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| Early immigration into
north and east Texas ,
during the days of the
Republic and following the
devastation of the Civil
War, was largely from the
Southern states. In the
1930s, the northeastern oil
fields near Tyler (a drab
town only redeemed by its
beautiful rose gardens)
proved to be the richest
ever found in the US. In
addition to oil, agriculture
has become a prime source of
commerce, with logging
important in the densely
forested east. The grand
exception is, of course, the
Metroplex - the area which
includes Dallas and Fort
Worth . The main tourist
attractions and cultural
life of the region are
concentrated here; but if
you enjoy exploring
small-town America, and have
a car, the north and east
can yield more subtle
pleasures. The national
forests of Angelina, Davy
Crockett, Sabine and Sam
Houston in the east offer
unsurpassed opportunities
for outdoor living: the
forest supervisor (tel
713/632-4446) in Lufkin,
midway between Davy Crockett
and Angelina on US-59, has
details of free and private
camping facilities. Fans of
the movie will want to check
out Paris, Texas , northeast
on US-82. Many of the
state’s historic oil towns
such as Kilgore, Marshall,
and Longview are located
here. The area’s rich
history is also reflected in
the town of Nacogdoches,
which was originally
established as a Spanish
fort in the mid-1700s. This
region is also known for its
numerous lakes, including
Caddo, the only naturally
formed lake in Texas, and is
home to the Texas Freshwater
Fisheries Center in Athens. |
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