Monahans, Texas, Ward County Seat. (original) (raw)

"The Oasis of the West Texas Desert"

Ward County Seat, West Texas

31� 35' 16" N, 102� 53' 26" W (31.587778, -102.890556)
I-20 and Hwy 18
36 miles W of Odessa
26 miles E of Pecos
51 miles N of Fort Stockton
About 106 Miles S of Lovington, New Mexico
Population: 7,638 est. (2016)
6,953 (2010) 6,821 (2000) 8,101 (1990)

Book Hotel Here › Monahans Hotels

	Welcome to Monahans TE photo

History in a Pecan Shell

In gratitude for digging the first water well in the vicinity (1881), the community was named for Thomas John (Pat) Monahan but was first known as Monahan�s Well. Things got started with the arrival of the Texas and Pacific Railroad in August of the same year and two years later a post office was granted.

Although it had a railroad connection, few people stopped. It wasn�t until 1900 when the first hotel opened � two years after the first school.

By 1905 the community finally could report eighty-nine residents and five years later it had increased to nearly 400. But after that growth slowed until the West Texas Oil Boom of the mid 1920s.

Monahans incorporated in 1928 and the demand of supplies for the oil industry added another rail connection in 1929. The Texas-Mexico Railroad ran a line from Lovington, New Mexico � a distance of about 100 miles, passing through Hobbs, New Mexico and Kermit, Texas.

The 1930 population was just over 800 and unlike most of the country, Monahans experienced a boom through the Great Depression.

By 1938 Monahans replaced Barstow as the county seat and two years later the town could boast of having nearly 4,000 residents. By 1950 it had increased to 6,300 and peaked in 1960 with 8,567. (See Monahans in the 1950s) It floated just below that figure for decades, but the 2000 census reported a drop to 6,821.

Monahans, Texas Landmarks & Attractions

Monahans Sandhills State Park
One of the most interesting arboreal oddities in the United States.
5 miles East of Monahans

The Largest Oak Forest in North America
In Quercus Veritas by Mike Cox
"Most visitors come to the state park at Monahans to play on the acres of Sahara-like sand dunes rising as high as 70 feet, not to see the Havard oaks. However, for those who are interested, the �forest� is readily accessible from the paved roadway that winds through the park... more."

	"This is my brother (seated) and me. Murray's Hardware can be seen across the street. Its probably Main Street in Monahans. The date on the pic is 1954. Obviously a hot west Texas afternoon." - Rex Parsons

Monahans Tourist Information
Monahans Chamber of Commerce: 432-943-2187
Website: www.monahans.orgBook Hotel Here › Monahans Hotels

1920s Ward County Map showing Monahans
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

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