Pecos County, Texas

Pecos County (/ˈpeɪkəs/ PAY-kəs[1]) is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 15,193.[2] The county seat is Fort Stockton.[3] The county was created in 1871 and organized in 1875.[4][5] It is named for the Pecos River. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas.

Not to be confused with Pecos, Texas.

Pecos County
County
Pecos County Courthouse in Fort Stockton
Pecos County Courthouse in Fort Stockton
Map of Texas highlighting Pecos County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°47′N 102°43′W
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1875
Named forPecos River
SeatFort Stockton
Largest cityFort Stockton
Area
 • Total4,765 sq mi (12,340 km2)
 • Land4,764 sq mi (12,340 km2)
 • Water1.0 sq mi (3 km2)  0.02%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total15,193
 • Density3.2/sq mi (1.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district23rd
Websitewww.co.pecos.tx.us

History

Native Americans

Archeological digs at Tunas Peak uncovered prehistoric hunter-gatherer artifacts. Fourteen clusters of stones interpreted as wickiup and tipi rings indicate human habitation. A ring midden in the camp provided a radiocarbon date of 1300 AD. Archeological finds along Tunas Creek include a burial site, pictographs, and artifacts; one is a possible modified Langtry projectile point (2,000 BC to 700–800 AD).[5][6]

Early routes

The Comanche Trail crossed Pecos County near Horsehead Crossing and through Comanche Springs.[7] The Chihuahua Trail connecting Mexico's state of Chihuahua with Santa Fe, New Mexico, brought travelers through the area by Comanche Springs about 1840.[8][9]

A United States Army outpost, Fort Stockton, was established in 1858 at Comanche Springs to guard the San Antonio-El Paso Mail. That same year, the Butterfield Overland Mail began service to the army post.[10]

County established and growth

The town of Fort Stockton began near the Fort Stockton army post at Comanche Springs as St. Gaul, Texas, but was renamed Fort Stockton in 1880.[10][11] Pecos County was established by the Texas Legislature in 1871 originally out of Presidio County. In 1871, Pecos County was organized and St. Gaul was named the county seat. About 1,100 people were living in the county that year.[5] By 1890, the county had 227 cattle and 150 sheep, and 1,300 acres (5.3 km2) were planted in corn. By 1900, the area's economy had become almost completely dominated by cattle and sheep ranching, though plots of wheat, rye, corn, and oats were grown.[5] Around 1900, a small settlement known as Sheffield sprang up in eastern Pecos County on land owned by Will Sheffield; it served as a supply point for the surrounding ranches. In 1913, construction of the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway across Pecos County caused a boom in land speculation and community growth, as did irrigation projects along the Pecos River.[12] The town of Girvin, named for rancher John H. Girvin, grew around a train stop on the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway that served as a cattle-shipping point. Construction of Texas State Highway 290 linking Fort Stockton to Big Bend National Park gave a boost to tourism. In the 1980s, the economy of Pecos County continued to be based on farming, ranching, oil and gas production, and tourism. The Yates Oil Field in Crockett, and Pecos counties in 1927 resulted in a financial boom period for the county. Towns such as Red Barn, Iraan (combination of the names Ira and Ann Yates), and Bakersfield rose up in response to oil-related employment opportunities. The population of the county more than doubled during the 1920s. Oil production helped to stabilize the local economy.[13][14]

Alley Oop and Paisano Pete

The town of Iraan, Texas, prides itself on being the birthplace of cartoon caveman Alley Oop, when creator V.T. Hamlin worked in the oilfields. Although first published in the Des Moines Register in 1932, Hamlin claimed to have originated the idea while he watched dinosaur bones being dug up by oil equipment. Visitors to Iraan can visit the Alley Oop Museum found on Alley Oop Lane.[15] Fort Stockton pays tribute to the agile roadrunner with its Paisano Pete the Roadrunner statue.[16]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,765 square miles (12,340 km2), of which 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) (0.02%) is covered by water.[17] It is the second-largest county by area in Texas.

Yates Oil Field

Pecos County is home to one of the largest oil fields in the United States, the Yates Oil Field, which is in the extreme eastern part of the county, along the Pecos River. The field covers about 41 sq mi (110 km2) near the town of Iraan. Discovered in 1926, it has produced over a billion barrels of oil, and most industry estimates give it more than another billion in recoverable reserves. The Yates Oil Field was one of the first giant fields to be found in the Permian Basin.[18][19]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18801,807—
18901,326−26.6%
19002,36078.0%
19102,071−12.2%
19203,85786.2%
19307,812102.5%
19408,1854.8%
19509,93921.4%
196011,95720.3%
197013,74815.0%
198014,6186.3%
199014,6750.4%
200016,80914.5%
201015,507−7.7%
202015,193−2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[20]
1850–2010[21] 2010–2014[22]
Pecos County racial/ethnic composition[23][24]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[lower-alpha 1]
Race Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2010 % 2020
White (NH) 4,326 3,473 27.9% 22.86%
Black or African American (NH) 528 505 3.4% 3.32%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 57 33 0.37% 0.22%
Asian (NH) 74 143 0.48% 0.94%
Pacific Islander (NH) 5 0 0.03% 0.0%
Some Other Race (NH) 17 35 0.11% 0.23%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 70 159 0.45% 1.05%
Hispanic or Latino 10,430 10,845 67.26% 71.38%
Total 15,507 15,193

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 15,193 people, 4,868 households, and 3,334 families residing in the county. As of the 2010 United States census, 15,507 were people living in the county; 79.4% were White, 3.7% Black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 13.5% of some other race, and 2.1% of two or more races. About 67.3% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

Education

Public education in Pecos County is provided by three school districts: Buena Vista, Fort Stockton, and Iraan-Sheffield Independent School Districts.

