Sheffield, Texas facts for kids

Sheffield is a small community in Pecos County, Texas, United States. It's like a small town that the government keeps track of for population numbers. In 2020, about 174 people lived there. The community is named after an early rancher named Will Sheffield. It has its own post office with the ZIP code 79781.

Where is Sheffield Located?

The old OST Courts sign in Sheffield, Texas.

Sheffield is found in the eastern part of Pecos County. It sits where two main roads meet: State Highway 290 and State Highway 349. It's about 18 miles south of a town called Iraan and 40 miles west of Ozona.

In the 1920s, Sheffield became a small stop along a very long road called the Old Spanish Trail. This was a big route that crossed the country. There was even a motel there called the OST Courts. You could still see an old sign for this motel on Main Street in 2023!

A Look Back at Sheffield's History

Early Visitors and Settlements

The first Europeans to visit this area were Spanish explorers in 1590. A man named Gaspar Castaño de Sosa and his group traveled along the Pecos River. Even though more Spanish groups came later, no one built a permanent town for a long time.

In 1849, the Army mapped out a road from San Antonio to El Paso. This road went right through what is now Sheffield. This was because of the Pecos Spring and a river crossing called Lancaster Crossing, near Fort Lancaster. These spots were important for travelers.

How Sheffield Began

One of the first people to settle here was William Franklin Smith. He brought his sheep to the Pecos River area in 1886. He visited Pecos County many times before finally moving to Sheffield in 1912.

The very first settler was John Cannon, who arrived in 1888. He bought land along the Pecos River. In 1898, a post office was opened, and Will Sheffield became the first postmaster. Around 1900, a small group of homes started to appear on land next to the Cannon ranch, which belonged to Mr. Sheffield. That's how the town got its name, Sheffield! Most other early settlers were ranchers who built their own homes.

Growth and Change in Sheffield

In the early 1900s, Sheffield grew as a place where ranchers could get supplies and meet up. Things changed a lot in the 1920s when oil was discovered in the Trans-Pecos region, and later natural gas. This discovery completely changed the local economy.

Sheffield grew slowly. In 1925, about 124 people lived there, and by 1949, the population was around 350. Even though a major highway, Interstate 10, was built around Sheffield, the community still had several stores and businesses throughout the late 1900s. In 2000, Sheffield was home to about 600 people and 15 businesses.

A local resident named Herbert A. Holmes (1900-1973) moved to Sheffield with his family in 1906. He later worked for many years as a local judge, called a Justice of the Peace. He collected many facts, stories, and photos about the community. With his son, J. Wayne Holmes, he published a book in 1973 called Frontier Days in Sheffield.

Who Lives in Sheffield?

Sheffield was first counted as a special "census-designated place" in the 2020 U.S. Census.

Sheffield's Population in 2020

In 2020, the population of Sheffield was 174 people. Here's a quick look at the different groups of people who lived there:

Education in Sheffield

Children in Sheffield attend public schools provided by the Iraan-Sheffield Independent School District.