Mentone, Texas
Encyclopedia
Mentone is an unincorporated area in Loving County
, Texas
, the least populous county in the United States
. As the county's only community, it serves as the county seat
and has a 2010 population of 19, almost one-fourth of the county's 82 people. It is the least populated county seat in the United States. Designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
in 1967 as the "Smallest County Seat in Texas", Marker number 9461.
.
, but was deserted anew when Mentone was reestablished in 1931, with most residents moving to the new town. The town on the current site was named Ramsey before being renamed. During its heyday, Mentone boasted five cafes, five gas stations, two hotels, two drugstores, two recreation halls, two barbershops, a dance hall, a machine shop and a dry cleaner. It also had its own newspaper, the Mentone Monitor, which published from 1932 to 1935. After reaching a high population mark of approximately 600 residents in the 1930s, the population has declined ever since, and in 2000 there were only 15 people, "more or less", according to National Geographic magazine (the total population of Loving County itself (as of 2010) is 82.)
Today, according to National Geographic, Mentone contains a courthouse, two stop signs, gas station, post office, school building (Mentone schools were closed in the 1970s and merged with nearby Wink
schools, because enrollment had fallen to just two pupils), a cafe (known as the Boot Track Cafe), and little else. A volunteer fire department serves the town, but there are no hospitals or cemeteries, and no doctors or lawyers. The local cafe allows smoking, but does not accept credit cards. Until 1988, Mentone had no potable water of its own; local wells yielded water with a high mineral content that clogged pipes and killed grass. Drinking water was trucked in from Pecos, 23 miles (37 km) away, until recent improvements guaranteed the potability of Mentone's water.
Mentone's tiny church (the oldest building in Loving County) is visited every Saturday by a minister from a nearby town who holds interdenominational services there.
Mentone was the home of the first elected female sheriff in Texas, Edna Reed Clayton DeWees. DeWees was appointed to the job in January 1945, then won an election to continue in the office through 1947. She never carried a firearm, and reported only two arrests during her entire term. This is not unusual in Loving County; since the inception of the county, there have been fewer than 200 criminal cases filed in District Court. Later DeWees would return as county and district clerk, a job she held from 1965 to 1986. In Loving County, the posts of county clerk, probate clerk, and of district clerk are managed by the same official. DeWees died January 22, 2009, having survived her husbands George Clayton and Lawrence DeWees.
, planned to buy parcels of land in the county, then move in enough of their supporters to outvote earlier residents and take control of local government.
According to a website for Mr. Pendarvis' movement, their objectives were to "remove oppressive Regulations...and stop enforcement of Laws prohibiting Victimless Acts
among Consenting Adults, such as Dueling, Gambling, Incest, Price-Gouging, Cannibalism, and Drug Handling." Additionally, the group sought "to ensure that the Sheriff's Office or the Town Police are never allowed to waste valuable Town resources...to oppress our residents by the investigation or enforcement of violations of Laws that punish Truancy, Drug Trafficking, Prostitution, Obscenity, Organ Trafficking, BumFights
, and other Victimless 'Crimes'."
Although Pendarvis, Emory and Duncan claimed to have legally bought 126 acre (0.50990436 km²) in Loving County in 2005, and registered to vote accordingly, the county sheriff, Billy Burt Hopper, determined that this land had been sold to a different buyer. Misdemeanor charges were filed against the three men, who had left the state by this time. Pendarvis claimed to have a cancelled check to prove his purchase of the land in question, but no deed was ever produced, and the original landowners denied having sold land to Pendarvis or his associates. The three were subsequently featured on a "wanted" poster issued by Sheriff Hopper and the local Texas Rangers
(displayed at Hopper's office), and threatened with arrest should they return to Loving County.
Although Mr. Pendarvis' website remains operational, his project does not seem to be active at this time, due to lack of funding and participation.
. Loving County's school system was closed and consolidated into Wink's ISD in 1972 because the enrollment had fallen to two students. The abandoned school building's gymnasium is still occasionally used for local events.
Loving County, Texas
US Census 2000Of the 67 residents, 60 were White, 6 of "some other race", and 1 person of two or more races. There were 7 residents who were Hispanic or Latino of any race...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, the least populous county in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As the county's only community, it serves as the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
and has a 2010 population of 19, almost one-fourth of the county's 82 people. It is the least populated county seat in the United States. Designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark is a designation awarded by the Texas Historical Commission for historically and architecturally significant properties in the state of Texas....
in 1967 as the "Smallest County Seat in Texas", Marker number 9461.
Geography
Mentone is located at 31.705°N 103.598°W at an elevation of 2684 feet (818.1 m). It is situated on State Highway 302, seventy-five miles west of OdessaOdessa, Texas
Odessa is a city in and the county seat of Ector County, Texas, United States. It is located primarily in Ector County, although a small portion of the city extends into Midland County. Odessa's population was 99,940 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Odessa, Texas Metropolitan...
.
History
Named after Menton, France by a French surveyor, present-day Mentone is actually the second such named community in Loving County; an earlier Mentone was founded south of the current town in 1893, but was abandoned in 1905. A second town on that site was called Juanita and then PortervillePorterville, Texas
Porterville is a ghost town in Loving County, Texas, United States.Porterville was established in 1905 by Dr. Phil Porter, a physician who relocated from Michigan due to what he believed were health benefits of living in the desert. At one point in time, the town was a bustling community, with a...
