Pecos, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pecos, Texas
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Storefronts in downtown Pecos
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| Nickname(s):
Tarilas
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Location of Pecos, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Reeves |
| Area | |
| • Total | 22.22 sq mi (57.56 km2) |
| • Land | 22.22 sq mi (57.56 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,582 ft (787 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 12,916 |
| • Density | 581/sq mi (224.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
79772
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| Area code(s) | 432 |
| FIPS code | 48-56516 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1364996 |
| Website | http://www.pecostx.gov/ |
Pecos (pronounced PAY-kəs) is the biggest city in Reeves County, Texas. It is also the county seat, which means it's where the local government offices are. Pecos is located on the west side of the Pecos River. It sits at the edge of the Chihuahuan Desert in West Texas.
In 2020, about 12,916 people lived in Pecos. In 2012, Forbes magazine said Pecos was one of the fastest-growing small towns in the United States. The city is a main hub for ranching, oil and gas, and farming. Pecos is especially known for growing cantaloupes. Many people believe that the world's first rodeo happened in Pecos on July 4, 1883.
Contents
History of Pecos, Texas
How Pecos Started and Grew
Pecos is one of many towns in West Texas that grew up around a train depot. This happened when the Texas and Pacific Railway was being built. Later, these towns were connected by major roads like U.S. Highway 80 and Interstate 20.
Before the railroad, there was a camp nearby. This was where cattle drives would cross the Pecos River. When people started using irrigation from underground water (called aquifers), Pecos became a center for farming. They grew a lot of cotton, onions, and cantaloupes.
Economic Changes Over Time
In the 1960s, a lot of sulfur was found and mined in a nearby county. This brought many jobs and people to Pecos. The city grew a lot during this time. However, when the sulfur mining stopped in the 1990s, the population and economy slowed down.
Important Events in Pecos
In 1962, a local businessman named Billie Sol Estes was accused of fraud. This caused a big national story. A reporter named Oscar Griffin, Jr. from the local newspaper, the Pecos Independent and Enterprise, won a special award called a Pulitzer Prize for telling this story.
Pecos is also home to a very large private prison. It is called the Reeves County Detention Complex. The GEO Group operates this facility.
In December 2024, a Union Pacific Railroad freight train had an accident. It hit a large truck, causing the train to go off its tracks. Sadly, two train crew members died, and three others were hurt. The old Texas & Pacific train station, which is now the town's Chamber of Commerce, was damaged in this accident.
Geography of Pecos
Pecos is located in West Texas. The city has a total area of about 22.22 square miles (57.56 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Population of Pecos
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 393 | — | |
| 1900 | 639 | 62.6% | |
| 1910 | 1,856 | 190.5% | |
| 1920 | 1,445 | −22.1% | |
| 1930 | 3,304 | 128.7% | |
| 1940 | 4,855 | 46.9% | |
| 1950 | 8,054 | 65.9% | |
| 1960 | 12,728 | 58.0% | |
| 1970 | 12,682 | −0.4% | |
| 1980 | 12,855 | 1.4% | |
| 1990 | 12,069 | −6.1% | |
| 2000 | 9,501 | −21.3% | |
| 2010 | 8,780 | −7.6% | |
| 2020 | 12,916 | 47.1% | |
| 1890-2000, 2010 | |||
What the 2020 Census Shows
The 2020 United States census counted 12,916 people living in Pecos. There were 2,729 households and 1,857 families.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White | 7,167 | 55.49% |
| Black or African American | 278 | 2.15% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 87 | 0.67% |
| Asian | 163 | 1.26% |
| Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.02% |
| Some Other Race | 2,097 | 16.24% |
| Mixed/multiracial | 3,122 | 24.17% |
| Total | 12,916 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 11,129 | 86.16% |
| Non-Hispanic | 1,787 | 13.84% |
| Total | 12,916 |
Education in Pecos
The schools in Pecos are part of the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah Independent School District. This district has four schools:
- Austin Elementary (for Pre-Kindergarten and 1st grade)
- Zavala Elementary (for grades 2-5)
- Crockett Middle School (for grades 6–8)
- Pecos High School (for grades 9–12)
Climate in Pecos
Pecos has a semiarid climate, which means it's mostly dry. It can also be considered a desert climate. Summers are hot, and winters are mild. Because it's so dry, the temperature can change a lot between day and night. This means even after a hot day, nights can be cool.
| Climate data for Pecos, Texas | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 89 (32) |
94 (34) |
103 (39) |
106 (41) |
112 (44) |
118 (48) |
116 (47) |
113 (45) |
110 (43) |
106 (41) |
94 (34) |
89 (32) |
118 (48) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 61 (16) |
66 (19) |
74 (23) |
84 (29) |
91 (33) |
99 (37) |
99 (37) |
98 (37) |
92 (33) |
82 (28) |
69 (21) |
63 (17) |
82 (28) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 28 (−2) |
31 (−1) |
38 (3) |
48 (9) |
57 (14) |
67 (19) |
69 (21) |
68 (20) |
61 (16) |
50 (10) |
35 (2) |
29 (−2) |
48 (9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −9 (−23) |
−8 (−22) |
12 (−11) |
24 (−4) |
30 (−1) |
48 (9) |
55 (13) |
45 (7) |
37 (3) |
25 (−4) |
8 (−13) |
1 (−17) |
−9 (−23) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.42 (11) |
0.38 (9.7) |
0.33 (8.4) |
0.57 (14) |
1.14 (29) |
1.11 (28) |
1.33 (34) |
1.24 (31) |
1.85 (47) |
1.16 (29) |
0.47 (12) |
0.49 (12) |
10.48 (266) |
| Source: Weatherbase | |||||||||||||
Notable People from Pecos
- Paul Gonzales – A boxer who won a gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympic Games.
- Oscar Griffin, Jr. – A journalist who won a Pulitzer Prize for his reporting.
- Roger Mobley – A former child actor who lived in Pecos in the 1950s.
- Abel Talamantez – A singer who was part of the groups Menudo and the Kumbia Kings.
See also
In Spanish: Pecos (Texas) para niños
