Editing Presidio County, Texas (section)

==History==

===Native Americans===
[[Paleo-Indians]] ([[hunter-gatherers]]) existed thousands of years ago on the [[Trans-Pecos]], and often did not adapt to culture clashes, European diseases, and colonization. The Masames tribe was exterminated by the Tobosos, ''circa'' 1652.<ref>{{cite web|title=Native Peoples of the Trans-Pecos Mountains and Basins During Early Historic Times |url=http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/trans-p/peoples/index.html|work=Texas Beyond History|publisher=UT-Austin|access-date=December 12, 2010}}</ref>  The [[Nonojes]] suffered from clashes with the Spanish and merged with the Tobosos. The Spanish made slave raids to the La Junta de los Ríos, committing cruelties against the native population.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jumano-Spanish Relations|url=http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/trans-p/peoples/jumano.html|work=Texas Beyond History|publisher=UT-Austin|access-date=December 12, 2010}}</ref>  The [[Suma-Jumano]] tribe sought to align themselves with the Spanish for survival. The tribe later merged with the [[Apache]] people. Foraging peoples who did not survive the 18th century include the Chisos, Mansos, Jumanos, Conchos, [[Julimes people|Julimes]], Cibolos, Tobosos, Sumas, [[Cholomes]], Caguates, Nonojes, Cocoyames, and Acoclames.<ref>{{cite web|title=Foraging Peoples: Chisos and Mansos |url=http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/trans-p/peoples/foragers.html|work=Texas Beyond History|publisher=UT-Austin|access-date=December 12, 2010}}</ref>

===Early explorations and settlements===
The ''entrada'' of [[Juan Domínguez de Mendoza]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Itinerary of Juan Domínguez de Mendoza, 1684|url=http://www.americanjourneys.org/aj-017/summary/index.asp|publisher=Wisconsin Historical Society|access-date=December 12, 2010}}</ref>  and Father Nicolás López<ref>{{cite web|title=Nicolás López |url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/flo20|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Society|access-date=December 12, 2010|date=June 15, 2010}}</ref> in 1683–84 set out from El Paso to La Junta, where they established seven missions at seven pueblos. In 1683, Father López celebrated the first Christmas Mass in Texas at La Junta.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Presidio – Presidio, Texas |url=https://presidiotx.us/?page_id=25 |access-date=January 26, 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

In 1832, José Ygnacio Ronquillo was issued a conditional land grant, and established the county's first white settlement on Cibolo Creek. Military obligations forced him to abandon the settlement, and he then sold the land.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Ronquillo Land Grant|last=Smith|first=Julie Cauble|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/mnr01|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Society|access-date=December 12, 2010|date=June 15, 2010}}</ref>

The [[Chihuahua Trail]] connecting Mexico's state of [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]] with [[Santa Fe, New Mexico]], opened in 1839.<ref>{{cite book|last=Perry|first=Ann|title=A Guide to Hispanic Texas|year=1996|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=978-0-292-77709-5|author2=Smith, Deborah |author3=Simons, Helen |author4= Hoyt, Catherine A |page=6}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Sharp|first=Jay W|title=Desert Trails: The Chihuahua Trail|url=http://www.desertusa.com/mag03/trails/trails05.html|publisher=Desert USA|access-date=December 12, 2010}}</ref>

By 1848, Ben Leaton built [[Fort Leaton State Historic Site|Fort Leaton]], sometimes called the largest adobe structure in Texas, on the river as his home, trading post, and private bastion. Leaton died in debt in 1851, with the fort passing to the holder of the mortgage, John Burgess. In 1934, T. C. Mitchell and the Marfa State Bank acquired the old structure and donated it to the county as a historic site. The park was opened to the public in 1978.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fort Leaton|last=Smith|first=Julie Cauble|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/uef10|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Society|access-date=December 12, 2010|date=June 12, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Fort Leaton State Historic Site|last=Smith|first=Julie Cauble|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ghf03|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Society|access-date=December 12, 2010|date=June 12, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Fort Leaton State Historic Site|url=http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/fort_leaton/|publisher=Texas Parks and Wildlife Department|access-date=December 12, 2010}}</ref>

