There are so many neat things about our state, from our rich history to the incredible diversity in our landscape, from the undeniable charm of our people and towns to everything truly being “bigger in Texas.” Things like this are obvious and very well known by most residents of the Lone Star State. However, there are some slightly more obscure facts that aren’t as widely accepted as fact. But I assure you, they’re 100% true and today, you get to gain a little bit more knowledge about the place you call home! Here are 13 secrets or fun facts about Texas that you probably don’t know right now and won’t until you’re done reading this.

  1. We could subdivide into 5 states if we so desired.

bigthink.com Yep. It’s written in our state constitution. Are five Texases better than one?

  1. Ballpark nachos were invented here.

Flickr/navin75 They were first served at Arlington Stadium. We just have a thing for liquefying cheese and smothering it on everything, I guess.

  1. This familiar guy’s catchphrase, “What’s up, Doc?” can be traced back to his animator’s high school in North Dallas.

Flickr/beleaveme Apparently, it was Tex Avery’s signature thing to say to all his friends back in the 1920s.

  1. Terlingua is the chili capital of the WORLD!

Facebook/CASI We really do have the best chili…and Tex-Mex…and barbecue…okay, you get the idea. Anyway, Terlingua is home to two of the most famed chili cook-offs: The Terlingua International Championship and the Frank X. Tolbert-Wick Fowler World Chili Championship.

  1. The Astrodome was the first domed multi-purpose sports stadium on earth.

Flickr/polymerchemist It shares the title of “Eighth Wonder of the World” with the Taj Mahal and Empire State Building. That makes me feel pretty special to be a Texan.

  1. El Paso is closer to California than Beaumont.

Google Maps

Google Maps

  1. The original Six Flags park in Arlington was named Six Flags Over Texas because our state has flown the flag of six nations throughout our history.

Flickr/wallaceperspective The flags of Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America, and the United States of America have all graced our skies at one point.

  1. Dr Pepper was invented by a druggist in Waco.

Flickr/cyclonebill Does that explain something, Texans? I’m not pointing any fingers - I’m just as hopelessly addicted as you are.

  1. We have more farmland than any other state - 130,500 acres, to be exact.

Flickr/biggreymare

  1. King Ranch is one of the largest in the world - larger than the entire state of Rhode Island, actually, with its 825,000 acres of land.

Flickr/mccormacka

  1. Tyler has the nation’s largest rose garden at 14 acres.

Flickr/amyashcraft I think my nose would be exhausted after walking through all of that.

  1. Caddo Lake, in East Texas, is the second largest natural lake in the Southern U.S. and the only large one in Texas.

Flickr/dustinaskins

  1. We have the second largest oil reserve in the entire world, located in West Texas.

Flickr/Robert Nunnally This reserve combined with others in the state could free America from foreign oil dependence sooner than we think. How awesome are we, again?

Are you ready to impress your friends in a game of Texas trivia?! Did you know any of these facts before reading this? What other cool secrets do you know about our state? Share with us in the comments!

bigthink.com

Yep. It’s written in our state constitution. Are five Texases better than one?

Flickr/navin75

They were first served at Arlington Stadium. We just have a thing for liquefying cheese and smothering it on everything, I guess.

Flickr/beleaveme

Apparently, it was Tex Avery’s signature thing to say to all his friends back in the 1920s.

Facebook/CASI

We really do have the best chili…and Tex-Mex…and barbecue…okay, you get the idea. Anyway, Terlingua is home to two of the most famed chili cook-offs: The Terlingua International Championship and the Frank X. Tolbert-Wick Fowler World Chili Championship.

Flickr/polymerchemist

It shares the title of “Eighth Wonder of the World” with the Taj Mahal and Empire State Building. That makes me feel pretty special to be a Texan.

Google Maps

Flickr/wallaceperspective

The flags of Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America, and the United States of America have all graced our skies at one point.

Flickr/cyclonebill

Does that explain something, Texans? I’m not pointing any fingers - I’m just as hopelessly addicted as you are.

Flickr/biggreymare

Flickr/mccormacka

Flickr/amyashcraft

I think my nose would be exhausted after walking through all of that.

Flickr/dustinaskins

Flickr/Robert Nunnally

This reserve combined with others in the state could free America from foreign oil dependence sooner than we think. How awesome are we, again?

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