Learn Interesting Geographic Facts About Texas

Learn Interesting Geographic Facts About Texas Texas is a state located in the United States. It is the second largest of the fifty United States based on both area and population (Alaska and California are first respectively). The largest city in Texas is Houston while its capital is Austin. Texas is bordered by the U.S. states of New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana but also by the Gulf of Mexico and Mexico. Texas is also one of the fastest-growing states in the U.S. Population:  28.449 million  (2017 estimate)Capital:  AustinBordering States:  New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and LouisianaBordering Country:  MexicoLand Area:  268,820 square miles (696,241 sq km)Highest Point: Guadalupe Peak at 8,751 feet (2,667 m) Ten Geographic Facts to Know About the State of Texas Throughout its history, Texas was ruled by six different nations. The first of these was Spain, followed by France and then Mexico until 1836 when the territory became an independent republic. In 1845, it became the 28th U.S. state to enter the Union and in 1861, it joined the Confederate States and seceded from the Union during the Civil War.Texas is known as the Lone Star State because it was once an independent republic. The states flag features a lone star to signify this as well as its fight for independence from Mexico.The state constitution of Texas was adopted in 1876.The economy of Texas is known for being based on oil. It was discovered in the state in the early 1900s and the population of the area exploded. Cattle is also a large industry associated with the state and it developed after the Civil War.In addition to its past oil-based economy, Texas has invested strongly in its universities and as a result, today it has a very diverse economy with various high tech industri es including energy, computers, aerospace, and biomedical sciences. Agriculture and petrochemicals are also growing industries in Texas. Because Texas is such a large state, it has a highly varied topography. The state has ten climatic regions and 11 different ecological regions. The topography types vary from mountainous to the forested hill country to coastal plains and prairies in the interior. Texas also has 3,700 streams and 15 major rivers but there are no large natural lakes in the state.Despite its being known for having desert landscapes, less than 10% of Texas is actually considered desert. The desert and mountains of Big Bend are the only areas in the state with this landscape. The rest of the state is coastal swamps, woods, plains, and low rolling hills.Texas also has a varied climate due to its size. The panhandle portion of the state bigger temperature extremes than does the Gulf Coast, which is milder. For example, Dallas which is located in the northern part of the state has a July average high of 96ËšF (35ËšC) and an average January low of 34ËšF (1.2ËšC). Galveston on the other hand, which is located on the Gulf Coast, rarely has summer temperatures over 90ËšF (32ËšC) or winter lows below 50ËšF (5ËšC). The Gulf Coast region of Texas is prone to hurricanes. In 1900, a hurricane hit Galveston and destroyed the entire city and may have killed as many as 12,000 people. It was the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Since then, there have been many more devastating hurricanes that have hit Texas.Most of Texass population is centered around its metropolitan areas and in the eastern part of the state. Texas has a growing population and as of 2012, the state had 4.1 million foreign-born residents. It is estimated however that 1.7 million of those residents are illegal immigrants. To learn more about Texas, visit the states official website.Source: Infoplease.com. (n.d.). Texas: History, Geography, Population and State Facts- Infoplease.com. Retrieved from: infoplease.com/ipa/A0108277.html

How to Land a Column Writing Gig

How to Land a Column Writing Gig In the midst of scouting regular paying assignments, writers often neglect to consider the benefits of column writing. Regular columns bolster your confidence as a writer and provide credibility to your career. Weekly and monthly columns appear in a variety of publications and need writers. Columns provide established deadlines that keep you writing regularly and give you a boost when the paycheck arrives. Here are a few tips on how to find one suited for you. 1.  Ã‚     Read Local Publications Local and community publications are the easiest to break into, particularly if you have limited writing experience. When we moved to a new town recently, I browsed local magazines at the Chamber of Commerce and began reading every circular that hit our mailbox. Upon finding a monthly publication with articles I enjoyed, I queried the editor with suggestions for a column that matched the publication’s style and content and included links to previous articles I’d written. She suggested we begin a trial period of six months before determining if it was a fit. I’m thankful to report I’ve been writing for them for more than a year. 2.  Ã‚     Pay Attention to Magazine Details and the Needs of the Editor Querying an editor of a local women’s publication after noticing a change in the content helped me land my first column gig. I had been reading Women’s Inc. for more than a year when I noticed the Wellness column disappeared. I wrote the editor to inquire and learned the regular columnist had left the position. After I submitted a few samples, she asked me to write a guest column. Shortly after, I was hired as a monthly columnist. 3.  Ã‚     Capitalize on Your Expertise Find publications that have general content related to your interests and suggest a unique angle or subject matter that matches your expertise. Although I was not published when I queried Women’s Inc., I had a master’s degree in Psychology and Counseling. Once I proved I could write satisfactorily, it was a perfect fit for both of us. 4.  Ã‚     Network with Other Writers Online writing groups, critique groups, and writer’s conferences are great places to meet other writers who can help you find opportunities suited for your particular writing. Be bold in asking more established writers for help. Years ago, as an avid reader of Lifeway publications, I met an acquaintance at church who I learned wrote for the national organization. Longing for the chance to write for one of their magazines, I summoned my courage and called her on the phone to seek her advice. She invited me to lunch to learn more about my writing dreams. Soon after, she alerted me to a Lifeway blog and an editor seeking writers for my niche- blended families. I immediately contacted him and submitted a few posts for free before landing a regular paying column. I’ve now been writing a monthly column for Lifeway’s publication, Parenting Teens, for four years. 5.  Ã‚     Don’t Shy Away from National Publications With a few writing clips to show, national publications might be attainable. Many editors - particularly of national magazine - prefer a writer submit six columns as part of the â€Å"interviewing† process. Again, use your expertise, network with other writers who can offer advice on the publication you’re interested in, and determine an editor’s need to find one that’s a match. As one who began my writing career as a monthly columnist, I found identity as a writer after seeing my name in print month after month.   Exploring the world of column writing offers exciting opportunities that keep your creative energy flowing and enhance your writing career in the process.