The Truth About Texas: Debunking Some Common Texas Myths

When I graduated from college, I took a job in the insurance industry in Massachusetts. The pay was good, the place seemed nice, and frankly I’d never lived on the East Coast. I wanted to know what it was like. It seemed exotic and foreign to me.

It was also a long way away from my native Texas. There were things I wasn’t prepared for - especially New England’s brutal winters. Ironically, though, I found that people in New England seemed like they weren’t terribly well prepared for me either. ‘Texas’ seemed to be a word loaded with meanings to someone raised on the East Coast, and I didn’t seem to fit the bill for any of them. Anytime I was asked where I hailed from, I could see people’s brains lock up when they heard the name ‘Texas’.

“But,” they’d say, “you don’t have an accent!” It was true, I didn’t. And I still don’t. And I don’t wear a cowboy hat. And I don’t have a six-shooter. And I know nothing about herding cattle. And I’m not particularly stoic or laconic or tough or any of those things you see in the movies. I’m just a guy.

But since those perceptions seem to endure among people who’ve never been to the Lone Star State, I thought I’d devote a hub to debunking some Texas myths, and to providing some insight on this oft-fabled state to those who might be considering moving down here. As you’ve heard, it’s a big place, and there’s a lot to know!

Texas is the second largest state both in terms of area and population. To give you an idea of its scale, a drive from Dallas, Texas (in the north-east corner of Texas), where I am located, to El Paso (at the western extreme of the state), takes roughly eleven hours of uninterrupted driving. Texas is second only to Alaska in size. Because of this, it is unlikely that I know your cousin in [insert city of your choice].The state is just that big!

Because of the sheer size, the state also varies widely in terms of geography and climate. North and East Texas share more in common with the climate you’d usually associate with the American South. West Texas is more like New Mexico or Arizona. Your experience in Texas will vary widely depending on where you move.

We do have our fair share of rednecks, and yes there are still cowboys. But they don’t represent the majority of the state’s population. In fact, Texas is home to two of the largest cities in the United States – Dallas and Houston, and they’re about as metropolitan as any other major American cities.

While cattle are still a large staple of the Texas economy, technology and oil are also dominant industries. A large number of companies, like Dell Computers and AT&T, call Texas home. Job opportunities in Texas’s larger cities are good, and bring many people from other states to work in Texas. This has greatly diversified Texas’s population.

You just don’t hear that Texas accent all that often in the big cities. To be honest, I’ve found that ‘country’ accents usually aren’t about location as much as they are about demographics. Unique accents tend to endure more in rural areas that are less subject to the flux of urban areas. You’re more likely to hear your typical accent in a remote west Texas town than you are in downtown Dallas or Houston.

That’s not to say that you don’t still run into accents in the big cities – it’s just that it’s not as prevalent as Hollywood would have you believe these days.

It is legal for private citizens to own firearms in Texas. No license or permit is required to own or carry rifles or shotguns. A permit is required to carry a handgun.

While I don’t know all the ins and outs of Texas gun laws, I can say that I’ve never personally known another Texan who carried a handgun. This may be just my experience, but many Texans I know share the same phobia of handguns that I’ve encountered in other states, and in any case handguns are not at all as ‘wild west’ common as you see them in the movies.

It’s not something that I find myself stressing about – ever, actually.

Not as much as you might think. The state is generally socially and fiscally conservative. During Presidential elections, Texas typically votes republican.

But like I’ve said – we don’t share and share alike. There is a strong democratic presence in Texas, especially in areas such as Austin (the state capital) and El Paso. It really depends on where you choose to live.

I’m sure these are just a few of the common misconceptions about the state. The myths I’ve included just happen to be some of the most common among people I’ve met. Are there questions you have about Texas? Leave a comment and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can! If I don’t know - I’ll find out!

Should you be considering a move to Texas - my company can help! Call 866-726-1579 to get a moving quote!

Learn more about Texas from other Hubbers:

Sky Diving in Texas

Places To Visit In Texas

The Top Ten Places To Visit In Texas