Fort Hancock, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fort Hancock, Texas
|
|
|---|---|
Abandoned buildings along State Highway 20 in Fort Hancock
|
|
Location of Fort Hancock, Texas
|
|
 |
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Hudspeth |
| Area | |
| • Total | 19.2 sq mi (49.7 km2) |
| • Land | 18.9 sq mi (49.0 km2) |
| • Water | 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km2) |
| Elevation | 3,579 ft (1,091 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 1,052 |
| • Density | 55.52/sq mi (21.44/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
79839
|
| Area code(s) | 915 |
| FIPS code | 48-26724 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1357587 |
Fort Hancock is a small community in Hudspeth County, Texas, United States. It is not a city, but a "census-designated place" (CDP). This means it's an area the government counts for population, but it doesn't have its own city government. In 2020, about 1,052 people lived there.
Fort Hancock is right on the border between Mexico and the United States. It sits across from a Mexican town called El Porvenir in Chihuahua. A bridge called the Fort Hancock–El Porvenir International Bridge connects the two communities. There's also a "Port of Entry" on the Texas side. This is where people and goods officially cross the border.
Two important routes pass through Fort Hancock: Texas State Highway 20 and the Union Pacific Railroad.
Contents
History of Fort Hancock
From Camp to Community
Fort Hancock started as a military camp called Camp Rice in 1882. It was built along an old road that connected San Antonio and El Paso. Before this, Camp Rice was located at Fort Quitman. The soldiers who set up Camp Rice were from the 10th U.S. Cavalry, also known as "buffalo soldiers."
Camp Rice was never very big, usually having fewer than 60 soldiers. In 1886, it was renamed Fort Hancock. This was done to honor General Winfield Scott Hancock, a famous hero from the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War.
The fort faced some tough times. A flood damaged it in 1886, but it was rebuilt. Then, fires caused more damage in 1889. Finally, the military left the fort in 1895. Today, you can find the remains of the old fort about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west of the current town, in a cotton field.
Growth of the Town
Even after the military fort closed, a town began to grow. A post office opened in 1886, with Albert Warren as the first postmaster. In 1887, a new train station was built in Fort Hancock. By 1890, the town had about 200 people. It also had a general store, a hotel, and a place to buy meat.
The town's population went down to 50 by 1914. But it grew again, reaching 500 people by 1940.
In 2006, officials in Fort Hancock made news by raising the speed limit on their part of Interstate 10 to 80 miles per hour (129 km/h). At the time, this was the highest speed limit in the entire country.
The border between Mexico and the United States near Fort Hancock is not a continuous wall. It has breaks and is sometimes just a fence. This means that some people trying to cross the border without permission look for these breaks, often in remote desert areas like Fort Hancock.
Geography of Fort Hancock
Fort Hancock is located in the southwestern part of Hudspeth County. The Rio Grande river forms its southwestern border, which is also the border with Mexico. To the northeast, you'll find Interstate 10. You can get to Fort Hancock from exits 68, 72, and 78 on I-10.
Interstate 10 goes northwest for about 52 miles (84 km) to El Paso. If you go east on I-10, it's about 67 miles (108 km) to Van Horn.
The entire area of Fort Hancock is about 19.2 square miles (49.7 square kilometers). Most of this is land, about 18.9 square miles (49.1 square kilometers). A small part, about 0.3 square miles (0.7 square kilometers), is covered by water.
People of Fort Hancock
In 2020, there were 1,052 people living in Fort Hancock. Most of the people in Fort Hancock are of Hispanic or Latino background, making up about 96.58% of the population.
Education in Fort Hancock
Students in Fort Hancock attend schools in the Fort Hancock Independent School District. High school students go to Fort Hancock High School.
The high school is famous for its six-man football team, the Mustangs. Between 1986 and 1992, the Mustangs played in the state championship six times and won five of those games! They even had a winning streak of four years in a row. Mr. Danny Medina coached these championship teams and is now the principal of Fort Hancock Middle School. Mr. Jose Franco was the assistant coach and is currently the Superintendent of the Fort Hancock Independent School District. Mustang Stadium in Fort Hancock can hold 800 fans.
For college, Hudspeth County is served by El Paso Community College.
Notable Person
- Benito Martinez was born and grew up in Fort Hancock. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his brave actions during the Korean War. The Medal of Honor is the highest military award given by the United States government.
See also
In Spanish: Fort Hancock para niños
