One of the most significant areas of Texas is the Coastal Plains area. This region extends both east and south, reaching both the Balcones Escarpment and the Gulf of Mexico. The Coastal Plains region is home to the highest population of people in Texas because this is the area where most of the large cities in Texas are located. Nearly two-thirds of all Texans live in the Coastal Plains areas. The Coastal Plains region can further be subdivided to include Piney Woods, Post Oak Belt, Blackland Prairie, the Gulf Coastal Plain, and the South Texas Plain. Austin, Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio are all located in the Coastal Plains region of Texas.
Starting at the Balcones Escarpment and pushing west toward the Caprock Escarpment, visitors will be able to find the North Central Plains Region in Texas. This area is defined by small oak trees, brush, rolling plains, and grasses. Like the Coastal Plains, this area can be further divided into smaller subregions. As you move higher in elevation, moving east to west, visitors will notice the environment becomes drier. The subregions that make up the North Central Plains region include the Grand Prairie area, Cross Timbers, and Rolling Plains. Forth Worth and Wichita Falls are both located in the North Central Plains region of Texas.
The Great Plains Region is located both North and Central in the state of Texas. This area is made of three subregions, which are all unique in and of themselves. Two of the regions feature large plateaus, including both the High Plains area and the Edwards Plateau. The third region inside the Great Plains Region is the Llano Basin. Compared to other parts of Texas, the Llano Basin is extremely different. This area features granite rock and higher elevation. In fact, the signature pink granite found in this area was used to construct the capital building in Austin. The heavy rainfall and beautiful weather give farmers in this region about 230 days each year to grow crops. A major city in this region is Amarillo.
To the far Western border, visitors will find the Mountains and Basin Region. Valleys and large basins define this area. There is plenty of rainfall in the forests, and some areas can even support ponderosa pine trees. Parts of this region see a significant elevation of nearly 9,000 feet. Higher elevations see plenty of rainfall with vegetation, while lower elevation areas are more desert-like, receiving only about 20 inches of rain every year. The tallest point in Texas, Guadalupe Peak, is located in this region, while other basins are only about 2,500 feet over sea level. El Paso is located in the Mountains and Basin Region of Texas.