Editing Terrell County, Texas (section)

===County established and growth===
In 1905, Terrell County was created by the Texas Legislature by carving about {{convert|1500000|acre|km2}} out of [[Pecos County, Texas|Pecos County]]. It was organized the same year. [[Sanderson, Texas|Sanderson]] became the county seat. In 1881, Texas and New Orleans Railroad surveyors reached the site of present-day Sanderson. Originally named Strawbridge by founder Cyrus W. “Charley” Wilson, the name was later changed in honor of railroad Engineer Joseph P. Sanderson.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sanderson, Texas|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Sanderson/Sanderson.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=December 14, 2010}}</ref> Charles Downie, a [[Scottish people|Scot]], homesteaded in 1881 and became the first permanent sheepman in the area. Together, the railroad, cattle, and sheep industries were the major economic assets. Ranges were still unfenced. Dryden became a large shipping point for cattle ranchers. Terrell County became one of the biggest sheep and wool producers in the U.S. In 1926, 11,000 lambs averaging $6 per head were sold in one of the largest lamb sales in history. Thousands of pounds of wool and mohair were sold annually through the Sanderson Wool Commission.<ref name="Terrell County Texas"/>  Dryden, the only town besides Sanderson in the county, was also started in 1882, but is now a ghost town.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dryden, Texas|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/WestTexasTowns/DrydenTexas.htm|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=December 14, 2010}}</ref> Judge [[Roy Bean]] is said to have operated a saloon at Sanderson.<ref>{{cite book|last=Skiles|first=Jack|title=Judge Roy Bean Country |year=1996|publisher=Texas Tech University Press|isbn=978-0-89672-369-6|author2=Kelton, Elmer |page=14}}</ref> The oil and gas industry became increasingly important to Terrell County's economy after 1957, when the Brown-Bassett gas field was discovered in the northeast part of the county. Only gas was produced until the 1970s, when high petroleum prices encouraged limited oil production, as well.<ref>{{cite book|last=Chandler|first=Charlena|title=On Independence Creek: The Story of a Texas Ranch|year=2004|publisher=Texas Tech University Press|isbn=978-0-89672-524-9|page=70}}</ref>
Sanderson was struck by a flood on June 11, 1965, in which 28 people died. Two of them were never found.<ref>{{cite book|last=Burnett|first=Jonathan|title=Flash Floods in Texas|year=2008|publisher=TAMU Press|isbn=978-1-58544-590-5|pages=173–185|chapter=Sanderson Flash Floor}}</ref> The Texas State Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 1, 76th Legislature, Regular Session (1999) declared Sanderson and Terrell County the "Cactus Capital of Texas."<ref>{{cite web|title=Official Capital Designations|url=http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ref/abouttx/capitals.html|publisher=Texas State Library|access-date=December 14, 2010}}</ref>