Val Verde County, Texas

Val Verde County
County
County courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 29°53′N101°09′W / 29.89°N 101.15°W / 29.89; -101.15
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1885
Named for	Battle of Valverde
Seat	Del Rio
Largest city	Del Rio
Area
• Total	3,233 sq mi (8,370 km2)
• Land	3,145 sq mi (8,150 km2)
• Water	88 sq mi (230 km2)  2.7%
Population  (2020)
• Total	47,586
• Density	15/sq mi (5.7/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	23rd
Website	www.valverdecounty.texas.gov

Val Verde County Judicial Center at 100 E. Broadway St. in Del Rio

Del Rio Bank and Trust Company was organized in 1910. The bank is hence a year older than the Del Rio city government and has served Val Verde County for more than a century. The photo is the facility at 1200 Veterans Blvd.; another location is 22411 N Bedell Ave.

Val Verde County is a county located on the southern Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. The 2020 population is 47,586. ^[1] Its county seat is Del Rio. ^[2] The Del Rio micropolitan statistical area includes all of Val Verde County.

Val Verde, which means "green valley", ^[3] was named for a battle of the Civil War. In 1862, soldiers of Sibley's Brigade took part in the Texas invasion of New Mexico Territory, where they captured several artillery pieces at the Battle of Val Verde. The battle is memorialized both in the name of the county and a small settlement in Milam County.

History

Early history

The first inhabitants of what is now known as Val Verde County lived there some 6,000–10,000 years ago. Their descendants include such Native American peoples as the Lipan Apache, Coahuiltecan, Jumano, Tamaulipan and Comanche. ^{[4] [5]}

Colonial rule

In 1590, Spanish explorer Gaspar Castaño de Sosa led a mining expedition of 170 who passed through Devils Draw. He referred to a stream by the name of Laxas, which is believed to be Devils River. ^{[6] [7] [8]}

In 1673, Juan Larios opened a mission school at a location between Del Rio and Eagle Pass. ^{[5] [9]}

In 1675, traveling Franciscan priests celebrated Mass at San Felipe Springs. ^{[5] [9]}

In 1736, Lt. Miguel de la Garza Falcón ^[10] led 100 soldiers along the Devils River ^[11] in pursuit of Apache natives.

During 1834, James Grant ^[12] and John Charles Beales ^[13] established a settlement on San Felipe Creek, ^[14] which became hazardous due to Indian attacks.

Aftermath of Mexican-American War

During the 1850s, military bases established to protect against Indian attacks included Camp Blake, ^[15] Camp Hudson ^[16] and Camp San Felipe. ^[17]

As of 1860, the county had a population of 2,874, including 108 blacks and 1,103 foreign-born. ^[5]

Post-Civil War

During 1868, the San Felipe Del Rio community is established on San Felipe Creek, next to Camp San Felipe. ^[5]

From 1869 through 1882, Seminole Negro Indian Scouts (mixed heritage Seminoles with African blood) under John Lapham Bullis, namesake of Camp Bullis, defend the Texas border against Indian attacks. ^{[18] [19]}

In 1883, the Galveston Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway was completed. ^[20] Italian immigrant Frank Qualia established Val Verde winery. ^{[21] [22] [23]}

In 1884, the Langtry community was established, named after George Langtry (an engineer and foreman). It has mistakenly been attributed to being named after British entertainer Lillie Langtry by Judge Roy Bean. ^{[5] [24]}

In 1885, Val Verde County was organized from Crockett, Kinney, and Pecos counties. Roy Bean was elected justice of the peace in Langtry, operating out of the Jersey Lily Saloon and becoming renowned as "the Law West of the Pecos". ^[5]

In 1886, the Juno and Devils River communities were established. ^[5]

In 1888, the Comstock community was established. ^{[5] [25]}

In 1889, the community of Norris was established. ^[5]

