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Texas State: Population, Ranking, and Facts

#38 in Overall Ranking out of 50 in 2021

Texas ranks 38th with a high population density and land area in the south-central United States. A review of the state depicts it is the second largest in the country: both population-wise and inland. It’s nicknamed “Lone Star State,” which was influenced by the fight for independence from Mexico. While all these may seem interesting, there’s a lot more to learn about this place.

Updated: April 20, 2021
  • Area
    268,596 SQ. MI.
  • Capital
    Austin
  • Population
    28,995,881
  • Income
    $59,206
  • Home Value
    $224,466
  • Crime
    121,474
  • Unemployment
    6.9%
  • Education
    28.7%
  • Medicine
    22
  • Poverty
    13.7%
  • Environment
    176
  • Infrastructure
    5.5%

In history, Texas had tensions with Mexico over sovereignty on its journey to being an independent state. The famous 1836 battle at Alamo, when defending San Antonio, led the region to become an official Republican state.

On December 29, 1845, Texas became a part of the United States. The news of the acquisition of statehood played a major role in increasing its population as more diverse cultures migrated into the area.

It relied on slave labor as means of economic stability until the oil boom in the 1900s. Such a turn of events attracted more business prospects and bought up a significant transformation to its economy. Low taxes and low cost of labor also contributed to its exponential growth rate.

Overall, there are 68 cities in the region, with Houston leading with a large population. Austin is the capital of the state and has its fair share of parks, river access, and great food from different cities.

The weather here has diverse climate patterns from arid to semi-arid in the west and humid in the east. The months of June to August are the most pleasant periods for tourist attractions.

Lone Star State also excelled in the Agricultural industry (rearing cattle and bison), energy, petrochemicals, aerospace, and biomedical sciences. The mid-20s century diversified its economy to the Tech space and has produced an ample amount of patent technology. Education comes with top priority as it receives generous funding from the Federal government.

It shares a boundary with New Mexico to the west, Oklahoma to the north, bounded to the south by the Red River, and Arkansas to the Northeast. Finally, besides the nickname, the state’s abbreviation is TX.

How We Figured Out Which Were the Best States to Live In

To determine the best state to live in, we compiled data from reliable U.S. agencies. Some of them are the United Health Foundation, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Department of labor.

We sorted the data gathered and prioritized crucial metrics to be used as a yardstick.

Texas Rankings

  • Population
    #2
    Population
    Data: 28,995,881

    According to the census report, the population comes at a difference of 10,516,342 people from California (the largest in the United States). With such a population, there is enough space for huge economic growth and expansion. This metric's implication shows the availability of more people paying taxes, hence generating more revenue for the government.

  • Median Income
    #21
    Income in $
    Data: $59,206

    The region is quite affluent. Major contributing factors include the presence of top tech companies. Although, the property tax (1.69%) and the sales tax (6.25%) are high. Many Texans work as engineers, health specialists, and ranchers and contribute to GDP growth. There are about 650,216 millionaire households, which is the second in the U.S.

  • Home Value
    #30
    Home Value
    Data: $224,466

    The home value comes at an exponential growth rate, with many citizens having access to quality housing. 60% of apartments are owners occupied, and only 30% are rented apartments. The average rent price comes at a value of $1,045 for an 817 sq. ft. apartment as of 2020.

  • Unemployment Rate
    #37
    Unemployment
    Data: 6.9%

    The recent news from Bureau of Labor statistics in 2020 shows that 6.9% of working-class Texans are unemployed. Compared to California and Hawaii, the Texas unemployment rate is still a fair point, with 9.3% and 10.3%, respectively. There are ample job opportunities, and this goes for low-paying or under-employed jobs too.

  • Poverty
    #35
    Poverty
    Data: 13.7%

    Many Texans live on underpaid salaries, far below the minimum wage. Moreover, the extent of poverty is pronounced among unemployed females when it comes to gender. In the race aspect, mainly blacks, Mexicans, and many illegal immigrants contribute to the ratings.

  • Education
    #29
    Education
    Data: 28.7%

    On a general note, the once Mexican-populated region comes with different ethnic groups with little or no educational value. Many of these folks believe in cattle ranching, working in mills. This scenario also shows that many tech jobs employ Texans with high-demand skills with less emphasis on college degrees.

