one of the United States of North America, lying between N. Lat. 26. and 36.30'; W. Lon. 93.30' and 107.; bounded on the N. by New Mexico and the Indian territories; E. by Arkansas and Louisiana; S.E. by the Gulf of Mexico; S.W. and W. by Mexico and New Mexico. The Red River separates it from the Indian territories, the Sabine from Louisiana, and the Rio Grande from Mexico. Its form is exceedingly irregular; its length from S.E. to N.W. is upwards of 800 miles; breadth from E. to W. about 750; area, 237,321 square miles. This vast extent of country is very various in its character, containing almost all kinds of surface, mountains and table-lands, hills and valleys, fertile plains and undulating prairies. It may be divided into three parts—the level region along the coast, the undulating and hilly country in the centre of the state, and the mountainous region in the north-west. The first of these extends along the whole coast of the State; it is from 30 to 60 miles in breadth; and consists of a fertile region, watered by numerous rivers flowing from the north-west into the Gulf of Mexico. The rivers generally flow through alluvial tracts, varying from 3 to 20 miles in breadth, and in general densely wooded. Beyond this region lies the hilly and undulating country, which extends in a belt from 150 to 200 miles broad across the country from N.E. to S.W. This region consists of elevated undulating prairies and narrow valleys, watered by numerous streams, and in some places studded with clumps of trees. The tablelands and mountains in the N.W. of Texas have as yet hardly been explored at all, but they are said to rival the plateaus of Mexico in the fertility of their soil and the salubrity of their climate. The extreme north of Texas is even less known than these tablelands; it is partly occupied by the Great American Desert, which extends about 60 miles into this State. The chief mountain-chains in the country are the Colorado Hills, running from N. to S.E. of the River Colorado, and several other ranges between that river and the Rio Grande, probably branches of the great chain of the Rocky Mountains. None of these ranges are of any great height.

Most of the rivers of Texas flow through the country from N.W. to S.E., and fall into the Gulf of Mexico. The largest of these is the Rio Grande, which rises in New Mexico, and forms the boundary between Texas and Mexico. Its whole length is 1800 miles, for 400 of which it is navigable. Next to it, proceeding towards the N.E., is the Nueces, 300 miles long and navigable for 100; the San Antonio, 250 miles long; the Guadalupe, 275 miles in length; the Colorado, which is 550 miles long, and would be navigable for several hundred were it not obstructed by a raft 10 miles from its mouth; the Brazos, 500 miles long, and navigable for 150; the Trinity, 400 miles long, and navigable for 300; the Neches, 300 miles long; and the Sabine, which forms a boundary of Louisiana, and has a Texas.

total length of 350 miles, for 150 of which it is navigable. Besides these, Texas is watered by the Red River, an affluent of the Mississippi, which rises in the N.W. of the State, and flows eastwards, forming for a long distance its northern boundary. It is obstructed by a raft in the N.E. of Louisiana, which State it enters after leaving Texas; but it is navigable above that for about 500 miles. The rafts, as they are called, which interrupt the navigation of several of the rivers here, consist of immense masses of driftwood and trees, which, as they float down the river, have become fixed at some point, and choke up the channel sometimes for many miles. That on the Red River was cleared away at the expense of L62,500; but another has since been formed near the same place. The coast of Texas along the Gulf of Mexico is indented with many bays, lagoons, and excellent harbours. Indeed no other part of the coasts of this gulf possesses so many such facilities for navigation and commerce. Of these, the most important are Sabine Lake, at the mouth of the river of the same name in the east; Galveston Bay, the largest in the State; West Bay, Matagorda Bay, Espiritu Santo Bay, Corpus Christi Bay, and the Laguna del Madre. But Matagorda Bay and the Laguna del Madre are not so much bays as long sounds, extending between islands of these names and the mainland. There are also other islands, such as Galveston, St Joseph's, and Mustang Islands along the coast. There are no lakes of any size in the State.

The geological structure of Texas has been but imperfectly explored. It seems to be very various in different parts. The mountains belong to the igneous and metamorphic formations; but towards the east of this region there is a considerable tract of Lower Silurian strata. The centre and north of the country are chiefly occupied with carboniferous and chalky strata; and the region along the coast entirely with tertiary deposits. Minerals are very abundant, as might have been expected from the proximity of this country to the gold and silver regions of Mexico. On the San Saba, an affluent of the Colorado, there are silver mines, among the most productive in the world; and the same metal has also been discovered near the River Bidais, which falls into the Trinity. In 1853, considerable excitement was created by the reported discovery of gold west of the Colorado, but it has not been ascertained to exist here in any large quantities. Iron is obtained in several places; also lead, copper, coal, salt, alum, chalcedony, jasper, white and red sandstone, &c.; and there is said to be in the northwest of the State a vast bed of gypsum, stretching from the River Arkansas in the territory of Kansas to the Rio Grande. There are numerous mineral-springs; and some of them are highly esteemed for their medicinal qualities.

