What time zone is Texas in right now? As of the latest update, Texas is currently in the Central Time Zone (CT). This time zone is UTC-6 during standard time and UTC-5 during daylight saving time, which begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.
Texas, being the second largest state in the United States, spans a vast geographical area, covering 268,596 square miles. This vastness leads to some variations in time zones across the state. However, for the majority of Texas, the Central Time Zone prevails.
The Central Time Zone was established in 1909 to help streamline commerce and transportation across the region. Prior to this, Texas was divided into three different time zones, which created confusion and inefficiencies. The Central Time Zone was adopted to provide a more unified time standard for the entire state.
While Texas is predominantly in the Central Time Zone, there are some exceptions. For instance, the Panhandle region, which is located in the northwestern part of the state, is in the Mountain Time Zone (MT). This region follows UTC-7 during standard time and UTC-6 during daylight saving time. The Mountain Time Zone was adopted for the Panhandle to better align with neighboring states like Oklahoma and New Mexico.
Another exception is the far southeastern corner of Texas, which is in the Central Time Zone but follows Eastern Standard Time (EST) during daylight saving time. This area is known as the “Trans-Texas Airmail” region and is home to the city of McAllen. The reason for this deviation is to maintain consistency with the Eastern Time Zone for the benefit of local businesses and residents.
In conclusion, Texas is currently in the Central Time Zone, with some exceptions in the Panhandle and the southeastern corner of the state. The adoption of the Central Time Zone in 1909 has greatly improved efficiency and coordination across the state, despite the geographical variations.
