Texas State Highway 349
Encyclopedia
State Highway 349 or SH 349 is a 194.43 mile (312.90 km) state highway
in the western part of Texas
.
The part of SH 349 south of Sheffield was Farm to Market Road 1217, which was designated in 1948 from Dryden northward 5 miles. Significant extension came in 1951, when the road was extended northeast 10.7 miles. The next year, the road extended northeast 14 miles. In 1954, the road extended 12.3 miles to the end of FM 1749
which was cancelled and combined with FM 1217, making it end at Sheffield. In 1990, Farm to Market Road 1217 mileage was transferred to SH 349.
(population 13) near the Rio Grande River, the southern border of the state. The road passes west of the Fort Lancaster State Historical Park to Sheffield
and a junction with Interstate 10
. SH 349 then runs along the Pecos River
to Iraan
, where it is co-routed for a few miles with U.S. Highway 190. The road then proceeds nothward to a junction and brief co-routing with U.S. Highway 67 at Rankin
. SH 349 continues northward to the relatively heavily populated area of Midland
.
SH 349 formerly bisected Midland directly through the city center. However, the highway has been redesignated to loop around Midland to the west, by co-routing it with portions of Interstate 20 (and State Highway 158) and Farm to Market Road 1788
. A new section of highway, a so-called "reliever route", was opened on December 10, 2009 and was named the Nadine and Tom Craddick Highway after State Rep. Tom Craddick
and his wife, who played a large role in creating the highway. (This new section of SH 349 is part of the "La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor
" trade route from west Texas to Mexico
). The portion of SH 349 that ran directly through Midland will be redesignated as Business State Highway 349-C (BS 349-C). North of Midland, SH 349 proceeds generally northward to its final junction with State Highway 137
, just south of Lamesa
. Counties traversed by the highway include Terrell
, Pecos
, Crockett, Upton
, Midland, Martin and Dawson. With the exception of the metropolitan area of Midland, most of the terrain covered by the highway is sparsely populated ranch
country.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in the western part of 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...
.
History
The original formation of the highway in 1943 included only the section from Rankin to Midland, replacing a former route of . In 1947 and FM 306 were redesignated to form the part of SH 349 from Midland to near Lamesa. The section from Sheffield to Rankin was added in 1956 by redesignating part of SH 51.The part of SH 349 south of Sheffield was Farm to Market Road 1217, which was designated in 1948 from Dryden northward 5 miles. Significant extension came in 1951, when the road was extended northeast 10.7 miles. The next year, the road extended northeast 14 miles. In 1954, the road extended 12.3 miles to the end of FM 1749
Farm to Market Road 1749
Farm to Market Road 1749 or FM 1749 is a two-lane, state-maintained highway. It connects the farming areas near Forestburg with SH 101 at Sunset in far south central Montague County.*Counties: Montague-History:...
which was cancelled and combined with FM 1217, making it end at Sheffield. In 1990, Farm to Market Road 1217 mileage was transferred to SH 349.
Route description
SH 349 runs generally northward from its originating junction with U.S. Highway 90 at the tiny town of DrydenDryden, Texas
Dryden is an unincorporated community in south central Terrell County, Texas, United States.-History:The community was founded in 1882 and named for Eugene E. Dryden, the chief engineer of the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway, which was building its tracks through Terrell County and...
(population 13) near the Rio Grande River, the southern border of the state. The road passes west of the Fort Lancaster State Historical Park to Sheffield
Sheffield, Texas
Sheffield 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:...
and a junction with Interstate 10
Interstate 10 in Texas
Interstate 10 is the major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. In the U.S. state of Texas, it runs east from El Paso, near the border with New Mexico, through San Antonio and Houston to the border with Louisiana in Orange, Texas....
. SH 349 then runs 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...
to 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:...
, where it is co-routed for a few miles with U.S. Highway 190. The road then proceeds nothward to a junction and brief co-routing with U.S. Highway 67 at Rankin
Rankin, Texas
Rankin is a city in Upton County, Texas, United States. The population was 800 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of the thinly populated county – in 2000, only 3,404 people lived in the entire county, and McCamey was the only larger town. It is named after F.E. Rankin, a local...
. SH 349 continues northward to the relatively heavily populated area of 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...
.