Williams Regional Technical Training Center

Pecos County is home to the Midland College/Williams Regional Technical Training Center, located alongside Interstate Highway 10, in Fort Stockton. The center was built in 1996 through a joint effort by Midland College, and by leaders of Fort Stockton education, business, and government as a means to enhance higher education and workforce development in this part of West Texas. Fort Stockton and Pecos County are part of the Midland College service area. After just four years, the facility, named in honor of Fort Stockton native and center donor Clayton Williams Jr. was doubled in size through fundraising and program development.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated areas

Notable people

Oilman and rancher Clayton W. Williams Sr. served for 16 years as a Pecos county commissioner. His father, attorney Oscar Waldo Williams, earlier served a decade as Pecos county judge. Clayton Williams Jr. the 1990 Republican gubernatorial nominee, was reared in Fort Stockton.

Politics
United States presidential election results for Pecos County, Texas[27]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 3,215 68.87% 1,382 29.61% 71 1.52%
2016 2,468 58.97% 1,554 37.13% 163 3.89%
2012 2,512 60.53% 1,591 38.34% 47 1.13%
2008 2,480 61.85% 1,476 36.81% 54 1.35%
2004 3,167 71.52% 1,242 28.05% 19 0.43%
2000 2,700 62.75% 1,539 35.77% 64 1.49%
1996 1,730 43.89% 1,816 46.07% 396 10.05%
1992 1,836 40.59% 1,778 39.31% 909 20.10%
1988 2,483 55.67% 1,960 43.95% 17 0.38%
1984 3,451 67.93% 1,596 31.42% 33 0.65%
1980 2,723 61.96% 1,602 36.45% 70 1.59%
1976 2,234 52.78% 1,971 46.56% 28 0.66%
1972 2,419 73.10% 847 25.60% 43 1.30%
1968 1,524 37.92% 1,592 39.61% 903 22.47%
1964 1,393 40.11% 2,068 59.55% 12 0.35%
1960 1,412 44.58% 1,724 54.44% 31 0.98%
1956 1,425 60.20% 931 39.33% 11 0.46%
1952 1,573 59.36% 1,076 40.60% 1 0.04%
1948 317 17.60% 1,430 79.40% 54 3.00%
1944 305 18.45% 1,226 74.17% 122 7.38%
1940 332 17.25% 1,583 82.23% 10 0.52%
1936 167 11.15% 1,330 88.79% 1 0.07%
1932 180 12.43% 1,261 87.09% 7 0.48%
1928 524 47.99% 562 51.47% 6 0.55%
1924 192 29.00% 440 66.47% 30 4.53%
1920 394 48.40% 386 47.42% 34 4.18%
1916 96 19.35% 394 79.44% 6 1.21%
1912 76 17.76% 256 59.81% 96 22.43%

See also

References
  1. "How to Pronounce: P Cities". texastripper.com. September 23, 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  2. "QuickFacts: Pecos County, Texas". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  5. Pecos County, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online. By Glenn Justice and John Leffler. Retrieved on 14 December 2010.
  6. "Squawteat Peak". Texas Beyond History. UT-Austin. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  7. "Comanche Trail". National Park Service. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  8. Perry, Ann; Smith, Deborah; Simons, Helen; Hoyt, Catherine A (1996). A Guide to Hispanic Texas. University of Texas Press. p. 6. ISBN 978-0-292-77709-5.
  9. Sharp, Jay W. "Desert Trails: The Chihuahua Trail". Desert USA. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  10. Hudnall, Sharon and Ken (2005). "Fort Stockton, Texas". Spirits of the Border III. Omega Press. pp. 178–187. ISBN 978-0-9754923-2-1.
  11. "Fort Stockton Tx". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  12. "Fort Stockton Railroad Depots". Texas Escapes. Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  13. "Iraan, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  14. Harris, Jim; Texas Folklore Society (1991). Features and Fillers: Texas Journalists on Texas Folklore. University of North Texas Press. pp. 27–28. ISBN 978-1-57441-074-7.
  15. Eckhardt, C F. "Victor T. Hamlin & Alley Oop". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  16. Butko, Brian and Sarah (2005). Roadside Giants. Stackpole Books. pp. 20–21. ISBN 978-0-8117-3228-4.
  17. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  18. Hyne, Norman J. Nontechnical Guide to Petroleum Geology, Exploration, Drilling, and Production, 2nd edition. PennWell Books, 2001. ISBN 0-87814-823-X, ISBN 0-87814-823-X p. 105.
  19. Description at University of Texas Oil Connections Archived 2010-12-13 at the Wayback Machine.
  20. "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  21. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  22. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on October 18, 2011. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  23. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  24. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  25. https://www.census.gov/
  26. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  27. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  1. 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.[25][26]
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