Chapter 2: Regions of Texas48 CHAPTER 2 Regions of Texas Mammoths and giant armadillos roam plains...

Why It MattersThe regions of Texas have different natural resources. These differences are

one reason why Texas has many economic activities. The large and variedpopulation of Texas depends upon the diversity of its regions.

The Impact TodayGeographic factors continue to influence where Texans live today. For example:

• The majority of Texans live in the eastern regions where there is abundant rainfalland large cities with job opportunities.

• The boundary area with Mexico is one of the fastest growing parts of Texas.• Cities such as Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston are located along important

transportation routes.

46 CHAPTER 2 Regions of Texas

c. 140 million B.C.★ Big Bend and Edwards Plateau

created from limestone

c. 140 million B.C. c. 65 million B.C. c. 54 million B.C.

c. 65 million B.C.• Great Plains formed

c. 54 million B.C.• First horses appeared

c. 65 million B.C.★ Earthquakes and

volcanoes formedCoastal Plains

Regionsof Texas

47CHAPTER 2 Regions of Texas

A field of bluebonnets dots the Texas landscape.

TEXASHISTORY

Chapter OverviewVisit the texans.glencoe.comWeb site and click onChapter 2—ChapterOverviews to preview chapterinformation.

MountainsandBasins

GreatPlains

North-

Central Plains

Coastal

Plains

Step 1 Mark the midpoint of a side edge of onesheet of paper. Then fold the outside edges in totouch the midpoint.

Categorizing Information Study FoldableMake and use this foldable to organize what youlearn about the four natural regions of Texas.

Reading and Writing As you read the chapter,write information under each tab of your foldableabout the geographic features, population,economy, natural resources, and people of eachregion of Texas. Use what you learn to compareand contrast the regions.

Step 2 Fold in half from side to side.

Step 3 Open and cut along the inside fold linesto form four tabs. Label your foldable as shown.

Cut alongthe fold lineson both sides.

c. 2 million B.C. c. 9,500 B.C.

c. 2 million B.C.★ Ice Age advance

affected Texas climates

c. 9,500 B.C.★ Ancient people

reached Texas

c. 1.5 million B.C.• Grand Canyon forms

c. 1.5 million B.C.

http://www.glencoe.com/sec/socialstudies/ushistory/tx2003/content.php4/652/1


Mammoths and giant armadillosroam plains and woodlands

The CoastalPlains

Guide to ReadingMain IdeaThe Coastal Plains region contains fivediverse geographic sections, allaffected by their nearness to the Gulfof Mexico.

Key Termspetrochemical alluvial soil

Reading StrategyOrganizing Information Complete a table like the one shown here asyou read.

Read to Learn• about the Coastal Plains sections.• about differences in each geographic

subsection within a natural region.• about the movement of resources.

Section ThemeEconomic Factors The Coastal Plainsinclude the state’s major cities wheremanufacturing, trade, and educationare centered.

Coastal Plains region takes shape

Preview of Events

Texas can be divided into four natural regions. They are the CoastalPlains, the North Central Plains, the Great Plains, and the Mountains andBasins. George S. Perry, a Rockdale writer, traveled the entire state in 1942and collected humorous tales from the different regions. He found that Texasseemed too big for a single description. “Yes, it’s that big—too big, actually,to visualize in one hunk. It’s better to think of it, for the moment, as a groupof federated realms.”

The Most Populated RegionThe largest natural region in Texas is the Coastal Plains. This region

extends from the eastern and southern United States through Texas andcontinues south far into Mexico. As its name implies, this region lies along

Geographic Principal Major UrbanSection Landforms Centers

George S. Perry

✦c. 35 million years B.C.✦c. 65 million B.C.

the coast—the area where the land meets thewater. The Coastal Plains vary from being com-pletely flat to having rolling hills. The heightabove sea level is generally low—from a few feetto about 1,000 feet (305 m).

The Coastal Plains are home to more Texansthan any other natural region. About two out ofthree Texans live and work here. The nearbyGulf of Mexico provides the region with a mildclimate. Winds blowing across the Gulf pick upmoisture and drop it on the land. A plentifulwater supply, coupled with its flat land, makethe Coastal Plains ideal for farming and ranch-ing. It is easier to build cities on this level sur-face, too. Major cities in the Coastal Plainsinclude Dallas, Austin, Pasadena, San Antonio,

Houston, Corpus Christi, Galveston, Victoria,Brownsville, and Laredo. These cities are centersof manufacturing, trade, and services such asbanking, tourism, trade, and education.

The Coastal Plains have many rich naturalresources. The pine forests of East Texas producelarge amounts of lumber and other wood prod-ucts. Other parts of the Coastal Plains have richsoil for growing cotton, rice, vegetables, andgrains. Grasses in the drier areas feed most ofthe cattle raised in Texas.

Great oil fields are also found in this region. Thefirst large oil discovery, the Spindletop Field, wasdiscovered near Beaumont in 1901. The greatest oilfield ever discovered in Texas, the East Texas Oil Field, was found near Henderson in 1930.

104°W 96°W100°W

34°N

30°N

26°N

200

2000 mi.

0 km

Albers Equal-Areaprojection

N

S

EW

Gulf of Mexico

Houston

DallasFort Worth

Austin Bastrop

CorpusChristi

Amarillo

WichitaFallsLubbock

Midland

FortDavis

San Angelo

Mercury

El Paso

Laredo

VictoriaGalveston

Brownsville

San Antonio

Beaumont

Pasadena

NEWMEXICO

ARIZONA

COLORADO

OKLAHOMA

TEXAS

KANSASMISSOURI

ARK.

LA.

CHIHUAHUA

COAHUILA

DURANGO

ZACATECASTAMAULIPAS

NUEVOLEON

108°W

M E X I C OThere is no place in Texas below sea level. The coastal counties have the lowest elevations.

Fort Davis, at 5,050 feet(1,539 m), is the highesttown of any size in Texas.

The geographic center of the state is in the northern part of McCulloch County, about 9 miles (14.5 km) southwest of Mercury.

Natural Regions of Texas

Mountains and Basins

Great Plains

North Central Plains

Coastal Plains

The Coastal Plains, the NorthCentral Plains, the Great Plains,and the Mountains and Basinsregions of North America extendinto Texas.Identifying Regions For eachnatural region in Texas, name anearby state that most likelyshares physical characteristics ofthat region.

Later discoveries close to Kilgore and Longviewproved to be part of the same field. Historically,this field made Texas the leading producer of oilin the United States. Processing oil and oil prod-ucts is a major industry in the region, especiallyalong the coast. Related industries, such as ship-ping and warehousing, have also developed.

The level land of the plain allows freemovement of goods and people. The state’s sea-ports are connected by roads, railroads, andpipelines to the rest of the state and the nation.Goods from the other natural regions in Texasfunnel into the seaports such as Houston,Galveston, and Corpus Christi for shipment tothe rest of the world. Likewise, goods arrivingfrom other nations enter Texas for furtherdistribution. The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, a

protected shipping channel, extends along thecoast from Brownsville to Apalachee Bay,Florida. This important waterway links Texas tothe southeastern United States and the world.

