Monahans, Texas
Encyclopedia
Monahans is a city in and the county seat
of Ward County, Texas
, United States
. A very small portion of the city extends into Winkler County
. The population was 6,821 at the 2000 census.
In 1583, a Spanish explorer named Antonio de Espejo
crossed this area on his way through present-day New Mexico. The Indians in the Monahans region were called "Vaqueros" by these Spanish explorers because they hunted the "hump-backed cow" or bison
. Records of Spanish exploring the Los Medano (the sand dunes) outside Monahans can be traced to the early 1770s.
Located in a region where native Comanche
s, Mescalero
, and Lipan Apache Indians once roamed, Monahans' history as a community extends back to the late 1880s with the expansion of the Texas and Pacific Railway across the south plains. For the few people living in West Texas, the building of a transcontinental railroad through the area meant the arrival of civilization. In the summer of 1881, Texas and Pacific Railroad contracted with surveyor John Thomas Monahan, who discovered that the lack of water for the laying crew and their animals would slow down construction of the rail. Monahans' digging of a water well produced an abundance of good water (250000 gallons (946,353 l) a day) and was instrumental in the success of the city. Prior to this solution, water had to be hauled from the area of Big Spring, Texas.
The availability of cheap land encouraged settlers to form a small community on the track known as Monahans Well. However, when oil was discovered in the area in 1926, the destiny of the community changed directions. Oil discovery brought people of many occupations and of varied interests to Monahans. The local economy began to change from an agricultural to an industrial economy,
"Monahans" is the name of an Application Processor (PXA 32x) that Intel developed and later sold to Marvell.
near Monahans. Sand surfing and sand football games can be seen year round, but particularly between March and November. Monahans Sandhills State Park is host to many family picnics and youth activities. The park is also a site for weddings. Many people visit the Sandhills at night to inquire about the "Lady of Oil" legend.
of 2000, there were 6,821 people, 2,496 households, and 1,837 families residing in the city. The population density
was 274.9 people per square mile (106.2/km2). There were 3,015 housing units at an average density of 121.5 per square mile (46.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 79.30% White, 5.16% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 12.51% from other races
, and 2.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 43.66% of the population.
There were 2,496 households out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples
living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,349, and the median income for a family was $36,726. Males had a median income of $31,307 versus $18,086 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,100. About 14.7% of families and 16.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 18.1% of those age 65 or over.
operates the Monahans District Parole Office in Monahans.
The United States Postal Service
operates the Monahans Post Office.
.
.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Ward County, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. A very small portion of the city extends into Winkler County
Winkler County, Texas
Winkler County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 7,173. Its county seat is Kermit. The county is named for Clinton M. Winkler, a Colonel in the Confederate Army....
. The population was 6,821 at the 2000 census.
History
The Permian Basin, home to Monahans and Midland/Odessa MSA, is 250 miles (402.3 km) wide and 300 miles (482.8 km) long - Monahans is "The Center of the Permian Basin". The basin was formed during the Permian Period, the final portion of the Paleozoic Era. At the time, it was an ocean filled with abundant aquatic life.In 1583, a Spanish explorer named Antonio de Espejo
Antonio de Espejo
Antonio de Espejo was a Spanish explorer who led an expedition into New Mexico and Arizona in 1582-1583. The expedition created interest in establishing a Spanish colony among the Pueblo Indians of the Rio Grande valley.-Life:...
crossed this area on his way through present-day New Mexico. The Indians in the Monahans region were called "Vaqueros" by these Spanish explorers because they hunted the "hump-backed cow" or bison
Bison
Members of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
. Records of Spanish exploring the Los Medano (the sand dunes) outside Monahans can be traced to the early 1770s.
Located in a region where native Comanche
Comanche
The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose historic range consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado, northeastern Arizona, southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma, and most of northwest Texas. Historically, the Comanches were hunter-gatherers, with a typical Plains Indian...
s, Mescalero
Mescalero
Mescalero is an Apache tribe of Southern Athabaskan Native Americans. The tribe is federally recognized as the Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Apache Reservation in southcentral New Mexico...
, and Lipan Apache Indians once roamed, Monahans' history as a community extends back to the late 1880s with the expansion of the Texas and Pacific Railway across the south plains. For the few people living in West Texas, the building of a transcontinental railroad through the area meant the arrival of civilization. In the summer of 1881, Texas and Pacific Railroad contracted with surveyor John Thomas Monahan, who discovered that the lack of water for the laying crew and their animals would slow down construction of the rail. Monahans' digging of a water well produced an abundance of good water (250000 gallons (946,353 l) a day) and was instrumental in the success of the city. Prior to this solution, water had to be hauled from the area of Big Spring, Texas.
