| |
| History
in a Pecan Shell
Both county and city are named for the same man.
Richard Andrews was the first man to die for Texas Independence in 1835. Wounded
in Gonzales on October 2, 1835,
he died 26 days later at the battle of Concepción.
Andrews County was
organized in 1876 and named after him and the town of Andrews is the only incorporated
municipality in the county.
According to the Handbook of Texas,
1908 is the year things got started around a nucleus of just a school and a general
store. The entire population was less than 100 at that time and few of them lived
in the city proper.
The post office was granted in 1909. Shafter
Lake was Andrews rival to become county seat, but Andrews won and Shafter
Lake is now a ghost town. Andrews first courthouse was built in 1911, and
replaced with the 1939 building.
See Andrews County Courthouse
>
See Andrews County Jail
>
Things
stayed quiet until oil was discovered in 1929. That year saw oil discoveries all
over West Texas, but the strikes were
modest compared to other counties.
In 1940 the population had risen to
over 600 - but many were oilmen and their dependents.
Andrews got a
library in 1947 - although it was only space in the courthouse.
Six county school districts were established in
the 1930s, but they were soon consolidated into one. Oil revenue purchased a new
high school after WWII and
a middle school was built in 1954.
The population dipped to 3,300 in
1950 and then rose to just over 11,000 in 1960. |
Andrews
County Courthouse >
Andrews
Chamber of Commerce
- (432) 523-2695
700 West Broadway, TX79714
http://www.andrewstx.com/ |
| | "Welcome
to Andrews"
Photo courtesy Debbie Gomez |
Andrews,
Texas Forum Subject:
Andrews Texas
I visited your site today and noticed Andrews was not a part of the search as
yet. I have attached our summary for your convenience. ... I really enjoyed what
information you have posted so far. Thank you in advance for adding us to your
database!
Andrews County has been in existence since 1876, when the 15th
Legislature of Texas created 54 counties in the Panhandle and South Plains out
of Bexar County. The political control of the county has passed through several
other counties and districts since its inception. On July 22, 1910, the county
records were finally transferred from Midland County to Andrews County, and the
Commissioners Court held its first meeting.
Andrews County's first oil
well blew in December of 1929. By 1956, the County produced more than 60 million
barrels of oil annually - giving us recognition as the number one oil producing
county in the state of Texas and in the United States.
The City of Andrews
was incorporated on February 2, 1937. On June 9, 1959, the citizens of Andrews
adopted a charter with the Council - Manager form of city government. The City
Council meets twice a month on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month. The city
continues to operate under this structure serving a current population of 9,652.
In 1961, the Municipal Administration building was constructed at the corner
of N. E. 1st and Logsdon Avenue. The Facility currently houses most of the city
offices including the Municipal Court and the Police Station. Plans are under
way for a new site for the police station. - Debbie Gomez, June 06, 2002
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