Three of the natural regions of Texas aredivided into geographic subsections that havedifferent types of vegetation. The Coastal Plainsregion has five different geographic subsections.These are the Piney Woods, the Gulf Coast Plain,the Post Oak Belt, the Blackland Prairie, and theSouth Texas Plain. All five sections lie on theplain near the Gulf of Mexico. There are manydifferences in the vegetation, wildlife, and othernatural resources of each section.

Explaining What features of theCoastal Plains make it a popular region?

N

S

EW

100

1000 mi.

0 kmAlbers Equal-Area projection

100°W 98°W 96°W 94°W34°N

32°N

30°N

28°N

102°W

26°N

Gulf of Mexico

MEXICO

T E X A S

OKLAHOMANEW MEXICO ARKANSAS

LA.

TexarkanaSherman

DallasLongview

Tyler

NacogdochesWaco

Temple

Austin

San Marcos

New Braunfels

San Antonio

LaredoKingsville

CorpusChristi

Edinburg

McAllen

Brownsville

Harlingen

Victoria

Bastrop

Galveston

Houston

Conroe

College Station

Beaumont

Port Arthur

Bryan Huntsville

Orange

Pasadena


Geographic Sections of the Coastal Plains Region

Gulf Coast Plain

South Texas Plain

Piney Woods

Post Oak Belt

Blackland Prairie

Area outsideCoastal Plains

The Coastal Plains region isdivided into five geographicsections, each with its own landforms, soil, climate, and vegetation.Locating Regions Which geographic sections of theCoastal Plains are located on the Gulf of Mexico?

The Piney WoodsThe Piney Woods area gets its name from the

pine trees that cover much of the land. (See themap on page 50.) Four national forests can befound in this part of Texas—Angelina, Sabine,Sam Houston, and Davy Crockett. The southeast-ern part of the Piney Woods is made up of the BigThicket National Preserve, an area with densegrowths of pines, other trees, and shrubs. Muchof the Big Thicket, however, is swamp.

Economic growth in the Piney Woods regionoccurred thanks to the presence of two vital nat-ural resources—wood and oil. Lumbering is aparticularly important economic activity in thispart of Texas, and lumber-related businesses arethe most important industries here. Much popu-lation growth occurred in the 1930s as a result ofan enormous oil field discovered in Gregg,Rusk, and Smith Counties.

Farming is an important economic activity. Thelong growing season in the Piney Woods allows avariety of fruits and vegetables to be grown. Alsolocated here are several major garden industries,such as growing roses and bedding plants. ThePiney Woods area has been settled for hundredsof years. Native Americans, Spaniards, AfricanAmericans, and Anglo Americans all wereattracted to this rich area. Texarkana, a manufac-turing and medical center, straddles theTexas–Arkansas boundary. Longview is anindustrial, recreational, and convention center.Nacogdoches (NA•kuh•DOH•chuhz) is the homeof Stephen F. Austin State University, whileHuntsville is the home of Sam Houston StateUniversity and the headquarters of the TexasDepartment of Criminal Justice (the state prisonsystem). Conroe has many residents who commuteto Houston and its suburbs. Many of the northernsuburbs of Houston are in the Piney Woods.

The Gulf Coast PlainHeavy stands of grasses grow in many parts of

the Gulf Coast Plain. This grass provides excel-lent feed for cattle. Cattle raising is the mostimportant agricultural activity in this part ofTexas. There are more cattle per square mile herethan in any other geographic region in the state.

The Gulf Coast Plain benefits from a longgrowing season that allows farmers to growmany kinds of crops, including rice, cotton, andgrain sorghum (for livestock feed). Rice is animportant crop in this geographic region. (Texasrice is sold to more than 100 countries aroundthe world.) Wharton County produces more ricethan any other county.

Some parts of the Gulf Coast Plain are heavilyindustrialized. Many of the industries turn oil ornatural gas into products such as gasoline, plas-tics, fertilizer, antifreeze, and synthetic rubber.Petrochemical industries—businesses related tooil and gas products—stretch in a line fromCorpus Christi through Houston and Beaumont,ending near Port Arthur and Orange on theLouisiana border. Some petroleum fields arefound off the Texas coast in the Gulf of Mexico.

Two large cities—Houston and CorpusChristi—were built in the Gulf Coast Plain.Houston, in Harris County, is Texas’s largest city.It is home to nearly 2 million people.

Houston supports a wide variety of businessesand services. The Johnson Space Center, whichtrains America’s astro-nauts, has spurred the -development of manyscientific industries.Houston’s largest eco-nomic role, however, isas the center of thestate’s petrochemicalindustry.

Houston is the second-busiest seaport in theUnited States and is a

At the same time Spindletop Field was beingdeveloped, Henry Ford founded the FordMotor Company (1903). The oil from Texasmeant that there would be enough fuel forhundreds of thousands of automobiles. Oil from Texas made it possible to put “America on wheels.”


TEXASHISTORY

Student WebActivity Visit thetexans.glencoe.com Website and click onChapter 2—StudentWeb Activity to learnmore about the JohnsonSpace Center in Houston.

http://www.glencoe.com/qe/qe31.php?&st=652&pt=2&bk=20

major center for international shipping. Shipsfrom around the world arrive from the Gulf ofMexico through an artificial waterway called theHouston Ship Channel. Many foreign banksand financial institutions have offices inHouston. The city has one of the finest medicalresearch complexes in the United States.Suburban Houston has attracted a large com-puter manufacturing industry.

A large petrochemical industry also thrives inCorpus Christi, another major port on the Gulf ofMexico. An important center for fishing andshrimping, Corpus Christi is a home port city forthe United States Navy. Tourists come to the cityin large numbers, and many of them visit theTexas State Aquarium and the World War II air-craft carrier Lexington.

Other cities in the Gulf Coast Plain includeBeaumont, an important site for petroleum refin-ing. Located southeast of Houston, Galveston isa popular spot for tourism, fishing, and ship-ping. Victoria, southwest of Houston, is a hub foragricultural and petrochemical production.

Identifying List four importanteconomic activities in the Gulf Coastal Plain.

The Post Oak BeltAs its name suggests, the Post Oak Belt con-

tains many oak trees. Intermixed with these areother hardwood trees, such as hickories. Runningthrough the Bastrop area is an extensive, isolatedband of pine trees. Because this pine covered ter-rain does not connect to the Piney Woods, thisarea is sometimes called the Lost Pines.

Many crops grow well in the Post OakBelt, including corn, grains, cotton, peanuts,pecans, hay, watermelons, peaches, and Christmastrees. Livestock graze and fatten in the area, too.

Although this section contains no large cities,education and light industry have thrived. TheBryan and College Station area—with a combinedpopulation of approximately 150,000 people—isthe home of Texas A&M University. It is also animportant center for medicine, agriculture, andservice industries. Tyler, the largest city in the PostOak Belt, produces thousands of rosebushes andcalls itself the “Rose Capital of the World.”


This oil tanker is moored in a loading bay of an oil refineryin Houston, Texas. How is it possible for ships to reachHouston from the Gulf of Mexico?

