Pecos County, Texas
Encyclopedia
Pecos County is a county located in Texas
which is named for the Pecos River
. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos
region of West Texas
. In 2000, its population was 16,809. The county seat
is Fort Stockton
.
Oil
man and rancher Clayton W. Williams, Sr.
, served for sixteen years as a Pecos county commissioner. His father, attorney
Oscar Waldo Williams, earlier served a decade as Pecos county judge. Clayton Wheat Williams, Jr.
, the 1990 Republican
gubernatorial nominee, was reared in Fort Stockton but resides in Midland
.
, the county has a total area of 12341 square kilometres (4,765 sq mi). 12338 km² (4,764 sq mi) of it is land and 3 km² (1 sq mi) of it (0.02%) is water.
, which is in the extreme eastern part of the county, along the Pecos River. The field covers approximately 41 square miles (106.2 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 was one of the first giant fields to be found in the Permian Basin.
of 2000, there were 16,809 people, 5,153 households, and 4,029 families residing in the county. The population density
was 4 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 6,338 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 75.85% White
, 4.39% Black
or African American
, 0.42% Native American
, 0.51% Asian
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
, 16.13% from other races
, and 2.69% from two or more races. 61.05% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 5,153 households out of which 41.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.10% were married couples
living together, 11.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.80% were non-families. 19.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the county, the population was spread out with 27.70% under the age of 18, 13.80% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 20.50% from 45 to 64, and 10.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 123.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 132.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,033, and the median income for a family was $31,122. Males had a median income of $25,888 versus $18,113 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $12,212. About 18.10% of families and 20.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.20% of those under age 18 and 16.30% of those age 65 or over.
hunter-gatherer
artifacts. 14 clusters of stones interpreted as wickiup and tipi rings indicate human habitation. A ring midden
in the camp provided a radiocarbon date of 1300 A.D. Archeological finds along Tunas Creek include a burial site, pictographs
, and artifacts; a possible modified Langtry projectile point (2,000 B.C. to A.D. 700–800).
The Chihuahua Trail
connecting Mexico’s state of Chihuahua with Santa Fe, New Mexico
brought travelers through the area by Comanche Springs about 1840.
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.
began near the Fort Stockton army post at Comanche Springs as St. Gall, but was renamed in 1880. Pecos County was established by the Texas legislature in 1871 originally out of Presidio County
. The county was organized in 1875. St. Gall (Fort Stockton), became the county seat. There were 1,100 people living in the county that year. By 1890 the county had 227 cattle and 150 sheep that year, and 1300 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. Construction of the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway Company of Texas across Pecos County in 1913 caused a boom in land speculation and community growth, as did irrigation projects along the Pecos River
. Construction of Texas State Highway 290
linking Fort Stockton to Big Bend National Park
gave a boost to the tourism dollar. 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 a 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.
in 1932, Hamlin himself allegedly 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. Fort Stockton pays tribute to the agile roadrunner with their Paisano Pete the Roadrunner statue.
, Fort Stockton
, and Iraan-Sheffield
.
, owned and operated by the Lyda family, is located 20 miles (32.2 km) south of Fort Stockton
. The ranch encompasses much of Pecos County and portions of Reeves
, Brewster
, Archer
, and Baylor
counties. The hundred-year-old core ranch was originally owned by California-based Elsinore Land & Cattle Company, but in 1992 was acquired by Gerald Lyda
of San Antonio, Texas
who renamed the property La Escalera Ranch
(Spanish for "The Ladder"). The family's subsequent purchase of additional ranches has expanded the ranch's original borders. The ranch is known for its reputation herd of Angus cattle
and abundant wildlife, such as West Texas
mule deer
, Auodad
sheep and Rio Grande
wild turkey
. Located on the ranch is the internationally famous Sierra Madera crater
, which was created when a huge meteorite
struck the earth.
