Glasscock County

Glasscock County Offices

Glasscock County Town List

Glasscock County, Texas, is named after an early Texas pioneer, George Washington Glasscock. It has a total ground area of 901 square miles and had a citizenry of 1,226 at the 2010 census and 1,116 in 2020.  

Glasscock is located on the rolling plains of West Texas. On the east of Glasscock is Sterling County, to the west is Midland, and on the south is Reagan County.  

The county seat of Glasscock County is in Garden City. The county’s economy is based primarily on agriculture with some oil production. In addition to farming, cattle raising, ranching, hunting, and mineral extraction are also important industries. 

History of Glasscock County 

Glasscock county was established in 1887 from Tom Green County and later organized in 1893. The county’s earliest inhabitants were Anglo-American sheep ranchers and pastores or Mexican-American shepherds who arrived in the county in the early 1880s. They settled along the banks of the North Concho River, where they raised livestock for market. 

The county’s main economic activity was ranching in the earlier days. LS McDowell settled in Glasscock County as the first white settler. He moved to Glasscock County in 1883.  

By 1890 208 people were living in Glasscock County. In 1983 there were three new settlements near Lacey Creek: Dixie, Garden City, and New California. 

The county seat was in New California due to easy accessibility to water. Settlers abandoned Garden City despite its settlement boom. They renamed New California as Garden City.  

As of 1910, 1,143 00 residents were living within the boundaries of Glasscock County. This number decreased during the 1917-18 drought resulting in a reduction in crop production, driving away many farmers.  

By 1920 the population reduced further to 555, and ranchers suffered losses due to low prices for their products. Despite crop production failing to recover soon in the 1920s marked the beginning of oil production in Glasscock County.  

In 1917 S. E. J. Cox drilled the first oil well on the McDowell’s Ranch, which was successful in attracting more investors into the industry. As a result, it led to the country’s boom in development, increasing the population to 1,263 people by 1930. Settlers completed the first railroad line built through the county in 1936, connecting the county. 

Glasscock County Demographics  

According to the 2020 Census, 1,116 people were residing in Glasscock County. Approximately 76.9% of the population self-identified as White American, 34.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.4% multi races, 0.7% African or Black American, 1.22% more than two races, 0.3% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, and 0.00% Asian. 

The average household size was 3.75 based on data collected between 2015 – 2019. There was an average of 3.75 persons per household. 

Glasscock County Offices 

Glasscock County Offices provides various government services to its residents. Residents can apply for permits, licenses, and registrations from this office. They also serve legal documents and process court orders. They include the following offices: 

Glasscock County Clerk Office: Rebecca Batla is the county clerk, and her office is at 600 North Main Garden City, TX. the Glasscock county clerk’s office handles all types of records requests. This includes birth certificates, death certificates, marriage license applications, divorce decrees, adoptions, name changes, etc. Contact the office at Phone: 432-354-2371. You can also visit Glasscock County Clerk’s Office here. 

Glasscock County Sheriff’s Office: Sheriff Keith Burnett enforces traffic violations, criminal offenses, civil matters, and warrants. You can find him at the sheriff’s department located at 117 East Currie Garden City, TX 79739. 

Glasscock County Judge Office: Billy Ray Reynolds is the county judge, and his office is at 117 East Currie Garden City, TX 79739. He oversees the operations of the courts within the county. His staff consists of judges, clerks, bailiffs, probation officers, constables, jailers, and others who work under him.  

Glasscock County Commissioners Court: Charles Gully is the Precinct 1 Commissioner, Contact Information: 432-354-2251. He hears appeals against decisions made by officials. The commissioners’ court consists of the three members who administer and enact the local ordinance. They also approve and oversee county spending. They are listed below:  

• Mark Halfmann: Precinct Commissioner 2, Contact Information: 432-354-2498 
• Gary Jones: Precinct Commissioner 3, Contact Information: 432-270-8318 
• John Seidenberger: Precinct Commissioner 4, Contact Information: 817-822-1771 

Glasscock County Tax Assessor or Collector’s Office: Tina Flores works at the Glasscock County Tax Assessors Office. The phone number for the office is 432-354-2489. She collects taxes and distributes them to local governments. 

Glasscock County Education Statistics 

Glasscock county has an excellent education system for its students. There are two top-ranked public schools located in Glasscock County. These include Garden City High School and Garden City Elementary School. The student-to-teacher ratio at these two public schools is 9:1, serving 313 students.  

According to math and reading test scores, Glasscock County Independent School District ranked high compared to other public schools across Texas. It is a highly rated public school located in Garden City, TX, with 8 out of 10 stars. It serves grades PK-12.  

Nearby cities have several higher learning institutions for those students continuing with tertiary education. These institutions include: 

• West Texas A&M University 
• South Plains College 
• Angelo State University 
• Hardin Simmons College 
• Midwestern State University 
• Texas Tech University 
• Midland College 
• Lubbock Christian University 

Glasscock County, TX F.A.Qs 

Who Was the First White Settler in Glasscock County? 

L.S. McDowell was the first white pioneer in Glasscock County. He moved into the county back in 1883 as a sheep rancher.

Who is Glasscock County Named After?  

The name “Glasscock” comes from the first settler, George W. Glasscock, of this region. 

What County is Garden City, TX In?  

Garden City is a city that belongs to the county of Glasscock. It covers a total area of 5.35 sq miles.  

Does Glasscock County Rank in the Nation for Oil and Gas Production?  

Glasscock county ranks among all counties in the United States for crude oil production. In addition, it also ranks in terms of natural gas production.  

Conclusion 

Glasscock county is one of many places you can live if you want to be close to nature while still having access to modern amenities such as shopping centers, restaurants, entertainment venues, medical facilities, etc.  

If you’re looking for a place to enjoy your time off without being too far away from civilization, then Glasscock county might be what you need.