According to e Hotel at, Pecos, Texas is a small city located in West Texas, approximately 30 miles southwest of Odessa and 90 miles east of El Paso. The city is situated along the Pecos River and has a population of around 11,000 people. It is known for its rich history and culture, with many historic sites to explore.
The geography of Pecos is predominantly flat with some rolling hills and mesas scattered throughout the area. The climate is arid and semi-arid with hot summers and mild winters. Rainfall averages around 15 inches per year.
Pecos has a long history dating back to 1684 when Spanish explorers first visited the area. The town was founded in 1881 as a stop along the Texas & Pacific Railway line, becoming an important shipping center for cattle ranchers in the region. By 1900 it had become one of the largest cities in West Texas with a population over 2,500 people.
Politics in Pecos are dominated by the Republican party who have held control since 1964. The current mayor is Venetta Seals who was elected in 2015.
The economy of Pecos relies heavily on oil production from nearby fields as well as agriculture, particularly cotton farming which dates back to before World War II when farmers switched from sheep herding to cotton production due to market demand for textiles at that time.
Pecos has two public school districts that serve students from kindergarten through 12th grade: Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD and Balmorhea ISD both offer excellent educational opportunities for their students including advanced placement classes and college credit courses at no additional cost to families living within their district boundaries.
There are several landmarks throughout Pecos that visitors can explore including Maxey Park which offers plenty of outdoor activities such as hiking trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, fishing ponds and more; Old Pecos County Courthouse which houses various historical artifacts; West Of The Pescado Museum which contains artifacts from ranching days gone by; Fort Stockton Monument commemorating soldiers who defended this area during the Civil War; Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church built in 1898; and many more attractions throughout this historic town that are sure to delight visitors!
Population: 9,501. Estimated population in July 2020: 8,251 (-13.2% change)
Males: 4,585 (48.3%), Females: 4,916 (51.7%)
Reeves County
Zip code: 79772
Median resident age: 33.1 years
Median household income: $24,943
Median house value: $25,900
Races in Pecos:
- Hispanic (79.6%)
- Other race (18.1%)
- White Non-Hispanic (17.3%)
- Black (2.5%)
- Two or more races (2.2%)
- American Indian (0.6%)
(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)
Ancestries: German (2.5%), United States (2.5%), English (2.5%), Irish (2.3%).
Elevation: 2586 feet
Land area: 7.3 square miles
Population
Pecos, Texas is a small city located in Reeves County in the western part of the state. It has a population of 8,831 according to the 2019 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, with a median age of 33 years old. The majority of Pecos residents (78%) identify as Hispanic or Latino, and the city is home to many immigrants from Mexico and Central America who have come to work in the oil fields and on farms in the area. The city is also home to a large Native American community, with 12% of residents identifying as Native American or Alaska Native alone. The population is largely rural, with only 15% living within urban areas and 85% living outside of urban areas. The poverty rate in Pecos is high at 27%, compared to 17% for Texas as a whole. Despite this, there are many amenities available for residents including several grocery stores, restaurants, banks, parks and other recreational activities. The local school district serves over 2,000 students from Kindergarten through 12th grade and offers an array of extracurricular activities for students to get involved in. There are also several higher education opportunities available nearby such as Sul Ross State University in Alpine and Odessa College which are both about an hour away from Pecos by car.
For population 25 years and over in Pecos
- High school or higher: 48.2%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.1%
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.6%
- Unemployed: 12.8%
- Mean travel time to work: 16.2 minutes
For population 15 years and over in Pecos city
- Never married: 22.8%
- Now married: 57.7%
- Separated: 3.6%
- Widowed: 8.2%
- Divorced: 7.7%
16.2% Foreign born (15.1% Latin America).
Population change in the 1990s: -2,572 (-21.3%).
Hospitals
Hospital/medical center in Pecos:
- REEVES COUNTY HOSPITAL (2323 TEXAS ST BOX 2058)
Other hospitals/medical centers near Pecos:
- WINKLER COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 42 miles; KERMIT, TX)
- WARD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 44 miles; MONAHANS, TX)
- PECOS COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 59 miles; FORT STOCKTON, TX)
Airports
Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Pecos:
- CAVERN CITY AIR TRML (about 82 miles; CARLSBAD, NM; Abbreviation: CNM)
- LEA COUNTY RGNL (about 90 miles; HOBBS, NM; Abbreviation: HOB)
- MIDLAND INTERNATIONAL (about 97 miles; MIDLAND, TX; Abbreviation: MAF)
Other public-use airports nearest to Pecos:
- PECOS MUNI (about 4 miles; PECOS, TX; Abbreviation: PEQ)
- WINKLER COUNTY (about 32 miles; WINK, TX; Abbreviation: INK)
- ROY HURD MEMORIAL (about 43 miles; MONAHANS, TX; Abbreviation: E01)
Colleges and Universities
Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Pecos:
- SUL ROSS STATE UNIVERSITY (about 74 miles; ALPINE, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,076)
- ODESSA COLLEGE (about 79 miles; ODESSA, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,555)
- MIDLAND COLLEGE (about 107 miles; MIDLAND, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,800)
- SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE (about 169 miles; LEVELLAND, TX; Full-time enrollment: 3,851)
- EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY-MAIN CAMPUS (about 190 miles; PORTALES, NM; Full-time enrollment: 2,955)
- TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY (about 191 miles; LUBBOCK, TX; Full-time enrollment: 22,439)
- ANGELO STATE UNIVERSITY (about 195 miles; SAN ANGELO, TX; Full-time enrollment: 5,477)
Schools
Public high school in Pecos:
- PECOS H S (Students: 658; Location: 1302 S PARK ST; Grades: 09 – 12)
Public primary/middle schools in Pecos:
- HAYNES ELEMENTARY (Students: 538; Location: 1302 S PARK ST; Grades: 04 – 06)
- AUSTIN ELEMENTARY (Students: 520; Location: 1302 S PARK ST; Grades: 01 – 03)
- CROCKETT MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 373; Location: 1302 S PARK ST; Grades: 07 – 08)
- PECOS KIND (Students: 230; Location: 1302 S PARK ST; Grades: PK – KG)
- LAMAR CENTER (Students: 27; Location: 1302 S PARK ST; Grades: 03 – 12)
Libraries
Library in Pecos:
- REEVES COUNTY LIBRARY (Operating income: $88,493; Location: 505 S PARK ST; 50,000 books; 1,000 audio materials; 1,000 video materials; 70 serial subscriptions)