The climate of Texas is very fine. Though varying in temperature in different parts of the country, it is uniformly pleasant and healthy, and is free from the extremes both of heat and cold. The heat of summer is mitigated by the sea-breezes from the Gulf, and in the autumn and winter north winds sweep down upon the plains and drive away the exhalations from the low country, which might otherwise have a deleterious effect. The soil is very various, but in general it is remarkable for its fertility. Cotton and maize, which are the chief crops raised in Texas, grow well in almost every part of the country; of the latter, two crops are annually raised, and the cotton grown near the shores of the Gulf is reckoned equal to the best grown anywhere. Besides these crops, Texas produces wheat, rye, oats, buckwheat, rice, sugar, tobacco, indigo, flax, and hemp. The extent of cultivated land in 1850 was 639,107 acres; and the principal productions were 5,926,611 bushels of maize, 178,883 of oats, 41,689 of wheat, 179,332 of pulse, 1,416,718 of potatoes, 4,776 of barley; 87,916 lb. of rice, 66,897 of tobacco, 131,374 of wool, 23,038,400 of cotton, 2,326,556 of butter, 94,619 of cheese, 7,351,000 of cane-sugar, 380,532 of honey and wax; 8279 tons of hay; 441,638 gallons of molasses; and live stock valued at L2,138,900. The grape, the mulberry, and the vanilla are indigenous to Texas, and very abundant. Cayenne pepper is also grown in large quantities. The fruits and flowers of the country are exceedingly many and various, and of great beauty. The forests are extensive, especially in the east and along the rivers' banks. There is also a wooded region, extending from the sources of the Trinity northwards across the Red River, called the Cross Timbers, about 200 miles in length and from 5 to 10 in breadth. Oak, cedar, pine, ash, walnut, hickory, cypress, elm, and sycamore are among the forest-trees. Wild animals abound in the prairies and wilds of the north-west, especially the buffalo, the mustang or wild-horse, deer, wolves, foxes, bears, racoons, &c. Eagles, vultures, hawks, owls, and many smaller kinds of wild fowl are also abundant. Of domestic animals, Texas contained in 1850, 75,419 horses; 12,364 asses and mules; 901,545 horned cattle; 99,093 sheep; and 683,914 swine.

There are as yet few manufactures in Texas, since, on account of its rich soil and genial climate, the country affords much greater inducements to agriculture. Besides two furnaces employing 35 hands, and producing L11,460 worth of pig-iron, cast-iron, &c., there was in 1850 a woollen factory employing 8 hands and producing L33,000 worth of cloth and yarn. The total number of factories producing goods upwards of L100 in value was 307, and the value of home-made manufactures was estimated at L55,316. As the country has been but recently settled, the means of internal communication have not yet been brought into a very perfect condition. There are, however, roads throughout a large portion of the State; and in January 1859, there were 129 miles of railway completed. The commerce of the country is very considerable. Most of the articles for exportation are conveyed in coasting vessels to New Orleans or New York, and shipped from these ports to foreign countries. In the year ending June 30, 1858, there were 7 vessels built in the State, with a tonnage of 324. In the same year the total value of the exports of the State was L505,927; and that of the imports, L23,559.

Education is provided for by schools and academies. Of the former there were in 1850, 356, and of the latter 82. In 1856 the total number of scholars between the ages of 6 and 18 was 72,826. There is a school fund amounting to L456,600; besides 2,054,592 acres of land which have been reserved for the same purpose. For founding a university, 221,400 acres have been set apart. The public institutions comprise a State penitentiary, a lunatic asylum, and hospitals for the deaf and dumb, the blind, and orphans. The number of places of worship in Texas in 1850 was 164, with 54,495 sittings; of the former, 88 belonged to the Methodists, 30 to the Baptists, 15 to the Presbyterians, and 13 to the Roman Catholics. There is on an average 1 church to every 1296 inhabitants.

The executive power in Texas is in the hands of a governor and lieutenant-governor, elected by the people for a period of two years. The legislative body consists of a senate of 21, and a house of representatives of 75 members, elected by the people, the former for four and the latter for two years. The judicial establishment consists of a supreme court of 3 judges, and 19 district courts. All the judges are elected for six years. Slavery is established in the State, and no law can be passed for emancipation without the owners' consent. The public receipts for the year ending October 31, 1857, amounted to L321,808; the expenditure for the same year to L65,556. There is no State debt. The capital of the State is Austin, on the Colorado.

Texas was first settled by the French at Matagorda; but these colonists were soon expelled by the Spaniards, who in 1690 conquered the whole country from the Indians, who had previously possessed it. When the Mexicans threw off the yoke of the mother country, Texas formed one of the provinces of the new republic, and many settlers from the United States established themselves in the east of the country. In 1836, Texas declared itself independent of Mexico, and this led to a war in which, after several skirmishes with varying fortune, the defeat of the Mexican forces at San Jacinto secured the independence of Texas. For ten years Texas continued to exist as a separate republic; and in 1846 was admitted as a State into the North American Union. A dispute about the boundary led to a war between the United States and Mexico, in which the successes of the former obtained from Mexico not only the disputed portion of Texas, but the whole of New Mexico and Upper California. Pop. (1850) 212,692; of whom 58,161 were slaves.