Transcript State Symbols_most current

State Symbols
By Kristi Fleming
Murchison Middle School
Fall 2007
Important Basic Facts About
Texas
• 254 Counties in Texas
• 2nd Largest State (Alaska is bigger)
• Texas was once an independent nation and the only state
that was admitted to the Union by treaty. The Republic of
Texas lasted from 1836-1845.
• We won our independence from Mexico at the Battle of San
Jacinto in 1836.
• Texas was the 28th state admitted to the Union of the
United States in 1845.
• The name Texas is derived from the Caddo Indian word
Tejas meaning “friend”, “friendly” or “allies.”
• The state motto is “Friendship”
Spain
France
1519-1685
1685-1690
1690-1821
Mexico
Confederacy
1821-1836
1861-1865
Republic
of Texas
United
States
1836-1845
1845-1861
1865-present
Although six flags have flown over Texas, there have been eight changes of government:
Spanish 1519-1685 Republic of Texas 1836-1845
French 1685-1690 United States 1845-1861
Spanish 1690-1821 Confederate States 1861-1865
Mexican 1821-1836
United States 1865-present
The Texas State Seal
Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1839
The front of the Texas State Seal shows a live
oak branch (to represent strength) and an olive
branch (to represent peace) tied together with a
ribbon. In the center is a 5-poined star that is
either white or gold. By law, the seal is required
to authenticate official documents of the state.
The reverse of the seal was designed and
adopted in 1991. The shield in the center shows
the cannon of Gonzales on the bottom left,
Vince’s Bridge on the bottom right and the
Alamo at the top. The shield is surrounded by
the unfurled Six Flags of Texas. The mottos
“REMEMBER THE ALAMO” and “TEXAS
ONE AND INDIVISIBLE” are emblazoned
above and below the shield, respectively. The
shield is also surrounded by a live oak branch
and an olive branch and topped off with a white
5-pointed star.
State Flower:
Bluebonnet (Lupinus Texensis)
Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1901
Also sometimes called
the Buffalo Clover,
Wolf Flower and el
conjeo (the rabbit).
Texas Bluebonnet
Tartan
"The bluebonnet
is to Texas what
the shamrock is to
Ireland, the
cherry blossom to
Japan, the lily to
France, the rose to
England and the
tulip to Holland."
-Historian Jack
Maguire
State Tree:
Pecan Tree
Carya illinoinensis
Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1919
The mature pecan tree is usually 70 to 100 feet
tall, but can grow as tall as 150 feet and higher.
The native pecan trees shown are estimated
to be over 150 years old. Their trunks are more
than three feet in diameter.
Texas is the largest producer of native
pecans, and is second only to Georgia
in the production of hybrid (orchard
grown) varieties. The pecan became
the Texas state tree by act of the
Texas Legislature in 1919. Governor
James Hogg favored the tree so much
that he requested that one be planted
at his gravesite.
State Bird:
Mockingbird (mimus polyglottos)
Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1927
The Mockingbird has a variety of
calls. It mimics many other birds'
calls, and can sing for hours. Its
scientific name, Mimus polyglottos,
means "Mimic of many tongues.”
The Mockingbird is also
VERY protective of it’s
territory. You may often find
it attacking dogs and cats who
get too close to it’s protected
nesting area.
The Official
Mammals of Texas
State Flying Mammal:
Mexican free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis)
Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1995
Mexican free-tailed bats are found throughout Mexico and most of the
western and southern U.S. The largest colony is found at Bracken Cave,
north of San Antonio, Texas, with nearly 20 million bats.
The largest urban bat colony in North America is found under the
Congress Street Bridge in Austin. Anywhere from 750,000 to 1.5 million
bats live under the bridge. The peak season for watching the bats is
August.
State Large Mammal:
Texas Longhorn
Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1969
First driven to Texas by the Spaniards in 1690 to
be used in the missions.
State Small Mammal:
Armadillo
Dasypus novemcinctus
Adopted by the Texas
Legislature in 1995
State Grass:
Sideoats Grama
Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1971
State Fiber &
Fabric:
Cotton
Adopted by the
Texas Legislature
in 1997
State Plant:
Prickly Pear Cactus
Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1995
State Shrub:
Crape Myrtle
Adopted by the
Texas
Legislature in
1997
State Dish:
Chili
State Gem:
Texas Blue Topaz
Adopted by the
Texas Legislature
in 1977
State Seashell:
Lightning
Whelk
Adopted by the
Texas Legislature in
1969
The Texas Blue Topaz is
found only in Texas in the
Llano uplift area, especially
west to northwest of Mason.
Adopted by the
Texas Legislature
in 1987
The Lightening Whelk is one of
the few left opening shells. It is
only found on the Gulf Coast.
State Fish:
Guadalupe Bass (Micropterus treculi)
Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1989
Guadalupe bass are found only in
Texas. Guadalupe bass are typically
inhabit flowing water, including the
headwaters of the San Antonio River,
the Guadalupe River, the Colorado
River, and portions of the Brazos
River.
State Reptile:
Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum)
Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1993
The Texas horned lizard was one
of the first animals to be listed as a
threatened species in Texas (1977).
The invasion of Texas by the fire
ant and the consequent extensive
use of insecticides in an attempt to
control them, has at the same time
reduced the population of harvester
ants, greatly diminishing the food
supply for the horned lizard.
Adopted by
the Texas
Legislature in
1995
State Insect:
Monarch Butterfly (Danaus
plexippus)
State Fruit:
Texas Red Grapefruit
Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1997
The first reported planting of a grapefruit grove in
Texas was 1893. Dr. Richard Hensz of the Texas A&M
Citrus Center spent many years in the laboratory,
working to produce the reddest grapefruit. To
differentiate the Texas sweet, red grapefruit - a
superior tasting grapefruit - from those other
grapefruit, the industry now markets its fruit under
two registered trademarked categories: Ruby-Sweet
and Rio Star.
State Pepper:
Jalapeño
Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1995
State Vegetable:
Texas Sweet Onion
Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1997
The onion was considered as valuable as gold in
the Middle Ages and has long been a symbol of
eternity due to their structural composition of
layers within layers forming a sphere. The onion
has amazingly been the focus of some mighty
strange legislation over the years. For example, in
Nacogdoches, Texas, it's against the law for
"young women" to indulge in any raw onions
after 6 pm.
State Ship:
Battleship
Texas
Adopted by the
Texas Legislature
in 1995
State
Folk
Dance:
Square
Dance
Adopted by the Texas Legislature
in 1991
State
Musical
Instrume
nt:
Guitar
Adopted by the
Texas Legislature
in 1997
State
Sport:
Rodeo
Adopted by the
Texas Legislature
in 1991
State Dinosaur:
Brachiosaur Sauropod, Pleurocoelus
Adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1997
Like everything in Texas, this dinosaur was big.
Pleurocoelus was anywhere from 30 to 60 feet long and
weighed 20 - 45 tons, and was built something like a large
reptilian giraffe. Its bones are found in the Glen Rose
Limestone of the central part of the state, along with tracks
given the name . Many scientists believe that Brontopodus
tracks are the footprints of Pleurocoelus individuals.