During the American Revolutionary War, Texel was used as a port by Continental Navy officer John Paul Jones after the battle of Flamborough Head off the Yorkshire coast in September 1779.

In the battle, Jones captured the Royal Navy frigate Serapis, which he sailed to Texel for desperately needed repairs.

In the early seventeenth century, the islands were connected by a dyke to keep the North Sea from ravaging the coastal areas of Texel proper.

Notable areas include De Slufter, where the tide comes in and meets the dunes, forming a marshy environment rich in both fauna and flora.

The relative proximity to the mainland still renders heat bursts to reach Texel with five months having recorded temperatures above 30 °C (86 °F).

Popular forms of tourism on Texel include cycling, walking, swimming and horse riding.

Farming (sheep, potatoes, dairy, tulips, and grain) and fishing (primarily from Oudeschild) are traditional.

The municipal council of Texel consists of 15 seats, which are divided as follows (from the most recent election results in 2022: Transport around the island is typically by bicycle, bus (Texelhopper) or car.

It is connected to the mainland via a ferry operated by Royal TESO from Den Helder, and by air via Texel International Airport.