Twentieth century

• 1928 Lake Hamilton Dam complete. ^[5]
• 1904 Lillie Langtry visits the community of Langtry. ^[26]
• 1929 Lake Walk Dam complete. ^{[5] [27]}
• 1936 Val Verde County received Recorded Texas Historic Landmark number 5625 to commemorate its founding. ^[28]
• 1942 Laughlin Field/Laughin Army Air Field opens to train World War II pilots. ^{[5] [29]}
• 1945 Laughlin Field closes. ^[5]
• 1952 Laughlin Field reopens as Laughlin Air Force Base, and serves as a secret U2 unit. Major Rudolf Anderson, a U-2 pilot based out of Laughlin, was the only casualty of the Cuban Missile Crisis. ^{[30] [31]}
• 1969 Amistad Dam and Reservoir complete. The project cost $78 million. ^{[5] [32]}

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,233 sq mi (8,370 km²), of which 3,145 sq mi (8,150 km²) are land and 88 sq mi (230 km²) (2.7%) are covered by water. ^[33]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 90
• U.S. Highway 277
• U.S. Highway 377
• State Highway 163
• Loop 79

Adjacent counties and municipios

• Crockett County (north)
• Sutton County (northeast)
• Edwards County (east)
• Kinney County (east)
• Terrell County (west)
• Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico (south)
• Jiménez, Coahuila, Mexico (south)

National protected areas

• Amistad National Recreation Area
• Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	2,874		—
1900	5,263		83.1%
1910	8,613		63.7%
1920	12,706		47.5%
1930	14,924		17.5%
1940	15,453		3.5%
1950	16,635		7.6%
1960	24,461		47.0%
1970	27,471		12.3%
1980	35,910		30.7%
1990	38,721		7.8%
2000	44,856		15.8%
2010	48,879		9.0%
2020	47,586		−2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [34] 1850–2010 [35] 2010 [36] 2020 [37]

Val Verde County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000 [38]	Pop 2010 [36]	Pop 2020 [37]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	9,734	8,548	7,836	21.70%	17.49%	16.47%
Black or African American alone (NH)	609	563	538	1.36%	1.15%	1.13%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	129	86	57	0.29%	0.18%	0.12%
Asian alone (NH)	235	207	351	0.52%	0.42%	0.74%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	12	37	35	0.03%	0.08%	0.07%
Other race alone (NH)	29	29	85	0.06%	0.06%	0.18%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	259	210	477	0.58%	0.43%	1.00%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	33,849	39,199	38,207	75.46%	80.20%	80.29%
Total	44,856	48,879	47,586	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census ^[39] of 2000, 44,856 people, 14,151 households, and 11,320 families resided in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5.4 people/km²). The 16,288 housing units averaged 5 units per square mile (1.9 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 76.36% White, 4.54% African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 18.22% from other races, and 2.60% from two or more races. About 75.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 14,151 households, 42.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.50% were married couples living together, 13.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.00% were not families. About 17.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.11 and the average family size was 3.55.

In the county, the population was distributed as 32.10% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 19.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,376, and for a family was $31,434. Males had a median income of $26,485 versus $18,039 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,096. About 22.10% of families and 26.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.80% of those under age 18 and 26.40% of them age 65 or over.

Education

The Val Verde County Library is located at 300 Spring St. in Del Rio.

School districts include: ^[40]

• Comstock Independent School District
• Rocksprings Independent School District
• San Felipe-Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District

Sometime prior to 1976 the Comstock district absorbed the Langtry and Pandale common school districts. ^[41] The former Juno Common School District consolidated into Comstock ISD in 1992. ^[42] There was formerly a Star Route School on Miers Ranch. In 1964 the school had 13 students. ^[43]

Southwest Texas Junior College is the designated community college for the county. ^[44]

The Val Verde County Library in Del Rio serves the county. ^[45]

Government

Val Verde County government is led by a four-member board of county commissioners, each commissioner representing one of four districts. The county commission appoints a county administrator as chief administrative officer of the county. The chief law-enforcement authority of Val Verde is the Val Verde County Sheriff's Office. Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office. The fire-protection arm of the Val Verde is the Val Verde County Fire Rescue. Val Verde County Fire Rescue.

