Investigating the origins of American words, names, quotations and phrases.
In 2006, a bill was introduced into the Texas Legislature to make Athens, Texas "Original Home of the Hamburger." This is based on the research of Frank X. Tolbert into Fletcher Davis,…
Texas declared the pecan as the official state tree in 1919. Many areas of Texas and Oklahoma have competed for the title of "Pecan Capital." San Saba has been called the "Pecan…
In 2006, Galveston hired a public relations firm to boost its image. One suggestion was to change its name to "City of Galveston Island," but that was rejected. Another was to add the…
Crawfish was almost unknown in Texas, but it was only a matter of time before Louisiana residents introduced the food to Texas in a big way. That started in Mauriceville, which was officially named…
Lake Tawakoni (about an hour's drive from Dallas in north Texas) has good fishing, not just for catfish but also for striped bass, white bass, and large-mouth bass. In 2001, the Texas…
Weslaco (in south Texas) was declared by the Texas legislature in 1997 to be the "Citrus Capital of Texas." A few years before, the Texas legislature declared the Texas red grapefruit to…
Parker County was declared the "Peach Capital of Texas" by the Texas Legislature in 1991. Weatherford, the county seat of Parker County, is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.…
Who knew that there would be so much competition for "Watermelon Capital of Texas"? Knox County is officially the "Seedless Watermelon Capital of Texas" by act of the Texas…
President George Bush and political advisor and cabinet member James Baker (both from Texas) have been credited by William Safire for using "I don't have a dog in that fight" in the…
President Lyndon B. Johnson said "that dog won't hunt" in the 1960s. The ultimate origin of the phrase (used since at least the 1930s) is unknown, but LBJ certainly popularized it.…
Barbecue (barbeque) is popular in Texas and if often used by the initials BBQ, Bar-B-Que, Bar-B-Cue, or simply Q. "BBQ" was used in Los Angeles by at least 1938, but doesn't show up…
Llano (city and county) is known as the "deer capital of Texas" (or "deer hunting capital of Texas"). Llano also is known as the "barbecue capital of the world"…
Port Arthur is close to Louisiana and has been called the "Cajun Capital of Texas." 30 August 1969, Dallas (TX) Morning News, "About Cajun Cooking In Port Arthur Town" by Frank…
A "shade tree mechanic" is a mechanic who works part time, at his home, tinkering his vehicle beneath a shady tree in his yard. The "shade tree" term is very popular in Texas…
Poteet (south of San Antonio) has held a strawberry festival since 1948, has several strawberry monuments around the town, and proudly calls itself the "Strawberry Capital of Texas."…
"Big Tex" is the 52-foot-tall statue of a large Texan that greets visitors to the State Fair. His first appearance was in 1952. The State Fair has trademarked the "Big Tex" name…
Madisonville has a mushroom processing plant (Monterey Mushrooms), so, in 2005, the town acquired the designation "Mushroom Capital of Texas." City of Madisonville, TexasFor those who…
Hawkins is the "Pancake Capital of Texas" because resident Lillian Richard portrayed "Aunt Jemima" for Quaker Oats from 1911-1947. Hawkins isn't known for producing great…
Athens in East Texas calls itself the "Black-Eyed Pea Capital of the World." The slogan dates from at least 1971, when Athens hosted a black-eyed pea festival. Handbook of Texas…
The city of Gilmer in East Texas has held its yam festival, called Yamboree, since 1935. It's said to be the oldest continuing food festival in Texas. Handbook of Texas OnlineGILMER, TEXAS.…