Midland Texas, Midland County Seat. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan ShellThere were too many Midways in Texas when the Texas and Pacific reached this spot in June of 1881. The post office made it Midland and that's the way it has remained.

Midland got their post office in 1884 and promoters convinced about 100 Midwest families to move here by 1885.

By 1900 the population was right around 1,000.

Midland suffered 3 fires in a brief period (1905-09).

A second railroad (the Midland and NW Line) ran off the Texas and Pacific and connected Midland with Seminole. (According to some sources the train crews had to open and shut cattle gates along the rails). By 1921 the M & NW railroad had gone out of business.

During WWII, the Army Air Corps opened a bombardier school from 1942-1945. It later evolved into the Midland-Odessa Airport.

Midland, Texas

Landmarks & Attractions

• The Sibley Nature Center:
  1307 E. Wadley (in Hogan Park). 432-684-6827
• Midland County Historical Museum:
  301 W. Missouri. 432-688-8947
• Permian Basin Petroleum Museum & Chaparral Racecar Gallery:
  1500 I-20 West, Exit 136. 432-683-4403
• American Airpower Heritage Museum and Confederate Air Force Headquarters: At the Midland International Airport

Midland's skyline as seen from Wadley Barron Park.
Photo Courtesy James Rowland, 12-20-04

Chinese Pavillion: A gift to Midland from Dong Ying, China, Midland's Sister City
Photo Courtesy James Rowland, 12-20-04

Pinkie's Liquors 1960 Neon Sign
Jimmy Dobson Photo, June 2017

West Wind Motel 1958 Neon Sign
Jimmy Dobson Photo, June 2017

"Bowen's Grocery neon sign from the late 50s, sadly lost in a storm later the same day this photo was taken"
Jimmy Dobson Photo, June 23, 2017

	A mural in Midland Photo Courtesy Tom Hosier See Texas Mural

	The road to Midland Photo Courtesy Tom Hosier, 11-01

Midland, Texas Chronicles

• Roping a Locomotive by Mike Cox
  In the early 1880s the Texas and Pacific Railroad was laying a line across West Texas, headed eventually for El Paso and points west. Meanwhile, the Fort Worth and Denver railroad was putting down track in the direction of the vast Panhandle plains. By June 1881, the Texas and Pacific neared the mid-way point between Dallas and El Paso . When the mostly Irish track layers got roughly 30 miles from Big Spring, the railroad built a section house it called Midway. Within a year, the government established a post office there. However, since the nation had no shortage of post offices named Midway, the name got changed to Midland.
  As the rail line continued its westward progress, Midland became a shipping point for the large cattle ranches that had developed in the area. Cowboys employed by those ranches worked hard, but not all the time. Occasionally, they came to town to recreate. First told in 1965 by the late Tanner Laine, longtime state editor of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, a story about one way the boys came up with to amuse themselves is probably just folklore. Still, it might have happened. ... more
• The Home Run that Never Was by Charles Watson
  Midland has always been a baseball town, as long as I can remember. The current class AA team is called the Midland Rockhounds and is a member of the Texas League...
• Failed Rain Making in 1892 History Cartoon by Roger T. Moore

	A pumpjack in Midland Photo Courtesy Tom Hosier

Midland Tourist Information

• Midland Chamber of Commerce
  109 N. Main, Midland, TX 79701, 1-800-624-6435
  http://www.midlandtxchamber.com/
• The Midland Convention and Visitors Bureau
  109 N. Main. Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. 1.800.624.6435 CVB Website: www.visitmidlandtx.com Book Hotel Here > Midland Hotels

Midland, Texas Forum

• "You don't need to put bars on your windows - I'm from Vermont"
  Hi Folks, Came across your web site and found it very interesting. I'm a native of Hoosick Falls, NY now living in Schenectady, NY. I lived in Midland, Texas for 4 years from 1975 to 1980 and loved every minute of it. If I could I would go back there to live. I think the people of Texas are the nicest people I have ever met. Moved to Midland from New York State and when I first met my neighbor she thought about putting bars on her windows. But she quickly changed her mind. From then on I told people I was from Vermont. As a matter of fact, Barbara Bush, Sr. and I had the same pediatrician, Dr. Dorothy Wyvell. Many friends were made in Texas along with wonderful memories I will cherish forever. Now I'm going to sit here and remember for awhile. - Regards, Eileen Jones, May 29, 2006

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