Statistics about your state�s population are called its demographics. In its early history, most of the Texas population lived in the rural countryside and were farmers and/or ranchers. But as industrialization developed, especially since World War II, more people moved to the cities and towns. By 1990, approximately 80 percent of the Texans lived in urban areas. Forty-five percent of the state's population lived in the metropolitan areas of Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston-Galveston-Brazoria.

Many racial and ethnic groups call Texas home. The state is home to thousands of Native Americans. Texas currently hosts three Indian reservations for tribes that have a long history in the Lone Star State. The Alabamas-Chousattas have a reservation in East Texas, not far from Livingston. The Tiguas, a Pueblo people, live on land adjacent to El Paso. The Kickapoo tribe also has land near El Paso.

The two largest minority ethnic groups are Hispanics and African Americans. Hispanics, the fastest growing ethnic group in Texas, include Mexican Americans and other Latin Americans. In 2000, Hispanics represented 32 percent of the population and  African Americans were 11.5 percent. Projections predict that by 2020, these two minority groups combined will comprise the majority of people living in the state.

The Lone Star State is home to peoples who trace their heritage to such European countries as Germany, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Czech and Slovak lands, England, Ireland, Italy and France. Texans' heritage also include China, other Asian nations and most of the rest of the countries of the world. 

Texas is also one of the leading states in international trade. Electronics, industrial machinery and chemicals account for the majority of Texas exports. Mexico is the largest trade partners. Texas' historical ties to Mexico continues to impact the state economically. Large number of Mexicans find employment and spend money in Texas. El Paso and Ciudad Juarez form a major bi-national metropolitan area of approximately 2 million people. There were over 43 million border crossings in personal vehicles at El Paso in 1997. Other cities such as Laredo, Brownsville and Hidalgo also experience large amounts of border traffic, both in personal vehicles and in truck and rail traffic.

Additional Resources

1. How does the population distribution and employment in the early history of Texas differ from today?(7.8:A; 7.9:A)
2. Approximately how many people lived in Texas in 2000? What is the projected population for 2005?
3. Where does Texas rank among states in population?
4. Which are the three largest cities in Texas?
5. What are Texas' two largest industry sectors in gross state product and employment?
6. How does Mexico impact the Texas economy?(7.13:A,B)