SH 349 formerly bisected Midland directly through the city center. However, the highway has been redesignated to loop around Midland to the west, by co-routing it with portions of Interstate 20 (and State Highway 158) and Farm to Market Road 1788
Farm to Market Road 1788
Farm to Market Road 1788, FM 1788, is a Farm-to-market road in West Texas. It runs from FM 1787 in Upton County between Midland and Odessa near the Midland International Airport, to the SH 115. FM 1788 carries the La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor from its intersection with Interstate 20 to SH 349....
. A new section of highway, a so-called "reliever route", was opened on December 10, 2009 and was named the Nadine and Tom Craddick Highway after State Rep. Tom Craddick
Tom Craddick
Thomas Russell Craddick, known as Tom Craddick , was the first Republican to have served as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives since Reconstruction. Craddick wielded the Speaker's gavel from 2003-2009...
and his wife, who played a large role in creating the highway. (This new section of SH 349 is part of the "La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor
La Entrada al Pacífico
The La Entrada al Pacífico trade corridor was designated as "Trade Corridor 56" by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act. The corridor is an international project between Mexico and the United States as a route from the Pacific Ocean port of Topolobampo in the Mexican state of...
" trade route from west Texas to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
). The portion of SH 349 that ran directly through Midland will be redesignated as Business State Highway 349-C (BS 349-C). North of Midland, SH 349 proceeds generally northward to its final junction with State Highway 137
Texas State Highway 137
State Highway 137 or SH 137 is a Texas state highway that runs from Brownfield to near Ozona in west Texas. This route was designated by 1939 on a route from Brownfield south through Midland and Rankin, ending west of Sheffield. By 1942, everything south of Lamesa was either cancelled,...
, just south of Lamesa
Lamesa, Texas
Lamesa is a city in and the county seat of Dawson County, Texas, United States. The population was 9,952 at the 2000 census. Located south of Lubbock on the Llano Estacado, Lamesa was founded in 1903. Most of the economy is based on cattle ranching and cotton farming. The Preston E...
. Counties traversed by the highway include Terrell
Terrell County, Texas
Terrell 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...
, Pecos
Pecos County, Texas
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....
, Crockett, Upton
Upton County, Texas
Upton County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 3,404. Its county seat is Rankin. The county is named for two brothers: John C. and William F. Upton, both Colonels in the Confederate army....
, Midland, Martin and Dawson. With the exception of the metropolitan area of Midland, most of the terrain covered by the highway is sparsely populated ranch
Ranch
A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
country.
Junction list
| County | Location | Mile | Junction | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terrell Terrell County, Texas Terrell 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... |
||||
| Pecos Pecos County, Texas 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.... |
Sheffield Sheffield, Texas Sheffield 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:... |
South end of SH 290 concurrency | ||
| North end of SH 290 concurrency, interchange | ||||
| 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:... |
South end of US 190 concurrency | |||
| North end of US 190 concurrency | ||||
| Crockett | No major junctions | |||
| Upton Upton County, Texas Upton County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 3,404. Its county seat is Rankin. The county is named for two brothers: John C. and William F. Upton, both Colonels in the Confederate army.... |
South end of US 67 concurrency | |||
| Rankin Rankin, Texas Rankin is a city in Upton County, Texas, United States. The population was 800 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of the thinly populated county – in 2000, only 3,404 people lived in the entire county, and McCamey was the only larger town. It is named after F.E. Rankin, a local... |
||||
| North end of US concurrency | ||||
| Midland | ||||
| 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... |
Interchange, East end of I-20 concurrency | |||
| Interchange | ||||
| Interchange, West end of I-20 concurrency, South end of FM 1788 concurrency | ||||
| Midland International Airport Midland International Airport -Top Destinations:-See also:* Texas World War II Army Airfields-References:* Shaw, Frederick J. , Locating Air Force Base Sites History’s Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC, 2004.... |
||||
| Interchange | ||||
| Interchange, North end of 1788 concurrency | ||||
| Future interchange, currently a stop sign | ||||
| Martin | Interchange | |||
| Dawson | ||||
External links
- [ftp://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/trv/maps/totm-mxd.pdf Texas official travel map] at the Texas Department of TransportationTexas Department of TransportationThe Texas Department of Transportation is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of Texas. Its stated mission is to "work cooperatively to provide safe, effective and efficient movement of people and goods" throughout the state...
(enlargement required for legibility) - Construction notice for new portion of SH 349 to complete loop to the western side of Midland