Good Friday afternoon friend...Welcome to weird and true facts...Back to the weird and true facts about the states in our Nation...This one is about the second-largest state in our country the great state of Texas... 1). There's one Texas ranch bigger than the entire state of Rhode Island. Yep, you read that right. The King Ranch in South Texas covers 1,289 square miles. Compare that to the size of the entire state of Rhode Island, which is 1,212 square miles. There's also a windmill farm about seven times the size of Manhattan. 2). One Texas town renamed itself to get free cable. The town of DISH in Denton County used to be called Clark. But one day in 2005, satellite television company Dish Network made Clark an offer it couldn't refuse. In exchange for renaming the town DISH, each of its 201 residents would receive free basic television service for ten years and a free digital video recorder. Could you blame them?! 3). It's illegal to milk someone else's cow in Texas. Texas is pretty quirky, and all it takes is a look at its legal code to see that. The state still has plenty of strange, antiquated laws that will raise your eyebrows. For instance, it's illegal to sell your eye, to dust a public building with a feather duster, to milk somebody else's cow, and to shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel. And you absolutely cannot let a camel run loose on the beaches of Galveston. On the other hand, it's legal for you to shoot and kill Bigfoot if you happen to see him out and about. 4). Texas once went ten years as an independent country. Here's a brief primer on Texas history: During the age of Manifest Destiny, wagonloads of American settlers came into Texas (which at the time was a part of Mexico) and eventually decided that they wanted their independence. The Texas Revolution lasted from October 2, 1835, to April 21, 1836, culminating in the formation of the Republic of Texas. The country lasted just 10 years (tough break) before it agreed to join the United States. It became the 28th state of the union on February 19, 1846. 5). The phrase "Don't mess with Texas" comes from an anti-litter campaign. This tough phrase has become iconic, but it was invented by an advertising agency in 1985 for the Texas Department of Transportation. (And everyone who lived in Texas during the '90s will remember the slogan from the classic commercials that would come on TV.) The Don't Mess With Texas campaign still works today to educate the public and prevent littering. 6). Texas is more than twice the size of Germany. Texas is bigger than you think it is. Clocking in at 268,497 square miles, Texas is larger than every country in Europe and could easily fit a handful of European countries within its borders. (In fact, if you strategically juxtaposed the shape of Texas over a map of Europe, you could cover the cities of Paris, Prague, Milan, Amsterdam, Brussels, Munich, and Florence.) Not to mention, one in every 12 Americans lives in Texas. When they say "everything's bigger in Texas," they're not kidding. 7). Texas has its own pledge of allegiance. If Texas is one thing, it's proud. Some Texans boast that the state is the only one that's allowed to fly its state flag at the same height as the American flag. (In fact, all states are technically allowed to do this, but most don't.) Students are also required by state law to recite both the American Pledge of Allegiance and the Texas Pledge every morning. Here's how that one goes: "Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible." 8). The U.S. has three power grids: One for the East, one for the West, and one for Texas. The continental U.S. is served by three separate power grids: The Eastern Interconnection, the Western Interconnection, and Texas. It all has to do with the state's commitment to avoiding federal regulations. According to the Texas Tribune, "In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Federal Power Act, which charged the Federal Power Commission with overseeing interstate electricity sales. By not crossing state lines, Texas utilities avoided being subjected to federal rules." 9). The word "Texas" means "friends." Texas (originally known as "Tejas") was named after the native people who lived here before the Spanish conquest. The name is a Hasinai word for "friends" or "allies." Today, the Texas state motto is simply, "Friendship." 10). The Texas State Capitol is 15 feet taller than the U.S. Capitol. Not that it's a contest, but the Texas State Capitol building is bigger than the capitol in Washington, D.C. They're 308 feet and 288 feet, respectively. Featuring a similar dome shape, the two capitol buildings also look oddly alike. The Texas capitol is made out of Texas Hill Country limestone and granite and features a marble statue on the top called the Goddess of Liberty. Sadly, it's only the second-tallest state capitol in the country. Number one is Louisiana, whose 450-foot capitol is also the seventh tallest building in the state. 11). The highest speed limit in the USA can be driven in Texas. Texas State Highway 130 is a toll road that circumvents the highly congested Interstate 35 between Austin and San Antonio, making it faster to get from Point A to B. But the 85-mph speed limit along 41 miles of the road makes it even faster. Have a great Friday and a blessed weekend...Take care and GOD bless...
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