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KERMIT,
TEXAS"The only
town in Texas to be
named after one of Theodore Roosevelt's Sons"
Winkler
County Seat, West
Texas
Hwys 18, 102 and 302
6 or 7 miles NE of Wink
47 miles from Odessa
22 miles from
Monahans
10 miles from New
Mexico
Population:
5,714 (2000)
Kermit,
Texas Area Hotel
Odessa Hotels |
Kermit
- Home of Jim Sharp Champion Bullrider
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2010 |
History
in a Pecan Shell
The county was organized in 1910 and named after Kermit Roosevelt
who had been hunting in the area shortly before. Father Theodore was
still extremely popular - especially out west.
1910 was also the year
the W. H. Seastrunk moved his house
into town. It may not seem like a big event to you, but it was to Mr. Seastrunk.
A drought in 1916 created an exodus - if you can apply the term to so
few people. By the time 1924 came around, only one family was left in town - living
in the Seastrunk house. The entire county had one student attending school in
1924. We have no name, but we can safely assume he or she was at the head of the
class.
Kermit's boom occurred in 1926 - the same year as the rise of Wink
and Notrees. The population soared
to 1,000 people and by the time the Texas-New Mexico Railroad reached the
area in 1929 - they were up to 1,500. The oil kept the economy fairly stable during
the Great Depression, but although the population declined after the initial boom,
it rose again at the end of the 30s.
Kermit got around to incorporating
in 1938, and finally got around to opening a bank in 1945. It was reported that
after the bank opened, there was a jump in mattress sales.
In the 60s,
Kermit reached their high population mark of 10,500. Kermit
Landmarks / Attractions > |
Historical
Marker (Hwy. 302 East City Limit) Text KERMITCounty
Seat of Winkler County. Organized in 1910. Incorporated in 1938. Name for Kermit
Roosevelt, son of President Theodore Roosevelt, who had visited a local ranch.
One of the top oil and gas producing counties in state. Ranch center. Gateway
to New Mexico.
(1964) |
Kermit
Landmarks / Attractions |
The
Medallion Home
Recorded
Texas Historic Landmark
Pioneer Park, Tommy Thompson Rd.
Photo courtesy
Barclay
Gibson, February 2010 |
The Seastrunk/
Baird House (c. 1907) in Pioneer Park (adjoining Winkler County Park) - Oldest
structure in Kermit - originally built five miles south, dismantled and moved
into town in 1910.
(1964)
Historical Marker Text :
Kermit's
Oldest Home
Built by county clerk, 1910. (year Winkler County was organized).
Owned by Mosleys Bairds.
More Texas
Historic Homes |
The
Five-Panel Mural
Artist:
Alice Leese |
Mural
showing downtown & water towers
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2010 |
The Kermit
Elementary School is a nice example of a public building in the Mission Revival
Style. It is currently vacant and the City of Kermit would like to use it as a
community building of some sort since its beautiful tile floors and wooden stage
offer several possible uses.
The school district also wants to see the
building put to use, but since asbestos was used in the construction, the problem
is not a lack of cooperation, but how to afford the costly removal. |
Old
Style Restaurant Sign
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2010 |
Kermit
the Frog Water Tower
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2010 |
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Kermit,
Texas ForumSubject:
Kermit Sandhills park is no more
Dear TE, I just wanted to say that the
Sandhills Park that used to be 10 miles outside of Kermit is not there anymore.
The land [has been] divided up among private owners. It was being overused by
people taking dune buggies, 4-wheelers, and dirt bikes out there who were not
cleaning up their trash. I think it was the county that decided to shut the park
down and put the land up for sale rather than try to limit the usage of offroad
vehicles. I have heard that one of the property owners is trying to construct
another parking lot on his land and will charge a small fee for people wanting
to park and ride out there.
Good news... you can still see the miniature
oak trees when driving either between Kermit and Andrews
or Kermit and Odessa. - Mark Sessing,
October 12, 2006
Our thanks to Carla Neal of the Kermit Chamber of Commerce for answering
our questions about Kermit.
Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic,
endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local
history, stories, and vintage/historic photos of their town, please contact
us. | |
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