Exploring Geography

Houston★Houston★

The Blackland PrairieThis region includes more of the state’s larger

cities and towns than does any other geographicsection. It has excellent transportation systemsand a large work force. Much of Texas’s manu-facturing takes place here.

Nowhere in this section is the growing seasonless than seven and one-half months, and earlysettlers found the soil fertile. As a result, thisarea is one of the most important agriculturalregions in the state. Cotton, once dominant,remains an important crop here.

Dallas, the largest city in the Blackland Prairie,is the second largest city in Texas. An importanttransportation, commercial, and financial center,it serves as headquarters for more national insur-ance companies than any other city in the UnitedStates. Service groups such as the Boy Scouts ofAmerica also have their headquarters in theDallas metropolitan area. Also located in Dallasis The Women’s Museum. The mission of thisorganization is to educate, enrich, and inspire allvisitors by celebrating the history of women.

Dallas is an important merchandising center.Store owners from all over the country travelhere to preview items before deciding what tobuy for their stores. Dallas is also a center forTexas’s high technology industry. This industryproduces electronic products designed to makelife more pleasant and efficient.

Dallas owes much of its growth to its central-ized location. National highways and rail linesmeet in Dallas. The Dallas–Fort Worth Inter-national Airport—one of the busiest airports inthe nation—provides an important central path-way to other national and international airports.

The third largest city in Texas, San Antonio,lies at the edge of the Blackland Prairie andthe Balcones Escarpment. San Antonio is themajor metropolitan area in the southern partof Texas and plays a particularly important roleas a distribution center. The federal governmenthas located important military installations inSan Antonio.

San Antonio is the number one tourist desti-nation in Texas, attracting visitors to the Alamo,Fiesta Texas, River Walk, and the Institute ofTexan Cultures. The city has a large and popular

convention center. One of the most Hispanic ofTexas’s largest cities, San Antonio is a hub ofMexican American culture. Its special Tejanoflavor is a major factor in attracting tourists tothe city and surrounding area.

Austin, the capital of Texas, lies mostly withinthe Blackland Prairie. Travis County, whichincludes Austin, has experienced rapid growthand today has more than 800,000 people. Inaddition to being the center of state government,the city is also home to the University of Texas atAustin. Many high technology firms havemoved to Austin, and it has become an importantcomputer research center. Austin is often referredto as the live music capital of the world becauseof its large number of bands and dance halls.

Smaller cities also dot this geographic section.Sherman is the home of one of the state’s best-known private colleges—Austin College. Waco,with key industries including agribusiness,general manufacturing, and health, is home toBaylor University, the state’s largest Baptistuniversity. San Marcos residents take pride inSouthwest Texas State University, which housesthe largest geography department in the nation.

Analyzing How did Dallas’slocation contribute to its rapid growth?

The city of Dallas is located in the BlacklandPrairie. How does the city skyline contrastwith the natural landscape?

Exploring Geography

Dallas★Dallas★

Checking for Understanding1. Using Key Terms Define petro-

chemical and alluvial soil and writea sentence using each word.

2. Reviewing Facts What is thelargest natural region in Texas?

Reviewing Themes3. Economic Factors What discovery

made Texas the leading producerof oil in the United States?

Organizing to Learn4. Identifying Create a chart like the

one shown here. List what each cityin the Piney Woods is known for.

Critical Thinking5. Making Comparisons How are

the Piney Woods and the Post OakBelt similar?

The South Texas PlainThe South Texas Plain tends to be much drier

than the Gulf Coast Plain. Natural vegetation inmuch of this area includes plants that require lit-tle water such as prickly pear cactus, mesquite,blackbrush, and other small shrubs.

Many people in the South Texas Plain earntheir living in agriculture and farming-relatedindustries. Because of its southern location, thegrowing season here is more than 10 months. Inthe “Winter Garden” area in Dimmit andZavala Counties, farming depends on waterfrom wells and small streams. Cotton, vegeta-bles, peanuts, and beef cattle are important agri-cultural products.

The southernmost part of this geographic sec-tion is called the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Richalluvial soils have been deposited here by theRio Grande over many years. These rich soilsand Rio Grande water support an important cit-rus fruit industry. Texas is one of the nation’sfour largest producers of oranges, grapefruit,and lemons. Freezes strike the Lower RioGrande Valley every few years, however, killingmany trees.

Cities in the South Texas Plain includeLaredo, which is located on the Rio Grande andis a gateway to Mexico. Laredo has varied man-ufacturing and meat-packing businesses and isalso an important rail center. It is the chiefentry point for Mexican and American truckscarrying products entering under the North

American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).Kingsville, home of Texas A&M–KingsvilleUniversity and headquarters for the famousKing Ranch, is a center for oil, gas, andranching and farming. Brownsville, located atthe southern tip of Texas, is a focus for farmingand tourism and is another gateway to Mexico.Other large communities in the South TexasPlain are McAllen, Edinburg, and Harlingen.

Explaining Why do many people inthe South Texas Plain work in farming-related industries?


Determining Supporting DetailsDallas is an important marketing andtransportation center. Write three sup-porting details that help prove this fact.

City Known forTexarkana

Longview

Nacogdoches

Huntsville

Many ranches in Texas have become corporations ormultinational companies. What skills would be neededtoday to run a Texas ranch successfully?

Exploring Geography

Our march this morning ledus along a gradual slope ofbeautiful and picturesque

country, interspersed with mesquiteglades and prairielawns, for about eightmiles . . . when wefound ourselves . . .upon the summit levelof three streams, the“Brazos,” “Trinity,” andthe “Little Witchita” . . .Were it not for thescarcity of timber . . .this would undoubt-edly prove a desirablefarming locality.

In previous communicationsto the War Department, I have spo-ken of the great deficiency of build-ing timber where I have traveledwest of the “Cross Timbers.” It maybe added here, that the same factsare observed in this section; andalthough mesquite is found suffi-cient for fuel, yet there is a greatscarcity of timber, suitable for build-ing purposes. There are, however,many quarries of stone, whichmight answer as a substitute . . .

After noon, we continued onfor about eight miles over mesquiteglades, when we arrived in a broadlowland valley, through which

meanders a streamabout twenty feet wideand two feet deep. Thisproved to be the maintrunk of the LittleWitchita. Its banks areabout ten feet high . . .and skirted with elmand cottonwood.

We remained incamp on the 20th, mak-ing preparations toleave . . . while Major

Neighbors and myself proposed to make an excursion towards Red River.

Randolph BarnesMarcy

R.B. Marcyspent much ofhis career onthe frontier.After complet-ing the U.S.Military

Academy, he served a distin-guished career in the U.S.Army. He fought in the MexicanWar and later was assigned toduty in the western wilderness.His expertise led to his writing aguidebook for emigrants head-ing west. The Prairie Traveler: AHandbook for OverlandExpeditions, published in 1859,became a bestseller.

Reading to DiscoverAs you read, imagine how

you would feel if you were tochart and map an unknownarea. What hopes and fearsmight you experience?

