A State of Multifaceted Diversity Texas is an incredibly diverse state; from its geography to its culture, and even its population. Texas has a very unique landscape, consisting of many different types of climates and topography. The state also has a very rich and multifarious culture that has many subgenres, reflecting the endorsement of self-expression and pride in oneself that is greatly valued in Texas. The myriad of different ethnic groups and cultures found in the people of Texas also play into its diversity. Texas’s diversity is reflected in its geography, culture, and population. Texas has many different kinds of landscapes encompassed inside its vast borders. In the expansive state, four main regions can be found: the Coastal Plains, …show more content…
In contrast to this, Houston is located in the Gulf Coastal Plain biome and was built upon very marshy and forested land. These two cities, however different they may be, are located in the same vast state, and the comparison between the two encapsulates the variety of landscapes and climates found there. Texas also boasts a highly diverse culture, characterized by numerous unique and unconventional subcultures, resulting in populous cities that are incredibly culturally diverse. One example of a city like this would be Austin. Austin is a city containing a myriad of quirky and eccentric subcultures including gothic, country and hipster. These subcultures can be found in the fashion, lifestyles, and popular music of Austinites. South Congress is a great display of these subcultures, with the eclectic mix of shops, restaurants, and music venues attracting diverse groups of both Austinites and tourists alike. The shops range from upscale places like Love Shack Fancy, to more laid back stores like South Congress Books. Texas culture is also greatly founded upon the strong sense of individuality and pride among the Texan
When we see Texas, we remember today mainly for its BBQ, Football and Black Gold, Texas tea. However, there is much more than just the usual itineraries that we find in most other states as well. Molly Ivins in her essay “Is Texas America” categorically states that, “Here's the deal on Texas. It's big. So big there's about five distinct and different places here, separated from one another geologically, topographically, botanically, ethnically, culturally and climatically” (Ivins). This is a true belief from Molly Ivins of how huge Texas was and how the demographics changed in each geographical location in Texas. The population of Texas and the demographics are two essential factors that include many important parameters in deciding the history of any state. The presence of many ethnic groups further adds to the diversification of
Molly Ivins was an author and political commentator, who has gained recognition for her ability to use satire and irony to discuss serious topics and messages. In Molly Ivins essay, “Is Texas America,” she ponders about unsuccessfully trying to “…explode the myths about Texas” during her journalist career (Ivins 782). Although Ivan discusses Texas as a massive and diverse state, and how the true Texas stereotype cannot be generalized and summed up into one area or type of Texan. However, throughout her article Ivins still continues to emphasize on a general stereotype of a white Republican male. Even though Ivins failed to deeply analyze the topics she discusses, such as homophobia, racism, and Texas identification, there are sources that do
Texas is the second largest state in the country and there are four different geographical regions: the Gulf coastal plain, the interior lowlands, Great Plains, and the basin and range province, Each region has contributed to the economic development of the state. The Texas
“Texas is 860 miles north to south and 773 miles east to west and contains 267,339 square miles with 624 miles of coastline.” (What are the Ecoregions of Texas, 1978) There are 10 different ecosystems which are Pineywoods, Gulf Prairies and Marshes, Post Oak Savanna, Blackland Prairies, Cross Timbers and Prairies, South Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Rolling Plains, High Plains, and Trans-Pecos.
Texas is a unique place with a colorful history of legendary cowboys and tall tales. The state stretches over the middle section of the southern United States. Texas has experienced shifts in governmental control within the United States. French, Spanish, Mexican, and Confederacy, and all having once been in charge, not to mention the time Texas spent as an independent republic. Texas has had many battles and wars within its borders, resulting in seven different constitutions within a span of fifty years between each document.
Texas is an intricate state with deep roots embedded in limited government authority. Almost all, Texans, favor the limited government between citizens and state. The two most important cultures in Texas are individualistic and traditionalistic culture. Individualistic views are summoned by limited government and that politics are the root of malicious acts, and is usually responded with negative reactions from the community. The individualistic cultures’ vision is egotistical for ones self-interest. The individualistic culture is viewed as priority in private independent business rather that those of the community as a whole. Unlike individualistic views, traditionalistic culture is motioned by conservatism. This cultures vision is supported by the common wealth of society’s privileged. Its beliefs are usually of distrust in its bureaucracy. Traditionalistic culture maintains an obligation to its family hierarchy. The traditionalistic subculture has a lower voting turn out rate compared to the opposition. These distinctive cultures were bestowed upon Texans in the 1800’s, when Texas was changing into a diverse and demographically society. Individualistic and traditionalistic cultures are the outline of ideology and certainty to the way Texas government is administrated. This has a huge impact on the way the Texas structures its government and why people support such a structure. And Texas is viewed as both subcultures.
