Pecos County

Duane's take

The way I tell it, I'm going by what the official marker says about Pecos County, so let's take this one straight from the source. Now, out here in the wide, sun-baked stretch of West Texas, Pecos County didn't just appear out of thin air. It was formed from Presidio County, created on May 3, 1871.

But here's the thing about creation. Being created and being organized are two different animals entirely. It took until March 9, 1875, before Pecos County got itself truly organized, truly official, truly ready for business.

And on that very same day, March 9, 1875, the people of this county elected their first officers. Now hold that picture in your mind. One day, one election, a whole county coming to life.

George M. Frazer stepped up as Chief Justice. Then came the commissioners: Cesario Torres, Francis Rooney, Hipolito Carrasco, and Martin Huffmann.

Four commissioners to help carry the weight of all that open country. Fort Stockton was named the county seat, sitting out there like an anchor in the desert, steady and sure. The county went on about its business for decades, ranching and surviving under that relentless West Texas sky.

Then, in 1926, something happened that changed the story altogether. Oil was discovered in the Yates field. The ground that had kept its secrets all those years finally gave something up.

Pecos County, formed from one county, organized on one remarkable day, and sitting on a fortune it didn't even know it had.

What the marker says

Formed from Presidio County, created May 3, 1871. Organized March 9, 1875. On March 9, 1875, the following county officers were elected: George M. Frazer, Chief Justice. Cesario Torres, Commissioner. Francis Rooney, Commissioner. Hipolito Carrasco, Commissioner. Martin Huffmann, Commissioner. Fort Stockton, County Seat. Oil was discovered in the Yates field in 1926.