Milton Faver became the county's first cattle baron.<ref>{{cite web|title=Milton Faver|last=Smith|first=Julie Cauble|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ffa16|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Society|access-date=December 12, 2010|date=June 12, 2010}}</ref> In 1857, he moved his family to [[Chinati Mountains]] in the county. Milton Faver bought small tracts of land around three springs-Cibolo, Cienega, and La Morita and established cattle ranches. He built Fort Cienega and Fort Cibolo.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fortin de la Cienega|url=http://www.forttours.com/pages/fortindelacienega.asp|publisher=Fort Tour Systems, Inc.|access-date=December 12, 2010}}</ref>

===County established and growth===
Presidio County was established from [[Bexar County, Texas|Bexar County]] on January 3, 1850. Fort Leaton became the county seat. The county was organized in 1875 as the largest county in the United States, with {{convert|12000|sqmi|km2|sigfig=2}}. Fort Davis was named the county seat. The boundaries and seat of Presidio County were changed in the 1880s. Marfa was established in 1883, and the county seat was moved there from Fort Davis in 1885.<ref>{{cite web|title=Presidio County|last=Smith|first=Julie Cauble|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcp08|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Society|access-date=December 12, 2010|date=June 15, 2010}}</ref>

In 1854, the army built [[Fort Davis, Texas|Fort Davis]] in northern Presidio County.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fort Davis National Historic Site|url=http://www.nps.gov/foda/index.htm|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=December 12, 2010}}</ref>
Fort Davis closed during the Civil War and reopened in 1867. The black population increased to 489 when [[Buffalo Soldier]]s were stationed at Fort Davis.<ref>{{cite book|last=Curtis|first=Nancy C|title=Black Heritage Sites: The South (v. 2)|year=1998|publisher=New Press|isbn=978-1-56584-433-9|pages=[https://archive.org/details/blackheritagesit0000curt/page/276 276–277]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/blackheritagesit0000curt/page/276}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Fort Davis Buffalo Soldiers|url=http://www.nps.gov/archive/foda/Fort_Davis_WEB_PAGE/About_the_Fort/Buffalo_Soldiers_at_Fort_Davis.htm|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=December 12, 2010}}</ref>

John W. Spencer, a local rancher and trader, found a silver deposit in the Chinati Mountains in 1880 that resulted in the opening of Presidio Mine and the beginning of the company town of [[Shafter, Texas|Shafter]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Baker|first=T. Lindsay|title=Ghost Towns of Texas|year=1991|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press|isbn=978-0-8061-2189-5|pages=134–136}}</ref>  From 1883 until 1942, the mine produced over 32.6 million ounces of silver.<ref>{{cite web|title=Shafter|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasGhostTowns/ShafterTexas/ShafterTexas.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=December 12, 2010}}</ref>

The railroad reached Presidio County in 1882, when the [[Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway]] laid tracks through its northeastern corner.<ref name="Presidio County, Texas">{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Julie Cauble|title=Presidio County, Texas|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcp08|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=December 12, 2010|date=June 15, 2010}}</ref>

[[File:PresidioAndNewCounties1888.jpg|thumb|Map of Presidio County, Texas, and the counties of Brewster, Buchel, Foley, and Jeff Davis created from Presidio in 1887: Buchel and Foley were abolished and joined to Brewster in 1897.]]
W. F. Mitchell built the first barbed wire fence in the county at Antelope Springs in 1888. The widespread use of barbed wire resulted in the refinement of cattle breeds, improvement of ranges, and innovative use of water supplies.<ref name="Presidio County, Texas"/>

Windmills, water wells, and earthen tanks were introduced on Presidio County ranches in the late 1880s.<ref>{{cite web|last=Coppedge |first=Clay |title=Windmills |url=http://www.texasescapes.com/ClayCoppedge/Windmills.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=December 12, 2010}}</ref>

[[Elephant Butte Dam]] was built in 1910 on the Rio Grande, creating a large, reliable irrigation source for the county.<ref>{{cite book|last=Collier|first=Michael|title=Dams & Rivers: Primer on the Downstream Effects of Dams|year=1996|publisher=Diane Pub Co|isbn=978-0-7881-2698-7|pages=28–37|author2=Webb, Robert H |author3=Schmidt, John C }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Elephant Butte Dam|url=http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Facility.jsp?fac_Name=Elephant%20Butte%20Dam|publisher=U.S. Dept of the Interior|access-date=December 12, 2010}}</ref>

