Midland, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Midland, Texas
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Downtown Midland Aerial View
Momentum Bank Ballpark
Pumpjack at sunset
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| Nickname(s):
"The Tall City"
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| Motto(s):
"Feel the Energy!"
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Location in Midland County, Texas
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 Midland, Texas
Location in Texas
Midland, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| Counties | Midland, Martin |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| Area | |
| • City | 75.62 sq mi (195.86 km2) |
| • Land | 75.45 sq mi (195.41 km2) |
| • Water | 0.17 sq mi (0.44 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,782 ft (848 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 132,524 |
| • Density | 1,935.56/sq mi (747.33/km2) |
| • Metro | 295,987 |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
79701-12
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| Area code(s) | 432 |
| FIPS code | 48-48072 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1341547 |
| Demonym | Midlander |
| Website | midlandtexas.gov |
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Midland is a city in Texas, USA. It's the main city of Midland County, with a small part in Martin County. In 2020, about 132,524 people lived there.
Midland is in West Texas, in an area called the Permian Basin. It's a big center for making oil and natural gas. People who live in Midland are called 'Midlanders'.
The city was started in 1881. It was the halfway point between Fort Worth and El Paso on the Texas and Pacific Railroad. Midland is also known for its connections to the Bush family. Former Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush once lived there. Former First Lady Laura Bush grew up in Midland. You can even visit the George W. Bush Childhood Home in the city.
Contents
Discovering Midland's Past
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Midland began in June 1881 as Midway Station. It was a stop on the Texas and Pacific Railway. The name "Midway" came from its location, halfway between Fort Worth and El Paso. But because other Texas towns were already called Midway, the city changed its name to Midland in January 1884. This was when it got its first post office.
Midland became the main city of Midland County in March 1885. By 1890, it was an important place for shipping cattle. The city officially became a city in 1906. By 1910, it had its first fire department and a new water system.
Midland changed a lot when oil was found in the Permian Basin in 1923. This happened when the Santa Rita No. 1 well started producing oil. Midland then became the main office center for the West Texas oil fields. During World War II, it had the largest training base for bombardiers in the country.
After the war, another oil boom happened. This was due to the discovery of the Spraberry Trend. This is still the third-largest oil field in the U.S. by total reserves. Another big boom happened in the 1970s because oil prices were high. Today, the Permian Basin produces a lot of the nation's oil and natural gas.
Midland's economy still depends a lot on oil. But the city has also grown into a center for telecommunications and distribution. In 2006, there were many more jobs than workers in the Permian Basin. This showed how busy the oil industry was.
Voting Rights in Midland
In 1967, a big court case called Avery v. Midland County happened. Midland's mayor, Hank Avery, sued Midland County. He argued that the way the county's voting districts were set up was unfair. The county was divided into four areas. Midland, in one of these areas, had 97% of the county's people. But three rural commissioners, representing only 3% of the people, had more votes.
The U.S. Supreme Court decided this system was against the Fourteenth Amendment. This amendment says everyone should have equal protection under the law. This ruling helped make sure that voting districts are fair for all citizens.
Midland's Location and Weather
Midland is in the Permian Basin. This area is part of the West Texas plains.
The city covers about 71.5 square miles (185.2 km2). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.
Midland's Climate
Midland has a desert climate. This means it has hot summers and cool, mild winters. Sometimes, it gets very cold in winter, but usually not for long. Midland gets about 13.5 inches (343 mm) of rain each year. Most of this rain falls in the summer.
Temperatures often go above 90°F (32°C) about 115 days a year. They can even reach over 100°F (38°C) about 24 days a year. In winter, temperatures drop to 32°F (0°C) or below about 58 days a year.
