Texas Information and Facts

Official Website: http://www.state.tx.us/

Income

The population of Texas in 2002 was 21,736,925. Its rank was 2nd in the nation. (The District of Columbia is included for ranking purposes.)

Per Capita Personal Income

In 2002 Texas had a per capita personal income of $29,039. This per capita personal income ranked 27th in the United States and was 94 percent of the national average, $30,906. The 2002 per capita personal income reflected an increase of 0.3 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.2 percent. In 1992 the per capita personal income of Texas was $18,916 and ranked 32nd in the United States. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of per capita personal income was 4.4 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 4.0 percent.

Total Personal Income

In 2002 Texas had a total personal income of $631,208,404. This total personal income ranked 3rd in the United States. In 1992 the total personal income of Texas was $335,941,115 and ranked 3rd in the United States. The 2002 total personal income reflected an increase of 2.2 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 2.3 percent. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of total personal income was 6.5 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.2 percent.

Components of Personal Income

Total personal income includes net earnings by place of residence; dividends, interest, and rent; and total personal current transfer receipts received by the residents of Texas. In 2002 net earnings accounted for 73.7 percent of total personal income (compared with 71.3 in 1992); dividends, interest, and rent were 14.0 percent (compared with 16.4 in 1992); and personal current transfer receipts were 12.4 percent (compared with 12.3 in 1992). From 2001 to 2002 net earnings increased 1.0 percent; dividends, interest, and rent increased 1.6 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased 10.5 percent. From 1992 to 2002 net earnings increased on average 6.9 percent each year; dividends, interest, and rent increased on average 4.8 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased on average 6.6 percent.

Employment Earnings

Earnings of persons employed in Texas increased from $511,140,238 in 2001 to $517,014,810 in 2002, an increase of 1.1 percent. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.5 percent. The average annual growth rate from the 1992 estimate of $267,209,379 to the 2002 estimate was 6.8 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.3 percent.

Area - Texas is the second largest state in the nation, after Alaska, and has an area of 692,244 sq km (267,277 sq mi), including 12,844 sq km (4959 sq mi) of inland water and 1046 sq km (404 sq mi) of coastal water over which it has jurisdiction. Extending for about 1240 km (about 770 mi) from east to west and for about 1290 km (about 800 mi) from north to south, the state comprises about 7 percent of the land area of the United States. The mean elevation is about 500 m (1700 ft).

Climate - Eastern Texas has a humid subtropical climate, while a semiarid low latitude climate prevails in central areas, and an arid low latitude climate in the extreme west. Along the coast the climate is much milder, with fewer extremes in temperatures. Hurricanes sometimes hit the coastal areas of Texas from late July through September, and tornadoes are common in north-central Texas in April and May. Summers are hot throughout the state, and temperatures exceeding 35° C (95° F) are relatively common. Average July temperatures range from 28° to 30° C (82° to 86° F) over most of Texas. Winters are generally mild, except in the extreme northern parts of the state. The coldest winter weather is brought by north winds, called northers, that sweep down the Great Plains. The winds get warmer as they pass over the state, however, and by the time they reach the coast, temperatures are generally above freezing. Average January temperatures range from 16° C (60° F) in the extreme south to 1° C (34° F) in the northern Panhandle. Precipitation in Texas decreases steadily from east to west. Along the Texas-Louisiana border almost 1400 mm (55 in) of rain falls each year. The central part of the state has about 640 mm (about 25 in) of precipitation, and the extreme western part of the state has less than 250 mm (10 in). Rainfall is generally greatest during the summer. Snow is fairly uncommon in Texas, except in the higher mountains and in the High Plains.

State Flag

State Flower - Bluebonnet

State Capitol - Austin
Texas is governed under a constitution adopted in 1876, as amended. Four earlier constitutions had been adopted, in 1845, 1861, 1866, and 1869. An amendment to the constitution may be proposed by the legislature. To become effective, the amendment must be approved by a majority of people voting on the issue in an election.

Famous People

A. J. Foyt auto racer, Houston
Alvin Ailey choreographer, Rogers
Audie Murphy actor, war hero, Kingston
Babe Didrikson Zaharias athlete, golfer, Port Arthur
Ben Hogan golfer, Dublin
Bonnie Parker outlaw, Rowena
Buck Owens singer, Sherman
Buddy Holly musician, Lubbock
Carol Burnett comedienne, San Antonio
Chester Nimitz admiral, Fredricksburg
Clyde Barrow outlaw, Telico
Cyd Charisse actress, dancer, Amarillo
Dan Rather TV newscaster, Wharton
Denton A. Cooley heart surgeon, Houston
Dooley Wilson actor, musician, Tyler
Dwight David Eisenhower U.S. president, general, Denison
Ernest Tubb country music, Crisp
Eugene Wesley Gene Roddenberry screenwriter, El Paso
Gene Autry singer, actor, Tioga
George Jones singer, Saratoga
H. Ross Perot philanthropist, Texarkana
Henry Cisneros politician, San Antonio
Howard Hughes industrialist, film producer, Houston
Jack Johnson boxer, Galveston
Janis Joplin blues singer, Port Arthur
Joan Crawford actress, San Antonio
Katherine Anne Porter author, Indian Creek
Kathy Baker actress, Midland
Kathy Whitworth golfer, Monahans
Larry Hagman actor, Fort Worth
Lyndon B. Johnson U.S. president, Stonewall
Mary Kay Ash cosmetics entrepreneur, Hot Wells
Mary Martin singer, actress, Weatherford
Michael Johnson olympic sports, Dallas
Red Adair fireman oil well fires, Houston
Rip Torn actor, director, Temple
Robert Dennard inventor, Terrell
Robert Rauschenberg painter, Port Arthur
Roger Miller singer, songwriter, Fort Worth
Roy Orbisonsinger, Vernon
Sandra Day O'Connor jurist, El Paso
Spanky McFarland actor, Fort Worth
Steven Fuller Austin founding father of Texas, Austinville,VA
Tabitha Soren TV journalist, San Antonio
Tex Ritter singer, Murval
Tommy Lee Jones actor, San Saba
Tommy Tune dancer, choreographer, Wichita Falls
Trini Lopez singer, Dallas
Wiley Post aviator, Grand Saline
Willie Nelson singer, Abbot