Val Verde County, Texas

Val Verde County is a county located on the southern Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. The 2020 population is 47,586.[1] Its county seat is Del Rio.[2] The Del Rio micropolitan statistical area includes all of Val Verde County.

Val Verde County
County
County courthouse
County courthouse
Map of Texas highlighting Val Verde County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 29°53′N 101°09′W
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1885
Named forBattle of Valverde
SeatDel Rio
Largest cityDel Rio
Area
 • Total3,233 sq mi (8,370 km2)
 • Land3,145 sq mi (8,150 km2)
 • Water88 sq mi (230 km2)  2.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total47,586
 • Density15/sq mi (5.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district23rd
Websitewww.valverdecounty.texas.gov
Val Verde County Judicial Center at 100 E. Broadway St. in Del Rio
Del Rio Bank and Trust Company was organized in 1910. The bank is hence a year older than the Del Rio city government and has served Val Verde County for more than a century. The photo is the facility at 1200 Veterans Blvd.; another location is 22411 N Bedell Ave.

Val Verde, which means "green valley",[3] was named for a battle of the American Civil War. In 1862, soldiers of Sibley's Brigade took part in the Texas invasion of New Mexico Territory, where they captured several artillery pieces at the Battle of Val Verde. The battle is memorialized both in the name of the county and a small settlement in Milam County.

History
  • First inhabitants were 6,000–10,000 years ago and later came to include Lipan Apache, Coahuiltecan, Jumanos, Tamaulipans and Comanches.[4][5]
  • 1590 Spanish explorer Gaspar Castaño de Sosa leads a mining expedition of 170 who pass through Devils Draw. He refers to a stream by the name of Laxas, which is believed Devils River.[6][7][8]
  • 1673 Juan Larios opens a mission school at between Del Rio and Eagle Pass.[5][9]
  • 1675 Traveling Franciscan priests celebrate Mass at San Felipe Springs.[5][9]
  • 1736 Lt. Miguel de la Garza Falcón[10] leads 100 soldiers along the Devils River[11] in pursuit of Apaches.
  • 1834 James Grant[12] and John Charles Beales[13] establish settlement on San Felipe Creek,[14] which becomes undesirable due to Indian attacks.
  • 1850s Military bases to protect against Indian attacks include Camp Blake,[15] Camp Hudson[16] and Camp San Felipe.[17]
  • 1860 Population of 2,874, includes 108 blacks and 1,103 foreign-born.[5]
  • 1868 San Felipe Del Rio community is established on San Felipe Creek next to Camp San Felipe.[5]
  • 1869 through 1882 Seminole Negro Indian Scouts (mixed heritage Seminoles with African blood) under John Lapham Bullis, namesake of Camp Bullis, defend the Texas border against Indian attack.[18][19]
  • 1883 Galveston Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway is completed.[20] Frank Qualia establishes Val Verde winery.[21][22][23]
  • 1884 Langtry community established, named after George Langtry (an engineer and foreman), but wrongly said after Lillie Langtry by Judge Roy Bean.[5][24]
  • 1885 Val Verde County is organized from Crockett, Kinney, and Pecos counties. Roy Bean elected justice of the peace in Langtry, operating out of the Jersey Lily Saloon and becoming renowned as “the Law West of the Pecos”.[5]
  • 1886 Juno and Devils River communities established.[5]
  • 1888 Comstock community established.[5][25]
  • 1889 Norris community established.[5]
  • 1928 Lake Hamilton Dam complete.[5]
  • 1904 Lillie Langtry visits the community of Langtry.[26]
  • 1929 Lake Walk Dam complete.[5][27]
  • 1936 Val Verde County received Recorded Texas Historic Landmark number 5625 to commemorate its founding.[28]
  • 1942 Laughlin Field/Laughin Army Air Field opens to train World War II pilots.[5][29]
  • 1945 Laughlin Field closes.[5]
  • 1952 Laughlin Field reopens as Laughlin Air Force Base, and serves as a secret U2 unit. Major Rudolf Anderson, a U-2 pilot based out of Laughlin, was the only casualty of the Cuban Missile Crisis.[30][31]
  • 1969 Amistad Dam and Reservoir complete. The project cost $78 million.[5][32]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,233 sq mi (8,370 km2), of which 3,145 sq mi (8,150 km2) are land and 88 sq mi (230 km2) (2.7%) are covered by water.[33]