Reader’s Dictionaryinterspersed: distributed

among other things glade: an open space in a

forestsummit: highest point or partquarry: pit from which stone

is takenmeanders: twists and turnsexcursion: short journey

Explorations of theBig Wichita, etc.

by R.B. Marcy

In 1854, Captain R.B. Marcy explored and mapped the Big Wichita and Brazos Rivers. This excerpt from Marcy’s report reveals an explorer’s eye view of the uncharted Little Wichita River.

ANALYZING LITERATUREEvaluate and Connect Why wasit important for Texas to be exploredand mapped?

Interdisciplinary ActivityWriting Create a travel brochure topromote the land Marcy describes.

55


The NorthCentral Plains

Guide to ReadingMain IdeaThe North Central Plains regionincludes the Cross Timbers, theGrand Prairie, and the Rolling Plains.Ranching and farming are importantactivities.

Key Termsbutte agribusiness

Reading StrategyOrganizing Information As you readthis section, complete a chart like theone shown here.

Read to Learn• about the North Central Plains.• about principal landforms and

urban centers in each section.• about the economy in each section.

Section ThemeContinuity and Change The NorthCentral Plains region is mainly ruraland agricultural with a relatively smallpopulation base.

North Central Plains take shape

Preview of Events

The North Central Plains are traditionally known as “where the Westbegins.” Settlers moving into this area adapted to the new drier environment.Perry summed up the practice of early settlers who dug mesquite tree rootsfor firewood and climbed up to the springs of water running out of canyonwalls—“The Texan will tell you that in West Texas you have to dig for woodand climb for water.”

A Ranching and Farming RegionThe North Central Plains actually start in Canada and extend across the

midsection of the United States before ending in Texas. The BalconesEscarpment and the Caprock Escarpment separate the region from therest of Texas.

Geographic Climate Vegetation MineralsSection

Mesquite tree

✦c. 140 million B.C.–c. 65 million B.C.

The North Central Plains are higher in eleva-tion than are the Coastal Plains. In many places,rivers making their way to the Gulf of Mexicohave carved the North Central Plains into hillsand valleys.

Relatively far from the Gulf of Mexico with itsmoderating winds, the North Central Plains havea continental climate that is colder in winter andhotter in summer than the lands near the Gulf.This region also receives less rainfall than the East.Much of the land is covered with grasses andbrush instead of trees. Many of the large cattleranches of the state are located here. In addition,because the region still receives good rainfall, flat-ter parts are used for farming row crops.

The small population of the North CentralPlains reflects the mainly rural, agriculturalnature of the area. The largest city, Fort Worth,began as a marketing center for cattle raised inthe region. Today Fort Worth is a manufacturingcenter for airplanes, computers, and clothing.Other cities in the region include Abilene andSan Angelo, which are marketing centers forranch products such as wool and mohair.

The North Central Plains may be divided intothree geographic subsections. They are the CrossTimbers, the Grand Prairie, and the Rolling Plains.

Examining Why are many largecattle ranches located in the North Central Plains?

The Cross TimbersCommon trees in the wooded areas include

post oaks, blackjack oaks, hickories, pecans, andelms. Today the Cross Timbers area is mostly

agricultural. Peanuts, fruit, and vegetables arethe main crops grown here. Most peanut farm-ers in the region grow Spanish peanuts, whichcan better tolerate dry spells than other vari-eties. Dairying and raising livestock are otherimportant agricultural activities.

The Cross Timbers area contains several impor-tant cities. Arlington, located in the East CrossTimbers, is a leader in manufacturing, recreation,and tourism. Students are attracted to the city ofDenton, also in the East Cross Timbers, becausethe University of North Texas and Texas Woman’sUniversity are located here. Brownwood, locatedin the West Cross Timbers, is an important centerof regional trade and distribution.

N

S

EW

100

1000 mi.


100°W 98°W 96°W102°W

36°N

34°N

32°N

30°N

28°N

TEXAS

OKLAHOMA

San AngeloCopperas Cove Killeen

Brownwood

Abilene

Fort WorthArlington

Denton

Wichita Falls

Cross Timbers

Grand Prairie

Rolling Plains

Area outsideNorth CentralPlains

Geographic Sections of theNorth Central Plains Region

The Texas Rangers baseball team makes its home inArlington.Economic Factors How do professional sports teamsbenefit a region’s economy?



Precambrian metamorphic rocks570 million years before present

Paleozoic sandstone, shale, and limestone240-570 million years before present

Mesozoic sandstone, shale, and limestone63-240 million years before present

Cenozoic sandstone and shale63 million years ago-present

-7,000 ft

-3,000 ft

1,000 ft

5,000 ft LUBBOCK

LLANO AUSTINBAYCITY

CaprockEscarpment

Llano Uplift BalconesEscarpment

CoastalPlain

SaltDomes

GULF OFMEXICO

Texas land formations developedover millions of years.Analyzing PhysicalGeography On which layer isAustin located and what is foundin this layer?

Cross-section of Texas

The Grand PrairieLimestone lies under the soil of the Grand

Prairie, causing rain to soak through quickly.Because the soil fails to hold moisture for verylong, trees are scarce throughout much of thisarea. Grasses and shrubs cover much of the ter-rain here, while trees are usually found alongthe banks of the numerous streams.

Agriculture is the most important economicactivity in the Grand Prairie. Cattle are numer-ous and crops grown here include wheat,peanuts, corn, grain sorghum, and cotton.

Most towns in the Grand Prairie are rathersmall, but this section does have one of the state’slargest cities, Fort Worth. Fort Worth and Dallasare the main cities of a 20-county area known asthe Metroplex. The Metroplex is a major manu-facturing and trade center. Whereas Dallas is atrade center that serves people who live mainly inthe cities, Fort Worth likes to refer to itself as “theplace where the West begins.” Grain elevators,feed mills, and many other businesses serve theagricultural needs of rural people living fartherwest. Fort Worth is also an important financialhub. In addition, large-scale aircraft manufactur-ing brings in employees from across the state.

Two smaller communities located in thesouthern part of the Grand Prairie are Killeenand Copperas Cove. Both are located close toFort Hood, one of the nation’s largest military

installations. They draw economic support fromthe army personnel and others who areemployed at Fort Hood.

Analyzing Why do you suppose FortWorth describes itself as “the place where the West begins”?

The Rolling PlainsLying west of the Cross Timbers, the Rolling

Plains is the largest geographic section within theNorth Central Plains region. It is sometimes calledthe Lower Plains because of the higher Great Plainsto the west. The Rolling Plains stretch for about 300miles (483 km) from the northernmost to the south-ernmost point. At its widest point, this geographicsection is just under 200 miles (322 km) across.

In most of the Rolling Plains, the landscape isslightly rolling. In some places, however, thereare distinct hills, mesas, and buttes, or smallflat-topped hills.

Large cattle ranches sprawl over many partsof the Rolling Plains. Sheep and goats graze inthe drier western parts of this section. They cansurvive on the sparse vegetation better than cat-tle can. In the wetter area to the east, field cropsof various kinds are grown. These include cot-ton, grain sorghum, and wheat. Specialty crops,including pecans and peaches, are also grown.Texas is one of the nation’s leading producers ofthese two crops.


