In 1813, the Spanish government granted Moses Austin permission to establish a colony of Anglo-Americans in the Texas area. This marked the beginning of an influx of Anglo-American settlers to the region, ultimately shaping the demographic and cultural landscape of Texas. Following his death, Austin’s son, Stephen F. Austin, continued the colonizing effort, further solidifying the Anglo-American presence in Texas.
Fast forward to 1874, when Joseph McComb staged the first commercial buffalo hunt in Texas. The hunt resulted in the killing of over 2,000 buffalo for their hides, contributing to the decline of the buffalo population in the state. By 1878, the Texas buffalo herd had been decimated, highlighting the impact of human activity on the natural environment.
Moving into the 20th century, in 1929, the city of Independence Heights was formally annexed by Houston. This event marked an important development in the urban landscape of Texas, particularly in terms of the demographics and social dynamics within the state.
Finally, in 2014, basketball star Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks made history by passing Elvin Hayes for eighth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Nowitzki’s achievement solidified his status as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport and brought pride to the state of Texas.