Val Verde County, Texas

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File:Val Verde County Judicial Center, Del Rio, TX DSCN0905.JPG

Val Verde County Judicial Center at 100 E. Broadway St. in Del Rio

File:Del Rio Bank and Trust Co., Del Rio, TX DSCN0910.JPG

Del Rio Bank and Trust Company was organized in 1910. The bank is hence a year older than the Del Rio city government and has served Val Verde County for more than a century. The photo is the facility at 1200 Veterans Blvd.; another location is 22411 N Bedell Ave.

Val Verde County is a county located on the southern Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. The 2020 population is 47,586.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Del Rio.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The Del Rio micropolitan statistical area includes all of Val Verde County.

Val Verde, which means "green valley",<ref>In Old Spanish or Modern Galician; Spanish nowadays would say Valle Verde, and Modern Portuguese Vale Verde. Although verde is the same in masculine or feminine, val((l)e) used to be feminine, masculine nowadays.</ref> was named for a battle of the Civil War. In 1862, soldiers of Sibley's Brigade took part in the Texas invasion of New Mexico Territory, where they captured several artillery pieces at the Battle of Val Verde. The battle is memorialized both in the name of the county and a small settlement in Milam County.

History

Early history

The first inhabitants of what is now known as Val Verde County lived there some 6,000–10,000 years ago. Their descendants include such Native American peoples as the Lipan Apache, Coahuiltecan, Jumano, Tamaulipan and Comanche.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Val Verde County">Template:Cite web</ref>

Colonial rule

In 1590, Spanish explorer Gaspar Castaño de Sosa led a mining expedition of 170 who passed through Devils Draw. He referred to a stream by the name of Laxas, which is believed to be Devils River.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1673, Juan Larios opened a mission school at a location between Del Rio and Eagle Pass.<ref name="Val Verde County"/><ref name="The Native Americans of the Texas Edwards Plateau, 1582-1799">Template:Cite book</ref>

In 1675, traveling Franciscan priests celebrated Mass at San Felipe Springs.<ref name="Val Verde County"/><ref name="The Native Americans of the Texas Edwards Plateau, 1582-1799"/>

In 1736, Lt. Miguel de la Garza Falcón<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> led 100 soldiers along the Devils River<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> in pursuit of Apache natives.

During 1834, James Grant<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and John Charles Beales<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> established a settlement on San Felipe Creek,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which became hazardous due to Indian attacks.

Aftermath of Mexican–American War

During the 1850s, military bases established to protect against Indian attacks included Camp Blake,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Camp Hudson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Camp San Felipe.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

As of 1860, the county had a population of 2,874, including 108 blacks and 1,103 foreign-born.<ref name="Val Verde County"/>

Post–Civil War

During 1868, the San Felipe Del Rio community is established on San Felipe Creek, next to Camp San Felipe.<ref name="Val Verde County"/>

From 1869 through 1882, Seminole Negro Indian Scouts (mixed heritage Seminoles with African blood) under John Lapham Bullis, namesake of Camp Bullis, defend the Texas border against Indian attacks.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1883, the Galveston Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway was completed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Italian immigrant Frank Qualia established Val Verde winery.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1884, the Langtry community was established, named after George Langtry (an engineer and foreman). It has mistakenly been attributed to being named after British entertainer Lillie Langtry by Judge Roy Bean.<ref name="Val Verde County"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1885, Val Verde County was organized from Crockett, Kinney, and Pecos counties. Roy Bean was elected justice of the peace in Langtry, operating out of the Jersey Lily Saloon and becoming renowned as "the Law West of the Pecos".<ref name="Val Verde County"/>

In 1886, the Juno and Devils River communities were established.<ref name="Val Verde County"/>

In 1888, the Comstock community was established.<ref name="Val Verde County"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1889, the community of Norris was established.<ref name="Val Verde County"/>