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...
which is named for the Pecos River
Pecos River
The headwaters of the Pecos River are located north of Pecos, New Mexico, United States, at an elevation of over 12,000 feet on the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range in Mora County. The river flows for through the eastern portion of that state and neighboring Texas before it...
. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos
Trans-Pecos
The term Trans-Pecos, as originally defined in 1887 by the Texas geologist Robert T. Hill, refers to the portion of Texas that lies west of the Pecos River. The term is considered synonymous with "Far West Texas", a subdivision of West Texas...
region of West Texas
West Texas
West Texas is a vernacular term applied to a region in the southwestern quadrant of the United States that primarily encompasses the arid and semi-arid lands in the western portion of the state of Texas....
. In 2000, its population was 16,809. 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....
is Fort Stockton
Fort Stockton, Texas
Fort Stockton is a city in Pecos County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,846 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pecos County.-Geography:Fort Stockton is located at ....
.
Oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
man and rancher Clayton W. Williams, Sr.
Clayton W. Williams, Sr.
Clayton Wheat Williams, Sr. , was an engineer, a geologist, an oilman, a World War I military officer, a rancher, a county commissioner and civic leader, an historian, and a philanthropist from Fort Stockton, Texas....
, served for sixteen years as a Pecos county commissioner. His father, attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
Oscar Waldo Williams, earlier served a decade as Pecos county judge. Clayton Wheat Williams, Jr.
Clayton Williams
Clayton Wheat "Claytie" Williams, Jr. , a businessman from Midland, Texas, was the unsuccessful Republican gubernatorial nominee in 1990 against the Democratic State Treasurer Ann Richards even though Williams initially led in opinion polls by twenty points.-Biographical information:An independent...
, the 1990 Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
gubernatorial nominee, was reared in Fort Stockton but resides in Midland
Midland, Texas
Midland is a city in and the county seat of Midland County, Texas, United States, on the Southern Plains of the state's western area. A small portion of the city extends into Martin County. As of 2010, the population of Midland was 111,147. It is the principal city of the Midland, Texas...
.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the county has a total area of 12341 square kilometres (4,765 sq mi). 12338 km² (4,764 sq mi) of it is land and 3 km² (1 sq mi) of it (0.02%) is water.
Yates Oil Field
Pecos County is home to one of the largest oil fields in the United States, the Yates Oil FieldYates Oil Field
The Yates Oil Field is a giant oil field in the Permian Basin of west Texas. Primarily in extreme southeastern Pecos County, it also stretches under the Pecos River and partially into Crockett County. Iraan, on the Pecos River and directly adjacent to the field, is the nearest town...
, which is in the extreme eastern part of the county, along the Pecos River. The field covers approximately 41 square miles (106.2 km²) near the town of Iraan
Iraan, Texas
Iraan is a city in Pecos County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,238 at the 2000 census. The correct pronunciation is "Eye-ruh-ann"; it was named for Ira and Ann Yates, owners of the ranchland upon which the town was built.-Geography:...
. 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 was one of the first giant fields to be found in the Permian Basin.
Major Highways
Interstate 10
U.S. Highway 67
U.S. Highway 285
U.S. Highway 385
State Highway 18State Highway 18 (Texas)State Highway 18, or SH 18, runs from the Texas-New Mexico boundary north of Kermit to Fort Stockton in west Texas. This route was designated in 1958 over the northern half of what was previously SH 82.- Route description :...
Adjacent counties
- Ward County (north)
- Crane County (north)
- Crockett County (east)
- Terrell CountyTerrell County, TexasTerrell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. In 2000, its population was 1,081. Its county seat is Sanderson. The county was named for Alexander W. Terrell, a Texas state senator...
(southeast) - Brewster CountyBrewster County, TexasBrewster County is a county located in western part of the US state of Texas, along the border with Mexico. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. As of the 2000 census, the population is 8,866. In 2009, the population was estimated to be 9,481. Its...