County commissioners

One county commissioner is elected from each district to serve a 4-year term. Commissioners are chosen in partisan elections by voters from the districts in which they live. The board appoints a county judge to be chief administrative officer of the county, responsible to the commission for the orderly operations of matters within the board's jurisdiction. The current office holders are:

• Val Verde County Judge: Honorable Judge Lewis Owens ^[46]
• Val Verde County Precinct 1: Martin Wardlaw
• Val Verde County Precinct 2: Juan Vazquez
• Val Verde County Precinct 3: Robert Beau Nettleton
• Val Verde County Precinct 4: Gustavo Flores
• Val Verde County Secretary: Elizabeth Ferrino

Politics

Val Verde County has been a longtime swing county, having voted for both Republicans and Democrats throughout its history.

United States presidential election results for Val Verde County, Texas ^[47]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	9,162	62.70%	5,282	36.15%	168	1.15%
2020	8,284	54.21%	6,771	44.31%	225	1.47%
2016	5,890	43.25%	6,964	51.14%	763	5.60%
2012	5,635	46.64%	6,285	52.02%	161	1.33%
2008	5,752	44.87%	6,982	54.46%	86	0.67%
2004	6,968	59.08%	4,757	40.33%	70	0.59%
2000	6,223	54.24%	5,056	44.06%	195	1.70%
1996	4,357	41.10%	5,623	53.05%	620	5.85%
1992	4,102	37.30%	4,748	43.18%	2,146	19.52%
1988	5,109	50.03%	5,044	49.40%	58	0.57%
1984	5,909	60.38%	3,857	39.41%	21	0.21%
1980	5,055	54.05%	4,116	44.01%	182	1.95%
1976	3,476	42.64%	4,603	56.46%	73	0.90%
1972	4,052	66.17%	2,049	33.46%	23	0.38%
1968	1,914	33.59%	3,205	56.25%	579	10.16%
1964	1,346	27.46%	3,555	72.52%	1	0.02%
1960	1,551	43.05%	2,049	56.87%	3	0.08%
1956	1,660	50.81%	1,598	48.91%	9	0.28%
1952	1,725	51.14%	1,647	48.83%	1	0.03%
1948	672	33.97%	1,242	62.79%	64	3.24%
1944	676	34.06%	1,210	60.96%	99	4.99%
1940	616	27.41%	1,628	72.45%	3	0.13%
1936	504	28.46%	1,262	71.26%	5	0.28%
1932	421	22.94%	1,412	76.95%	2	0.11%
1928	854	57.94%	620	42.06%	0	0.00%
1924	457	45.79%	434	43.49%	107	10.72%
1920	296	41.23%	418	58.22%	4	0.56%
1916	135	22.96%	446	75.85%	7	1.19%
1912	196	30.06%	298	45.71%	158	24.23%

Communities

City

• Del Rio (county seat)

Census-designated places

• Amistad
• Box Canyon
• Cienegas Terrace
• Lake View
• Laughlin Air Force Base
• Val Verde Park

Former census-designated places

• Box Canyon-Amistad

Unincorporated communities

• Comstock
• Juno
• Langtry
• Pandale

Ghost town

• Pumpville ^[48]

Notable people

• Judge Roy Bean

See also

• Texas portal

• List of museums in Central Texas
• List of museums in West Texas
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Val Verde County, Texas
• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Val Verde County

