TX marks 173rd independence anniversary

TEXAS (AP/KXAN) - Monday is Texas Independence Day. It was March 2, 1836, when 59 delegates signed a document declaring the Republic of Texas was free and independent of Mexico.

The Texas declaration was similar to the 1776 American document, containing a statement of the nature of government, listing grievances and ultimately declaring independence. Five copies were written and sent to major towns around the state and 1,000 more were ordered printed and distributed.

Texas became the 28th U.S. state in 1845.

On Texas Independence Day, Everest College released a survey about statewide optimism. It showed that a majority of Texans still feel the indomitable spirit that inspired the Alamo. Of those who participated in the survey, 95 percent said they consider themselves independent despite the difficult economic outlook.

"Texans have always been known for having an independent spirit, meeting the challenges of difficult times with courage and resourcefulness," said Hershell Ernest Jr., a career and education expert with Everest College. "Those who can use that spirit to adapt to the times, leveraging and increasing their marketability in occupations faring well despite the tough economy, position themselves to come out on top."

Texans also feel that they are doing much better than the rest of the country. Although the state has seen an increase in unemployment figures, Texan optimism is not entirely unfounded. According to the Texas Workforce Commission, the most recently available unemployment figures were at 6.0 percent in December, more than a full percentage point below the nationwide rate of 7.2 percent.

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