The availability of cheap land encouraged settlers to form a small community on the track known as Monahans Well. However, when oil was discovered in the area in 1926, the destiny of the community changed directions. Oil discovery brought people of many occupations and of varied interests to Monahans. The local economy began to change from an agricultural to an industrial economy,
"Monahans" is the name of an Application Processor (PXA 32x) that Intel developed and later sold to Marvell.
Million Barrel Oil Tank
Monahans is the home of the Million Barrel Oil Tank. Shell Oil Co. constructed the tank in 1928 to hold crude oil waiting to be shipped. However, because of leakage and evaporation, the tank was not effective and was dismantled during the 1930s. It is now home of the Million Barrel Museum. Mules hauled wood and cement to the site and the men worked around the clock for 90 days to construct the huge vessel in 1928. That was when oil first was discovered in West Texas and was flowing about 500 barrels (79,493.6 l) daily. One may visit the Million Barrel Oil Museum daily and learn more about the history of Monahans.Monahans Sandhills State Park
Thousands of tourists each year visit Monahans Sandhills State ParkMonahans Sandhills State Park
The Monahans Sandhills State Park is a state park located in Ward County and Winkler County, Texas. The closest major town is Monahans, Texas, and the closest limited-access highway ingress is Exit 86 on Interstate 20.-Features:...
near Monahans. Sand surfing and sand football games can be seen year round, but particularly between March and November. Monahans Sandhills State Park is host to many family picnics and youth activities. The park is also a site for weddings. Many people visit the Sandhills at night to inquire about the "Lady of Oil" legend.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 6,821 people, 2,496 households, and 1,837 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 274.9 people per square mile (106.2/km2). There were 3,015 housing units at an average density of 121.5 per square mile (46.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 79.30% White, 5.16% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 12.51% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 43.66% of the population.
There were 2,496 households out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,349, and the median income for a family was $36,726. Males had a median income of $31,307 versus $18,086 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $14,100. About 14.7% of families and 16.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 18.1% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
The Texas Department of Criminal JusticeTexas Department of Criminal Justice
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is a department of the government of the state of Texas. The TDCJ is responsible for statewide criminal justice for adult offenders, including managing offenders in state prisons, state jails and private correctional facilities, funding and certain...
operates the Monahans District Parole Office in Monahans.
The United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates the Monahans Post Office.
Education
Public education in the city of Monahans is provided by the Monahans-Wickett-Pyote Independent School DistrictMonahans-Wickett-Pyote Independent School District
Monahans-Wickett-Pyote Independent School District is a public school district based in Monahans, Texas .In addition to Monahans, the district serves the towns of Wickett, Pyote, and Thorntonville....
.
Notable persons
- Guy ClarkGuy ClarkGuy Clark is an American Texas Country artist. In his career, he has released more than twenty albums, primarily on major labels. He has also written singles for other artists, including Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner and Rodney Crowell....
, American songwriter and country musician. The city is mentioned on a number of his songs as well as in his 1997 live album Keepers during a musical interlude. - Danny MasonDanny MasonDanny Raymond Mason was a golf coach and physical education professor who was affiliated with Texas Tech University in Lubbock for more than three decades....
(1938-2007), golf coach (1969-1980) and physical education professor at Texas Tech University. - Kathy WhitworthKathy WhitworthKathy Whitworth is an American professional golfer. Throughout her playing career she won 88 LPGA Tour tournaments, more than anyone else has won on either the LPGA Tour or the PGA Tour. In 1981 she became the first woman to reach career earnings of $1 million on the LPGA Tour...
, professional golfer. - Natalie ZeaNatalie ZeaNatalie Zea is an American actress known for her roles as Gwen Hotchkiss on the NBC daytime soap Passions, socialite Karen Darling on Dirty Sexy Money on ABC and Winona Hawkins on Justified on FX.-Career:...
(born March 17, 1975), actress currently starring in the television series JustifiedJustified (TV series)Justified is an American television drama series created by Graham Yost. It is based on Elmore Leonard's novels Pronto and Riding the Rap and his short story "Fire in the Hole". Its central character is Raylan Givens, a deputy U.S. Marshal. The series is set in the city of Lexington, Kentucky...
.
Transportation
The Texas-New Mexico Railroad operates a 104 miles (167.4 km) branch line from a connection with the Union Pacific at Monahans. The branch line was constructed between 1928-1930 and terminates at Lovington, New MexicoLovington, New Mexico
Lovington is a city in and the county seat of Lea County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 9,471 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lovington is located at ....
.