Texas Pride Barbecue Texas is the home of the best barbecue in the whole world. Texas prides itself in succulent, great-tasting barbecue with that perfect bite that is incomparable to any other. The best thing about the Texas barbecue is that it is the pride of each and every Texan. It is a regular staple to every Sunday brunch, family get-together, drinking party or just that regular buddy chats within steel garage doors in Houston.
When the Bob Bullock Texas State History museum opened in March 2001, it advertised itself as “The Story of Texas.” It still calls itself the story of Texas in letters chiseled into the top of the building, on its Web site, on signs directing visitors to the museum, and even on the refrigerator magnets you can buy in the gift shop. When I first saw the slogan, I wondered how there could be “the” story of Texas, since Texas has been culturally diverse throughout its history as a part of Mexico that became a separate nation and later a state. Shortly Texas will have no one group as a majority. I grew up in the Rio Grande Valley, where the great majority of the population, like me, is Mexican American. How was this new museum going to present my story? I had to go and find out.
In the United States, for the last four decades, from Richard Nixon to Ronald Reagan through the two Bush Presidencies, the Republican Party won the White House by amassing large margins among white voters (Lizza.) The state of Texas has been reliably Republican since the 1970s and there are various elements to Texas political culture that can be narrowed down to three essential ideological trends: economic liberalism, or faith in the free market economy, social conservatism, or favoring traditional values and moralism, and populism, or promoting the rights and worthiness of ordinary people (Texas Political Culture.) As a result, the dominant political mood in Texas favors low taxes, minimal government services, and policies that are pro-business. This phenomenon is not static, however, since changing demographics in the state are causing changes in the profile of Texas in reference to electoral politics, among other major issues. This paper will explore different perspectives about the changing demographics of Texas, and where they might lead the state politically, and will present a variety of viewpoints regarding this complex subject.
The expansion of agriculture and railroads helped form Texas’s present economy. The invention of the steam engine not only allowed people to move across the country in 7 days, instead of 6 months, but it also allowed crops and livestock to be carried to markets and places where they would be sold anywhere in the country. They could be moved to another farm in Texas as well. Since it’s such a large state, railroads were a necessity for travel, and general transportation. The railroad-building boom lasted 40 years. The production of cotton in Texas introduced some of the first slave-based cotton farms, and was the dominant crop for a very long time. After this event, Texas’s economy was forever changed.
First and foremost, the ideas of average Texans are the cornerstone of the Lone Star State. Texas population is progressively evolving into a
Tannahill, Neal. "The People, Economy, and Political Culture of Texas." Texas Government: Policy and Politics. Pearson Education, Inc, 2013. 18-20. Print.
The Hispanic diversity of the United States has been well documented in immigration. and population numbers for many years. In 1994, there were 26.4 million Hispanics. Americans living in the Continental United States. In 2005 that number had ballooned to over 35 million.
Texas is unlike any other culture in the United States. Inside the state of Texas, many different forms of dialect, ways of life, and even land forms can be found. Texas in unique because it is both a culture and a co-culture. Both platforms are very important to overall life in Texas. Texas residents are also very ethnocentric. Texas as a whole is considered a culture because, most residents share certain traits and beliefs. For example, Texas is set apart from other states because of the strong pride that comes with being a resident, their unique dialect, and the love for football. As a co-culture, Texas is represented by differencing land forms
Texas has a rich and long history and much of it has passed through the state over the years to become a part of its folklore. This Texas folklore is part of many cultures within the state and has even filtered outside the state. The first cultural influence on Texas was from the Paleo-American Indians. When these Indians arrived they were in a bit of a culture shock when they met the Spanish in the 16th century. In the following centuries, more people began to arrive in Texas and they brought new ways of talking, believing and doing things. The Spanish and the Mexican set the patterns south of Nueces and along the Rio Grande. Anglos brought their ways of life from the British Isles to the South and Eastern part of Texas. African Americans who came to work on the plantations on the Brazos and Trinity bottoms brought songs, stories and beliefs that came with them from Africa. Germans came directly from the Old World to the Hill Country, Cajuns came from France and eventually through Louisiana and settled in Southeast Texas. The Dutch, Danes, Polish, Czechs, Norwegians who also came here brought with them their ways of life and they all became bound together to become part of Texas. By the year 2000, Texas was made up of 54.5% Anglos, 31% Hispanic, 11.4% African Americans and another 3.1% of other ethnicities.