Where does it begin...? (Houston, Dallas: living, assess, horse)

[case44]

Originally Posted by WestTx

The East Texas boundary is easy. Anything east of I-45 is East Texas. One of these days, someone will come up with a map that better describes the destinct regions of Texas.

Eh, I'm sure it's out there somewhere.....

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by case44

By the way, Rebby, great thread idea. You've got a great way with words to describe these areas. I can't wait for more!

Well, thanks my friend, and in turn I respectful and sincere tribute (and agreement) to your own solid and colorful way of expressing things on this particular topic!

As concerns specifics though, I DEFINITELY agree -- even if maybe I didn't make it clear with my OP -- with what you (and others) have said about East and West Texas being entities which are and/or can be simplified into either side of some bland geographical point! Many, MANY miles seperate TRUE West and East Texas (at least in my opinion). And yeah, in the northern part of the state, North Texas (a transitional area) divides them. It is a cultural and emotional and "feeling" type thing....landscape too...not a here I am in west Texas, but when I get past this specific latitude marker on a map, I am in East Texas...

On a related tangent, notice how most of the discussion seems to center around east and west Texas, rather than north to south? Interesting, I think...

Cathy wrote: LOL!! Uh huh......IMHO, Abilene is the far eastern edge of what I consider to be West Texas.

I agree, Cathy!

Belle wrote: EXACTLY! there are places east of I-35 that definitely dont fit the description of East Texas!! gosh, without looking at a map right now, i would venture to say that even an hour's drive east of I-35 wouldnt put you into anything stereotypical of EAST Texas....
so......yall, how far east of I-35 would you say one would have to go, to get to the East Texas type of geography/climate/culture/landscape etc? Let's use DFW as one point, Waco/Temple/Austin as another point...

Hmmmm...good one Belle, and I hope to be able to report my own worthless opinion when I return from Caddo Lake sometime mid-week! LOL (leaving tomorow).

Seriously though, the past ten years we have always taken the "scenic route" (along Hwy 69 to hook up with I-20 around Tyler). That path is why I always considered Greenville the starting point of East Texas (for reasons mentioned in my OP).

Trouble is though, anymore, the DFW area has stetched its tentacles to the point that to DO so, one must FIRST navigate thru the Denton/McKinney/etc area and stops and starts and traffic to the point that to even GET to Hwy 69, one has lost at least an hour, if not more. And a hell of a lot of good scenery.

Soooo, paradoxically? THIS year, we ARE just going to take 287 to I-35 to I-20 and cut east to Tyler and Marshall. I say paradoxically, because to save time, we are just going to take a path directly thru Ft. Worth and Dallas, whose sprawl is responsible for messing up an easier way just 5 years ago. At LEAST thru the parent tumor, one can avoid continual stops and starts.

I hasten to add, by the way, even apologize, for the use of the ugly sounding metaphor "tumor" to describe the Metro-plex, to those it may offend. I am as proud as anyone in the realm of its place in Texas and its role in giving a different slant (even if I am not, and dont want to be, a part of it all), to the image in the North and West Coast of Texas as nothing more than a land of backwater rubes and drawling hicks (which, in turn, who cares what a bunch of yankees think, anyway...?).
No, in this context, I meant it as something which ever more detracts from the natural beauty and wonder of our great state...

*AHEM*

Ok...after that rambling interlude? Here is my main point. I AM going to take note of just where it seems North Texas becomes East Texas along I-20. Not so easy this time as lots of the natural scenery has been mowed down to make way for the highway. However, having travelled it before, in other contexts and reasons, I am going to say...somewhere between Dallas and Tyler. About Canton...?

[TexasHorseLady]

On a related tangent, notice how most of the discussion seems to center around east and west Texas, rather than north to south? Interesting, I think...

Well, that was the question, wasn't it? You didn't ask where South Texas begins. Or, for that matter, what constitutes "Central Texas", which is a whole 'nother discussion and kettle of fish!

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

On a related tangent, notice how most of the discussion seems to center around east and west Texas, rather than north to south? Interesting, I think...

Well, that was the question, wasn't it? You didn't ask where South Texas begins. Or, for that matter, what constitutes "Central Texas", which is a whole 'nother discussion and kettle of fish!

Hey TexasHorseLady! As always, I enjoy a good discussion with you! It is always fun and informative! *smiles* But to answer to your question? No, in this case, it wasn't. Here was my original post on the topic:

****************

Good morning fellow Texans, and is often a habit of mine, I am starting a new thread this fine Sunday morning!

Backtracking a bit, the topic of this one is akin to one we did last year. That is, "Where Does East Texas Start?"

In this case however, I am wondering (and truly curious) as to where, in y'alls opinions, ANY region of Texas "starts." Not just East Texas. And of course, noting that a lot of this will depend on which direction and along which highways one is used to taking...

To lead off here, and repeat, on the route I usually take to Caddo Lake, I have always considered Greenville to be where East Texas begins. It just seems that about there (travelling along Hwy 69), the land and "moodscape" noteably changes. Pine trees spring up and the whole thing evolves undeniably (IMHO) from that vibrancy of North Texas into that sweet "gentle fatalism" of East Texas and the "romantic South".

West Texas? Well, when I was growing up, my grandparents lived in Lubbock and we used to make that trek along US 82. About the other side of Seymour, I always sensed something different. So I guess, to me, West Texas lies along a Vernon to Seymour to Abilene line.

