Texas continued to grow after the nation sank into recession in December 2007. Staying up so long in down times adds to the state's reputation for superior economic performance. For the past 40 years, employment has consistently grown faster in Texas than the U.S.--by 1 percentage point a year...

According to the 2010 Fortune 500, released in April, Texas hosts the headquarters of 57 of the nation's 500 largest companies, ranked by gross revenues. Texas secured its place as a Fortune 500 leader through its position as focal point of the domestic energy industry, its relatively strong...