Has the meaning of "West Texas" changed over time?

[Westerner92]

Last week on the way to Austin, I drove through a town called Rising Star, and there were a few businesses with West Texas in the name, but the next town to the southeast called Comanche had a few businesses with Central Texas in the name. I didn't expect things to be so clearly delineated.

[TXNGL]

Originally Posted by doctorjef

At least East Texas State at Commerce was aptly named, except didn't they change their name some years back?

It's A&M at Commerce now.

[catman]

Originally Posted by Westerner92

Last week on the way to Austin, I drove through a town called Rising Star, and there were a few businesses with West Texas in the name, but the next town to the southeast called Comanche had a few businesses with Central Texas in the name. I didn't expect things to be so clearly delineated.

I think you just lucked out. I wouldn't read too much into it. I consider Comanche to be as much in West Texas as in Central Texas anyway, if not more so.

[James2496]

Originally Posted by doctorjef

I'm blocking on the name of the university at Canyon, which is now a branch of A&M, but didn't it used to have a rather inappropriate name? Oh yeah, now I remember -- West Texas State University. Well, at least it is in West Texas, but you would have thought they would've given it a name more specific to the Panhandle. Even the Episcopal Church diocese up there is called the Diocese of Northwest Texas. West Texas State sounds like it should be in Midland or San Angelo (maybe Angelo State could now take over the old West Texas State U. name).

When I went to North Texas State University (now University of North Texas), both West Texas State and East Texas State were farther north. None of those college names based on geography have ever made a lot of sense.