The town of Valentine is the only incorporated municipality in Jeff Davis County. Its name refers to the date of its founding in 1882 by a Southern Pacific Railroad construction crew: February 14. It is one of several cities named Valentine in the United States, where the U.S. Postal Service cancels envelopes for Valentine's Day.[4]
Valentine's in Valentine
Every year since 2013, the small town of Valentine, Texas, hosts the “Valentine's in Valentine” celebration—a renowned annual event held on or near February 14th. Despite Valentine’s population of under 200, this festival draws more than 3,000 visitors, swelling the community with music, dancing, and West Texas camaraderie. Often described as a blend of Luckenbach, Gruene Hall, Red Rocks Amphitheater, and Old Mexico, the event takes place at the historic Old Mercantile and other local venues like the Valentine Texas Bar, offering an intimate yet lively atmosphere.[5][6]
Valentine Texas Mercantile Building
Since its inception and founding by Big Bend Brewing, Valentine's in Valentine has featured legendary Texas headliners and up-and-coming local artists spanning genres like country, blues, conjunto, and more. Notable acts have included Jerry Jeff Walker, Gary P Nunn, Joe Ely, Little Joe y Familia, Junior Brown, Jimmie Vaughan, Shane Smith and the Saints, Doug Moreland Band, The Derailers, David Beebe 3, and Desert Undertones.[7][8] The event has also welcomed unique guests and performers such as Zor the Fyre God. Traditionally held rain or shine, the festival is marked by a resilient spirit, with festivities continuing regardless of weather.
Valentines in Valentine Interior
The celebration is known for its welcoming and laid-back vibe, with Texas regional cuisine, official festival merchandise, and a sense of community that brings together locals and travelers alike. Over the years, the event has earned press coverage for its combination of memorable musical moments and its role as a rare, destination gathering deep in Far West Texas.[9]
Prada Marfa
The Prada Art Piece in Valentine, Texas
The noted art installation Prada Marfa (2005) is not in Marfa but rather actually located 1.5 miles (2.4km) northwest of Valentine on U.S. Route90. Valentine resident and artist Boyd Elder (1944–2018) served as its caretaker.[10]
Texas' Largest Quake
On August 16, 1931, Valentine was struck by a magnitude 5.8 earthquake—the largest ever recorded in Texas. Nearly all non-wooden structures, including the school, suffered major damage, with school buildings condemned afterwards. The quake was felt as far away as Houston and throughout northern Mexico, and caused landslides across the region. No fatalities were reported, but damages were substantial.[11]
Supports Added to Structures After the Great Quake of 1931
Geography
Valentine is located in western Jeff Davis County along U.S. Route 90. The highway leads northwest 38 miles (61km) to Interstate 10 at Van Horn, and southeast 35 miles (56km) to Marfa.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.49 square miles (1.26km2), all land.[12] The town sits in a flat basin between the Davis Mountains15 miles (24km) to the east and the Sierra Vieja11 miles (18km) to the west.
Education
Valentine Independent School District serves the local community, with a single K–12 campus that is among the smallest in Texas by enrollment, often with fewer than 25 high school students. The school is classified as UIL 1A and offers a variety of academic and extracurricular programs, despite its size.[13][14][15]
Valentine Texas ISDValentine School Auditorium
Government and infrastructure
Valentine Texas Post Office Exterior
The United States Postal Service operates the Valentine Post Office at 311 W. California Ave. Each year around Valentine's Day, it receives media attention as people mail cards and letters through this location to receive the distinctive holiday postmark.[16]
Valentine Texas Post office combo locks
Art and notable residents
Boyd Elder (1944–2018) was a nationally recognized artist and longtime Valentine resident, often considered “Valentine's greatest hit.” Known for designing iconic album covers (including for The Eagles), Elder’s family helped plat the town. He served as custodian of the Prada Marfa art installation and was a fixture in the local and national art scene.[17][18][19]
Jewel Wilson Babb aka 'The Goat Woman of West Texas' (1900–1991) was a folk healer who lived for decades in the desert country around Valentine, Texas, near the Rio Grande. Her life and healing work are documented in Border Healing Woman: The Story of Jewel Babb as told to Pat LittleDog. The book traces her youth on the border, her 1916 marriage to Walter Babb, the family’s later hardships, and her years of solitude when she cared for neighbors with massage, prayer, and herbal knowledge in a place with little access to doctors. [20][21][22][23]
Historic events
Pancho Villa and the Border Conflicts
The area near Valentine played a role during the Mexican Revolution. Pancho Villa and his forces passed through the region and were associated with border skirmishes. In response to Villa’s raids, Fort Holland was established nearby in 1918 as part of protective efforts.[24][25][26]
Climate
Valentine experiences a semiarid climate (KöppenBSk) with cool, dry winters and hot, dry summers.
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