ABSTRACT
As the twentieth century opened, Texans could point with pride to the growth and progress their state had made in the nineteenth century. Racial and ethnic minorities included African Americans, Mexican Americans, Germans, a variety of European immigrants, and a small number of Asians. Lifestyles reflected not only the diverse cultural backgrounds but also rapidly changing patterns of living. For decades Texans had depended primarily on the land for their living, and most still did in 1900. Life in the twentieth century began with tragedy for Texas. Work patterns on farms had changed little from pioneer days. Two new inventions in transportation hailed the opening years of the twentieth century, namely, an airplane and an automobile. Two factors contributed to urban growth. First, the development of modern transportation systems allowed strategically positioned communities to become leading market centers. Second, industrial development, especially that related to the discovery of oil, fueled city growth.