, but was deserted anew when Mentone was reestablished in 1931, with most residents moving to the new town. The town on the current site was named Ramsey before being renamed. During its heyday, Mentone boasted five cafes, five gas stations, two hotels, two drugstores, two recreation halls, two barbershops, a dance hall, a machine shop and a dry cleaner. It also had its own newspaper, the Mentone Monitor, which published from 1932 to 1935. After reaching a high population mark of approximately 600 residents in the 1930s, the population has declined ever since, and in 2000 there were only 15 people, "more or less", according to National Geographic magazine (the total population of Loving County itself (as of 2010) is 82.)
Today, according to National Geographic, Mentone contains a courthouse, two stop signs, gas station, post office, school building (Mentone schools were closed in the 1970s and merged with nearby Wink
Wink, Texas
Wink is a city in Winkler County, Texas, United States. The population was 919 at the 2000 census. By 2009, the population had reportedly crept up to 926.Wink was the hometown of singer and songwriter Roy Orbison, although he was born in Vernon, Texas....
schools, because enrollment had fallen to just two pupils), a cafe (known as the Boot Track Cafe), and little else. A volunteer fire department serves the town, but there are no hospitals or cemeteries, and no doctors or lawyers. The local cafe allows smoking, but does not accept credit cards. Until 1988, Mentone had no potable water of its own; local wells yielded water with a high mineral content that clogged pipes and killed grass. Drinking water was trucked in from Pecos, 23 miles (37 km) away, until recent improvements guaranteed the potability of Mentone's water.
Mentone's tiny church (the oldest building in Loving County) is visited every Saturday by a minister from a nearby town who holds interdenominational services there.
Mentone was the home of the first elected female sheriff in Texas, Edna Reed Clayton DeWees. DeWees was appointed to the job in January 1945, then won an election to continue in the office through 1947. She never carried a firearm, and reported only two arrests during her entire term. This is not unusual in Loving County; since the inception of the county, there have been fewer than 200 criminal cases filed in District Court. Later DeWees would return as county and district clerk, a job she held from 1965 to 1986. In Loving County, the posts of county clerk, probate clerk, and of district clerk are managed by the same official. DeWees died January 22, 2009, having survived her husbands George Clayton and Lawrence DeWees.
Alleged takeover attempt by the "Free Town Project"
In February 2006, Mentone became the focus of a New York Times article detailing an alleged attempt by libertarians Lawrence Pendarvis, Bobby Emory and Don Duncan to "take over" the town and Loving County. According to the article, Pendarvis and his associates, part of the Free Town ProjectFree Town Project
The Free Town Project was an unofficial splinter group of the Free State Project that was started in 2003 to encourage libertariansto move to Grafton, NewHampshire...
, planned to buy parcels of land in the county, then move in enough of their supporters to outvote earlier residents and take control of local government.
According to a website for Mr. Pendarvis' movement, their objectives were to "remove oppressive Regulations...and stop enforcement of Laws prohibiting Victimless Acts
Victimless crime (political philosophy)
A victimless crime is a term used to refer to actions that have been ruled illegal but do not directly violate or threaten the rights of another individual. It often involves consensual acts in which two or more persons agree to commit a criminal offence in which no other person is involved...
among Consenting Adults, such as Dueling, Gambling, Incest, Price-Gouging, Cannibalism, and Drug Handling." Additionally, the group sought "to ensure that the Sheriff's Office or the Town Police are never allowed to waste valuable Town resources...to oppress our residents by the investigation or enforcement of violations of Laws that punish Truancy, Drug Trafficking, Prostitution, Obscenity, Organ Trafficking, BumFights
Bumfights
Bumfights is a film series produced by Indecline Films. The videos feature teenagers, homeless men in the San Diego, San Francisco and Las Vegas metropolitan areas fighting and attempting amateur stunts in exchange for money, alcohol, and other incentives...
, and other Victimless 'Crimes'."
Although Pendarvis, Emory and Duncan claimed to have legally bought 126 acre (0.50990436 km²) in Loving County in 2005, and registered to vote accordingly, the county sheriff, Billy Burt Hopper, determined that this land had been sold to a different buyer. Misdemeanor charges were filed against the three men, who had left the state by this time. Pendarvis claimed to have a cancelled check to prove his purchase of the land in question, but no deed was ever produced, and the original landowners denied having sold land to Pendarvis or his associates. The three were subsequently featured on a "wanted" poster issued by Sheriff Hopper and the local Texas Rangers
Texas Ranger Division
The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas...
(displayed at Hopper's office), and threatened with arrest should they return to Loving County.
Although Mr. Pendarvis' website remains operational, his project does not seem to be active at this time, due to lack of funding and participation.
Education
Mentone is served by the Wink-Loving Independent School DistrictWink-Loving Independent School District
Wink-Loving Independent School District is a public school district based in Wink, Texas in Winkler County, Texas . The district serves students in southern and western Winkler County along with all of Loving County....
. Loving County's school system was closed and consolidated into Wink's ISD in 1972 because the enrollment had fallen to two students. The abandoned school building's gymnasium is still occasionally used for local events.
External links
- Mentone from MyWestTexas.com Brief but detailed report on life in Mentone and Loving County. Includes several videos of Mentone and interviews with the local sheriff and judge.
- National Geographic profile Includes a few photos of Mentone buildings and people.
- Loving County at Davickservices.com Numerous photos and stories about Mentone. One story gives details about the smoking & credit card policies of Mentone's cafe. A small picture of the "wanted" poster for Mssrs. Pendarvis, Emory and Duncan may also be seen here.
- Mentone, TX at texasescapes.com More photos of Mentone buildings.
- Odessa American Includes details on Edna Dewees, first elected female sheriff in Texas.
- "1 Cafe, 1 Gas Station, 2 Roads: America's Emptiest County" - New York Times, February 25, 2006.
- The Free Town Project Website for Lawrence Pendarvis' "Free Town Project." Contains the material quoted above.