Checking for Understanding1. Using Key Terms How is a butte

similar to a hill and a plateau?2. Reviewing Facts According to the

text, in what country do the NorthCentral Plains begin?

Reviewing Themes3. Continuity and Change How has

Fort Worth changed its commercialactivities over time? Identify somespecific products.

Organizing to Learn4. Identifying Use the information in

this section to create a chart likethe one shown. List the major cropsgrown in each region in the chart.

Critical Thinking5. Analyzing Information How does

the amount and frequency of rain-fall affect agriculture in the RollingPlains area?

Drawing Inferences Peaches andpecans are specialty crops grown on theRolling Plains. What can you infer aboutthe economic activities of this area?

Area CropsCross Timbers

Grand Prairie

Rolling Plains

Caprock Canyons State Park is the state’s third largest park and contains partof the Caprock Escarpment. It is located in the Rolling Plains. How does theescarpment affect the landscape?

Exploring Geography

★Caprock Canyons S.P.

★Caprock Canyons S.P.

Only a few settlements dot the Rolling Plains.One of the larger communities is Wichita Falls, acity in the northeastern part of the section.Armed forces personnel work at the largeUnited States Air Force base, and students movehere to attend Midwestern State University.Distribution and marketing are important activ-ities in Wichita Falls. Because Wichita Falls islocated near the Texas–Oklahoma border, thecity serves the people of both states.

Abilene, in the south-central part of theRolling Plains, is an important oil services and

marketing center. It is home to three church-related institutions of higher learning:Abilene Christian University, Hardin–SimmonsUniversity, and McMurry University. SanAngelo, in the extreme southwestern part of theregion, is a major center for agribusiness (large-scale commercial farming) and the home ofAngelo State University. It is also the largestwool-producing market in the United States.

Explaining Why is the Rolling Plainsarea less populated than other parts of Texas?

60 CHAPTER 00 Chapter Title

Why Learn This Skill?Maps are designed to help people learn information

about geographic areas. An economic map is a typeof thematic, or special purpose, map. This economicmap shows how people earn their living, but manyeconomic maps show the distribution of products ina particular area. The Texas Economic ResourcesMap on this page illustrates what and where farmproducts are produced in Texas. It also shows whereprincipal natural gas and oil production occurs. Themap key explains what each symbol stands for. Thesesymbols are placed on the map wherever the prod-ucts are raised or produced in the state.

Learning the SkillTo read an economic map, follow these steps:

• Read the title of the map to identify the geographicarea and the kind of information shown on the map.

• Read the map key to see what symbols (or some-times colors) are used to represent this information.

• Use the symbols shown in the key to interpret theinformation on the map.

Practicing the SkillStudy the economic map on this page and then

answer the following questions:

1Besides cattle, what other kinds of livestock areraised in Texas?

2Where are most sheep raised in Texas?

3What crop is grown only in the Coastal Plainsregion?

4Are cattle raised in East Texas, West Texas, or both?

5What farm products are raised in South Texas?

6Which mineral resource—natural gas or oil—occurs most often in the state?

Social StudiesSocial Studies

Reading an Economic Map

Creating a Thematic Map Sketch a map of yourschool. Create a map key based on common school-dayactivities. Place the map key symbols on your map.

Glencoe’s Skillbuilder Interactive Workbook,Level 1, provides instruction and practice in keysocial studies skills.


200

2000 mi.

0 kmAlbers Equal-Areaprojection

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TEXAS

OKLAHOMA

NEWMEXICO

MO.

ARK.

LA.

Corn

Cotton

Rice

Wheat

Cattle

Sheep

Naturalgas

Petroleum

Texas Economic Resources


Guide to Reading

In 1942, memories of Great Plains dust storms of the 1930s werefresh in the minds of Texans. The Great Plains could be beautiful andproductive because they possessed great natural resources. They couldalso be harsh. Perry tells of a farmer on the Panhandle who was askedhow he liked the weather. He said he did not like it. He explained, “Therain was all wind, and the wind was all sand.”

The Real “Old West”The Great Plains begin in Canada and run along the east side of the

Rocky Mountains through Texas and into Mexico. The CaprockEscarpment divides the Great Plains from the North Central Plains tothe east.

The Great Plains are at a higher elevation than are lands to the east.They reach their highest point in the northwestern corner of thePanhandle. Generally level, the Great Plains—often called a “sea of

Main IdeaThe Great Plains region includes theEdwards Plateau, the Llano Basin, andthe High Plains.

Key Termsdroughterosion

Reading StrategyOrganizing Information As youread this section, complete a chartlike the one shown here.

Read to Learn• about the principal landforms and

urban centers in each section.• about human/environment

interactions within the sections.

Section ThemeEconomic Factors Cities in the GreatPlains region depend upon the naturalresources of the areas they serve.

The Great Plains

Preview of Events

Geographic Section Economic Activities

Texas farmstead during 1938 drought

Great Plains take shape

✦c. 140 million B.C.–c. 65 million B.C.

grass”—were once home to immense herds ofbuffalo and to nomadic Native Americans.Later, cattle raisers divided the land into giantranches. Today much of the land is used to growcotton and wheat.

Located far from the moist Gulf winds, theGreat Plains region is a dry area. Long periodsof less than normal precipitation, calleddroughts, are often problems. Only irrigationfrom underground water sources such as theOgallala Aquifer and new techniques makefarming possible. Because of its high elevation,the Great Plains often have cooler summers thanother parts of Texas, and the winters are cold.

Many non-Texans picture Texas as it appearsin movies about the Old West—as a land ofsprawling ranches and isolated farms. Much ofthe Great Plains fulfill this image. Three geolog-ical subsections lie within the Great Plainsregion: the Edwards Plateau, the Llano Basin,and the High Plains.

Explaining How do farmers surviveperiods of drought in the Great Plains?

The Edwards PlateauThe Edwards Plateau lies farthest south of the

three sections of the Great Plains. It is borderedon the east by the Blackland Prairie and on thesouth by the South Texas Plain and the RioGrande. The Edwards Plateau occupies a largearea of Texas. Its maximum east-to-west extentis nearly 300 miles (482 km). Its north-to-southdepth varies from 50 to 175 miles (80 to 282 km).

Elevation on the Edwards Plateau rangesbetween 750 and 2,700 feet (229 and 823 m)above sea level. Throughout much of its area,the landscape is level to gently rolling. Thelandscape changes along its eastern borders,however. The boundary between the EdwardsPlateau and the much lower Blackland Prairieis the Balcones Escarpment. As the EdwardsPlateau nears this escarpment, it becomes ahilly area of eroded limestone called the HillCountry.


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MEXICO

Amarillo

Lubbock

SanSaba

MidlandOdessa

Del Rio

Kerrville

Fredericksburg

Mason

Brady

Llano

Geographic Sections of theGreat Plains Region

A school girl in Bandera, near Kerrville, learns aboutraising livestock.Identifying Location In what area of the GreatPlains are most Angora goats raised?