(southwest) - Jeff Davis CountyJeff Davis County, TexasJeff Davis County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. It is named for Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States of America. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. In 2000, its population was 2,207, and 2,258 by 2009...
(west) - Reeves CountyReeves County, TexasReeves County is a county located in the US state of Texas. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. In 2000, its population was 13,137. Its seat is Pecos. Reeves County is named for George R. Reeves, a Texas state legislator and colonel in the...
(northwest)
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 16,809 people, 5,153 households, and 4,029 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 4 people per square mile (1/km²). There were 6,338 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 75.85% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 4.39% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.42% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.51% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 16.13% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.69% from two or more races. 61.05% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 5,153 households out of which 41.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.10% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.80% were non-families. 19.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the county, the population was spread out with 27.70% under the age of 18, 13.80% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 20.50% from 45 to 64, and 10.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 123.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 132.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,033, and the median income for a family was $31,122. Males had a median income of $25,888 versus $18,113 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $12,212. About 18.10% of families and 20.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.20% of those under age 18 and 16.30% of those age 65 or over.
Native Americans
Archeological digs at Squawteat Peak uncovered prehistoricPrehistory
Prehistory is the span of time before recorded history. Prehistory can refer to the period of human existence before the availability of those written records with which recorded history begins. More broadly, it refers to all the time preceding human existence and the invention of writing...
hunter-gatherer
Hunter-gatherer
A hunter-gatherer or forage society is one in which most or all food is obtained from wild plants and animals, in contrast to agricultural societies which rely mainly on domesticated species. Hunting and gathering was the ancestral subsistence mode of Homo, and all modern humans were...
artifacts. 14 clusters of stones interpreted as wickiup and tipi rings indicate human habitation. A ring midden
Midden
A midden, is an old dump for domestic waste which may consist of animal bone, human excrement, botanical material, vermin, shells, sherds, lithics , and other artifacts and ecofacts associated with past human occupation...
in the camp provided a radiocarbon date of 1300 A.D. Archeological finds along Tunas Creek include a burial site, pictographs
Pictogram
A pictograph, also called pictogram or pictogramme is an ideogram that conveys its meaning through its pictorial resemblance to a physical object. Pictographs are often used in writing and graphic systems in which the characters are to considerable extent pictorial in appearance.Pictography is a...
, and artifacts; a possible modified Langtry projectile point (2,000 B.C. to A.D. 700–800).
Early Routes
The Comanche Trail crossed Pecos County near Horsehead Crossing and through Comanche Springs.The Chihuahua Trail
Chihuahua Trail
The Chihuahua Trail is a major land route from New Mexico through the state of Chihuahua to central Mexico.In the late 16th century Spanish exploration and colonization had advanced from Mexico City northward by the great central plateau to its ultimate goal in Santa Fe...
connecting Mexico’s state of Chihuahua with Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
brought travelers through the area by Comanche Springs about 1840.
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
Butterfield Overland Mail
The Butterfield Overland Mail Trail was a stagecoach route in the United States, operating from 1857 to 1861. It was a conduit for the U.S. mail from two eastern termini, Memphis, Tennessee and St. Louis, Missouri, meeting Fort Smith, Arkansas, and continuing through Indian Territory, New Mexico,...
began service to the army post.
County Established and Growth
The town of Fort StocktonFort Stockton, Texas
Fort Stockton is a city in Pecos County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,846 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pecos County.-Geography:Fort Stockton is located at ....
began near the Fort Stockton army post at Comanche Springs as St. Gall, but was renamed in 1880. Pecos County was established by the Texas legislature in 1871 originally out of Presidio County
Presidio County, Texas
Presidio County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 7,304. Its county seat is Marfa. Presidio County is in the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas and is named for the ancient border settlement of Presidio del Norte.-Geography:Presidio County is triangular in...
