Toyahvale, Texas
Encyclopedia
Toyahvale is an unincorporated community
in southern Reeves County
, Texas
, United States
. It lies along State Highway 17 and FM 3078
south of the city of Pecos
, the county seat
of Reeves County. Despite its similar name, Toyahvale is distinct from the town of Toyah
, which lies 25 miles (40 km) to the north. Its elevation is 3,323 feet (1,013 m). Although Toyahvale is unincorporated, it has a post office
, with the ZIP code
of 79786.
Toyahvale's name is a portmanteau
: its first half is of a local Indian word for "flowing water", combined with "vale
". The community was established after 1884, but its first post office was not opened until 1894; the office closed in 1931, but reopened in 1933. Today, the community lies at the western end of the Pecos Valley Southern Railway
and is the location of Balmorhea State Park
.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in southern Reeves County
Reeves County, Texas
Reeves County is a county located in the US state of Texas. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. In 2000, its population was 13,137. Its seat is Pecos. Reeves County is named for George R. Reeves, a Texas state legislator and colonel in the...
, 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...
. It lies along State Highway 17 and FM 3078
Farm to Market Road 3078
Farm to Market Road 3078, Farm Road 3078, or FM 3078 is a road maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation that connects Interstate 10 to State Highway 17 in Toyahvale. The route is in Jeff Davis County and Reeves County and connects Toyahvale to points farther west along I-10 including...
south of the city of Pecos
Pecos, Texas
Pecos is the largest city in and the 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 county seat
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 Reeves County. Despite its similar name, Toyahvale is distinct from the town of Toyah
Toyah, Texas
Toyah is a town in Reeves County, Texas, United States. The population was 100 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Toyah is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
, which lies 25 miles (40 km) to the north. Its elevation is 3,323 feet (1,013 m). Although Toyahvale is unincorporated, it has a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, with the ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
of 79786.
Toyahvale's name is a portmanteau
Portmanteau word
A portmanteau or portmanteau word is a blend of two words or morphemes into one new word. A portmanteau word typically combines both sounds and meanings, as in smog, coined by blending smoke and fog. More generally, it may refer to any term or phrase that combines two or more meanings...
: its first half is of a local Indian word for "flowing water", combined with "vale
River Valley
River Valley is the name of an urban planning area within the Central Area, Singapore's central business district.The River Valley Planning Area is defined by the region bounded by Orchard Boulevard, Devonshire Road and Eber Road to the north, Oxley Rise and Mohamed Sultan Road to the east, Martin...
". The community was established after 1884, but its first post office was not opened until 1894; the office closed in 1931, but reopened in 1933. Today, the community lies at the western end of the Pecos Valley Southern Railway
Pecos Valley Southern Railway
The Pecos Valley Southern Railway is a short-line railroad headquartered in Pecos, Texas, United States.PVS operates a 29.3 mile line from Saragosa to an interchange with Union Pacific at Pecos...
and is the location of Balmorhea State Park
Balmorhea State Park
Balmorhea State Park is a state park located on the San Solomon Springs in Reeves County, Texas, opened in 1968. The closest major town is Balmorhea, Texas. The park is open year round.-Features:...
.
External links
- Profile of Toyahvale from the Handbook of Texas OnlineHandbook of TexasThe Handbook of Texas is a comprehensive encyclopedia of Texas geography, history, and historical persons published by the Texas State Historical Association .-History:...