High Plains

Edwards Plateau

Llano Basin

Area outsideGreat Plains

The Edwards Plateau has only a thin layer ofsoil, making most of the area ill-suited for farm-ing. Almost the entire region is covered with agrowth of cedar, small oak, and mesquite. Weedsand tree foliage provide food for sheep. The econ-omy of the area depends largely on cattle, goat,and sheep raising. Most of the Angora goats in theentire United States can be found within 100 miles(161 km) of the center of the Edwards Plateau.This section is among the nation’s most importantwool-producing areas. The long hair of Angoragoats is sheared and sold worldwide as mohair.

Parts of the San Antonio and Austin urbanareas spill west onto the fringes of the EdwardsPlateau. Towns such as San Marcos and NewBraunfels also sit on its eastern boundary.Relatively few cities and towns, however, lieentirely on the Edwards Plateau. Del Rio, thearea’s largest city, is on the Rio Grande. It wasfounded by Paula Losoya Taylor and her sister,Refugia Losoya, around 1860. It is a center fortrade with Mexico and a popular point fortourists to cross into that country. Two othercities—Kerrville and Fredericksburg—lie in theeastern Hill Country. Kerrville is a tourist center,a retirement community, and the location of sev-eral exotic game ranches. Fredericksburg isfamous for its peaches and its German heritage.

The Hill Country itself attracts many visitorsto its dude ranches. The famous LBJ Ranch, the Texas home of former President LyndonJohnson, is here as well. The Hill Country alsosupports the greatest concentration of white-tailed deer in the world. Deer hunting attractsnearly 200,000 hunters to the Edwards Plateaueach year. In the most recent year with thecomplete figures reported, Texas had the third-largest number of paid hunting license holdersin the country. Only Pennsylvania and Michiganissued more licenses.

Describing What mineral lies undermost of the Hill Country?

The Llano BasinThe Llano Basin is the smallest geographic

section in Texas. It averages about 75 miles (121 km) east to west and about 60 miles (97 km)

north to south. Elevations here are as much as1,000 feet (305 m) lower than in the EdwardsPlateau. The land is lower here because oferosion. The land has been worn away by theflowing waters of the Llano (LAH•no), San Saba(san SAH•ba), Pedernales (pur•duh•NAL•his),and Colorado Rivers. The terrain consists ofrolling plains broken up by hills.

Part of the area is occupied by large lakes andreservoirs on the Colorado River. Lake Buchananis the largest of these. The combination of lakesand hills has given this section the nameHighland Lakes Country.

The Llano Basin has few towns. The maintowns are seats of county government. Llano isa center for tourism, hunting, and livestock pro-duction. San Saba, in the northern part ofthe section, is a small town known for pecan-growing and processing. Brady has some indus-try—mainly the cleaning of wool and mohair.Scenic Mason is a market and supply center forarea ranches. It also supports a growing tourismand guidebook publishing industry.

The High PlainsThe High Plains occupy most of the Texas

Panhandle, from the Oklahoma border south-ward about 350 miles (563 km). Elevations inthis region reach more than 4,000 feet (1,219 m)above sea level in the northwestern part of thePanhandle. Visitors to the High Plains are oftenstruck by the flatness of the land.

The Hill Country became famous during the 1960s. Then-president Lyndon B. Johnson invited senators, cabinet officers,ambassadors, foreign heads of state, andbusiness and labor leaders to his ranch.Reporters and photographers accompaniedthem. Television news and magazines were filled with scenes from the Hill Country and the “Texas White House.”

CHAPTER 2 Regions of Texas 63


When the first Spanish explorers crossed theHigh Plains, they were awed by what they saw.Pedro de Castañeda described the plains:

“The country is spacious and level … In tra-versing 250 leagues, the other mountain rangewas not seen, nor a hill nor a hillock which wasthree times as high as a man … The country islike a bowl, so that when a man sits down, thehorizon surrounds him all around at the dis-tance of a musket shot … [A]nd even if a manonly lay down on his back he lost sight of theground.”

Two areas have characteristics that are quitedifferent from the general flat aspect of the HighPlains. These are the Canadian Breaks and PaloDuro Canyon. The Canadian Breaks is a ruggedarea that follows the course of the Canadian Riveracross the Panhandle. Because it is not well suited

for farming, it is used mainly for grazing cattle.Palo Duro Canyon is a very rugged area that hasbeen carved by the Red River. Palo Duro Canyonhas long been home to wildlife and people alike.Native Americans used the canyon as a campsiteand refuge from northers. Buffalo still grazedthere when ranchers began moving to the area in1876. Today, wild turkeys, deer, and many otherkinds of wildlife share the Palo Duro CanyonState Park with visitors. The exciting musicaldrama “Texas” is performed every summer in thePioneer Amphitheater in the canyon.

The High Plains section is divided into twomajor parts. The North Plains extends from thenorthern border of the Panhandle to about 50 miles (80 km) north of Lubbock. Wheat andgrain sorghum (a major feed grain for cattle) arethe most important crops. Cattle ranching andpetroleum also contribute to this area’s economy.

The South Plains occupies the southern part ofthe High Plains section. Cotton is the most important crop here. More cotton is raised in the

Longhorn Cavern Few places have had such anexciting and varied history as this large cavern located near Burnet. Comanches once met here in councils of war (below right). Gunpowder was made and storehoused here during the Civil War. The cavern was even rumored to be the hideout of the outlaw Sam Bass.During Prohibition—when the sale of alcohol was banned—the cavern became a dancehall, nightclub, and restaurant (bottom left). The park was officially opened in 1932.

Checking for Understanding1. Using Key Terms Sketch an illus-

tration that shows you understandthe meanings of the terms droughtand erosion.

2. Reviewing Facts How isAmarillo’s location important?

Reviewing Themes3. Economic Factors How have peo-

ple used Palo Duro Canyon both inthe past and in the present?

Organizing to Learn4. Complete a chart like the one

shown here and list the majorindustries for each city in the GreatPlains region.

Critical Thinking5. Analyzing Information Based on

the description of the High Plainsgiven by Pedro de Castañeda, whattwo areas of the High Plains werenot being described?

South Plains than in any other part of Texas.Lubbock has the world’s largest cottonseed pro-cessing industry. Most of the crop is irrigatedwith water from the Ogallala Aquifer.

Several important urban centers can be foundin the High Plains section. Amarillo, the largestcity of the North Plains, is the most northern ofTexas’s major cities. It is a transportation andcommercial center serving parts of Texas, NewMexico, Kansas, and Oklahoma. It also plays animportant role in wheat distribution and as amajor cattle market. Oil field equipment is man-ufactured here. Lubbock, the largest city in theSouth Plains, is the hub of a rich cotton-producing area. Lubbock serves as the commer-cial and cultural center for a large area of theTexas Panhandle and western Texas. Texas TechUniversity, one of the state’s larger public uni-versities, is located in Lubbock.

Midland and Odessa are located a few milesapart in the Permian Basin in the extreme south-ern part of the High Plains. The Permian Basin isan important petroleum-producing area. Life inMidland and Odessa centers around the oilindustry. These cities also serve the needs offarmers and ranchers in the surrounding coun-tryside. The University of Texas of the PermianBasin is located in Odessa.

Identifying Name one strikingcharacteristic that visitors to the High Plains often notice.


