spanish Texas was thinly held, so newly independent Mexico invited American settlers in the 1820s on condition they became Catholic and Mexican citizens; within a decade the anglophone colonists outnumbered Tejanos several times over and were ignoring the terms, including Mexico's abolition of slavery in 1829. Revolt came in 1835. The Alamo fell in March 1836 after a thirteen-day siege with all its defenders killed, and Santa Anna was captured six weeks later at San Jacinto in a battle lasting eighteen minutes. The Republic of Texas lasted nine years, recognised by the United States, Britain and France, and was chronically insolvent. Annexation in 1845 brought war with Mexico and, at its end, a third of Mexico's territory into American hands. Texas seceded in 1861 over slavery, and Juneteenth commemorates the day in June 1865 when emancipation was finally announced at Galveston, two and a half years after the proclamation. Cattle drives and then the Spindletop gusher of 1901 built the modern economy. Its constitution reserves the right to divide into as many as five states. It is the largest of the contiguous states. Austin is the capital, Houston the largest city and Dallas the third. The state has flown six flags, for Spain, France, Mexico, the republic, the Confederacy and the United States. It is second only to Alaska in area and second to California in population. Its Gulf coast refineries process most of the nation's imported crude. The state has no personal income tax.

• Existed: 1690 CE – present
• Type: Entity
• Government: U.S. State
• Capital: Austin