Social Forces, Space and Boundaries

Abstract

What is it about Texas? The state’s name conjures up sartorial images of boots, jeans, and cowboy hats. Food-wise, mention Texas and one’s thoughts turn to barbeque and fajitas. It is a place where the people are friendly and courteous toward others, but only to a point. Texans do not give up easily, or to use Texan terminology: they stick to their guns — the siege at the Alamo in 1836 immediately comes to mind. The common image of the Lone Star state is that of wide-open spaces, oil derricks, and pick up trucks, although the state contains three of the nation’s ten largest cities (Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio). It is a place where opportunity abounds, as demonstrated by its sustained economic growth over the past several decades. The popular slogan, “Don’t mess with Texas,” conveys bravado unequaled in other states.