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Why Is Texas Called the Lone Star State?
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Why Is Texas Called the Lone Star State?

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News •

What to know about the flash floods in Texas that killed at least 79 people • July 6, 2025, 7:12 PM ET (AP)
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Flash floods like the one that swept through Texas are the nation's top storm-related killer • July 6, 2025, 4:42 PM ET (AP)
A young Alabama student, a grandparent and a camp director among those killed in Texas floods • July 6, 2025, 3:06 PM ET (AP)

Texas is called the Lone Star State because of its historical association with the single star on its flag. This star symbolizes the unity and solidarity of the people of Texas under “God, state, and country.” The term “Lone Star” is deeply rooted in Texas’s history, particularly in its fight for independence from Mexico. After gaining independence and before becoming a part of the United States, Texas was an independent republic for almost 10 years (1836-46). The Lone Star Flag and the flag of Hawaii are the only U.S. state flags to have previously served as the national flag of an independent country.

The design of the Lone Star Flag was adopted as the national flag of the Republic of Texas in 1839. The flag has remained unchanged since Texas joined the United States, further cementing the “Lone Star” as a symbol of Texas’s unique identity.

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