Say the word “Texas,” and chances are that cowboys, oil, sports, BBQ, and that famously indomitable Texan spirit will come to mind.
The Texan lifestyle is all that and so much more. For example, we should have mentioned history, country music, and ranches already. Indeed, the Lone Star State has so much going on that it has its own Texas Lifestyle Magazine to keep its residents on top of the vibrant culture.
With such a wonderful lifestyle on offer in Texas, it’s no wonder its people are famous for their hospitality and friendliness. So, pull on those cowboy boots, saddle up, and let’s take a road trip through what it means to be a Texan and see how Lone Star State residents enjoy a tremendous Texas lifestyle.
What Is the Texas Lifestyle All About?
Thousands of years ago, the indigenous Caddo people inhabited modern-day Texas. And when you learn that the Caddo word “tejas,” which means friend, gave its name to Texas, the root of that renowned Texan community spirit becomes clearer.
A deep sense of pride has gushed through Texas like the Brazos River, seemingly endlessly. Texas offers friendly and spirited locals — the state’s motto is friendship — fantastic weather, and unique traditions. There’s even a Pledge of Allegiance to the Texas State Flag at some events.
The state’s rich history is seen from its small towns to its huge metropolitan cities. It’s all about nightlife, real estate, wineries, food, history, and more. Let’s unpack the Texas lifestyle.
The Secret Is Out About the Texas Lifestyle
Texas is the second most populous and the second-largest state in the U.S. It’s also attracting more people to live there. It could be the fact that Texans pay no state income tax. Or it could be because Texas has a lower cost of living than the national average.
What about housing? A recent study placed five Texas cities in the U.S.’s top 10 places to buy real estate, with three of the top four being in Texas: McKinney, Nashville, and Denton are the leaders, with Allen and Austin making up the other Texas representatives. The study looked at affordability and median home price appreciation.
Texans are able to take advantage of a booming job market, high-quality educational facilities, and whatever climate you wish. Big Bend National Park offers rugged mountain scenery. Or perhaps you are more attuned to the gentle slopes of Hill Country punctuated with wineries. The Gulf Coast boasts a maritime lifestyle. There are the forests of Piney Woods, not forgetting West Texas’ vast prairies.
Outdoor enthusiasts love the state parks like Palo Duro Canyon and Enchanted Rock. But we’ve just scratched the surface.
The Backbone of the Texas Lifestyle Is Its People
Typical bumper stickers in Texas might give you an insight into the local psyche. They include the following messages:
- “The Friendship State”
- “Everything’s Bigger in Texas”
- “Don’t Mess with Texas”
This honesty runs throughout the land. People moving to Texas may be surprised to find their neighbors presenting them with a welcome meal on arrival. Or they may not expect to experience people chatting to them in the grocery store or while waiting to see the doctor. But that’s the community spirit and southern hospitality that Texans enjoy sharing.
Texans are famously hardworking and open to meeting new people. There’s an independent streak possibly hardwired into people. A history of fighting for their rights has made Texans a determined bunch; the story of the battle at the Alamo in 1836 symbolizes this spirit as a rallying cry toward independence. Indeed, Texas was a republic from 1836 until formally joining the United States in 1846.
Such friendliness may also stem from the cultural diversity found in modern-day Texas. In 2020, 40% of Texans identified as Hispanic or Latino, 13% as Black or African American, almost 6% as Asian, and 1% as American Indian.
This melting pot has produced a deep pride in strong cultural identities that can be seen throughout the state, in festivals and rodeos, and even during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Each person has brought their own slice of history, culminating in the Lone Star State’s rich history. Texas has over 4,000 historical landmarks, 900 local history museums, and over 75,000 registered archaeological sites.
And while the image of big skies and empty lands with farmland ranches and cowboys is alive and kicking in Texas, some 90% of the Lone Star state’s residents now live in urban areas like Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas.
And, of course, that open road spirit comes across in another famous Texan product — its music.
Live Music Is Essential to the Texas Way of Life
Music drives to the core of the Texan lifestyle, from country music to ragtime, bluegrass, and Cajun. Texas has long been seen as the birthplace of country music.
There are hundreds of music venues holding concerts every week. One of Texas’ most famous musical exports, the Chicks, used Texas’ Wide Open Spaces as a metaphor in one of their most successful songs.
Indeed, Austin is known as the “Live Music Capital of the World.” Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughan helped Austin establish this moniker in the 1970s. In comparison, the 2020s sees the city famous for its yearly South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival.
Many famous musicians come from Texas, including Dallas-Fort Worth-born Meat Loaf, Buddy Holly from Lubbock, and Willie Nelson from Fort Worth. Their music and lyrics have touched the hearts and souls of billions worldwide, no doubt inspired by their Texas roots along the way.
But this bubbling music scene needs to be powered. That’s where the Lone Star State excels with its fantastic food culture.
Food: The Tastiest Part of the Texas Lifestyle 
All the people moving to Texas have contributed to its melting pot of fine foods. The two most famous are Tex-Mex and BBQ.
These titans of the table gift Texans access to one of life’s greatest pleasures: eating well.
