1. In 1825, the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas granted empresario Sterling C. Robertson a contract to settle 800 families in Texas. Robertson's settlement, known as Robertson's Colony, played a significant role in the development of central Texas.

2. In 1901, the Spindletop oil well near Beaumont, Texas, began gushing oil, launching the Texas oil boom. The discovery of oil not only transformed the state's economy but also had a significant impact on the country's energy industry.

3. In 1960, the first televised presidential debate was held between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. The debate, which was held at Rice University in Houston, is significant because it was the first time that television played a significant role in a presidential campaign.

4. In 2013, the Texas State Board of Education approved controversial new textbooks for use in Texas public schools. The textbooks came under fire from critics who accused them of promoting a conservative bias and downplaying the role of minorities in American history.

5. In 2019, Tropical Storm Imelda made landfall in Texas, causing severe flooding and widespread damage. The storm, which hit the Houston area particularly hard, prompted evacuations and forced many schools and businesses to close.