In 1887 Jeff Davis County, Texas was established and named after Jefferson Davis, a U.S. secretary of war during the American civil war era. The first settlers were from the United States; they came to this area because it had water for irrigation.

The land was owned mainly by Mexican citizens who sold their lands to Americans at low prices. In 1890 only about 200 people were living here. By 1900, there were over 1,000 residents. There are still many farms around Collinsville today.

The county seat is Fort Davis which has been moved several times since its founding. It used to be called “Fort Worth,” but that name was taken when another town started using it. They changed it back to Fort Davis in 1907.

History of Jeff Davis County TX

During the 1800s, most of the county’s population lived on small ranches with few buildings or towns. After the Civil War ended, more families settled in the area. Many of them worked on large cattle ranches where they raised beef cows for the market.

Others farmed cotton crops. Some ranchers also grew wheat and other grains. During the 1880s, farmers began planting corn, beans, alfalfa, oats, hay, sorghum, sugar cane, and tobacco. Farmers built homes near fields so they could get fresh air and sunshine. This helped grow food faster than if they planted under trees.

By 1910, the number of houses increased dramatically. Most of these new houses were made out of wood. People wanted better housing for themselves and their children. A lot of the old wooden structures burned down in fires caused by lightning strikes.

Newer brick homes replaced some of the destroyed houses. More businesses opened up, including grocery stores, hardware shops, barbershops, drugstores, schools, churches, banks, restaurants, hotels, and salons.

By 1930, the number of jobs available in the county doubled. That meant more money for everyone. Families bought cars instead of walking everywhere.

Schools were crowded with students. Roads improved greatly. Electricity arrived in the 1920s and paved roads followed soon after. Telephone lines connected all parts of the county.

Today, Jeff Davis County continues to change rapidly. As the economy improves, more people move here looking for work. Businesses continue to open up. Homes become bigger and newer. And the county grows even more extensive.

Transport in Jeff Davis County

There are two major highways through the county: Interstate 35E and U.S. Highway 80. Both run north/south through the center of the county. I-35E runs along the eastern edge of the county while U.S. 80 passes through the west side. The highways offer great transportation options throughout the year.

Rail transport also plays an important role in transporting goods within the county. A railroad line runs east/west across the southern part of the county. This rail line connects with other lines further south and eventually ends up in Houston.

Another railway line runs north/south through the northern part of the county connecting with Dallas. These railways allow farmers to ship crops all over the country.

Airports near Jeff Davis County

Two airports serve the county:

Downtown Fort Davis Municipal Airport – Located just outside downtown Fort Davis on FM 1488. FDF offers general aviation services, including flight training and charter flights.

Hidalgo Regional Airport – Located 5 miles northeast of Hildago off S.H. 16. Ridesharing service is available between DFW airport and this location.

Education in Jeff Davis County

Education is a big deal in Jeff Davis County. It helps kids learn how to read, write, do the math, make friends, play sports, be safe, and much more. Public education has been around since 1876 when it was first established as a school district.

In that period, many types of schools served the needs of residents. Today, three main public school districts are serving the county. They include:

Fort Davis Independent School District – serves the city of Fort Davis and surrounding areas. FDISD operates five elementary campuses, one middle campus, and one high school.

Crockett Consolidated Independent School District – Served until July 1st, 2015. Crockett ISD operated four elementary campuses, one junior high and one senior high school. On July 1st, 2015, the district merged into the Fort Davis ISD.

Hidalgo Independent School District – Operates six elementary campuses, one intermediate campus, and one high school.

Health Care in Jeff Davis County

The healthcare industry is very important to the community. There are several hospitals in town, including St. Joseph Hospital, South Plains Medical Center, and Baptist Health System. All these facilities provide excellent medical care at reasonable prices. Many doctors practice out of their own offices or clinics.

Some physicians travel from far away to see patients in rural communities like Fort Davis. Other healthcare professionals such as dentists, nurses, pharmacists, optometrists, physical therapists, psychologists, social workers, etc., can often be found practicing medicine in small towns like Fort Davis.

Fire departments, police officers, EMS personnel, and paramedics provide emergency services for people who need help right now. Firefighters respond to emergency calls 24 hours per day, seven days a week. Police officers patrol streets during daylight hours only.

Emergency response times vary depending upon where you live. For example, if someone dials 911, firefighters will arrive quickly because they’re usually close by. If you call 9-1-1, however, your call may go unanswered due to a lack of staffing. The same goes for law enforcement.

Officers typically work 8-hour shifts, so they aren’t always able to answer every single call. Paramedics and EMTs are trained to handle life-threatening situations. They’re equipped with special equipment that allows them to stabilize injured individuals before taking them to the hospital.

County Offices in Jeff Davis

The judge’s office handles legal matters involving family court cases, juvenile delinquency proceedings, adoption, guardianship, probate, and other civil issues. The current judge is Curtis Evans. You can contact him at 432-426-3968.

Teresa L. Todd supervises the County Attorney’s office. Contact the office at 432-426-4434.

County Clerk is under Jennifer Wright. For queries, you can reach the office at 432-426-3251.

The County Treasurer’s office is under Dawn Kitts. Reach the office at 432-426-3242.

The County Sheriff Office is under Sheriff William (Bill) Kitts. Call the office at 432-426-3962.