South Texas I am less sure of, but if I had to call it, I would peg it at about San Antone...where Central Texas becomes South Texas.

Y'all...?

********

With all due respect, note that I asked an expansion of opinions stemming from the original topic (on East Texas) into a larger of where, in one's opinion, does ANY region of Texas, begin (or end)?

It was open-ended. And from those who contributed I dare say such was understood.

[TexasHorseLady]

How very odd. That's not what I read when I answered the question way back when the thread was first posted - I would have been all over it if I'd noted that, because my particular interest is in the claims of being Central Texas by various places that I personally wouldn't peg that way. Being born and bred in East Texas and KNOWING where it starts , that's never been an issue to me, whereas the Central Texas thing gets my juices flowing!

Ah, well, senior moments and all that . . .

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

How very odd. That's not what I read when I answered the question way back when the thread was first posted - I would have been all over it if I'd noted that, because my particular interest is in the claims of being Central Texas by various places that I personally wouldn't peg that way. Being born and bred in East Texas and KNOWING where it starts , that's never been an issue to me, whereas the Central Texas thing gets my juices flowing!

Ah, well, senior moments and all that . . .

LOL Possibly. We all have them.

Anyway, as perhaps two theads might have been confused...? Here is the original:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/texas...xas-start.html

And without going back thru it, right off the top of my strawberry blond head, I am thinking that you DID contribute to it (the original that is), and had some great insights on it.

Anyway, the Central and South part of Texas is something I would be interested in hearing/learning more about. Those "personal and emotional transition points/zones" which may or may not be apart from a survey line. And the transition zones. North Texas forms a "buffer" (blends of each) between true East and West Texas, I think. Does Central form one between North and South Texas. Or is it less distinct...? .

In other words? I don't know Willie from a tiretool when it comes to having a knowlegeble opinion on that subject! Whew! LOL

As our friend Case said, "Texas is not Rhode Island". LOL

[TexasHorseLady]

I'd say (my own, gut-felt, personal opinion) that Central Texas is pretty much (north to south) from Waco down to San Antonio. South of San Antonio is South Texas; north of Waco is North Texas - Austin is right smack dab in the middle of Central Texas (which is appropriate, it being the state capitol and all).

East to west, probably from San Angelo to maybe Rockdale? Not so sure about that.

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by TexasReb

North Texas forms a "buffer" (blends of each) between true East and West Texas, I think. Does Central form one between North and South Texas. Or is it less distinct...? .

I generally hate to "quote" myself...but in this case I do because, in looking back over it, I think messed up in describing North Texas as a "buffer" zone between East and West Texas. VERY bad word choice on my part. Almost makes it sound like there is something that needs seperating....

What I meant to say was, that North Texas contains characteristics of each, yet at the same time has definite ones of its own. Sometimes the problem is that the DFW metroplex is SO overwhelming, the rest of North Texas gets lost in the shuffle. In fact, I venture to say that the whole concept of North Texas is being "absorbed" into the metroplex. If that makes sense...

At the same time, DON'T get me wrong. As a Texan, I am proud of Dallas and Ft. Worth for what they were and are. No doubt they are the hub of North Texas, any way it is sliced....

My hometown of Wichita Falls, is, in IMHO, a quintensential "old time" North Texas city. A "nailhead" (travelling along US 82 from Texarkana to Lubbock) in many ways. It has the neo-optomism of the "West" (Western South, to be more exact! LOL), but yet the established and genteel character of the South. Towns within are those like Decatur, Bowie, Graham, etc. They are not East Texas, but not West Texas either. They are North Texas, in the old sense.

Anyway...point is, if there is one, North Texas, IMHO begins, on an east/west axis somewhere along a Greenville/Sherman line...and ends around a Vernon/Seymour point. Coming up from the south? Hmmmm... Granbury? Stephenville? Hillsboro?

[TexasReb]

Well, fellow Texans and friends, at the risk of being a bore (ok, perhaps that is redundant and a given), I just gotta add ONE last post to this thread. That is, I am (not that anybody gives a two-cent stamp! LOL) going to be out Caddo Lake/Jefferson/Uncertain way as of tomorow (Sunday) afternoon.

Will probably peek in one more time tomorow morning before leaving so, are any of my East Texas friends here gonna be in the neighborhood...? *curious* If so, let me know and we can have visit a bit at the most beautiful lake in Texas! *smiles*

If not? Then maybe next time...and see y'all all sometime mid-week!

God Bless Texas!

[blueskies49]

Have a great time, TR! I just got back from San Antone myself and took Case's directions going back home through Fredericksburg which I've never been to. Lovely little town! And I made SURE to pay attention coming into Marble Falls from the south - wow, everyone was right about the scenery! Spectacular!

Here are my thoughts on this discussion. To me, the "change" and "feeling" from DFW to East Texas starts after Terrell and coming toward Canton. Although, I thought it strange that an auto commercial I heard on the radio a few months ago proclaimed "Come to Mesquite in East Texas and see us!" MESQUITE??? Hm, don't know about that one!

West Texas to me starts after Mineral Wells and Seymour. Central Texas heading toward Waco down to around San Antonio. But 45 down to Houston, almost halfway from Dallas, takes on an almost East Texas feel to me.