The state of Texas is the largest state in the contiguous United States. There are more than 25 million people who live within nearly 270,000 square miles of land. The geographic traits of the state are as diverse as its population.

If you were to take a trip across Texas in any direction, the landscape would change from start to finish. Texas extends from sea level at the Gulf of Mexico to more than 8,000 feet in the Guadalupe Mountains of West Texas. Texas also extends from the Lower Rio Grande Valley to the High Plains of the Panhandle.

Below is a map that illustrates the natural regions of Texas. These regions are named for the natural geographic features that characterize the region.

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The geography of Texas has changed over time. From the days of prehistoric Texas to today’s contemporary Texas, the geography of Texas remains vast and diversified. Texas has not only changed in size, but physical characteristics have changed as well. Texas was once a region inhabited by American Indians of various cultures and is now populated by people of different ethnicities and nationalities.

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In the next section, you will examine the geographic changes in Texas from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. You will also learn the ways in which the environment of Texas was modified during each century.