Regarding size, Texas and Alaska are considered the two largest states in America by land area. So, how big is Texas compared to Alaska?
Although Texas is the second largest state in America after Alaska, it’s almost half as big as the latter. However, concerning population, we have over 40 times more people than Alaska and a 39.8 times more powerful economy!
In today’s guide, we’ll have Texas compared to Alaska in terms of various aspects so that you can learn more about the similarities and differences between the two states. So without further ado, let’s dive right in!
Geography, Size, and Coastline
Texas and Alaska are remarkably big compared to any other state in America. Starting with Texas, our state stretches over 268,581 square miles, according to the latest reports in 2022.
On the other hand, Alaska is more than twice as big as Texas, with a total square mileage of around 663,268. The water surface area of Texas is around 7,365 miles. This is much smaller when compared to Alaska, which has a water surface area of around 91,316 square miles.
Although the two states have a vast coastal range, Alaska has a much more significant coastline than any other state in America. Alaska’s coast extends over 6,640 miles versus Texas’s 367.
Alaska also has over 3 million lakes, but only 3,197 are officially named, while we have only one natural lake and over 7,000 man-made ones.
Sitka, Alaska, is the largest city in Alaska and the United States, although the state’s capital is Juneau. Similarly, the largest city in Texas is Houston, although the state’s capital is Austin.
Altitude
The mean altitude of Texas is 1,664 feet, extending from as low as 7 feet to as high as 4,892 feet. However, the highest point here is Guadalupe Peak which is exactly 8,749 feet high.
Alaska’s mean altitude is around 1,900 feet, which is close to Texas’, although the Alaska average is brought down due to its vast coasts that have very low altitudes.
That said, Alaska has several mountain peaks that are much higher than any point in other states of the U.S. The highest point in the United States is Mount Denali, which has a staggering elevation level of 20,310 feet!
Population and Traffic
While Alaska is huge and far-flung, it has a very low population compared to other states. With only 731,721 individuals, it comes in 48th place when it comes to population, surpassing Vermont and Wyoming, which are much smaller.
This makes Alaska the least densely populated state in America. Yet, it has the highest percentage of Natives among all states, with a total representation of 15.6%.
On the flip side, Texas is one of the most populated states in all of America and second only to California.
According to the latest report, in 2022, we have reached a population of 30 million! Our state is more populated than some countries like Australia, Ivory Coast, the Netherlands, and Venezuela!
Climate
The biggest differences between Texas and Alaska are manifested in the climate differences between each other.
For example, the summer here can be noticeably hot, and the temperature can go as high as 85 or 90 degrees F during the day. Winters are relatively short and much milder, with temperatures ranging between 60 to 65 degrees.
On the other hand, Alaska can be extremely cold in winter, and some areas can reach dangerously low temperatures.
The average winter temperature can dip to below -17 degrees F, while summers have a “still cold” average temperature of around 40 degrees F.
Economy and Taxes
The economy is another aspect where our state leads the race, as we have one of the largest economies in all of the United States and are only surpassed by California.
In fact, with a gross domestic product of around 2 trillion USD in 2021, the economy here is equivalent to entire countries like Italy and Brazil. We are also home to a huge variety of companies that rank among the largest in the world.
Alaska had a gross domestic product of around 50.3 billion USD in 2021, far below Texas and considered the third lowest in all of the United States.
That said, Alaska and Texas are among the nine states of America that don’t impose income taxes. Yet, we have a 6.25% sales tax here that Alaska doesn’t incur, making them one of the most tax-friendly states in America.
Texas and Alaska FAQs
How many counties are in Alaska and Texas?
Technically speaking, Alaska doesn’t have any counties. This is because Alaska calls its first-order administrative subdivision “boroughs”, “census areas” and “municipalities” rather than “counties” like other states of America (except Louisiana, where it’s called “Parishes”).
That said, Alaska has 30 of these county-equivalents despite its huge land area, while we have 254 counties.
What are the nicknames of Texas and Alaska?
The most popular nickname of Texas is the “Lone Star State”, which refers to the star on our state’s flag.
As for Alaska, it’s known as “The Last Frontier”, referring to its distance from the other states, despite not being the last state admitted to the union (Hawaii was admitted in 1959, 8 months after Alaska).
What are the official state flowers, birds, and animals in Texas and Alaska?
Each state has its symbols. For example, our official state flower is the bluebonnet, while the official state animal and bird are the armadillo and Northern mockingbird, respectively.
On the other hand, the official state flower of Alaska is the Forget-me-not (also known as Scorpion grasses). The moose and the willow ptarmigan are the official state animal and birds.
References
- State Area and Coordinate Measurements: census.gov
- Texas Area and Population Density: worldpopulationreview.com
- Lakes in Alaska: usgs.gov
- Texas Gross Domestic Product Report: bea.gov
- Alaska Gross Domestic Product Report: statista.com
Christian Linden is a seasoned writer and contributor at Texas View, specializing in topics that resonate with the Texan community. With over a decade of experience in journalism, Christian brings a wealth of knowledge in local politics, culture, and lifestyle. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications from the University of Texas. When he's not writing, Christian enjoys spending weekends traveling across Texas with his family, exploring everything from bustling cities to serene landscapes.
