Cowtown Pride

Fort Worth trounces all of Texas to win title as most country-minded city in America

Fort Worth knows how to get in the country state of mind better than any other big city in America.

Photo courtesy of Fort Worth CVB

Fort Worthians (Fort Worthers?) can add a point to their side of the Dallas-Fort Worth scoreboard as it appears that Cowtown is the most "country-minded" big city in America, while Dallas sits at the bottom of a lengthy list of Texas cities.

In a Facebook study by the real estate site Estately.com, Fort Worth ranked No. 1 among the 50 largest U.S. cities. The website looked at 10 topics it deemed "country" such as country music, fishing, hunting, NASCAR, firearms, barbecue, cowboy boots, pickup trucks, rodeos and sweet tea and then ranked the cities based on the percentage of Facebook users in those towns who liked them. Pretty straightforward.

Dallasites love pickups fourth most but ranked 37th for firearms, which put a big dent in being country. Is it really a pickup without a shotgun rack? Fort Worth knows it isn't.

Fort Worth took the top spot in pickup trucks, with top five finishes for firearms, barbecue, cowboy boots, rodeos and sweet tea. In fact, NASCAR was the only subject in which Fort Worth didn't place in the top 10.

But Fort Worth isn't the only country-minded city in Texas. In fact, San Antonio came in second, thanks to a top rodeo ranking, and El Paso landed at No. 5, with top spots for hunting and cowboy boots. The third and fourth spots went to Tulsa and Oklahoma City, respectively.

Arlington was the only other Texas city to earn the "real country" label reserved for the top 15. It ranked No. 11 due to a fondness for pickup trucks and cowboy boots.

The bigger, more "cosmopolitan" Texas cities did not fare as well. Houston and Austin took the 16 and 17 spots, respectively, while Dallas limped into last place among Texas towns at No. 26. However, it's all good enough for a "somewhat country" moniker.

It should be noted that Dallasites love pickups fourth most but ranked 37th for firearms, which put a big dent in being country. It's like, is it really a pickup without a shotgun rack? Fort Worth knows it isn't.

As for the least country-minded cities in America, it's a veritable collection of Yankees and California hippies. Boston, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and New York City placed 46 through 49. In dead last is San Francisco, which ranked 50th or close to it in every category but rodeos. Apparently those Yankee eyes have never eyed the prize that some people call manly footwear.

Here is the complete list of the 15 most country-minded cities in America:

Fort Worth, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
El Paso, Texas
Wichita, Kansas
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Nashville, Tennessee
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Jacksonville, Florida
Arlington, Texas
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Louisville, Kentucky
Indianapolis, Indiana
Kansas City, Missouri

unspecified

always be prepared

Texas tax holiday offers 3 days to stock disaster supplies tax-free

Fire extinguisher, emergency supplies tax free weekend Texas

Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

Emergency supplies like fire extinguishers that cost less than $75 are eligible for a tax break this weekend.

The best time for Texas residents to stock up on supplies to prepare for natural disasters is coming up this weekend. The annual statewide Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday runs from April 25-27, when Texans will be able to purchase critical emergency supplies — plus household necessities like batteries and fire extinguishers — tax-fee.

Shoppers can purchase certain emergency supplies tax-free starting at 12:01 am on Saturday, April 25, and the "holiday" runs until midnight on Monday, April 27. There is no limit on the number of qualifying items that can be purchased during the weekend, and purchases can be made in store, online, through the mail, and via custom order.

Saving on emergency supplies
Emergency preparation supplies must be purchased under certain price brackets to qualify for the tax exemption. For example, portable generators must have a sales price less than $3,000 to qualify for a tax break. Ladders and hurricane shutters that cost less than $300 also qualify.

Delivery, shipping, handling, and transportation charges are included in the sales price, according to the Comptroller. So if a shopper buys a $299 rescue ladder and is charged a $10 delivery fee, the total sales price for the purchase is $309, and tax would need to be paid for that sales price.

Additional items that qualify for a tax break as long as they cost less than $75 include:

Axes
Batteries – single or multipack (AAA cell, AA cell, C cell, D cell, 6 volt or 9 volt)
Carbon monoxide detectors
Fire extinguishers
First aid kits
Fuel containers
Ground anchor systems and tie-down kits
Hatchets
Ice products – including reusable and artificial ice
Light sources – including those that are battery operated or portable self-powered sources; candles, flashlights, and lanterns
Mobile telephone batteries and mobile telephone chargers
Non-electric can openers
Non-electric coolers and ice chests for food storage
Radios – including portable self-powered radios, battery operated radios, two-way radios, and weather band radios
Smoke detectors
Tarps and other plastic sheeting

The full list of qualifying items is available on The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts' website.

As a reminder, over-the-counter items like antibacterial hand sanitizer, soap, and spray and wipes are always exempt from sales tax if they are labeled with a "Drug Facts" panel in compliance with Food and Drug Administration regulations.

Non-qualifying items that will still be taxed
Medical masks, face masks, and gloves of any kind do not qualify for a tax exemption. Other taxable items including toilet paper, cleaning supplies (such as disinfectants and bleach wipes), vehicle or boat batteries, chainsaws, plywood, extension ladders, and stepladders. Camping equipment and supplies, including stoves and tents, are also not eligible for a tax break.

Additionally, any repair or replacement parts for emergency preparation supplies do not qualify for tax exemptions, and neither do any services that are performed on or related to those supplies.

What to do if a qualifying item is taxed during the holiday
If customers buy a tax-exempt item between April 25-27 and are still taxed, they may request a refund from the seller on the tax paid for the item. The seller can grant the refund to the buyer, or provide them with Form 00-985, Assignment to Right to Refund, which would allow the customer to file a claim for their refund through the Comptroller's website.

tax free weekend emergency supplies texas