How Big Is Texas? Bigger Than Its Border, That's For Sure!
Ah, Texas. The land of wide-open spaces, ten-gallon hats, and enough barbecue to feed a small army (or a very hungry family reunion). But have you ever stopped to wonder, just how big is this Lone Star State, and what exactly marks its territory? Well, buckle up, buttercup, because we're about to take a hilarious history lesson on the wonderful weirdness of the Texas border.
The Great Balancing Act: US of A vs. Mexico
Let's start south of the border, or I guess technically, north of the Rio Grande. That's right, folks, the mighty Rio Grande is the main squeeze when it comes to Texas and its Mexican neighbours. Imagine the Rio Grande as a giant, meandering water slide, twisting and turning its way for over 1,250 miles. That's a whole lot of slip-and-slide action separating Texas from Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas.
Now, this Rio Grande isn't exactly the most consistent water park attraction. It likes to change its course sometimes, leaving both Texans and Mexicans scratching their heads about who owns that new sandbar that just popped up. Thankfully, the two countries are chill about it, with a fancy treaty in place that says "finders keepers, losers… well, they get the sandbar next time."
Don't Mess With Texas (or Its Oddly Shaped Panhandle)
But Texas ain't all about south of the border. Up north, things get a little... strange. Let's talk about the Texas Panhandle. It's like someone took a cookie cutter shaped like Oklahoma and just punched a rectangle out of the middle of Texas. We're talking straight lines and right angles, folks, which is about as common in Texas as a herd of polka-dotted longhorns.
This quirky panhandle shares a border with Oklahoma that looks more like a surveyor with a ruler and a serious case of the bends. It's all 100th meridians and 36 degrees and 30 minutes north latitude this and that, enough to make your head spin faster than a two-stepping cowboy at a honky-tonk.
Then there's Louisiana to the east, where the Sabine River acts as the boundary. Now, some folks might call this a river, but down in Texas, we like our things big. The Sabine River is more like a glorified creek compared to the Rio Grande. But hey, you gotta start somewhere, right?
The Rest Is Just Gravy (or Chili, As the Case May Be)
Rounding out the Texas border extravaganza, we have Arkansas to the northeast and New Mexico to the west. These borders are a bit more conventional, with rivers and whatnot marking the territory. But let's be honest, by this point, you're probably picturing Texas as a giant amoeba that just kind of blobbed its way into existence, borders be darned.
And that, my friends, is the beauty of Texas. It's a state that defies definition, with a border as unique and quirky as the people who call it home. So next time you're wondering where Texas ends and the rest of the world begins, just remember: it's wherever the good times, big steaks, and friendly folks are.