Tex-Mex mixes traditional Mexican food with ingredients introduced by Spanish and European colonizers. The results are mouth-watering classics like chili con carne, nachos slathered in melted cheese and jalapenos, queso dips, and hug-on-a-plate chimichangas.
Need more? Well, there are fajitas, guacamole, and enchiladas. There’s a lot of crossover between Tex-Mex and Mexican food, so why not enjoy a hearty discussion about the distinctions over a few cold drinks at one of many excellent joints in Texas?
The BBQ is where the Texans get serious about their food. This tradition most likely started via African American and Mexican American cotton pickers and German butcher shops in small town Texas. These workers were prohibited from entering restaurants, so they would buy smoked meat from the butchers and call it BBQ.
On the street, ubiquitous smokehouses compete to create the best beef briskets. Try a few, and you’ll soon be able to tell the difference between those cooked over hickory, iron oak, or mesquite wood. Keep your tongue trained to spot the subtle changes each BBQ pitmaster uses to define their signature taste.
Just moved to Texas? Don’t be surprised if your friendly neighbors ask you over to partake if they get their grill fired up; that’s just the Texan way. But be prepared — people guard their techniques, garnishes, and spice rub recipes carefully and may not share their secret formulas easily.
Pork ribs, sausages, turkey, and burnt-end bacon are also famous. Sides could be potato salad, coleslaw, creamed corn, and lashings of white bread. Look for sweet potato fries, chicken-fried steak, and the famous Texas quail.
No Texas lifestyle is complete without trying the carne asada. You’ll earn Texas newbie points by knowing that a carne asada is a specific meat cut marinating before hitting the BBQ. Pitmasters then slice the meat finely against the grain and serve it as is or in tacos or burritos. Carne asada is a staple of food trucks that have spread throughout Texas, especially outside music and sports venues.
Watching Sports in Texas Is a Community Thing
Texas has a lot to shout about on the sports field. NFL fans can cheer on the five-time Super Bowl winning Dallas Cowboys or the more up-and-coming Houston Texans. Major League Baseball is represented by the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers.
Basketball fans enjoy the so-called Texas Triangle, a triumvirate of teams: the San Antonio Spurs, the Houston Rockets, and the Dallas Mavericks.
What’s excellent about community-driven Texans is their support for grassroots sports, especially college sports. People head in droves to support their local college teams, from Arlington to Austin and Waco to El Paso.
People also play soccer, football, tennis, volleyball, and baseball, among many of the team sports available. Golf, wrestling, track and field, and tennis tournaments run alongside swimming meets. Many students choose their college based on the sports teams.
Following local college teams is a great way to get to know your neighbors, have fun, and build community ties.
How Does History Shape the Texas Lifestyle?
Texas has a long and rich history. Going far back, visit the Caddo Mounds State Historic Site to understand how Texas’ original inhabitants lived.
Of course, nowadays Texas is synonymous with cowboys, including Mexican vaqueros, who helped establish the Texan free spirit idea of a nomadic life under the stars.
Capturing this image is one of the country’s largest state fairs, the Texas State Fair. You’ll find excellent food, agricultural shows, and live music, to name a few of the attractions. For a bit more rodeo, try The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the largest in the state.
Another idiosyncratic tradition occurs when people celebrate the Texan countryside in spring, heading to fields full of bluebonnets, the state flower. Once there, they take pictures wearing cowboy hats and boots to commemorate the state’s rural roots.
Battle sites are important across Texas, from the Alamo to San Jacinto, where Texan independence was won in 1836, or the Fannin Battleground, where the Mexicans emerged victorious.
Civil War fans will appreciate the sites at Fort Lancaster, Sabine Pass Battleground, and Fort Griffin. Architectural delights include the Texas State Capitol and Port Isabel Lighthouse. Texas is synonymous with energy, and the Spindletop Gladys City Boomtown museum helps visitors understand how oil became critical to the state’s prosperity.
Moving through the ages, people can visit the George Washington Carver Museum and Genealogy Center in Austin. Galleries and sculptures tell and preserve the story of African American culture.
Perhaps the most famous site is the Space Center in Houston. This science museum is the official visitor center for NASA’s nearby Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Such a varied roll call of honor rightly makes Texans proud of their fertile and welcoming lands. This pride is noticeable to any visitor or newcomer. It may feel abrasive to start; pride is a rambunctious yet sensitive beast. But once you’ve understood that pride’s origins, we think you’ll appreciate its merit and worth.
Do You Want to Enjoy the Texas Lifestyle?
Behind all these traditions and beauty lie one constant: the people of Texas, proud of their origins and customs. The state would be nothing without the diverse people that make it.
Convinced? Maybe you’ll want to start looking at real estate in Texas. Remember that median home prices in Texas are more than half that of New York. Check our moving guides for more:
And, yes, we know Texas gets hot in summer. But that’s why we’re here to help set up utilities: Low-priced electricity means you can enjoy the air conditioning when it’s sweltering.
Finally, you’ll know you’ve settled in once you buy yourself a pair of cowboy boots. And like some Texans, you may not wear them, but every time you look at them, you’ll feel the shared pride and history of all those who call the Lone Star State their home.
Brought to you by amigoenergy
All images licensed from Adobe Stock.
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