Culberson County | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 31°27′N104°31′W / 31.45°N 104.52°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Texas |
Founded | 1912 |
Named for | David B. Culberson |
Seat | Van Horn |
Largest town | Van Horn |
Area | |
• Total | 3,813 sq mi (9,880 km2) |
• Land | 3,813 sq mi (9,880 km2) |
• Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2) 0.01% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 2,188 |
• Estimate (2022) | 2,155 |
• Density | 0.6/sq mi (0.2/km2) |
Time zones | |
most of county | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
northwestern | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
Congressional district | 23rd |
Website | www |
Culberson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 2,188. [1] The county seat is Van Horn. [2] Culberson County was founded in 1911 and organized the next year. [3] It is named for David B. Culberson, a Confederate soldier and U.S. representative.
Culberson County is primarily in the Central Time Zone, but northwestern Culberson County, including Guadalupe Mountains National Park, is in the Mountain Time Zone, making it one of only a few U.S. counties officially split into two time zones. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas.
Prehistoric Clovis culture peoples [4] in Culberson County lived in the rock shelters and caves nestled near water supplies. These people left behind artifacts and pictographs as evidence of their presence. [5] With its treacherous topography, the area remained untouched by white explorations for centuries.
Jumano Indians led the Antonio de Espejo [6] 1582-1583 expedition near Toyah Lake on a better route to the farming and trade area of La Junta de los Ríos. Espejo's diary places the Jumano along the Pecos River and its tributaries. [7]
Antonio de Espejo was also the first white person to see the Mescalero Apache just east of the Guadalupe Mountains. The Mescalero [8] frequented the area to irrigate their crops. In 1849, John Salmon "Rip" Ford [9] explored the area between San Antonio and El Paso, noting in his mapped report the productive land upon which the Mescalero Indians farmed. By the mid-17th century, the Mescaleros expanded their territory to the Plains Navajos and Pueblos from the Guadalupes, and El Paso del Norte. Their feared presence in the area deterred white settlers. In January 1870, a group of soldiers attacked a Mescalero Apache village near Delaware Creek in the Guadalupe Mountains. In July 1880, soldiers at Tinaja de las Palmas attacked a group of Mescaleros led by Chief Victorio. [10] August 1880, buffalo soldiers ambushed Victorio at Rattlesnake Springs. Victorio retreated to Mexico and was killed in October by Mexican soldiers. [11]
The demand for new routes from Texas to California caused an uptick in explorations. [12] The San Antonio-to-El Paso leg of the San Antonio-California Trail was surveyed in 1848 under the direction of John Coffee Hays.
Texas Commissioner Robert Simpson Neighbors [13] was sent by Governor Peter Hansborough Bell in 1850 to organize El Paso.
Lt. Francis Theodore Bryan [14] camped at Guadalupe Pass while exploring a route from San Antonio to El Paso via Fredericksburg. Upon reaching El Paso in July 1849, his report recommended sink wells along the route. In July 1848, Secretary of War William L. Marcy wanted a military post established on the north side of the Rio Grande. Major Jefferson Van Horne [15] was sent out in 1849 to establish Marcy's goal.
John Russell Bartlett, [16] [17] was commissioned in 1850 to carry out the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Bartlett declared the Guadalupe Mountains dark and gloomy, and proposed a transcontinental railroad be built south of the peaks. Three years later, Captain John Pope [18] was sent to scout out a railroad route, and in the succeeding year to search for artesian water supplies.
The San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line and the Butterfield Overland Mail [19] both serviced the area 1857–1861. These mail coaches provided a means for travelers to reach California in 27 days if the passenger had the $200 for a one-way fare and was courageous enough to withstand the weather and dangers en route. [20]
Rival railway companies began competing for rights of way. The Texas and Pacific Railway [21] and the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway [22] eventually reached an agreement to share the tracks.
Culberson County was established in 1911 from El Paso County and named after David B. Culberson. [23] The county was organized in 1912. Van Horn became the county seat. [24]
With the opening of the railways, ranchers began to settle in the county. Lobo was settled in part due to misrepresentation by promoters. A class-action lawsuit by the residents forced the promoters to build the Lobo Hotel. Unfortunately, the area was struck by two powerful earthquakes [25] - one in 1929, and the 6.0 quake near Valentine that was felt as far away as Dallas. The hotel was destroyed. [26]
Guadalupe Mountains National Park [27] [28] was established in 1972. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the 1966 legislation to create the park. Stipulation was made that all mineral, oil, and gas rights had to be ceded to the federal government.
Blue Origin, the space vehicle development company founded by Jeff Bezos, maintains a suborbital launch site about 25 miles north of Van Horn, Texas.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,813 square miles (9,880 km2), of which 3,813 square miles (9,880 km2) are land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.01%) is covered by water. [29] It is the fifth-largest county by area in Texas. The largest part of Guadalupe Mountains National Park lies in the northwestern corner of the county, including McKittrick Canyon and Guadalupe Peak, the highest natural point in Texas at 8,751 ft (2,667 m).
