Texas.

Sam Houston helped fight for Texas' independence from Mexico, and then became the first popularly elected President of the Republic of Texas. During his tenure he secured U.S. recognition of Texas and stabilized the republic's finances.	Big Bend National Park The Big Bend region is one of the few places on Earth where geological processes are so clearly shown that an untrained person can understand them. It is home to 75 species of mammals, 55 species of reptiles, 430 species of birds, and 1,000 varieties of plant life. Relics of an ancient cave dweller civilization are also found in the park.
John Neely Bryan built a log cabin and established a ferry near what is now downtown Dallas in 1841. He had the town site platted in 1844, and was instrumental in getting Dallas named the seat of Dallas County in 1850.	Port Neches was established on the Kansas City Railroad in 1902, and incorporated as a city in 1927.