Texas shares its borders with four U.S. states: New Mexico to the west, Oklahoma to the north, Arkansas to the northeast, and Louisiana to the east. Additionally, Texas has an international border with Mexico to the south, running 1,254 miles along the Rio Grande. The diverse geography and economic ties between Texas and its neighboring states, such as oil production with New Mexico and trade with Mexico, play crucial roles in the region’s development and collaboration.
Explore map of Texas showing neighbouring states with major cities, state boundaries, and country boundary.
Texas's Neighbouring States
Texas, the second-largest state in the U.S., shares its borders with four neighboring states—New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana—along with an international border with Mexico to the south. Each of these neighboring states has its own unique relationship with Texas, shaped by shared economic interests, geographic proximity, and cultural exchanges. These connections play a significant role in shaping Texas’ regional dynamics and impact everything from trade and energy production to transportation and infrastructure.
New Mexico
New Mexico borders Texas to the west, with a shared boundary that extends for 536 miles. This border region is marked by diverse landscapes, including deserts, mountains, and oil-rich basins. Economically, the Permian Basin, which stretches across both Texas and southeastern New Mexico, is one of the most important regions for oil and gas production in the U.S. The Permian Basin has been central to America’s energy sector, producing approximately 5.6 million barrels of oil per day in 2022, with New Mexico and Texas being major contributors.
Beyond energy, New Mexico and Texas share cultural and historical ties influenced by Spanish colonization and Native American heritage. Both states also rely on cross-border trade and tourism, with cities like El Paso, Texas, and Las Cruces, New Mexico, serving as important centers of commerce and cultural exchange. However, New Mexico’s relatively sparse population, with around 2.1 million residents as of 2023, contrasts with Texas’ rapid urbanization, creating differing economic needs and challenges between the states.
Oklahoma
To the north, Texas shares a 540-mile border with Oklahoma, its closest geographic and economic partner in the Great Plains region. Historically, Texas and Oklahoma have shared significant cultural ties, with both states deeply influenced by Native American history, cowboy culture, and a reliance on agriculture and energy production. The Red River, which serves as a natural boundary between the two states, is an important geographical feature, though it has also been the subject of past legal disputes over water rights and land claims.
Economically, Oklahoma and Texas are deeply linked through the oil and gas industries. Both states are top producers of fossil fuels, and companies that operate in Texas frequently extend their operations into Oklahoma, particularly in regions like the Anadarko Basin. The shared infrastructure, including pipelines, refineries, and energy companies, reinforces the economic ties between these two states.
In addition to energy, Oklahoma and Texas collaborate on transportation infrastructure. Major highways, such as Interstate 35, connect Texas to Oklahoma and beyond, supporting interstate commerce and the movement of goods. Oklahoma's population, approximately 4 million as of 2023, is largely concentrated in urban centers like Oklahoma City and Tulsa, which maintain strong economic and cultural ties to Texas’ northern regions, particularly the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Arkansas
Texas shares a 310-mile border with Arkansas to the northeast. While Arkansas is smaller and less populous than Texas, with a population of about 3 million as of 2023, the two states have important economic and logistical connections. The shared border runs along the eastern edge of Texas, where the city of Texarkana straddles both Texas and Arkansas, serving as a key transportation and trade hub for the region. This unique cross-state city highlights the shared economic activity between the two states, particularly in manufacturing, transportation, and agriculture.
Arkansas, like Texas, is a significant agricultural producer, with industries including poultry, rice, and soybeans. The agricultural trade between the states is facilitated by the shared transportation routes and infrastructure, including rail lines and highways. Arkansas is also home to major corporations, such as Walmart, headquartered in Bentonville, which has significant trade relationships with Texas due to its massive retail presence and distribution networks across the region.
Culturally, both states share a southern heritage, with overlapping music traditions, food culture, and history tied to the American South. However, Texas’ more urbanized and industrial economy contrasts with Arkansas’ more rural and agricultural landscape, though both states are evolving toward greater economic diversification.
Louisiana
To the east, Texas shares a 360-mile border with Louisiana, a relationship heavily influenced by the Gulf Coast region. Louisiana’s proximity to the Gulf of Mexico has made it an important partner for Texas in sectors such as oil refining, shipping, and petrochemicals. Both states have extensive infrastructure to support the oil and gas industries, with refineries, pipelines, and ports along the Gulf Coast, particularly around cities like Houston, Texas, and Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Louisiana’s population, approximately 4.6 million as of 2023, shares a close cultural and historical bond with Texas, especially in areas like food, music, and language. The influence of French Creole culture in Louisiana and the broader southern culture of Texas blend in regions near the border, creating a unique cultural identity in towns and cities such as Beaumont, Texas, and Shreveport, Louisiana.
Additionally, Louisiana’s port facilities, particularly the Port of New Orleans, play a critical role in facilitating trade for Texas. Goods transported through the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi River often pass through Louisiana’s ports, linking Texas with global markets. Both states are also vulnerable to hurricanes and other natural disasters along the Gulf Coast, making them frequent collaborators in emergency management and disaster preparedness.
Mexico
Though not a U.S. state, Mexico is one of Texas’ most significant neighboring regions, sharing a 1,254-mile international border with Texas along the Rio Grande. The relationship between Texas and Mexico is complex and multifaceted, driven by historical ties, economic interdependence, and cross-border migration. Cities like El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, form one of the largest binational metropolitan areas in the world, with a population exceeding 2.7 million people.
The economic relationship between Texas and Mexico is particularly strong due to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and its successor, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Mexico is Texas’ largest trading partner, with billions of dollars in goods crossing the border each year. Key industries involved in cross-border trade include automotive manufacturing, electronics, agriculture, and energy. Texas and Mexico also collaborate on border security, immigration, and environmental conservation along the Rio Grande.
Cultural ties between Texas and Mexico are deeply rooted, with a large percentage of Texans having Mexican heritage. Spanish is widely spoken in Texas, particularly in border regions, and the cultural exchange between the two regions is evident in everything from cuisine to music. Texas' Hispanic population, which accounts for nearly 40% of the state's total population, is a testament to the strong cultural and familial ties that link the state to Mexico.