Drawing Conclusions What didSpanish explorers find to be so awe-inspiring about the High Plains?

City IndustriesAmarillo

Lubbock

Midland/Odessa

Lubbock is the wholesale trade center for most of thePanhandle and eastern New Mexico. It is also the worldleader of the cottonseed industry. Whatproducts from this area would be on these trains in the Lubbock railroad yards?

Lubbock★Lubbock★

Exploring Geography


The Mountainsand Basins

Guide to ReadingMain IdeaThe Mountains and Basins region isan area of majestic peaks and starkdeserts.

Key Termsbasinmaquiladoras

Reading StrategyOrganizing Information As you readthis section, complete a chart like theone shown here.

Read to Learn• about landforms and urban centers.• about climate and resources.• about human/environment

interactions.

Section ThemeGeography and History TheMountains and Basins region main-tains close economic and cultural tiesto Mexico.

Preview of Events

Much of the Mountains and Basins region gets only seven inches of rainfall per year. The other natural regions already discussed in this chaptercontain several smaller sections. The entire Mountains and Basins region,however, is usually considered to be a single geographic section. Perrydescribes this region in his book: “Here is where Texas travels farthest westand dies of thirst. A citizen of this section, when asked how much it rainedhere, replied simply, ‘Mister, it don’t.’”

The Dry EnvironmentThe Mountains and Basins region is part of the Rocky Mountain system

that begins in Canada and extends into Mexico. It is the westernmostnatural region in Texas. It is also the highest and driest of the regions.

Natural Minerals CropsVegetation

Yucca plants

Mountains and Basins take shape

✦ c. 140 million B.C.–65 million B.C.

Water—or lack of it—is the single mostimportant factor affecting life in this region. It ismostly a desert area, and so little rain falls herethat trees will grow only along the few scatteredstreams. The region’s natural vegetationincludes desert plants such as cactus, yucca, andcreosote bush. Harsh extremes of climate aresoftened by its great natural beauty. Canyonsand mountain plateaus contrast with saucer-shaped depressions called basins.

Of the few people who live in the region,nearly two-thirds live in El Paso. Farming isdone mainly along the Rio Grande and in afew areas where springs or wells irrigate theland. Cotton is the main crop, but many farm-ers have pecan trees as well. Pecos, in ReevesCounty, is an area famous for its cantaloupes.

Many people in the Mountains and Basinsregion live near the Rio Grande where industriesprovide work. Towns have grown here aroundthe trade with Mexico. The region has strong eco-nomic and cultural ties to Mexico, partly becausethe area is so far from the rest of Texas. The land-forms, climate, and culture that make this areaquite different from any other region in Texas alsomake it a favorite with tourists from other partsof the state and nation.

Mountain RangesAll of Texas’s true mountains are found in the

Mountains and Basins region. The highest range,the Guadalupe Range, extends into New Mexico.The highest mountain in Texas, Guadalupe Peakat 8,749 feet (2,667 m), stands tall in this range. El Capitán, at 8,085 feet (2,464 m), is anotherTexas mountain in this range.

The Davis Mountains are located close to thecenter of the Mountains and Basins region. Thehighest peak here, Mount Livermore, stands at 8,378 feet (2,554 m). South of the DavisMountains is a part of Texas called the BigBend Country, which gets its name from asharp bend in the Rio Grande. The ChisosMountains make up the most important


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Rio Grande

Pecos River

MEXICO

TEXAS

NEW MEXICO

Pecos

Van Horn

Alpine

Presidio

Fort Davis

Marfa

Fort Stockton

El Paso

Area outside the Texas Mountains and Basins Region

Mountains and Basins Region

El Capitán Peak in the Guadalupe Mountains NationalPark is one of the highest peaks in Texas. The fourhighest mountains in Texas are located in this region.Analyzing Where do most people in this region liveand why do they live there?

Mountains and Basins Region

mountain group in the Big Bend area. Steepcanyons with spectacular scenery can be seenalong the Rio Grande. The extreme southernpart of this area consists of the Big BendNational Park, a popular area for tourists.

Much of the Mountains and Basins region isvery dry. Cacti, yucca, and small desert shrubsare common in this region. Yet, a few mountainareas catch enough rainfall to support forestsand meadowlands.

One important farming area lies in theextreme western part of this region. This area,the Upper Rio Grande Valley, is a narrow strip ofirrigated land that runs east of El Paso for 75 miles (121 km) and north into New Mexico.Cotton is the most important crop grown here.

Petroleum and natural gas resources lie in theMountains and Basins region. Other mineralsinclude limestone, shale rock, and clay used in

the production of cement. Copper, sulphur, salt,and talc also can be found here. Talc is used inthe production of ceramics, paint, andartificial rubber.

Identifying What are some of thedesert plants of the Mountains and Basins region?

El PasoMost of the Mountains and Basins region is

very sparsely settled. The region, however, doeshave one of the state’s largest cities—El Paso. El Paso is located at the far western tip of Texas.It is situated where the boundaries of Texas,Mexico, and New Mexico join. El Paso is farfrom Texas’s other large cities. Many of the city’scommercial ties are with New Mexico, Arizona,California, and Mexico.


Border crossings between cities like El Paso in Texas and CiudadJuárez in Mexico offer opportunities as well as difficulties for manypeople. What opportunities and difficulties exist for Americansand Mexicans who live near the United States–Mexico border?

★★ El PasoEl PasoExploring Geography

Checking for Understanding1. Using Key Terms Define the

terms basin and maquiladoras byusing them in sentences.

2. Reviewing Facts Why does thisregion in Texas maintain ties withMexico?

Reviewing Themes3. Geography and History What is

the single most important factoraffecting life in the Mountains andBasins region?

Organizing to Learn4. Identifying Key Characteristics

Create a chart like the one shownhere. Using the information in thesection, identify the key character-istics of the Mountains and Basinsregion.

Critical Thinking5. Making Comparisons How is El

Paso different from many otherlarge Texas cities?

6. Making Inferences An “open”border is one that is fairly easilycrossed. What are some advantagesand disadvantages of open borders?

El Paso has a strong Hispanic tradition. Apopular tourist spot, it is located just across theRio Grande from the large Mexican city ofCiudad Juárez. The combined population of ElPaso and Ciudad Juárez is larger than that of any other urban center on the UnitedStates–Mexico border.

El Paso is the commercial center of the UpperRio Grande Valley. Increased manufacturing hasfollowed the establishment of the NorthAmerican Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).Many maquiladoras, which are often called“twin factories,” have been built in Juárez and ElPaso. These factories in Mexico serve as sourcesof labor for piecework contracts with large cor-porations from the United States, Japan,Germany, and other industrialized nations. ElPaso also has oil refining facilities, diverse facto-ries and businesses, and important militaryinstallations. The University of Texas at El Pasois located here as well.

NAFTA took effect in 1994. The goal of thisagreement is to stimulate economic growthbetween Canada, the United States, and Mexico.Because of Texas’s relative location, El Paso andother border cities are greatly affected. Since1994, increased trade has helped companiesalong the United States–Mexico border grow. Asa result, many new jobs were created in all threeNAFTA countries, but especially in Mexico. Onthe negative side, some U.S. and Canadian

companies moved their factories to Mexico,where wages are lower. Consequently, many U.S.and Canadian workers lost their jobs. The eco-nomic futures of border cities are closely related,and the effect of NAFTA on Texas cities such asEl Paso is already being seen.