Twentieth century

1928 Lake Hamilton Dam complete.<ref name="Val Verde County"/>
1904 Lillie Langtry visits the community of Langtry.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
1929 Lake Walk Dam complete.<ref name="Val Verde County"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1936 Val Verde County received Recorded Texas Historic Landmark number 5625 to commemorate its founding.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1942 Laughlin Field/Laughin Army Air Field opens to train World War II pilots.<ref name="Val Verde County"/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
1945 Laughlin Field closes.<ref name="Val Verde County"/>
1952 Laughlin Field reopens as Laughlin Air Force Base, and serves as a secret U2 unit. Major Rudolf Anderson, a U-2 pilot based out of Laughlin, was the only casualty of the Cuban Missile Crisis.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1969 Amistad Dam and Reservoir complete. The project cost $78 million.<ref name="Val Verde County"/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert are land and Template:Convert (2.7%) are covered by water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Major highways

Adjacent counties and municipios

National protected areas

Demographics

Template:US Census population

**Val Verde County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition**
Template:Nobold
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 2000	% 2010	Template:Partial
White alone (NH)	9,734	8,548	7,836	21.70%	17.49%	16.47%
Black or African American alone (NH)	609	563	538	1.36%	1.15%	1.13%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	129	86	57	0.29%	0.18%	0.12%
Asian alone (NH)	235	207	351	0.52%	0.42%	0.74%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	12	37	35	0.03%	0.08%	0.07%
Other race alone (NH)	29	29	85	0.06%	0.06%	0.18%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	259	210	477	0.58%	0.43%	1.00%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	33,849	39,199	38,207	75.46%	80.20%	80.29%
Total	44,856	48,879	47,586	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the census<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, 44,856 people, 14,151 households, and 11,320 families resided in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. The 16,288 housing units averaged Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 76.36% White, 4.54% African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 18.22% from other races, and 2.60% from two or more races. About 75.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 14,151 households, 42.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.50% were married couples living together, 13.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.00% were not families. About 17.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.11 and the average family size was 3.55.

In the county, the population was distributed as 32.10% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 19.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,376, and for a family was $31,434. Males had a median income of $26,485 versus $18,039 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,096. About 22.10% of families and 26.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.80% of those under age 18 and 26.40% of them age 65 or over.

Education

File:Val Verde County LIbrary, Del Rio, TX DSCN1416.JPG

The Val Verde County Library is located at 300 Spring St. in Del Rio.

School districts include:<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref>

Sometime prior to 1976 the Comstock district absorbed the Langtry and Pandale common school districts.<ref>Template:Cite news - Clipping from Newspapers.com.</ref> The former Juno Common School District consolidated into Comstock ISD in 1992.<ref>Template:Cite news - Clipping from Newspapers.com.</ref> There was formerly a Star Route School on Miers Ranch. In 1964 the school had 13 students.<ref>Template:Cite news - Clipping from Newspapers.com.</ref>

Southwest Texas Junior College is the designated community college for the county.<ref>Texas Education Code: Sec. 130.200. SOUTHWEST TEXAS JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.</ref>

The Val Verde County Library in Del Rio serves the county.<ref>Home page Template:Webarchive. Val Verde County Library. Retrieved on March 26, 2010.</ref>

Government

Val Verde County government is led by a four-member board of county commissioners, each commissioner representing one of four districts. The county commission appoints a county administrator as chief administrative officer of the county. The chief law-enforcement authority of Val Verde is the Val Verde County Sheriff's Office. Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office. The fire-protection arm of the Val Verde is the Val Verde County Fire Rescue. Val Verde County Fire Rescue.

County commissioners

One county commissioner is elected from each district to serve a 4-year term. Commissioners are chosen in partisan elections by voters from the districts in which they live. The board appoints a county judge to be chief administrative officer of the county, responsible to the commission for the orderly operations of matters within the board's jurisdiction. The current office holders are:

Val Verde County Judge: Honorable Judge Lewis Owens<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Val Verde County Precinct 1: Martin Wardlaw
Val Verde County Precinct 2: Juan Vazquez
Val Verde County Precinct 3: Robert Beau Nettleton
Val Verde County Precinct 4: Gustavo Flores
Val Verde County Secretary: Elizabeth Ferrino

Politics

Val Verde County has been a longtime swing county, having voted for both Republicans and Democrats throughout its history.

Communities

City

Del Rio (county seat)

Census-designated places

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Former census-designated places

Box Canyon-Amistad

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Pumpville<ref>Pumpville (Texas State Historical Association)</ref>

Notable people

Judge Roy Bean

References

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External links

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