Texas is the second largest U.S. state by area (after Alaska) and the second by population (after California). Texas has diversified its economy and the high tech industry has become a major economic driver in Texas since the mid 20th century.
As of 2015, it is second in the United States of most Fortune 500 company headquarters with 54. With a growing base of industry, the state leads in many industries, including tourism, sciences, agriculture, petrochemicals, energy, computers and electronics, aerospace, and biomedical sciences.