Happy birthday, Texas! Today marks Texas Independence Day

AUSTIN -- Happy birthday, Texas! On this day in 1836, Texas broke away from Mexico and became a republic.

On March 1, 1836, delegates from the 17 Mexican municipalities and the Pecan Point settlement met at Washington-on-the-Brazos to discuss independence from Mexico. Washington-on-the-Brazos became the 'birthplace' of Texas.

A committee of five people drafted a declaration of independence. One day later, the convention voted unanimously to accept the Texas Declaration of Independence. March 2 became Texas Independence Day, an official state holiday.


The official declaration was signed by 59 delegates, and five copies of the document were distributed to the Texas towns of Bexar, Brazoria, Goliad, Nacogdoches, and San Felipe.

Texas joined the United States on Dec. 29, 1845, and became the 28th state.