Brewster County Texas Warrant Search

Brewster County, Texas Brewster County is a county located in western part of the U.S. state of Texas, along the border with Mexico. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. As of the 2000 census, the population is 8,866. In 2009, the population was estimated to be 9,481. Its county seat and only city is Alpine. It is the largest county in Texas in land area.U.S. Highway 90 crosses the county in the north; U.S. Highway 385 enters Brewster County from the northeast and proceeds south to the county's main attraction, Big Bend National Park, part of the Big Bend. The Sunset Route of the Union Pacific Railroad crosses northern parts of the county, and a recently revived portion of the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway traverses the county en route to Presidio.Brewster is named for Henry Percy Brewster, a secretary of war for the Republic of Texas. The county is the largest in the state, over three times the size of the state of Delaware, and more than half a thousand square miles bigger than Connecticut.Oilman, geologist, and historian Clayton Wheat Williams, Sr., operated a ranch near Alpine in Brewster County though his residence was in Fort Stockton. Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 6,193 square miles (16,039.8 km2), none of which is covered in water.The county's area is larger than the area of Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island individually, and larger than the combined area of Delaware and Rhode Island. Major highways U.S. Highway 67 U.S. Highway 90 U.S. Highway 385 State Highway 118 Adjacent counties and Adjacent counties and <a href='/wiki/Municipalities_of_Mexico' title='Municipalities of Mexico'>municipiosAdjacent counties and <a href='/wiki/Municipalities_of_Mexico' title='Municipalities of Mexico'>municipios</a> Pecos County(north) Terrell County(northeast) Presidio County(west) Jeff Davis County(northwest) Manuel Benavides, Chihuahua, Mexico(southwest) Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico(southeast) Ocampo, Coahuila, Mexico(south) National National <a href='/wiki/Protected_area' title='Protected area'>protected areasNational <a href='/wiki/Protected_area' title='Protected area'>protected areas</a> Big Bend National Park Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River(part) Demographics As of the census of 2000, there were 8,866 people, 3,669 households, and 2,216 families residing in the county. The population density was 1 person per square mile (1/km²). There were 4,614 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.09% White, 1.22% Black or African American, 0.85% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 13.44% from other races, and 2.98% from two or more races. 43.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.There were 3,669 households out of which 26.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.70% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.60% were non-families. 32.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.96.In the county, the population was spread out with 22.20% under the age of 18, 14.80% from 18 to 24, 24.50% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.40 males.The median income for a household in the county was $27,386, and the median income for a family was $33,962. Males had a median income of $26,934 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,183. About 12.60% of families and 18.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.80% of those under age 18 and 13.00% of those age 65 or over. Native Americans Paleo-Indians Hunter-gatherers existed at least 9000 years ago. Mescalaro Apaches emerged later and conducted raids that discouraged settlers. Between 1779 and 1787 Col. Juan de Ugalde drove the Mescalaros back across the Rio Grande and into the Chisos Mountains. The three leading Mescalero chiefs, Patula Grande, Quemado, and Zapato Tuerto, agreed in March 1789 to submit to Spanish rule. Comanche raiding parties continued through much of the 19th Century. Early Explorations Spanish explorers Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca in 1535 and Antonio de Espejo in 1583 crossed Brewster County on their way to La Junta de los Ríos, the juncture of the Rio Grande and the Rio Conchos. In 1684 Juan Domínguez de Mendoza camped at Kokernot Spring and wrote the earliest recorded description of it.Pedro de Rábago y Terán, Governor of Coahuila in the 1740’s led an expedition to La Junta de los Ríos. Northern Mexican military governor Lt. Col. Hugo Oconór led a 1772 expedition to locate sites for forts on the Comanche Trail along the Rio Grande. In October 1851 Danish born Col. Edvard Emil Langberg, Mexican commandant of Chihuahua, visited southern Brewster County. Surveyor William H. Emory in 1852 sent M. T. W. Chandler to survey what is now the heart of Big Bend National Park. Chandler explored Santa Elena Canyon, the Chisos Mountains Mariscal Canyon, and Boquillas Canyon.A 1859 expedition of the U.S. Camel Corps under 2d Lt. Edward L. Hartz set explored the Comanche Trail through Persimmon Gap and down Tornillo Creek to the Rio Grande. A year later, a second camel expedition under 2d Lt. William Echols also explored along the Rio Grande. County Established and Growth Brewster County was marked off in 1887 from Presidio County and named for Henry Percy Brewster. Murphyville, later renamed Alpine , was selected as county seat.In response to threats of ongoing Indian attacks, Camp Peña Colorado was established in 1879 a few miles south