Did you know that Texas is 189 years old today? On March 2, 1836, the 59 delegates, comprised of settlers in “Mexican Texas,” officially declared independence from Mexico as the “Republic of Texas.” As with our nation’s founding, this came at a great cost of life and conflict. Famous battles like the Alamo, where Jim Bowie and Davie Crocket fell, Refujio, and Goliad, where its garrison was marched out with the promise of freedom, only to be executed, are the stuff of legends.

Texans have remained strong since then, and when they joined the United States in 1845, the fighting spirit continued. As of September 30, 2024, the estimated veteran population in Texas represented 9% of the national total of veterans. Veterans made up an estimated 4.9% of the population in Texas the same year. Based on the national average per service, it is estimated that there are 168,152 Marine Corps veterans residing in Texas, representing about 1% of the state population.

We hope you enjoyed this bit of trivia and can’t wait to see you all in August!