Val Verde County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Val Verde County
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County courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Texas
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 Texas's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| Founded | 1885 |
| Named for | Battle of Valverde |
| Seat | Del Rio |
| Largest city | Del Rio |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3,233 sq mi (8,370 km2) |
| • Land | 3,145 sq mi (8,150 km2) |
| • Water | 88 sq mi (230 km2) 2.7% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 47,586 |
| • Density | 14.7188/sq mi (5.6830/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 23rd |
Val Verde County is a county located on the southern Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. The 2020 population is 47,586. Its county seat is Del Rio. In 1936, Val Verde County received Recorded Texas Historic Landmark number 5625 to commemorate its founding. Val Verde, which means "green valley", was named for a battle of the American Civil War. In 1862, soldiers of Sibley's Brigade took part in the Texas invasion of New Mexico Territory, where they captured several artillery pieces at the Battle of Val Verde. The battle is memorialized both in the name of the county and a small settlement in Milam County. The Del Rio, Texas, micropolitan statistical area includes all of Val Verde County.
Contents
History
- First inhabitants were 6,000–10,000 years ago and later came to include Lipan Apache, Coahuiltecan, Jumanos, Tamaulipans and Comanches.
- 1590 Spanish explorer Gaspar Castaño de Sosa leads a mining expedition of 170 who pass through Devils Draw. He refers to a stream by the name of Laxas, which is believed Devils River.
- 1673 Juan Larios opens a mission school at between Del Rio and Eagle Pass.
- 1675 Traveling Franciscan priests celebrate Mass at San Felipe Springs.
- 1736 Lt. Miguel de la Garza Falcón leads 100 soldiers along the Devils River in pursuit of Apaches.
- 1834 James Grant and John Charles Beales establish settlement on San Felipe Creek, which becomes undesirable due to Indian attacks.
- 1850’s Military bases to protect against Indian attacks include Camp Blake, Camp Hudson and Camp San Felipe.
- 1860 Population of 2,874, includes 108 blacks and 1,103 foreign-born.
- 1868 San Felipe Del Rio community is established on San Felipe Creek next to Camp San Felipe.
- 1869 through 1882 Seminole Negro Indian Scouts (mixed heritage Seminoles with African blood) under John Lapham Bullis, namesake of Camp Bullis, defend the Texas border against Indian attack.
- 1883 Galveston Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway is completed. Frank Qualia establishes Val Verde winery.
- 1884 Langtry community established, named by Judge Roy Bean after Lillie Langtry.
- 1885 Val Verde County is organized from Crockett, Kinney, and Pecos counties. Roy Bean elected justice of the peace in Langtry, operating out of the Jersey Lily Saloon and becoming renowned as “the Law West of the Pecos”.
- 1886 Juno and Devils River communities established.
- 1888 Comstock community established.
- 1889 Norris community established.
- 1928 Lake Hamilton Dam complete.
- 1904 Lillie Langtry visits the community of Langtry.
- 1929 Lake Walk Dam complete.
- 1942 Laughlin Field/Laughin Army Air Field opens to train World War II pilots.
- 1945 Laughlin Field closes.
- 1952 Laughlin Field reopens as Laughlin Air Force Base, and serves as a secret U2 unit. Major Rudolf Anderson, a U-2 pilot from Laughlin, is the only casualty of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
- 1969 Amistad Dam and Reservoir complete. The project cost $78 million.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,233 square miles (8,370 km2), of which 3,145 square miles (8,150 km2) is land and 88 square miles (230 km2) (2.7%) is water.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 90
U.S. Highway 277
U.S. Highway 377
State Highway 163
Loop 79
Adjacent counties and municipios
- Crockett County (north)
- Sutton County (northeast)
- Edwards County (east)
- Kinney County (east)
- Terrell County (west)
- Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico (south)
- Jiménez, Coahuila, Mexico (south)
National protected areas
- Amistad National Recreation Area
- Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River (part)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 2,874 | — | |
| 1900 | 5,263 | 83.1% | |
| 1910 | 8,613 | 63.7% | |
| 1920 | 12,706 | 47.5% | |
| 1930 | 14,924 | 17.5% | |
| 1940 | 15,453 | 3.5% | |
| 1950 | 16,635 | 7.6% | |
| 1960 | 24,461 | 47.0% | |
| 1970 | 27,471 | 12.3% | |
| 1980 | 35,910 | 30.7% | |
| 1990 | 38,721 | 7.8% | |
| 2000 | 44,856 | 15.8% | |
| 2010 | 48,879 | 9.0% | |
| 2020 | 47,586 | −2.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010 2020 |
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2020 census
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 8,548 | 7,836 | 17.49% | 16.47% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 563 | 538 | 1.15% | 1.13% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 86 | 57 | 0.18% | 0.12% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 207 | 351 | 0.42% | 0.74% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 37 | 35 | 0.08% | 0.07% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 29 | 85 | 0.06% | 0.18% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 210 | 477 | 0.43% | 1.00% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 39,199 | 38,207 | 80.20% | 80.29% |
| Total | 48,879 | 47,586 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
Communities
City
- Del Rio (county seat)
Census-designated places
- Amistad
- Box Canyon
- Cienegas Terrace
- Lake View
- Laughlin Air Force Base
- Val Verde Park
Unincorporated communities
Education
The Val Verde County Library in Del Rio serves the county.
Notable people
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Val Verde para niños
