Rodeo Capital of Texas (Mesquite nickname)
Mesquite (near Dallas) has been home to Mesquite Championship Rodeo since 1958. In 1993, the Texas Legislature named Mesquite the "Rodeo Capital of Texas." Mesquite Championship Rodeo…
Archive for 12/2006
Bois d’Arc Capital of Texas (Commerce nickname)
The city of Commerce was declared by the Texas Legislature the "Bois d'Arc Capital of Texas" in 1999. "Bo-dark" (as it's called) is a tree. Commerce holds an annual…
Hippo Capital of Texas (Hutto nickname)
Hippo Capital of Texas? Hippos, in Texas??? Hutto High School had to have a mascot, and it came up with the Hutto Hippo. In 2003, the Texas Legislature declared the city of Hutto the "Hippo…
Square Dance Capital of the World (McAllen nickname)
McAllen in south Texas has hosted the Texas Square Dance Jamboree since 1987, and McAllen promotes itself as the "Square Dance Capital of the World." The Texas Legislature hasn't…
Vetch Capital of the World (Cooper nickname)
Cooper (near Paris, Texas) is known as the "Vetch Capital of the World." Vetch is a bean that perhaps parakeets like. Cooper's slogan is not popular. Handbook of Texas OnlineCOOPER,…
Alligator Capital of Texas (Anahuac nickname)
Anahuac on the Texas Gulf Coast has held the Texas Gatorfest since 1989, when the town was also declared by the Texas Legislature as the "Alligator Capital of Texas." The Anahuac National…
Brown Santa
"Brown Santa" is a program by the Travis County Sheriff's Office (and Williamson County) to distribute Christmas toys. It started a little later than San Antonio's Blue Santa…
Outdoor Capital of Texas (Buda nickname)
How can there be an "Outdoor Capital of Texas"? Isn't Texas all about the outdoors? It's all about business. Buda opened the stores Texas Outdoor Zone (in 2003) and the huge…
Bed and Breakfast Capital of Texas (Jefferson nickname)
The city of Jefferson in Marion County was designated by the Texas Legislature in 1997 as the "Bed and Breakfast Capital of (East) Texas." The small town of under 3,000 people has about…
Hamburger & Fletcher Davis of Athens, TX (“Original Home of the Hamburger”?)
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,…
Pecan Capital of the World (San Saba); World’s Largest Pecan (Seguin)
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…
“The Legend Continues” (Galveston slogan)
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 Capital of Texas (Mauriceville nickname)
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…
Catfish Capital of Texas (West Tawakoni)
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…
Citrus Capital of Texas (Weslaco nickname)
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…
Peach Capital of Texas (Parker County nickname)
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.…
Watermelon Capital of Texas (Hempstead) & Seedless Watermelon Capital of Texas (Knox County)
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…
“I don’t have a dog in that fight”
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…
“That dog won’t hunt” (LBJ)
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.…
BBQ; Bar-B-Que; Q
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…