A GAZETTEER OF TEXAS. 
By Henry Gannett. 
AREA. 
Texas, formerly a State of Mexico, was settled in large part by 
United States citizens, who, not content to live under Mexican insti- 
tutions, declared their independence of Mexico in 1835. A war fol- 
lowed, in which by the victory of San Jacinto and the capture of Santa 
Anna the State practically achieved its independence, although this 
was never formally acknowledged by Mexico. Soon after it sought, 
and finally in 1845 obtained, admission to the United States. As con- 
stituted when admitted it embraced, besides its present area, the region 
lying east of the Rio Grande which is now in New Mexico, extending 
north to the forty-second parallel. Its eastern limits coincided with 
the western limits of the United States as laid down by the treaty with 
Spain in 1S19. In 1818 the eastern boundary of the State was slightly 
extended from the west bank of Sabine River and Lake to the center 
of the river and lake. 
In 1850 the State sold to the General Government, for the sum of 
$10,000,000, the region lying north of latitude 36° 30' and west of 
longitude 103° as far south as the parallel of 32°, now comprised in 
Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico. This transfer of territory 
reduced the State to its present dimensions. 
The present boundary line of Texas is as follows: Beginning in the 
Gulf of Mexico at the outlet of Sabine Lake, thence northward through 
Sabine Lake and up the middle of Sabine River to the point where 
that river intersects the thirty-second parallel, thence north along the 
meridian of that point of intersection to Red River, up Red River to 
the one hundredth meridian west of Greenwich, north on that meridian 
to the parallel of 36° 30', west on that parallel to the meridian of 103° 
west of Greenwich, south on that meridian to the parallel of 32°, west 
on that parallel to its point of intersection with the Rio Grande, and 
thence down the main channel of the Rio Grande to its mouth. 
The area of Texas is 205,780 square miles. It stretches in latitude 
from 26° to 36° 30', and in longitude from 93° 30' to 106° 30'. In 
altitude it ranges from sea level to 9,000 feet in the summits of the 
western mountain ranges. 
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