Estimated 2004 population: 22,490,022

Change from 2000: +1,638,202

2004 housing units: 8,846,728

Housing units change from 2000-2004: +648,679

Top Texas Cities

Amarillo | Arlington | Austin | Beaumont | College Station | Corpus Christi | Dallas | Del Rio | Denton | El Paseo | Fort Worth | Galveston | Houston | Midland | Odessa

Texas Economy

Mineral resources compete with industry for primary economic importance in Texas. The state is the leading U.S. producer of oil, natural gas, and natural-gas liquids, despite recent production declines. It is also a major producer of helium, salt, sulfur, sodium sulfate, clays, gypsum, cement, and talc.

Texas manufactures an enormous variety of products, including chemicals and chemical products, petroleum, food and food products, transportation equipment, machinery, and primary and fabricated metals.

The development and manufacture of electronic equipment, such as computers, has in recent decades become one of the state's leading industries; the area around Dallas-Fort Worth has become known as "Silicon Prairie," a name now also extended to Austin and its suburbs.

Texas produces a variety of agricultural products including cattle, cotton, grains, sorghum, vegetables, citrus and other fruits, to name a few.

Top Texas Attactions

River Walk, San Antonio

The Alamo, San Antonio

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston

Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth

San Antonio Museum of Art, San Antonio

Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth

The Sixth Floor Museum, Dallas

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin

Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum