Texas (/ˈtɛksəs/ ⓘ TEK-səss, locally also /ˈtɛksɪz/ TEK-siz;[8] Spanish: Texas or Tejas,[b] pronounced [ˈtexas]) is the most populous state in the South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the west, and an international border with the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas to the south and southwest. Texas has a coastline on the Gulf of Mexico to the southeast. Covering 268,596 square miles (695,660 km2), and with over 31 million residents as of 2024,[5] it is the second-largest state by both area and population. Texas is nicknamed the Lone Star State for its former status as an independent republic, the Republic of Texas.[10]
Stephen F. Austin
“Stephen Austin” redirects here. For other people, see Stephen Austin (disambiguation).
| Stephen F. Austin | |
|---|---|
| A posthumous portrait from 1840 | |
| 4th Secretary of State of Texas | |
| In office October 22, 1836 – December 27, 1836 | |
| President | Sam Houston |
| Preceded by | William Houston Jack |
| Succeeded by | James Pinckney Henderson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Stephen Fuller Austin November 3, 1793 Wythe County, Virginia, United States (present-day Austinville, Virginia) |
| Died | December 27, 1836 (aged 43) West Columbia, Brazoria County, Republic of Texas |
| Nationality | American, Spanish, Mexican, Texian |
| Relations | Richard Austin (colonist)Nannie Webb Curtis Mary Austin Holley (cousin) Henry Austin (Texas settler) (cousin) |
| Parent(s) | Moses Austin, Mary Brown Austin |
| Occupation | Politician, empresario |
| Known for | Being the “Father of Texas” |
Stephen Fuller Austin (November 3, 1793 – December 27, 1836) was an American-born empresario. Known as the “Father of Texas” and the founder of Anglo Texas,[1][2] he led the second and, ultimately, the successful colonization of the region by bringing 300 families and their slaves from the United States to the Tejas region of Mexico in 1825.
Born in Virginia and raised in southeastern Missouri, Austin served in the Missouri territorial legislature. He moved to Arkansas Territory and later to Louisiana. His father, Moses Austin, received an empresario grant from Spain to settle Texas. After Moses Austin died in 1821, Stephen Austin won recognition of the empresario grant from the newly independent nation of Mexico.
Blake Shelton
Blake Tollison Shelton (born June 18, 1976)[1] is an American country singer, songwriter and television personality. In 2001, he made his debut with the single “Austin” from his first album, Blake Shelton. “Austin” spent five weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The now Platinum-certified debut album also produced two more top 20 entries (“All Over Me” and “Ol’ Red”).[1]