Val Verde County, Texas#Micropolitan Statistical Area

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Val Verde County

| state = Texas

| seal =

| founded = 1885

| seat wl = Del Rio

| largest city wl = Del Rio

| area_total_sq_mi = 3233

| area_land_sq_mi = 3145

| area_water_sq_mi = 88

| area percentage = 2.7

| census yr = 2020

| pop = 47586

| density_sq_mi = auto

| ex image = Val Verde County Courthouse in Del Rio, TX DSCN1423.JPG

| ex image size = 250px

| ex image cap = County courthouse

| web = www.valverdecounty.texas.gov

| time zone = Central

| named for = Battle of Valverde

| district = 23rd

}}

File:Val Verde County Judicial Center, Del Rio, TX DSCN0905.JPG

File:Del Rio Bank and Trust Co., Del Rio, TX DSCN0910.JPG

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.{{Cite web|title=Val Verde County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48465|website=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=February 23, 2021}} Its county seat is Del Rio.{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}} The Del Rio micropolitan statistical area includes all of Val Verde County.

Val Verde, which means "green valley",In Old Spanish or Modern Galician; Spanish nowadays would say Valle Verde, and Modern Portuguese Vale Verde. Although verde is the same in masculine or feminine, val((l)e) used to be feminine, masculine nowadays. was named for a battle of the 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.

History

= Early history =

The first inhabitants of what is now known as Val Verde County lived there some 6,000–10,000 years ago. Their descendants include such Native American peoples as the Lipan Apache, Coahuiltecan, Jumano, Tamaulipan and Comanche.{{cite book|last=Foster|first=William C|title=Historic Native Peoples of Texas|year=2008|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=978-0-292-71793-0|pages=[https://archive.org/details/historicnativepe00fost/page/137 137–168]|author2=Thoms, Alston V|chapter=The Texas Trans-Pecos, Study Area V|chapter-url-access=registration|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/historicnativepe00fost/page/137}}{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Julia Cauble|title=Val Verde County|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcv01|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 29, 2010}}

= Colonial rule =

In 1590, Spanish explorer Gaspar Castaño de Sosa led a mining expedition of 170 who passed through Devils Draw. He referred to a stream by the name of Laxas, which is believed to be Devils River.{{cite book|last=Tarpley|first=Fred|title=1001 Texas Place Names|url=https://archive.org/details/1001texasplacena0000tarp|url-access=registration|year=1980|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=978-0-292-76016-5|page=[https://archive.org/details/1001texasplacena0000tarp/page/61 61]}}{{cite web|title=Devil's Draw|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/rbdbv|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 29, 2010}}{{cite web|last=Chipman|first=Donald E|title=Gaspar Castaño de Sosa|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fca87|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 29, 2010}}

In 1673, Juan Larios opened a mission school at a location between Del Rio and Eagle Pass.{{cite book|last=Wade|first=Maria F|title=The Native Americans of the Texas Edwards Plateau, 1582-1799|year=2002|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=978-0-292-79156-5|pages=24–54|author2=Wade, Don E |author3=Hester, Thomas R |chapter=The Bosque-Larios Expedition}}

In 1675, traveling Franciscan priests celebrated Mass at San Felipe Springs.

In 1736, Lt. Miguel de la Garza Falcón{{cite web|last=Garcia|first=Clotilde P|title=Miguel de la Garza Falcón|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fga95|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 29, 2010}} led 100 soldiers along the Devils River{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Julia Cauble|title=Devils River|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/htd12|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 29, 2010}} in pursuit of Apache natives.

During 1834, James Grant{{cite web|last=Blake|first=Robert Bruce|title=James Grant|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fgr12|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 29, 2010}} and John Charles Beales{{cite web|last=Estep|first=Raymond|title=John Charles Beales|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fbe03|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 29, 2010}} established a settlement on San Felipe Creek,{{cite web|title=San Felipe Creek|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/rbs44|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 29, 2010}} which became hazardous due to Indian attacks.

= Aftermath of Mexican–American War =

During the 1850s, military bases established to protect against Indian attacks included Camp Blake,{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Julia Cauble|title=Camp Blake|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qcc02|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 29, 2010}} Camp Hudson{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Julia Cauble|title=Camp Hudson|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qbc16|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 29, 2010}} and Camp San Felipe.{{cite web|last=Seale|first=Axcie|title=Camp San Felipe|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qbc25|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 29, 2010}}

As of 1860, the county had a population of 2,874, including 108 blacks and 1,103 foreign-born.

= Post–Civil War =

During 1868, the San Felipe Del Rio community is established on San Felipe Creek, next to Camp San Felipe.

