Pecos, Texas

Pecos is the largest city and county seat of Reeves County, Texas, United States. It is situated in the river valley on the west bank of the Pecos River at the eastern edge of the Chihuahuan Desert and the Trans-Pecos region of west Texas and near the southern border of New Mexico. The population was 9,501 at the 2000 census. The city is a regional commercial center for ranching, oil and gas production and agriculture. The city is most recognized for its association with the local cultivation of cantaloupes. Pecos claims to be the site of the world's first rodeo on July 4 1883.

Geography

Pecos is located at (31.415417, -103.499955).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.3 square miles (18.9 km²), all of it land.

History

Pecos is one of the numerous towns in West Texas organized around a train depot during the construction of the Texas and Pacific Railway. These towns were subsequently linked by the construction of U.S. Highway 80 and Interstate 20. Prior to the arrival of the railroad, a permanent camp existed nearby where cattle drives crossed the Pecos River. With the introduction of irrigation from underground aquifers, the city became a center of commerce for extensive local agricultural production of cotton, onions and cantaloupes. The introduction of large scale sulfur mining in adjacent Culberson County during the 1960s led to significant economic and population growth. The growth was reversed after mining operations ceased in the 1990s.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,501 people, 3,168 households, and 2,455 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,300.1 people per square mile (501.8/km²). There were 3,681 housing units at an average density of 503.7/sq mi (194.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.32% White, 2.45% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 18.06% from other races, and 2.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 79.57% of the population.

There were 3,168 households out of which 39.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.47.

In the city the population was spread out with 32.5% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,943, and the median income for a family was $26,376. Males had a median income of $25,867 versus $13,874 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,857. About 23.4% of families and 27.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.0% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The City of Pecos is served by the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah Independent School District, which currently has six schools:

• Pecos Kindergarten
• Austin Elementary - 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade
• Bessie Haynes Elementary - 4th and 5th grade
• Crocket Middle School - 6th, 7th and 8th grade
• Pecos High School - 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade
• Lamar - Alternate Education

Trivia

In 1962 Pecos resident Billie Sol Estes was indicted for fraud by a federal grand jury in a business scandal that involved allegations against then United States Vice President, Lyndon B. Johnson.

In the 60's and early 70's Pecos was notorious for arresting "hippie" hitchhikers and having their long hair cut before releasing them.

In 1976, a team of local citizens appeared in the ABC prime-time television competition "Almost Anything Goes" with teams from Monahans and Ft. Stockton for the opportunity to represent Texas in a regional competition against teams from New Mexico and Arizona. The competition was slated to be held at Rotary Football Field on the campus of Pecos High School, but due to unfinished construction was moved to Lobo Football Stadium in Monahans. The team from Ft. Stockton won this competition in addition to the regional competition and finished second in the national competition.

One of the most popular norteño bands of the late 1990s, Los Rieleros del Norte, was founded in Pecos.

Abel Talamantez of the Kumbia Kings and Tejano singer Esmi Talamantez were born and raised in Pecos.

Pecos FFA Land Judging Team won the National Land Judging Contest in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on May 9, 2002. The team consisted of Chase Laurence, who won the national 9th high individual, John Canon, Jack Bradley, and Clifton Brantley. John was a senior, Chase, a junior, and Clifton and Jack were Freshmen. This was the first and remains the only national title ever won by any organization, group, or team in Pecos.

The next year, another FFA Judging team, the Dairy Cattle Evaluation team won the state contest at Texas A&M University on May 3, 2003. The team score set a record that was not broken until the 2008 contest. The all-girl team won high honors with two seniors, two juniors and a freshman. Amanda Armstrong, a senior placed 9th high individually, while Kaci Harrison placed 4th individually. Lauren Martinez, a senior, and her cousin, Sarah McKinney also judged that day, while Martinez's sister, Shelly served as alternate.

In 2005, the FFA Chapter saw another good day at the natinal Land Judging Contest in Oklahoma City placing 4th and winning the trophy for the Western Region Championship. Bill Moody, a junior at Pecos High School placed 4th nationally among all individuals. Also on the team were Andrew Grant, Matt Elliott, and Justin Hannsz, all juniors. Alternates for that team were Jennie Canon and Katie Lee, both seniors.

References

External links

• Pecos Enterprise
• Pecos Area Chamber of Commerce
• La Escalera Ranch - Pecos, Texas

www.landjudging.com www.judgingcard.com