Texas is the second largest state in the USA and borders Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico as well as several Mexican states and the Gulf of Mexico. The capital is Austin. The history of Texas is marked by the changing rule of various nations, including Spain, France, Mexico, and eventually the United States. Texas was an independent republic before being admitted to the Union in 1845 as the 28th state. The landscape is very diverse, ranging from coastal swamps and pine forests in the east, to vast plains and rolling hills, to deserts and mountains in the west. Economically, Texas is dominated by industries such as cattle ranching and cotton. Well-known attractions in Texas include the Alamo in San Antonio, the Space Center in Houston, the historic districts of Austin, and Big Bend National Park.