I'm not familiar with the Maps API, but the site does it for you: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=texas&sll=42.138968,44.857178&ssp

I'm not familiar with the Maps API, but the site does it for you: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=texas&sll=42.138968,44.857178&sspn=2.814501,5.817261&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Texas&z=6 http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&#38... (from searching Texas)