Major highways

Adjacent counties and municipios

National protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18902,874—
19005,26383.1%
19108,61363.7%
192012,70647.5%
193014,92417.5%
194015,4533.5%
195016,6357.6%
196024,46147.0%
197027,47112.3%
198035,91030.7%
199038,7217.8%
200044,85615.8%
201048,8799.0%
202047,586−2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[34]
1850–2010[35] 2010[36] 2020[37]
Val Verde County, Texas - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[36] Pop 2020[37] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 8,548 7,836 17.49% 16.47%
Black or African American alone (NH) 563 538 1.15% 1.13%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 86 57 0.18% 0.12%
Asian alone (NH) 207 351 0.42% 0.74%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 37 35 0.08% 0.07%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 29 85 0.06% 0.18%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 210 477 0.43% 1.00%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 39,199 38,207 80.20% 80.29%
Total 48,879 47,586 100.00% 100.00%

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

As of the census[38] of 2000, 44,856 people, 14,151 households, and 11,320 families resided in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km2). The 16,288 housing units averaged 5 units per square mile (1.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 76.36% White, 4.54% African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 18.22% from other races, and 2.60% from two or more races. About 75.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 14,151 households, 42.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.50% were married couples living together, 13.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.00% were not families. About 17.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.11 and the average family size was 3.55.

In the county, the population was distributed as 32.10% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 19.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,376, and for a family was $31,434. Males had a median income of $26,485 versus $18,039 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,096. About 22.10% of families and 26.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.80% of those under age 18 and 26.40% of them age 65 or over.

Education
The Val Verde County Library is located at 300 Spring St. in Del Rio.

School districts include:[39]

Sometime prior to 1976 the Comstock district absorbed the Langtry and Pandale common school districts.[40] The former Juno Common School District consolidated into Comstock ISD in 1992.[41] There was formerly a Star Route School on Miers Ranch. In 1964 the school had 13 students.[42]

Southwest Texas Junior College is the designated community college for the county.[43]

The Val Verde County Library in Del Rio serves the county.[44]

Government

Val Verde County government is led by a four-member board of county commissioners, each commissioner representing one of four districts. The county commission appoints a county administrator as chief administrative officer of the county. The chief law-enforcement authority of Val Verde is the Val Verde County Sheriff's Office. Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office. The fire-protection arm of the Val Verde is the Val Verde County Fire Rescue. Val Verde County Fire Rescue.

County commissioners

One county commissioner is elected from each district to serve a 4-year term. Commissioners are chosen in partisan elections by voters from the districts in which they live. The board appoints a county judge to be chief administrative officer of the county, responsible to the commission for the orderly operations of matters within the board's jurisdiction. The current office holders are:

  • Val Verde County Judge: Honorable Judge Lewis Owens[45]
  • Val Verde County Precinct 1: Martin Wardlaw
  • Val Verde County Precinct 2: Juan Vazquez
  • Val Verde County Precinct 3: Robert Beau Nettleton
  • Val Verde County Precinct 4: Gustavo Flores
  • Val Verde County Secretary: Elizabeth Ferrino

Politics

Val Verde County has been a longtime swing county, having voted for both Republicans and Democrats throughout its history.

United States presidential election results for Val Verde County, Texas[46]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 8,284 54.21% 6,771 44.31% 225 1.47%
2016 5,890 43.25% 6,964 51.14% 763 5.60%
2012 5,635 46.64% 6,285 52.02% 161 1.33%
2008 5,752 44.87% 6,982 54.46% 86 0.67%
2004 6,968 59.08% 4,757 40.33% 70 0.59%
2000 6,223 54.24% 5,056 44.06% 195 1.70%
1996 4,357 41.10% 5,623 53.05% 620 5.85%
1992 4,102 37.30% 4,748 43.18% 2,146 19.52%
1988 5,109 50.03% 5,044 49.40% 58 0.57%
1984 5,909 60.38% 3,857 39.41% 21 0.21%
1980 5,055 54.05% 4,116 44.01% 182 1.95%
1976 3,476 42.64% 4,603 56.46% 73 0.90%
1972 4,052 66.17% 2,049 33.46% 23 0.38%
1968 1,914 33.59% 3,205 56.25% 579 10.16%
1964 1,346 27.46% 3,555 72.52% 1 0.02%
1960 1,551 43.05% 2,049 56.87% 3 0.08%
1956 1,660 50.81% 1,598 48.91% 9 0.28%
1952 1,725 51.14% 1,647 48.83% 1 0.03%
1948 672 33.97% 1,242 62.79% 64 3.24%
1944 676 34.06% 1,210 60.96% 99 4.99%
1940 616 27.41% 1,628 72.45% 3 0.13%
1936 504 28.46% 1,262 71.26% 5 0.28%
1932 421 22.94% 1,412 76.95% 2 0.11%
1928 854 57.94% 620 42.06% 0 0.00%
1924 457 45.79% 434 43.49% 107 10.72%
1920 296 41.23% 418 58.22% 4 0.56%
1916 135 22.96% 446 75.85% 7 1.19%
1912 196 30.06% 298 45.71% 158 24.23%

