One of the items on popular “You Know You Are in Texas When...” internet lists is: “You no longer associate bridges over rivers with water.” It’s hot in Texas, but 2007 showed that it certainly can rain and those bridges certainly are necessary.

Although this is cited on a Texas list since 1998, the saying appears to have made a “You Know You Are in Arizona When...” list a few months earlier.


Google Groups: soc.penpals
Newsgroups: soc.penpals
From: (SpringBrst)
Date: 1998/04/21
Subject: Are these old too?

You know you’re in Arizona when…
(...)
-You no longer associate bridges (or rivers) with water.

Google Groups: rec.humor
Newsgroups: rec.humor, alt.humor, alt.tastelesshumor, alt.tasteless.jokes, eunet.jokes, z-netz.alt.jokes, alt.jokes, phx.general
From: admin@{remove}humorspace.com (Jolly)
Date: 1998/06/19
Subject: You Know You’re In Arizona When

You no longer associate bridges (or rivers) with water

Google Groups: soc.support.depression.manic
Newsgroups: soc.support.depression.manic, alt.support.depression.manic
From: (James D. Milton)
Date: 1998/08/26
Subject: More Fun and Games :-(

You Know You Are In El Paso When ...
You notice your radiator is overheating ... before you start your car.
You no longer associate bridges over rivers with water.

Google Groups: alt.law-enforcement
Newsgroups: alt.law-enforcement
From: (Edie Goodwin)
Date: 1998/08/30
Subject: If You Think It’s Hot In Hell, Come To Texas To Cool Off!

You know you’re in Texas when:
You no longer associate bridges (or rivers) with water.

Google Groups: rec.motorcycles.harley
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.harley
From: heekster
Date: 1998/09/02
Subject: You Know You Are in Texas When . . .

You no longer associate bridges over rivers with water.