Val Verde County, Texas
Val Verde County | |
---|---|
County courthouse | |
![]() Location within the U.S. state of Texas | |
![]() Texas's location within the U.S. | |
Coordinates: 29°53′N 101°09′W / 29.89°N 101.15°W | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
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 |
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
[edit]Early history
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]- 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
[edit]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
[edit]Adjacent counties and municipios
[edit]- 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
[edit]Demographics
[edit]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] |
Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010[36] | Pop 2020[37] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|
White alone (NH) | 8,548 | 7,836 | 17.49% | 16.47% |
Black or African American alone (NH) | 563 | 538 | 1.15% | 1.13% |
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 86 | 57 | 0.18% | 0.12% |
Asian alone (NH) | 207 | 351 | 0.42% | 0.74% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 37 | 35 | 0.08% | 0.07% |
Some Other Race alone (NH) | 29 | 85 | 0.06% | 0.18% |
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 210 | 477 | 0.43% | 1.00% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 39,199 | 38,207 | 80.20% | 80.29% |
Total | 48,879 | 47,586 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
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 can be of any race.
As of the census[38] 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
[edit]School districts include:[39]
- 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.[40] The former Juno Common School District consolidated into Comstock ISD in 1992.[41] There was formerly a Star Route School on Miers Ranch. In 1964 the school had 13 students.[42]
Southwest Texas Junior College is the designated community college for the county.[43]
The Val Verde County Library in Del Rio serves the county.[44]
Government
[edit]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
[edit]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[45]
- 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
[edit]Val Verde County has been a longtime swing county, having voted for both Republicans and Democrats throughout its history.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
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
[edit]City
[edit]- Del Rio (county seat)
Census-designated places
[edit]Unincorporated communities
[edit]Ghost town
[edit]Notable people
[edit]See also
[edit]- 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
[edit]- ^ "Val Verde County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Smith, Julia Cauble. "Val Verde County". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ Tarpley, Fred (1980). 1001 Texas Place Names. University of Texas Press. p. 61. ISBN 978-0-292-76016-5.
- ^ "Devil's Draw". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ Chipman, Donald E. "Gaspar Castaño de Sosa". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Garcia, Clotilde P. "Miguel de la Garza Falcón". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ Smith, Julia Cauble. "Devils River". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ Blake, Robert Bruce. "James Grant". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ Estep, Raymond. "John Charles Beales". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ "San Felipe Creek". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ Smith, Julia Cauble. "Camp Blake". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ Smith, Julia Cauble. "Camp Hudson". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ Seale, Axcie. "Camp San Felipe". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Galveston Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway". Texas Transportation Museum. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Overfelt, Robert C. "Val Verde Winery". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ "Val Verde Winery". Val Verde Winery. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ "Langtry, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ "Comstock, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ Crutchfield, James A (2007). It Happened in Texas. TwoDot. pp. 104–107. ISBN 978-0-7627-4569-2.
- ^ "Lake Walk Dam". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ "THC Val Verde County". Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
- ^ Benton, Jeffrey C (2005). Air Force Officer's Guide. Stackpole Books. p. 330. ISBN 978-0-8117-3194-2.
- ^ "Laughlin AFB". Laughlin AFB. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ Leatherwood, Art. "Laughlin Air Force Base". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ Braudaway, Douglas (2002). Del Rio: Queen City of the Rio Grande. Arcadia Publishing. p. 125. ISBN 978-0-7385-2387-3.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
- ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Val Verde County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Val Verde County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ "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
- ^ Bryant, Don (November 24, 1976). "County School Superintendent's Job Diminishing". Del Rio News Herald. Del Rio, Texas. p. 4. - Clipping from Newspapers.com.
- ^ "One-room school becomes history for Juno". San Angelo Standard-Times. San Angelo, Texas. May 12, 1992. p. 8A. - Clipping from Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Four County Schools Are Holding Classes". Del Rio News Herald. Del Rio, Texas. September 8, 1964. p. 3A. - Clipping from Newspapers.com.
- ^ Texas Education Code: Sec. 130.200. SOUTHWEST TEXAS JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
- ^ Home page Archived June 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Val Verde County Library. Retrieved on March 26, 2010.
- ^ "Judge's Office | Val Verde County, TX". valverdecounty.texas.gov. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
- ^ Pumpville (Texas State Historical Association)