Texas has the nation beat when it comes to places to do business.
The Lone Star State has been named the No. 1 state in the country for business by Directorship magazine's "Boardroom Guide to the Best States for Business."
The magazine cites a pro-business tax climate, a low cost of living and relatively solid economy as reasons businesses call Texas home.
Another key factor, Texas' central location and time zone, which is ideal for companies with a national footprint.
"Texas also ranks first in the number of Fortune 500 companies located there," Directorship said.
Major corporations have relocated to North Texas in recent years.
Research in Motion, the makers of Blackberry phones selected Irving as its home and Comerica moved from Detroit to Dallas.
Fortune reports more than 45 major companies call North Texas home (in alphabetical order):
Affiliated Computer Services, Dallas
Alliance Data Systems, Dallas
AMR, Fort Worth
AmeriCredit, Fort Worth
Atmos Energy, Dallas
AT&T, Dallas
Blockbuster, Dallas
Brinker International, Dallas
Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Fort Worth
Celanese, Dallas
Centex, Dallas
Cinemark Holdings, Plano
Comerica, Dallas
Commercial Metals, Irving
Crosstex Energy, Dallas
Dean Foods, Dallas
D.R. Horton, Fort Worth
Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Plano
Energy Future Holdings, Dallas
Energy Transfer Equity, Dallas
ENSCO International, Dallas
Exxon Mobil, Irving
Flowserve, Irving
Fluor, Irving
GameStop, Grapevine
Holly, Dallas
Idearc, Dallas-Fort Worth Airport
J.C. Penney, Plano
Lennox International, Richardson
Kimberly-Clark, Irving
Metro PCS Communications, Richardson
Michaels Stores, Irving
Neiman Marcus, Dallas
Perot Systems, Plano
Pioneer Natural Resources, Irving
Radio Shack, Fort Worth
Rent A Center, Plano
Sally Beauty Holdings, Denton
Southwest Airlines, Dallas
Tenet Healthcare, Dallas
Texas Instruments, Dallas
Torchmark, McKinney
Trinity Industries, Dallas
Vought Aircraft Industries, Irving
XTO Energy, Fort Worth
Zale, Irving