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1920 | 912 | — | |
1930 | 1,228 | 34.6% | |
1940 | 1,653 | 34.6% | |
1950 | 1,825 | 10.4% | |
1960 | 2,794 | 53.1% | |
1970 | 3,429 | 22.7% | |
1980 | 3,315 | −3.3% | |
1990 | 3,407 | 2.8% | |
2000 | 2,975 | −12.7% | |
2010 | 2,398 | −19.4% | |
2020 | 2,188 | −8.8% | |
2022 (est.) | 2,155 | [30] | −1.5% |
U.S. Decennial Census [31] 1850–2010 [32] 2010–2020 [1] |
Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|
White (NH) | 504 | 445 | 21.02% | 20.34% |
Black or African American (NH) | 8 | 20 | 0.33% | 0.91% |
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 13 | 11 | 0.54% | 0.5% |
Asian (NH) | 22 | 28 | 0.92% | 1.28% |
Some Other Race (NH) | 0 | 3 | 0.0% | 0.14% |
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 24 | 36 | 1.0% | 1.65% |
Hispanic or Latino | 1,827 | 1,645 | 76.19% | 75.18% |
Total | 2,398 | 2,188 |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,188 people, 668 households, and 400 families residing in the county.
As of the census [37] of 2000, 2,975 people, 1,052 households, and 797 families resided in the county. The population density was less than 1/km2 (2.6/sq mi). The 1,321 housing units were at a density less than one per square mile (0/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 68.94% White, 0.71% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 27.13% from other races, and 2.18% from two or more races. About 72.24% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 1,052 households, 39.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.20% were not families. About 21.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the county, the population was distributed as 32.20% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 25.80% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $25,882, and for a family was $28,547. Males had a median income of $22,500 versus $14,817 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,493. About 21.50% of families and 25.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.20% of those under age 18 and 19.40% of those age 65 or over.
All of the county is in the Culberson County-Allamoore Independent School District. [38]
All of the county is in the service area of Odessa College. [39]
Like most counties in heavily Hispanic South Texas, Culberson County leans Democratic. The last Republican presidential candidate to carry the county was George W. Bush in 2004, who drew even with Kerry among Hispanic voters in the state.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 415 | 48.03% | 438 | 50.69% | 11 | 1.27% |
2016 | 280 | 36.51% | 454 | 59.19% | 33 | 4.30% |
2012 | 295 | 33.56% | 568 | 64.62% | 16 | 1.82% |
2008 | 257 | 33.86% | 492 | 64.82% | 10 | 1.32% |
2004 | 407 | 51.65% | 375 | 47.59% | 6 | 0.76% |
2000 | 413 | 40.81% | 577 | 57.02% | 22 | 2.17% |
1996 | 329 | 26.51% | 804 | 64.79% | 108 | 8.70% |
1992 | 251 | 29.63% | 424 | 50.06% | 172 | 20.31% |
1988 | 417 | 42.46% | 557 | 56.72% | 8 | 0.81% |
1984 | 509 | 55.51% | 407 | 44.38% | 1 | 0.11% |
1980 | 541 | 55.43% | 423 | 43.34% | 12 | 1.23% |
1976 | 373 | 47.40% | 407 | 51.72% | 7 | 0.89% |
1972 | 555 | 69.12% | 238 | 29.64% | 10 | 1.25% |
1968 | 298 | 38.55% | 330 | 42.69% | 145 | 18.76% |
1964 | 314 | 39.90% | 473 | 60.10% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 300 | 46.15% | 343 | 52.77% | 7 | 1.08% |
1956 | 324 | 54.36% | 269 | 45.13% | 3 | 0.50% |
1952 | 331 | 56.78% | 252 | 43.22% | 0 | 0.00% |
1948 | 38 | 12.42% | 244 | 79.74% | 24 | 7.84% |
1944 | 17 | 6.77% | 200 | 79.68% | 34 | 13.55% |
1940 | 45 | 12.89% | 303 | 86.82% | 1 | 0.29% |
1936 | 23 | 8.78% | 239 | 91.22% | 0 | 0.00% |
1932 | 18 | 5.92% | 285 | 93.75% | 1 | 0.33% |
1928 | 72 | 45.86% | 85 | 54.14% | 0 | 0.00% |
1924 | 15 | 12.82% | 93 | 79.49% | 9 | 7.69% |
1920 | 6 | 12.77% | 40 | 85.11% | 1 | 2.13% |
1916 | 2 | 1.57% | 124 | 97.64% | 1 | 0.79% |
1912 | 0 | 0.00% | 145 | 100.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
Reeves County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 14,748. Its county seat and most populous city is Pecos. The county was created in 1883 and organized the next year. It is named for George R. Reeves, a Texas state legislator and colonel in the Confederate Army. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. Reeves County comprises the Pecos micropolitan statistical area.
Presidio County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 6,131. Its county seat is Marfa. The county was created in 1850 and later organized in 1875. Presidio County is in the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas and is named for the border settlement of Presidio del Norte. It is on the Rio Grande, which forms the Mexican border.
Kinney County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 3,129. Its county seat is Brackettville. The county was created in 1850 and later organized in 1874. It is named for Henry Lawrence Kinney, an early settler.
