Reeves County, Texas#Micropolitan Statistical Area

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Reeves County

| state = Texas

| ex image = Reeves County Courthouse June 2020.jpg

| ex image size = 300px

| ex image cap = Reeves County Courthouse in Pecos

| type = County

| flag =

| seal =

| logo =

| coordinates = {{coord|31|18|30.118|N|103|42|45.741|W|region:US-TX_type:county|display=inline}}

| founded = April 14, 1883 (created)
November 4, 1884 (organized)

| named for = George R. Reeves

| seat wl = Pecos

| largest city wl = Pecos

| area_total_sq_mi = 2642.071

| area_land_sq_mi = 2635.354

| area_water_sq_mi = 6.717

| area percentage = 0.25%

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 14748

| pop_est_as_of = 2024

| population_est = 11956 {{decrease}}

| density_sq_mi = 4.537

| time zone = Central

| district = 23rd

| website = {{URL|https://www.reevescounty.org/|reevescounty.org}}

| footnote =

}}

Reeves County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 14,748,{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Reeves_County,_Texas?g=050XX00US48389 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=March 30, 2025}} and was estimated to be 11,956 in 2024. Its county seat and most populous city is Pecos.{{cite web|title=Find a County |url=https://ce.naco.org/?find=true |publisher=National Association of Counties |access-date=March 30, 2025}} The county was created on April 14, 1883 and organized on November 4, 1884.{{cite web|title=Texas: Individual County Chronologies |url=https://publications.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/TX_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm |work=Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries |publisher=The Newberry Library |date=2008 |access-date=March 30, 2025}} It is named for George R. Reeves, a Texas state legislator and colonel in the Confederate Army. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. Reeves County comprises the Pecos micropolitan statistical area.

History

=Native Americans=

Prehistoric Clovis culture peoples{{cite web|title=Exploring the Past in Trans-Pecos Texas |url=https://cbbs.sulross.edu/trans-pecos/ |author=Mallouf, Robert J. |publisher=Center for Big Bend Studies Sul Ross State University |date=2020 |access-date=March 30, 2025}} in Reeves County lived in the rock shelters and caves nestled near water supplies. These people left behind artifacts and pictographs as evidence of their presence.{{cite web|title=Artistic Expression |url=http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/trans-p/artistic/index.html |publisher=Texas Beyond History |date=January 2008 |access-date=April 29, 2010}} Jumano Indians led the Antonio de Espejo{{Handbook of Texas|name=Antonio de Espejo |id=fes03 |author=Blake, Robert Bruce |retrieved=April 29, 2010}} Texas State Historical Association 1582–1583 expedition near Toyah Lake on a better route to the farming and trade area of La Junta de los Ríos. Espejo's diary places the Jumano along the Pecos River and its tributaries.{{cite web|title=Who Were The Jumano? |url=https://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/trans-p/peoples/who.html |publisher=Texas Beyond History |date=January 2008 |access-date=April 29, 2010}} The Mescalero Apache{{cite web|title=Texas Indian Lands |url=http://www.texasindians.com/map2.htm |publisher=R E. Moore and Texarch Associates |access-date=April 29, 2010}}{{cite web|title=San Solomon Spring |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=59706 |publisher=Historical Marker Database |access-date=March 30, 2025}} frequented San Solomon Springs to irrigate their crops. In 1849, John Salmon "RIP" Ford{{Handbook of Texas|name=John Salmon Ford |id=ffo11 |author=Connor, Seymour V. |retrieved=April 29, 2010}} explored the area between San Antonio and El Paso, noting in his mapped report the productive land upon which the Mescalero Indians farmed.

=County established and growth=

The state legislature formed Reeves from Pecos County on April 14, 1883, and named it after Texas legislator and soldier George Robertson Reeves.{{Handbook of Texas|name=George Robertson Reeves |id=fre20 |author=Britton, Morris L. |retrieved=April 29, 2010}}{{cite web|title=George R. Reeves |url=https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/archive/html/leg/speakers/04.html |author=Britton, Morris L. |publisher=Texas State Historical Association |date=2003 |access-date=March 30, 2025}} The county was organized on November 4, 1884. The town of Pecos{{cite web|title=Pecos, Texas |url=http://www.texasescapes.com/WestTexasTowns/PecosTexas/PecosTx.htm |author=John Troesser and Kate Wong Troesser |publisher=Texas Escapes |access-date=April 29, 2010}} was named as county seat.

Toyah Valley farmers George B. and Robert E. Lyle were the first Anglo settlers 1871. White settlers started arriving in the area four years later, lured by open-range ranching.{{Handbook of Texas|name=Reeves |id=hcr06 |author=Smith, Julia Cauble |retrieved=April 29, 2010}} For the remainder of the century, the county economy was dependent upon farming and ranching as it moved into the manufacturing and oil industries of the 20th century.