| Climate data for Midland International Airport, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1930–present) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 84 (29) |
92 (33) |
97 (36) |
104 (40) |
108 (42) |
116 (47) |
112 (44) |
113 (45) |
107 (42) |
101 (38) |
90 (32) |
85 (29) |
116 (47) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 77.7 (25.4) |
81.8 (27.7) |
88.7 (31.5) |
94.7 (34.8) |
101.0 (38.3) |
104.9 (40.5) |
103.2 (39.6) |
102.3 (39.1) |
98.4 (36.9) |
92.9 (33.8) |
83.0 (28.3) |
77.3 (25.2) |
107 (42) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 58.6 (14.8) |
63.6 (17.6) |
71.9 (22.2) |
80.5 (26.9) |
88.5 (31.4) |
95.0 (35.0) |
95.8 (35.4) |
94.8 (34.9) |
87.6 (30.9) |
79.0 (26.1) |
67.1 (19.5) |
59.2 (15.1) |
78.5 (25.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 45.7 (7.6) |
50.2 (10.1) |
58.0 (14.4) |
66.2 (19.0) |
75.4 (24.1) |
82.6 (28.1) |
84.4 (29.1) |
83.2 (28.4) |
76.2 (24.6) |
66.5 (19.2) |
54.3 (12.4) |
46.4 (8.0) |
65.8 (18.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 32.7 (0.4) |
36.7 (2.6) |
44.2 (6.8) |
51.8 (11.0) |
62.2 (16.8) |
70.3 (21.3) |
72.9 (22.7) |
71.7 (22.1) |
64.8 (18.2) |
54.0 (12.2) |
41.5 (5.3) |
33.6 (0.9) |
53.0 (11.7) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 18.2 (−7.7) |
20.1 (−6.6) |
25.3 (−3.7) |
33.5 (0.8) |
45.8 (7.7) |
59.5 (15.3) |
65.2 (18.4) |
62.9 (17.2) |
50.0 (10.0) |
34.8 (1.6) |
23.7 (−4.6) |
18.5 (−7.5) |
13.6 (−10.2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −8 (−22) |
−11 (−24) |
9 (−13) |
20 (−7) |
32 (0) |
47 (8) |
49 (9) |
52 (11) |
36 (2) |
16 (−9) |
10 (−12) |
−1 (−18) |
−11 (−24) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.66 (17) |
0.58 (15) |
0.68 (17) |
0.70 (18) |
1.57 (40) |
1.80 (46) |
1.62 (41) |
1.72 (44) |
1.66 (42) |
1.21 (31) |
0.72 (18) |
0.59 (15) |
13.51 (343) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 1.6 (4.1) |
0.7 (1.8) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.5 (1.3) |
1.4 (3.6) |
4.3 (11.05) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 3.6 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 2.7 | 5.1 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 5.3 | 5.5 | 4.3 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 49.3 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 3.1 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 56.6 | 54.7 | 46.2 | 44.9 | 50.6 | 53.1 | 51.2 | 53.7 | 61.2 | 59.9 | 58.7 | 57.6 | 54.0 |
| Average dew point °F (°C) | 24.3 (−4.3) |
27.3 (−2.6) |
30.2 (−1.0) |
37.0 (2.8) |
47.7 (8.7) |
57.0 (13.9) |
58.8 (14.9) |
59.0 (15.0) |
56.7 (13.7) |
46.8 (8.2) |
35.4 (1.9) |
26.8 (−2.9) |
42.3 (5.7) |
| Source: National Weather Service / NOAA (relative humidity and dew point 1961–1990) | |||||||||||||
- Notes
Midland's Tall Buildings
Midland is known as "The Tall City" because of its downtown skyline. Many of its big office buildings were built when a lot of oil and gas was found in the Permian Basin. A rise in energy prices in the mid-1980s led to a building boom.
For many years, the 22-story Wilco Building was the tallest building between Fort Worth and Phoenix. Today, the tallest is the 24-story Bank of America Building, which is 332 feet (101 meters) tall. There were plans for even taller buildings in the 1980s, but an oil crisis stopped them.
| Rank | Name | Height ft / m |
Floors | Year | Notes |
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| 1 | Bank of America Building | 332 /101 | 24 | 1978 | This building has been the tallest in the city since 1978. |
| 2 | Wilco Building | 308 / 94 | 22 | 1958 | The Wilco Building was the tallest between Fort Worth and Phoenix for a long time. It became the second-tallest after the Bank of America Building was built. |
| 3 | Centennial Tower | 191 / 58 | 15 | 1978 | Centennial Tower is in downtown Midland. It is currently the third-tallest building in the city. |
| 4 | Independence Plaza | 16 | 1984 | Independence Plaza is a large office building in downtown Midland. It is the fourth-tallest building in the city. |
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Downtown
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Summit Building (center) and Wilco Building (background)
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Petroleum Building, with Centennial Tower on right
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City Hall
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Kinder Morgan Building
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Downtown Doubletree Hotel
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Yucca Theater at the Petroleum Building
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First Presbyterian Church
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Downtown from Ohio Avenue
Midland's People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 2,192 | — | |
| 1920 | 1,795 | −18.1% | |
| 1930 | 5,484 | 205.5% | |
| 1940 | 9,352 | 70.5% | |
| 1950 | 21,713 | 132.2% | |
| 1960 | 62,625 | 188.4% | |
| 1970 | 59,463 | −5.0% | |
| 1980 | 70,525 | 18.6% | |
| 1990 | 89,443 | 26.8% | |
| 2000 | 94,996 | 6.2% | |
| 2010 | 111,147 | 17.0% | |
| 2020 | 132,524 | 19.2% | |
| U.S. Census Bureau Texas Almanac | |||
Population in 2020
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 57,603 | 57,658 | 59,453 | 60.64% | 51.88% | 44.86% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 7,811 | 8,426 | 9,913 | 8.22% | 7.58% | 7.48% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 323 | 421 | 546 | 0.34% | 0.38% | 0.41% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 928 | 1,474 | 3,422 | 0.98% | 1.33% | 2.58% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 13 | 39 | 127 | 0.01% | 0.04% | 0.10% |
| Other Race alone (NH) | 50 | 200 | 473 | 0.05% | 0.18% | 0.36% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 725 | 1,132 | 3,429 | 0.76% | 1.02% | 2.59% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 27,543 | 41,797 | 55,161 | 28.99% | 37.61% | 41.62% |
| Total | 94,996 | 111,147 | 132,524 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
In 2020, Midland had 132,524 people. There were 47,682 households. About 37.9% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.62 people.
