Bandera
Cowboy Capital of Texas
The Legislature tied the designation to Bandera's long-running cowboy, ranching, rodeo and Western heritage.
S.C.R. 3 · 89th Legislature · 2025
Read the enrolled resolution ↗Official place designations
Texas has more than one kind of capital
Austin is the state capital. But the Texas Legislature also gives cities and counties official specialty titles — Cowboy Capital, Fishing Capital, Pie Capital and many more. This guide keeps those legislative place designations separate from the official state-symbol directory and links every listing back to its legislative source.
9
Verified listings
10 years
Typical statutory term
TLO
Primary source
Current verified directory
Legislatively designated capitals of Texas
The entries below are limited to designations verified against Texas Legislature Online enrolled-resolution records and still within their statutory 10-year designation window as of 2026. This is a growing source-backed directory, not a list of unofficial tourism slogans.
Galveston
Mardi Gras Capital of Texas
The resolution recognizes the island city's more than 150 years of Mardi Gras tradition and its distinctly Texas celebration.
H.C.R. 50 · 89th Legislature · 2025
Read the enrolled resolution ↗Milam
Gateway Capital of Texas
Milam's designation centers on its connection to El Camino Real de los Tejas and the community's role in early Texas travel and settlement.
H.C.R. 81 · 89th Legislature · 2025
Read the enrolled resolution ↗Rusk County
Syrup Capital of Texas
The Legislature recognized the county's syrup-making heritage and the tradition surrounding East Texas cane syrup.
H.C.R. 83 · 89th Legislature · 2025
Read the enrolled resolution ↗Nacogdoches
Garden Capital of Texas
The designation highlights Nacogdoches' gardens, trees, horticultural institutions and long-running public gardening culture.
H.C.R. 93 · 89th Legislature · 2025
Read the enrolled resolution ↗Port Aransas
Fishing Capital of Texas
The resolution recognizes Port Aransas' charter fleet, marinas, fishing businesses, conservation work and deep connection to Gulf Coast angling.
H.C.R. 117 · 89th Legislature · 2025
Read the enrolled resolution ↗Floresville
Peanut Capital of Texas
Floresville's peanut-growing history and its annual Peanut Festival anchor the official designation.
H.C.R. 83 · 88th Legislature · 2023
Read the enrolled resolution ↗San Angelo
Visual Arts Capital of Texas
The Legislature cited San Angelo's museums, galleries, public art, sculpture and broad community arts culture.
H.C.R. 24 · 87th Legislature · 2021
Read the enrolled resolution ↗Kyle
Pie Capital of Texas
Kyle's pie festivals, business initiatives and community branding led to the official statewide designation.
S.C.R. 22 · 87th Legislature · 2021
Read the enrolled resolution ↗Why the expiration matters
These titles are official — but they are not necessarily permanent
Texas Government Code §391.003 provides for many official place designations to expire on the tenth anniversary of the designation. That means an old resolution can be historically real without still being a current official title. TexasDefined therefore separates current, source-verified designations from expired or purely promotional nicknames.
The Legislature can also renew or replace a designation. When that happens, the newer enacted resolution controls this directory. We use enrolled resolutions wherever available and do not treat a filed bill, committee hearing or tourism slogan as an enacted designation.