The new settlers were expected to be Catholics, and willing to become Spanish citizens in return for generous land grants. Against this background, Moses Austin traveled from Missouri to Spanish San Antonio in 1820 to apply for an empresario grant to bring Anglo-American families to Texas.

The foreigners were to be Catholic, industrious, and willing to become Spanish citizens in return for generous land grants. Spain expected the new settlers to increase economic development and help deter the aggressive and mobile Plains Indians such as the Comanches and Kiowas.

Anglo-Americans were drawn by inexpensive land and believed annexation of Texas to the United States was likely and would improve the market for the land. Some settlers were fleeing debts and sought refuge in the Mexican colony, where they were safe from American creditors.

How did Anglo colonization of Texas differ from Spanish colonization of Texas? Anglo settlers helped to build missions and presidios. Anglo settlers followed empresarios with land grants. He was the only Mexican empresario.

Discussions of Spanish and Mexican Texas now generally include south and west Texas, which at the time were not part of its territory. Allowing for this fact, the largest concentration of Spanish land grants in Texas today is located in the area between the Nueces and Rio Grande rivers.

Popular Nicknames for Austin

• Aust ‒ A simple nickname for someone named Austin.
• Auss ‒ A popular abbreviation suitable for the name Austin.
• Astin ‒ A short diminutive of the name Austin.
• Auzzy ‒ A cool nickname for someone named Austin.

Austin is “Bat City,” or “Hippie Haven,” but more recently Austin’s motto has been “Keep Austin Weird.”

Texas is the only state to enter the United States by treaty instead of territorial annexation. The state was an independent nation from 1836 to 1845. Texas boasts the nation’s largest herd of whitetail deer. A coastal live oak located near Fulton is the oldest tree in the state.

Texas was once its own country. From March 2, 1836 to February 1846 Texas was the Republic of Texas. One reason Texans are so proud is because our roots run deep. Many families have been here for hundreds of years and this pride has been passed on from generation to generation.

25 Interesting Facts about Texas

• Six nations have ruled over Texas.
• Texas is larger than any European country.
• It is the second most populous state in America.
• There are 139 tornadoes on average a year.
• Dr Pepper was invented here.
• Houston is the largest city, but Austin is the capital.
• Texas uses its own power grid.
• Austin has the fastest road in the U.S.

Fun Facts About Texas Culture + History

• Texas was once its own country.
• The Alamo isn’t the only Spanish mission in San Antonio.
• “GONE TO TEXAS” has been used since the 19th century.
• Vietnamese is the third most spoken language in Texas.
• … and there’s a dialect of German in the Lone Star State that is specific to Texas.

While there are water parks all over the world, Texas is the only state that has Schlitterbahn, the world’s best water park. The parks, which are located in New Braunfels and Galveston, have some of the world’s top water rides, including the Master Blaster, The Falls, and the Congo River Expedition.