About 29.9% of the population was under 18. The median age was 34 years old. The median household income in 2020 was $90,448. About 10.5% of the people lived below the poverty line.
In 2014, Forbes magazine said Midland was the second fastest-growing small city in the United States.
Midland's Economy
In 2014, Midland had the lowest unemployment rate in the United States, at 2.3%. This means almost everyone who wanted a job had one. The city's top employers include schools, hospitals, and oil-related companies.
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midland Independent School District | 2,919 |
| 2 | Midland Memorial Hospital and Medical Center | 1,670 |
| 3 | Dawson Geophysical | 1,244 |
| 4 | Walmart | 950 |
| 5 | City of Midland | 880 |
| 6 | Midland College | 735 |
| 7 | Baker Hughes | 600 |
| 8 | Warren Equipment Companies | 597 |
| 9 | Midland County, Texas | 541 |
| 10 | H-E-B | 509 |
Arts and Culture in Midland
Art Galleries
Midland College has the McCormick Gallery. It shows art by students, teachers, and visiting artists. The Arts Council of Midland helps promote art events in the community.
Performing Arts
The Midland-Odessa Symphony and Chorale (MOSC) has been performing for over 45 years. It's the biggest orchestra in the region. They play many types of concerts all year. They also have smaller music groups.
The Midland Community Theatre (MCT) started in 1946. They put on about 15 shows each year. These include musicals, comedies, and plays for children. They perform in different theaters, including the Yucca Theatre.
Midland College also hosts free cultural performances twice a year. These shows are part of the Phyllis and Bob Cowan Performing Arts Series.
Libraries
- Midland County Library
- Haley Memorial Library and History Center
- Murray L. Fasken Learning Resource Center at Midland College
Fun Places to Visit
Midland's economy is mostly about oil. You can learn more about this at the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum. It's on the edge of town near Interstate 20. The museum has exhibits about the history and technology of oil and gas. It also has a collection of race cars designed by Jim Hall, a famous race car designer from Midland.
Midland is also home to The Museum of the Southwest. This museum has paintings by artists from the Taos Society of Artists and Karl Bodmer. It also has old engravings. Inside the same museum complex, you'll find the Children's Museum and the Marian W. Blakemore Planetarium. The museum is in the Turner Mansion, a historic home built in 1934.
At the Midland County Historical Museum, you can see copies of the "Midland Man." This is a skeleton of a Clovis woman found near the city in 1953. Scientists believe these bones are about 11,600 years old.
Sports in Midland
Midland is home to the Midland RockHounds. This is a Texas League minor league baseball team. They are connected to the Athletics major league team. The RockHounds play their games at Momentum Bank Ballpark.
The West Texas United Sockers is a soccer team that started in 2008. They play in the Premier Development League. Their home games are at the Grande Communications Stadium.
Midland also has the West Texas Drillers, an adult tackle football team. They play at Grande Communications Stadium.
Midland College has many sports teams. They compete in baseball, basketball, golf, softball, and volleyball. Since 1975, Midland College has won 20 national championships. Many of their athletes have become All-Americans.
There are also plans to build a large tennis center called the Bush Tennis Center. Midland is also home to the Midland Mad Dog Rugby Club.
