If you don’t live in Texas, and maybe even if you do, you’ve probably heard your fair share of stereotypes about the Lone Star State and the people who live there. To be fair, Texans sometimes bring these stereotypes upon themselves, but also, to be fair, there are times when the stereotypes are just plain wrong or true about only a small minority.
As a California-born Texas transplant who has lived most of his life in Virginia, I can tell you without native-born bias which stereotypes don’t hold up so well. Let’s dig in!
1. Texans Think Their State Is the Biggest
I remember a friend’s Army buddy from Texas refusing to believe that Alaska is larger, actually more than twice as much. Some Texans probably do think they live in the biggest state, but most don’t, and they’re okay with that.
2. Kids Ride Horses to School
What? Horses are expensive to buy and take care of. The average family can’t do it. The idea that people do this all over Texas is ludicrous. It might have been a thing back before everyone had cars, and maybe a few still do it now, but today, kids in Texas get to and from school the same ways kids do in all the other states.
3. There Are No Trees in Texas
As I look out into my yard where there are centuries-old live oaks and post oaks, I just have to laugh. And if you doubt this, ask the many who suffer through “cedar fever” every year (fun fact–the culprits are really ashe junipers, not cedars). Yes, there are trees in Texas!
4. Texas Winters Are a Joke
If you live on the Gulf Coast, try not to get offended when people laugh at you for complaining about winter lows in the 30s. At the same time, though, the Panhandle regularly gets frigid winter weather, including blizzards. Even the rest of the state usually gets 1-2 weeks of winter that can freeze pipes and overload their electrical grids.
5. Everybody in Texas Wears Cowboy Hats and Boots
A lot of people do! I have a Stetson and several pairs of boots myself! But to be honest, when I go to the grocery store on a Sunday morning, I’m usually wearing a baseball cap and flip-flops. Funny thing– so are a whole lot of other people.
6. Everyone Has the Texas Twang
This presumes that the only people who live in Texas are those that were born there. It’ll take less than a New York Minute to realize that isn’t the case and that stereotypes about both places need a little reimagining.
7. You’ll Only Hear Country & Western in Texas
Really? Texas is home to a lot of that genre’s stars, but you’ve got to be kidding me if you think Texas is all twang. Just google “rock bands from Texas” for a start. ZZ Top, anyone? Stevie Ray Vaughan? Buddy Holly? And it’s not just rock. Ever heard of someone called Beyonce?
8. Football Is a Cult
Football is definitely a huge thing in Texas. Is it a cult? It might seem like it during a game (plus all the tailgate parties), but between games and in the off-season, people generally don’t dwell too much on football.
9. Texas Is Flat and Boring
Okay, a lot of the state really is flat and without much variety of scenery, but that’s not true of the whole state. There are plenty of contrary examples, but two of the best are the Hill Country in Central Texas and the mountains of Southwestern Texas.
10. Texas Is a Barren Desert
If all you’ve ever seen of Texas is its western part, you might be forgiven for thinking this. In reality, though, Texas has diverse ecological zones. Doubtful? Check out East Texas; it’s a world away from El Paso.
11. Texas Wants To Secede from the Union
Sure, there are Texans who do want to secede, and they get a lot of headlines disproportionate to their numbers. Most Texans think the idea is ridiculous, though, and despite the noise, there’s no real support for it.
12. Everything’s Bigger in Texas
Not everything is. And Texans know that. It’s just a fun expression, even though the heaping on their plates at the local barbecue joint suggests otherwise.
13. Guns Are Everywhere
Without a doubt, Texas is a gun-friendly state. Still, it’s a small minority running around displaying their guns. Most Texan gun owners prefer to keep their guns out of sight and secure but available if they need them.
14. There’s No Water in Texas
This is related to the idea that Texas is a vast desert, and it could also have to do with the severe drought parts of Texas have endured in recent years. All you have to do is take a look at a map to debunk this one. Texans love their waterways, especially as relief during the long summers, which are indeed stereotypically sweltering.
15. Texas Is Overwhelmingly Conservative
Texas gave us President Lyndon B. Johnson, a Democrat, and until the 1990s, it often elected Democratic governors and senators. It did take a rightward turn after that, but presently, it’s about a 55-45 R-D state, and sometimes closer than that. As in most of the country, the larger cities are a lot less conservative than the rural areas. Texas has a lot of rural acreage, so it’s easy to see the state as lopsidedly conservative.
16. Anything but Texas Barbecue Isn’t the Real Deal
In Texas, barbecue is a cultural experience as well as a dining one, and Texans do think their style is the best. However, they enjoy and respect other well-known styles, and it’s probably a safe bet to say that aficionados of Carolina, Memphis, St. Louis, and Kansas City styles think theirs are the best.
17. Texans Are Unfriendly
Texans don’t appreciate when visitors and transplants want them to change their ways, but that doesn’t make them unfriendly. Actually, if you behave rudely, you might be told that’s “not very Texan” of you. My favorite story of Texas generosity and hospitality: one Memorial Day weekend, I had been working outside on a hot day and stopped by a swimming hole on my way back. A complete stranger from a family there came up and offered me a cold beer.
18. Texas Is Hopelessly Wedded to the Oil and Gas Industry
Oil is still really big in Texas, and it still has a lot of clout. At the same time, Texas is a leader in the expansion of renewable energy, such as wind and solar. Also, a lot of people are buying electric and hybrid vehicles in an effort to wean themselves from fossil fuels.
20. Racism Is Alive and Well in Texas
Sadly, there are racists in Texas, but there are racists in every state. Racism does seem more prevalent in former Confederate states such as Texas, and the state government does sometimes pass laws that seem racially motivated, but those things are hardly indicative of the people as a whole. If they were, it’s hard to believe the state would have such large populations of black and Hispanic people and a growing population of people of Asian descent.
21. Texans Are Stupid and Tech-Dumb
If this were true, then why have so many tech companies headquartered in or expanded to Austin? Why would there be nationally renowned universities like the University of Texas and Texas A&M? Are there dumb, ignorant people in Texas? Sure. Are there dumb, ignorant people in every other state? Absolutely.
The 7 Best Flea Markets in Texas
Texas is home to some of America’s biggest and best flea markets. If you love shopping, getting bargain deals, and meeting people, you’ll want to visit these flea markets. It’s a fun way to shop and discover all the things you need and even more things you didn’t know you needed. Flea markets in Texas offer everything from antiques and collectibles to home furnishings, vintage clothing items, and much more.
The best way to browse a flea market? With your favorite people, of course! Whether you spend an afternoon or an entire weekend, heading out to one of Texas’s best flea markets can be quite a fun adventure!
The 7 Best Flea Markets in Texas
Discover the Lone Star State: 11 of the Best Places to Live in Texas
As inviting a place as Texas may be to live, its vast selection of cities and towns, which number more than 1,200, can make for an overwhelming search. Of course, the whole state offers classic Texas energy and southern charm, but its vast size houses many unique regions and subcultures. To help narrow down the search, consider some of these options for the best places to live in Texas.
Discover the Lone Star State: 11 of the Best Places to Live in Texas
Robert Sihler is an educator, freelance writer, and rock climbing guide and instructor living with his family in Driftwood, Texas. In his spare time, he enjoys reading fiction, streaming films, completing crossword puzzles, and rock climbing. When he goes on vacation, he likes to visit the mountains of the West and climb remote, obscure peaks that have seen few or no prior ascents.