1. In 1846, a small group of Texans defeated an invading Mexican force in the Battle of Matamoros. The battle took place near the Rio Grande River and was a significant victory for the Texans in the early days of the Mexican-American War.

2. On February 4, 1913, the first issue of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram was published. The newspaper quickly became one of the most influential publications in the state and is still in circulation today.

3. In 1944, the Port of Houston was officially opened for business. The port quickly became one of the busiest in the country, fueling the economic growth of the city and the surrounding region.

4. On this day in 1982, Texas-born author James Michener published "Space," a non-fiction book chronicling America's space program from its early days to the present. Michener was an avid supporter of the space program, and "Space" is considered one of the most comprehensive books on the subject.

5. In 2017, Texas state senator Kel Seliger introduced a bill to make February 4th "Rosa Parks Day" in Texas. The bill aimed to commemorate the civil rights icon and her contribution to the struggle for racial equality in America. Although the bill did not pass, it sparked a renewed interest in Parks' legacy and the ongoing struggle for civil rights in the state.