CenTex GuyHow big is Texas?
May 18th 2008 23:20
So just how big is Texas? It's somewhat a matter of perspective. While it is the 2nd largest of the 50 Unites States, it fails in comparison when compared to other states, territories or provinces of some other large countries. For example, Texas' 268,820 square miles is miniscule compared to Australia's Queensland (668,207 sq m) and
Western Australia (976,790 sq m) as well as five Canadian provinces, for example. But it still represents over 7 percent of the size of the United States. That also doesn't seem like a lot, but also consider that Alaska has over twice the area that Texas does, so those two state’s combine for almost 25 percent of the US area.
And there are over 150 countries smaller than Texas too.
In the lower 48 states, the scope of Texas is relatively big. There are over 5,900 towns and cities in 254 counties in the state, and most Texans consider the state divided into very distinct regions. The main ones are West Texas, the Panhandle, the Coastal Bend and the Hill Country. The distinctions are as much geographical as they are topographic. Spanning from dry arid regions with mountains to heavily wooded and hilly to tropical.
You could see most of the topographical changes in a drive from El Paso, Texas' western most city, to Orange, one of the Easternmost. That trip would be 856 miles. That's when you realize how big it is...from El Paso to the Pacific Ocean (San Diego Calif.) is only 725 miles, and from Orange to the Atlantic (Jacksonville, Fla.) is 762. So it takes longer to drive across Texas than it does to drive from Texas to the two oceans. And the North South trip...Brownsville, TX to the top of the Panhandle is an 871 mile drive. You can get to Texas to the Great Lakes in fewer miles. Between all of that you will run into a major metro area, as Texas boasts three of the Top 10 most populated cities in the nation.
So yeah, it's a matter of perspective as to how big Texas is, but in either case, it's a lot of miles.
Western Australia (976,790 sq m) as well as five Canadian provinces, for example. But it still represents over 7 percent of the size of the United States. That also doesn't seem like a lot, but also consider that Alaska has over twice the area that Texas does, so those two state’s combine for almost 25 percent of the US area.
In the lower 48 states, the scope of Texas is relatively big. There are over 5,900 towns and cities in 254 counties in the state, and most Texans consider the state divided into very distinct regions. The main ones are West Texas, the Panhandle, the Coastal Bend and the Hill Country. The distinctions are as much geographical as they are topographic. Spanning from dry arid regions with mountains to heavily wooded and hilly to tropical.
Big Bend National Park is one of the many features of West Texas
The tropical setting of South Padre Island and the Texas coast makes it a popular and romantic setting for weddings.
So yeah, it's a matter of perspective as to how big Texas is, but in either case, it's a lot of miles.
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