  • Medicine
    #40
    Medicine
    Health Outcomes: 22

    Despite the amount of elite health care facilities, its health care insurance isn't impressive. Many issues such as illegal immigration, unpleasant government policies, and poverty are primarily responsible for this. The population has skyrocketed over the years, with more demand for healthcare facilities against limited supply.

  • Crime Rate
    #39
    Crime
    Violent Crime: 121,474

    The city of Houston takes the highest crime incidence, followed by Dallas, TX. Compared with other states, this one is 15 positions away from Alaska, with the highest share of the violent crime rate. 49% of Texans claim a physical assault from strangers.

  • Natural Environment
    #50
    Environment
    Air: 176

    Here are the highest violations for the natural environment in the country. They cover air, drinking water, hazardous waste, and pesticides, contributing an enormous amount of health disaster to Texans. There are more costs incurred in keeping the natural environment at a perceived quality for healthy living. One major cause is petrochemical industries and agricultural practices.

  • Infrastructure
    #9
    Infrastructure
    Poor Roads: 5.5%

    A significant number of roads for both federal and state are paved. However, due to lack of maintenance, these roads cause many accidents and cost $25.1 billion a year on vehicle operating costs. The biggest contributor to the poor roads is negligence from the government.

Texas Facts

  • The state motto is tagged as “Friendship.”
  • The region takes Mockingbird as its state bird. 
  • The seal logo comprises five-star points surrounded by live oak branches, olive, and the words “The State of Texas.”
  • Texas flag consists of a vertical blue stripe covering one-third of the flag width and two horizontal lines of white and red. The blue part comes with the logo of a lone star on it.
  • The state mammal is Longhorn. 
  • The punishment for stealing cattle is “death by hanging” till this present time.
  • 45% of catfish harvested in the United States is consumed by Texans. 
  • The Texas driver’s license issued by the TX department of public safety has a validity period of 8 years. 
  • The famous American singer Beyoncé is a Texan. 
  • There is a rough number of 2,600 zip codes comprising city, town, and counties. 
  • 80 Texas state parks serve as a site for endless adventure for indigenes.
  • There is the largest wind power producing farms in the world.
  • One of the worst natural hurricane disasters in the world occurred here, claiming 6,000-8,000 people’s lives.
  • The official email service is BobcatMail. To activate it, enter the state email address and NetID password.

Texas in Photos

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Texas Houston
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FAQ Section

  • What Time Zone Is Texas?

    There are two generalized time zones in the region. They are known as Mountain Standard Time (UTC-7) and Central Standard Time (UTC -6). The MST is attributed to El Paso, Fabens, and Socorro. The CST is held in cities like Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin.

  • How Many Counties in Texas?

    The number of counties exceeds every other state in the U.S. The total number of counties comes at 254. Such a large number is due to its large area with a small local government enacted by the state founders.

  • What Is the Minimum Wage in Texas?

    In 2021, the minimum wage stands at $7.25 per hour. However, it comes with an exception for student workers and tipped employees. The $7.25 per hour wage aligns with the regulated Federal rate. It’s also linked to the Consumer Price Index, which increases with price inflation of goods and services.

  • What is TX Known for?

    It serves as an area for the music industry, and famous records, with Austin city, considered the world’s live music capital.

    Furthermore, many of the US’s tech industries have an employability status of 203,700 people. Hence, it accrues the name Silicon Valley of the South.

    This region is also quite famous for its unique way of preparing great-tasting barbecues.

  • What Time Can You Buy Beer in The Lone Star State?

    Here beer is sold between hours spanning from 7:00 am to midnight during working days. On Saturdays, people can buy beer from 7 am to 1 am, while on Sundays — from 10 am to midnight. Note that sales of beer are prohibited on special days like:

    • Thanksgiving Day.
    • Christmas Day.
    • New year’s Day.

  • When is Tax-Free Weekend in Texas?

    Many shoppers capitalize on Tax-free weekends to buy items related to school supplies, clothing, and shoes without the sales tax. The specified date changes for each different year. In 2021, a tax-free weekend occurred from August 9 to 15th, 2021, and non-residents get to enjoy the privileges.