Ward County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ward County
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The Ward County Courthouse in Monahans
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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 |
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| State |  Texas |
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| Founded | 1892 | |
| Named for | Thomas W. Ward | |
| Seat | Monahans | |
| Largest city | Monahans | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 836 sq mi (2,170 km2) | |
| • Land | 836 sq mi (2,170 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2) 0.03% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 11,644 | |
| • Density | 13.928/sq mi (5.378/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | |
| Congressional district | 23rd | |
Ward County is a county located in the state of Texas. In 2020, about 11,644 people lived there. The main town and county seat is Monahans. Ward County was officially created in 1887 and started operating in 1892. It is named after Thomas W. Ward, who was a soldier in the Texas Revolution.
Contents
Ward County's Past: A Look at Its History
Early People: Native Americans in Ward County
Long ago, Native American tribes lived in Ward County. Scientists have found old tools, rock carvings called petroglyphs, and rock paintings called pictographs. These show that people lived here many years ago. Tribes like the Suma-Jumano, Apache, and Comanche once called this area home.
How Ward County Grew and Changed
In 1858, the Butterfield Overland Mail used a special spot called Emigrant's Crossing. This was one of the few safe places to cross the Pecos River. The mail service had a station and a strong corral there.
In 1881, the Texas and Pacific Railway built tracks through the area. They set up train stations in towns like Monahans and Barstow.
The state of Texas officially created Ward County in 1887. It was formed from a part of Tom Green County. Barstow became the first county seat in 1892. By 1904, Barstow was a busy place for farming and ranching. However, the area faced tough times with droughts in the early 1900s.
Ward County got a big boost when oil was found nearby in 1926. Pipelines and oil loading stations were built in towns like Wickett, Pyote, and Monahans. More oil was discovered in Grandfalls in 1929. A new community called Royalty grew up nearby. A huge tank that could hold a million barrels of oil was built by Shell Oil Company. By 1991, over 668 million barrels of oil had been produced in the county since 1928.
In 1938, the people of Ward County voted to move the county seat. Monahans won the election, and the county seat moved there in 1939.
During World War II, Pyote Air Force Station opened in 1942. It became the largest bomber base in the United States. The famous plane Enola Gay, which dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, was stored there later. The base closed after the Korean War.
Monahans Sandhills State Park opened in 1957. It's a unique park with huge sand dunes. Much of the land was leased to the state by the Sealy-Smith Foundation. More land was leased from the Williams family of Monahans.
Ward County's Location and Natural Features
Ward County covers a total area of about 836 square miles. Almost all of this area is land, with only a tiny bit of water.
Main Roads in Ward County
Interstate 20
State Highway 18
State Highway 115
State Highway 329
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Neighboring Counties Around Ward County
Ward County shares borders with these other counties:
- Winkler County (to the north)
- Ector County (to the northeast)
- Crane County (to the east)
- Pecos County (to the south)
- Reeves County (to the west)
- Loving County (to the northwest)
Who Lives in Ward County? A Look at the Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 77 | — | |
| 1900 | 1,451 | 1,784.4% | |
| 1910 | 2,389 | 64.6% | |
| 1920 | 2,615 | 9.5% | |
| 1930 | 4,599 | 75.9% | |
| 1940 | 9,575 | 108.2% | |
| 1950 | 13,346 | 39.4% | |
| 1960 | 14,917 | 11.8% | |
| 1970 | 13,019 | −12.7% | |
| 1980 | 13,976 | 7.4% | |
| 1990 | 13,115 | −6.2% | |
| 2000 | 10,909 | −16.8% | |
| 2010 | 10,658 | −2.3% | |
| 2020 | 11,644 | 9.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010 2020 |
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Ward County's population has changed over the years. In 2020, there were 11,644 people living there. The population includes people from many different backgrounds.
In 2020, about 38.70% of the people were White (not Hispanic). About 3.56% were Black or African American. Around 54.32% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino. This group can be of any race.
In 2000, the average household had 2.66 people. The average family had 3.15 people. About 36.60% of households had children under 18 living with them. The median age in the county was 36 years old. This means half the people were younger than 36, and half were older.
Towns and Communities in Ward County
Ward County has several towns and communities.
Cities in Ward County
Towns in Ward County
Other Communities
- Southwest Sandhill (This is a "census-designated place," meaning it's a community that the U.S. Census Bureau defines for statistics.)
- Royalty (This is an "unincorporated community," meaning it's not officially a city or town.)
Former Communities
- Three Corner Windmill (This is a "ghost town," meaning it's a place where people used to live but now it's mostly deserted.)
Images for kids
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The Ward County Courthouse in Monahans
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Ward (Texas) para niños
