Reproduction of a Texas Ranger badge made of metal, with a needle for fastening.

The Texas Rangers are a special Corps of Texas State Authority officers. Their origin goes back to 1823, when the settlers were victims of robberies of cattle and horses by the diverse Indian tribes present in that territory and so it was decided to form a militia, which denominated Rangers, to protect the inhabitants of Texas from these attacks.

In 1835, when this condition was already considered as official Corp, the Rangers had three companies equipped with 100 men. Their characteristic weapon was the six-shot revolver. They also used rifles, bows and curved knives, and soon began to train in tracking and fighting. They were said to "ride like the Mexicans, shoot like the men of Tennessee and fight like the devil himself."

After the American Civil War the number of Rangers grew and they played an important role in the frontier wars of 1870, fighting the Indians, the outlawed Mexicans, and the bandits as well. In 1874 the Texas Rangers were reorganized into six companies of seventy-five members each, and contributed decisively to Texas' regaining peace. At the end of the 19 century their contribution in the fight against horse thieves and bandits was decisive.

Today the Rangers serve as a support force in emergency situations under the control of the local police or sheriffs.