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Midland County TX
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MIDLAND, TEXAS

Midland County Seat, West Texas

32°0'N 102°6'W (32.005, -102.099)

I-20, Hwys 158 and 349
20 miles E of Odessa
18 miles W of Stanton
Halfway between El Paso and Fort Worth
ZIP codes 79701-12
Area code 432
Population: 146,038 Est. (2019)
111,147 (2010) 94,996 (2000) 89,443 (1990)

Book Hotel Here › Midland Hotels

History in a Pecan Shell

There were too many Midways in Texas when the Texas and Pacific reached this spot in June of 1881. The post office made it Midland and that's the way it has remained.

Midland got their post office in 1884 and promoters convinced about 100 Midwest families to move here by 1885.

By 1900 the population was right around 1,000.

Midland suffered 3 fires in a brief period (1905-09).

A second railroad (the Midland and NW Line) ran off the Texas and Pacific and connected Midland with Seminole. (According to some sources the train crews had to open and shut cattle gates along the rails). By 1921 the M & NW railroad had gone out of business.

During WWII, the Army Air Corps opened a bombardier school from 1942-1945. It later evolved into the Midland-Odessa Airport.



Midland, Texas
Landmarks & Attractions


TX - Midland County Courthouse
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, February 2013
Midland County Courthouse

  • The Sibley Nature Center:
    1307 E. Wadley (in Hogan Park). 432-684-6827

  • Midland County Historical Museum:
    301 W. Missouri. 432-688-8947

  • Permian Basin Petroleum Museum & Chaparral Racecar Gallery:
    1500 I-20 West, Exit 136. 432-683-4403


  • American Airpower Heritage Museum and Confederate Air Force Headquarters: At the Midland International Airport

  • Fire Museum
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2009
    The Midland Downtown Lions Club Fire Museum


    Midland TX - Yucca Theatre
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2009
    Yucca Theatre c. 1929


    Midland TX - Petroleum Building
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2009
    The Petroleum Building c. 1929


    Midland TX  -  1909 Wool market
    Wool from New Mexico Market in Midland, Texas
    1909
    Old Photo courtesy Dan Whatley Collection
    Midland Vintage Images
    Churches, schools, hotel, greetings


    Midland Texas skyline
    Midland's skyline as seen from Wadley Barron Park.
    Photo Courtesy James Rowland, 12-20-04


    Chinese Pavillion in Midland, Texas
    Chinese Pavillion: A gift to Midland from Dong Ying, China, Midland's Sister City
    Photo Courtesy James Rowland, 12-20-04


    Midland Tx - Driving down Wall Street
    Driving down Wall Street
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2009


    Midland Tx Centennial Tower
    Centennial Tower
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2009


    Midland Tx Closed apartment sign
    Closed apartment sign
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2009


    Midland TX - Canopies From Car Lot Opened in 1971
    Car lot, opened in 1971
    Jimmy Dobson Photo, June 2017


    Pinkie's Liquors 1960 Neon Sign
    Pinkie's Liquors 1960 Neon Sign
    Jimmy Dobson Photo, June 2017


    Midland, TX - West Wind Motel 1958 neon sign
    West Wind Motel 1958 Neon Sign
    Jimmy Dobson Photo, June 2017


    Midland, TX - Bowen's Grocery Late 1950s Neon Sign
    "Bowen's Grocery neon sign from the late 50s, sadly lost in a storm later the same day this photo was taken"
    Jimmy Dobson Photo, June 23, 2017


    Midland TX - Vietnam Memorial
    Vietnam Memorial
    Jimmy Dobson Photo, March 2017

    More Midland Old Neon, Ghost Signs & Landmarks
    by Jimmy Dobson



    Midland Texas mural

    A mural in Midland
    Photo Courtesy Tom Hosier
    See Texas Mural

    Midland watertower and road
    The road to Midland
    Photo Courtesy Tom Hosier, 11-01



    Midland, Texas Chronicles

  • Roping a Locomotive by Mike Cox

    In the early 1880s the Texas and Pacific Railroad was laying a line across West Texas, headed eventually for El Paso and points west. Meanwhile, the Fort Worth and Denver railroad was putting down track in the direction of the vast Panhandle plains. By June 1881, the Texas and Pacific neared the mid-way point between Dallas and El Paso . When the mostly Irish track layers got roughly 30 miles from Big Spring, the railroad built a section house it called Midway. Within a year, the government established a post office there. However, since the nation had no shortage of post offices named Midway, the name got changed to Midland.

    As the rail line continued its westward progress, Midland became a shipping point for the large cattle ranches that had developed in the area. Cowboys employed by those ranches worked hard, but not all the time. Occasionally, they came to town to recreate. First told in 1965 by the late Tanner Laine, longtime state editor of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, a story about one way the boys came up with to amuse themselves is probably just folklore. Still, it might have happened. ... more

  • The Home Run that Never Was by Charles Watson

    Midland has always been a baseball town, as long as I can remember. The current class AA team is called the Midland Rockhounds and is a member of the Texas League...

  • Failed Rain Making in 1892 History Cartoon by Roger T. Moore
  • A pumpjack in Midland Texas
    A pumpjack in Midland
    Photo Courtesy Tom Hosier



    Midland Tourist Information
  • Midland Chamber of Commerce
    109 N. Main, Midland, TX 79701, 1-800-624-6435
    http://www.midlandtxchamber.com/
  • The Midland Convention and Visitors Bureau
    109 N. Main. Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. 1.800.624.6435 CVB Website: www.visitmidlandtx.com

    Book Hotel Here > Midland Hotels
  • Midland Texas water tower



    Midland water tower
    Photo Courtesy Tom Hosier
    See Texas Water Towers



    Midland, Texas Forum
  • "You don't need to put bars on your windows - I'm from Vermont"
    Hi Folks, Came across your web site and found it very interesting. I'm a native of Hoosick Falls, NY now living in Schenectady, NY. I lived in Midland, Texas for 4 years from 1975 to 1980 and loved every minute of it. If I could I would go back there to live. I think the people of Texas are the nicest people I have ever met. Moved to Midland from New York State and when I first met my neighbor she thought about putting bars on her windows. But she quickly changed her mind. From then on I told people I was from Vermont. As a matter of fact, Barbara Bush, Sr. and I had the same pediatrician, Dr. Dorothy Wyvell. Many friends were made in Texas along with wonderful memories I will cherish forever. Now I'm going to sit here and remember for awhile. - Regards, Eileen Jones, May 29, 2006



  • Midland, Texas Area Towns:
    Odessa | Stanton
    See Midland County | West Texas

    Book Hotel Here:

    Midland Hotels | More Hotels
    Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history and vintage/historic photos, please contact us.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


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