Porterville, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Porterville, Texas
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 Porterville, Texas
Location in Texas
Porterville, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Loving |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 0 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
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| Area code(s) | ? |
| GNIS feature ID | 2033952 |
Porterville is a ghost town located in Loving County, Texas, United States. A ghost town is a place where most or all of the people have left, and few or no buildings remain.
The Story of Porterville
Porterville was started in 1905 by a doctor named Phil Porter. He moved all the way from Michigan because he thought living in the desert would be good for his health.
A Busy Beginning
At first, Porterville was a lively place. It had a hotel, a blacksmith's shop, and even a post office. There was a doctor and two general stores where people could buy supplies. Many people moved to Porterville because the farmland was cheap. They also hoped to use water from the Pecos River to grow their crops.
Why the Town Disappeared
Sadly, the Pecos River wasn't big enough to provide enough water for all the farms. Because of this, many farmers couldn't grow enough food, and the town's population started to shrink.
In the early 1930s, something big happened nearby: oil was discovered! This led to the creation of a new town called Mentone. As Mentone grew, more and more people left Porterville. Slowly, Porterville became completely empty and was eventually abandoned.
What's Left Today
Today, there isn't much left of old Porterville. The only building that still exists in a useful way is the town's church. It was built in 1909 but was moved to Mentone in 1931. Now, Porterville is mostly just an empty stretch of highway.
