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Andrews
Methodist Church
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2006
More Texas Churches |
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History in
a Pecan Shell:
Both county and city are named for the same man. Richard Andrews
was the first man to die for Texas Independence in 1835. Wounded
in Gonzales on
October 2, 1835, he died 26 days later at the battle of Concepción.
Andrews County was organized in 1876 and named after him and the
town of Andrews is the only incorporated municipality in the county.
According to the Handbook of Texas, 1908 is the year things
got started around a nucleus of just a school and a general store.
The entire population was less than 100 at that time and few of
them lived in the city proper.
The post office was granted in 1909. Shafter
Lake was Andrews rival to become county seat, but Andrews won
and Shafter Lake is now a ghost
town. Andrews first courthouse was built in 1911, and replaced with
the 1939 building.
See Andrews County Courthouse
See Andrews County Jail
Things stayed quiet until oil was discovered in 1929. That year
saw oil discoveries all over West
Texas, but the strikes were modest compared to other counties.
In 1940 the population had risen to over 600 - but many were oilmen
and their dependents.
Andrews got a library in 1947 - although it was only space in the
courthouse.
Six county school districts were established in the 1930s, but they
were soon consolidated into one. Oil revenue purchased a new high
school after WWII and a middle school was built in 1954.
The population dipped to 3,300 in 1950 and then rose to just over
11,000 in 1960.
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Photo
courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2006 |
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Andrews
Primary School
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2006 |
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Photo
courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2006 |
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Former
Andrews County jail
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, August 2002 |
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Another
view of the former Andrews County jail
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, August 2002
More Texas Jails
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Andrews
State Bank
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2006 |
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Photo
courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2006
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Andrews
County Courthouse >
Andrews Chamber
of Commerce
- (432) 523-2695
700 West Broadway, TX79714
http://www.andrewstx.com/ |
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"Welcome
to Andrews"
Photo courtesy Debbie Gomez |
Andrews,
Texas Forum
Subject: Andrews
Texas
I visited your site today and noticed Andrews was not a part of the
search as yet. I have attached our summary for your convenience. ...
I really enjoyed what information you have posted so far. Thank you
in advance for adding us to your database!
Andrews County has been in existence since 1876, when the 15th Legislature
of Texas created 54 counties in the Panhandle and South Plains out
of Bexar County. The political control of the county has passed through
several other counties and districts since its inception. On July
22, 1910, the county records were finally transferred from Midland
County to Andrews County, and the Commissioners Court held its first
meeting.
Andrews County's first oil well blew in December of 1929. By 1956,
the County produced more than 60 million barrels of oil annually -
giving us recognition as the number one oil producing county in the
state of Texas and in the United States.
The City of Andrews was incorporated on February 2, 1937. On June
9, 1959, the citizens of Andrews adopted a charter with the Council
- Manager form of city government. The City Council meets twice a
month on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month. The city continues
to operate under this structure serving a current population of 9,652.
In 1961, the Municipal Administration building was constructed at
the corner of N. E. 1st and Logsdon Avenue. The Facility currently
houses most of the city offices including the Municipal Court and
the Police Station. Plans are under way for a new site for the police
station. - Debbie Gomez, June 06, 2002
More photos by Barclay
Gibson |
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