Communities

City

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "Val Verde County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. In Old Spanish or Modern Galician; Spanish nowadays would say Valle Verde, and Modern Portuguese Vale Verde. Although verde is the same in masculine or femenine, val((l)e) used to be feminine, masculine nowadays.
  4. Foster, William C; Thoms, Alston V (2008). "The Texas Trans-Pecos, Study Area V". Historic Native Peoples of Texas. University of Texas Press. pp. 137–168. ISBN 978-0-292-71793-0.
  5. Smith, Julia Cauble. "Val Verde County". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  6. Tarpley, Fred (1980). 1001 Texas Place Names. University of Texas Press. p. 61. ISBN 978-0-292-76016-5.
  7. "Devil's Draw". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  8. Chipman, Donald E. "Gaspar Castaño de Sosa". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  9. Wade, Maria F; Wade, Don E; Hester, Thomas R (2002). "The Bosque-Larios Expedition". The Native Americans of the Texas Edwards Plateau, 1582-1799. University of Texas Press. pp. 24–54. ISBN 978-0-292-79156-5.
  10. Garcia, Clotilde P. "Miguel de la Garza Falcón". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  11. Smith, Julia Cauble. "Devils River". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  12. Blake, Robert Bruce. "James Grant". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  13. Estep, Raymond. "John Charles Beales". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  14. "San Felipe Creek". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  15. Smith, Julia Cauble. "Camp Blake". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  16. Smith, Julia Cauble. "Camp Hudson". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  17. Seale, Axcie. "Camp San Felipe". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  18. Glasrud, Bruce A; Searles, Michael N (2007). "The Black Seminole Indian Scouts in the Big Bend". Buffalo Soldiers in the West: A Black Soldiers Anthology. TAMU Press. pp. 143–152. ISBN 978-1-58544-620-9.
  19. Eckhardt, C F. "THE WHIRLWIND Lt. John Lapham Bullis and the Seminole Negro Scouts". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  20. "Galveston Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway". Texas Transportation Museum. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  21. Braudaway, Douglas Lee; Valverde County Historical Commission (1999). Val Verde County (Images of America: Texas). Arcadia Publishing. p. 93. ISBN 978-0-7385-0128-4.
  22. Overfelt, Robert C. "Val Verde Winery". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  23. "Val Verde Winery". Val Verde Winery. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  24. "Langtry, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  25. "Comstock, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  26. Crutchfield, James A (2007). It Happened in Texas. TwoDot. pp. 104–107. ISBN 978-0-7627-4569-2.
  27. "Lake Walk Dam". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  28. "THC Val Verde County". Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
  29. Benton, Jeffrey C (2005). Air Force Officer's Guide. Stackpole Books. p. 330. ISBN 978-0-8117-3194-2.
  30. "Laughlin AFB". Laughlin AFB. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  31. Leatherwood, Art. "Laughlin Air Force Base". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  32. Braudaway, Douglas (2002). Del Rio: Queen City of the Rio Grande. Arcadia Publishing. p. 125. ISBN 978-0-7385-2387-3.
  33. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  34. "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  35. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  36. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Val Verde County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  37. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Val Verde County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  38. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  39. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Val Verde County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022. - Text list
  40. Bryant, Don (November 24, 1976). "County School Superintendent's Job Diminishing". Del Rio News Herald. Del Rio, Texas. p. 4. - Clipping from Newspapers.com.
  41. "One-room school becomes history for Juno". San Angelo Standard-Times. San Angelo, Texas. May 12, 1992. p. 8A. - Clipping from Newspapers.com.
  42. "Four County Schools Are Holding Classes". Del Rio News Herald. Del Rio, Texas. September 8, 1964. p. 3A. - Clipping from Newspapers.com.
  43. Texas Education Code: Sec. 130.200. SOUTHWEST TEXAS JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
  44. Home page Archived 2008-06-11 at the Wayback Machine. Val Verde County Library. Retrieved on March 26, 2010.
  45. "Judge's Office | Val Verde County, TX". valverdecounty.texas.gov. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  46. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  47. Pumpville (Texas State Historical Association)

29.89°N 101.15°W / 29.89; -101.15

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