Everything is bigger in Texas, including crude oil reserves and production. In 2013, the state's economy grew nearly 4%, driven primarily by oil refining and extraction.

The energy boom has also stoked growth in construction and transportation.

The business climate has also helped foster big tech, financial and service sectors, said Ed Curtis, CEO of YTexas, which helps business leaders who have moved into the state network with each other.

"It's not all oil and gas and hats and horses," Curtis said. "It's a global economy that's truly growing."

Just this year, Toyota announced it would re-locate its U.S. headquarters from California to Texas, bringing along about 3,000 jobs.