Texas is a state rich in history, culture, and lore. From its vast ranches to its bustling cities, the Lone Star State has plenty of intriguing puzzles and riddles. Here are 61 riddles about Texas, along with their answers, to challenge and intrigue you.
Texas Geography Riddles
Riddle 1
What is the largest state in the contiguous United States?
Answer: Texas
Riddle 2
I’m a river that forms part of the border between the US and Mexico. What am I?
Answer: Rio Grande
Riddle 3
I’m a desert that covers parts of southeastern California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona. What am I?
Answer: Mojave Desert
Riddle 4
Which Texas city is farthest west?
Answer: El Paso
Riddle 5
Which Texas city is farthest east?
Answer: Orange
Riddle 6
I’m a mountain range that stretches from Texas to New Mexico. What am I?
Answer: Guadalupe Mountains
Riddle 7
Which major Texas city is closest to the Gulf of Mexico?
Answer: Houston
Riddle 8
I’m a desert located in Far West Texas. What am I?
Answer: Chihuahuan Desert
Riddle 9
Which Texas city is located closest to the Mexican border?
Answer: El Paso
Riddle 10
What is the longest river located entirely within Texas?
Answer: Rio Grande
Texas History Riddles
Riddle 11
I’m a famous battle fought in 1836 that led to Texas’ independence from Mexico. What am I?
Answer: The Battle of the Alamo
Riddle 12
Who was the first President of the Republic of Texas?
Answer: Sam Houston
Riddle 13
Which Native American tribe lived in parts of Texas before settlers arrived?
Answer: Comanche
Riddle 14
What ship brought the first European settlers to Texas in 1528?
Answer: The San Antonio
Riddle 15
Before joining the United States, Texas was its own independent country from 1836 to 1845. How many years was that?
Answer: 9 years
Riddle 16
Which famous outlaw did the Texas Rangers pursue in the late 1800s?
Answer: Billy the Kid
Riddle 17
Who was the last President of the Republic of Texas before it became a state?
Answer: Anson Jones
Riddle 18
Which important historical event happened at the Alamo in San Antonio in 1836?
Answer: A battle during the Texas Revolution
Riddle 19
What year did Texas become the 28th state admitted to the United States?
Answer: 1845
Riddle 20
Who was the first female governor of Texas?
Answer: Miriam “Ma” Ferguson
Texas Culture Riddles
Riddle 21
I’m a type of music born in the late 19th century out of blues, ragtime, folk, and the traditional music of England, Ireland, and Scotland. What am I?
Answer: Country music
Riddle 22
What is the official state dance of Texas?
Answer: The Texas Two Step
Riddle 23
SXSW is a major annual film, music, and media festival held in which Texas city?
Answer: Austin
Riddle 24
Which city’s professional football team is nicknamed “America’s Team”?
Answer: The Dallas Cowboys
Riddle 25
I’m a thick, spicy Tex-Mex sauce made from chili peppers, spices, and tomatoes. What am I?
Answer: Salsa
Riddle 26
What style of Mexican food comes from Tex-Mex culture?
Answer: Fajitas
Riddle 27
Texas is sometimes called the “Lone Star State.” What does the lone star represent on the state flag?
Answer: Texas as an independent republic
Riddle 28
Which city hosts a huge rodeo and livestock show every year in March?
Answer: Houston
Riddle 29
Which major Texas city hosts a huge state fair every year since 1886?
Answer: Dallas
Riddle 30
What is Texas’s official state flower?
Answer: The bluebonnet
Texas Cities & Towns Riddles
Riddle 31
I’m the third most populous city in Texas and home to the famous Alamo. What am I?
Answer: San Antonio
Riddle 32
I’m the second most populous city in Texas, located in Harris County. What am I?
Answer: Houston
Riddle 33
I’m the capital of Texas and home to the Texas State Capitol building. What city am I?
Answer: Austin
Riddle 34
I’m a city located along the Rio Grande across from Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Many people visit me to see my beautiful historic Spanish Mission churches. What city am I?
