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Temperate coniferous forests ecoregion of the United States
Photo: Jay Carriker (User:JCarriker), CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
The Piney Woods is the name of the region encompassing east and northeast Texas. This region of Texas often defies traditional views of the state having a mountainous desert landscape or brush-covered hills. Large pines and other evergreen trees cover this area of the state, with forestry and oil/gas mining being large industries for area residents.
This area serves as the only point where Texas and Arkansas meet, featuring a blend of influences from both sides of the state line. Known for its rolling hills and Red River plains, this area is centered by Texarkana, which is a key cultural and economic center of the region.
Positioned roughly along the Interstate 20 corridor, this subregion is characterized by its expansive pine forests and numerous lakes and rivers, including the enchanting Caddo Lake, famous for its cypress trees and rich biodiversity. The cities of Tyler and Longview anchor this particular region.
Covering the southern two-thirds of the Piney Woods region and known for its deep, dense forests and cultural heritage, this region is the most rural part of the Piney Woods. Nacogdoches, reputed to be the oldest town in Texas, offers a rich history and connection to Spanish, French, and Southern traditions.
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known for its rich oil history and antique shopping scene.
home of Sam Houston State University and the Texas State Penitentiary.
renowned for its oil boom and the home of the Kilgore Rangerettes, the first woman's precision drill team in the world.
regional hub and host of the Great Texas Balloon Race.
a central city in Deep East Texas, known for its forestry industry.
historic city important to Texas' early development, the oldest city in the state.
straddles the Texas-Arkansas State Line and has a unique two-state community.
regional city known for its gardens of roses and the largest Civil War prisoner-of-war camp west of the Mississippi River.
a suburban bedroom community of Houston that hosts the Houston Symphony during the summer.
The Big Thicket National Preserve is a heavily forested area in Southeast Texas, USA. It has historically been the most densely forested region in what is now Texas, though logging in the 19th and 20th centuries dramatically reduced the forest concentration. The Big Thicket has been described as one of the most biodiverse areas in the world outside of the tropics.
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