From 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 attacks.{{cite book|last=Glasrud|first=Bruce A|title=Buffalo Soldiers in the West: A Black Soldiers Anthology|year=2007|publisher=TAMU Press|isbn=978-1-58544-620-9|pages=143–152|author2=Searles, Michael N |chapter=The Black Seminole Indian Scouts in the Big Bend}}{{cite web|last=Eckhardt|first=C F|title=THE WHIRLWIND Lt. John Lapham Bullis and the Seminole Negro Scouts |url=http://www.texasescapes.com/CFEckhardt/Whirlwind-Lt-John-Lapham-Bullis-and-the-Seminole-Negro-Scouts.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=November 29, 2010}}

In 1883, the Galveston Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway was completed.{{cite web|title=Galveston Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway|url=http://www.txtransportationmuseum.org/Sunset.htm|publisher=Texas Transportation Museum|access-date=November 29, 2010}} Italian immigrant Frank Qualia established Val Verde winery.{{cite book|last=Braudaway|first=Douglas Lee|title=Val Verde County (Images of America: Texas) |year=1999|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-0128-4|author2=Valverde County Historical Commission |page=93}}{{cite web|last=Overfelt|first=Robert C|title=Val Verde Winery|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/div01|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 29, 2010}}{{cite web|title=Val Verde Winery|url=http://www.valverdewinery.com/|publisher=Val Verde Winery|access-date=November 29, 2010}}

In 1884, the Langtry community was established, named after George Langtry (an engineer and foreman). It has mistakenly been attributed to being named after British entertainer Lillie Langtry by Judge Roy Bean.{{cite web|title=Langtry, Texas|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Texas_ghost_towns/Langtry_Texas/Langtry_Texas.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=November 29, 2010}}

In 1885, Val Verde County was organized from Crockett, Kinney, and Pecos counties. Roy Bean was elected justice of the peace in Langtry, operating out of the Jersey Lily Saloon and becoming renowned as "the Law West of the Pecos".

In 1886, the Juno and Devils River communities were established.

In 1888, the Comstock community was established.{{cite web|title=Comstock, Texas|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Comstock_Texas/Comstock.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=November 29, 2010}}

In 1889, the community of Norris was established.

= Twentieth century =

1928 Lake Hamilton Dam complete.
1904 Lillie Langtry visits the community of Langtry.{{cite book|last=Crutchfield|first=James A|title=It Happened in Texas|year=2007|publisher=TwoDot|isbn=978-0-7627-4569-2|pages=104–107}}
1929 Lake Walk Dam complete.{{cite web|title=Lake Walk Dam|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/rol83|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 29, 2010}}
1936 Val Verde County received Recorded Texas Historic Landmark number 5625 to commemorate its founding.{{cite web |title=THC Val Verde County |url=http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/viewform.asp?atlas_num=5465005625&site_name=Val+Verde+County&class=5000 |access-date=February 19, 2011 |work=Recorded Texas Historic Landmark |publisher=Texas State Historical Association}}
1942 Laughlin Field/Laughin Army Air Field opens to train World War II pilots.{{cite book|last=Benton|first=Jeffrey C|title=Air Force Officer's Guide |year=2005|publisher=Stackpole Books|isbn=978-0-8117-3194-2|page=330}}
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 based out of Laughlin, was the only casualty of the Cuban Missile Crisis.{{cite web|title=Laughlin AFB|url=https://www.laughlin.af.mil/|publisher=Laughlin AFB|access-date=November 29, 2010}}{{cite web|last=Leatherwood|first=Art|title=Laughlin Air Force Base|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qbl04|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 29, 2010}}
1969 Amistad Dam and Reservoir complete. The project cost $78 million.{{cite book|last=Braudaway|first=Douglas|title=Del Rio: Queen City of the Rio Grande|year=2002|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-2387-3|page=125}}

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|3233|sqmi|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|3145|sqmi|abbr=on}} are land and {{convert|88|sqmi|abbr=on}} (2.7%) are covered by water.{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 12, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}

=Major highways=

=Adjacent counties and'' municipios''=

=National protected areas=

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1890= 2874

|1900= 5263

|1910= 8613

|1920= 12706

|1930= 14924

|1940= 15453

|1950= 16635

|1960= 24461

|1970= 27471

|1980= 35910

|1990= 38721

|2000= 44856

|2010= 48879

|2020= 47586

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref=

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=}}
1850–2010{{cite web|url=http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010|publisher=Texas Almanac|access-date=May 12, 2015}} 2010 2020

}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Val Verde 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 2000{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Val Verde County, Texas |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=0500000US48465&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}

!Pop 2010{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Val Verde County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48465&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau}}

!{{partial|Pop 2020}}{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Val Verde County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48465&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau}}

!% 2000

!% 2010

!{{partial|% 2020}}

White alone (NH)

|9,734

|8,548

|style='background: #ffffe6; |7,836

|21.70%

|17.49%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |16.47%

Black or African American alone (NH)

|609

|563

|style='background: #ffffe6; |538

|1.36%

|1.15%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.13%

Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

|129

|86

|style='background: #ffffe6; |57

|0.29%

|0.18%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.12%

Asian alone (NH)

|235

|207

|style='background: #ffffe6; |351

|0.52%

|0.42%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.74%

Pacific Islander alone (NH)

|12

|37

|style='background: #ffffe6; |35

|0.03%

|0.08%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.07%

Other race alone (NH)

|29

|style='background: #ffffe6; |85

|0.06%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.18%

Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)

|259

|210

|style='background: #ffffe6; |477

|0.58%

|0.43%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.00%

Hispanic or Latino (any race)

|33,849

|39,199

|style='background: #ffffe6; |38,207

|75.46%

|80.20%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |80.29%

Total

|44,856

|48,879

|style='background: #ffffe6; |47,586

|100.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, 44,856 people, 14,151 households, and 11,320 families resided in the county. The population density was {{convert|14|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. The 16,288 housing units averaged {{convert|5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 76.36% White, 4.54% African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 18.22% from other races, and 2.60% from two or more races. About 75.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 14,151 households, 42.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.50% were married couples living together, 13.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.00% were not families. About 17.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.11 and the average family size was 3.55.

