Reeves County
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Reeves County Seat, West Texas
31° 24' 56" N, 103° 30' 0" W (31.415556, -103.5)
I-20 and Hwys 17 & 285
20 miles S of Mentone
7 miles W of Barstow
40 miles W of Monahans
76 miles W of Odessa
15 miles E of Toyah
39 miles NE of Balmorhea
54 miles NW of Ft. Stockton
Population: 10,461 Est. (2019)
8,780 (2010) 9,501 (2000) 12,069 (1990)
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Downtown Pecos
Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels, August 2008
Pecos, Texas Topics:
History in a Pecan Shell Pecos Cantaloupes
photo gallery
Pecos Chronicles
Reeves County Courthouse next page
The West of the Pecos Museum next page
next page
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Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels
History in a Pecan Shell As hard as it is to believe - the town of Pecos was once East of the Pecos River. The popular slogan "West of the Pecos" wouldn't work very well if the town of Pecos was east of the river. A Mr. George Knight who owned the land gave a small portion for a depot and a little more for good measure to the Texas and Pacific Railroad who laid tracks in 1881. The evolution of the name was Pecos Station, then Pecos City and finally the simple utilitarian Pecos. After going through so many changes, they weren't about to change it when their portion of Pecos County became Reeves County in 1883. They got a post office in 1884 and a bad reputation for violence shortly thereafter. We'd like to point out that the reputation had nothing to do with postal employees. The name Pecos even evolved into a verb like "Shanghai". To "Pecos" a man was to ambush him, steal his horse and money and roll his body off a riverbank (which didn't have to actually be the Pecos River to qualify). Even though things have quieted down today, having Clay Allison's grave in back of the Orient Hotel (itself riddled with bullet holes) testifies to the town's legendary wild-west past. During WWII Pecos Army Air Field was opened and the population of the town reached 6,500. The city nearly doubled its population in the 50s from 8,000 to 14,000.
Pecos Cantaloupes
Today samples of Pecos cantaloupes are provided to summer visitors of the museum. The fame of the melons was spread because they were served in the dining cars all along the railroad's east-west route.
TE photo
The fame of Pecos cantaloupe is said to have spread from railroad dining cars that were supplied at the town of Pecos and served allong the line.
Cedar of 1st Streets, Pecos, West of Pecos Museum:
The Pecos Cantaloupe
Nationally famed melon, originated in this city. Residents from 1880s grew melons in gardens, noting sun and soil imparted a distinctive flavor. Madison L. Todd (March 22, 1875-Sept. 10, 1967) and wife Julia (Jan. 30, 1880-Feb. 5, 1969) came here from east Texas and New Mexico. In 1917 Todd and partner, D. T. McKee, grew eight acres of melons, selling part of crop to dining cars of Texas & Pacific Railway, where Pecos cantaloupes first became popular and in wide demand. McKee soon quit business, but Todd remained a leader for 41 years. Famed lecturer Helen Keller, Presidents Eisenhower and Johnson and many other distinguished persons have ordered and appreciated Pecos cantaloupes. Exclusive clubs in New York, Chicago, St. Louis and other cities are regular clients of Pecos growers. Genuine Pecos cantaloupes begin ripening in July and continue on the market until late October. The varieties are the same as those grown in other areas. Climate, soil and special cultivation methods account for the distinctiveness of Pecos melons. 2,000 acres are now planted annually. M. L. Todd was known in his later years as father of the industry. He and his wife and family were leaders in civic and religious enterprises.( 1970).
Pecos, Texas Landmarks
Photo Gallery
The entire downtown section of Pecos (Pay Cuss) is intact, with only one building gone due to a fire. At the north end of the main street is the railroad station. It's easy to spot - just look for the Union Pacific caboose in the middle of the street. Pecos is one of the towns that must be included on your West Texas itinerary.
Photo courtey Terry Jeanson, December, 2005
Reeves County Courthouse
Texas & Pacific Railroad Depot in Pecos, Texas.
Postcard from the early 1900's, courtesy Mark Armstrong
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| The Old Texas & Pacific Station today TE Photo, 2000 |
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| Next to the caboose is the headstone for Clay Allison, a notorious gunfighter who may have "died with his boots on" but actually his head was crushed by his own wagon. You aren't a true West Texas town TE photo, August 2000 |
Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels
Pecos Murals
Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels
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Old windmill
Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels
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Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels
Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels
State Theatre
Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels
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Pecos Old Neon - Shoes
Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels
More Old Neon
Eagle in Pecos
Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels
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Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels
Churches in Pecos
Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels
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Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels
Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels
Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels
Old Gas Station
Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels
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Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels
Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels
Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels
More Texas Silos
Photo courtesy Stephen Michaels
Pecos water tower.
Photo courtesy James Feagin, 2002
More Texas Water Towers
"Home of the World's First Rodeo"
Photo courtesy James Feagin, February 23, 2002
Entering Pecos via Barstow
Photo courtesy James Feagin, September 2004
Pecos Drug Co.'s Store, ca 1908
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
Hotel Brandon 1930s Postcard
Courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
Boulder Courts
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
More Rooms with a Past
Pecos Chronicles
Cartoons by Roger T. Moore
In Pecos it was once a crime to walk or sit on the "wrong" side of the street.
Pecos Hotels Book Hotel Here Pecos Tourist Information The Chamber of Commerce:
111 S. Cedar St. 915-445-2406
Website: www.pecostx.com
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| Pecos cantaloupes are so famous, they'll loan money on them. TE Photo, 2000 | The effect of fire hydrants on West of the Pecos marigolds TE Photo, 2000 |
Reeves County 1940s map showing Pecos & Pecos River
From Texas state map #4335
Courtesy Texas General Land Office
Reeves County Town List
Contiguous Counties:
Eddy County, New Mexico (N) Loving County (NE) Ward County (E) Pecos County (SE) Jeff Davis County (SW) Culberson County (W)
Take a road trip
Pecos, Texas Nearby Destinations:Mentone | Barstow | Monahans | Odessa | Ft. Stockton
Toyah | Balmorhea
See Reeves County | West Texas
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