. The county was organized in 1875. St. Gall (Fort Stockton), became the county seat. There were 1,100 people living in the county that year. By 1890 the county had 227 cattle and 150 sheep that year, and 1300 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. Construction of the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway Company of Texas across Pecos County in 1913 caused a boom in land speculation and community growth, as did irrigation projects along the Pecos River
Pecos River
The headwaters of the Pecos River are located north of Pecos, New Mexico, United States, at an elevation of over 12,000 feet on the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range in Mora County. The river flows for through the eastern portion of that state and neighboring Texas before it...
. Construction of Texas State Highway 290
Texas State Highway 290
State Highway 290 or SH 290 is a state highway maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation that runs from Interstate 10 near Sheffield east to another connection with I-10 about east of Sheffield. The route was designated in 1992 as a replacement for U.S. Route 290 when it was...
linking Fort Stockton to Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park
Big Bend National Park is a national park located in the U.S. state of Texas. Big Bend has national significance as the largest protected area of Chihuahuan Desert topography and ecology in the United States, which includes more than 1,200 species of plants, more than 450 species of birds, 56...
gave a boost to the tourism dollar. 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
Yates Oil Field
The Yates Oil Field is a giant oil field in the Permian Basin of west Texas. Primarily in extreme southeastern Pecos County, it also stretches under the Pecos River and partially into Crockett County. Iraan, on the Pecos River and directly adjacent to the field, is the nearest town...
in Crockett and Pecos counties in 1927 resulted in a financial boom period for the county. Towns such a Red Barn, Iraan
Iraan, Texas
Iraan is a city in Pecos County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,238 at the 2000 census. The correct pronunciation is "Eye-ruh-ann"; it was named for Ira and Ann Yates, owners of the ranchland upon which the town was built.-Geography:...
(combination of the names Ira and Ann Yates) and Bakersfield
Bakersfield, Texas
Bakersfield is an unincorporated community in Pecos County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the dispersed community had an estimated population of 30 in 2000.-Georgraphy:Bakersfield is located at...
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.
Alley Oop and Paisano Pete
Iraan prides itself on being the birthplace of cartoon caveman Alley Oop, when creator Victor T. Hamlin worked in the oilfields. Although first published in the Des Moines RegisterDes Moines Register
The Des Moines Register is the daily morning newspaper of Des Moines, Iowa, in the United States. A separate edition of the Register is sold throughout much of Iowa.-History:...
in 1932, Hamlin himself allegedly 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. Fort Stockton pays tribute to the agile roadrunner with their Paisano Pete the Roadrunner statue.
Unincorporated areas
- BakersfieldBakersfield, TexasBakersfield is an unincorporated community in Pecos County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the dispersed community had an estimated population of 30 in 2000.-Georgraphy:Bakersfield is located at...
- CoyanosaCoyanosa, TexasCoyanosa is a census-designated place in Pecos County, Texas, United States. The population was 138 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Coyanosa is located at...
- GirvinGirvin, TexasGirvin is an unincorporated community in Pecos County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 30 in 2000....
- ImperialImperial, TexasImperial is a census-designated place in Pecos County, Texas, United States. The population was 428 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Imperial is located at...
- SheffieldSheffield, TexasSheffield is an unincorporated community in Pecos County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 600 in 2000.-Geography:...
Education
Public education in Pecos County is provided by three Independent School Districts (ISDs): Buena VistaBuena Vista Independent School District
Buena Vista Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of Imperial, Texas .The district has one school that serves students in grades pre-kindergarten through twelve....
, Fort Stockton
Fort Stockton Independent School District
Fort Stockton Independent School District is a public school district based in Fort Stockton, Texas .In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency.-Schools:*Fort Stockton High School...
, and Iraan-Sheffield
Iraan-Sheffield Independent School District
Iraan-Sheffield Independent School District is a public school district based in Iraan, Texas .In addition to Iraan, the district serves the communities of Sheffield and Bakersfield....
.
