Things You Might Not Know About the Lone Star State
When it comes to state pride, Texas is truly #1. But just because someone is a proud Texan doesn't necessarily mean they know everything about the Lone Star State. We probably all know what the state flower is, but do you know what the official state cooking implement is? How about the official state snack or flying mammal? How about some weird laws that are easier to not enforce than to eliminate from the state constitution? Do you know what languages other than English are most common in Texas?
Official State Symbols (Year of Resolution)
- Air Force = Commemorative Air Force (1989)
- Amphibian = Texas Toad (2009)
- Aquarium = Texas State Aquarium (1985)
- Bird = Mockingbird (1927)
- Bluebonnet City = Ennis (1997)
- Bluebonnet Festival = Chappell Hill Bluebonnet Festival (1997)
- Bluebonnet Trail = Ennis (1997)
- Bread = Pan De Campo (2005)
- Cobbler = Peach Cobbler (2013)
- Cooking Implement = Cast Iron Dutch Oven (2005)
- Dinosaur = Paluxysaurus Jonesi (2009)
- Dish = Chili (1977)
- Dog Breed = Blue Lacy (2005)
- Domino Game = 42 (2011)
- Epic Poem = Legend of Old Stone Ranch (1969)
- Flower Song = 'Bluebonnets' (1933)
- Footware = Cowboy Boot (2007)
- Fruit = Texas Red Grapefruit (1993)
- Gem = Texas Blue Topaz (1969)
- Gemstone Cut = Lone Star Cut (1977)
- Grass = Sideoats Grama (1971)
- Horse = American Quarter Horse (2009)
- Mammal, Flying = Mexican Free-Tailed Bat (1995)
- Mammal, Large = Longhorn (1995)
- Mammal, Small = Armadillo (1995)
- Motto = "Friendship" (1930)
- Musical Instrument = Guitar (1997)
- Pastries = Sopaipilla and Strudel (2003)
- Pie = Pecan Pie (2013)
- Railroad = Texas State Railroad (2003)
- Reptile = Texas Horned Lizard (1993)
- Sea Turtle = Kemps Ridley Sea Turtle (2013)
- Snack = Tortilla Chips and Salsa (2003)
- Song = "Texas, Our Texas" (1929)
- Sport = Rodeo (1997)
- Tree = Pecan (1919)
- Veggie = Sweet Onion (1997)
- Vehicle = Chuck Wagon (2005)
- 10K = Texas Round-Up 10K (2005)
Top Spoken Non-English Languages (According to 2010 Census)
- Spanish - 29.21%
- Vietnamese - 0.75%
- Chinese/Mandarin/Cantonese - 0.56%
- German - 0.33%
- Tagalog - 0.29%
- French - 0.25%
- Korean & Urdu (tie) - 0.24%
- Hindi - 0.23%
- Arabic - 0.21%
- Ibo, Kru, Yoruba - 0.15%
Texas Religious Rankings (According to 2010 Census)
- Texas is FIRST in Evangelical Protestants, people who belong to non-denominational Evangelical Protestant churches, and Muslims.
- SECOND in Mainline Protestants and Hindus.
- THIRD in Buddhists and Catholics.
- FIFTH in Mormons.
- It is illegal to shoot a buffalo from the second floor of a hotel.
- Criminals must give their victims 24 hours notice orally or in writing to explain the nature of the crime to be committed.
- The Encyclopedia Britannica was illegal in Texas due to giving a formula to create beer.
- It is illegal to carry wire cutters in your pocket in Austin.
- It is illegal to dust any public building with a feather duster in Clarendon.
- No test of faith with be required, but one must recognize the existence of a Supreme Being to hold public office.
- It is illegal to possess more than six "adult phallic-shaped toys".
- The director of Parks and Recreation of Galveston must give someone permission in writing to get drunk in a park.
- In Lubbock County it is illegal to drive within arm's length of alcohol, even alcohol already consumed by someone else.
- In Texarkana, horse owners can only ride their horses at night with tail lights.
- In 2001, a grant program was created for modifying and controlling the weather.