Editing Reagan County, Texas (section)

==History==
The region was first inhabited by [[Paleo-Indian]], [[Suma-Jumano]], [[Kiowa]] and [[Comanche]] peoples.<ref name="Reagan County">{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Julia Cauble|title=Reagan County|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcr03|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref> Captains Hernán Martín and Diego del Castillo explored the region in 1650.<ref>{{cite web|title=Martin-Castillo Expedition|url=http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5383003232|work=Texas Historical Markers|publisher=William Nienke, Sam Morrow|access-date=November 29, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301061919/http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5383003232|archive-date=March 1, 2012}}</ref> In 1684, [[Juan Domínguez de Mendoza]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Weddle|first=Robert S|title=Juan Domínguez de Mendoza|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fdo52|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref> and 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 Association|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref> reported on local indigenous groups.<ref>{{cite web|title=American Journeys|url=http://www.americanjourneys.org/aj-017/summary/index.asp|publisher=Wisconsin Historical Society|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref>

[[Butterfield Overland Mail]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Richardson|first=Rupert N|title=The Butterfield Overland Mail|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/egb01|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref> which operated from 1858 to 1861, crossed through the center of the county. In 1878, Camp Grierson's Spring was established as a subpost of [[Fort Concho]] and named in honor of Col. Benjamin H. Grierson.<ref>{{cite book|last=Wilkerson|first=Lyn|title=American Trails Revisited: Following in the Footsteps of the Western Pioneers|year=2003|publisher=iUniverse, Inc|isbn=978-0-595-28262-3|page=277}}</ref>

In 1903, Reagan County was carved from [[Tom Green County, Texas|Tom Green County]] and named for [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] [[John Henninger Reagan]]. [[Stiles, Texas|Stiles]], named after local rancher William G. Stiles, became the first county seat.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stiles, Texas|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Texas_ghost_towns/Stiles_Texas/Stiles_texas.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=exas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref> The [[Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway|Kansas City, Mexico and Orient of Texas Railway]] was completed in 1911.<ref>{{cite web|last=Werner|first=George C|title=Kansas City, Mexico and Orient of Texas Railway|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/eqk05|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref>

In 1923, oil was discovered at the Big Lake Oilfield in the [[Permian Basin (North America)|Permian Basin]]. Big Lake Oilfield, located on [[University of Texas System]] land, opened the Permian Basin to oil production and endowed the [[Permanent University Fund]]. The rig was named Santa Rita #1 for [[Rita of Cascia|The Patron Saint of the Impossible]].<ref name="Oil in Texas: The Gusher Age, 1895-1945">{{cite book|last=Olien|first=Roger M and Diana|title=Oil in Texas: The Gusher Age, 1895–1945 |year=2002|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=978-0-292-76056-1|pages=138–167|chapter=Oil in Cow Country}}</ref> [[Big Lake, Texas|Big Lake]] was incorporated as a city.<ref>{{cite web|title=Big Lake, Texas|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Big_Lake_Texas/Big_Lake_Texas.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Big Lake, Texas">{{cite web|url=http://www.biglaketx.com/Big%20Lake%20Texas%20History.html|title=Big Lake, Texas History|publisher=biglaketx.com|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707234117/http://www.biglaketx.com/Big%20Lake%20Texas%20History.html|archive-date=July 7, 2011}}</ref> In 1924, shortly after the oil boom, the town community of [[Best, Texas|Best]] plunged into vice and violence, necessitating the intervention of the [[Texas Rangers Division|Texas Rangers]]. The Rangers destroyed buildings that were being used as brothels, gambling houses, and saloons.<ref>{{cite web|title=Best, Texas|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasGhostTowns/Best-Texas.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref> In 1925, the county seat was moved to Big Lake by a vote.<ref name="Big Lake, Texas" /> The following year, the Big Lake Oil Company established [[Texon, Texas|Texon]] for its employees and their families, with a devotion to family life.<ref>{{cite web|title=Texon, Texas|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Texas_ghost_towns/Texon_Texas/Texon_Texas.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref>

In 1951, there was a renewed oil boom from production in the [[Spraberry Trend]].<ref name="Oil in Texas: The Gusher Age, 1895-1945" />