Geography of Texas - Exam 1 Study Guide With
complete solu on RATED A+ 2025/2026 NEW!!
Know how many European countries completely within Europe's boundaries are bigger than
Texas.
No country completely in Europe is bigger than Texas.
Know approximately how many degrees of la tude and longitude Texas spans.
La tude: nearly 11 degrees.
Longitude: over 13 degrees.
Be able to explain the importance of Texas's size in the context of the resource lo%ery concept.
The bigger the size (aka the more lo%ery ckets) the be%er chances you have at winning the
resource lo%ery in Texas. Aka, the bigger the state, the chances of having a large and diverse
resource base are greater). The size ma%ers because it gives Texas a bigger area that ends up
"winning" the resource lo%ery.
Briefly explain how Texas's size o-en impacts the rela ve distance between places by people
who live here and visit here.
What cons tutes a "long road trip" is quite different for Texans than for people from smaller
places.
Know which treaty established Texas's Eastern border; know the nature of Louisiana's challenge
to that boundary in 1941, as well as how that challenge was se%led by SCOTUS in 1973.
Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819.
- Louisiana Dispute in 1941: claimed the boundary was the west bank of the Sabine.
- SCOTUS determined the boundary was the middle of the river.
Which county is home to the geographic center of Texas, helping reinforce its roughly compact
shape?
McCulloch County.
Generally describe how the symmetry of Texas's borders with all its neighbors changes as we
move from the state level to the local level.
Asymmetrical (physical shape) at the state level with all its neighbors.
At a local scale, much more symmetrical in terms of culture and economy with its neighbors.
, Which Spanish explorer overland travels across Texas before journeying back to Mexico would
provide the Spanish with lots of basic geographic informa on about the area?
Cabeza de vaca.
What is the first European se%lement in Texas? What is the event that led to its founding?
Ysleta; The Pueblo Revolt led to its founding.
Which French Explorer established the failed se%lement of Fort St. Louis on Lavaca Bay in 1685?
What ul mately happened to him?
La Salle; He was killed by French Colony survivors.
Define a forward capital. Know the forward capital established by the Spanish for Texas, the
present-day state in which it was located, and the major reason why the Spanish placed this
forward capital where they did.
Forward capital: A capital placed at a forward posi on/loca on.
- Los Adaes (Modern Louisiana)
- The Spanish placed their forward capital at Los Adaes to reinforce their claim.
Missions
Religious conversion of na ves to catholicism.
Presidios
Military outposts used to maintain territorial control and protect se%lers.
Explain how San Antonio first developed as a major se%lement for the Spanish; know the name
of the road along which it was located.
San Antonio was about halfway between Los Adaes and Mexico, and had 5 missions and
presidios.
- Road: El Camino Real.
Explain the Empresario system. Who was the first authorized empresario in Texas (hint: it was
the father, not the son).
Contractors who are granted land (named a-er them) onto which the empresario encourages
families to se%le. Mee ng se%lement benchmarks resulted in large lands being awarded to the
empresario.
- Moses Aus n (Father) was the first.
- His son, Stephen F. Aus n was one of the only successful empresarios.
complete solu on RATED A+ 2025/2026 NEW!!
Know how many European countries completely within Europe's boundaries are bigger than
Texas.
No country completely in Europe is bigger than Texas.
Know approximately how many degrees of la tude and longitude Texas spans.
La tude: nearly 11 degrees.
Longitude: over 13 degrees.
Be able to explain the importance of Texas's size in the context of the resource lo%ery concept.
The bigger the size (aka the more lo%ery ckets) the be%er chances you have at winning the
resource lo%ery in Texas. Aka, the bigger the state, the chances of having a large and diverse
resource base are greater). The size ma%ers because it gives Texas a bigger area that ends up
"winning" the resource lo%ery.
Briefly explain how Texas's size o-en impacts the rela ve distance between places by people
who live here and visit here.
What cons tutes a "long road trip" is quite different for Texans than for people from smaller
places.
Know which treaty established Texas's Eastern border; know the nature of Louisiana's challenge
to that boundary in 1941, as well as how that challenge was se%led by SCOTUS in 1973.
Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819.
- Louisiana Dispute in 1941: claimed the boundary was the west bank of the Sabine.
- SCOTUS determined the boundary was the middle of the river.
Which county is home to the geographic center of Texas, helping reinforce its roughly compact
shape?
McCulloch County.
Generally describe how the symmetry of Texas's borders with all its neighbors changes as we
move from the state level to the local level.
Asymmetrical (physical shape) at the state level with all its neighbors.
At a local scale, much more symmetrical in terms of culture and economy with its neighbors.
, Which Spanish explorer overland travels across Texas before journeying back to Mexico would
provide the Spanish with lots of basic geographic informa on about the area?
Cabeza de vaca.
What is the first European se%lement in Texas? What is the event that led to its founding?
Ysleta; The Pueblo Revolt led to its founding.
Which French Explorer established the failed se%lement of Fort St. Louis on Lavaca Bay in 1685?
What ul mately happened to him?
La Salle; He was killed by French Colony survivors.
Define a forward capital. Know the forward capital established by the Spanish for Texas, the
present-day state in which it was located, and the major reason why the Spanish placed this
forward capital where they did.
Forward capital: A capital placed at a forward posi on/loca on.
- Los Adaes (Modern Louisiana)
- The Spanish placed their forward capital at Los Adaes to reinforce their claim.
Missions
Religious conversion of na ves to catholicism.
Presidios
Military outposts used to maintain territorial control and protect se%lers.
Explain how San Antonio first developed as a major se%lement for the Spanish; know the name
of the road along which it was located.
San Antonio was about halfway between Los Adaes and Mexico, and had 5 missions and
presidios.
- Road: El Camino Real.
Explain the Empresario system. Who was the first authorized empresario in Texas (hint: it was
the father, not the son).
Contractors who are granted land (named a-er them) onto which the empresario encourages
families to se%le. Mee ng se%lement benchmarks resulted in large lands being awarded to the
empresario.
- Moses Aus n (Father) was the first.
- His son, Stephen F. Aus n was one of the only successful empresarios.
