Pine Springs, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pine Springs, Texas
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|---|---|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| County | Culberson |
| Elevation | 5,633 ft (1,717 m) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 51 |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1380360 |
Pine Springs is a small, unincorporated community located in northern Culberson County, Texas, United States. An "unincorporated community" means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. In 2000, about 20 people lived here.
History of Pine Springs
Early Visitors and the Pinery Station
People traveling through Guadalupe Pass in the 1800s knew about Pine Springs. Important explorers like Lt. Francis Theodore Bryan and Capt. Randolph B. Marcy camped here in 1849.
In 1858, the Butterfield Overland Mail built a stagecoach stop called "the Pinery" at this spot. When the first mail arrived in September 1858, the station was still being built. The Pinery was finished by November 1858. However, it was abandoned in August 1859. This happened because the mail route moved south to be closer to forts like Stockton and Davis for safety.
Life in the Late 1800s and Early 1900s
Even after the stagecoach route moved, soldiers and travelers still used the Pinery as a safe place in the mid-1880s. In 1907, a rancher named Walter Glover bought the land where the Pinery stood. Ten years later, his wife, Bertha, joined him in Pine Springs.
The Pine Springs Cafe and Community Growth
When U.S. Highway 62 opened in 1928, the Pine Springs Cafe was built. It quickly became a popular stop for drivers traveling between El Paso and Carlsbad, New Mexico. Bertha Glover ran the cafe until she passed away in 1982.
In 1942, Pine Springs got its own post office, and Bertha Glover became the postmistress. At that time, about 50 people lived in the community. The post office closed the next year. By the mid-1940s, there were three businesses operating, and the population was estimated to be 70.
Population Changes and the National Park
By the mid-1960s, the population dropped to only 10 people. However, when Guadalupe Mountains National Park opened in 1972, the population grew again to about 20. Most residents worked for the park or the state transportation agency. The population remained around 20 in 1990 and 2000.
Texas' Windiest Town
Pine Springs is known as Texas' windiest town. From February to April each year, the town experiences strong winds. These winds often average between 50 and 80 miles per hour. Sometimes, gusts can reach up to 105 miles per hour!
Early Transportation Development
In 1914, a railway line was built near Pine Springs. The Van Horn Valley Land and Railway company constructed this line. It ran north from Van Horn to the New Mexico state line.
Geography of Pine Springs
Pine Springs is located where U.S. Routes 62 and 180 meet. It is about 60 miles (97 km) north of Van Horn. It is also about 3 miles (5 km) southeast of Guadalupe Peak in northwestern Culberson County.
Climate Conditions
Pine Springs has a semiarid climate. This means it gets very little rain, and it's often dry. On climate maps, this type of weather is shown as "BSk."
Pine Springs is one of the windiest places in the United States. Only Livingston, Montana, is considered windier. During a big storm in March 2019, wind gusts of 103 mph (166 km/h) were recorded in Pine Springs.
Education in Pine Springs
Today, students in Pine Springs attend schools managed by the Culberson County-Allamoore Independent School District.