Answer: El Paso
Riddle 35
I’m a city in northeast Texas near the Oklahoma border, once a major center of the oil industry and nicknamed “Boomtown.” What city am I?
Answer: Kilgore
Riddle 36
I’m a West Texas city near Big Bend National Park, named for the Pecos River. What city am I?
Answer: Pecos
Riddle 37
I’m a South Texas city near Corpus Christi, named after the Duke of Veragua, who was thought to be Christopher Columbus’ descendant. What city am I?
Answer: Goliad
Riddle 38
I’m an East Texas town known for its annual Mushroom Festival celebrating its history of mushroom cultivation. What town am I?
Answer: Madisonville
Riddle 39
I’m a West Texas artist community located in the Chihuahuan Desert and known for my historic adobe architecture. What town am I?
Answer: Marfa
Riddle 40
I’m a German town near Austin known for my historic buildings, festivals, wineries, and breweries. What hill country town am I?
Answer: Fredericksburg
Texas State Symbols Riddles
Riddle 41
I’m the official state mammal of Texas. I’m the largest bat species in North America. What am I?
Answer: The Mexican free-tailed bat
Riddle 42
What is the Texas state bird?
Answer: Northern mockingbird
Riddle 43
What is the official state tree of Texas?
Answer: The pecan tree
Riddle 44
What is the official state gemstone of Texas?
Answer: Blue topaz
Riddle 45
I’m the official state fruit tree of Texas. I bear a fuzzy brown nut encased in a thin husk. What tree am I?
Answer: Pecan tree
Riddle 46
What is the official state pepper of Texas?
Answer: Jalapeño
Riddle 47
I’m the official state shell of Texas. I’m an oval-shaped sea shell with a pink interior. What am I?
Answer: Lightning whelk
Riddle 48
What is the official state insect of Texas?
Answer: Monarch butterfly
Riddle 49
I’m the official state dinosaur of Texas. Scientists believe I was one of the largest carnivorous dinosaurs ever. What dinosaur am I?
Answer: Paluxysaurus jonesi
Riddle 50
What is the official state folk dance of Texas?
Answer: Square dance
Texas Sports Team Riddles
Riddle 51
I’m a professional football team based in Arlington. My mascot is a star and my uniform colors are navy, silver and white. Who am I?
Answer: Dallas Cowboys
Riddle 52
I’m a Major League Baseball team based in Houston. My mascot is a rabbit called Orbit. What team am I?
Answer: Houston Astros
Riddle 53
I’m a professional basketball team based in San Antonio. My mascot is a coyote named Tim Duncan. What team am I?
Answer: San Antonio Spurs
Riddle 54
I’m a Major League Soccer team based in Houston. My mascot is a fox called Dynamo Diesel. What team am I?
Answer: Houston Dynamo
Riddle 55
I’m a professional basketball team based in Dallas. My mascot is a horse named Lucky. What team am I?
Answer: Dallas Mavericks
Riddle 56
I’m a professional baseball team based in Arlington. My mascot is Ranger Captain. What team am I?
Answer: Texas Rangers
Riddle 57
I’m a professional football team based in Houston. My mascot is a bull called Toro. What team am I?
Answer: Houston Texans
Riddle 58
I’m a hockey team based in Dallas. My mascot is a alien named Victor E. Green. What team am I?
Answer: Dallas Stars
Riddle 59
I’m a professional basketball team based in Austin. My mascot is a cat named Lucky the Leprechaun. What team am I?
Answer: Austin Spurs
Riddle 60
I’m a professional soccer team based in Austin. My mascot is a capybara called Olly. What team am I?
Answer: Austin FC
Conclusion
Riddle 61
I’m a U.S. state nicknamed “The Lone Star State.” I’m the second largest U.S. state by both area and population. What state am I?
Answer: Texas
How did you do with these riddles about the great state of Texas? From the Rio Grande to the Gulf of Mexico, Texas has a rich history and culture all its own. With wide open spaces, bustling cities, and many hidden gems in between, there’s always more to explore in the Lone Star State!
