1. The state of Texas officially becomes a state on January 1, 1846. Prior to this, Texas had been an independent republic for nearly a decade.

2. On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that all slaves in Confederate-held territory shall be forever free. The proclamation had a significant impact on slavery in Texas, which did not fully abolish slavery until 1865.

3. The first ever Rose Bowl game was played on January 1, 1902, with the University of Michigan winning 49-0 over Stanford University. In 2006, the Rose Bowl game was moved from January 1 to January 2 to avoid a conflict with NFL games.

4. On January 1, 1930, oil was discovered in the Spindletop oil field near Beaumont, Texas, leading to a significant increase in oil production and making Texas a major player in the oil industry.

5. The Cotton Bowl Classic, one of the most prestigious college football bowl games, is traditionally held on January 1 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The first Cotton Bowl game was played in 1937 and the game has been held in Texas every year since 1944.