Big Spring, Texas
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Image:Big Spring 1.jpgLocated in the U.S. state of Texas, at the crossroads of U.S. Highway 87 and Interstate 20, Big Spring’s population of 25,233 (2000 Census) makes it the largest city between Midland to the west, Abilene to the east, Lubbock to the north, and San Angelo to the south. Big Spring was established as the county seat of Howard County in 1882 and is also the largest city in that county. It was named for the spring in nearby Sulphur Draw. The spring was the center of a territorial dispute between Comanche and Shawnee peoples and a popular watering hole for wildlife in the mostly arid area.
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Geography
Image:TXMap-doton-BigSpring.PNG Big Spring is located at 32°14'36" North, 101°28'31" West (32.243198, -101.475231)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 49.7 km² (19.2 mi²). 49.5 km² (19.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.42% water.
History
Although the area had long been a popular watering hole for Native Americans including members of the Pawnee and Comanche nations, the first European to view the site now known as Big Spring was probably a member of a Spanish expedition, possibly that of Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca. United States Army Captain Randolph B. Marcy's expedition was the first United States expedition to explore and map the area in 1849. Marcy marked the spring as a campsite on the Overland Trail to California. The site began to collect inhabitants and by the late 1870s, a settlement had sprung up to support buffalo hunters that frequented the area. The original settlement consisted largely of hide huts and saloons. Ranching quickly became a major industry in the area; early ranchers included F.G. Oxsheer, C.C. Slaughter, and B.F. Wolcott..<ref>Big Spring History Page on The Handbook of Texas Online, </ref>
One notable early rancher was Briton Joseph Heneage Finch, the Seventh Earl of Aylesford. Finch purchased 37,000 acres of ranch land in the area in 1883, and is credited with building Big Spring's first permanent structure, a butcher shop.<ref>Howard County page on The Handbook of Texas Online, </ref>
The completion of the Texas and Pacific Railroad led to the founding in the early 1880s of Abilene, Colorado City, and Big Spring, three railroading and ranching towns where saloons, gambling dens, and prostitutes flourished. These establishments attracted cowboys and later oilfield workers from throughout the region. Prostitution continuted to flourish in Big Spring well into the 1950s. The Settles Hotel was well known as a center for prostitution in Big Spring, with the large sign on the roof being used to signal the presence of prostitutes in the hotel.
In 1957 anti-prostitution groups gained an influential advocate in Texas attorney general Will Wilson, whose office led the way in disrupting Texas prostitution, including the Galveston racketeers. Church, legal and news media pressure forced many brothels to close and set the prostitution business on a downward course that continued into the 1960s. Wilson's was influential in pressing local law-enforcement officials into curbing prostitution in Big Spring.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 25,233 people, 8,155 households, and 5,463 families residing in the city. The population density was 509.8/km² (1,320.4/mi²). There were 9,865 housing units at an average density of 199.3/km² (516.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.69% White, 5.31% African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 14.41% from other races, and 2.35% from two or more races. 44.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,155 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 125.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 132.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,257, and the median income for a family was $35,448. Males had a median income of $27,636 versus $21,863 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,119. 22.2% of the population and 17.1% of families were below the poverty line. 30.0% of those under the age of 18 and 18.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Culture and Economics
Big Spring’s economy is primarily based on agriculture (with cotton as the primary crop) and petroleum production and refining. Public-sector institutions such as Howard College, a federal prison, and a VA hospital are also major employers in the area.
Big Spring’s population and economy have seen steady declines since the closure of Webb Air Force Base, a training site for Air Force bombardiers and pilots, in 1977.
In recent years Big Spring has been the site of several major hang gliding championship tournaments, including the U.S. Hang Gliding Nationals. Big Spring will host the Hang Gliding World Championship in 2007.
The opening scenes of the film Midnight Cowboy, the 1969 Academy Award winner for Best Picture, were filmed in Big Spring. The city was also the site for the filming of parts of Hangar 18.
Notable residents, past and present
- Bubba Franks - Green Bay Packers tight end; although born in California, was raised and played high school football in Big Spring.<ref>Daniel "Bubba" Franks bio (2000 NFL draft preview) on packers.com, the official website of the Green Bay Packers</ref>
- J.J. Pickle United States Representative from the 10th congressional district of Texas from 1963 to 1995.
- Harvey Wallace Caylor (1867-1932) - Frontier artist [1]
Points of interest
Landmarks
- Settles Hotel (abandoned)
- Howard County Courthouse
- Big Spring Municipal Auditorium
- ALON USA Refinery
- Comanche Trail Park
- McMahon-Wrinkle Industrial Airpark
- Vietnam Memorial of Big Spring
- Big Spring State Park
- Signal Mountain
- Heritage Museum of Big Spring
- VA Medical Center
- Scenic Mountain Medical Center
Organizations
- Moore Development for Big Spring
- Big Spring Chamber of Commerce
- Big Spring Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
- Downtown Revitalization Association
Media
- Big Spring Herald
- KBST/KBTS Radio
- KBYG-AM Radio
Education
- Big Spring Independent School District
- Howard College (Junior College)
- South West Collegiate Institute for the Deaf
Prisons
- Big Spring FCI
- Big Spring Federal Prison Camp
- Big Spring Correctional Center (Cornell Companies)
References
<references/>
External links
- City of Big Spring homepage
- Big Spring historical info and photos
- Bondwebs.com Big Spring Community Site
- Big Spring Independent School District
- Cornell Companies website