of the future site of Marathon.Word of mouth about the open rangeland in the area was spread by freighters John W Burgess and August Santleben, leading the way for settlers. The Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway built through the area in 1882, opening up opportunity for entrepreneur s who came on railroad-related business and stayed.Alfred S. Gage moved to the area in 1882 to help his brother’s ranching operation, founding the A.S. Gage Ranches, one of the largest ranching operations in Texas. in 1883. In 1927 he build the Gage Hotel in Marathon.Legendary lawman and later Texas Rangers Hall of Fame member James B. Gillett served as Sheriff of Brewster County, operated a ranch in Alpine in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century. He later retired to his Barrel Spring Ranch in Jeff Davis County Joseph Daniel Jackson came to the area in 1882 as part of Company B of the Texas Rangers assigned to protect the railroad. By 1882, he had settled near Alpine and taken up ranching, branching out later to merchant and civic leader. Jackson is known locally as the father of Sul Ross University due to his efforts that helped lead to the establishment of the school.Sul Ross University, named for Texas Governor Lawrence Sullivan Ross, was created by an act of the 35th Legislature in 1917 as a state normal college to train teachers. Population Boom The population grew from 710 in 1890 to 5,220 in 1910 due for the most part to industries that relied on natural resources.From the turn of the 20th Century through World War II, the Terlingua Mining District was a boom town due to the extraction of cinnabar, also known as mercury ore, in the Chisos Mountains. Silver and lead from mines on the Mexican side of the river in the Boquillas area were shipped north, as were candelilla wax produced at factories at Glenn Spring and Mariscal, and the guayule rubber from a factory in Marathon. Pancho Villa and Banditos Brewster County became targeted by incursions of bandits from Mexico, due at least in part to Pancho Villa. In June 1915 Governor James E. Ferguson asked President Woodrow Wilson to station troops in the Big Bend. The request was denied by Commander Maj. Gen. Frederick Funston, who believed such security was a state issue.Although a number of events took place to effect policy change, the tipping point would be the May 5, 1916 raid at Glenn Spring . Only nine soldiers had been stationed in the area for protection against the bandits. Estimates vary as to the number of Mexican raiders who attacked the soldiers, anywhere from 60 to several hundred. The raid caused a larger military presence in the area. President Wilson mobilized the National Guard to reinforce the Army, and by the end of 1916 an estimated 116,957 guardsmen were stationed along the border from California to Texas.As the mines and wax factories played out after World War I, raiders from across the border abated. Big Bend Big Bend National Park was established as a state park in 1933 by the state legislature, and expanded the same year by Governor Miriam A. Ferguson. In 1935, the United States Congress passed legislation founding it as a national park. Big Bend opened to the public in 1944.Big Bend Ranch State Park opened to the public in 1991, its over 300,000 acres (1,200 km2) making it the largest state park in Texas. Terlingua Chili Cook Offs Terlingua produced 40% of the nation’s quicksilver in 1920, but declining population has since qualified it as a ghost town.In 1962, Dallas Morning News columnist Francis X. Tolbert published his ode to chili Bowl of Red and founded the Chili Appreciation Society. Fellow columnist Wick Fowler joined in the fun and became a charter member.The World Championship Chili Cookoff at Terlingua began as a tongue-in-cheek challenge between Wick Fowler and humorist H. Allen Smith in 1967 and has become a November tradition, celebrated across the state and nation.The first Saturday in November, Terlingua now hosts two competing international chili championships: the Terlingua International Chili Championship , and the Original Terlingua International Chili Cookoff . Cities Alpine Census-designated places Marathon Study Butte-Terlingua Other places Lajitas Terlingua Education The following independent school districts serve Brewster County:Alpine Independent School District Marathon Independent School District San Vicente Independent School District(K-8 only) (High schoolers attend Terlingua CSD) Terlingua Common School District In addition, Sul Ross State University is located in Alpine. Ranching Industry The sprawling 320,000 deeded acre (1,400 km²) La Escalera Ranch is located 20 miles (32 km) south of Fort Stockton, Texas and is owned and operated by the Gerald Lyda family. The ranch extends over much of Pecos County and portions of Brewster County, Reeves County, Archer County, and Baylor County.Originally owned by California-based Elsinore Land &amp; Cattle Company, the 100-year old ranch was acquired by building contractor Gerald Lyda of San Antonio, Texas and re-named La Escalera Ranch (Spanish for 'The Ladder'). It is known for its herd of Black Angus cattle and its abundant wildlife. Gerald Lyda died in 2005. Today, the ranch is owned and operated by Lyda's sons Gerald D. and Gene Lyda, as well as Lyda's daughter Jo Lyda Granberg.Located near the entrance to the ranch is Sierra Madera crater. La Escalera Ranch has been ranked by Texas Monthly, Worth and The Land Report magazines as one of the largest cattle ranches in Texas and the United States.[citation needed]