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Traveling Through Texas Towns

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The Questions

Question 1:

Which of the following Texas towns was named after one of the heroes of the battle of San Jacinto?

All of the above

Question 2:

All five of the following Texas towns or cities were originally forts, with four of the five being built in the late 1840s and early 1850s, as an attempt was made to protect settlers heading west. One of the towns was originally known as Chihuahua. It became one of the most important towns in the Trans-Pecos country, by virtue of its position at an important crossroads. Around 1900, its mild climate and mountain location made it a popular summer resort for Gulf Coast families. It is situated a few miles from the University of Texas McDonald Observatory, and tourism remains an important part of its economy. Which town is it?

Fort Stockton
Fort McKavett
Fort Davis
Fort Worth
Fort Hancock

Question 3:

All five of the following towns or cities were once official or unofficial capitals of Texas, both before and during the Republic of Texas. One of these five served as the site of the first capital of an elected government for the republic, from September to December 1836, and was the site where Sam Houston was inaugurated as president in October 1836. Stephen F. Austin died there in December 1836. Which location is it?

San Felipe

Question 4:

With Texas never known for being modest, the following Texas towns each carry the names of other famous world locations. One of these towns is also known as the Black-Eyed Pea Capital of the World. It is located west of Tyler, and is the county seat of Henderson County. Its name was suggested by Dulcina Holland, who hoped the town might become a cultural center. Which town is it?


Question 5:

The following five towns or cities share their names with Texas rivers. One of the five grew around a presidio of the same name, founded in 1718. Its river was named by a Spanish expedition, and five Spanish missions were located on the river. The town was also the site of several famous battles. Which town is it?

Rio Grande City
San Antonio

Question 6:

The following five towns were each named directly or indirectly for Catholic saints. One of the towns, located in East Texas, is located on the historic Camino Real and served as a gateway to Texas from Louisiana. It is the site of a historic Spanish mission. Sam Houston lived and practiced law there, and represented the community in the Convention of 1832. Which town is it?

San Angelo
San Augustine
San Marcos
San Ygnacio
San Diego

Question 7:

The following five towns are all ports on or near the Gulf of Mexico. One of them was founded in 1895, with the original intent of becoming a tourist resort. Its growth accelerated on a different basis, however, after the eruption of Spindletop in 1901, with the building of several oil refineries in the area. It is now a major oil-refining and petrochemical center. Which town is it?

Port Arthur
Port Aransas
Port Bolivar
Port Lavaca
Port Isabel

Question 8:

Texas has always been known for its solid rock foundation, built in part on its extensive rocky soils. The five towns below are but a subset of the rocky town names in Texas. One of the five towns was originally named Brushy Creek when it was established in 1848. When it got its first post office in 1854, it was renamed for a certain rock from which the two founders liked to fish. The town has enjoyed significant growth, and is now known for its winning baseball team. Which town is it?

Rock Island
Rock House
Rock Church
Round Rock
Paint Rock

Question 9:

Balancing its rocky image, Texas is also known for its rivers and lakes. Most of following five towns are named for interesting lakes across the state. One of these towns was popular with American Indians, but first became a settlement in 1835. It became known as a health resort, due to its mineral waters and oil seepages near the lakeshores. Sam Houston visited it in the early 1860s. Oil discoveries in 1902 made it a boomtown, with oil production ultimately reaching 50,000 barrels per day. Which town is it?

Eagle Lake
Lake Dallas
Green Lake
Cedar Lake
Sour Lake

Question 10:

Sometimes when The stars at night are big and bright--deep in the heart of Texas, we are actually seeing planets. Perhaps this is why the five small Texas towns listed below are named as they are. One of the five was formerly known as Gossip, and is located some 20 miles east of Cleburne in eastern Johnson County, southwest of Dallas. The community was actually renamed in honor of the daughter of a local physician when it became recognized in 1888. By the mid-1890s, it was one of the most prosperous towns in Johnson County. Which town is it? (P.S. to town planners: According to the TSHA's Handbook of Texas Online, there are no Texas towns yet with the names of Jupiter, Neptune, or Uranus. There is an Earth, Texas, in Lamb County.)

Mars Community

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