Pecos, Texas | |
|---|---|
 Storefronts in downtown Pecos | |
| Nickname: Tarilas | |
 Location of Pecos, Texas | |
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| Coordinates:31°24′56″N103°30′0″W / 31.41556°N 103.50000°W /31.41556; -103.50000 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Reeves |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Teresa Winkles |
| Area | |
• Total | 22.22 sq mi (57.56 km2) |
| • Land | 22.22 sq mi (57.56 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,582 ft (787 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 12,916 |
| • Density | 580/sq mi (224/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 79772 |
| Area code | 432 |
| FIPS code | 48-56516[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1364996[2] |
| Website | http://www.pecostx.gov/ |
Pecos (/ˈpeɪkəs/PAY-kəs[4]) is the largest city in and thecounty seat ofReeves County,Texas, United States.[5] It is in the valley on the west bank of thePecos River at the eastern edge of theChihuahuan Desert, in theTrans-Pecos region ofWest Texas and just south ofNew Mexico's border. Its population was 12,916 at the2020 census.[6] On January 24, 2012, Pecos City appeared on theForbes 400 as the second-fastest growing small town in the United States.[7] The city is a regional commercial center for ranching, oil and gas production, and agriculture. The city is most recognized for its association with the local cultivation ofcantaloupes.[8][9] Pecos claims to be the site of the world's firstrodeo on July 4, 1883.[10]
Pecos is one of the numerous towns in West Texas organized around atrain depot during the construction of theTexas and Pacific Railway. These towns were subsequently linked by the construction ofU.S. Highway 80 andInterstate 20. Prior to the arrival of the railroad, a permanent camp existed nearby wherecattle drives crossed thePecos River. With the introduction ofirrigation from undergroundaquifers, the city became a center of commerce for extensive localagricultural production ofcotton,onions, andcantaloupes. The introduction of large-scalesulfur mining in adjacentCulberson County during the 1960s led to significant economic and population growth.[11] The growth was reversed after mining operations ceased in the 1990s.
In 1962, Pecos resident and tycoonBillie Sol Estes was indicted for fraud by a federalgrand jury. Estes' extensive machinations caused a national-level scandal, resulting in a shakeup at theDepartment of Agriculture.Oscar Griffin, Jr., of the Pecos Independent and Enterprise newspaper won aPulitzer Prize for breaking the story.
Pecos is the site of the largest private prison in the world, theReeves County Detention Complex, operated by theGEO Group.[12]
On December 18th 2024, aUnion Pacific Railroad freight train hit a semi-truck that was hauling an oversized load, with all locomotives and some freight cars derailing.[13] Both crew members were killed and three people on the ground were injured. The former Texas & Pacific train depot, occupied by the town's Chamber of Commerce, was damaged during the derailment.[14][15]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.3 square miles (19 km2), all land.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 393 | — | |
| 1900 | 639 | 62.6% | |
| 1910 | 1,856 | 190.5% | |
| 1920 | 1,445 | −22.1% | |
| 1930 | 3,304 | 128.7% | |
| 1940 | 4,855 | 46.9% | |
| 1950 | 8,054 | 65.9% | |
| 1960 | 12,728 | 58.0% | |
| 1970 | 12,682 | −0.4% | |
| 1980 | 12,855 | 1.4% | |
| 1990 | 12,069 | −6.1% | |
| 2000 | 9,501 | −21.3% | |
| 2010 | 8,780 | −7.6% | |
| 2020 | 12,916 | 47.1% | |
| 1890-2000,[16] 2010[17] | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White | 7,167 | 55.49% |
| Black or African American | 278 | 2.15% |
| American Indian andAlaska Native | 87 | 0.67% |
| Asian | 163 | 1.26% |
| Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.02% |
| Some Other Race | 2,097 | 16.24% |
| Mixed/multiracial | 3,122 | 24.17% |
| Total | 12,916 | |
| Hispanic or Latino[a] | 11,129 | 86.16% |
| Non-Hispanic | 1,787 | 13.84% |
| Total | 12,916 |
As of the2020 United States census, 12,916 people, 2,729 households, and 1,857 families resided in the city.
As of thecensus[3] of 2000, 9,501 people, 3,168 households, and 2,455 families were residing in the city. The population density was 1,300 inhabitants per square mile (500/km2). The 3,681 housing units averaged 504 per mi2 (194/km2). Theracial makeup of the city was 76.322% White, 2.45% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 18.07% from other races, and 22% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 79.57% of the population.
Of the 3,168 households, 39.9% had children under 18 living with them, 59.0% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were not families. About 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.97, and the average family size was 3.47.
In the city, the age distribution was 32.5% under 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,943, and for a family was $26,376. Males had a median income of $25,867 versus $13,874 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $11,857. About 23% of families and 27% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 36% of those under 18 and 16% of those 65 or over.
The City of Pecos is served by thePecos-Barstow-Toyah Independent School District, which currently has four schools:Austin Elementary,(grades Pre K-1), Zavala Elementary, (grades 2-5), Crockett Middle School, (grades 6–8), and Pecos High School (grades 9–12).
Pecos experiences asemiarid (BSk) todesert climate (BWh) with hot summers and mild winters. The city's aridity results in a substantialdiurnal temperature variation, resulting in cool nights even after hot summer days.
| Climate data for Pecos, Texas | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 89 (32) | 94 (34) | 103 (39) | 106 (41) | 112 (44) | 118 (48) | 116 (47) | 113 (45) | 110 (43) | 106 (41) | 94 (34) | 89 (32) | 118 (48) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 61 (16) | 66 (19) | 74 (23) | 84 (29) | 91 (33) | 99 (37) | 99 (37) | 98 (37) | 92 (33) | 82 (28) | 69 (21) | 63 (17) | 82 (28) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 28 (−2) | 31 (−1) | 38 (3) | 48 (9) | 57 (14) | 67 (19) | 69 (21) | 68 (20) | 61 (16) | 50 (10) | 35 (2) | 29 (−2) | 48 (9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −9 (−23) | −8 (−22) | 12 (−11) | 24 (−4) | 30 (−1) | 48 (9) | 55 (13) | 45 (7) | 37 (3) | 25 (−4) | 8 (−13) | 1 (−17) | −9 (−23) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 0.42 (11) | 0.38 (9.7) | 0.33 (8.4) | 0.57 (14) | 1.14 (29) | 1.11 (28) | 1.33 (34) | 1.24 (31) | 1.85 (47) | 1.16 (29) | 0.47 (12) | 0.49 (12) | 10.48 (266) |
| Source: Weatherbase[22] | |||||||||||||
Municipalities and communities ofReeves County, Texas,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Town | ||
| CDP | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
