Texas was an independent country for nine years from 1836 to 1845. After joining the United States as the 28th state, the population growth and economic potential in Texas exploded. A wealth of information detailing the dynamic growth in Texas during the first thirty years of statehood is reflected in this fine original map. This snapshot of the young State of Texas includes towns, counties, railroads, forts, camps, mountains, rivers and a host of other details such as the Llano Estacado or Staked Plains in West Texas (one of the largest mesas or tablelands on the North American continent). Other interesting features are included such as the short lived Wegefarth County in the Texas Panhandle that only existed for 3 years – named after the president of the Texas Immigrant Aid and Supply Company.
Insets of the ever expanding political capital of Austin and commercial center of Galveston are especially noteworthy. In the space of only thirty years scores of towns and counties were established, in part due to expanding railroads. The dark lines mark the earliest railroads in Texas – some under construction. Galveston was the main port and commercial center of Texas until it was nearly destroyed in the great hurricane of 1900, at which point Houston became the economic giant of Texas. Nice details of the Indian Territory (which became Oklahoma) such as forts and tribes are also noted. This map provides an intriguing historic portrait of the early decades of the robust Lone Star State and surrounding areas.
