Do you know the name of the mascot that watched guard over the Texas State Fair for decades, or how many championships the Cowboys have won? Are you a chili cookin' queen or a BBQ master? Remember who earned the nickname "The Father of Texas," or what happened to make the Alamo such a legend? If you think you know the answers to all of these questions, you might have what it takes to ace this quiz on all things Texas!
The Lone Star State is no shrinking violet, stretching 270,000 square miles across the south-central United States. It's the second-largest state in the U.S. by both population and land area and has one of the richest histories and cultures of any state.
Though native people called Texas home for thousands of years, the first Europeans to set foot on the land came from Spain in the early 1500s. The U.S. and Mexico fought for control of the land in the 1840s, resulting in Texas becoming the 28th state in 1845. The Compromise of 1850 gave it its current borders and ended Mexico's claim on the land for good.
Today, the state's shared borders with Mexico, New Mexico, Louisiana and other southern states give it a rich and diverse feeling all its own. It's the land of cowboy boots and pickups, Friday night football and massive cattle ranches. Yet the state is also home to major cities like Houston, Austin and Dallas -- lending a metropolitan flair to this laid-back southern state.
Think you've got the makings of a true Texan? Take our quiz to find out!
