Denver City

Denver City is on State Highway 83 on the Gaines county line, seventy miles southwest of Lubbock in south central Yoakum County. When the Wasson oil pool was developed in 1939, the town was founded and named by C. S. Ameen and Ben Eggink. Ameen selected the name because he had a close friend who was employed by Denver Productions near the townsite, and he added "City" to the name to show his faith in the town's future. Shortly after its founding the town was incorporated and had a refinery and a gas and water system. By 1940 Denver City had a population of 3,000 and 120 businesses.

In March 1939 W. J. Hale published the first Denver City newspaper at his plant in Plains. The paper, originally called the Record, went through several name changes before it was bought by a Mr. Watson, who changed the name to Denver City Press. Dr. D. K. Robinson established the Denver City Hospital and Clinic in a building at the rear of City Drug Store in 1942. By 1943 the initial boom had subsided; by 1944 the population had leveled to 2,000, and the number of businesses had dropped to fifty-five. In 1945 the population was estimated at 1,750, its level for the rest of the decade. Only thirty-eight businesses were in operation, but Denver City remained an important oilfield-supply point, in addition to its role as a principal retail center for area ranchers.

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Leoti A. Bennett | © TSHA

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Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.

Belongs to

Denver City is part of or belongs to the following places:

Currently Exists

Yes

Place type

Denver City is classified as a Town

Associated Names

  • (Wasson)

Location

Latitude: 32.96804290
Longitude: -102.83188000

Has Post Office

Yes

Is Incorporated

Yes

Population Count, 2021 View more »

4,390