Texas is so big, it could practically be divided into several states – and you’d almost think it already was, based on the immense differences from one region to the next. From the culture to the landscape and everything in between, going from El Paso to Beaumont will have you feeling like you’re on a whole new planet – much less the same country and the same state. The following are 7 of the biggest differences between East and West Texas.
- The landscape
Flickr/gosdin
Flickr/mattybravo East Texas is full of wildflowers, evergreen trees, and sprawling plains as far as the eye can see. West Texas, however, has towering mountains reaching up to the heavens and miles upon miles of uncharted desert land. Both are beautiful in their own right but couldn’t be more different.
- The climate
Flickr/miguelitosql
Flickr/matthigh East Texas is plagued by unrelenting humidity for much of the year (even throughout the winter), while West Texas has a dry desert climate that even sees chilly temperatures on summer nights.
- The time
Flickr/stacylynn This one is obvious - East Texas is in the Central Time Zone while West Texas is in the Mountain Time Zone. Don’t forget to set the clocks back in your car when you travel, or you’ll end up mighty confused!
- The industry
Flickr/Gloria Cabada-Leman
Flickr/mikham East Texas industry is far more centered on agriculture than that of West Texas, and the reason why is very apparent. Ample rain in the east creates rich soil perfect for growing all sorts of crops, cotton being one of the staples. Out west, you’ll see an oil pump about every five minutes as you drive. We pump oil here in the east, too, but even coming from Southeast Texas I was shocked at all the pumps I saw on a road trip to El Paso.
- The vegetation
Flickr/amyashcraft
Flickr/aneyefortexas There’s immense beauty to be found on both sides of the state. Whether you like bold, vibrant flowers or a mystical desert landscape with mountains that provide a panoramic view of the gorgeous surroundings, there’s scenery in Texas for everyone’s personal preference.
- The bodies of water
Flickr/mikedish This one also goes without saying - the drier the area, the less water that will exist there. West Texans spend hot summer days longing to jump into a cold pool of water, but there are very few natural places to go swimming. East Texas, however, is a completely different story. Not a weekend goes by from about April to November that East Texans don’t spend at some sort of river, lake, or creek.
- The food
Flickr/davehensley
Flickr/flickr4jazz While East Texans enjoy more traditional Southern-style foods like chicken-fried steak, the cuisine of West Texas has more of a southwestern influence (think tamales, tacos, etc…oh, and chili because Terlingua).
Despite our differences, we’re all united under the Texas flag and share the same amount of unashamed pride for the Lone Star State. If you don’t believe me, check out 12 Reasons Why Texas Is The BEST State.
Flickr/gosdin
Flickr/mattybravo
East Texas is full of wildflowers, evergreen trees, and sprawling plains as far as the eye can see. West Texas, however, has towering mountains reaching up to the heavens and miles upon miles of uncharted desert land. Both are beautiful in their own right but couldn’t be more different.
Flickr/miguelitosql
Flickr/matthigh
East Texas is plagued by unrelenting humidity for much of the year (even throughout the winter), while West Texas has a dry desert climate that even sees chilly temperatures on summer nights.
Flickr/stacylynn
This one is obvious - East Texas is in the Central Time Zone while West Texas is in the Mountain Time Zone. Don’t forget to set the clocks back in your car when you travel, or you’ll end up mighty confused!
Flickr/Gloria Cabada-Leman
Flickr/mikham
East Texas industry is far more centered on agriculture than that of West Texas, and the reason why is very apparent. Ample rain in the east creates rich soil perfect for growing all sorts of crops, cotton being one of the staples. Out west, you’ll see an oil pump about every five minutes as you drive. We pump oil here in the east, too, but even coming from Southeast Texas I was shocked at all the pumps I saw on a road trip to El Paso.
Flickr/amyashcraft
Flickr/aneyefortexas
There’s immense beauty to be found on both sides of the state. Whether you like bold, vibrant flowers or a mystical desert landscape with mountains that provide a panoramic view of the gorgeous surroundings, there’s scenery in Texas for everyone’s personal preference.
Flickr/mikedish
This one also goes without saying - the drier the area, the less water that will exist there. West Texans spend hot summer days longing to jump into a cold pool of water, but there are very few natural places to go swimming. East Texas, however, is a completely different story. Not a weekend goes by from about April to November that East Texans don’t spend at some sort of river, lake, or creek.
Flickr/davehensley
Flickr/flickr4jazz
While East Texans enjoy more traditional Southern-style foods like chicken-fried steak, the cuisine of West Texas has more of a southwestern influence (think tamales, tacos, etc…oh, and chili because Terlingua).
How many of these differences can you relate to? Are there any others we left off? Let us know!
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