Texas in 1850. By Melinda Rankin. Page: 82 of 196

TRXAS IN 1850.

85

sand miles on the Arkansas, about five hundred more
on the Red River, nearly another five hundred on the
Sabine frontier, and an inland frontier of three hundred
miles between the Red River and the Arkansas. She
has a circumference of about five thousand miles, and
a superficial content of three hundred and fifty thousand
square miles.
Texas is usually considered under three divisions,
Eastern, Middle, and Western. Eastern Texas embraces
that portion between the Sabine and Trinity;
Middle Texas, that between the Trinity and Colorado;
Western Texas, that between the Colorado and Rio
Grande rivers.
By a recent division, the State contains seventyseven
Counties. Several of the old counties have
been divided into two or more, which division has increased,
greatly, their number. Some of the counties
are quite densely settled, and exhibit the improvements,
incident to old settled States. For the most
part, however, Texas has the usual indications of other
new countries.
The face of the country is level on the coast, but towards
the interior it becomes undulating, and the north
west is interspersed with hills and mountains, which
might compare in point of asperity and ruggedness to
the most mountainous portion of the Union. Near the
rivers and streams the land is covered with timber, embracing
all the varieties found in other Southern States.
The majestic appearance of the forest trees present
striking objects for observation. The pine, palm, oak
8