Editing Barstow, Texas (section)

==History==
Barstow was organized in 1892 by [[George E. Barstow]], who was one of the world's leading experts on irrigation.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/WestTexasTowns/BarstowTexas/BarstowTexas.htm|title=Barstow, Texas, Historic Barstow.|website=www.texasescapes.com|access-date=2016-05-29}}</ref> The same year, Barstow was elected First [[Ward County, Texas|Ward County]] Seat. A courthouse was built the following year, and by 1900 the city's population was over 1,000 due to the recruiting efforts of Mr. Barstow.<ref name=":0" /> Irrigation was successful enough that in the [[Louisiana Purchase Exposition|1904 World's Fair]], Barstow managed to win a Silver Medal for its grapes.<ref name=":0" /> That same year, fruit and vegetable farming was hit hard when the [[Pecos River]] Dam broke. After that droughts followed and by 1918 farming was impossible.<ref name=":0" /> The population in 1930 was 468—less than half of the 1910s figure of 1,219.<ref name=":0" />