Jeff Davis County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 1,996. Its county seat is Fort Davis. The county is named for Jefferson Davis, who served as the 23rd United States Secretary of War in the 1850s, and as Confederate president.
Hudspeth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,202. Its county seat is Sierra Blanca, and the largest community is Fort Hancock. The county is named for Claude Benton Hudspeth, a state senator and United States Representative from El Paso. It is northeast of the Mexico–U.S. border.
Guadalupe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 172,706. The county seat is Seguin. The county was founded in 1846 and is named after Guadalupe River.
El Paso County is the westernmost county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 865,657, making it the ninth-most populous county in the state of Texas. Its seat is the city of El Paso, the sixth-most populous city in Texas and the 22nd-most populous city in the United States. The county was created in 1850 and later organized in 1871.
Comal County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 161,501. Comal County is known for its rich German-Texan and European history. Its county seat is New Braunfels.
Brewster County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is in West Texas and its county seat is Alpine. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region, and borders Mexico. Brewster County is the largest county by area in the state - at 6,192 square miles (16,040 km2) it is over three times the size of the state of Delaware, and more than 500 square miles (1,300 km2) bigger than Connecticut.
Van Horn is a town in and the seat of Culberson County, Texas, United States. According to the 2010 census, Van Horn had a population of 2,063, down from 2,435 at the 2000 census. The 2020 census results detailed a decline in population to 1,941. Van Horn's official newspaper is The Van Horn Advocate. The town is the westernmost incorporated community in the United States that uses the Central Time Zone, located on the same line of longitude as Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. Its earliest sunset in the beginning of December is the latest among incorporated towns in the United States, occurring no earlier than 5:56 pm.
Presidio is a city in Presidio County, Texas, United States. It is situated on the Rio Grande River, on the opposite side of the U.S.–Mexico border from Ojinaga, Chihuahua. The name originates from Spanish and means "fortress". The population was 3,264 at the 2020 census.
The Edwards Plateau is a geographic region forming the crossroads of Central, South and West Texas, United States. It is named in honor of Haden Edwards. It is bounded by the Balcones Fault to the south and east; the Llano Uplift and the Llano Estacado to the north; and the Pecos River and Chihuahuan Desert to the west. San Angelo, Austin, San Antonio and Del Rio roughly outline the area. The plateau, especially its southeast portion, is also known as the Texas Hill Country.
Mescalero or Mescalero Apache is an Apache tribe of Southern Athabaskan–speaking Native Americans. The tribe is federally recognized as the Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Apache Reservation, located in south-central New Mexico.
El Capitan is a peak in Culberson County, Texas, located within Guadalupe Mountains National Park. The 10th-highest peak in Texas at 8,085 ft, El Capitan is part of the Guadalupe Mountains, an exposed portion of a Permian period reef uplifted and exposed by tectonic activity during the late Cretaceous period. The southern terminus of the Guadalupe Mountains, El Capitan looms over U.S. 62/180, where its imposing height and stark outline have made it one of the iconic images of the Trans-Pecos to generations of travelers.
The Trans-Pecos, as originally defined in 1887 by the Texas geologist Robert T. Hill, is the distinct portion of Texas that lies west of the Pecos River. The term is considered synonymous with Far West Texas, a subdivision of West Texas. The Trans-Pecos is part of the Chihuahuan Desert, the largest desert in North America. It is the most mountainous and arid portion of the state, and most of its vast area is sparsely populated. Among the nine counties in the region are the five largest counties by area in Texas and eight of the eleven largest in the state. The area is known for the natural environment of the Big Bend and the gorge of the Rio Grande, part of which has been designated a National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. With the notable exceptions of Big Bend Ranch State Park, Big Bend National Park and the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, the vast majority of the Trans-Pecos region consists of privately owned ranchland. However, most of the region's population reside in the El Paso metropolitan area. Besides El Paso and its metropolitan area, the major cities are Pecos (12,916), Fort Stockton (8,466), and Alpine (6,035). All other settlements have under 5,000 people.
The Suma were an Indigenous people of Aridoamerica. They had two branches, one living in the northern part of the Mexican state of Chihuahua and the other living near present-day El Paso, Texas. They were semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers who practiced little or no agriculture. The Suma merged with Apache groups and the mestizo population of northern Mexico, and are extinct as a distinct people.
Antonio de Espejo (1540–1585) was a Spanish explorer who led an expedition, accompanied by Diego Perez de Luxan, into New Mexico and Arizona in 1582–83. The expedition created interest in establishing a Spanish colony among the Pueblo Indians of the Rio Grande valley.
Lobo is a ghost town in Culberson County, Texas, United States, that was abandoned in 1991.
Pine Springs is an unincorporated community in northern Culberson County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had a population of 20 in 2000.
Carnoviste was a southern (Guadalupe) Mescalero chief, his band—presumably Tsehitcihéndé or Niit'ahénde—lived in the Texan Big Bend Country, ranging on both sides of the Rio Grande from the Guadalupe Mountains towards east of the Limpia Mountains onto the edge of the Southern Plains.