Learning in Midland
Colleges and Universities
Midland is home to Midland College (MC). It offers over 50 programs for associate degrees and certificates. More than 6,000 students attend each semester. MC has programs in health, technology, and aviation. It's one of only three community colleges in Texas that can offer a bachelor's degree in applied technology.
The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Permian Basin Campus has a physician assistant program at MC. This program helps students earn a Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree.
Guest Speakers at Midland College
Midland College hosts the Davidson Distinguished Lectures Series twice a year. These are free talks by famous speakers. These speakers share their knowledge and experiences with students and the community. Past speakers include Ken Burns, Sandra Day O'Connor, and Neil deGrasse Tyson.
Schools for Kids and Teens
The Midland Independent School District serves most of Midland. There are three public high schools: Midland High School, Legacy High School, and Early College High School (ECHS) at Midland College.
In July 2020, the Midland Independent School District changed the name of the former Robert E. Lee High School to Legacy High School.
ECHS started in 2009. Its goal is for students to earn an associate degree from Midland College by the time they graduate high school.
A small part of Midland is in the Stanton Independent School District.
Midland also has many private schools. These include Hillcrest School, Midland Classical Academy, and Trinity School of Midland. There are also four charter schools.
Midland's Media
Newspapers
Midland is served by the Midland Reporter-Telegram newspaper.
Radio Stations
- KLFB 88.1 FM (Religious)
- KFRI 88.7 FM (Christian Contemporary)
- KBMM 89.5 FM (Religious)
- KTPR 89.9 FM (Texas Public Radio)
- KLVW 90.5 FM (Christian Contemporary)
- KVDG 90.9 FM (Spanish)
- KXWT 91.3 FM (Public Radio)
- WJFM 91.7 FM (Gospel Music)
- KNFM 92.3 FM (Country)
- KZBT 93.3 FM (Hip-Hop)
- KACD 94.1 FM (Spanish)
- KTXO 94.7 FM (Country)
- KQRX 95.1 FM (Rock)
- KMRK-FM 96.1 FM (Country)
- KMCM 96.9 FM (Oldies)
- KODM 97.9 FM (Adult Contemporary)
- KHKX 99.1 FM (Country)
- KMTH 99.5 FM (Public Radio)
- KBAT 99.9 FM (Rock)
- KMMZ 101.3 FM (Regional Mexican)
- KFZX 102.1 FM (Classic Rock)
- KCRS 103.3 FM (Top-40)
- KTXC 104.7 FM (Regional Mexican)
- KCHX 106.7 FM (Adult Contemporary)
- KWEL 107.1 FM (Talk)
- KQLM 107.9 FM (Spanish)
- KCRS 550 AM (News/Talk)
- KXOI 810 AM (Spanish)
- KFLB 920 AM (Religious)
- KWEL 1070 AM (Talk)
- KLPF 1180 AM (Religious)
- KMND 1510 AM (Sports)
Television Stations
Midland has several local TV stations. These include KMID (ABC), KWES-TV (NBC), KOSA (CBS), and KPEJ-TV (Fox). There are also stations for PBS, MeTV, Univision, and Telemundo. A religious TV station, KMLM-DT, also broadcasts from Midland.
Many movies have been filmed in and around Midland. Some examples are Hangar 18, Blood Simple, and Friday Night Lights. The TV show Heroes also used the Midland-Odessa area as a setting for some of its first-season episodes.
Getting Around Midland
Air Travel
- Midland is served by Midland International Air and Space Port (MAF). It's located between Odessa and Midland.
- Midland Airpark (MDD) is a smaller airport for general aviation. It's on Midland's northeast side.
Roads and Highways
I-20 (Interstate 20)
Bus. I-20 (Wall Street/Front Street/Former US 80)
SH 140 (Florida Street)
SH 158 (Garden City Highway)
SH 191 (Highway 191/Sgt. Mike Naylor Memorial Highway)
SH 349 (Big Spring Street)
Loop 40
Loop 250
Loop 268 (Wall Street)
FM 868 (Midland Drive)
Rail and Bus
In 2012, Midland was the site of a sad train accident. A train hit a parade float carrying military veterans, and four people died.
Midland also has public bus services. These are provided by E-Z Rider, which is part of the Midland-Odessa Urban Transit District.
Famous People from Midland
Midland's Sister Cities
Midland has four sister cities around the world. These are cities that have special friendly relationships with Midland.
Chihuahua, Chihuahua (Mexico)
Dongying, Shandong (China). This city is near China's second-largest known oil field.
New Amsterdam (Guyana)
Birkenhead (United Kingdom)
See also
In Spanish: Midland (Texas) para niños
