Culberson County, Texas

Culberson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 2,398.[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 lawyer and Confederate soldier in the American Civil War.

Culberson County
U.S. county
Culberson County Courthouse in Van Horn
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°27′N 104°31′W
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1912
Named forDavid B. Culberson
SeatVan Horn
Largest townVan Horn
Area
 • Total3,813 sq mi (9,880 km2)
 • Land3,813 sq mi (9,880 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)  0.01%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2015)
2,236
 • Density0.6/sq mi (0.2/km2)
Time zones
most of countyUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
northwesternUTC−7 (Mountain)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−6 (MDT)
Congressional district23rd
Websitewww.co.culberson.tx.us

Culberson County is in the Central Time Zone, but northwestern Culberson County, including Guadalupe Mountains National Park, unofficially observes Mountain Time. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas.

History
Culberson County Sheriff's Office

Native Americans

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]

Explorations

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.

County established and growth
Van Horn City-County Library

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[24] became the county seat.

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.

Space exploration

Blue Origin, the space vehicle development company founded by Jeff Bezos, maintains a suborbital launch site about 25 miles north of Van Horn, Texas.

Geography
Culberson County Hospital and Van Horn Rural Clinic

According to the U.S. 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 northwest corner of the county, including McKittrick Canyon and Guadalupe Peak, the highest natural point in Texas at 8,751 ft (2,667 m).

Major highways
See also: List of highways in Culberson County, Texas
U.S. Highway 90 south of Van Horn

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1920912—
19301,22834.6%
19401,65334.6%
19501,82510.4%
19602,79453.1%
19703,42922.7%
19803,315−3.3%
19903,4072.8%
20002,975−12.7%
20102,398−19.4%
2019 (est.)2,171[30]−9.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[31]
1850–2010[32] 2010–2014[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, 2,398 people resided in the county. About 78.9% were White, 1.3% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.6% Black or African American, 15.4% of some other race, and 2.8% of two or more races; 76.2% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

As of the census[33] of 2000, 2,975 people, 1,052 households, and 797 families resided in the county. The population density was less than 1/km2 (1/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.

Communities

Town

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Politics
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[34]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 48.0% 415 50.7% 438 1.3% 11
2016 36.5% 280 59.2% 454 4.3% 33
2012 33.6% 295 64.6% 568 1.8% 16
2008 33.9% 257 64.8% 492 1.3% 10
2004 51.7% 407 47.6% 375 0.8% 6
2000 40.8% 413 57.0% 577 2.2% 22
1996 26.5% 329 64.8% 804 8.7% 108
1992 29.6% 251 50.1% 424 20.3% 172
1988 42.5% 417 56.7% 557 0.8% 8
1984 55.5% 509 44.4% 407 0.1% 1
1980 55.4% 541 43.3% 423 1.2% 12
1976 47.4% 373 51.7% 407 0.9% 7
1972 69.1% 555 29.6% 238 1.3% 10
1968 38.6% 298 42.7% 330 18.8% 145
1964 39.9% 314 60.1% 473
1960 46.2% 300 52.8% 343 1.1% 7
1956 54.4% 324 45.1% 269 0.5% 3
1952 56.8% 331 43.2% 252
1948 12.4% 38 79.7% 244 7.8% 24
1944 6.8% 17 79.7% 200 13.6% 34
1940 12.9% 45 86.8% 303 0.3% 1
1936 8.8% 23 91.2% 239
1932 5.9% 18 93.8% 285 0.3% 1
1928 45.9% 72 54.1% 85
1924 12.8% 15 79.5% 93 7.7% 9
1920 12.8% 6 85.1% 40 2.1% 1
1916 1.6% 2 97.6% 124 0.8% 1
1912 0.0% 0 100.0% 145

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 12, 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. "Texas: Individual County Chronologies". Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  4. Mallouf, Robert J. "Exploring the Past in Trans-Pecos Texas". Sul Ross University. Archived from the original on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2010. Texas Beyond History
  5. "Artistic Expression". Texas Beyond History. Retrieved 30 April 2010. Texas Beyond History
  6. Blake, Robert Bruce: de Espejo, Antonio from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 30 April 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  7. "Who Were The Jumano?". Texas Beyond History. Retrieved 30 April 2010. Texas Beyond History
  8. "Texas Indians Map". R E. Moore and Texarch Associates. Retrieved 30 April 2010. R E. Moore and Texarch Associates
  9. Connor, Seymour V: Ford, John Salmon from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 30 April 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  10. Stout, Joseph A. "Chief Victorio". King Snake. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  11. Davis, Stanford L. "Victorio's War". Buffalo Soldier. Archived from the original on 2007-09-21. Stanford L. Davis, M.A.
  12. Kohout, Martin Donell: Culberson County from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 30 April 2010. Texas State Historical Association.
  13. Richardson, Rupert N: Neighbors, Robert Simpson from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 30 April 2010. Texas State Historic
  14. Powell, William S: Bryan, Francis Theodore from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 30 April 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  15. Kohout, Martin Donell: Van Horne, Jefferson from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 30 April 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  16. Faulk, Odie B: Bartlett, John Russell from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 30 April 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  17. "Bartlett, John Russell". The John Russell Bartlett Society. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  18. Cutrer, Thomas W: Pope, John from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 30 April 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  19. "San Antonio-San Diego Mail". State of California Parks Department. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  20. "San Antonio-California Trail". Texas Historical Marker. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  21. "Texas and Pacific Railway". Texas and Pacific Railway. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  22. "Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway". Texas Transportation Museum. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  23. Hooker, Anne W: Culberson, David Browning from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 30 April 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  24. "Van Horn, Texas". Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved 30 April 2010. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC.
  25. "Texas Earthquakes". Institute for Geophysics. Archived from the original on April 3, 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  26. "Lobo, Texas". Lobo, Texas. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  27. "Guadalupe Mountains National Park". National Park Service. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  28. Maliszkiewctz, Mark: Guadalupe Mountains National Park from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 30 April 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  29. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  30. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  31. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  32. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  33. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  34. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-07-21.

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