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State Highway 18 (Texas)
Encyclopedia
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
.
and US 67, which is in concurrency
with the interstate. It continues traveling north through oil fields and rural ranch land. 25 miles north of Fort Stockton, SH 18 intersects Farm to Market Road 1450. The highway continues north and enters Grandfalls
. In Grandfalls, the highway intersects SH 329
and Farm to Market Road 11. The highway continues north, intersecting Farm to Market Road 1776, Farm to Market Road 1233, Loop 464, and Interstate 20 before reaching Monahans
. In Monahans SH 18 intersects Business Interstate 20 and continues northwest, making a second interchange with SH 464. Eight miles northwest of Monahans, the highway intersects Farm to Market Road 1219. SH 18 continues in a slightly northwest direction toward Kermit
, making an interchange with Farm to Market Road 1232 along the way. In Kermit the highway has an intersection with SH 302
and a slight western concurrency with SH 115 before continuing to head northwest out of Kermit. The highway ends at the New Mexico
border, where the road becomes New Mexico State Highway 18.
SH 18 was one of the first 26 Texas state routes proposed in 1917. The original proposal was a route through the Southern Plains from Yoakum County to Lubbock
, then southeast to Albany
. By 1933, the route had been changed significantly. The eastern section of the route from Spur to Albany was intact, but the previous westward route veered northward instead to Estelline. By 1939 it was extended farther northward to Pampa
, overtaking SH 88 from Turkey to Pampa, while the portion from Matador to Albany was reassigned to various state highways and U.S. Highway 380. SH 18 was extended further north to Perryton
in 1940, and in 1947 was renamed SH 70
when SH 70 was extended into Matador from the south.
SH 18A was an alternate route along SH 18. It covered a shorter route between Spur and Crosbyton during the 1920s.
SH 18B was a more southerly route proposed in 1919. It was to branch off from SH 18 in Brownfield, travel southeast to Lamesa, then run due east to Albany. It is unknown if it had been built before being reassigned by 1933 to SH 83
.
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...
-New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
boundary north of Kermit
Kermit, Texas
Kermit is a city in and the county seat of Winkler County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,708 at the 2010 census. The city was named for Kermit Roosevelt after a visit by his father Theodore Roosevelt to the county.-History: -Establishment:...
to 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 ....
in west Texas. This route was designated in 1958 over the northern half of what was previously SH 82
State Highway 82 (Texas)
State Highway 82 or SH 82 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Texas that runs from the Louisiana border as a continuation of Louisiana Highway 82 to Port Arthur. This route was designated in 1975.-Pecos, Ward, and Winkler Counties:...
.
Route description
SH 18 begins at Fort Stockton at an intersection with Business Interstate 10 and US 285. Heading north, it soon intersects Interstate 10Interstate 10
Interstate 10 is the fourth-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90, I-80, and I-40. It is the southernmost east–west, coast-to-coast Interstate Highway, although I-4 and I-8 are further south. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean at State Route 1 in Santa Monica,...
and US 67, which is in concurrency
Concurrency
Concurrency, concurrent, or concurrence may refer to:* Concurrence, a legal term referring to the need to prove both actus reus and mens rea...
with the interstate. It continues traveling north through oil fields and rural ranch land. 25 miles north of Fort Stockton, SH 18 intersects Farm to Market Road 1450. The highway continues north and enters Grandfalls
Grandfalls, Texas
Grandfalls is a town in Ward County, Texas, United States. It was named for its location near the "grand falls" of the Pecos River, located roughly to the west. Early settlers were attracted to the Grandfalls area in the late 1880s by the steady supply of water flowing in the Pecos River...
. In Grandfalls, the highway intersects SH 329
Texas State Highway 329
State Highway 329 or SH 329 is a state highway that runs from Grandfalls in southwestern Texas east and southeast to Rankin.-History:The route was originally designated in 1940 as the part of the highway from Grandfalls to Crane...
and Farm to Market Road 11. The highway continues north, intersecting Farm to Market Road 1776, Farm to Market Road 1233, Loop 464, and Interstate 20 before reaching Monahans
Monahans, Texas
Monahans is a city in and the county seat of Ward County, Texas, United States. A very small portion of the city extends into Winkler County. The population was 6,821 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. In Monahans SH 18 intersects Business Interstate 20 and continues northwest, making a second interchange with SH 464. Eight miles northwest of Monahans, the highway intersects Farm to Market Road 1219. SH 18 continues in a slightly northwest direction toward Kermit
Kermit, Texas
Kermit is a city in and the county seat of Winkler County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,708 at the 2010 census. The city was named for Kermit Roosevelt after a visit by his father Theodore Roosevelt to the county.-History: -Establishment:...
, making an interchange with Farm to Market Road 1232 along the way. In Kermit the highway has an intersection with SH 302
Texas State Highway 302
State Highway 302 or SH 302 is a Texas state highway maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation . The route runs from U.S. Route 285 northwest of Pecos to Interstate 20 near Odessa. The route passes through Reeves, Loving, Winkler, and Ector counties. SH 302 has intersections with SH 115...
and a slight western concurrency with SH 115 before continuing to head northwest out of Kermit. The highway ends at the New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
border, where the road becomes New Mexico State Highway 18.
History
The current routing was originally planned as State Highway 17 as recently as 1922. By 1929, the SH 17 designation has been transferred to the routing of SH 17A, while this route was renumbered as SH 82. In 1958, the route was again renumbered as SH 18, to coordinate with the connecting New Mexico Highway 18 to the north.Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
, then southeast to Albany
Albany, Texas
Albany is a city in Shackelford County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,034 at the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Shackelford County.-History:...
. By 1933, the route had been changed significantly. The eastern section of the route from Spur to Albany was intact, but the previous westward route veered northward instead to Estelline. By 1939 it was extended farther northward to Pampa
Pampa, Texas
Pampa is a city in Gray County, Texas, United States. The population was 17,887 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Gray County.Pampa is the principal city of the Pampa Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Gray and Roberts counties....
, overtaking SH 88 from Turkey to Pampa, while the portion from Matador to Albany was reassigned to various state highways and U.S. Highway 380. SH 18 was extended further north to Perryton
Perryton, Texas
Perryton is a city in Ochiltree County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,774 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Ochiltree County.-Geography:Perryton is located at ....
in 1940, and in 1947 was renamed SH 70
State Highway 70 (Texas)
State Highway 70 is a state highway in Texas. The route runs approximately from near Blackwell to south of Perryton.-Route description:...
when SH 70 was extended into Matador from the south.
SH 18A was an alternate route along SH 18. It covered a shorter route between Spur and Crosbyton during the 1920s.
SH 18B was a more southerly route proposed in 1919. It was to branch off from SH 18 in Brownfield, travel southeast to Lamesa, then run due east to Albany. It is unknown if it had been built before being reassigned by 1933 to SH 83
State Highway 83 (Texas)
State Highway 83 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Texas that runs from the New Mexico border in Yoakum County east to Welch in northwest Dawson County. This route was designated in 1955, having replaced SH 328 "for the convenience of the traveling public", as it connected with New Mexico...
.