The Texas and Pacific Railway built through Reeves County in 1881, with stations at Pecos{{cite web|title=T&P Stations and Structures in Pecos, TX |url=https://www.texaspacificrailway.org/structures/tx/pecos |publisher=Railfans Depot |access-date=April 29, 2010}} and Toyah.{{cite web|title=T&P Stations and Structures in Toyah, TX |url=https://www.texaspacificrailway.org/structures/tx/toyah |publisher=Railfans Depot |access-date=April 29, 2010}} By 1890, the Pecos River Railway{{Handbook of Texas|name=Pecos River Railway |id=eqp10 |author=Cravens, Cris |retrieved=April 29, 2010}} had built from Pecos to New Mexico. Toyahvale,{{Handbook of Texas|name=Toyahvale |id=hlt28 |author=Smith, Julia Cauble |retrieved=April 29, 2010}} which means "flowing water", became the western terminus of the railroad.

Balmorhea State Park was built at Toyahvale by the Civilian Conservation Corps.{{cite web|title=Balmorhea State Park |url=https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/balmorhea |publisher=Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |access-date=March 30, 2025}} The park was deeded to the State of Texas in 1934 and opened to the public in 1968.

Pecos Army Air Field was one of the 120 airbases that trained the pioneer Women Airforce Service Pilots{{cite web|title=Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) |url=http://www.wingsacrossamerica.us/wasp/baselist.htm |publisher=Wings Across America |access-date=April 29, 2010}} to fly military aircraft. At the Pecos installation, WASP flew AT-6, UC-78, and AT-17 aircraft in engineering tests, administrative duties, and transporting freight. The base was activated in 1942 as a World War II pilot school.{{Handbook of Texas|name=Pecos Army Airfield |id=qcp02 |author=Colwell, James L. |retrieved=April 29, 2010}} The base was deactivated in 1945. At its peak, the base population of 4,034 rivaled the town of Pecos in size. Portions of the base were sold off over the years, with Pecos Municipal Airport retaining the remainder.

Pecos is the site of the largest private prison in the world, the Reeves County Detention Complex, operated by the GEO Group.{{Cite news|title=Private Prisons, Public Pain |url=https://www.fwweekly.com/2010/03/10/private-prisons-public-pain/ |publisher=Fort Worth Weekly |date=March 10, 2010 |access-date=July 29, 2018 |language=en-US}}

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|2642.071|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|2635.354|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|6.717|sqmi}} (0.25%) is water.{{Cite web|title=2024 County Gazetteer Files – Texas|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_gaz_counties_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 30, 2025}} It is the 9th largest county in Texas by total area.

=Major highways=

=Adjacent counties=

Eddy County, New Mexico (north/Mountain Time Zone)
Loving County (northeast)
Ward County (east)
Pecos County (southeast)
Jeff Davis County (south)
Culberson County (west)

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1890= 1247

|1900= 1847

|1910= 4392

|1920= 4457

|1930= 6407

|1940= 8006

|1950= 11745

|1960= 17644

|1970= 16526

|1980= 15801

|1990= 15852

|2000= 13137

|2010= 13783

|2020= 14748

|estyear=2024

|estimate=11956

|estref={{cite web|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 30, 2025}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 20, 2014}}
1790–1960{{cite web|title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |publisher=University of Virginia Library |url-status=live |date=2007 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212224028/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |archive-date=December 12, 2009}} 1900–1990{{cite web|last=Forstall |first=Richard L. |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/tx190090.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |url-status=live |date=March 27, 1995 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990219135447/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/tx190090.txt |archive-date=February 19, 1999}}
1990–2000{{cite web|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010}} 2010–2020

}}

As of the third quarter of 2024, the median home value in Reeves County was $117,940.{{Cite web|title=County Median Home Price|url=https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/housing-statistics/county-median-home-prices-and-monthly-mortgage-payment|publisher=National Association of Realtors|access-date=March 30, 2025}}

As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 4,145 estimated households in Reeves County with an average of 2.94 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $56,056. Approximately 17.6% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Reeves County has an estimated 58.1% employment rate, with 6.9% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 71.3% holding a high school diploma.{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Reeves County, Texas |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/reevescountytexas/PST045224 |access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=www.census.gov |language=en}}

The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (38.5%), Spanish (61.3%), Indo-European (0.0%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.2%), and Other (0.0%).

The median age in the county was 34.4 years.

Reeves County, Texas – racial and ethnic composition
{{nobold|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 may be of any race.}}

Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic) ! Pop. 1980{{Cite web\|title=Reeves County, Texas — Population by Race \|url=https://censusscope.org/us/s48/c389/chart_race.html \|publisher=CensusScope \|access-date=March 30, 2025}}	Pop. 1990{{Cite web\|title=Reeves County, Texas — Population by Race \|url=https://censusscope.org/us/s48/c389/chart_race.html \|publisher=CensusScope \|access-date=March 30, 2025}}	Pop. 2000{{Cite web\|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Reeves County, Texas \|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=050XX00US48389 \|publisher=United States Census Bureau \|access-date=March 30, 2025}}	Pop. 2010{{Cite web\|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Reeves County, Texas \|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US48389&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2 \|publisher=United States Census Bureau \|access-date=March 30, 2025}}	{{partial\|Pop. 2020}}{{Cite web\|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Reeves County, Texas \|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US48389&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 \|publisher=United States Census Bureau \|access-date=March 30, 2025}}
class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="font-size: 95%;"
White alone (NH) \| 5,561 (35.19%)	3,909 (24.66%)	3,131 (23.83%)	2,690 (19.52%)	style='background: #ffffe6; \|1,697 (11.51%)
Black or African American alone (NH) \| 358 (2.27%)	340 (2.14%)	238 (1.81%)	672 (4.88%)	style='background: #ffffe6; \|224 (1.52%)
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) \| 23 (0.15%)	26 (0.16%)	34 (0.26%)	21 (0.15%)	style='background: #ffffe6; \|27 (0.18%)
Asian alone (NH) \| 33 (0.21%)	31 (0.20%)	46 (0.35%)	118 (0.86%)	style='background: #ffffe6; \|165 (1.12%)
Pacific Islander alone (NH) \| —	—	0 (0.00%)	2 (0.01%)	style='background: #ffffe6; \|3 (0.02%)
Other race alone (NH) \| 36 (0.23%)	1 (0.01%)	3 (0.02%)	20 (0.15%)	style='background: #ffffe6; \|39 (0.26%)
Mixed race or multiracial (NH) \| —	—	45 (0.34%)	27 (0.20%)	style='background: #ffffe6; \|83 (0.56%)
style='background: #F4A460; \| Hispanic and Latino Americans {{font color\|#8B4513\|(any race)}} \| 9,790 (61.96%)	11,545 (72.83%)	9,640 (73.38%)	10,233 (74.24%)	12,510 (84.83%)
Total \| 15,801 (100.00%)	15,852 (100.00%)	13,137 (100.00%)	13,783 (100.00%)	style='background: #ffffe6; \|14,748 (100.00%)

=2020 census=

As of the 2020 census, there were 14,748 people, 4,178 households, and 2,895 families residing in the county.{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Reeves%20County,%20Texas%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=March 30, 2025 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} The population density was {{convert|5.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 5,068 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1.92|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the county was 54.74% White, 1.97% African American, 0.68% Native American, 1.15% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 16.48% from some other races and 24.96% from two or more races. Hispanic and Latino Americans {{font color|#8B4513|people of any race were 84.83% of the population}}.{{Cite web|title=How many people live in Reeves County, Texas |url=https://data.usatoday.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/reeves-county-texas/050-48389/ |access-date=March 30, 2025 |publisher=USA Today}}

=2010 census=

As of the 2010 census, there were 13,783 people, 3,839 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|5.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 4,640 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1.76|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the county was 77.23% White, 5.01% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.86% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 14.85% from some other races and 1.54% from two or more races. Hispanic and Latino Americans {{font color|#8B4513|people of any race were 74.24% of the population}}.

Communities

=Cities=

Balmorhea
Pecos (county seat)

=Towns=

Toyah

=Census-designated places=

Lindsay

=Unincorporated communities=

=Ghost town=

Orla

Politics

In 2020, Donald Trump not only flipped Reeves County, but he won the greatest margin of victory for a Republican presidential candidate since Richard Nixon's 1972 re-election at 61.1%. In 2024, Trump expanded his vote share, winning 68% of the vote. As a result, Reeves County shifted to the right from 2012 to 2024 by 53 percentage points, representing one of the strongest such rightward shifts for any county in the country.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/05/25/us/politics/trump-politics-democrats.html|title=How Donald Trump Has Remade America's Political Landscape|publisher=The New York Times|date=May 25, 2025|accessdate=May 29, 2025|last=Goldmacher|first=Shane|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250527155827/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/05/25/us/politics/trump-politics-democrats.html|archive-date=May 27, 2025}}

{{PresHead|place=Reeves County, Texas|source={{Cite web|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |last=Leip |first=David |website=uselectionatlas.org |access-date=July 29, 2018}}}}

{{U.S. SenHead|place=Reeves County, Texas|Seat=1|source={{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns) |website=Commonwealth of Texas by county |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/texas-senate-results}}}}

Education

Two school districts serve sections of the county:{{cite web|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Reeves County, TX |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48389_reeves/DC20SD_C48389.pdf |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=June 28, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48389_reeves/DC20SD_C48389.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48389_reeves/DC20SD_C48389_SD2MS.txt Text list]

All of the county is in the service area of Odessa College.[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Section 130.193, "Odessa College District Service Area".]

Notes

References

External links

{{Handbook of Texas|id=hcr06|name=Reeves County}}
[https://texashistory.unt.edu/search/?q=%22United+States+-+Texas+-+Reeves+County%22&t=dc.coverage Historic Reeves County materials], hosted by the [https://texashistory.unt.edu/ Portal to Texas History].
[https://www.reevescounty.org/ Reeves County – official website]
[http://www.escalera.us/ La Escalera Ranch – official website]
[https://www.reevescounty.org/departments/sheriff-s-office Reeves County Sheriff's Office]

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Reeves County, Texas

|North = Eddy County, New Mexico

|Northeast = Loving County

|East = Ward County

|Southeast = Pecos County

|South =

|Southwest = Jeff Davis County

|West = Culberson County

|Northwest =

}}

Category:1884 establishments in Texas