The growth of Presidio County's population in the 1910s reflected the impact of the Mexican Revolution on border life. Refugees migrated to the county from Chihuahua as the fighting moved into northern Mexico. The United States Army established several posts in the county. Marfa became the headquarters for the Big Bend Military District, and in 1917, the Army established Camp Marfa, later called [[Fort D.A. Russell (Texas)|Fort D. A. Russell]], at Marfa to protect the border.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chinati Mission and History|url=http://www.chinati.org/visit/forthistory.php|publisher=Chinati Fouindation|access-date=December 12, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716080917/http://www.chinati.org/visit/forthistory.php|archive-date=July 16, 2011}}</ref> As Presidio County entered the 1930s the people faced a drought and a population decline. Low silver prices closed Presidio Mine at Shafter. Economic recovery began by 1936. During [[World War II]], Presidio County enjoyed economic prosperity as the home for two military installations-Fort Russell and Marfa Army Airfield.<ref>{{cite book|last=Utley|first=Dan K|title=History Ahead: Stories beyond the Texas Roadside Markers |year=2010|publisher=TAMU Press|isbn=978-1-60344-151-3|pages=153–162|author2=Beeman, Cynthia J|chapter=Ghosts at Mitchell Flats}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Marfa AAF|work=[[Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields]]|url=https://www.airfieldsfreeman.com/TX/Airfields_TX_BigBend.htm#marfaaux1|publisher=Paul Freeman|access-date=December 12, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622094746/http://www.airfields-freeman.com/TX/Airfields_TX_BigBend.html#marfaaux1|archive-date=June 22, 2011}}</ref>

In late January 1918, during a period of tension between the US and Mexico, [[Texas Ranger Division|Texas Rangers]] and citizens of the village of Porvenir [[Porvenir massacre (1918)|murdered 15 local Hispanic residents]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Carrigan|first1=William D|last2=Webb|first2=Clive|title=When Americans Lynched Mexicans|work=The New York Times|date=February 20, 2015}}</ref>

The economy of the county in 1982 was based primarily on agriculture, with 83% of the land in farms and ranches.<ref name="Presidio County, Texas"/>

===Marfa Lights===
{{Main|Marfa Lights}}
Wagon trains on the Chihuahua Trail reported seeing unexplained lights in the mid-19th century.<ref>{{cite web|last=Paul|first=Lee|title=Marfa's Legendary Lights|url=http://www.theoutlaws.com/unexplained1.htm|publisher=The Old West|access-date=December 12, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Mystery of the Marfa Lights|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Marfa_Texas/MarfaLightsMarfaTexasMysteryLightsFestival.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=December 12, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Marfa Lights|last=Smith|first=Julie Cauble|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/lxm01|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Society|access-date=December 12, 2010|date=June 15, 2010}}</ref> The first recorded incident of the [[Marfa Lights]] was in 1883 when Robert Reed Ellison and cowhands camped at Mitchell Flats.<ref>{{cite book|last=Norman|first=Michael|title=Haunted America |year=2007|publisher=Tor Books|isbn=978-0-7653-1967-8|pages=272|author2=Scott, Bety|chapter=The Marfa Lights}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Marfa Lights|url=http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5377003208|work=Texas Historical Markers|publisher=William Nienke, Sam Morrow|access-date=December 12, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314204718/http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5377003208|archive-date=March 14, 2012}}</ref>
They thought the lights might have been Apaches, but later found no evidence of an Apache encampment. Since that time, the lights continue to appear between Marfa and Paisano Pass. Speculation and fascination spark imaginations about the source. Some say they are caused by car headlights; some say extraterrestrial visitors. One theory is that the lights are similar to a mirage caused by atmospheric conditions. Marfa celebrates with a Mystery Lights Festival every Labor Day.<ref>{{cite web|title=Marfa Lights|url=http://www.marfacc.com/todo/marfalights.php|publisher=Marfa, Texas|access-date=December 12, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204000150/http://marfacc.com/todo/marfalights.php|archive-date=December 4, 2010}}</ref>