Williams Regional Technical Training Center
Pecos County is home to the Midland College Williams Regional Technical Training Center (WRTTC), 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 WRTTC donor Clayton Williams, Jr. - was doubled in size through fundraising and program development.Area Ranches
The headquarters of 320000 acres (1,295 km²) La Escalera RanchLa Escalera Ranch
La Escalera Ranch consists of approximately 260,000 acre , located south of Fort Stockton, Texas. The ranch extends over portions of Pecos County, Brewster County, Archer County, and Baylor County, with the majority of the ranch lying in Pecos County.The 100-year old ranch was acquired by building...
, owned and operated by the Lyda family, is located 20 miles (32.2 km) south of Fort Stockton
Fort Stockton, Texas
Fort Stockton is a city in Pecos County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,846 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pecos County.-Geography:Fort Stockton is located at ....
. The ranch encompasses much of Pecos County and portions of Reeves
Reeves County, Texas
Reeves County is a county located in the US state of Texas. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. In 2000, its population was 13,137. Its seat is Pecos. Reeves County is named for George R. Reeves, a Texas state legislator and colonel in the...
, Brewster
Brewster County, Texas
Brewster County is a county located in western part of the US state of Texas, along the border with Mexico. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. As of the 2000 census, the population is 8,866. In 2009, the population was estimated to be 9,481. Its...
, Archer
Archer County, Texas
Archer County is a county located in the US state of Texas, and was formed in 1858 from Fannin County. It is part of the Wichita Falls, Texas, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2005, the population estimate is 9,095, up from 8,854 in 2000. Its county seat is Archer City. Archer is named for...
, and Baylor
Baylor County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,093 people, 1,791 households, and 1,156 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile . There were 2,820 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile...
counties. The hundred-year-old core ranch was originally owned by California-based Elsinore Land & Cattle Company, but in 1992 was acquired by Gerald Lyda
Gerald Lyda
Gerald Lyda ) was an American cattle rancher, contractor and developer prominent in the state of Texas....
of San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
who renamed the property La Escalera Ranch
La Escalera Ranch
La Escalera Ranch consists of approximately 260,000 acre , located south of Fort Stockton, Texas. The ranch extends over portions of Pecos County, Brewster County, Archer County, and Baylor County, with the majority of the ranch lying in Pecos County.The 100-year old ranch was acquired by building...
(Spanish for "The Ladder"). The family's subsequent purchase of additional ranches has expanded the ranch's original borders. The ranch is known for its reputation herd of Angus cattle
Angus cattle
Angus cattle are a breed of cattle much used in beef production. They were developed from cattle native to the counties of Aberdeenshire and Angus in Scotland, and are known as Aberdeen Angus in most parts of the world....
and abundant wildlife, such as West Texas
West Texas
West Texas is a vernacular term applied to a region in the southwestern quadrant of the United States that primarily encompasses the arid and semi-arid lands in the western portion of the state of Texas....
mule deer
Mule Deer
The mule deer is a deer indigenous to western North America. The Mule Deer gets its name from its large mule-like ears. There are believed to be several subspecies, including the black-tailed deer...
, Auodad
Barbary sheep
The Barbary Sheep is a species of caprid native to rocky mountains in North Africa. Six subspecies have been described. Although it is rare in its native North Africa, it has been introduced to North America, southern Europe and elsewhere...
sheep and Rio Grande
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
wild turkey
Wild Turkey
The Wild Turkey is native to North America and is the heaviest member of the Galliformes. It is the same species as the domestic turkey, which derives from the South Mexican subspecies of wild turkey .Adult wild turkeys have long reddish-yellow to grayish-green...
. Located on the ranch is the internationally famous Sierra Madera crater
Sierra Madera crater
Sierra Madera crater is a meteorite crater in southwestern Pecos County, Texas, United States. The central peak of the rebound structure of the impact crater rises 793 feet above the surrounding land. The peak is visible from U.S. Highway 385 between Fort Stockton, Texas and Marathon, Texas...
, which was created when a huge meteorite
Meteorite
A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
struck the earth.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Pecos County, Texas