In the county, the population was distributed as 32.10% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 19.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,376, and for a family was $31,434. Males had a median income of $26,485 versus $18,039 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,096. About 22.10% of families and 26.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.80% of those under age 18 and 26.40% of them age 65 or over.

Education

File:Val Verde County LIbrary, Del Rio, TX DSCN1416.JPG

School districts include:{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48465_val_verde/DC20SD_C48465.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48465_val_verde/DC20SD_C48465.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Val Verde County, TX|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=June 29, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48465_val_verde/DC20SD_C48465_SD2MS.txt Text list]

Sometime prior to 1976 the Comstock district absorbed the Langtry and Pandale common school districts.{{cite news|last=Bryant|first=Don|title=County School Superintendent's Job Diminishing|newspaper=Del Rio News Herald|place=Del Rio, Texas|date=November 24, 1976|page=4}} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104909662/ Clipping] from Newspapers.com. The former Juno Common School District consolidated into Comstock ISD in 1992.{{cite news|title=One-room school becomes history for Juno|newspaper=San Angelo Standard-Times|place=San Angelo, Texas|date=May 12, 1992|page=8A}} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104908421/ Clipping] from Newspapers.com. There was formerly a Star Route School on Miers Ranch. In 1964 the school had 13 students.{{cite news|title=Four County Schools Are Holding Classes|newspaper=Del Rio News Herald|place=Del Rio, Texas|date=September 8, 1964|page=3A}} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104912775/ Clipping] from Newspapers.com.

Southwest Texas Junior College is the designated community college for the county.[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code: Sec. 130.200. SOUTHWEST TEXAS JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.]

The Val Verde County Library in Del Rio serves the county.[http://vvcl.lib.tx.us/ Home page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611064212/http://vvcl.lib.tx.us/ |date=June 11, 2008 }}. Val Verde County Library. Retrieved on March 26, 2010.

Government

Val Verde County government is led by a four-member board of county commissioners, each commissioner representing one of four districts. The county commission appoints a county administrator as chief administrative officer of the county. The chief law-enforcement authority of Val Verde is the Val Verde County Sheriff's Office. [http://www.valverdecounty.texas.gov/184/Sheriffs-Office Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office]. The fire-protection arm of the Val Verde is the Val Verde County Fire Rescue. [http://www.valverdecounty.texas.gov/168/Fire-Rescue-Department Val Verde County Fire Rescue].

=County commissioners=

One county commissioner is elected from each district to serve a 4-year term. Commissioners are chosen in partisan elections by voters from the districts in which they live. The board appoints a county judge to be chief administrative officer of the county, responsible to the commission for the orderly operations of matters within the board's jurisdiction. The current office holders are:

Val Verde County Judge: Honorable Judge Lewis Owens{{Cite web|url=https://valverdecounty.texas.gov/176/Judges-Office|title=Judge's Office {{!}} Val Verde County, TX|website=valverdecounty.texas.gov|language=en|access-date=August 1, 2018}}
Val Verde County Precinct 1: Martin Wardlaw
Val Verde County Precinct 2: Juan Vazquez
Val Verde County Precinct 3: Robert Beau Nettleton
Val Verde County Precinct 4: Gustavo Flores
Val Verde County Secretary: Elizabeth Ferrino

=Politics=

Val Verde County has been a longtime swing county, having voted for both Republicans and Democrats throughout its history.

{{PresHead|place=Val Verde County, Texas|source={{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 9, 2018}}}}

{{U.S. SenHead|place=Val Verde 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}}}}

Communities

=City=

Del Rio (county seat)

=Census-designated places=

=Former census-designated places=

Box Canyon-Amistad

=Unincorporated communities=

=Ghost town=

Pumpville[https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/pumpville-tx Pumpville] (Texas State Historical Association)

Notable people

Judge Roy Bean

References

External links

{{Handbook of Texas|id=hcv01|name=Val Verde County}}
[http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/hinds/index.html Texas Beyond History, Hinds Cave]
[http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/pecos/index.html Texas Beyond History, Lower Pecos Canyonlands]
[http://www.txcip.org/tac/census/profile.php?FIPS=48465 "Val Verde County Profile" by the Texas Association of Counties]

{{Geographic location

|Centre = Val Verde County, Texas

|North = Crockett County

|Northeast = Sutton County

|East = Edwards and Kinney Counties

|Southeast = Kinney County

|South = Jiménez and Acuña Municipalities, Coahuila {{flagicon|Mexico}}

|Southwest =

|West = Terrell County

|Northwest =

}}

{{coord|29.89|-101.15|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}