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BIG
SPRING, TEXAS
"The Main Spring
of West Texas"
Howard County, Panhandle*/ West Texas
US I-20 (US 80) Hwy 87
Hwy 350 FM 700
Hwy 176
39 miles NE of Midland,
59 miles NE of Odessa,
via I-20
86 miles NW of San
Angelo via 87
Population: 25,233 (2000)
County population: 33,000
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Municipal
Auditorium
Photo by John Troesser |
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The Texas & Pacific Depot, circa 1896
Courtesy Doyle Phillips / FotoGrafica |
History
in a Pecan Shell
Big Spring in Brief
by Doyle Phillips
Big Spring has long been known as the crossroads of West Texas. The
ancient spring for which the town was named attracted prehistoric
people, Amerinds, Spaniards, Mexicans and Anglos. The fascinating
Comanche 'War Trail' to Mexico branched at the spring... more
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A Big Spring Service Station c.1948
Photo courtesy Doyle Phillips / FotoGrafica |
Big
Spring Today
Skipping to the
present, the town is now about 23,000 with a large part of the economy
based on public-sector institutions, such as prisons, a regional VA
Hospital and a state mental hospital. Although the decline in oil
revenues has dramatically affected the entire region, employment rate
is high and cost-of-living relatively low. New business ventures are
encouraged by city government policies.
Copyright
Doyle Phillips
Big
Spring Hotels > Book Your Hotel Here
& Save |
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Big Spring Cemetery Funeral Chapel
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, 2005 |
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Big Spring Public School
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/
%7Etxpstcrd/ |
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Post office in Big Spring. "An Air Mail Hub of West Texas"
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/
%7Etxpstcrd/ |
Big
Spring Attractions
The
Spring
- The town's namesake
Howard
County Courthouses
Settles
Hotel
Big Spring
State Park: On the southern edge of the city, this 340 acre
park offers a scenic view of the city.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/bigsprin/bigsprin.htm
Hanger 25
Air Museum: www.hanger25.com A museum of the Big Spring Army
Air Corps Bombardier School (its purpose during WWII) and Webb AFB
(1955-1977).
Heritage
Museum: 510 Scurry Street. Local History
City Park:
400 acres downtown, including the Comanche Trail Amphitheater and
the spring that is the town's namesake.
Potton House
(circa 1901): Second Street and Gregg - one of West Texas' best
examples of Victorian architecture. Red sandstone construction with
vintage furnishings.
Big
Spring Hotels > Book Your Hotel Here
& Save
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Petroleum Building
Photo courtesy Doyle Phillips / FotoGrafica |
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The Crawford Hotel
Courtesy Doyle Phillips / FotoGrafica |
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Razed
hotel.
Photo by John Troesser |
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Ritz
Theater Photo courtesy Don Lewis |
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Big
Spring Chamber of Commerce:
215 W. 3rd
Street 915-263-7641
Website: www.bigspringtx.com
Book
Your Hotel Here & Save
Big
Spring Hotels
More Hotels |
Big Spring
Texas Forum
Anyone
wishing to share history, stories or photos of Big Spring, Texas,
please contact
us.
Texas Escapes wishes to thank Doyle Phillips for the loan of photos
from his collection and for writing the Big Spring history. Mr. Phillips
is the author of numerous books on West Texas and Big Spring in particular.
About Doyle
Phillips and more vintage photos
February 2001
*Texas Department of Transportation includes Howard County in the
Panhandle Plains
© John Troesser |
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