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Counties

Population
Change fm 2010
Area (sq.mi.)
Land area(sq.mi.)
Altitude (ft.)
Rainfall (in.)
Jan. avg. min.
July avg. max.
Civilian labor
Unemployed
Wages
Per Capita Inc.
Prop. Value
Retail Sales

8,010
12.7
841.3
841.1
2,665–3,400
13.09
28.9
96.9
3,916
11.8
$64,130,151
$57,584
$1,686,326,364
$163,920,096
map of Winkler County
Click to enlarge. Map legend.
 

Physical Features: Western county adjoining New Mexico on plains, partly sandy hills.

Economy: Oil, natural gas, ranching, prison, some farming.

History: Apache area until arrival of Comanches in the 1700s. Anglo-Americans began ranching in the 1880s. Oil discovered in 1926. Mexican migration increased after 1960. County named for Confederate Col. C.M. Winkler; created from Tom Green County in 1887; organized in 1910.

Race/Ethnicity: (In percent) Anglo, 33.9; Black, 3.4; Hispanic, 61.8; Asian, 0.9; Other, 2.1; Two or more races, 1.2.

Vital Statistics, annual: Births, 136; deaths, 70; marriages, 32; divorces, 16.

Recreation: Part of Monahans Sandhills State Park; museum; Roy Orbison festival in June at Wink; Wink Sink, large sinkhole.

Minerals: Oil, gas.

Agriculture: Beef cattle. Market value $3.4 million.

KERMIT (6,178) county seat; oil, gas, ranching, some farming; hospital; Celebration Days in August.

Wink (1,033) oil, gas, ranching.

Monahans Sandhills State Park

Monahans Sandhills State Park. Photo by Robert Plocheck.