References

1. "Val Verde County, Texas". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved February 23, 2021.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. In Old Spanish or Modern Galician; Spanish nowadays would say Valle Verde, and Modern Portuguese Vale Verde. Although verde is the same in masculine or feminine, val((l)e) used to be feminine, masculine nowadays.
4. Foster, William C; Thoms, Alston V (2008). "The Texas Trans-Pecos, Study Area V" . Historic Native Peoples of Texas. University of Texas Press. pp.  137–168. ISBN   978-0-292-71793-0.
5. Smith, Julia Cauble. "Val Verde County". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
6. Tarpley, Fred (1980). 1001 Texas Place Names . University of Texas Press. p.  61. ISBN   978-0-292-76016-5.
7. "Devil's Draw". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
8. Chipman, Donald E. "Gaspar Castaño de Sosa". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
9. Wade, Maria F; Wade, Don E; Hester, Thomas R (2002). "The Bosque-Larios Expedition". The Native Americans of the Texas Edwards Plateau, 1582-1799. University of Texas Press. pp. 24–54. ISBN   978-0-292-79156-5.
10. Garcia, Clotilde P. "Miguel de la Garza Falcón". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
11. Smith, Julia Cauble. "Devils River". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
12. Blake, Robert Bruce. "James Grant". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
13. Estep, Raymond. "John Charles Beales". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
14. "San Felipe Creek". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
15. Smith, Julia Cauble. "Camp Blake". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
16. Smith, Julia Cauble. "Camp Hudson". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
17. Seale, Axcie. "Camp San Felipe". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
18. Glasrud, Bruce A; Searles, Michael N (2007). "The Black Seminole Indian Scouts in the Big Bend". Buffalo Soldiers in the West: A Black Soldiers Anthology. TAMU Press. pp. 143–152. ISBN   978-1-58544-620-9.
19. Eckhardt, C F. "THE WHIRLWIND Lt. John Lapham Bullis and the Seminole Negro Scouts". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
20. "Galveston Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway". Texas Transportation Museum. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
21. Braudaway, Douglas Lee; Valverde County Historical Commission (1999). Val Verde County (Images of America: Texas). Arcadia Publishing. p. 93. ISBN   978-0-7385-0128-4.
22. Overfelt, Robert C. "Val Verde Winery". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
23. "Val Verde Winery". Val Verde Winery. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
24. "Langtry, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
25. "Comstock, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
26. Crutchfield, James A (2007). It Happened in Texas. TwoDot. pp. 104–107. ISBN   978-0-7627-4569-2.
27. "Lake Walk Dam". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
28. "THC Val Verde County". Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
29. Benton, Jeffrey C (2005). Air Force Officer's Guide. Stackpole Books. p. 330. ISBN   978-0-8117-3194-2.
30. "Laughlin AFB". Laughlin AFB. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
31. Leatherwood, Art. "Laughlin Air Force Base". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
32. Braudaway, Douglas (2002). Del Rio: Queen City of the Rio Grande. Arcadia Publishing. p. 125. ISBN   978-0-7385-2387-3.
33. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
34. "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau.
35. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
36. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Val Verde County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
37. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Val Verde County, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
38. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Val Verde County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
39. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
40. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Val Verde County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022. - Text list
41. Bryant, Don (November 24, 1976). "County School Superintendent's Job Diminishing". Del Rio News Herald . Del Rio, Texas. p. 4. - Clipping from Newspapers.com.
42. "One-room school becomes history for Juno". San Angelo Standard-Times . San Angelo, Texas. May 12, 1992. p. 8A. - Clipping from Newspapers.com.
43. "Four County Schools Are Holding Classes". Del Rio News Herald . Del Rio, Texas. September 8, 1964. p. 3A. - Clipping from Newspapers.com.
44. Texas Education Code: Sec. 130.200. SOUTHWEST TEXAS JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
45. Home page Archived June 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine . Val Verde County Library. Retrieved on March 26, 2010.
46. "Judge's Office | Val Verde County, TX". valverdecounty.texas.gov. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
47. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
48. Pumpville (Texas State Historical Association)

External links

• Val Verde County from the Handbook of Texas Online
• Texas Beyond History, Hinds Cave
• Texas Beyond History, Lower Pecos Canyonlands
• "Val Verde County Profile" by the Texas Association of Counties

29°53′N101°09′W / 29.89°N 101.15°W / 29.89; -101.15