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KERMIT,
TEXAS
"The only town
in Texas to be
named after one of Theodore Roosevelt's Sons"
Winkler County Seat, West
Texas
Hwys 18, 102 and 302
6 or 7 miles NE of Wink
47 miles from Odessa
22 miles from Monahans
10 miles from New
Mexico
Population:
5,714 (2000)
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Your Hotel Here & Save
Odessa
Hotels
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April
sandstorm on the highway
Photo Courtesy Charlene Beatty Beauchamp |
History
in a Pecan Shell
The county was organized in 1910 and named after Kermit Roosevelt
who had been hunting in the area shortly before. Father Theodore
was still extremely popular - especially out west.
1910 was also the year the W. H. Seastrunk moved his house
into town. It may not seem like a big event to you, but it was to
Mr. Seastrunk.
A drought in 1916 created an exodus - if you can apply the term to
so few people. By the time 1924 came around, only one family was left
in town - living in the Seastrunk house. The entire county had one
student attending school in 1924. We have no name, but we can safely
assume he or she was at the head of the class.
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Detail
of the five-panel mural in Heritage Park
Artist: Alice Leese
TE Photo
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Kermit's
boom occurred in 1926 - the same year as the rise of Wink
and Notrees. The population
soared to 1,000 people and by the time the Texas-New Mexico Railroad
reached the area in 1929 - they were up to 1,500. The oil kept the
economy fairly stable during the Great Depression, but although the
population declined after the initial boom, it rose again at the end
of the 30s.
Kermit got around to incorporating in 1938, and finally got around
to opening a bank in 1945. It was reported that after the bank opened,
there was a jump in mattress sales.
In the 60s, Kermit reached their high population mark of 10,500.
Winkler County
Courthouse - next page
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April
sandstorm
Photo
Courtesy Charlene Beatty Beauchamp, April 2001 |
Kermit
Attractions:
The Seastrunk/
Baird House (c. 1907) in Pioneer Park (adjoining Winkler
County Park) - oldest structure in Kermit - originally built five
miles south, dismantled and moved into town in 1910.
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April
sandstorm in Kermit
Photo Courtesy Charlene Beatty Beauchamp |
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The
former Kermit Elementary School
TE Photo |
The
Kermit Elementary School is a nice example of a public building
in the Mission Revival Style. It is currently vacant and the City
of Kermit would like to use it as a community building of some sort
since its beautiful tile floors and wooden stage offer several possible
uses.
The school district also wants to see the building put to use, but
since asbestos was used in the construction, the problem is not a
lack of cooperation, but how to afford the costly removal.
More Texa
Schoolhouses |
West
Texas trip from Midland/ Odessa
Kermit should be included in any exploration of this part of West
Texas. A nice loop can be made if one flys into Midland
/ Odessa. Towns along this
loop would include Monahans,
Fort Stockton,
Balmorhea,
Toyah, Pecos,
Mentone, and Kermit
- Wink.
Sites and side trips along the way cover each and every aspect of
West Texas life from pre-history to WWII.
Kermit Chamber of Commerce: 112 N. Poplar 915-586-2507
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Your Hotel Here & Save
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Pump
jack in Kermit sandstorm
Photo Courtesy Charlene Beatty Beauchamp |
Kermit Texas
Forum
Subject: Kermit
Sandhills park is no more
Dear TE, I just wanted to say that the Sandhills Park that used to
be 10 miles outside of Kermit is not there anymore. The land [has
been] divided up among private owners. It was being overused by people
taking dune buggies, 4-wheelers, and dirt bikes out there who were
not cleaning up their trash. I think it was the county that decided
to shut the park down and put the land up for sale rather than try
to limit the usage of offroad vehicles. I have heard that one of the
property owners is trying to construct another parking lot on his
land and will charge a small fee for people wanting to park and ride
out there.
Good news... you can still see the miniature oak trees when driving
either between Kermit and Andrews
or Kermit and Odessa. -
Mark Sessing, October 12, 2006
To share history or photos of Kermit, Texas, please contact
us.
Our thanks to Carla Neal of the Kermit Chamber of Commerce
for answering our questions about Kermit and as always, our thanks
to the indefatigable Charlene
Beatty Beauchamp, who took time to send us photos of her town.
© John Troesser |
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