Examining What is the purpose ofthe maquiladoras?

Amarillo Dallas El Paso Houston

50

40

30

20

10

60

0

Aver

age

Annu

al R

ainf

all

(in in

ches

)

Rainfall in Texas Cities

Largest city

Highest mountain

Main crop

Major river


Comparing The graph compares the average precipi-tation received by four Texas cities.Why must many years of data be averaged to arrive atan accurate figure?

Determining Cause and Effect Howhas Mexico affected El Paso’s economy?

Reviewing Key TermsMatch each term with the correct definition.

a. maquiladoras e. basinb. petrochemical f. droughtc. butte g. alluvial soild. erosion

1. Product made from petroleum or natural gas2. Soil that has been deposited from river water3. A flat-topped hill, smaller than a mesa4. Dry period in which less than the normal precipitation

falls, often causing extensive damage to crops5. The wearing away of the earth's surface by the movement

of water, wind, ice, and gravity6. A sunken area in a plateau found between mountain ranges7. Factories in Mexico that assemble parts made in the

United States

Reviewing Key Facts8. Explain why the Coastal Plains region has a variety of agri-

cultural activities.9. What is the most important agricultural crop grown in the

Lower Rio Grande Valley?10. Explain why businesses are attracted to Houston, Dallas,

and San Antonio.11. List the important economic activities in the Cross

Timbers.12. What city is known as “the place where the West begins”?13. What section is among the nation’s most important wool-

producing areas?14. Name four urban centers—large cities—in the High

Plains and their major industries.15. Describe the climate of the Mountains and Basins region.

Critical Thinking16. Synthesizing Information Why do you think five of the

six most populous counties in Texas are located in theCoastal Plains?

17. Making Comparisons Choose two urban areas found inTexas. Compare their locations, industries, and otherfeatures.

18. Making Conclusions Do you think the people of Texaswould benefit if the state were divided into several smallerstates? Why or why not?

• Edwards Plateau • High Plains• Llano Basin

Regions of Texas

• Cross Timbers • Rolling Plains• Grand Prairie

• Piney Woods • Blackland Prairie• Gulf Coast Plain • South Texas Plain• Post Oak Belt

Main IdeaThe Coastal Plains region is the most populated and includes:

Main IdeaThe North Central Plains region

is largely rural and includes:

Main IdeaThe Great Plains region is

dry and high and includes:

Main IdeaThe Mountains and Basins

region is part of theRocky Mountain system.

70

Geography and History19. Create a chart like the one below. Place a check mark in

the column in which the city is located.

Cooperative Learning Activity20. Creating Models After the class has been organized

into four groups, have each group choose one of the fournatural regions of Texas. Each group will make a physicalmodel, or diorama, of a natural region. Use clay or amixture of flour and water to indicate land features and rivers. Paint your diorama and exhibit it in yourclassroom.

Practicing SkillsReading an Economic Map Study the economic map onpage 60 and then answer the following questions.21. According to the title, what kinds of resources are shown

on this map?22. How many different products are shown on this map?23. Where are petroleum-producing regions found?

Economics and History Activity24. Local Economy What are the major industrial and agri-

cultural products of your community? Write a paragraphexplaining what effects these industrial and agriculturalproducts have on your daily life. Save your work for yourportfolio.

Citizenship and History Activity25. Community Pride Choose a town in Texas. Imagine you

have been hired by the Chamber of Commerce to attractbusinesses or tourists to the region. Design a poster thatwould persuade businesses that this region would be agood place to locate.

Portfolio/TAKS Writing Activity26. Generalizing and Supporting Write a paragraph start-

ing with this opening sentence: “The people living inTexas are fortunate because . . .” Use at least four facts inthe chapter to support your conclusion. Consider geo-graphic, economic, and social factors. After you havecompleted your paragraph, review it for possible spelling,capitalization, punctuation, or grammatical errors. Thenexchange your paper with a student in your class tocheck again for possible errors. Make corrections andsave the final draft for your writing portfolio.

Building Technology Skills27. Creating a Database Choose a city in Texas from the

chapter. Using the Internet, find the official governmentWeb site for the city that you chose, if possible. From theWeb site, make a database of interesting facts about thecity. Hint: Many Texas cities with an official Web site havethe following URL: www.ci.[name of city].tx.us.

Self-Check QuizVisit the texans.glencoe.com Web site and click on Chapter 2—Self-Check Quizzes to prepare for the chapter test.

TEXAS HISTORY

City Coastal North Central Great MountainsPlains Plains Plains and Basins

Amarillo

Austin

Corpus Christi

Dallas

El Paso

Fort Worth

Houston

San Antonio

Use your knowledge of Texas geography to answerthe following question.

Which of the following statements does not apply to theGreat Plains region of Texas?F Abilene is an important center in the Great Plains.G The Great Plains frequently suffer from droughts.H The Great Plains region is well-suited to cattle ranches

and farms.J Few people live in the Great Plains area of the state.

Test-Taking Tip:

Information of a general nature is often more likely tobe true in a response than detailed information.


http://www.glencoe.com/qe/qe31.php?&st=652&pt=3&bk=20

T exas is called the Lone Star State becauseof the single star on the state flag. Some symbols, like

the flag, are visual. Others, including the pledge to the flagand the state motto, are expressed in words.No matter what form they take, symbols represent the values of the people of Texas and serve to keep alive the state’s unique history.

Scenic Texas The bluebonnetbecame the state flower in 1901.The legislature declared thepecan the state tree in 1919. The mockingbird is the officialstate bird of Texas.

▲

72

Visit The Bob Bullock TexasState History Museum in Austin to see artifacts andexhibits such as these aboutTexas history and heritage.

Texas State SealBy law, the Texas state seal is requiredto appear on officialdocuments of the state.

▲

Spain The Spanish flag wasthe first to fly over Texas. Duringthe 300 years of Spanish rule,Texas had several flags.

▲France France was the secondnation to claim Texas. The flag of royalist France showed goldenlilies on a field of white.

▲

Mexico The Mexican flagwas the official flag of Texasfrom 1821 until Texas independence in 1836.

▲

Confederate States of AmericaWhen Texas joined the confederacy in 1861, the “Stars and Stripes” wasreplaced by the Confederate flag.

▲

United States of AmericaTexas is symbolized by the 28thstar in the American Flag.

▲

Republic of Texas The LoneStar flag, the state flag today, wasalso the flag of the Republic ofTexas. It was approved in 1839.

▲

The motto of the state ofTexas is “friendship.”

The motto comes from thegreeting “Tejas,” with whichthe Native Americans ofEast Texas first met theearly Spanish explorers.The word tejas meansfriends.

The Six Flags of Texas

Pledge to the Texas Flag▲

The State Motto▲

“Honor the Texas flag:I pledge allegiance to thee,Texas, one and indivisible.”

73

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