Between 1846 and 1860 nearly all Texans lived on farms or ranches. The number of farms grew from 12,000 to 43,000.
Texans worked for themselves rather than others because land was cheap and inexpensive. They usually grew food crops like corn, wheat, oats, and sweet potatoes.

Many Texans began moving to towns. Galveston was by far the largest town at the beginning of statehood with a population of over 5,000 people in 1850. It was also the most developed port and trade center. Soon, San Antonio grew to a population of over 8,000 residents by the 1860's. None of these could be called cities.

Rural Life In Texas